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Online Learning Spanish Lesson on Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns

By: Patrick Jackson

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



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.


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.

Article Source: Free Content Articles Directory

Patrick Jackson is the author of this article. He is a self-taught
speaker of Spanish and the founder of the
href="http://www.learningspanishlikecrazy.com/">Learning Spanish Like Crazy method.To immediately download two free lessons from Learning Spanish Like Crazy and to start speaking real Latin American Spanish, go to www.learningspanishlikecrazy.com

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