Page 18 Avancemos 3 – Lección Preliminar Reflexive Verbs

Do you remember your Indirect Object Pronouns?

Indirect Object Pronouns me (to or for me) te (to or for you) le (to or for him, her, it) nos (to or for us) les (to or for them, you all)

Placement of Indirect Object Pronouns Indirect Object Pronouns, me, te, le, nos, and les are placed either before a conjugated verb or attached to the end of an infinitive.

Before the verb or after the infinitive: ¿Le vas a dar el libro a Elena? Sí, le voy a dar el libro a Elena. After the infinitive: ¿Vas a darle el libro a Elena? Sí, voy a darle el libro a Elena.

Today we are learning about reflexive verbs and they have pronouns much like Indirect Object Pronouns and are used much in the same way. Make sure you have your Indirect Object Pronouns memorized.

Reflexive Verbs Reflexive verbs are used to tell that a person does something to or for him- or herself.

Reflexive Verbs Reflexive verbs have two parts: 1. a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, se) 2. and a verb form.

LAVARSE(to wash oneself) Reflexive Verbs LAVARSE(to wash oneself) Verb Form Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive Verbs In English, we really don’t identify with reflexive verbs. So these will seem strange to you.

Reflexive Verbs In English, a sentence using a “so called” reflexive verb might be… Lauren brushes her hair. Scott bathes himself.

Reflexive Verbs You must remember that these are actions being done to oneself, by oneself. For example: I wash my (my own) hair.

Reflexive Pronouns nos (to or for ourselves) me (to or for myself) os (to or for you all) se (to or for themselves, you all, or each other) me (to or for myself) te (to or for yourself) se (to or for himself, herself, itself)

TO WASH ONESELF I wash myself You wash yourself He, She, It washes himself, etc. We wash ourselves They wash themselves

LAVARSE me lavo te lavas se lava nos lavamos os laváis se lavan

Reflexive Pronouns They can either go before a conjugated verb or attached to an infinitive.

Reflexive Pronouns Me voy a lavar el pelo. After the infinitive: Before the verb: Me voy a lavar el pelo. After the infinitive: Voy a lavarme el pelo.

Reflexive Verbs Let’s do more verbs!

CEPILLARSE me cepillo te cepillas se cepilla nos cepillamos os cepilláis se cepillan

DUCHARSE me ducho te duchas se ducha nos duchamos os ducháis se duchan

Reflexive Verbs When using reflexive verbs to talk about parts of the body, use the definite article. (the el, la, los, las that mean “the”)

Reflexive Verbs Nos lavamos el pelo. ¿Te cepillas los dientes?