Los verbos Los verbos reflexivosreflexivos

Reflexive Verbs

By Jami Sipe

Ejemplo:

A verb is reflexive when the A verb is reflexive when the subject and the direct object subject and the direct object

receiving the action are the same.receiving the action are the same.

I wash myself.• Subject: I• Verb: wash• Object: myself

Since the subject and the object are the same, the verb is reflexive.reflexive.

EjemploEjemplo

NOTNOT reflexive:

I wash the car.• Subject: I• Verb: wash• Object: the car

Since the subject and the object are different, the verb is notnot reflexive.

Other Examples:Other Examples:

• He bathes himself.Since the subject and the object are

the same, the verb is reflexiveis reflexive.

• I bathe the dog.Since the subject and the object are

different, the verb is NOT reflexiveNOT reflexive.

When a verb is reflexive in When a verb is reflexive in Spanish, the infinitive Spanish, the infinitive

ends with “ends with “se.se.””

• lavar =

• lavarse =

• bañar =

• bañarse =

to wash (notnot reflexive)

to wash oneself (reflexivereflexive)

to bathe (notnot reflexive)

to bathe oneself (reflexivereflexive)

A verb you’ve been using sinceA verb you’ve been using sincethe beginning that is reflexive:the beginning that is reflexive:

llamarsellamarse = 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 You need to know a different set of pronouns for reflexives.of pronouns for reflexives.

The “sese” 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.

Reflexive PronounsReflexive Pronouns

te – yourself(familiar)

os – yourselves (familiar - Spain)

me – myself nos – ourselves

se – yourselves/ themselves

se – yourself (formal)/ himself/herself

Present Tense: Present Tense: verbo “lavarse” verbo “lavarse”

te lavas os laváis

me lavo nos lavamos

se lavanse lava

The purpose of the reflexive pronoun The purpose of the reflexive pronoun is to show that the action of the verb is to show that the action of the verb

remains with the subject.remains with the subject.

• Juan se lava la cara. = (Juan washes his face.)

• Juan lava su carro. = (Juan washes his car.)

(reflexive)(reflexive)

(not reflexive)(not reflexive)

Note: NearlyNearly all verbs can be made

reflexive (when the action remains with the subject).

• Conocer• Conocerse

(To know)(To know)(To know (To know oneself)oneself)

• Bañar• Bañarse

(To bathe)(To bathe)(To bathe oneself)(To bathe oneself)

When used with another verb When used with another verb such as such as “ir”“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:Common reflexive verbs:

= 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

irse

lavarse

vestirse

levantarse

despertarse

maquillarse

peinarse

afeitarse

+ 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

ponerse

quitarse

romperse

romperse

quemarse

Special-use reflexive verbs:Special-use reflexive verbs:

Más ejemplos: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: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: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

Me lavo la cara.

Se va.

Nos maquillamos.

Se levantan.

Me quemé el dedo.

Ustedes se visten.

Te pones la chaqueta.

I wash my face.

He goes away.

We put on makeup.

They get up.

I burnt my finger.

All of you get dressed.

You put on your jacket.

Check Your Knowledge!Check Your Knowledge!

Credits

©2010 Teacher’s Discovery

Written by: Jami Sipe

Additional Information by: Suzanne Rutkowski

Adriana Miretti

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