Reflexive constructions:
Pronouns and verbs
(Las construcciones reflexivas: los
pronombres y los verbos)
Reflexive constructions in Spanish are generally used to
describe actions that people do to, or for, themselves:
Notice that we often indicate that a verb is to be used
reflexively by attaching se onto the infinitive
acostarse (ue) levantarse
afeitarse maquillarse
baarse peinarse
cepillarse quitarse
despertarse (ie) secarse
dormirse (ue, u) sentarse (ie)
lavarse vestirse (i, i)
One useful function of reflexive constructions is to
describe daily personal activities.
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11 1
10 2
El despertador suena a las 5:00. 9 3
8 4
7 6 5
(Yo) me levanto temprano.
The subject pronoun, yo, is in parentheses since it is optional in
this case; the object pronoun me is used to show who is being
gotten upin this case, the same person as the subject,
indicating that I am getting myself up rather than someone else.
Whenever the subject and the object of a verb are the same
person, the verb is being used reflexively.
The reflexive pronouns
me nos
te os
se se
se se
Note that se serves for both.
The only reflexive pronouns that differ in form from
direct or indirect object pronouns are third persons
singular and plural.
Using the verb baar as an example, the reflexive construction
verb paradigm would be as follows in the present tense:
Yo me bao. I bathe (myself).
T te baas. You bathe (yourself).
l, ella, Ud. se baa. He, she, you (form.) bathe(s)
(himself, herself, yourself).
Nosotros nos baamos. We bathe (ourselves).
Vosotros os bais. You (pl., fam.) bathe
(yourselves).
Ellos, ellas, Uds. se baan. They, you (pl., form.) bathe
(themselves, yourselves).
Notice that English often omits the reflexive pronoun (myself, etc.),
whereas it is obligatory in Spanish.
Now lets look at some more daily activities.
Clara se seca y se viste despus de baarse.
Reflexive pronouns, just like direct and indirect object
pronouns, are placed either before the conjugated verb . . .
. . . or after and attached to
an infinitive or gerund.
Isabel se peina.
Reflexive actionperformed on oneself
Isabel could, of course, comb someone elses hair, in which
case a reflexive construction would not be used, since
someone other than the subject would be receiving the effect
of the verb.
Isabel peina a su hermana.
Nonreflexive actionperformed on
someone else
Pap se seca el pelo antes de peinarse.
Su hija se sienta al
tocador y se maquilla.
Todos nos acostamos temprano para poder
levantarnos a tiempo al da siguiente.
Y ahora, cmo nos sentimos?
(Now, how do we feel?)
Reflexive constructions are often used to describe
feelings, moods, and conditions:
Some examples are listed below
alegrarse (de) to become happy (about)
divertirse [ie, i] (con) to have fun (with)
enamorarse (de) to fall in love (with)
enfermarse (de, con) to become sick (from, with)
enojarse (de, con) to get angry (about, at)
olvidarse (de) to forget (to or about)
Nos alegramos de pasar tiempo con la familia.
Me gusta
caminar en el
parque.
A veces los nios se
divierten mucho en la
baera.
Te vas a enamorar un da de stos.
Me enfermo cuando
como muchos dulces.
Mis padres se enojan si no me acuesto a tiempo.
Nunca nos olvidamos
de lavarnos los dientes.
The important and versatile verb poner, basically to
put, means to put on (as in clothing) when used
reflexively. It also is used reflexively with adjectives to
express the idea of to become.
Pongo mis libros en mi mochila.
I put my books in my backpack.
En invierno, nos ponemos un abrigo antes de salir.
In the winter, we put on an overcoat before going out.
Los nios se ponen tristes cuando su padre est fuera.
The children are (become) sad when their father is out
of town.
One another, each other
The pronouns nos, os, and se can be used to express
reciprocal actions or conditions, that is, what people do to
each other or how they feel about one another.
Los novios se hablan por telfono.
The lovers talk to one
another on the phone.
(We love each
Nos other a lot.)
queremos
mucho.
Of course, the reciprocal pronouns must
be plural by definition, since one
another refers to more than one
person. Note that they coincide in form
with the plural reflexive pronouns.
FIN
