A question about reflexive verbs!

Question

I just want to know the difference in the following sentences, there is confusing about the reflexive verb, so which one of these sentences I should pick up and why?

El sol seca la ropa - La ropa se seca al sol él se lava la cara - él lava su cara

Answer 1

El sol seca la ropa ----> The sun dries the clothes.

La ropa se seca al sol ----> Clothes dry out in the sun.

Él se lava la cara ---> He washes his own face

Él lava su cara ---> He washes his (not his own but someone else's)/her face.

Answer 2

Goyo tiene toda la razón: hay una diferencia entre los verbos pronominales (los que siempre se usan con el pronombre personal: "me, te, se...") y los verbos reflexivos, en los que la acción recae en el sujeto. Ejemplos:

Verbos pronominales:

Desayunarse*: Nos desayunamos con hot cakes.*

Acordarse: No me acuerdo dónde puse las llaves.

Secarse: Deja que se seque al Sol.

Suicidarse: Se suicidó.

Encontrarse: ¿Te encontraste con tu amigo?

Morirse: Se muerieron de risa.

etc.

Reflexivos:

Lavar: Me lavé la cara.

Peinar: Se peinó y se vistió.

Vestir: Nos pusimos el uniforme.

etc.

*Desayunarse es pronominal, aunque también se usa mucho como transitivo:

Desayunar: Desayuné hot cakes.

Saludos.

Welcome to the forum, Luis! I haven't had a chance to meet you yet. :-) - --Mariana--, Feb 25, 2011

Hi, Mariana, please to meet you. - LuisCache, Feb 25, 2011

Answer 3

I am still a little confused about reflexive verbs, but my understanding is that they are only used when the subject is doing something to his or her self. If that is correct, then I would think that the only sentence that would work is: "él se lava la cara". He washed his face.

I think you are correct.

Technically: La ropa se seca al sol ----> Clothes dry out in the sun.-> is not reflexive. I think that technically this is a "pronomial verb" rather than a reflexive one.

See: Passve Se

Estoy de acuerdo con tu idea, Goyo, de que no es reflexivo. Pero se llama "pronominal". - Deanski, Feb 25, 2011

Pronomial is the adjective used in our dictionary, but pronominal (similar meanings) is the most commonly used adjective in this context. - 0074b507, Feb 25, 2011

Answer 4

I am still a little confused about reflexive verbs, but my understanding is that they are only used when the subject is doing something to his or her self. If that is correct, then I would think that the only sentence that would work is: "él se lava la cara". He washed his face.