【英文版西语语法】Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns_英文版西语语法_西班牙语语法

Many actions related to personal care or daily routines are reflexive, but other verbs can be reflexive as well. In the sentences below, the subject performs the action on itself, and the subject and object of the verb refer to the same entity.

Spanish English

Me ducho cada mañana.

I shower every morning.

Te peinas antes de salir.

You brush your hair before going out.

Se hablaba.

He was talking to himself.

Yo me veo en el espejo.

I see myself in the mirror.

Now, compare two sentences in which one is reflexive and one is not. In the reflexive sentence, the subject and object refer to the same entity.

Spanish English

Reflexive

Yo me lavo.

I wash myself. Yo (I) is the subject of of the verb lavar (wash) and me (myself) is the object.

Not Reflexive

Yo lavo el perro.

I wash the dog. Yo (I) is the subject of of the verb lavar (wash) and el perro (the dog) is the object.

Match your Pronouns

When the object of the verb is the same entity as the subject, you will need to use a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject of the verb in both number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). In the first table below, you'll find the different forms Spanish reflexive pronouns take.

Reflexive Pronoun Forms

Person Singular Pronouns Plural Pronouns

First Person

(matches with yo)

nos

(matches with nosotros)

Second Person

(matches with tú) OR

(matches with usted)

(matches with vosotros) OR

(matches with ustedes)

Third Person

(matches with él or ella)

(matches with ellos or ellas)

Just to make sure you've got these down, the next table shows you the Spanish reflexive pronoun forms, along with example sentences showing how they may be used. Remember, the reflexive pronoun will always be the same number and person as the subject of the sentence.

Reflexive pronouns have the same forms as indirect object pronouns, with the exception of se, which is used instead of le and les for the third person.

Reflexive Pronoun Forms and Examples

Number and Person Reflexive Pronoun Spanish English

Singular, First

Me lavo.

I wash myself.

Singular, Second(Informal)

Te lavas.

You wash yourself.

Singular, Second (Formal)

Se lava.

You wash yourself.

Singular, Third

Se lava.

He washes himself./She washes herself./It washes itself.

Plural, First

nos

Nos lavamos.

We wash ourselves.

Plural, Second

Se lavan.

You (all) wash yourselves.

Plural, Second (Informal)

Os laváis.

You (all) wash yourselves.

Plural, Third

Se lavan.

They wash themselves.

More Examples of Reflexive Pronouns and Verbs

As you now know, reflexive verbs require the use of reflexive pronouns to indicate that the direct object of the verb is also the subject (in other words, the subject is performing the action on himself or herself). Check out a few examples with verbs that are commonly reflexive.

Verb Example

lavarse

(to wash one’s self) Me lavo las

manos.

(I wash my hands.)

sacarse

(to take something off one’s self) Nos sacamos los

guantes.

(We take our gloves off.)

despertarse

(to wake up) Se despiertan a las seis cada

mañana.

(They wake up at six o’clock every morning.)

As mentioned before, you can also add reflexive pronouns to verbs that are not regularly reflexive in order to make them reflexive.

verse

to see one’s self

hablarse

to talk to one’s self

escribirse

to write to one’s self

comprarse

to buy (something) for one’s self

Reflexive verbs can also be used to indicate an emotional response to something. When a person becomes angry, sad, happy, etc., you can express this by using reflexive verbs.

Me enojé rápidamente.

I got angry quickly.

Te alegras de hablar español.

It makes you happy to speak Spanish.

Se aburre en la clase de matemáticas.

He gets bored in math class.

Reflexive pronouns can also be used to add emphasis to a seemingly regular situation. In these cases, the reflexive pronoun is not normally translated directly into English, but it often adds a sense of doing something more completely or thoroughly.

Comí el pastel.

I ate the cake.

Me comí el pastel.

I ate up the cake/I ate the whole cake.

Estúdialo.

Study it.

Estúdiatelo.

Really study it./Study it thoroughly.

Reflexive Pronoun Placement

Reflexive pronouns are placed immediately before simple conjugated verbs and negative commands.

Yo me quito los guantes.

I take off my gloves.

Tú te afeitas la cara.

You shave your face.

No te pegues.

Don't hit yourself.

No se preocupe.

Don’t worry yourself.

Reflexive pronouns are attached to the end of affirmative commands. For compound verbs like the present progressive, the pronoun can either be attached to the end of the infinitive or present participle or go before the conjugated verb.

Spanish English

Quítate el sombrero.

Take off your hat.

Estoy

duchándo

me.

or Me estoy

duchando.

I am showering.

Voy a

sentar

me.

or Me voy a

sentar.

I am going to sit (myself) down.

Reflexive Verb Examples

Below is a list of common reflexive verbs. This is not a complete list, but rather a reference to give you an idea of the kinds of verbs that can be reflexive.

aburrirse (de)

to get bored (with)

despertarse

to wake up

enojarse (con)

to get mad (at)

quitarse

to take off

acordarse de

to remember

destaparse

to uncover

reponerse

to get better

acostarse

to go to bed

desvestirse

to get undressed

secarse

to dry off

afeitarse

to shave

disgustarse (de)

to become upset (about)

maquillarse

to put on makeup

sentarse

to sit down

alegrarse (de)

to be glad (about)

distraerse

to distract oneself

mirarse

to look at oneself

bañarse

to bathe

divertirse

to enjoy oneself

olvidarse (de)

to forget (about)

subirse

to get up

cepillarse

to brush

dormirse

to go to sleep

peinarse

to comb one's hair

taparse

to cover up oneself

convertirse en

to become

ducharse

to shower

torcerse

to twist

enfermarse

to become ill

probarse

to try on

vestirse

to get dressed

despedirse

to say good-bye

enloquecerse

to go crazy

ponerse

to put on

volverse

to become

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【英文版西语语法】Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns