1. Reflexive Verbs
A verb is REFLEXIVE when the _________ and the ____________ are the ____________. (The subject does something to himself).
SUBJECT
DIRECT OBJECT
SAME PERSON

2. So…. what’s a direct object?
It is the person or thing in the sentence the subject acts upon.
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!
Actividad I

5. Some verbs can be used as reflexive or nonreflexive
Some verbs can be used as reflexive or nonreflexive. It all depends on if the SUBJECT and the OBJECT are the SAME PERSON. (Write these examples in your notes packet)
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. Is the picture reflexive or not?
Pause for pictures!
Is the picture reflexive or not?

7. 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

8. Pause for practice!
Actividad II

9. 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.
Jot some examples down in your notes IN ENGLISH.

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

11. Refer to your purple reference sheet for a complete list of Spanish verbs.
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)

12. 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.

13. For example: I wash (myself).
When using reflexive verbs it is very important to have the reflexive pronoun and the conjugated verb represent the same person. If not, you don’t have a reflexive verb.
For example: I wash (myself).
Yo _____ lavo. ME

14. 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
When using a reflexive verb with the body part, the definite article (el, la, los or las) is used in place of the possessive adjective.

15. Pause for practice!
Actividad III

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

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

18. Pause for practice!
Actividad IV

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

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

21. Pause for practice!
Actividad V

22. PRESENT
PARTICIPLE
If there’s a __________ ____________ in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun gets __________ to the verb.
ATTACHED
Susi is going to bed now.
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…

23. 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, which is this case is always a form of ESTAR.
Susi está acostándo___ ahora. SE SE
Susi ___ está acostando ahora.
Participle
Reflexive
Pronoun
Reflexive
Pronoun
Conjugated
Verb

24. Pause for practice!
Actividad VI

25. If the verb in the sentence is an ____________ ___________, the reflexive pronoun gets ___________ to the verb
AFFIRMATIVE
COMMAND
ATTACHED
ALWAYS
Wake up!
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.

26. 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…

27. Pause for practice!
Actividad VII

28. Practice! Translate the following sentences into Spanish – Actividad VIII:
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.

29. Check: 1. Elena está preparándose. OR: Elena se está preparando.
2. Yolanda y Carlos tienen que despertarse a las seis.
OR: Yolanda y Carlos se tienen que despertar a las seis.

30. Check: 3. Me afeito todos los días.
4. Marcos y Paula quieren divertirse
OR: Marcos y Paula se quieren divertir.
5. Siéntate, por favor.
6. Tito se cepilla los dientes con pasta dental.

31. ¡Repasamos! What is a reflexive verb?
Is the sentence “I put deodorant on every day” reflexive? Why or why not?
Reflexive verbs require the use of a ____ ____. (What are the six?)
Where does the pronoun go when using a conjugated verb?
Where does the pronoun go when using an infinitive?
What is the accent rule when using a present participle?

32. Pause for practice!
Actividad IX