Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs are used to for actions we do to ourselves Lavarse – to wash (oneself) Afeitarse – to shave (oneself) Ducharse – to shower (oneself)
Reflexive Verbs Reflexive verbs have two parts: a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, se) and a verb form. Lavarse – to wash (oneself) Afeitarse – to shave (oneself) Ducharse – to shower (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 Pronouns me (myself) te (yourself) se (himself/herself) (yourself [Ud.]) (itself) nos (ourselves) os (yourselves) se (themselves, yourselves)
LAVARSE – to wash oneself me lavo te lavas se lava nos lavamos os laváis se lavan
Reflexive Pronouns When we conjugate the verb, the pronoun comes before the verb.
Reflexive Pronouns Before the verb: Me lavo el pelo. I wash my hair. ¿Cuándo te lavas el pelo? When do you wash your hair? Juan se lava el pelo a veces. Juan washes his hair sometimes.
Reflexive Pronouns When the verb is not conjugated, that is when the verb is in the infinitive, the pronoun is attached to the end of the verb.
Reflexive Pronouns After the verb: Necesito lavarme el pelo. I need to wash my hair. ¿Quieres lavarte el pelo? Do you want to wash your hair? Juan tiene que lavarse el pelo. Juan washes his hair sometimes.
Reflexive Verbs Here are some more examples:
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
Other things to note… When using reflexive verbs to talk about parts of the body, use the definite article. (the el, la, los, las that mean “the”) Not mi pelo, tu cara, su cabeza, sus piernas…
Reflexive Verbs Nos lavamos el pelo. Te cepillas los dientes?
Ducharse – to shower I shower in the morning. We shower in the evening. Juan wants to shower before the dance. When do you shower? The boys shower after gym class. Mini-prueba
Ducharse – to shower Me ducho por la mañana. Nos duchamos por la tarde. Juan quiere ducharse antes del baile. ¿Cuándo te duchas? Los chicos se duchan después de la clase de educación física. Mini-prueba