Reflexive verbs (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Reflexive verbs
Reflexive verbs are an essential part of Spanish grammar that describe actions people do to themselves. Understanding how to use these verbs correctly will help you talk about daily routines, feelings, and many common activities in Spanish.
What are reflexive verbs?
Reflexive verbs work differently from regular verbs because they include a reflexive pronoun that refers back to the person doing the action. These verbs have the same endings as regular present tense verbs, but they require an additional pronoun that shows the action is being done to oneself.
The reflexive pronouns are: me, te, se, nos, os, se. These pronouns change to match the subject of the sentence and always indicate that the action is being performed on oneself.
Many reflexive verbs describe daily activities like washing, getting dressed, or waking up. Some reflexive verbs also undergo stem changes, just like other Spanish verbs, so you'll need to watch out for these changes when conjugating them.
Present tense conjugation
When conjugating reflexive verbs in the present tense, you place the reflexive pronoun before the conjugated verb. Here's how this works with two common examples:
Worked Example: Conjugating Reflexive Verbs
Lavarse (to wash oneself):
- Yo me lavo (I wash myself)
- Tú te lavas (you wash yourself)
- Él/ella/usted se lava (he/she washes himself/herself, you wash yourself)
Vestirse (to get dressed):
- Yo me visto (I get dressed)
- Tú te vistes (you get dressed)
- Él/ella/usted se viste (he/she gets dressed, you get dressed)
Notice how the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se) changes to match the subject, whilst the verb ending follows the normal present tense pattern.
Plural forms
For more advanced students, it's important to know the plural forms of reflexive verbs. These forms can often mean "each other" when referring to actions between multiple people:
- Nosotros nos lavamos / nos vestimos (we wash ourselves / get dressed)
- Vosotros os laváis / os vestís (you all wash yourselves / get dressed)
- Ellos/ellas/ustedes se lavan / se visten (they wash themselves / get dressed)
When used in plural, these verbs can express reciprocal actions. For example, "Los novios se besaron" means "The bride and groom kissed each other."
Using reflexive verbs in the infinitive
When you want to use a reflexive verb in its infinitive form, you can attach the reflexive pronoun to the end of the verb. For example, "Voy a levantarme" means "I'm going to get up." This construction is particularly useful when talking about future plans or intentions.
Key Rule for Infinitives: With infinitive forms, the reflexive pronoun can be attached to the end of the verb instead of placed before it. Both "Voy a levantarme" and "Me voy a levantar" are correct and mean the same thing.
Impersonal constructions with "se"
You can create impersonal constructions using the reflexive pronoun "se" to express general statements or rules. For instance, "Aquí no se puede nadar" translates to "You cannot swim here" or "Swimming is not allowed here." Similarly, "Se necesita gente con experiencia" means "People with experience are needed."
These impersonal constructions with "se" are essential for expressing general rules and creating more natural-sounding Spanish. They're equivalent to using "one" or "you" in general statements in English.
Useful vocabulary
| Spanish infinitive | First person singular | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| ponerse | me pongo | I put on |
| quedarse | me quedo | I stay |
| llamarse | me llamo | I am called |
| perderse | me pierdo | I get lost |
| sentirse | me siento | I feel |
| levantarse | me levanto | I get up |
| llevarse (con) | me llevo (con) | I get on (with) |
| dormirse | me duermo | I fall asleep |
| casarse | me caso | I get married |
| despertarse | me despierto | I wake up |
| parecerse a | me parezco a | I look like |
| acordarse (de) | me acuerdo | I remember |
| preocuparse | me preocupo | I worry |
| atreverse a | me atrevo a | I dare to |
| acostarse | me acuesto | I go to bed |
| quejarse | me quejo | I complain |
| pelearse con | me peleo con | I fight with |
| enamorarse | me enamoro | I fall in love |
| acostumbrarse | me acostumbro | I get used to |
| divertirse | me divierto | I enjoy myself |
| negarse (a) | me niego a | I refuse to |
Study Tip: Focus on learning the first person singular forms first, as these are the most commonly used in everyday conversation. Notice how many of these verbs relate to daily routines and emotions.
Example sentences
Here are some practical examples showing reflexive verbs in context:
Practical Usage Examples
- Me levanto temprano todos los días. (I get up early every day.)
- ¿A qué hora te acuestas normalmente? (What time do you normally go to bed?)
- Mi hermana se llama María. (My sister is called María.)
- Los estudiantes se divierten en la fiesta. (The students are enjoying themselves at the party.)
- Nos vemos los fines de semana. (We see each other at weekends.)
- ¿Te acuerdas de mí? (Do you remember me?)
Grammar and pronunciation tips
When pronouncing reflexive verbs, remember that the reflexive pronoun flows naturally with the verb - there's no pause between them. Practice saying "me lavo" as one smooth unit rather than separating the words.
Critical Grammar Rules:
- The reflexive pronoun always comes immediately before the conjugated verb
- Exception: With infinitives or gerunds, it can be attached to the end
- Pay attention to accent marks when attaching pronouns to infinitives, as they may be needed to maintain correct stress
Some reflexive verbs like "dormirse" and "vestirse" are stem-changing verbs, so remember to apply the appropriate vowel changes (o→ue, e→i) in addition to using the reflexive pronoun.
Translation practice
Translation Practice
Spanish to English:
- Me despierto a las siete de la mañana.
- Los niños se divierten en el parque.
English to Spanish: 3. I get dressed quickly in the morning. 4. We worry about our exams.
Answers:
- I wake up at seven in the morning.
- The children enjoy themselves in the park.
- Me visto rápidamente por la mañana.
- Nos preocupamos por nuestros exámenes.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Reflexive verbs require reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) that match the subject
- The reflexive pronoun usually comes before the conjugated verb
- Many reflexive verbs describe daily routines and personal care activities
- Plural reflexive verbs can express reciprocal actions ("each other")
- You can create impersonal statements using "se" + third person singular verb form