Reflexive verbsReflexive verbs

In Spanish, whenever the In Spanish, whenever the subject does anything to or for subject does anything to or for him-/her-/itself, a reflexive him-/her-/itself, a reflexive pronoun (un pronombre pronoun (un pronombre reflexivo) is used.reflexivo) is used.

We have reflexives in English We have reflexives in English too.too. They end in –self, -selves: myself, They end in –self, -selves: myself,

yourselvesyourselves

Los pronombres reflexivosLos pronombres reflexivos

me nosme nos te oste os se sese se

me bame bañoño nos bañamosnos bañamos te bañaste bañas os bañáisos bañáis se bañase baña se bañanse bañan

……taking a bathtaking a bath …taking baths…taking baths I’m I’m We’reWe’re You’re You’re You’re You’re He’s, she’s, you’reHe’s, she’s, you’re They’re, You’reThey’re, You’re

When looking at a verb in its When looking at a verb in its infinitive form (like on your infinitive form (like on your vocabulary list) the –se at the vocabulary list) the –se at the end or (se) indicates that the end or (se) indicates that the verb is (or can be) used verb is (or can be) used reflexively.reflexively.

Note: many reflexive verbs are Note: many reflexive verbs are also stem-changing. So they also stem-changing. So they may look like this on vocab list: may look like this on vocab list: dormir(se) (ue,u). This means dormir(se) (ue,u). This means dormir can be used reflexively dormir can be used reflexively and also that it has a ue stem-and also that it has a ue stem-change in the present and a u change in the present and a u stem-change in the present stem-change in the present participle and preterite.participle and preterite.

placementplacement

Like DO and IO pronouns, Like DO and IO pronouns, reflexive pronouns are placed reflexive pronouns are placed immediately before the immediately before the conjugated verb or are attached conjugated verb or are attached to an infinitive or participleto an infinitive or participle

What is the difference?What is the difference?

Me lavo las manos.Me lavo las manos. Lavo los platos.Lavo los platos. Me baMe baño por la maño por la mañanañana..

Voy a bañarme esta noche.Voy a bañarme esta noche. BBaaño a mi hijo por la maño a mi hijo por la mañanañana..

Voy a bañar a mi hijo esta noche.Voy a bañar a mi hijo esta noche. Me visto por la mañana. Me visto por la mañana.

Me vestí esta mañana.Me vestí esta mañana. Visto a mi hijo por la mañana.Visto a mi hijo por la mañana.

Vestí a mi hijo esta maVestí a mi hijo esta mañanañana..

Use of articlesUse of articles

Use the definite article after Use the definite article after ponerse and quitarse (not the ponerse and quitarse (not the possessive) in relationship to possessive) in relationship to articles of clothing.articles of clothing. Se pone el abrigo. Se pone el abrigo.

He’s putting on his coat.He’s putting on his coat. Se quitan los sombrerosSe quitan los sombreros

They’re taking off their hats.They’re taking off their hats.

you also use the definite article you also use the definite article instead of the possessive instead of the possessive adjective when talking about adjective when talking about body parts:body parts: Me lavo las manos.Me lavo las manos.

Ten CuidadoTen Cuidado

Sometimes verb meanings change when used Sometimes verb meanings change when used reflexively. Here are some examples:reflexively. Here are some examples: dormir = to sleepdormir = to sleep dormirse = to fall asleepdormirse = to fall asleep poner = to put or placeponer = to put or place ponerse = to put onponerse = to put on comer = to eatcomer = to eat comerse = to eat upcomerse = to eat up ir = to goir = to go irse = to leaveirse = to leave llevar = to take/carryllevar = to take/carry llevarse = to take away or get alongllevarse = to take away or get along preguntar = to askpreguntar = to ask preguntarse = to wonder, ask oneselfpreguntarse = to wonder, ask oneself despedir = to firedespedir = to fire despedirse = to say good-byedespedirse = to say good-bye