 Por Rosita Spergel

 Reflexive Verbs are conjugated with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, and se) which represent the same person as the subject. In other words, reflexive verbs are used to indicate that the subject is performing the action on or for him- or herself. o Me corto las uñas a menudo. I cut my nails often. o Juan se acostó temprano. Juan went to bed early.  Note that in Spanish, when using reflexive verbs with parts of the body or articles of clothing, the definite article is used in place of the possessive adjective used in English.

Some verbs change meaning when they are used reflexively. Some common verbs are…  Acercar to bring near  Acordar to agree  Ir to go  Negar to deny  Parecer to seem  Probar to taste  Volver to return  Acercarse to approach  Acordarse to remember  Irse to go away, leave  Negarse (a) to refuse (to)  Parecerse (a) to look like  Probarse to try on  Volverse to turn around

 The reflexive construction is also used to express mutual or reciprocal action, that is, to indicate that the subjects are performing the action to or for one another by using the plural reflexive pronouns (nos, os, se). o Nosotros nos encontramos en el We meet (each other) in the park parque todos los días. every day. o Se abrazan cuando se ven. They hug when they see each other. o Hace tres semanas que no nos We have not written to each other escribimos. for three weeks.  El uno al otro or los unos a los otros may be added if there is a need to clarify the reciprocity of the action. o Ellos se miran al uno al otro. They look at eachother.

 The reflexive construction is also used with the verbs hacerse, ponerse, and volverse to express the equivalent of the English “to become” Each one of these verbs expresses a different type of change: 1. When conscious effort is involved in the change, use the construction hacerse + noun (or adjective). Julio se hizo médico. Julio became a doctor. (through effort) Esos artistas se hicieron Those artists became famous. famosos. (through effort) 2. When no conscious effort is implied and the change is physical, mental, or emotional, use the construction ponerse + adjective. Yo me puse muy nervioso I became very nervous when the cuando el director entró. principal entered. (involuntary emotional change) 3. When the change is involuntary, sudden, and violent, use the construction volverse + adjective. Mis amigas se volvieron locas My friends became crazy when they found out. Cuando lo supieron. (sudden, often violent, change)

1. Nos despertamos/se despierta/me despierto/se despiertan/te despiertas 2. Se prepara/me preparo/nos preparamos/se preparan 3. Se lavan/se lavan/se lava/se lava/nos lavamos 4. Se queda/te quedas/nos quedamos/me quedo/se quedan 5. Se acuesta/nos acostamos/se acuestan/se acuesta/te acuestas

1. Lava, se lava 2. Viste, se viste 3. Nos quitamos, quitamos 4. Se peina, peina 5. Acuesta, se acuesta 6. Se bañan, bañan

1. Mi papá está afeitándose en su cuarto de baño. 2. Mi hermano está lavándose la cara. 3. Mi abuelo está cepillándose los dientes en el baño. 4. Estoy peinándome delante del espejo. 5. Mi mamá está vistiéndose en su cuarto.

1. Ella se puso nerviosa 2. Él se hizo rico 3. Él se volvió agresivo 4. Ellos se hicieron abogados 5. Él se volvió loco

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