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Quiero probarme la bufanda roja, pero también la verde.

Quiero probarme la bufanda roja, pero también la verde.
I want to try on the red scarf, but also the green one.
FromLesson 15inHardcore Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Quiero probarme la bufanda roja, pero también la verde.

Why is it probarme and not just probar?
With clothes, Spanish normally uses the pronominal verb probarse (to try on). The reflexive pronoun shows you’re putting the item on yourself to see how it fits/looks: Quiero probarme la bufanda. Plain probar means to try/taste/test something in general (e.g., food, a device): Quiero probar el queso. Some speakers might drop the pronoun in casual speech, but probarse is the safe, standard choice for garments.
Where does the pronoun me go? Is Me quiero probar… also correct?

Yes. With a conjugated verb + infinitive, the clitic can go:

  • Before the conjugated verb: Me quiero probar la bufanda roja
  • Attached to the infinitive: Quiero probarme la bufanda roja Both are equally correct; choose whichever sounds more natural to you.
What does la verde stand for?
It’s an ellipsis: la verde = la bufanda verde. Spanish often avoids repeating the noun by using the definite article plus the adjective. The article must agree in gender/number with the omitted noun (here, feminine singular for bufanda).
Why roja and not rojo? And what about verde?

Adjectives agree with the noun:

  • bufanda is feminine singular → roja
  • verde doesn’t change for gender (verde/verde), but it does for number (verde/verdes). So: la bufanda roja, las bufandas verdes.
Why is the adjective after the noun (bufanda roja)?
In Spanish, descriptive adjectives—especially colors—normally follow the noun. Pre-nominal position is possible for some adjectives but often adds a different nuance; color adjectives almost always go after the noun.
Is pero también the best connector here? Could I use y también?

Both are fine.

  • …y también la verde simply adds another item.
  • …pero también la verde adds with a slight contrast (e.g., you might have expected only the red one). Neither is wrong; it’s a nuance choice.
When would I use sino instead of pero?

Use sino (not “but” → “but rather”) after a negation:

  • No quiero probarme la roja, sino la verde. For additive contrast after a negation, use the set phrase: No solo… sino también…
  • No solo quiero probarme la roja, sino también la verde.
Do I need to say Yo? Why is it just Quiero?
Spanish usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject. Quiero already means “I want.” You add yo only for emphasis or contrast: Yo quiero… (as opposed to someone else).
How do I say “I want to try it/them on” without repeating the noun?

Use object pronouns with the reflexive:

  • One feminine item (la bufanda): Quiero probármela / Me la quiero probar
  • Two feminine items: Quiero probármelas / Me las quiero probar Note the written accent when attaching two pronouns to the infinitive: probármela, probármelas.
Is there a Spain-specific nuance here?
Usage of probarse is the same. For politeness in shops, Spain commonly softens requests with the imperfect: Quería probarme… You’ll also hear ¿Podría/puedo probármela?, Me gustaría probarme…, or Quisiera…—all perfectly natural.
What are polite alternatives to Quiero… in a store?
  • ¿Puedo probármela? / ¿Me la puedo probar?
  • ¿Podría probármela? (more polite)
  • Quería/Quisiera/Me gustaría probarme la roja. These sound less direct than Quiero…, which can be a bit blunt though not necessarily rude.
Why is it la bufanda roja and not una bufanda roja?

Choose based on specificity:

  • la bufanda roja = a specific red scarf both people can identify (e.g., the one on the counter)
  • una bufanda roja = any red scarf, not a particular one
Does probar have a stem change? Why is there no change in probarme?
Yes, probar is o→ue in stressed forms: me pruebo, te pruebas, se prueba, nos probamos, os probáis, se prueban. In the infinitive probar(me) the vowel isn’t stressed, so it doesn’t change. Quiero is from querer, which is e→ie.
Can I use ponerme instead of probarme?

Different meaning:

  • ponerme la bufanda = put the scarf on (to wear it)
  • probarme la bufanda = try it on (to see how it looks/feels), not necessarily to keep wearing it
Is the comma before pero correct?
Yes. In Spanish, a comma normally precedes pero to mark the pause before the contrast: …, pero… is standard punctuation.
Why isn’t there an a before la bufanda (the “personal a”)?
The “personal a” is used with specific human (or personified) direct objects. La bufanda is an inanimate thing, so no a: probarme la bufanda, not probarme a la bufanda.
Can probar also mean “to taste”?
Yes. probar = try/test/taste. For food and drink: Quiero probar el vino (I want to taste the wine). For clothing, use probarse: Quiero probarme la bufanda. Context and the reflexive pronoun make the meaning clear.
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