【英文版西语语法】Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns

 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

me

 

 (matches with yo)

nos

 

 (matches with nosotros)

Second Person

te

 

 (matches with tú) OR 

se

 

(matches with usted)

os

 

 (matches with vosotros) OR 

se

 

(matches with ustedes)

Third Person

se

 

 (matches with él or ella)

se

 

 (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

 

Me lavo.

 

I wash myself.

Singular, Second(Informal)

te

 

Te lavas.

 

You wash yourself.

Singular, Second (Formal)

se

 

Se lava.

 

You wash yourself.

Singular, Third

se

 

Se lava.

 

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

Plural, First

nos

 

Nos lavamos.

 

We wash ourselves.

Plural, Second

se

 

Se lavan.

 

You (all) wash yourselves.

Plural, Second (Informal)

os

 

Os laváis.

 

You (all) wash yourselves.

Plural, Third

se

 

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