Download Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive Verbs
A verb is reflexive if the subject and the object of a sentence are the same.
Introduction
In other words, if the subject of a sentence also receives the action of the verb, it will be reflexive.
Consider these two sentences:
Andrew lava el coche.
Andrew se lava.
Andrew washes the car.
Andrew washes himself.
Since Andrew is the person doing and receiving the action of the verb in the second sentence, the
verb is reflexive. In the first example, the verb lavar is used. In the second sentence the reflexive verb
lavarse is used.
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive verbs are always accompanied by a reflexive pronoun. To form a reflexive infinitive verb,
you simply place the reflexive pronoun se at the end of the infinitive, like this:
llamar
llamarse
to call (not reflexive)
to call oneself (reflexive)
When the verb is conjugated, however, the pronoun will change to match the subject of the sentence.
The reflexive pronouns in Spanish are:
Reflexive Pronouns
me myself
nos ourselves; each other
te
os
yourself
se him/her/yourself [formal] se
yourselves [informal, Spain]; each other
themselves; each other; yourselves [formal]
Conjugating Reflexive Verbs
When a reflexive verb is conjugated, the matching reflexive pronoun goes in front of the conjugated
verb. Here are the present tense conjugations of the verb llamarse:
© 2011 Middlebury Interactive Languages. All rights reserved. This material is intended for the exclusive use of registered users only. No portion of these materials may be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express permission of Middlebury Interactive Languages. Llamarse
me llamo I call myself
nos llamamos
we call ourselves/
we call each other
te llamas you call yourself
os llamáis
you guys call yourselves/
you guys call each other
se llama
he calls himself/
she calls herself/
se llaman
you (formal) call yourself
they call themselves/
they call each other/
you guys (formal) call yourselves/
each other
Body Parts
In the case of body parts, reflexive verbs can be tricky. Consider the following sentence and its
Spanish translation:
Daniel washes his hands.
Daniel se lava las manos.
Even though the Spanish sentence literally means “Daniel washes himself the hands,” it is correct. It
is understood in Spanish that “the hands” are his, since the verb is reflexive. (Remember that this is
NOT the case when talking about an object that belongs to the subject, such as a car.)
Word Order
As is the case with object pronouns, reflexive pronouns generally come before the verb. However,
just like object pronouns, reflexive pronouns can be directly attached to the end of an infinitive verb
and a gerund. For example, the following sentence is acceptable:
Daniel necesita lavarse las manos.
Daniel está lavándose las manos.
Daniel needs to wash his hands.
Daniel is washing his hands.
Change in Meaning
Some verbs change slightly in meaning in their reflexive forms. Here are some examples:
hacer to do, to make
volver to return
ir to go
hacerse to become (literally to make oneself)
volverse to become (literally to [re]turn oneself)
irse to go away (literally to go oneself)
© 2011 Middlebury Interactive Languages. All rights reserved. This material is intended for the exclusive use of registered users only. No portion of these materials may be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express permission of Middlebury Interactive Languages. Emphasis
Sometimes verbs can be reflexive just to emphasize the action or the person performing it:
Puedes comer el helado. You can eat the ice cream.
¡Cómetelo! Eat it (up)!
Here is a list of common reflexive verbs that you will see in Spanish.
acostarse (o-ue)
to go to bed
lastimarse
to hurt oneself
afeitarse
to shave
lavarse
to wash
arreglarse
to get ready
llamarse
to call oneself
bañarse
to take a bath, to bathe
levantarse
to get up
cansarse (de)
to get tired (of)
peinarse
to comb one's hair
casarse (con)
to get married (to)
ponerse
to get dressed
cortarse
to cut onself, to get cut (hair) quedarse
to stay
despedirse (e-i)
to say goodbye to
*quejarse
to complain about
despertarse (e-ie) to wake up
quitarse
to take off (clothing)
*divertirse (e-ie)
to have fun, to enjoy oneself secarse
to dry
ducharse
to take a shower
sentarse (e-ie)
to sit down
enfermarse
to get sick
sentirse (e-ie)
to feel
Note: Keep in mind that the majority of these verbs are not always reflexive. It depends on who is
performing the action, who is receiving the action, as well as the actual meaning of the verb. If the
subject of the sentence receives the action then it will be used reflexively. An asterisk has been
placed next to the verbs that are always reflexive.
© 2011 Middlebury Interactive Languages. All rights reserved. This material is intended for the exclusive use of registered users only. No portion of these materials may be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express permission of Middlebury Interactive Languages.