A reflexive verbs relates to a mirror because your looking at the mirror

and seeing yourself and it’s the same because with a reflexive verb your

reflecting the action on you!

Refelxive verbs are used when the subject and the object are the

same!

In these instances, the subject is doing

something to himself/herself!

For example, in English: I hit myself in the head.

Who does the action?____________

Who receives the action?_________

Who does the action?

Who receives the action?

Subject:

Verb:

Object:

Subject:

Verb:

Object:

Subject:

Verb:

Object:

There will be pictures on the next five slides and when I call on you, you

must name the subject, the verb and object! There may be some that aren’t

reflective actions so watch out!

• Meaning

• If there is a se that is attached: For example, lavarse

• Yo me• Tú te• Él se• Ella se• Usted se

• Nosotros nos

• Vosotros os• Ellos se• Ellas se• Ustedes se

-lavo

-lavas

-lava

-lavamos

-lavais

-lavan

Reflexive Sentence Structure

subject + reflexive pronoun + verb (conjugated) + rest of

the sentence

• 1) If the verb is conjugated, then the pronoun will come before the verb. For example... Tu te lavas el pelo.

• 2) If the verb is an infinitive, then the pronoun will be attached to the end of the verb. For example... Tu tienes que lavarte el pelo.

• 3) If the verb is in command form, then the pronoun will attatch to the end of the command. For example... Lava whatever conjugation el pelo!

• Possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su, nuestro, vuestro, su) are not used to show ownership when the use of reflexive verbs are used the reflexive verb implies ownership already.

The Verb

•The verb is conjugated as it normally would be it present tense. Just drop the –se and you will be left with the infinitive.

•When the verb should not be conjugated (after “de” or next to another conjugated verb), attach the –se to the infinitive.

Ducharse – to shower

• Yo me ducho.• Tú te duchas.• Él se ducha.• Ella se ducha.• Usted se ducha.

• Nosotros nos duchamos.

• Vosotros os ducháis.• Ellos se duchan.• Ellas se duchan.• Ustedes se duchan.

More practice

1. Maria (arreglarse) el pelo.2. Juan y Jose (afeitarse) por la mañana.3. Nosotros (despertarse) a las seis de la

mañana.4. Vosotros (ducharse) despues de (cepillarse)

los dientes.5. Los estudiantes (lavarse) la cara.

Las Repuestas1. Maria se arregla el pelo.2. Juan y Jose se afeitan por la mañana.3. Nosotros nos depertamos a las seis

de la mañana.4. Vosotros os ducháis despues de

cepillaros los dientes.5. Los estudiantes se lavan la cara.

Don‘t Forget• Remove the –se before conjugating.• Conjugate the verb as you would

conjugate any present tense verb.• The reflexive pronoun goes BEFORE

the conjugated verb.• Don’t get tripped up by those stem-

changing verbs…they still change!

Introduction to Reflexive Verbs The term reflexive verb describes a large class

of verbs in Spanish whose subject acts on itself – does the action to itself. For example:

Tina combs her mother’s hair. Tina combs her (own) hair. In sentence one (i), Tina is the subject; the

verb is combs; and the object is her mom’s hair. In sentence two (ii), the subject is Tina; the verb is combs and the object is her own hair. Sentence two (ii) would require the use of a reflexive verb as Tina does the action to herself.

Reflexive Pronouns The reflexive pronouns are: Me myself

Te yourself(informal)

Se himself, herself, yourself (formal)

nos ourselves os yourselves(informal in Spain)

se themselves, yourselves (formal)

Reflexive VerbsLavarse las manos – to wash one’s hands

Yo me lavo las manos. Nosotros nos lavan las manos

Tú te lavas las manos Vosotros os laváis las manos

Él Ella se lava las manos Ellos Ud. Ellas se lavan las manos

Uds.

List of Reflexive Verbs

1. ponerse + article of clothing – to put on2. bañarse – to bathe3. ducharse – to (take a) shower4. cepillarse los dientes – to brush one’s

teeth5. afeitarse – to shave6. peinarse – to comb one’s hair7. levantarse – to get up8. despertarse (e-i) – to wake up

List of Reflexive Verbs

1. acostarse (o-ue) – to go to bed2. dormirse (o-ue) to fall asleep3. vestirse (e-i) – to get dressed4. cortarse el pelo – to cut one’s hair5. desayunarse – to have breakfast6. almorzarse – to have lunch7. enojarse – to get upset8. burlarse de – to laugh at 9. quejarse – to complain