Language/Spanish/Grammar/Reflexive-Verbs

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Spanish Grammar → Verbs → Reflexive Verbs

As a Spanish language teacher for over 20 years, I can confidently say that reflexive verbs are one of the toughest concepts for students to grasp. However, with a little extra practice, anyone can become a pro! In this lesson, we will dive into the world of reflexive verbs and learn how to use them with ease.

Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Definite and Indefinite Articles & Future Tense.

What are Reflexive Verbs?

Reflexive verbs are verbs where the subject and object are the same. In other words, the action of the verb is done to oneself. In English, reflexive pronouns such as "myself," "yourself," and "ourselves" are used to indicate this type of action. In Spanish, reflexive verbs are formed by adding the reflexive pronoun before the verb in its infinitive form.

For example:

• Yo me lavo (I wash myself).
• Tú te despiertas temprano (You wake up early).
• Él se peina el pelo (He combs his hair).

Note that the reflexive pronoun matches the subject pronoun. Me (myself) matches with yo (I), te (yourself) matches with tú (you), and se (himself/herself/itself) matches with él/ella (he/she/it).

Conjugating Reflexive Verbs

To properly use reflexive verbs, it is important to conjugate them based on the subject pronoun. For example, if the subject is yo (I) and the reflexive verb is levantarse (to get up), the conjugated form would be yo me levanto (I get up). Similarly, if the subject is ella (she) and the reflexive verb is bañarse (to take a bath), the conjugated form would be ella se baña (she takes a bath).

Here are the different forms of the present tense conjugation for the verb levantarse:

Person	Reflexive Pronoun	Conjugation
Yo	me	levanto
Tú	te	levantas
Él/Ella/Usted	se	levanta
Nosotros/Nosotras	nos	levantamos
Vosotros/Vosotras	os	levantáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	se	levantan

Reflexive Verbs in Context

Reflexive verbs are used in a variety of contexts in Spanish. Here are some common examples:

• Daily Routines: Activities such as levantarse (to get up), bañarse (to take a bath), vestirse (to get dressed), and lavarse las manos (to wash one's hands) are all reflexive verbs.

• Emotions and States: Verbs like sentirse (to feel), quedarse (to stay), and dormirse (to fall asleep) are also reflexive verbs.

• Actions Done to Oneself: Actions such as cepillarse los dientes (to brush one's teeth), peinarse el pelo (to comb one's hair), and lavarse la cara (to wash one's face) are reflexive when done by oneself.

Important Notes

When using reflexive verbs, it is important to remember a few key points:

• Reflexive pronouns must always agree with the subject pronoun.
• Certain verbs in Spanish are only used reflexively, such as arrepentirse (to regret) and quejarse (to complain).
• Reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis, even when the action is not being done to oneself.

With practice and patience, reflexive verbs will become easier to understand and use in context.

Practice Exercises

• Conjugate the following reflexive verbs in the present tense: despertarse (to wake up), sentarse (to sit down), maquillarse (to put on makeup), and irse (to leave).
• Translate the following sentences into Spanish using reflexive verbs:

   * I am getting dressed.
   * He is brushing his teeth.
   * We are feeling tired.
   * They are complaining.

Sources

• Spanish Reflexive Verbs Explained – StoryLearning
• How do you use reflexive verbs in Spanish? - Grammar
• Spanish Reflexive Verbs | Lingvist

Table of Contents - Spanish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Spanish

• The Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Nouns and Gender
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Subject Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense Verbs
• Ser and Estar
• Reflexive Verbs

  ---

Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Demonstrative Adjectives

  ---

Pronouns

• Direct Object Pronouns
• Indirect Object Pronouns

  ---

Common Words and Phrases

• Greetings and Salutations
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Restaurant Phrases

  ---

Travel and Directions

• Asking for Directions
• Hotel Vocabulary

  ---

Spanish-Speaking Countries

• Spain: History and Culture
• Latin America: History and Culture

  ---

Celebrations and Festivals

• Día de los Muertos
• Cinco de Mayo

  ---

Hispanic Heritage Month

• Notable Hispanic Figures
• Hispanic Influence on Music and Dance

Other Lessons

• How to Use Be (SER and ESTAR)
• Give your Opinion
• How to use articles in spanish
• Simple Future Tense
• Pronouns
• Los pronombres personales
• Future Tense
• Comaratives and Superlatives
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Be Polite

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