The Ultimate How-to Guide for Using Spanish Reflexive Verbs Now that you know what a Spanish reflexive verb looks like, let’s learn how to use them. Me aburro de estudiar - I get bored with studying Te alegras de leer - It makes you happy to read The English equivalent of this is “becoming something” (e.g., I became sad) or something “making you” feel a certain way (e.g., “I get bored” or “it makes me happy”). Reflexive verbs are also sometimes used to describe an emotional response.

The same can be said of quejarse (to complain). Therefore, in Spanish, arrepentirse (to repent) can’t be used without the se or reflexive element. The subject can’t repent for someone else. Only the subject can repent, for themselves. Some, however, are unable to be anything except reflexive. Most reflexive verbs are simply regular verbs with a se added to them to indicate that the subject and object are the same. On the other hand, with a regular verb the subject completes an action on another subject or object. The reflexive verb pattern could be explained as referring to an instance when the subject completes action on itself. The easiest way to recognize an infinitive (unconjugated) reflexive verb is that, rather ending with –ar, – ir, or –er, it’ll end with – se.For example:

Quick note: If you’d like to learn more about subjects, objects and other parts of speech in Spanish before proceeding, check out this post on the basics of Spanish structure. Now, back to the action. These verbs reflect upon themselves, hence they’re known as “reflexive” verbs. Any given day is full of tasks that you need to complete “upon yourself,” such as brushing your own hair or waking yourself up. (Download) What’s a Reflexive Verb?Ī reflexive verb is a verb that refers to something the subject does to itself. This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬlick here to get a copy. The Ultimate How-to Guide for Using Spanish Reflexive Verbs.Once you learn all you need to know in this ultimate guide to reflexive verbs, you’ll be set-no matter what stage you’re at. Thankfully, the rules of reflexive verbs are actually very simple! In Spanish, we have a whole different class of verbs to talk about those things! It’s a fact of life: As we grow up, we have to start doing all kinds of things for ourselves.

NovemHow to Use Spanish Reflexive Verbs Like a Native

What is a reflexive verb