Reflexive Verbs (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Reflexive verbs
Overview
Reflexive verbs are special verbs that include a reflexive pronoun. These verbs describe actions that you do to yourself or that "reflect back" onto the person doing the action. For example, "lavarse" means "to wash oneself" rather than washing something else.
Reflexive verbs are very common in Spanish, especially when talking about daily routines like getting up, washing, getting dressed, or going to bed. They follow the same conjugation patterns as regular present tense verbs, but they always include a reflexive pronoun.
Reflexive verbs are essential for describing personal care activities and daily routines in Spanish. Mastering them early will help you express many common everyday actions naturally.
Rules & formation
Reflexive verbs are formed by combining a reflexive pronoun with a verb. The reflexive pronouns are:
- me (myself)
- te (yourself - informal)
- se (himself/herself/itself/yourself - formal)
- nos (ourselves)
- os (yourselves - informal, used mainly in Spain)
- se (themselves/yourselves - formal)
The reflexive pronoun goes before the conjugated verb. The verb endings follow normal present tense patterns, including any stem changes that the verb might have.
Critical Rule: The reflexive pronoun must always be placed before the conjugated verb, never after it. This is one of the most common mistakes students make when learning reflexive verbs.
When using the infinitive form, you can attach the pronoun to the end of the verb. For example: "Voy a levantarme" (I'm going to get up).
Table of key forms
Here are two common reflexive verbs showing the full conjugation pattern:
Lavarse (to wash oneself)
| Pronoun | Reflexive pronoun + verb | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | me lavo | I wash (myself) |
| tú | te lavas | you wash (yourself) |
| él/ella/usted | se lava | he/she/you wash(es) |
| nosotros | nos lavamos | we wash (ourselves) |
| vosotros | os laváis | you wash (yourselves) |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se lavan | they/you wash |
Vestirse (to get dressed) - stem-changing verb
| Pronoun | Reflexive pronoun + verb | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | me visto | I get dressed |
| tú | te vistes | you get dressed |
| él/ella/usted | se viste | he/she/you get(s) dressed |
| nosotros | nos vestimos | we get dressed |
| vosotros | os vestís | you get dressed |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se visten | they/you get dressed |
Worked Example: Conjugating "despertarse" (to wake up)
Step 1: Identify the stem change (e → ie) Step 2: Add the appropriate reflexive pronoun Step 3: Apply the stem change to the correct forms
- yo → me despierto (I wake up)
- tú → te despiertas (you wake up)
- él/ella → se despierta (he/she wakes up)
- nosotros → nos despertamos (we wake up - no stem change)
- ellos → se despiertan (they wake up)
Example sentences
The following examples demonstrate how reflexive verbs work in context:
Me levanto a las siete.
I get up at seven o'clock.
The reflexive verb "levantarse" describes getting yourself up from bed.
¿Te lavas los dientes después de comer?
Do you brush your teeth after eating?
Here "lavarse" is used with a body part to show personal care.
Los novios se besaron.
The bride and groom kissed each other.
When reflexive verbs are used in plural, they can show reciprocal actions (each other).
Mis amigos y yo nos vemos los fines de semana.
My friends and I see each other at weekends.
Another example of reciprocal meaning with a plural reflexive verb.
Aquí no se puede nadar.
You cannot swim here.
The pronoun "se" can create impersonal constructions meaning "one cannot" or "you cannot".
Notice how reflexive verbs can have different meanings depending on the context. In singular forms, they typically mean actions done to oneself, while in plural forms, they often express reciprocal actions between people.
Common mistakes & tips
Learning reflexive verbs involves avoiding several common pitfalls:
Most Common Mistake: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
Remember that reflexive verbs always need their pronoun. Don't say "lavo" when you mean "me lavo" (I wash myself). The pronoun is not optional!
Wrong pronoun placement: The reflexive pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, not after. Say "me levanto", not "levanto me".
Confusing with regular verbs: Some verbs exist in both reflexive and non-reflexive forms with different meanings. "Lavar" means "to wash something", whilst "lavarse" means "to wash oneself".
Stem-changing verbs: Don't forget that some reflexive verbs also change their stem. "Vestirse" becomes "me visto", not "me vesto".
Infinitive form: When using infinitives, you can put the pronoun at the end: "Voy a levantarme" or before the helping verb: "Me voy a levantar". Both are correct.
Mini practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises:
Practice Exercise: Spanish → English
- Me despierto temprano.
- ¿Te sientes bien?
- Nos divertimos mucho en la fiesta.
Practice Exercise: English → Spanish
- I get up at half past six.
- She goes to bed late.
- We see each other every weekend.
Answers:
Answers: Spanish → English
- I wake up early.
- Do you feel well?
- We have a lot of fun at the party.
Answers: English → Spanish
- Me levanto a las seis y media.
- Se acuesta tarde.
- Nos vemos todos los fines de semana.
Key Points to Remember:
- Reflexive verbs always include a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se)
- The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb
- These verbs often describe daily routines and personal care activities
- In plural forms, reflexive verbs can mean "each other"
- The verb endings follow normal present tense patterns, including any stem changes