Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive
Verbs

Introduction to Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are used when the subject of a sentence performs an action on itself. They are formed by adding se to the end of the infinitive verb.
For example, lavarse means 'to wash oneself'. Reflexive verbs are common in daily routines and personal care activities. They require reflexive pronouns to indicate the subject. Remember to conjugate the verb according to the subject and use the appropriate reflexive pronoun.

Multiple Choice

What are reflexive verbs used for?

• To indicate the subject of a sentence

• To perform an action on oneself

• To conjugate the verb according to the subject

• To form the infinitive verb

Reflexive Pronouns in Spanish

• To indicate actions done to oneself
• Used with verbs like lavarse (to wash oneself) and vestirse (to dress oneself)
• Common in daily routines and personal care activities
• Helps express actions that affect the subject directly

English Grammar connection

Reflexive verbs and reflexive pronouns show that the subject of a sentence both does and receives the action of the verb. The reflexive pronouns in English end in -self or -selves.

​She dried herself with a towel.

Ella se secó con una toalla.

Use reflexive verbs when the subject in a sentence is the same as the object

Many verbs can be used with or without reflexive pronouns. When there is no reflexive pronoun, the person doing the action isn't receiving it.

​Lavarse	​to wash oneself
Yo me lavo​	Nosotros nos lavamos​
Tú ​te lavas	X​
Él/Ella se lava​	Ellos/Ellas se lavan​
​Usted se lava	Ustedes se lavan​

​REFLEXIVE
Anita se lava
Anita washes herself

NOT REFLEXIVE​
Anita lava los platos
Anita washes the dishes

REGLAS!!

Do not use possessive adjectives with reflexive verbs. Use the definite articles instead.

Anita se lava la cara Anita is washing her face

When an infinitive follows a conjugated verb, the reflexive pronoun can be placed before the conjugated verb or attached to the Infinitive.

Me voy a acostar a las once I'm going to go to bed at eleven
or
Voy a acostarme a las once

Take note!!

Some verbs have different meanings when used reflexively!!

dormir (to sleep) → dormirse (to fall asleep)
poner (to put) → ponerse (to put on clothes)

Match

Match the following

• Tú

• Nosotros

• Maria

• yo

• Los chicos

te lavas la cara

nos lavamos las manos

se lava las piernas

me lavo los pies

se lavan el pelo

• te lavas la cara

• nos lavamos las manos

• se lava las piernas

• me lavo los pies

• se lavan el pelo

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Tu

te

pienas

el

pelo

le

pienan

pienamos

se

me

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Yo

me

Lavo

la

cara

te

le

los

las

se

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me

la

mequillarse

te

maquillo

maquilla

las

se

Ella

cara

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me

cepillan

la

dientes

te

le

los

las

se

Ustedes

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me

cepillan

la

dientes

te

le

los

las

se

Ustedes