7.1 Reflexive verbs

7.1 Los reflexivos

Reflexive verbs

Verbs used with reflexive pronouns

7.1 Reflexive verbs

Object Pronouns: This lesson refers to reflexive verbs. However, it might be helpful to think of reflexive constructions as verbs that use reflexive pronouns. This is because many verbs can be used with or without reflexive pronouns.

Reflexive Indirect Direct

me nos me nos me nos

te os te os te os

se se le les lo/la los/las

7.1 Reflexive verbs

A reflexive verb is most commonly used to indicate that the subject does something to or for himself or herself.

In other words, it “reflects” the action of the verb back to the subject. Reflexive verbs always use reflexive pronouns. (me, te, se, nos, os, se)

SUBJECT REFLEXIVE VERB

Joaquín se ducha por la mañana.

Joaquín showers (gets showered) in the morning.

7.1 Reflexive verbs

¡ATENCIÓN!

Except for se, reflexive pronouns have the same forms as direct and indirect object pronouns.

Se is used for both singular and plural subjects —there is no individual plural form.

Pablo se lava.

Ellos se lavan.

The word ses does not exist!

7.1 Reflexive verbs In the dictionary, the pronoun se attached to an infinitive

identifies the verb as reflexive, and often translates as “oneself.” (It can also be translated “to get”/”to become”)

lavarse (to wash oneself) (to get washed)

When a reflexive verb is conjugated, the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject. Pronouns match up with the conjugated verb.

me yo form nos nosotros form

te tú form os vosotros form

se Ud., él, ella forms se Uds., ellos, ellas forms

Me afeito. I shave myself.

Te despiertas a las siete. You wake up at 7:00.

7.1 Reflexive verbslavarse (to wash oneself)

SINGULAR FORMS

yo me lavo I wash (myself)

tú te lavas you wash (yourself)

Ud. se lava you wash (yourself)

él / ella se lava he/she washes (himself/herself)

PLURAL FORMS

nosotros/as nos lavamos we wash (ourselves)

vosotros/as os laváis you wash (yourselves)

Uds. se lavan you wash (yourselves)

ellos / ellas se lavan they wash (themselves)

7.1 Reflexive verbs

Unlike English, a number of verbs in Spanish can be reflexive or non-reflexive. If the verb acts upon the subject, the reflexive form is used. If the verb acts upon something other than the subject, the non-reflexive form is used. Compare these sentences.

Lola lava los platos. Lola se lava la cara.

Reflexive verbs sometimes have different meanings than their non-reflexive counterparts. For example, lavar means to wash, while lavarse means to wash oneself, to wash up, to get washed.

COMPARE & CONTRAST

7.1 Reflexive verbs

¡ATENCIÓN!

When used with a reflexive verb, parts of the body or clothing are generally not referred to with possessives, but with the definite article (el, los, la, las) or with the indefinite article (un, una, unos, unas).

La niña se quitó los zapatos.

Necesito cepillarme los dientes.

El chico se pone una corbata.

7.1 Reflexive verbsNOTE: A reflexive pronoun can serve as a direct

object pronoun or as an indirect object pronoun.

Me lavo. I wash myself. (I get washed.)

D.O.P. Me pongo la chaqueta. I put the jacket on me .

D.O. I.O. pronoun

In any case, the reflexive pronoun ALWAYS agrees with the subject of

the conjugated verb.

7.1 Reflexive verbs To sit down sentarse To fall down caerse To stand up levantarse To shut up callarse To get sick enfermarse To become happy alegrarse

Verbs that end in up and down in English, are reflexive in Spanish. When English uses get or become with a verb, Spanish uses reflexive constructions.

(Spanish does not literally translate the words up, down, get, become.)

7.1 Reflexive verbs

Like object pronouns, reflexive pronouns generally appear before a conjugated verb.

With infinitives and present participles, they may be placed before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive or present participle.

Ellos se van a vestir. Ellos van a vestirse.

They are going to get dressed.

Nos estamos lavando las manos. Estamos lavándonos las manos.We are washing our hands.

7.1 Reflexive verbs

¡ATENCIÓN!

When a reflexive pronoun is attached to a present participle, an accent mark is added to maintain the original stress:

bañando bañándose

afeitando afeitándose

7.1 Reflexive verbs

Common reflexive verbs

acordarse (de) (o:ue) to remember

acostarse (o:ue) to go to bed

afeitarse to shave

bañarse to bathe; to take a bath

cepillarse to brush

despedirse (de) (e:i) to say good-bye (to)

despertarse (e:ie) to wake up

dormirse (o:ue) to go to sleep; to fall asleep

ducharse to shower; to take a shower

7.1 Reflexive verbs

Common reflexive verbs

enojarse (con) to get angry (with)

irse to go away; to leave

lavarse to wash (oneself)

levantarse to get up

llamarse to be called; to be named

maquillarse to put on makeup

peinarse to comb one’s hair

ponerse to put on

ponerse (+ adj.) to become (+ adj.)

7.1 Reflexive verbs

Common reflexive verbs

preocuparse (por) to worry (about)

probarse (o:ue) to try on

quedarse to stay; to remain

quitarse to take off

secarse to dry (oneself)

sentarse (e:ie) to sit down

sentirse (e:ie) to feel

vestirse (e:i) to get dressed

7.1 Reflexive verbs¡INTÉNTALO! Indica el presente de los verbos reflexivos que siguen.

despertarse (e-ie in the present)

1.Mis hermanos ____ tarde. se despiertan2. Tú ____ tarde. te despiertas

3. Nosotros ____ tarde. nos despertamos4. Benito ____ tarde. se despierta5. Yo ____ tarde. me despierto

7.1 Reflexive verbs

6. Ustedes ____ tarde.

se despiertan

7. Ella ____ tarde.

se despierta

8. Adriana y yo ____ tarde.

nos despertamos

9. Ellos ____ tarde. se despiertan

7.1 Reflexive verbs

ponerse

1.Él ____ una chaqueta. se pone2. Yo ____ una chaqueta. me pongo

3. Usted ____ una chaqueta. se pone4. Nosotros ____ una chaqueta. nos ponemos

¡INTÉNTALO! Indica el presente de los verbos reflexivos que siguen.

7.1 Reflexive verbs5. Las niñas ____ una chaqueta.

se ponen

6.Tú ____ una chaqueta.

te pones

7.El botones ____ una chaqueta.

se pone

8. Beatriz y Gil ____ una chaqueta.

se ponen

9. Ustedes ____ una chaqueta.

se ponen