Spanish grammar
The ethical dative: cuídamelos, no me le grite, se me ha dormido
Show that you are personally involved with an extra me, as natives do.
From the scene Cuídamelos mucho (Look after them for me)
In short
Add an extra me to show you are personally involved: cuídamelos, no me le grite, se me ha dormido.
Your turn
Which one goes with look after them for me (tú)?
Options: cuídamelos · cuídemelos · no me le grite
Show answer
look after them for me (tú) → cuídamelos
How it works
An extra me (or te, nos) that the sentence does not need shows that the speaker is personally involved: the ethical dative.
Good to know
Cuídamelos is "look after them for me"; no me le grite is "don't shout at him, it would upset me".
Good to know
With a verb that already has se, like dormirse, it goes after se: se me ha dormido. Drop it and the meaning stays, but the feeling goes.
look after them for me (usted) cuídemelos
Tomás
Don Ramón, me voy a la radio. Cuídemelos mucho, ¿eh?
Don Ramón, I'm off to the radio. Look after them for me, won't you?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Don Ramón, me voy a la radio. (blank) mucho, ¿eh?
Options: Cuídamelos · No me le grite · Cuídemelos
Show answer
Tomás
Don Ramón, me voy a la radio. Cuídemelos mucho, ¿eh?
Don Ramón, I'm off to the radio. Look after them for me, won't you?
look after them for me (tú) cuídamelos
Tomás
Nuria le ayuda. Nuria, cuídamelos tú también.
Nuria will help you. Nuria, you look after them for me too.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Nuria le ayuda. Nuria, (blank) tú también.
Options: cuídemelos · no me le grite · cuídamelos
Show answer
Tomás
Nuria le ayuda. Nuria, cuídamelos tú también.
Nuria will help you. Nuria, you look after them for me too.
don't you shout at him (usted) no me le grite
Tomás
Si llora, no me le grite. Cántele algo.
If he cries, don't you shout at him. Sing him something.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Si llora, (blank). Cántele algo.
Options: cuídamelos · no me le grite · cuídemelos
Show answer
Tomás
Si llora, no me le grite. Cántele algo.
If he cries, don't you shout at him. Sing him something.
she's gone to sleep for me se me ha dormido
Nuria
Mira, Tomás: Elenita ya se me ha dormido.
Look, Tomás: Elenita's already gone to sleep for me.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Mira, Tomás: Elenita ya (blank).
Options: cuídamelos · se me ha dormido · cuídemelos
Show answer
Nuria
Mira, Tomás: Elenita ya se me ha dormido.
Look, Tomás: Elenita's already gone to sleep for me.
you'll wake them on me (tú) me los vas a despertar
Ramón
Pues vete ya, Tomás, que me los vas a despertar.
Well, off you go, Tomás, or you'll wake my babies.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Pues vete ya, Tomás, que (blank).
Options: cuídemelos · cuídamelos · me los vas a despertar
Show answer
Ramón
Pues vete ya, Tomás, que me los vas a despertar.
Well, off you go, Tomás, or you'll wake my babies.
Common mistake
Not Cuídamelos or Cuídemeles here. Tomás to Don Ramón (usted).
Don Ramón, me voy a la radio. Cuídemelos mucho, ¿eh?
Don Ramón, I'm off to the radio. Look after them for me, won't you?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| look after them for me (usted) | cuídemelos |
|---|---|
| look after them for me (tú) | cuídamelos |
| don't you shout at him (usted) | no me le grite |
| she's gone to sleep for me | se me ha dormido |
| you'll wake them on me (tú) | me los vas a despertar |
More lines from the story
- NuriaTranquilo, hoy teletrabajo desde aquí. Yo te los cuido.Don't worry, I'm working from here today. I'll look after them for you.