Fatiguer et se fatiguer

Question

In the example “il se fatigua vite mais ils ne fatiguèrent qu’à la fin de la  journée” is there a reason why the verb is reflexive in the first phrase, but not in the second?

Accepted Answer

Hi Heather, 
This is an interesting question and the difference is very subtle -
il se fatigua vite = he got tired very quickly
ils ne fatiguèrent qu'à la fin de la journée = they only tired ( of something they were doing) at the end of the day
Bonne continuation!

Answer

The difference is so subtle that i dont get it. Would appreciate more of explanation... Thanks in advance

Answer

Replying to Dina: Think of 'se fatiguer' as a compund verb(or phrasal verb) 'get tired' similar to se perdre 'to get lost' VS fatiguer (to tire) or perdre to lose.

Then it should follow logically why one has a reflexive pronoun (se fatiguer/se perdre) as the object(receiver of the verbs action...

and the other (like perdre) has a direct object or has either no object or an object following a preposition(like fatiguer).

I got tired from walking==Je me suis fatigué de marcher.

i got lost while walking==je me suis perdu en marchant

The walk tired me== La marche m'a fatigué

I lost my way while walking == J'ai perdu mon chemin en marchant.

Answer

Replying Heather: My best guess-understanding is "he got tired" by some external factor acting upon him (maybe he took a very steep route, so heavy boots, etc.) but that external thing did not act upon the other so "they did not tire themselves", they economically used their bodily power.