12.2 Reflexive verbs

Reflexive verbs are key to describing daily routines in Spanish. They show actions we do to ourselves, like washing or dressing. These verbs use special pronouns that match the subject and go before the verb.

Using reflexive verbs, we can talk about personal care and daily activities. For example, "Me cepillo los dientes" means "I brush my teeth." This helps us discuss our routines and habits in Spanish more accurately.

Reflexive verbs and their meanings

Reflexive verbs in Spanish

• Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject is performing an action on itself
• Examples of reflexive verbs in the context of daily routines include:
  • lavarse (to wash oneself)
  • vestirse (to dress oneself)
  • despertarse (to wake up)
  • cepillarse los dientes (to brush one's teeth)
  • ducharse (to take a shower)
  • peinarse (to comb one's hair)
  • acostarse (to go to bed)

Forming reflexive verbs

• Reflexive verbs are formed by adding the appropriate reflexive pronoun before the verb
• The reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject in person and number
• The reflexive pronouns are:
  • me (myself)
  • te (yourself)
  • se (himself/herself/itself/yourself (formal))
  • nos (ourselves)
  • os (yourselves)
  • se (themselves/yourselves (formal))

Reflexive verbs and personal care

• Reflexive verbs often indicate personal care, grooming, or actions that the subject performs on themselves as part of their daily routine
• Personal care actions commonly described with reflexive verbs include:
  • cepillarse los dientes (to brush one's teeth)
  • peinarse (to comb one's hair)
  • afeitarse (to shave oneself)
  • maquillarse (to put on makeup)

Conjugating reflexive verbs

Present tense conjugation

• To conjugate reflexive verbs in the present tense, add the appropriate reflexive pronoun before the conjugated form of the verb
• The conjugated verb agrees with the subject in person and number
• For example, the reflexive verb "lavarse" (to wash oneself) is conjugated as follows:
  • me lavo
  • te lavas
  • se lava
  • nos lavamos
  • os laváis
  • se lavan

Irregular reflexive verbs

• Irregular reflexive verbs follow the same irregular conjugation patterns as their non-reflexive counterparts in the present tense
• For example, the irregular reflexive verb "acostarse" (to go to bed) is conjugated as follows:
  • me acuesto
  • te acuestas
  • se acuesta
  • nos acostamos
  • os acostáis
  • se acuestan
• Other common irregular reflexive verbs include:
  • irse (to go away)
  • sentirse (to feel)
  • verse (to see oneself)

Reflexive verbs for daily routines

Describing personal care routines

• Reflexive verbs are commonly used to describe actions related to personal care and grooming
• Examples of personal care routines described with reflexive verbs:
  • Me cepillo los dientes por la mañana y por la noche. (I brush my teeth in the morning and at night.)
  • Ella se peina antes de salir de casa. (She combs her hair before leaving the house.)
  • Nos duchamos todos los días. (We take a shower every day.)

Describing daily routines

• Daily routines can be described using reflexive verbs, often accompanied by expressions of time
• Sequencing words can be used to describe the order of daily routines
• Examples of daily routines described with reflexive verbs:
  • Me despierto temprano por la mañana. (I wake up early in the morning.)
  • Primero, me levanto y luego me visto. (First, I get up and then I get dressed.)
  • Por la noche, me acuesto a las once. (At night, I go to bed at eleven.)

Reflexive vs Non-reflexive verbs

Differences in meaning

• Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject is performing an action on itself, while non-reflexive verbs indicate that the subject is performing an action on another person or object
• Some verbs can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively, with the reflexive form often indicating a different meaning or emphasis
  • llamar (to call) and llamarse (to be called/to call oneself)
  • quedar (to remain) and quedarse (to stay)
  • ir (to go) and irse (to go away)

Importance of the reflexive pronoun

• When a verb is used reflexively, the reflexive pronoun is required to maintain the reflexive meaning
• Omitting the reflexive pronoun changes the meaning of the verb to its non-reflexive form
• Examples:
  • Me lavo las manos. (I wash my hands.) - Reflexive
  • Lavo el coche. (I wash the car.) - Non-reflexive
  • Nos vemos en el parque. (We see each other in the park.) - Reflexive
  • Veo una película. (I watch a movie.) - Non-reflexive