Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are used when the Subject and the Direct Object are the same person. (The subject is doing something onto itself). We express this in English by saying “self”.

Here are some examples in English:

We get (ourselves) up at dawn. Dad shaves (himself) every day. Where should I sit (myself) down? She has to wash her (own) hair now. They are dressing (themselves). The child goes to bed at 8:00. Do you want to try that dress on

(yourself)?

Some verbs can be used as reflexive or nonreflexive:

I wash my hands. (reflexive) I wash the dog. (nonreflexive - here

the subject is “I” and the D.O. is “dog”)

She is dressing herself. (reflexive) She is dressing her son.

(nonreflexive - here the subject is “she” and the D.O. is “son”)

With an amigo (or by yourself), decide if the following sentences are reflexive or not:

They sit next to me.

I woke her up late today.

They have to go to bed early.

Wash the dog!

Dress your brother!

He brushes his teeth three times a day.

How did you do?

They sat down next to me. REFLEXIVE

I woke her up late today. NONREFLEXIVE

They had to go to bed early. REFLEXIVE

Wash the dog! NONREFLEXIVE

Dress your brother! NONREFLEXIVE

He brushes his teeth three times a day.

REFLEXIVE

Reflexive verbs include:

acostarse (o>ue) afeitarse arreglarse bañarse cepillarse despertarse (e>ie) divertirse (e>ie) dormirse (o>ue)

to go to bed to shave to get ready to bathe to comb to wake up to have fun to (fall) asleep

irse lavarse levantarse peinarse ponerse quitarse sentarse (e>ie) vestirse (e>I)

to go to wash to get up to comb one’s hair to put on to take off to sit to get dressed

Reflexive verbs require the use of a reflexive pronoun:

Me Te Se

Nos

Se

Note how “se” can be used for both singular and plural. The use of a subject pronoun in

the sentence is recommended to clarify.

Object Pronoun Placement Rules:

1. Placed before a conjugated verb

2. Attached to an infinitive

3. Attached to the present participle. In this case, you also have to add the accent over the “a” in -ando or the “e” in -iendo

4. Attached to an affirmative command or placed in front of a negative command

Practice! Translate the following sentences into Spanish:

Elena is dressing (note the -ING).

Yolanda and Carlos wake up at 6:00.

I used to sleep late ever day.

Marcos and Paula had fun.

Sit down, please. (use a command)

Pablo tripped and twisted his knee.

Check:

Elena está vistiéndose.

OR: Elena se está vistiendo.

Yolanda y Carlos se despiertan a las seis.

Me dormía tarde.

Marcos y Paula se divirtieron.

Siéntate, por favor.

Pablo tropezó y se torció la rodilla.