Sentir vs Senirse

Bob M.A2Kwiziq community member

Sentir vs Senirse

I am at the beginning steps of trying to understand this distinction. The following quiz confused me. Ella ________ confundida por el golpe. She feels confused because of the blow. It seems to me this is stating "how" she felt not "what" she felt. I'm not getting the difference.
Asked 3 weeks ago
SilviaKwiziq Native Spanish TeacherCorrect answer

Hola Bob M.

This sentence uses "sentirse" because we use "sentirse + adjective" to describe how someone feels — their state or condition. Confundida is an adjective, so the natural expression is Ella se sintió confundida por el golpe.

In contrast, "sentir + noun" is used to express what someone feels: for example, sintió miedo or sintió confusión. If the sentence used a noun (confusión) instead of an adjective, then "sentir" would be correct.

So the difference is simply:
sentirse → how she felt
sentir → what she felt

Saludos

Silvia

Bob M. asked:

Sentir vs Senirse

I am at the beginning steps of trying to understand this distinction. The following quiz confused me. Ella ________ confundida por el golpe. She feels confused because of the blow. It seems to me this is stating "how" she felt not "what" she felt. I'm not getting the difference.

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