Breakdown of Os dois palhaços não se dão bem comigo.
não
not / no
bem
well / fine
dois
two
comigo
with me
o palhaço
the clown
dar-se
to get along
Questions & Answers about Os dois palhaços não se dão bem comigo.
How does the verb dar (to give) mean "get along" here?
This is a lexical-semantic shift. When you add a reflexive pronoun to dar, it completely changes meaning. The reflexive verb dar-se, when followed by bem (well) or mal (poorly), means "to get along". Without the se, the verb would simply mean "to give".
Why does the reflexive pronoun se come before the verb as não se dão?
Why is the word comigo used instead of com mim?
The expression dar-se bem requires the preposition com to specify who you get along with. In Portuguese, the preposition com combined with the pronoun mim (me) always fuses into the single irregular word comigo.
Can I use dar-se bem to talk about things other than relationships with people?
Yes! A great B2-level use of this reflexive verb is to describe how you tolerate environments, climates, or foods. For example, you can say Não me dou bem com o calor to mean "I don't do well with the heat" or "The heat doesn't agree with me".
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