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by Patrick Jackson © Patrick Jackson - All Rights Reserved 2004 http://www.learningspanishlikecrazy.com ===================================

Spanish Grammar Lesson Reflexive Verbs and Reflexive Pronouns

This Spanish Grammar lesson covers Reflexive Verbs and Reflexive Pronouns. In Spanish, a verb is considered reflexive if the subject (the performer of the action) and the object (the receiver of the action) are the same.

Here’s an example of a reflexive verb being used in English:

I wash myself.

In the above sentence the verb “wash” is considered reflexive because the subject or the one performing the action (“I”) and the object or the one receiving the action (“myself”) are the same. On the other hand, if I said “I wash the baby,” the verb “wash” is no longer reflexive because the subject or the one performing the action (“I”) and the object or the one receiving the action (“baby”) are not the same.

Spanish reflexive verbs consist of a verb and a reflexive pronoun. The following are reflexive pronouns or objects of reflexive verbs.

me myself teyourself (tú form) seyourself (usted form) nosourselves sethemselves, yourselves

When there is just one verb in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun must come before the reflexive verb.

Me baño. I wash myself

However, when there are two verbs in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun either comes right before the first verb or follows the second verb.

Quiero bañarme. I want to wash myself.

Me quiero bañar. I want to wash myself.

Here are some examples using reflexive verbs.

Me afeito I shave myself

Te duchas You take a shower

Se llama Juan He calls himself John

Nos dormimos We fall asleep

No nos sentamos We don’t sit down

Se enojan They get mad

Se levantan All of you get up

Te cepillas los dientes You brush your teeth.

Literally, “los dientes” means “the teeth” and not “your teeth.” Since we are using the reflexive pronoun “te” it is obvious whose teeth we are talking about. Here some common reflexive verbs in Spanish.

acostarse to go to bed afeitarseto shave oneself bañarseto bathe oneself casarse (con alguien)to get married, to marry someone cepillarseto brush oneself despertarse (ie) to wake up desvestirse (i)to get undressed divertirse (ie)to enjoy oneself dormirse (ue)to fall asleep ducharseto take a shower enfermarse to get sick lavarseto wash oneself levantarseto get up llamarseto be named, to be called mirarseto look at oneself peinarseto comb (one’s hair) quitarse (la ropa)to takeoff (one’s clothes) secarseto dry one’s self sentarse (ie)to sit down sentirse (ie)to feel vestirse (i)to get dressed

Now let’s try a few exercises. Translate the following into Spanish. The answers follow the questions.

1.My name is Patrick 2.You brush your hair every evening. (Use “tu” form) 3.You can wash your feet. (Use “tú” form) 4.Do you take a shower or do you take a bath in the morning? (Use the “usted” form) 5.He takes off his pants. 6.We wash our hands before dinner. 7. The wake up very late.

Answers.

1.Me llamo Patrick. 2.Te cepillas el pelo cada noche. 3.Te puedes lavar los pies. Puedes lavarte los pies. 4.¿Se ducha o se baña en la mañana? 5.Se quita los pantalones. 6.Nos lavamos las manos antes de la cena. 7.Se despiertan muy tarde.

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