ELONIO
Log inSign up

En el ecosistema, la flor y el insecto se benefician mutuamente.

En el ecosistema, la flor y el insecto se benefician mutuamente.
In the ecosystem, the flower and the insect benefit each other mutually.
From Lesson 261:Reciprocal actions (el uno al otro)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about En el ecosistema, la flor y el insecto se benefician mutuamente.

Why do we need mutuamente if se already tells us they are benefiting each other?
The pronoun se is used for both reflexive actions (doing something to oneself) and reciprocal actions (doing something to each other). While context usually makes it clear, adding mutuamente completely removes any chance of confusion, ensuring it means they benefit each other rather than themselves.
How would this sentence change if I wanted to use el uno al otro instead of mutuamente?
You would just replace the word at the end to say se benefician el uno al otro. Notice that we use the masculine el uno al otro because the subjects form a mixed-gender pair: la flor is feminine, and el insecto is masculine.
Wait, why is the verb benefician in the plural form if flor and insecto are singular words?
Because they are joined by y (and), they become a plural subject together. Just like in English, the flower and the insect equals they, so you must use the third-person plural verb ending.
Can mutuamente go before the verb instead of at the end of the sentence?
It is technically possible to say mutuamente se benefician, but placing it after the verb is much more common and sounds more natural in Spanish. Adverbs like mutuamente usually follow the verbs they describe.

Learn En el ecosistema, la flor y el insecto se benefician mutuamente and more in Spanish

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Spanish →