L OS V ERBOS R EFLEXIVOS

L OS V ERBOS R EFLEXIVOS /R EFLEXIVE V ERBS What word can you see in the term reflexive? Ok, usually the words reflex and reflect come to mind. Let’s focus on the word reflect. What does it mean to you? Obviously, it has many meanings. What happens when you look in the mirror? Good, you see yourself looking back at you. In other words, your image is reflected back at you.

L OS V ERBOS R EFLEXIVOS /R EFLEXIVE V ERBS Reflexive verbs are kind of like that mirror. Reflexive verbs have a subject that is performing an action to or for himself or herself. The object is the same as-or “reflects” back to the subject. Let’s look at some examples. A. Bob lava el carro. B. Ana se lava la cara. What’s the difference between example A and example B? That’s a good start. In example A. Bob is washing the car.

A. B OB LAVA EL CARRO. B. A NA SE LAVA LA CARA. In example B, Ana is washing her own face. So, which of the two is reflexive and why? In other words, which one has the subject performing an action to or for he / himself? Good, that would be B. Why isn’t A reflexive? Is the car a part of Bob? No, so it cannot be reflexive. Ana’s face, however, is a part of herself and, therefore, it is reflexive. Notice that the infinitive has a reflexive ending. Lavar = non-reflexive Lavarse = reflexive

Reflexive Verbs Let’s look at another example. A. El padre acuesta al bebé. B. Yo me acuesto a las 9:30. Can you guess which sentence is reflexive? Why? Most people will say B because it has the reflexive pronoun me. That is a good start, but it doesn’t really tell us why it is reflexive. Why don’t we start by translating each sentence?

A. El padre acuesta al bebé. B. Yo me acuesto a las 9:30. Example A means: The dad puts the baby to sleep. Example B means: I go to bed at 9:30. Same question: Which one is reflexive? Why? Excellent! In example B, you are putting yourself to bed, so it is reflexive.

A. El padre acuesta al bebé. B. Yo me acuesto a las 9:30. Why isn’t A reflexive? Great! In this case, the dad is putting the baby to sleep, and he is not doing the action to himself. Once again, note the reflexive pronoun in the infinitive. Acostar = non-reflexive Acostarse = reflexive

Let’s look at one final example. A. El hombre fuerte levanta la pesa. B. El estudiante se levanta. Which one is reflexive? Why? Good, the student is doing the action to himself (lifting himself up), and the strong man is lifting a weight that is not a part of himself. Levantar = non-reflexive Levantarse = reflexive To lift To stand up

B E C AREFUL : Reflexive verbs are usually not translated literally to English. Me = myself Te = yourself Se = himself, herself Nos = ourselves Se = themselves

Let’s look at an example. ¿Cómo te llamas? Me llamo Raúl. What does the example above mean? Awesome! A great translation is: What is your name? My name is Raúl. We don’t say what the sentence literally means: How do you call yourself. I call myself Raúl. Seriously, who talks like that?

Los Verbos Reflexivos: Sometimes a reflexive verb ending just changes the meaning. Dormir: to sleep Dormirse: to fall asleep Ir: to go Irse: to go away Llevar: to carry, wear Llevarse: to take away Poner: to put Ponerse: To put on or to become ¿Lo pongo aquí? Me pongo nerviosa. Do I put it here? I get nervous

Reciprocal Actions Reflexive pronouns are also used to express reciprocal actions. You have probably heard the word reciprocal in math class. What does it mean? So, what is a reciprocal of ¼? Good, that would be 4.

Reciprocal Actions In grammar, a reciprocal action is when two people both complete an action. It is like when two people like each other. When that happens, we say that the love is requited or reciprocated.

Reciprocal Actions We say “each other” or “one another” in English. Let’s look at some examples. A. Paco besa al bebé. B. Ellos se besan. Which example indicates a reciprocal action? Excellent! In example B, the action goes between two people. Besar= to kiss Besarse= to kiss one another Hopefully, when Paco kisses the baby, the action is not reciprocated… lol. That would be quite an advanced baby!

Reciprocal Actions Can you handle one more example? Very funny! Well, here is one more example anyway. A. Isaais le escribe un correo eléctronico. B. Ellos se escriben. Which example is reciprocal and why? In example A, Isaais is writing an e mail to him. It says nothing about whether or not he gets a reply. In example B, they are both writing back and forth. It is reciprocal. Escribir= to write Escribirse: to write to one another

La Voz Pasiva Reflexive verbs also express the passive voice. John throws the ball. Is the sentence above in the active or passive voice? Ask yourself whether the subject is performing the action. Is the subject (John) performing the action? If so, the sentence is in the active voice.

John throws the ball. So, how do we put this sentence into the passive voice? Hint: In a passive construction, the subject must receive the action… so start with the ball. The ball is thrown by John. In Spanish, to make a verb passive, we must use a reflexive pronoun. That pronoun will be the word se whether the subject is singular or plural. Let’s take a look at some examples.

A. Hablamos español. B. Se habla español. What is the exact literal translation of example A and B? A = We speak Spanish. B = Spanish is spoken. Now, if you see a sign in the window of a bodega that says: Aquí se habla español, most people would say it means “ we speak Spanish here.” Literally, it means Spanish is spoken here.

A. Hablamos español. B. Se habla español. Now, for the big question… Which of the two examples is in the passive voice? Why? It’s example B because Spanish cannot speak itself. In other words, the subject (Spanish) is receiving the action. In example A, the subject (we) is performing (or speaking) the action.

A. Él me vendió un carro. B. Se venden carros. What does each example mean? A. He sold me a car. B. Cars are sold there. Which one is in the active voice? Why? I think you’ve got it! In example A, the subject (he) is doing the action. In example B, the subject (cars) is receiving the action. Again, cars can’t sell themselves. He is the one selling the cars.

İEnhorabuena!

A morning routine Todos los días, yo ______ (levantarse) a las 7:00. ______ (ir) al baño, _______ (lavarse) la cara, y _______ (afeitarse). Luego ______ (vestirse = e > i) y ______ (tomar) un poco de desayuno. Por fin, _______ (lavarse) los dientes. Hint: not all the verbs in this paragraph are reflexive!

A morning routine Todos los días, yo me levanto a las 7:00. Voy al baño, me lavo la cara, y me afeito. Luego me visto y tomo un poco de desayuno. Por fin, me lavo los dientes. Did you remember to use a reflexive pronoun with levanto, lavo, afeito, and visto? Did you remember to change the stem for visto?

Let’s do another Juana ______ (despertarse = e > ie) a las 6:30, ________ (levantarse), ______ (ir) al baño, y ________ (ducharse). Ella ______ (secarse), _______ (peinarse), y _______ (pintarse) la cara.

Otra rutina diaria Juana se despierta a las 6:30, se levanta, va al baño, y se ducha. Ella se seca, se peina, y se pinta la cara. Did you remember to use a reflexive pronoun with despierta, levanta, ducha, seca, peina, and pinta? Did you remember to change the stem on despierta?