Reflexive Verbs
A verb is REFLEXIVE when the
SUBJECT
DIRECT OBJECT
_________
and the ____________
SAME PERSON
are the ____________.
(The
subject does something to
himself).
So…. what’s a direct object?
It is the person or thing in the sentence
the subject acts upon.
THE LETTER THAT’S WRITTEN
THE DINNER THAT’S COOKED
THE BALL THAT’S THROWN
THE FRIEND THAT’S CALLED
THE CAKE THAT’S BAKED
THE HOMEWORK THAT’S DONE
But… back to reflexive verbs!
Here are some examples:
•
•
•
•
•
•
We get (ourselves) up at dawn.
Dad shaves (himself) every day.
Where should I sit (myself) down?
She has to wash her (own) hair now.
They are dressing (themselves).
The child goes (takes himself) to bed at
8:00.
• Do you want to try that dress on
(yourself)?
Pause for practice!
Actividad I
Some verbs can be used as reflexive or
nonreflexive. It all depends on if the SUBJECT and
the OBJECT are the SAME PERSON.
(Write these examples in your notes packet)
• I wash my hands. (reflexive)
• I wash the dog. (nonreflexive - here the
subject is “I” and the D.O. is “dog”)
• She is dressing herself. (reflexive)
• She is dressing her son. (nonreflexive here the subject is “she” and the D.O. is
“son”)
Pause for pictures!
Is the picture reflexive or not?
With an amigo (or by yourself), decide if
the following sentences are reflexive or
not:
• They sat down next
to me.
• I woke her up late
today.
• They had to go to
bed early.
• Wash the dog!
• Dress your brother!
• He brushes his teeth
three times a day.
REFLEXIVE
NON REFLEXIVE
REFLEXIVE
NON REFLEXIVE
NON REFLEXIVE
REFLEXIVE
Pause for practice!
Actividad II
Can you think of some actions
that would be reflexive?
A lot of actions we do to get
ourselves ready for the day are
reflexive verbs.
Jot some examples down in your
notes IN ENGLISH.
Common reflexive verbs include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
to go to bed
to shave
to get ready
to bathe
to brush
to wake up
to have fun
to (fall) asleep
to shower
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
acostarse (o>ue)
afeitarse
arreglarse
bañarse
cepillarse
despertarse (e>ie)
divertirse (e>ie)
dormirse (o>ue)
ducharse
Refer to your purple reference sheet for a
complete list of Spanish verbs.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
to go
to wash
to get up
to comb one’s hair
to put on
to take off
to sit
to get dressed
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
irse
lavarse
levantarse
peinarse
ponerse
quitarse
sentarse (e>ie)
vestirse (e>i)
When conjugating in Spanish, reflexive
verbs require the use of a reflexive
pronoun:
• Me
• Te
• Se
• Nos
• Os
• Se
Note how “se” can be used for both singular and
plural. The use of a subject pronoun in the sentence is
recommended to clarify.
When using reflexive verbs it is very
important to have the reflexive pronoun
and the conjugated verb represent the
same person. If not, you don’t have a
reflexive verb.
For example: I wash (myself).
ME
Yo _____
lavo.
Let’s try some more.
We get ready slowly.
Nos arreglamos lentamente.
You wake up at 6:00.
Te despiertas a las seis.
He washes his hands before
dinner.
Se lava las manos antes de
la cena.
When using a reflexive verb with the body part, the
definite article (el, la, los or las) is used in place of the
possessive adjective.
Pause for practice!
Actividad III
But it’s not enough to know that
you have to use a reflexive
pronoun.
You also need to know it’s location
in the sentence!
The type of verb in the sentence will
determine the reflexive pronoun’s placement.
CONJUGATED VERB
If there’s a ___________________
in the
sentence, the reflexive pronoun goes
BEFORE
_________
the verb.
I brush my teeth.
_____
ME cepillo los dientes.
Reflexive
Conjugated
Pronoun
Verb
Pause for practice!
Actividad IV
INFINITIVE
If there’s an ___________
in the sentence,
ATTACHED
the reflexive pronoun gets ___________
to
the verb.
We want to get up early.
Queremos levantar_____
NOS temprano.
Infinitive
Reflexive
Pronoun
“Levantarnos” is ONE WORD.
since there is also a CONJUGATED VERB
in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun can still
go BEFORE the conjugated verb.
BUT…
Queremos levantar_____
NOS temprano.
NOS queremos
_____
levantar temprano.
Infinitive Reflexive
Pronoun
Reflexive
Conjugated
Pronoun
Verb
Pause for practice!
Actividad V
PRESENT
PARTICIPLE in the
If there’s a __________
____________
sentence, the reflexive pronoun gets
ATTACHED
__________
to the verb.
Susi is going to bed now.
Susi está acostando
acostándo ___
SE ahora.
Participle
HOWEVER…
Reflexive Pronoun
When you attach to the end of the participle, you add
a syllable to the word, which messes with the natural
stress.
THEREFORE… The participle will need a written accent over the “A”
in –ANDO or the “E” in –IENDO.
BUT…
since there is also a CONJUGATED VERB
in the sentence, the reflexive pronoun can still
go BEFORE the conjugated verb, which is this
case is always a form of ESTAR.
Susi está acostándo___
SE ahora.
SE está
Susi ___
acostando ahora.
Participle Reflexive
Pronoun
Reflexive Conjugated
Pronoun
Verb
Pause for practice!
Actividad VI
AFFIRMATIVE
If the verb in the sentence is an ____________
COMMAND
___________,
the reflexive pronoun gets
ATTACHED
___________
to the verb ALWAYS
Wake up!
Despierta____
TE
Command
Reflexive
Pronoun
Affirmative commands are when you tell someone to do
something. Regular commands are formed by conjugating in
the “tú” form and dropping the “S”. Irregular commands will be
covered later this year.
Despierta__
Despiérta__
TE
HOWEVER…
When the command is more than one
syllable AND you attach to the end of the
participle, you add a syllable to the word,
which messes with the natural stress.
THEREFORE…
The command will need a written accent.
Count back 3 vowels from the end (including
the reflexive pronoun) and you will be over
the right letter MOST OF THE TIME.
Pause for practice!
Actividad VII
Practice! Translate the following
sentences into Spanish – Actividad VIII:
1. Elena is getting ready (note the -ING).
2. Yolanda and Carlos have to wake up at
6:00.
3. I shave every day.
4. Marcos and Paula want to have fun.
5. Sit down, please. (use a command)
6. Tito brushes his teeth with tooth paste.
Check:
1. Elena está preparándose.
OR: Elena se está preparando.
2. Yolanda y Carlos tienen que despertarse
a las seis.
OR: Yolanda y Carlos se tienen que
despertar a las seis.
Check:
3. Me afeito todos los días.
4. Marcos y Paula quieren divertirse
OR: Marcos y Paula se quieren divertir.
5. Siéntate, por favor.
6. Tito se cepilla los dientes con pasta dental.
¡Repasamos!
• What is a reflexive verb?
• Is the sentence “I put deodorant on every day”
reflexive? Why or why not?
• Reflexive verbs require the use of a ____ ____.
(What are the six?)
• Where does the pronoun go when using a
conjugated verb?
• Where does the pronoun go when using an
infinitive?
• What is the accent rule when using a present
participle?
Pause for practice!
Actividad IX