Reflexives
Is there a list of reflexive verbs?
Can any verb be made reflexive?
Sorry if the second one is a really stupid question.
3 Answers
Sorry if the second one is a really stupid question.
It is not stupid.
Is there a list of reflexive verbs?
That depends on what you call a reflexive verb and how many you need. The term reflexive verb is applied to English grammar to a small number of verbs that are used with a reflexive pronoun, but in Spanish that terminology causes a lot of confusion. Technically speaking, there are no reflexive verbs, but verbs that happen to be used with a reflexive pronoun, and verbs that have a special meaning if they are used with the pronoun. On top of that, you can make passive and impersonal constructions that also use these reflexive pronouns.
Can any verb be made reflexive?
Practically all transitive verbs can be used with pronouns, and most of the intransitive ones too, leaving you with practically all verbs in Spanish. I guess the only practical list should contain only those verbs whose behaviour or meaning is not easily predicted by the mere presence of the reflexive pronoun it goes along with.
This previous post by Lazarus may also help: link
Here is a list of Spanish reflexive verbs.
[Reflexive Verbs][1]
However as Lazarus is suggesting it's better to develop a deeper understanding of reflexive and object constructions. As to a list of reflexive verbs where the reflexive verb has an unpredictable meaning, that would be great.
For example, despedir / despedirse. The latter commonly means to say goodby, but the former, when the direct object is a person, would mean to fire someone!
[1]: http://www.webworkbooks.com/spanish/grammar/reflexive verbs — common reflexive verbs
