Reflexive verbs in Spanish are used to indicate that the subject of the sentence performs an action on itself. This guide will help you understand and master the conjugation of reflexive verbs.
Reflexive Pronouns
The key to conjugating reflexive verbs is understanding reflexive pronouns:
- me (myself)
- te (yourself – informal singular)
- se (himself/herself/itself/yourself – formal)
- nos (ourselves)
- os (yourselves – informal plural, used in Spain)
- se (themselves/yourselves – formal plural)
Basic Conjugation
Let’s use the verb “lavarse” (to wash oneself) as an example:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | me lavo |
| tú | te lavas |
| él/ella/usted | se lava |
| nosotros | nos lavamos |
| vosotros | os laváis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se lavan |
Placement of Reflexive Pronouns
- Before conjugated verbs:
- “Me ducho por la mañana” (I shower in the morning)
- “¿Te peinas antes de salir?” (Do you comb your hair before going out?)
- Attached to infinitives:
- “Voy a acostarme” (I’m going to go to bed)
- “Es importante lavarse las manos” (It’s important to wash one’s hands)
- Attached to gerunds:
- “Estoy vistiéndome” (I’m getting dressed)
- “Sigue peinándose” (He/She keeps combing his/her hair)
Examples in Different Tenses
- Present tense:
- “Me despierto a las 7” (I wake up at 7)
- Preterite (simple past):
- “Me desperté temprano ayer” (I woke up early yesterday)
- Imperfect:
- “Me despertaba temprano cuando era niño” (I used to wake up early when I was a child)
- Future:
- “Me despertaré temprano mañana” (I will wake up early tomorrow)
- Conditional:
- “Me despertaría temprano si tuviera que hacerlo” (I would wake up early if I had to)
Common Reflexive Verbs
- ducharse (to shower)
- peinarse (to comb one’s hair)
- vestirse (to get dressed)
- llamarse (to be called/named)
- acostarse (to go to bed)
- despertarse (to wake up)
- levantarse (to get up)
- afeitarse (to shave)
- maquillarse (to put on makeup)
Special Cases
- Reciprocal actions:
- “Nos abrazamos” (We hug each other)
- “Se escriben cartas” (They write letters to each other)
- Verbs that change meaning when reflexive:
- ir (to go) vs. irse (to leave)
- parecer (to seem) vs. parecerse a (to resemble)
Remember, practice is key to mastering reflexive verbs. Try using them in various contexts and tenses to become more comfortable with their usage. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)