Translation into English

Question

This construction reminds me very much of the English use of “on [object pronoun]”, which is commonly used colloquially in the US. I can’t remember if I have ever heard UK speakers use it. There is another version that also inserts “up and” in front of the verb, which is usually but not necessarily in the past.

Eg:

My dog died on me.

(Or: My dog up and died on me.)

My car battery (up and) went dead on me.

My sister’s landlord sold the apartment building on her.

My dad’s assistant (up and) quit on him right in the middle of the busy season.

Silvia Píriz · Accepted Answer

Hola Dusty R.
That’s a great comparison, it does capture a similar feeling in some contexts.
However, it’s not a direct equivalent. The Spanish dativo de interés (e.g. se me murió el perro) doesn’t just mean something happened “to” someone, but often adds a nuance of personal involvement, impact or emotional effect.
In English, expressions like “on me” can sometimes convey that idea (“My dog died on me”), but they are more colloquial and limited and don’t always match the full range of uses in Spanish.
So it’s a helpful parallel to understand the idea, but it shouldn’t be taken as a one-to-one translation.
Hope that clarifies it!
Hasta pronto
Silvia