Simple question: I'm pretty sure I understand интересоваться, but what exactly is the function of just интересовать? How does it differ?
Printable View
Simple question: I'm pretty sure I understand интересоваться, but what exactly is the function of just интересовать? How does it differ?
Интересоваться - to be interested, интересовать - to interest.
or "to take an interest in" (something).Quote:
Интересоваться - to be interested
Right. But how exactly does that play out in a sentence?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcus
Is интересовать something like, "to make someone interested"?
Is it sort of like a stylistic choice then? The difference between, "I am interested in x" and "X interests me"?
Generally yes, verbs ended by -ся (reflexive)are normally equivalent of English passive voice. But in fact sometimes there are additional meanings or nuances.
For example "интересоваться кем-то" most probably means either "to ask around about someone" or "to show the interest". In perfective (поинтересоваться) it means just "to ask". "Интересоваться чем-то" sometimes means "something is my hobby".
Some curious things
-ся it's a reduced transformed form of себя meaning "self"
интересоваться a very long time ago could be said as итересовать себя or to interest self (in)