Im reading spanish-english childrens books to help me w the language bc i like the pictures

Anyway Im really confused bc sometimes "me" is seemingly randomly added on to the infinitive verb and sometimes not so im not sure why. For example..
on page is this: "I can tie my shoes"/"Yo puedo amarrarme los zapatos"
& the page right after: "I can ride my bike"/ "Yo puedo montar en bicicleta."
Why not "montarme"

Also why don't they always translate it exactly. The spanish sentence says I can ride ON the bike, not my (mi) bicicleta. Why don't they have the sentences the same way?? It makes it more confusing. Grr.

In the example "Yo puedo amarrarme los zapatos" the "me" is used reflexively. I am able to tie (for myself) my shoes. Why isn't it "mis zapatos?" It's because articles of clothing and parts of the body usually use the reflexive pronoun to say whose shoes they are. Translated literally (word for word) it sounds ridiculous. "I am able to tie the shoes belonging to me." If you aren't aware of that "rule" it would seem confusing!

As for "Yo puedo montar en bicicleta" it's "I can ride (on) a bike. If y ou must say "I can ride mi bike" it would be "Yo puedo montar mi bicicleta."

If it seems strange to you, "idioms" are said in a certain way, and will not translate literally (word for word) in another language.

Sra

the first part I see you point but that other sentence should have been "mi" bc it would have translated perfectly...

Another question...a sentence says: "I can go down the pole/ Yo puedo deslizarme por el poste" I can go down the pole belonging to me? She's in the park lol. And the pg right next to it has a boy going down steps and they don't use the "me" on the end of the verb.

Also...another pg it says "I can clean my room."/ "Yo puedo arreglar mi cuarto"
Would it have been acceptable to use arreglarme?

Great job on using Spanish-English children's books to learn the language! It's an effective way to practice and immerse yourself in the language.

Now, let's address your questions about the use of "me" with the infinitive verb and the variation in translations.

In Spanish, when an action is being performed on oneself, it is common to use a reflexive construction. The pronoun "me" is added to the end of the verb to indicate that the action is being done to oneself. For example, "amarrarme" in the sentence "Yo puedo amarrarme los zapatos" means "to tie my shoes (myself)." On the other hand, "montar en bicicleta" means "to ride a bike," without the reflexive pronoun, because the action itself does not involve doing something to oneself.

Regarding the translation variations, it's important to note that translations are not always literal word-for-word conversions. Translators strive to convey the message and meaning of the original sentence while adapting it to the target language's idiomatic expressions and conventions. In the case of "Yo puedo montar en bicicleta," the phrase "ride on the bike" is translated as "montar en bicicleta," omitting the possessive "my" (mi) in the English translation. This is because in Spanish, it is common to omit possessive pronouns when they are clear from the context, as in this case where it is evident that the person is riding their own bike.

Translations can vary depending on the context, cultural differences, and the specific meaning that is being conveyed. This is why sometimes the sentences are not translated in exactly the same way. While it may seem confusing at first, it reflects the nuances and flexibility of different languages.

Remember that language learning is a process, and it's normal to encounter challenges and inconsistencies along the way. Keep practicing, and with time and exposure, these patterns and variations will become clearer to you. Keep up the great work!