A verb is reflexive in Spanish when the subject receives the action of the verb. In English this is implied by the endings
-self and -selves. In Spanish the reflexive pronouns are me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Ella se levanta. She gets (herself) up.
Nosotros nos paramos. We stand (ourselves) up.
• Many reflexive verbs in Spanish describe daily
routine actions. Some verbs of this type include
despertarse
(to wake up),
ducharse
(to take a
shower),
peinarse
(to comb oneself),
vestirse
(to
get dressed), and
acostarse
(to go to bed).
• Other reflexive verbs describe a physical or
emotional state. Verbs of this type include
divertirse
(to enjoy oneself) and
sentirse
(to feel
an emotion).
• Some reflexive verbs describe a change of state
and they carry the added meaning of “to get” or
“to become.”
Me enojé.
I became angry (got mad).
Se puso muy nervioso.
He became very nervous.
¿Te aburriste?
Did you get bored?
Se cansan.
They get (become) tired.
• Some verbs have a different meaning when used reflexively.
ir to go irse to leave
dormir to sleep dormirse to fall asleep
parecer to seem parecerse a to look like
quedar to be located quedarse to stay
quitar to take away quitarse to take off
volver to return volverse to become
perder to lose perderse to get lost
• Other verbs such as
darse cuenta de
(to
realize),
quejarse
(to complain), and
ducharse
(to behave) are always reflexive.
• Placement of reflexive pronouns with commands
and the present participle follow
the same rules that apply to placement of direct
and indirect object pronouns.
To tell what people do to or for one another use the
reciprocal pronouns
nos
and
se
before the first and
third person plural of certain verbs.
Mis hermanos y yo no nos peleamos nunca.
Alonso y Fernanda se llaman todos los días, pero
se ven muy poco.
In the case of a verbal phrase with an infinitive or a present participle, you may place the reciprocal pronoun either before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive or participle. Remember to place an accent in the third to last syllable when you add the reciprocal
pronoun to a present participle.
Vamos a vernos mañana. Nos vamos a ver mañana
Rodrigo y Luisa estaban abrazándose en el jardín. Rodrigo y Luisa se estaban abrazando en el jardín.
Here are some examples of reflexive verbs that are
used reciprocally:
abrazarse
comprenderse
entenderse
leerse
pelearse
ayudarse
conocerse escribirse
llamarse
saludarse
besarse
contarse
hablarse
llevarse bien / mal verse
¿Cuántas personas conoces en la escuela? ¿Cuántos amigos tienes? ¿Cómo te relacionas con ellos? Pueden ser muchas o pocas, pero no todas las personas que conoces son tus amigos. Los amigos son el mejor regalo que podemos recibir.
As you already know, we use the subjunctive after verbs indicating suggestions, desire, or demands. The subjunctive is also used after verbs and impersonal phrases indicating emotion, such as ojalá que, temo que, tengo miedo de que, me alegro de que, me molesta que, me sorprende que,
siento que, es triste que, and es bueno que, among others. A sentence in the subjunctive mode has two parts, the main clause and the subordinate clause. Both clauses are
connected by the word que.
Tememos que
nuestros amigos
desconfíen
de
nuestras palabras.
When the sentence has only one subject, we usually
use the infinitive instead of the subjunctive.
Siento no
pasar
(yo) más tiempo con mis amigas.
Siento que ellas no
pasen
más tiempo conmigo.
Both
por
and
para
are prepositions. Their usages are
quite different.
Use
por
to indicate:
• length of time or distance
Estuvieron discutiendo
por
una hora.
• place where an action takes place
• an exchange
Cambiamos la silla vieja
por
una nueva.
• reason or motive
Se pelearon
por
un programa de televisión.
• substitution or action on someone’s behalf
Los padres hacen mucho
por
sus hijos.
• means of communication / transportation
Ayer hablé con Analía
por
teléfono.
Also use
por
in certain expressions:
por ejemplo
por lo general
por la mañana
por primera (segunda,
(tarde, noche)
tercera) vez
por favor
por supuesto
por eso
Use
para
to indicate:
• purpose (in order to)
Salí temprano
para
ver a mis amigos.
• destination
• a point in time, deadline
Debemos terminar el trabajo
para
el lunes.
• use, purpose
Las tijeras sirven
para
cortar.
• opinion
There are two ways to suggest that others do some activity with you (Let’s . . . ).
You can use the construction Vamos a + infinitive.
Vamos a hacer las paces.
Let’s make up.
You can also use a command with a nosotros
form. The nosotros command form is the same as the nosotros form of the present subjunctive.
Resolvamos el conflicto.
Remember that stem-changing verbs whose infinitive ends in -ir have a stem change of
e i, or o u in the nosotros form.
Pidamos perdón por el malentendido. No durmamos al aire libre.
Verbs whose infinitive ends in -car, -gar, or
-zar have a spelling change in the nosotros
form of the present subjunctive, and
consequently of the nosotros command. No critiquemos a nuestros padres.
Direct and indirect object pronouns are attached at the end of affirmative nosotros
commands, but precede the negative
nosotros command form.
Celebremos la amistad. Celebrémosla.
Digámosle todo. No le mintamos.
When attaching reflexive or reciprocal
pronouns at the end of a nosotros command, drop the final -s of the command before
the pronoun.
¡Alegrémonos con sus éxitos!
To form the possessive pronouns, use the long form of possessive adjectives preceded by the definite article. Both the article and the possessive must agree in
number and gender with the noun they replace.
Mis padres son muy serios. ¿Y los tuyos? Los míos son bastante divertidos.
Tu familia es muy pequeña.
We often omit the article between the verb ser and the possessive pronoun.
Esas maletas son nuestras.
Mi hermano siempre dice que toda la culpa es mía.
acusar
alegrarse
apoyar(se)
atreverse
colaborar
confiar (i
í)
contar con
criticar
desconfiar
esperar
verbos
to accuse
to be delighted
to support, to back
(each other)
to dare
to collaborate
to trust
estar equivocado, -a guardar (un secreto) ignorar
mejorar
pedir perdón perdonar
ponerse de acuerdo reaccionar
reconciliarse
reconocer (c zc) resolver (o ue) sorprender(se) temer
verbos
to be mistaken to keep (a secret) to ignore
to improve
to ask for forgiveness to forgive
to reach an agreement to react
to become friends again to admit, recognize
to resolve
aceptar tal
como (soy)
cambiar de opinión
la diferencia
de opinión
hacer caso
hacer las paces
juntos, -as
expresiones
to accept (me) the way
(I am)
to change one’s mind
difference of opinion
to pay attention / to obey
to make peace (with)
ojalá
pensar en sí
mismo(a)
¡Qué va!
tener en común
tener celos
tener la culpa
¡Yo no fui!
expresiones
I wish, I hope
to think of oneself
No way!
to have in common
to be jealous
Use the
subjunctive
following
verbs indicating suggestions,
desire or demands.
Te sugiero
que
vengas.
Esperamos
que
llueva.
Nos exigió
que
estudiemos.
¡Ojalá
que
se diviertan!
Use the
subjunctive
after verbs
and impersonal phrases
indicating emotion.
Tememos
que nuestros amigos
desconfíen
de nosotros.
Es una lástima
que no
hagan
las paces.
When the sentence has only one
subject, we usually use the
infinitive
instead of the
subjunctive.
Espero ir
mañana al cine.
Espero ver
esa película.
Use por to indicate: length of time or distance, where an action takes place, an exchange, a reason or motive, an action on
behalf of someone, a means of communication or transportation. Bailamos por varias horas.
Busqué por todos los pasillos. Te cambio el café por un dulce. Me puse muy feliz por tu llegada. Fue a una marcha por la paz. Mandó la carta por avión.
