1. Reflexive Verbs
A verb is REFLEXIVE when the _________ and the ____________ are the ____________. (The subject is doing something onto itself). We express this in English by saying “self”.
SUBJECT
DIRECT OBJECT
SAME PERSON

2. So…. what’s a direct object?
It is the person or thing in the sentence that receives the action of the verb.
THE LETTER THAT’S WRITTEN
THE DINNER THAT’S COOKED
THE BALL THAT’S THROWN
THE FRIEND THAT’S CALLED
THE HOMEWORK THAT’S DONE
THE CAKE THAT’S BAKED

3. But… back to reflexive verbs! Here are some examples:
We get (ourselves) up at dawn.
Dad shaves (himself) every day.
Where should I sit (myself) down?
She has to wash her (own) hair now.
They are dressing (themselves).
The child goes (takes himself) to bed at 8:00.
Do you want to try that dress on (yourself)?

4. Pause for practice!

5. Some verbs can be used as reflexive or nonreflexive:
I wash my hands. (reflexive)
I wash the dog. (nonreflexive - here the subject is “I” and the D.O. is “dog”)
She is dressing herself. (reflexive)
She is dressing her son. (nonreflexive - here the subject is “she” and the D.O. is “son”)

6. They had to go to bed early. Wash the dog! Dress your brother!
With an amigo (or by yourself), decide if the following sentences are reflexive or not:
They sat down next to me.
I woke her up late today.
They had to go to bed early.
Wash the dog!
Dress your brother!
He brushes his teeth three times a day.
REFLEXIVE
NON REFLEXIVE
REFLEXIVE
NON REFLEXIVE
NON REFLEXIVE
REFLEXIVE

7. Pause for practice!

8. Can you think of some actions that would be reflexive?
A lot of actions we do to get ourselves ready for the day are reflexive verbs.

9. Common reflexive verbs include:
to go to bed
to shave
to get ready
to bathe
to comb
to wake up
to have fun
to (fall) asleep
acostarse (o>ue)
afeitarse
arreglarse
bañarse
cepillarse
despertarse (e>ie)
divertirse (e>ie)
dormirse (o>ue)

10. to go to wash to get up to comb one’s hair to put on to take off
Refer to your purple reference sheet for a complete list of he verbs you will use in Spanish 2.
to go
to wash
to get up
to comb one’s hair
to put on
to take off
to sit
to get dressed
irse
lavarse
levantarse
peinarse
ponerse
quitarse
sentarse (e>ie)
vestirse (e>I)

11. When conjugating in Spanish, reflexive verbs require the use of a reflexive pronoun:Me Te Se
Nos Os Se
Note how “se” can be used for both singular and plural. The use of a subject pronoun in the sentence is recommended to clarify.

12. For example: I wash (myself).
The reflexive pronoun you use will represent the subject of the sentence.
For example: I wash (myself). ME
Yo _____ lavo.

13. Let’s try some more. We get ready slowly. Nos arreglamos lentamente.
You wake up at 6:00.
Te despiertas a las seis.
He washes his hands before dinner.
Se lava manos antes de la cena.
las
Note the use of the definite article instead of the possessive adjective in the sentence.

14. Pause for practice!

15. But it’s not enough to know that you have to use a reflexive pronoun.
You also have to know where to put it in the sentence.
The type of verb in the sentence will determine the reflexive pronoun’s placement.

16. _____ cepillo los dientes. ME
If there’s a ___________________ in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun goes _________ the verb.
CONJUGATED VERB
BEFORE
_____ cepillo los dientes. ME
Reflexive
Pronoun
Conjugated
Verb

17. Pause for practice!

18. “Levantarnos” is ONE WORD.
If there’s an ___________ in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun gets ___________ to the verb.
INFINITIVE
ATTACHED
Queremos levantar_____ temprano.
NOS
Infinitive
Reflexive
Pronoun
“Levantarnos” is ONE WORD.

19. _____ queremos levantar temprano.
BUT…
since there is also a CONJUGATED VERB in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun can still go BEFORE the conjugated verb.
Queremos levantar_____ temprano.
NOS
NOS
_____ queremos levantar temprano.
Infinitive
Reflexive
Pronoun
Reflexive
Pronoun
Conjugated
Verb

20. Pause for practice!

21. Susi está ___ ahora. acostándo acostando SE
If there’s a __________ ____________ in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun gets __________ to the verb.
PRESENT
PARTICIPLE
ATTACHED
Susi está ___ ahora.
acostándo
acostando SE
Participle
Reflexive Pronoun
When you attach to the end of the participle, you add a syllable to the word, which messes with the natural stress.
HOWEVER…
The participle will need a written accent over the “A” in –ANDO or the “E” in –IENDO.
THEREFORE…

22. Susi ___ está acostando ahora.
BUT…
since there is also a CONJUGATED VERB in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun can still go BEFORE the conjugated verb.
Susi está acostándo___ ahora. SE SE
Susi ___ está acostando ahora.
Participle
Reflexive
Pronoun
Reflexive
Pronoun
Conjugated
Verb

23. Pause for practice!

24. If the verb in the sentence is an ____________ ___________, the reflexive pronoun gets ___________ to the verb
AFFIRMATIVE
COMMAND
ATTACHED
ALWAYS
Despierta____ TE
Command
Reflexive
Pronoun
Affirmative commands are when you tell someone to do something. Regular commands are formed by conjugating in the “tú” form and dropping the “S”. Irregular commands will be covered later this year.

25. Despierta__ Despiérta__ TE
When the command is more than one syllable AND you attach to the end of the participle, you add a syllable to the word, which messes with the natural stress.
HOWEVER…
The command will need a written accent. Count back 3 vowels from the end (including the reflexive pronoun) and you will be over the right letter MOST OF THE TIME.
THEREFORE…

26. Pause for practice!

27. Practice! Translate the following sentences into Spanish:
Elena is getting ready (note the -ING).
Yolanda and Carlos have to wake up at 6:00.
I shave every day.
Marcos and Paula want to have fun.
Sit down, please. (use a command)
Tito brushes his teeth with tooth paste.

28. Check: Elena está preparándose. OR: Elena se está preparando.
Yolanda y Carlos tienen que despertarse a las seis.
OR: Yolanda y Carlos se tienen que despertar a las seis.

29. Check: Me afeito todos los días. Marcos y Paula quieren divertirse
OR: Marcos y Paula se quieren divertir.
Siéntate, por favor.
Tito se cepilla los dientes con pasta dental.