Español 2

Reflexive

verbs

Let’s talk about the verb… ‘to wash’

Name several things you can wash…

I wash my clothes, I wash my car, I wash the dishes, I wash the windows.

I wash my face, I wash my hands, I wash my hair.

What’s the difference between the two?

I wash my clothes, I wash the dishes, I wash the car, I wash the windows.

I can wash things that are not part of me, that is, not attached to my body.

In Spanish, we say, “Lavo la ropa, lavo los platos, lavo el coche, lavo las ventanas.”

… and… I wash my hands, I wash my hair, I wash

my face.

I also wash things that are attached to my body – hands, face, hair

In Spanish, we say, “Me lavo las manos, me lavo el pelo, me lavo la cara.”

So, if you are washing something that is attached to you, you need to add the word “me.”

So what is a reflexive verb?

It is an action that you can do to or for yourself.

If you perform the action on or for someone else, DO NOT use a reflexive verb.

• There are two ways to talk about washing in Spanish:

• Lavar: to wash something else

• Ella lava el perro.

• Lavarse: to wash part of one’s body.

• Fifi se lava las patas. (animals have ‘patas’; humans have ‘piernas’)

Also note, in case you haven’t already, that you must use definite articles (el, la, los, las) w/ body parts & clothing. It is not like in English where you use possessive articles.

Me pongo los zapatos. I put on my shoes.

Mateo se lava las manos. Mateo washes his hands.

How do you recognize a reflexive verb?

If you look carefully, you’ll notice that the verb still has the -ar, -er, or -ir ending.

-Ejemplo: ducharse, ponerse, vestirse

It has the additional “se” ending to identify it as a reflexive verb.

The “se” ending is there to remind you to use reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) to reflect who is doing the action to/for themselves.

-Ejemplo: Me baño a las siete todos los días.

How do you get those forms?

The infinitive has a –se attached to it to show that the subject is doing

something to him/herself.

Drop the –se.

Conjugate the verb as usual in either present or preterite.

Put the appropriate reflexive pronoun in front of the verb.

Let’s try one.Let’s try one.

• What are the reflexive pronouns?

• Yo ______

• Tú ______

• Él ______

• Nosotros ______

• Vosotros ______

• Ellos ______

me

te

se

nos

os

se

Reflexive or not? Lavar(se)

Afeitar (se)

Despertar(se)

Cortar(se)

Pintar(se)

Cepillar(se)

Otros verbos reflexivos

Afeitarse Bañarse Despertarse (e-ie) Ducharse Entrenarse Estirarse Levantarse

Maquillarse Peinarse Prepararse Quitarse Relajarse Secarse Vestirse (e-i)

¿A qué hora te levantas por la mañana?

¿Te duchas por la mañana o por la noche?

¿Tu mamá se maquilla antes de ir a trabajar?

¿Te despiertas tarde los fines de semana?

Using reflexive verbs with infinitives NOTE… the reflexive pronoun can come either before

the conjugated (first) verb or can be attached to the infinitive (second) verb.

Here are some more examples-

• Querer + levantarse

• Quiero levantarme.

• Me quiero levantar.

• ¿Quieres levantarte?

• ¿Te quieres levantar?

Tener que + ponerse la camisa.

Tienen que ponerse la camisa.

Se tienen que poner la camisa.

Tenemos que ponernos la camisa.

Nos tenemos que poner la camisa.

Using reflexive pronouns in the future

NOTE… the reflexive pronoun can come either before the conjugated verb (ir) or can be attached to the infinitive (second) verb. • IR + A + INFINITIVE

Te vas a duchar esta noche o mañana por la mañana?

Tus padres se van a vestir para el trabajo?

RECAP: Posición de los pronombres reflexivos:

In front of a conjugated verb:• Me acosté a las diez anoche.• No nos queremos levantar muy temprano.• Te vas a relajar cuando llegas a tu casa.

Attached to an infinitive:• ¿Vas a levantarte ahora?• Luisa y Lorena van a cepillarse los dientes.• Vamos a entrenarnos para el maratón