how do you know that a verb is reflexive?

Question

how do you know that a verb is reflexive?

good question - billygoat, Nov 8, 2011

Answer 1

All of the answers so far are given in the infinitive form- lavarse, ducharse, etc. Which is fine.

But when you encounter reflexive verbs in a sentence, they usually won't be in that form.

There are two things to help you identify a reflexive verb-

Primero-There is a reflexive pronoun- me, te, se, nos, vaís, se- whose tense will be the same conjugation as the verb.

They must match, because they are referring to the same person, doing something to himself. So it is "me lavo", "te lavas", "se lava", "nos lavamos", etc. If they don't match, it's not reflexive.

Segundo- The action is clearly describing preforming an action on oneself. Reflexive verbs are a type of "pronominal verbs". Not all pronominal verbs are reflexive- only the ones that perform actions on themselves.

Por ejemplo- Juan se caó las llaves. - Juan dropped the keys. That uses the pronominal verb caerse. It's not reflexive, as John did not perform the action on himself.

That second point might seem nit-picky, but technically it's not a reflexive verb, only a pronominal one, if it doesn't describe performing the action on oneself.

(Some people even go so far as to say that there is no such thing as a reflexive verb, only pronominal ones. We can let the grammar police worry about that. Just learn how to use verbs and you will be fine!)

Una respuesta excelente, Goyo:) - FELIZ77, Nov 7, 2011

fantastic answer! - billygoat, Nov 8, 2011

Answer 2

Hi paniza!

The concept of "reflexive verb" is very confusing, because there are not such "reflexive verbs". No verb is reflexive by itself. Rather, there are reflexive actions.

A reflexive action is an action that you perform on yourself. In Spanish, when this is the case, we use what we call reflexive pronouns.

Lavarse, for example, should not be called reflexive verb, because it is not.

Lavar: María lava la ropa--> No reflexivity in this action

Lavarse: María y Juan se lavan las manos el uno al otro --> No reflexivity here either

Lavarse: María se lava las manos --> Reflexive action, where "se" is a reflexive pronoun.

Let's see what happens with cantar, which in theory is not a reflexive verb:

Cantar: Canto muy mal --> no reflexive action

Cantarse: Me canto a mí misma una nana todas las noches para quedarme dormida --> reflexive action, and therefore, use of the reflexive pronoun

como siempre, das una respuesta fantástica :) - billygoat, Nov 8, 2011

Answer 3

Almost all verbs in Spanish can be used as transitives, intransitives or pronominals (or reflexives). Their meanings normally are different. I recomend you to check their use in the DRAE (Dictionary of the Real Academia Española). Take the verb colar, for instance: it can be transitive, intransitive or pronominal, meaning different things according with the use:

colar2

(Del lat. col?re).

1 . tr. Pasar un líquido por una manga, un cedazo o un paño.

2 . tr. Blanquear la ropa después de lavada, metiéndola en lejía caliente.

3 . tr. Cuba. Preparar café. U. t. c. intr.

4 . intr. Pasar por un lugar estrecho.

5 . intr. coloq. Beber vino.

6 . intr. coloq. Dicho de una cosa: Pasar en virtud de engaño o artificio.

7 . prnl. coloq. Introducirse a escondidas o sin permiso en alguna parte.

8 . prnl. coloq. Decir inconveniencias o embustes.

9 . prnl. coloq. Cometer equivocaciones.

10 . prnl. coloq. Estar muy enamorado.

tr. Transitivo.

intr. Intransitivo.

prnl. Pronominal.

Here is the link:

link text

Answer 4

I am not a native so my answer may need clarification or correction.

My interpretation of reflexive verbs is that these verbs represent actions that one can do to oneself.

For example

'despertarse' = to wake myself,

'levantarse' = to get up myself (to get my body out of the bed),

'lavarse' = to wash myself

and etc.

But some verbs can't be reflexive because the action cannot be performed on oneself.

For example

'comer' = to eat

We don't eat ourselves. So 'comer' does not come in reflexive form.

Yes, but lavar, levantar, or despertar, can be used as transitives and intransitives: Te desperté. Lavé la ropa. Levanté la mano (transitive actions). Despierto todos los días a las nueve. Nunca lavo. (intransitive actions). - LuisCache, Nov 8, 2011

Yes of course Luis. I meant those verbs can become reflexive, not that they can only be reflexive. When one does the action on someone else, then it is no longer reflexive. - mathslover, Nov 9, 2011

Answer 5

mathslover:

Comerse las uñas exists...

Oh gosh that's not something one thinks about or does habitually? I have to agree that I overlooked it, but I thought it wouldn't be reflexive because strictly I'm biting the NAILS, not MYSELF? - mathslover, Nov 8, 2011

Answer 6

I'm sorry but I couldn't pass this up.

You know a verb is reflexive when you see it stopping to think.

jajajaja - riverphoenix1970, Nov 7, 2011

Answer 7

Reflexive verbs are composed of an infinitive (the form of a verb that ends in -ir, -er, or -ar and means "to [something]") and the suffix "-se", which indicates that the action is being done to one's self.

So basically you can tell a verb is reflexive by picking out the infinitive and the suffix "-se". All reflexive verbs will end in "-se".

Lavarse - to wash [myself] (infinitive is "lavar", with suffix -se)

Ducharse - to shower [myself] (infinitive is "duchar", with sufix -se)

Despertarse - to wake [myself]

Bañarse - to bathe [myself]

Sentarse - to sit down [myself]

Answer 8

Comer.

Puede usarse como verbo transitivo: Come frutas y verduras. No como carne de cerdo. Comía todo lo que le daban, etc.

Puede usarse como verbo intransitivo: ¿No has comido? Ya comí. Nunca como solo. Como temprano. Aquí se come muy rico. etc.

Y puede usarse también como verbo pronominal!:

Los andaluces y los cubanos se comen las "eses" al hablar.

Sus hijos se comieron su herencia.

El quarterback se comió el reloj.

Estírate los calcetines, porque ya te los comiste.