Sentences from the chat- Reflexives Post your sentences

Question

For the chat last night (January 22), we were supposed to write some sentences using verbs in a reflexive example and a non reflexive example.

Reflexive example: Me despierto a las siete y media de la mañana..

I wake up at seven thirty in the morning.

Non Reflexive example: Despierto al niño a las ocho.

I wake up the child at eight.

Post your sentences here for corrections.

If you were not at the chat, you are welcome to give it a try.

You may do two - four examples. - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

sanlee, the grammatical term for this is reflexive, not reflective, even though both words have the same origin. - lazarus1907, Jan 23, 2011

Gracias, Lazarus - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

Glad to hear your chat went well Sandy, bien hecho! - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 23, 2011

Thanks, Kiwi Girl! - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

Answer 1

reflexive	Cuando trabajamos hasta tarde, nos cansamos.	When we work late, we get tired.
non-reflexive	El jefe quiere que Roberto de trabaje muy tarde.	The boss wants Robert to work very late.
reflexive	Si no comes bien, te enfermas.	If you (familiar, singular) don't eat well, you (familiar, singular) get sick .
non-reflexive	Cuando mi hijo no come bien, no puede jugar.	When my son doesn't eat well, he doesn't get to play.

Corrections: "trabajamos hasta tarde", "... que Roberto trabaje hasta muy tarde", "te enfermas". - lazarus1907, Jan 24, 2011

Suggestions: "...acabamos cansados" sounds more suitable. I'd personally say "te pones malo" or "terminas enfermo", but there is nothing wrong with yours. Finally, "no le dejo jugar". - lazarus1907, Jan 24, 2011

Answer 2

Juan se lava el pelo.

John washes his hair.

Juan lava su coche.

John washes his car.

Se afeita la cabeza.

He shaves his head.

El barbero le afeita la cara a un hombre.

The barber shaves a man's face.

Se afeita la cabeza. - lazarus1907, Jan 23, 2011

Gracias, Lazarus - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

When referring to body parts, use the definite article, good Sanlee. - Maria-Russell, Jan 23, 2011

Gracias, Maria-Russel - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

Answer 3

Thanks Sandy, Ray, and everyone else who made this so much fun!

Me seco las manos en la toalla. La mujer tiene una toalla para secar a su hijo.

Me despierto cuando el sol viene por la ventana. El sol me despierta.

Me divierto jugando con los juguetes de SpanishDict. Los juguetes me divierten.

Me levanto por las mañanas. Levanto las manos cuando hago ese baile.

Just two things: "Jugando con", "cuando bailo" - lazarus1907, Jan 24, 2011

Answer 4

reflexive Prefiero ducharme a bañarme. I prefer to shower than to bathe. (which turned out to be a discussion in itself)

non-reflexive Durante el invierno ducho mis equipo de buceo en la ducha quitar el agua de sal.. During the Winter I shower my dive equipment in the shower to remove the salt water.

Those were two of my questions for the chat which I would like to say was a succes for Sandy and Ray. I'm glad I got to take part. Thank you both.

The first one should be "Prefiero ducharme a bañarme". "Duchar equipos de buceo" sounds a bit strange, but the sentence is correct. - lazarus1907, Jan 23, 2011

Thanks Lazarus. This stuff really confuses me, and the dive gear, well, I should have stayed away from that one. - Yeser007, Jan 24, 2011

Answer 5

I have used the reflexive verb , and mixed in the infinitive and conjugated verb

in the same sentence . Please, I would appreciate corrections and

constructive criticism.

1. Tiene que irse ahora ? 1. You have to go now?

A. No no quiero irme. A No I don't want to go now.

1. Mañana tiene que levantarse temprano. 2. Tomorrow you have to get up early.

2. Recuerde que tiene que irse antes de las dos. 2. Remember you have to leave before two oclock.

A. Tiene razon. Mañana tengo que levantarme temprano.A You are right tomorrow I have to get up early.

A. Voy a afeitame antes de irme.. A. I am going to shave before I go.

A. Gracias por invitarme a la fiesta . A. Thank you for inviting me to the party.

"Irse" is not reflexive, but your sentences with this verb are OK. "Recuerde tiene que irse de las dos" should be "Recuerde que tiene que irse antes de las dos". - lazarus1907, Jan 23, 2011

It is either "Me voy a afeitar" or "Voy a afeitarme", but you can't use that same "me" twice. I don't understand why you wrote "adiós amigo", but everything else seems fine. - lazarus1907, Jan 23, 2011

Thank you Lazarus, I appreciate your corrections ,the "adios amigo" was there because I wrote this to use in the "Satchat" Forgot to remove it. - ray76, Jan 23, 2011

Answer 6

Neat. Great sentences. I only have these four:

---

Reflexive:

• Me acosté a las dos de la mañana pero no pude dormir por una hora.
• Tengo un ventaje en el dedo meñique porque me lo corté.

Non-reflexive:

• La madre les acostaba a sus hijos y apagué las luces.
• La peluquera corta el pelo todos los días.

Now I'm off to practice how long I can keep from saying "si" or "no"!

"No pude dormir por una hora" = "I couldn't remain asleep for an hour". The correct spelling is "vendaje". "A sus hijos" is a DO, so you can't use "les" (or any other pronoun). - lazarus1907, Jan 23, 2011

If you do a side by side contrast "la madre - yo", you have to say "... y yo apagué". - lazarus1907, Jan 23, 2011

Ugh. So how would one say that I couldn't get to sleep for an hour? No pude dormirme? And I meant to say apagó. D'oh! - estudiante9871, Jan 23, 2011

Answer 7

El barbero le afeita la cara a un hombre.

The barber shaves a man's face.

You use of un or "a" in English makes that man seem impersonal/indefinite. If so, the personal "a" would not be used.

personal "a"

If the direct object is an indefinite person, the personal "a" is not used. The result is that the person becomes "depersonalized."

I would change it to "al hombre" or "la cara del hombre".

Answer 8

Dispierta al perro. He wakes the dog.

Se dispierta temprano. He wakes up early.

Se corta el pelo. He cuts his hair.

Corta el pelo al perro. He cuts the dogs hair.

Me levanto en la mañana. I get up in the morning.

Como ejercicio, levanto pesas. As an excercise, I lift wieghts.

Despierta - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

Se despierta - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

Answer 9

reflexive	Cada mañana me levanto, me ducho y me maquillo.	Every morning I wake up, shower, and put on my makeup.
non-reflexive	Despierto a los niños.	I wake up the children.

(Please correct my español)

Everything looks perfect. You could also say something like "Levanto a los niños, los ducho y los maquillo". - lazarus1907, Jan 23, 2011

Thanks, lazarus. - Maria-Russell, Jan 23, 2011

Answer 10

reflexive	Me quiero levantar hasta tarde.	I want to get up late.
non-reflexive	Porque no tiene la escuela, quiero mi hijo levantar hasta tarde.	Because he has no school, I want my son to get up late.
reflexive	Juana se va a vestir now.	Juana is going to get dressed now.
non-reflexive	Juana va a vestir el maniquí ahora.	Juana is going to dress the mannequin now.

Answer 11

Edit:

reflexive	Roberto se echa una siesta después del almuerzo.	Robert takes a nap after lunch.
non-reflexive	Me llevó un rato dormir al bebé.	It took me awhile to get the baby to fall asleep .

Did I understand your suggestions correctly Lazarus? I'm not sure of the wording and translations. Thank you for the suggestions and help, though!

Perfect! - lazarus1907, Jan 24, 2011

Answer 12

reflexive	Se mira en el espojo siempre	He always looks at himself in the mirror.
non-reflexive	Miro a mi hijo todos los días.	I look at my son every day.
reflexive	Nos dormimos por la tarde después del almuerzo.	We fall asleep in the afternoon after lunch.
non-reflexive	Roberto comienza una siesta después del almuerzo.	Robert begins a nap after lunch.

Corrections are appreciated by anyone! Sandy can we answer more than once in a 24 hour period? Gracias!

How do you get that box, Bandit? - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

Apart from "espejo", the phrase "comienza una siesta" sounds strange. I suggest "se echa una siesta". For a non-reflexive use, maybe something like "Me llevó un rato dormir al bebé." - lazarus1907, Jan 23, 2011

Remember Carlos exercises!! I just love how clear it makes everything look. It's a little work but mainly it's just copy and paste. I will PM you this one! - bandit51jd, Jan 23, 2011

Thanks, Bandit. I have a little trouble with the chart, but I can get it sometimes. - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

Did you get the box, Sandy? I remember you had trouble before and if you still are I've got an idea. PM me if need be! - bandit51jd, Jan 23, 2011

lazarus: I'm working with your suggestions, I'll be back in awhile! Thanks so much! - bandit51jd, Jan 23, 2011

Well, it didn't come through like the box, but I think I know how to get it. Thanks. - sanlee, Jan 23, 2011

Bandit, I tried to copy and paste Carlos' box, but his thread was closed. I copied yours. Do you know how he did it? Send me pm. - Maria-Russell, Jan 23, 2011