Spanish conjugation explanation

Reflexive pronouns

<p>Reflexive verbs describe actions where the subject and the object are the same (the action reflects back on the subject). These verbs always require a <strong>reflexive pronoun</strong> that must match the <strong>subject</strong> of the sentence in person and number.</p>

<p>A common mistake is to use the pronoun <span style="font-style: italic;">se</span> for all persons. Remember that <span style="font-style: italic;">se</span> is only used for the <strong>third person</strong> (singular and plural) and the <strong>formal "you"</strong> forms (<span style="font-style: italic;">usted/ustedes</span>).</p>

<div class="table_container">

<div class="two_column_table">

<div><strong>Person / Subject</strong></div>

<div><strong>Reflexive pronoun</strong></div>

<div>S/1 (<span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span>)</div>

<div><strong>me</strong></div>

<div>S/2 (<span style="font-style: italic;">tú</span>)</div>

<div><strong>te</strong></div>

<div>S/3 (<span style="font-style: italic;">él, ella, usted</span>)</div>

<div><strong>se</strong></div>

<div>P/1 (<span style="font-style: italic;">nosotros, nosotras</span>)</div>

<div><strong>nos</strong></div>

<div>P/2 (<span style="font-style: italic;">vosotros, vosotras</span>)</div>

<div><strong>os</strong></div>

<div>P/3 (<span style="font-style: italic;">ellos, ellas, ustedes</span>)</div>

<div><strong>se</strong></div>

</div>

</div>

<p>Here are examples demonstrating the correct pronoun for each subject. Notice how the pronoun changes even though the verb tense is consistent:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>yo (me):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo <span class="green_emphasis">me</span> levanto a las seis. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I get up at six.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>tú (te):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">¿A qué hora <span class="green_emphasis">te</span> acuestas tú? (<span style="font-style: italic;">At what time do you go to bed?</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>él/ella (se):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ella <span class="green_emphasis">se</span> llama María. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Her name is Maria.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>nosotros (nos):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">¡Nosotros <span class="green_emphasis">nos</span> vamos! (<span style="font-style: italic;">We are leaving!</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>vosotros (os):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Vosotros <span class="green_emphasis">os</span> quedáis en casa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You (pl.) are staying at home.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>ellos/ustedes (se):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ellos <span class="green_emphasis">se</span> lavan las manos. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They wash their hands.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Placement</div>

<p>In most tenses, the reflexive pronoun is placed <strong>before</strong> the conjugated verb. However, it can be attached to the end of the verb in the following cases:</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>Infinitive:</strong>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/lavarse/" title="Click to see conjugations for lavarse" target="_blank">lavarse</a>

<li><strong>Gerund:</strong> lavándo<strong>se</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">washing oneself</span>)</li>

<li><strong>Imperative (Affirmative):</strong> ¡láva<strong>te</strong>! (<span style="font-style: italic;">wash yourself!</span>)</li>

</ul>

<p>For more details on commands, see

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_reflexive_imperative/" target="_blank">reflexive imperative</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Conjugation Example</div>

<p>Observe the pronouns in the complete

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/lavarse/" title="Click to see conjugations for lavarse" target="_blank">lavarse</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span>me lavo

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>te lavas

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>se lava

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>nos lavamos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>os laváis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>se lavan

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>