Reflexive Verbs and Reflexive Pronouns

This Spanish Grammar online topic 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
• te - yourself (tú form)
• se - yourself (usted form)
• nos - ourselves
• se - themselves, 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
• afeitarse - to shave oneself
• bañarse - to bathe oneself
• casarse (con alguien) - to get married, to marry someone
• cepillarse - to brush oneself
• despertarse (ie) - to wake up
• desvestirse (i) - to get undressed
• divertirse (ie) - to enjoy oneself
• dormirse (ue) - to fall asleep
• ducharse - to take a shower
• enfermarse - to get sick
• lavarse - to wash oneself
• levantarse - to get up
• llamarse - to be named, to be called
• mirarse - to look at oneself
• peinarse - to comb (one's hair)
• quitarse (la ropa) - to takeoff (one's clothes)
• secarse - to dry one's self
• sentarse (ie) - to sit down
• sentirse (ie) - to feel
• vestirse (i) - to get dressed

Exercises with Spanish verbs

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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