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SpanishDict translates some verbs and their pronominal forms (+de, +a, etc.) as the same thing. Off the top of my head:

Escapar - to escape

Escaparse de - to escape

Olvidar - to forget

Olvidarse de - to forget

I've seen this pattern elsewhere. Is there generally an additional meaning associated with the pronominal forms in cases like this? If not a general form, then specifically the examples above, how should they be interpreted?

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  • The translations with the de are totally wrong
    – César
    Dec 31, 2011 at 14:18

1 Answer 1

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Yes, It has an additional meaning. De, a, hacia, desde, etc are prepositions, and they are used to fine tune the verb they are with.

De usually points to the passive recipient of the action (I don't know the actual term). For example:

Escaparse de la policía - To escape from the cops

In this case you're doing the escaping, but the cops are being the ones being escaped from.

Comer de un plato - To Eat from a plate

Again, in this case you're doing the eating, and the plates is the one being eaten from.

Your examples are not well translated, they should be like

Escapar - to escape

Escaparse de - to escape from

Olvidar - to forget

Olvidarse de - to forget about

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