Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject of an action is also the object that receives the action, that is to say, the subject and the object are the same. Reflexive verbs can be described as having a mirror effect; the action performed by the subject “reflects” back to the subject. Whatever the subject does, the subject feels.
Compare these two sentences:
--Yo me lavo. I wash myself.
Lavarse is a reflexive verb.
--Yo lavo los platos. I wash the dishes.
Lavar is not a reflexive verb.
The infinitive of reflexive verbs ALWAYS ends with the reflexive pronoun se. To conjugate reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun se is detatched from the infinitive and preceeds the verb. Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) agree with the subject.
lavarse
yo me lavo, tú te lavas, él/ella/usted se lava
nosotros/as nos lavamos, vosotros/as os laváis, ellos/as/ustedes se lavan
ponerse
yo me pongo, tú te pones, él/ella/usted se pone
nosotros/as nos ponemos, vosotros/as os ponéis, ellos/as/ustedes se ponen
These are some common reflexive verbs:
Siempre me quito los zapatos antes de entrar en casa.
I always take off my shoes before I go inside the house.
No todas las mujeres nos maquillamos.
Not all of us women, put makeup on.
No todos los hombres se afeitan cada día.
Not all men shave every day.
Ayer nos acostamos tarde.
Last night we went to bed late.
¿Cuántas veces al día te cepillas los dientes?
How many times a day do you brush your teeth?
En los países que no llueve mucho, bañarse es un lujo.
In the countries where it doesn’t rain much, taking a bath is a luxury.
Cada día me levanto a la hora que quiero.
Every day I get up anytime I want.
¿Qué ropa os pusistéis para la fiesta?
What clothes did you guys put on for the party?
Me pregunto cuántas veces al día se visten y se desvisten las modelos.
I wonder how many times a day models get dressed and undressed.
Compare these two sentences:
--Yo me lavo. I wash myself.
Lavarse is a reflexive verb.
--Yo lavo los platos. I wash the dishes.
Lavar is not a reflexive verb.
The infinitive of reflexive verbs ALWAYS ends with the reflexive pronoun se. To conjugate reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun se is detatched from the infinitive and preceeds the verb. Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) agree with the subject.
lavarse
yo me lavo, tú te lavas, él/ella/usted se lava
nosotros/as nos lavamos, vosotros/as os laváis, ellos/as/ustedes se lavan
ponerse
yo me pongo, tú te pones, él/ella/usted se pone
nosotros/as nos ponemos, vosotros/as os ponéis, ellos/as/ustedes se ponen
These are some common reflexive verbs:
| acostarse | to go to bed |
| afeitarse | to shave |
| bañarse | to bathe, to take a bath |
| cepillarse (el pelo, los dientes) | to brush one’s hair, teeth |
| despertarse | to wake up |
| desvestirse | to get undressed |
| dormirse | to fall asleep |
| ducharse | to shower, to take a shower |
| lavarse | to wash oneself |
| levantarse | to get up |
| maquillarse | to put on makeup |
| peinarse | to comb one’s hair |
| perfumarse | to put perfume on |
| ponerse (ropa) | to put on (clothes) |
| quitarse (ropa) | to take off (clothes) |
| rascarse | to scratch oneself |
| secarse | to dry oneself |
| sentarse | to sit down |
| vestirse | to get dressed |
Siempre me quito los zapatos antes de entrar en casa.
I always take off my shoes before I go inside the house.
No todas las mujeres nos maquillamos.
Not all of us women, put makeup on.
No todos los hombres se afeitan cada día.
Not all men shave every day.
Ayer nos acostamos tarde.
Last night we went to bed late.
¿Cuántas veces al día te cepillas los dientes?
How many times a day do you brush your teeth?
En los países que no llueve mucho, bañarse es un lujo.
In the countries where it doesn’t rain much, taking a bath is a luxury.
Cada día me levanto a la hora que quiero.
Every day I get up anytime I want.
¿Qué ropa os pusistéis para la fiesta?
What clothes did you guys put on for the party?
Me pregunto cuántas veces al día se visten y se desvisten las modelos.
I wonder how many times a day models get dressed and undressed.