Los verbos reflexivos By Jami Sipe Reflexive Verbs

A verb is reflexive when the subject and the direct object receiving the action are the same. Ejemplo: I wash myself. Subject: I Verb: wash Object: myself Since the subject and the object are the same, the verb is reflexive.

Ejemplo NOT reflexive: I wash the car. Subject: I Verb: wash Object: the car Since the subject and the object are different, the verb is not reflexive.

Other Examples: He bathes himself. Since the subject and the object are the same, the verb is reflexive. I bathe the dog. Since the subject and the object are different, the verb is NOT reflexive.

When a verb is reflexive in Spanish, the infinitive ends with “se.” lavar = lavarse = bañar = bañarse = to wash (not reflexive) to wash oneself (reflexive) to bathe (not reflexive) to bathe oneself (reflexive)

A verb you’ve been using since the beginning that is reflexive: llamarse = to call oneself Me llamo Josefina. Él se llama Juanito. Ella se llama Marta. Ellos se llaman Gutiérrez.

You need to know a different set of pronouns for reflexives. The “se” is dropped from the end of the infinitive. The verb is conjugated as a regular verb and you add a reflexive pronoun before the verb. lavarse – to wash oneself Me lavo. – I wash myself.

se – yourself (formal)/ himself/herself Reflexive Pronouns me – myself nos – ourselves te – yourself (familiar) os – yourselves (familiar - Spain) se – yourself (formal)/ himself/herself se – yourselves/ themselves

Present Tense: verbo “lavarse” me lavo nos lavamos te lavas os laváis se lava se lavan

The purpose of the reflexive pronoun is to show that the action of the verb remains with the subject. Juan se lava la cara. = (Juan washes his face.) Juan lava su carro. = (Juan washes his car.) (reflexive) (not reflexive)

Note: Nearly all verbs can be made reflexive (when the action remains with the subject). Conocer Conocerse (To know) (To know oneself) Bañar Bañarse (To bathe) (To bathe oneself)

When used with another verb such as “ir” Yo voy a bañarme. Nosotros vamos a bañarnos. Ellos se van a bañar. Josefina se va a bañar. When you have another verb first, you attach the correct pronoun to the end of the infinitive form of the reflexive verb or put it before the first verb.

Common reflexive verbs: irse lavarse vestirse levantarse despertarse maquillarse peinarse afeitarse = to go away = to wash oneself = to dress oneself = to get up = to wake up = to put on makeup = to comb one’s hair = to shave oneself

Special-use reflexive verbs: ponerse quitarse romperse quemarse + article of clothing – to put on + article of clothing – to take off + article of clothing – to tear + part of body – to break + part of body – to burn

Más ejemplos: bañarse = to take a bath secarse = to dry oneself ducharse = to take a shower abrocharse los cordones = to tie one’s shoelaces cepillarse los dientes = to brush one’s teeth cortarse el pelo = to cut one’s hair desabrocharse los cordones = to untie one’s shoes

Y más: acostarse (ue) = to go to bed dormirse (ue) = to fall asleep lastimarse el dedo = to hurt one’s finger lavarse la cabeza = to wash one’s hair limarse las uñas = to file one’s nails

Y los últimos: limpiarse los dientes = to brush one’s teeth pintarse los labios = to put lipstick on torcerse el tobillo (ue) = to twist one’s ankle

Check Your Knowledge! I wash my face. Me lavo la cara. He goes away. We put on makeup. They get up. I burnt my finger. All of you get dressed. You put on your jacket. Me lavo la cara. Se va. Nos maquillamos. Se levantan. Me quemé el dedo. Ustedes se visten. Te pones la chaqueta.

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