Language/Spanish/Grammar/Reflexive-Verbs

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Spanish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs → Reflexive Verbs

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on reflexive verbs in Spanish! In this lesson, you will learn how to use reflexive verbs and when to use them. Reflexive verbs are an important part of the Spanish language and are used to express actions that a subject does to or for themselves.

For example, in English, we might say "I wash my hands." In Spanish, we would use the reflexive verb "lavarse" to say "Me lavo las manos." The reflexive pronoun "me" indicates that the subject (yo) is performing the action (lavar) on themselves (las manos).

Understanding reflexive verbs will greatly expand your ability to communicate in Spanish and allow you to express a wide range of actions. So, let's dive in and explore reflexive verbs in more detail!

What are Reflexive Verbs?

Reflexive verbs are verbs that are accompanied by reflexive pronouns. These pronouns indicate that the subject of the verb is also the object of the verb, or in other words, the subject is performing the action on themselves.

In Spanish, reflexive verbs are formed by adding a reflexive pronoun before the verb. The reflexive pronouns in Spanish are:

• me (myself)
• te (yourself)
• se (himself/herself/yourself (formal))
• nos (ourselves)
• os (yourselves (informal))
• se (themselves/yourselves (formal))

Let's look at some examples:

• lavar (to wash)
• lavarse (to wash oneself)

Here are some more examples of reflexive verbs in Spanish:

• despertar (to wake up)
• despertarse (to wake up oneself)
• bañar (to bathe)
• bañarse (to bathe oneself)
• vestir (to dress)
• vestirse (to dress oneself)

Notice how the reflexive pronoun is placed before the verb. This is a key feature of reflexive verbs in Spanish.

When to Use Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are used in a variety of situations in Spanish. Here are some common instances where reflexive verbs are used:

1. Daily routines and personal care: Reflexive verbs are often used to describe actions related to personal care, such as getting dressed, brushing teeth, or taking a shower.

2. Emotions and states of being: Reflexive verbs can be used to express emotions or states of being. For example, "me siento feliz" means "I feel happy."

3. Reciprocal actions: Reflexive verbs can also be used to express reciprocal actions between two or more people. For example, "nos saludamos" means "we greet each other."

4. Reflexive actions: Of course, reflexive verbs are used to express actions that a subject does to or for themselves. This can include activities like washing, dressing, or combing hair.

It's important to note that not all verbs have a reflexive form. Some verbs can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively, while others only have a reflexive form.

How to Conjugate Reflexive Verbs

To conjugate reflexive verbs, you need to match the reflexive pronoun with the subject of the verb. Let's take a look at the conjugation of the reflexive verb "lavarse" (to wash oneself) in the present tense:

• Yo me lavo (I wash myself)
• Tú te lavas (You wash yourself)
• Él/Ella/Usted se lava (He/She/You washes oneself)
• Nosotros/Nosotras nos lavamos (We wash ourselves)
• Vosotros/Vosotras os laváis (You all wash yourselves)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes se lavan (They/You wash themselves)

Notice how the reflexive pronoun changes depending on the subject of the verb. The reflexive pronouns always agree with the subject in both person and number.

Let's see another example with the reflexive verb "levantarse" (to get up):

• Yo me levanto (I get up)
• Tú te levantas (You get up)
• Él/Ella/Usted se levanta (He/She/You gets up)
• Nosotros/Nosotras nos levantamos (We get up)
• Vosotros/Vosotras os levantáis (You all get up)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes se levantan (They/You get up)

Now that you understand how to conjugate reflexive verbs, let's practice with some exercises!

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put your knowledge of reflexive verbs into practice. Complete the following exercises by conjugating the reflexive verb in parentheses according to the subject provided.

1. Yo ____(levantarse) temprano. (I get up early) 2. Tú ____(lavarse) las manos. (You wash your hands) 3. Él ____(peinarse) el pelo. (He combs his hair) 4. Nosotros ____(vestirse) para la fiesta. (We get dressed for the party) 5. Vosotros ____(acostarse) tarde. (You all go to bed late) 6. Ellos ____(maquillarse) antes de salir. (They put on makeup before going out)

Summary

In this lesson, you have learned about reflexive verbs in Spanish. Reflexive verbs are used to express actions that a subject does to or for themselves. They are formed by adding a reflexive pronoun before the verb.

Reflexive verbs are used in a variety of situations, including daily routines and personal care, expressing emotions and states of being, reciprocal actions, and reflexive actions.

To conjugate reflexive verbs, you need to match the reflexive pronoun with the subject of the verb. The reflexive pronouns always agree with the subject in both person and number.

Now that you have a solid understanding of reflexive verbs, you can confidently use them in your Spanish conversations and expand your language skills even further. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

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

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Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Demonstrative Adjectives

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Pronouns

• Direct Object Pronouns
• Indirect Object Pronouns

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Common Words and Phrases

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

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Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Restaurant Phrases

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Travel and Directions

• Asking for Directions
• Hotel Vocabulary

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Spanish-Speaking Countries

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

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Celebrations and Festivals

• Día de los Muertos
• Cinco de Mayo

  ---

Hispanic Heritage Month

• Notable Hispanic Figures
• Hispanic Influence on Music and Dance

Sources

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

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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