Significance of the object pronoun

Stuart M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Significance of the object pronoun

Hola,

Ahora mismo tengo muchas ganas de comerme un helado de chocolate.

Is there something to be inferred about the addition of me to the end of comer? As in some extra desire, or is this just another way of saying the same thing with no subtlety of difference?

Gracias,

Asked 5 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hola Stuart,

This use of "se" is called "se dativo" in Spanish grammar. It is more colloquial and it intensifies/emphasises the action, as John said. With verbs like comer and beber, it also adds the sense of "completion of the action": "eat up/drink up".

For example:

"Leí un libro muy interesante." or "Me leí un libro muy interesante." 

"El bebé ha comido una manzana." or "El bebé se ha comido una manzana."

Un saludo

Inma

vlad h.A2Kwiziq community member

To me me it sounds like "I want to feed me". 

John O.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hola Stuart,

I have heard that it means something like "eat up" or colloquially we would say "gobble up" - as if you were really hot and you needed something cold or chocolaty, and would just like to eat the whole thing up in one go.

Saludos

John

Stuart M. asked:

Significance of the object pronoun

Hola,

Ahora mismo tengo muchas ganas de comerme un helado de chocolate.

Is there something to be inferred about the addition of me to the end of comer? As in some extra desire, or is this just another way of saying the same thing with no subtlety of difference?

Gracias,

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