Can someone explain to me reflexive vebs simply?
I just trying to understand reflexive verbs. What are they? I tried reading the article and watching the learning video but it still does not make any sense!
I know its to change the verb to reflect the subject. Like in English i would say '' At 8.00 am i go out for a run.''
In espanol it should be ''A las ocho manana yo voy para a (correrse)'' so how do i change that sentece to make it make sense?
So confused on the article as question 5 was...
- Estas/ lavarse/ los manos. > Estas lavandote los manos.
I just about understand the other four questions and answers.
Help me someone! Make it simple! Please!
4 Answers
It's not surprising that you find the subject somewhat confusing when it is approached in this manner, that is in the manner which suggests that all verbs which are accompanied in the infinitive by the pronoun se are "reflexive verbs."
The idea of reflexivity is very simple when you consider it a property of the pronoun rather than of the verb. A reflexive pronoun is simply one in which the action of the verb is reflected back upon the subject. For example:
I shaved (myself) ? Me afeité
The person doing the shaving is the same person who is being shaved
I scratched myself ? Me rasqué
The person doing the scratching is the same person who is being scratched
Notice that in each of the above examples, the verbs can also be used in a non-reflexive manner, meaning that the person doing the action is no longer the person affected by the action:
He shaved me (He gave me a shave) ? Me afeitó
He scratched me ? Me rascó
Because you asked for a simple answer, I will leave it at that, but you might find it helpful at this point to search some of our previous threads or on the internet for the terms "pronominal," "reflexive pronouns," and "reflexive se"
For example, here is one post (of many) that you might find useful: I'm lost regarding the use of se
Some verbs (reflexive) require the pronouns me, te, se, nos, etc. to sometimes change the meaning completely. Lavar=to wash, Lavarme=to wash myself. It is one of those things that will seem unnatural until you have used it for awhile. Once you have immersed yourself to the best of your ability, there will come a time when you will make the correct choice without thinking about it. I can't remeber who said it but someone on this site mentionned questioning thier professor about it and he said "don't ask, just do it".
Your sentence which says ''A las ocho manana yo voy para a (correrse)'' doesn't really require reflexive. You could simply say 'A las ocho voy a correr".
"Estás lavandote las manos" word-for-word means "You are washing yourself the hands", however, when translated it means "You are washing your hands."
Lastly I give you an equivilant of something we do in English that confuses learners of English which was just discussed in a thread earlier. The verb "to get". Seems harmless but really has too many meanings to count off the top of your head. To get=to obtain, to get it=to understand or to obtain a specific object, to get mad=to be put in the state of anger, to get lost=to lose yourself, to get better=to improve. I only wrote the above to give some insight on how a small modification can change the meaning of one verb completely. I hope this helps and wasn't too much rambling.
a reflex verb tells the action you are doing on yourself.
``Lets take the verb "lavar=to wash" in its regular form and its reflexive form.
Lavo en la bañera = I was in the bathtub. In this sentence, it doesn't clearly suggest what you are washing in the tub.
Me lavo en la bañera= I wash myself in the bathtub. In this sentence, it gives the reader the idea of you washing up in the tub, ha ha.
It does take time to get the gist of it but, with practice it
``becomes easier.
I see you have completed Learn Spanish lessons 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4. The use of reflexive pronouns with verbs is covered in lesson 2.5. You are so close! Do lesson 2.5 and then ask any questions you may have. 
