How to conjugate the reflexive verb. □ The reflexive verb is identified in the
infinitive by the presence of the reflexive pronoun “se”. □ So infinitives will look
like ...
Reflexive and Reciprocal Actions The reflexive verb construction
How to conjugate the reflexive verb The reflexive verb is identified in the infinitive by the presence of the reflexive pronoun “se” So infinitives will look like this:
LAVARSE LAV (stem)-AR (ending) SE (reflexive pronoun)
Conjugation into indicative When you conjugate a reflexive you assign the verb to each person (1st, 2nd , 3rd, singular or plural) by making a change to the ending and/or stem. Then, you assign the appropriate reflexive pronoun in front of the verb. The finished conjugation results in two words.
Examples LAVARSE (one word infinitive) Me lavo Nos lavamos
ACOSTARSE (o ue) Me acuesto
Nos acostamos
Te lavas
Os laváis
Te acuestas Os acostáis
Se lava
Se lavan
Se acuesta
Two word conjugated action
Se acuestan
The infinitive Sometimes the reflexive verb will stay in the infinitive when used in “+ infinitive” constructions In those cases, the reflexive pronoun can also go before or after the construction and must agree with the subject of the sentence…
Examples of the “+ infinitive” Voy a lavarme. (3 word sentence) Me voy a lavar. (4 word sentence)
Ella va a acostarse. Ella se va a acostar.
Examples of the “+ infinitive” Tienes que ducharte. Te tienes que duchar.
Pensamos cepillarnos los dientes. Nos pensamos cepillar los dientes.
The GERUND When using the constructions that include the gerund (the progressives) the reflexive pronoun can go before or after the construction
Me estoy lavando. Estoy lavándome. Ella se está acostando. Ella está acostándose.
Just make sure the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject of the sentence.
Uses of the reflexive verb True reflexive action: action done and received by the same person. Subject = Object Example verbs include: lavarse vestirse afeitarse
to wash oneself to dress oneself to shave oneself
Actions in the daily routine (ex. grooming)
Uses of the reflexive verb Reciprocal Reflexives: the same action reciprocated between two individuals or two groups. Actions will be done to… …themselves or each other 3rd person plural (ellos or ellas)
…ourselves 1st person plural (nosotros)
BESARSE, ABRAZARSE
Reciprocal Reflexives QUERERSE Se querían mucho, es una lástima que se divorciaron.
VERSE Sin embargo, ellos se ven (el uno al otro) cada dos semanas.
REUNIRSE ¿Cuándo vamos a reunirnos para estudiar?
Uses of the reflexive verb Pseudo-reflexive action: express a change of emotion (to get… or to become…) Example verbs are: aburrirse- to get bored alegrarse- to become happy cansarse- to get tired dormirse- to fall asleep enojarse- to become angry olvidarse –to forget enfermarse – to get sick
Uses of the pseudo-reflexive verb, con’t. You can also use some verbs with an adjective to describe changes in mood/disposition: PONERSE + adjetivo
nervioso/a – Me pongo nerviosa en la clase. pálido/a - Se puso pálido por la sorpresa. rojo/a - Se está poniendo rojo por el chiste.
VOLVERSE + adjetivo
loco/a – Casi me volví loca estudiando para el examen. imposible – Mi novio se ha vuelto imposible. ¡No lo soporto!
HACERSE + profesión ; LLEGAR a ser
Rafael se hizo abogado. Y su esposa, Lola llegó a ser profesora también.