Voted Best Answer
Dec 18, 2013 - 11:05 AM
Hi,
"Ir" and "Irse" have different meanings; "ir" is "to go" and "irse" is "to leave". "Ir" focuses on destination, while "irse" focuses on the act of leaving, not on where you're going to.
In many cases you can use both verbs, like in the one you proposed. You could either say:
- Voy a la oficina = I'm going to the office
- Me voy a la oficina = I'm leaving for the office (now or in a short while)
In the first sentence the focus is on destination, but in the second one the focus is on the fact you're leaving the place where you are at the moment of speaking, the destination is not really important. Actually, you could say just "Me voy", but if you use "voy" you have to state where you're going to, unless it is implied.
If you want to say something like "I have to go" or "I have to leave" you'd use irse: Tengo que irme. "Tengo que ir" is incorrect, you should mention your destination, "Tengo que ir a casa" = "I have to go home".
Hope this is a bit clearer now!
"Ir" and "Irse" have different meanings; "ir" is "to go" and "irse" is "to leave". "Ir" focuses on destination, while "irse" focuses on the act of leaving, not on where you're going to.
In many cases you can use both verbs, like in the one you proposed. You could either say:
- Voy a la oficina = I'm going to the office
- Me voy a la oficina = I'm leaving for the office (now or in a short while)
In the first sentence the focus is on destination, but in the second one the focus is on the fact you're leaving the place where you are at the moment of speaking, the destination is not really important. Actually, you could say just "Me voy", but if you use "voy" you have to state where you're going to, unless it is implied.
If you want to say something like "I have to go" or "I have to leave" you'd use irse: Tengo que irme. "Tengo que ir" is incorrect, you should mention your destination, "Tengo que ir a casa" = "I have to go home".
Hope this is a bit clearer now!