Grammar Guide: Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Reflexive verbs are a type of verb in Spanish that are used to describe an action that is performed by the subject on itself. For instance, when we say "Me lavo las manos," which means "I wash my hands," the reflexive pronoun "me" indicates that the subject (I) is performing the action (washing) on itself (my hands).

Reflexive verbs in Spanish are usually formed by adding a reflexive pronoun before the verb. Here are the reflexive pronouns used in Spanish:

• me (myself)

• te (yourself)

• se (himself/herself/yourself)

• nos (ourselves)

• os (yourselves)

• se (themselves/yourself)

When using reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun must agree with the subject of the sentence. Here is an example:

• Ella se mira en el espejo. (She looks at herself in the mirror.)

In this sentence, "se" is the reflexive pronoun that agrees with the subject "ella" (she).

There are several common reflexive verbs in Spanish that are used frequently in everyday conversation. Here are some examples:

• Acostarse - to go to bed

• Levantarse - to get up

• Despertarse - to wake up

• Bañarse - to take a bath

• Vestirse - to get dressed

• Peinarse - to comb one's hair

• Maquillarse - to put on makeup

• Afeitarse - to shave

Conjugating Reflexive Verbs

To conjugate reflexive verbs, we simply add the reflexive pronoun before the verb and then conjugate the verb as usual. Here is an example with the reflexive verb "levantarse" (to get up) in the present tense:

• Yo me levanto temprano. (I get up early.)

• Tú te levantas tarde. (You get up late.)

• Él/ella/usted se levanta a las seis. (He/she/you formal gets up at six.)

• Nosotros/nosotras nos levantamos juntos. (We get up together.)

• Vosotros/vosotras os levantáis después del almuerzo. (You all get up after lunch.)

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes se levantan a las siete. (They/you all get up at seven.)

Reflexive Verbs in Other Tenses

Reflexive verbs can be used in all tenses and moods in Spanish, just like any other verb. Here are some examples:

• Present progressive: Yo me estoy bañando. (I am taking a bath.)

• Imperfect: Ellos se bañaban todos los días. (They used to take a bath every day.)

• Preterite: Me levanté temprano hoy. (I got up early today.)

• Future: Nos vamos a acostar temprano esta noche. (We are going to bed early tonight.)

• Conditional: Me peinaría si tuviera tiempo. (I would comb my hair if I had time.)

Reflexive Verbs in Commands

When giving commands with reflexive verbs in Spanish, the reflexive pronoun is attached to the end of the verb. Here are some examples:

• ¡Levántate! (Get up!)

• ¡Acuéstate temprano! (Go to bed early!)

• ¡Lávate las manos! (Wash your hands!)

Reflexive Verbs with Pronouns

When a reflexive verb is used with another pronoun, such as a direct object pronoun or an indirect object pronoun, the reflexive pronoun must be changed to reflect the other pronoun. Here are some examples:

• Me voy a lavar la cara. (I am going to wash my face.)

• Él nos está preparando la cena. (He is preparing dinner for us.)

• ¿Te compraste un vestido nuevo? (Did you buy yourself a new dress?)

Reflexive Verbs vs. Non-Reflexive Verbs

It is important to note that some verbs in Spanish can be both reflexive and non-reflexive, depending on the context in which they are used. For example:

• Sentar(se) - to sit (down)

• Acostar(se) - to lie (down)

• Parar(se) - to stop (oneself)

When used as non-reflexive verbs, these verbs do not require the reflexive pronoun. Here are some examples:

• Me siento en la silla. (I sit down in the chair.) - reflexive

• Ella sienta al niño en el sofá. (She sits the child down on the couch.) - non-reflexive

• Me acuesto en la cama. (I lie down in bed.) - reflexive

• Él acuesta al bebé en la cuna. (He lays the baby down in the crib.) - non-reflexive

• Nos paramos en el semáforo. (We stop at the traffic light.) - reflexive

• El conductor para el autobús en la estación. (The driver stops the bus at the station.) - non-reflexive

Common Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Here are some common reflexive verbs in Spanish:

• Acostarse - to lie down

• Bañarse - to take a bath

• Cepillarse - to brush (teeth/hair)

• Despertarse - to wake up

• Duchar(se) - to take a shower

• Lavarse - to wash oneself

• Peinarse - to comb one's hair

• Ponerse - to put on

• Quitarse - to take off

• Sentarse - to sit down

• Vestirse - to get dressed

Reflexive verbs are used in many different contexts in Spanish. They are used to describe daily routines, personal care, and actions that a person performs on themselves. For example:

• Me lavo los dientes todos los días. (I brush my teeth every day.)

• Ella se peina antes de salir. (She combs her hair before going out.)

• Nos bañamos en la piscina. (We take a bath in the pool.)

Reflexive verbs are also used to express emotions or states of being, such as feeling or looking a certain way. For example:

• Me siento cansado hoy. (I feel tired today.)

• Te ves muy bien con ese vestido. (You look great in that dress.)

• Nos sentimos emocionados por el viaje. (We feel excited about the trip.)

Finally, reflexive verbs are used to describe reciprocal actions between two or more people. In these cases, the reflexive pronoun changes to reflect the plural subject. For example:

• Nos besamos antes de despedirnos. (We kiss each other before saying goodbye.)

• Ellos se ayudan mutuamente con sus tareas. (They help each other with their homework.)