Spanish Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive pronouns generally come before the verb. However, just like object pronouns, reflexive pronouns can be directly attached to the end of an infinitive reflexive verb. What is the key word here?
"Infinitive" is the key word. It would be incorrect to say "Lavarme las manos," but it would be acceptable to say "Necesito lavarme las manos."
What is the meaning of the following sentence? A las seis de la mañana, me levanto y camino a la baño.
The sentence means "At six in (of) the morning, I wake myself up and I walk to the bathroom." The second verb (camino, the yo-form of caminar, "to walk"), note, is NOT reflexive because it is not proceeded DIRECTLY by a reflexive pronoun! Note: I am only partly certain that this is the case. Note from further in the semester: now, after seeing how direct and indirect object pronouns are used, I am LESS certain that this is correct.
Describe a reflexive verb.
A verb is reflexive if the subject and the object of the sentence are the same. In other words, if the subject of a sentence also receives the action of the verb, the verb will be reflexive.
True or false? Reflexive verbs are sometimes used just to give emphasis to an action.
TRUE. Relfexive verbs may sometimes be used to show that an action is performed completely, as in Puedes comerte el helado, "You can eat the ice cream."
True or false? Reflexive pronouns nos, os, and se can be used to express reciprocity, or doing something to each other.
TRUE. You can determine if the meaning is reflexive or if it is reciprocal based on the context. Examples Juan y Ana se conocen muy bien. Juan and Ana know each other very well. Nos abrazamos por mucho tiempo. We hugged each other for a long time. (Note that, while we can hug ourselves, the most probable meaning is "each other.")
In the cases of body parts and clothing, reflexive verbs can seem tricky. How are they used, and, as a result, which of the sentences below is correctly written? 1. Daniel se lava las manos. 2. Daniel se lava sus manos.
In using reflexive verbs when discussing body parts (and clothing?) (things that are PART of the speaker, not merely belongings of that speaker), proceed the body parts (and clothing?) with their definite articles and NOT possessive adjectives. In Spanish, it is understood that body parts (and clothing?) are part of the speaker. Thus, option 1. is correct. However, had the sentence read, "Daniel se lava el coche," it would have been incorrect if the car was Daniel's; because the car is not part of Daniel, the possessive adjective "su" should have been used instead of the definite article "el" if possession needs to be expressed here.
When you conjugate a reflexive verb, what do you do?
When you conjugate a reflexive verb (meaning it is no longer in its infinitive form), you must put the corresponding reflexive pronoun in front of the conjugated verb. The conjugations of the verbs themselves are the same as they would be for non-reflexive verbs: for example, Me llamo (I call myself), Te llamas (You [informal] call youself [informal]), Se llama (He, She, or You [formal] call[s] himself, herself, or yourself [formal]), Nos llamamos (We call ourselves), Os llamáis (You [informal] call yourselves [informal]), y Se llaman (They/You [formal] call themselves/yourselves [formal]).
How do you form a reflexive infinitive verb?
You form a reflexive INFINITIVE verb by adding the reflexive pronoun "se" to the end of an infinitive: ex. lavar means "to wash" while laverse means "to wash oneself." Note: I think (?) that reflexive verbs, in CONJUGATED form (NOT infinitive), have the reflexive pronoun proceeding them and separate, instead of attached to their ends.
Some verbs change slightly in meaning when in their reflexive forms. What are some of those verbs, and how does their meaning change?
hacer -- to do, to make --- hacerse -- to become (literally, to make oneself) volver -- to return --- volverse -- to become (literally, to return oneself) ir -- to go --- irse -- to leave, to go away (literally, to go oneself)
Reflexive verbs are always accompanied by a reflexive pronoun. When the verb is conjugated, the pronoun will change to match the subject of the sentence (which, with reflexive verbs, is also the object of the sentence!). What are the Spanish reflexive pronouns, and what are their English equivalents?
me -- myself te -- yourself (informal) se -- himself, herself, yourself (formal) nos -- ourselves os -- yourselves (informal) se -- themselves, yourselves (formal)