Los Verbos Reflexivos en español…

In English, we really don’t identify with reflexive verbs. So these will seem strange to you.

Reflexive Verbs:

A verb is reflexive when the subject and the object are the same. I wash myself.

subject: Iverb: washobject: myself

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

I wash the car.subject: Iverb: washobject: car

Since the subject and object are different, the verb is not reflexive.

When a verb is reflexive, the infinitive ends in "se."

lavarto wash (non-reflexive)

lavarseto wash oneself (reflexive)

Reflexive Verbs

LAVARSE(to wash oneself)

VerbForm

ReflexivePronoun

Reflexive vs. Non-Reflexive

As I hold up various pictures decide if the action is reflexive or non-reflexive.

How do you conjugate these verbs?

levantarse

1. Remove the “se.”2. Conjugate the verb as always in the

present or past tense.

levanto levantamos

levantas levantáis

levanta levantan

3. Add the reflexive pronouns.

me nos

te os

se se

The reflexive pronouns are not subject pronouns:

me (myself)

te (yourself)se (himself, herself, yourself)nos (ourselves)os (yourselves)se (themselves, yourselves)

lavarse

yo me lavoI wash (myself)

nosotros nos lavamoswe wash (ourselves)

tú te lavasyou wash (yourself) (informal)

vosotros os laváisy’all wash (yourselves) (informal)

él se lavahe washes (himself)

ellos se lavanthey wash (themselves)

lavarse

despertarse (ie)

despierto despertamos

despiertas despertáis

despierta despiertan

me nos

te os

se se

vestirse (i)

visto vestimos

vistes vestís

viste visten

me nos

te os

se se

acostarse (ue)

acuesto acostamos

acuestasacostáis

acuesta acuestan

me nos

te os

se se

cepillarse

cepillo cepillamos

cepillas cepilláis

cepilla cepillan

me nos

te os

se se

Particular Points To Note…

With reflexive verbs that relate to personal care, use the definite article (el/la/los/las) for parts of the body and personal items.

Me lavo las manos…I wash my hands.

Juan se pone la chaqueta. Juan puts on his jacket.

Reflexive Pronouns

They can either go before a conjugated verb or after an infinitive.

Before the verb:Me voy a lavar el pelo.

After the infinitive:Voy a lavarme el pelo.