Determining Reflexive Verbs

Question

Hi, I have a question about deciding which sentences are reflexive and which are not.

For example,
1. Mis hermanos ____________________ (wake up) a las seis y media de la mañana.

Would the answer be se despiertan or just despiertan?

Also, just another example is:

2.Yo _____________ (put on) los zapatos lentamente porque no quiero correr.

Would it be pongo or me pongo?

Both reflexive I would say, because they are personal actions. Also, I have seen ponte el abrigo .. - amyfreelance, Nov 14, 2011

They are definitely both reflexive. - wrl1509, Nov 14, 2011

Answer 1

I initially learnt that reflexive verbs are those where the person is doing the action to him or herself. Eg I wash myself me lavo or I get up = me levanto People often think that a verb in Spanish is reflexive whereas in fact it is a pronominal verb with reflexive endings me te se etc...I am not an expert on Spanish grammar so I will not comment in detail on pronominal verbs

Both the examples you have given us are pronominal verbs that have reflexive pronouns I have since discovered through double checking that they are both listed as pronominal verbs in my Oxford Spanish Dictionary

Update: Having read Samdie's valid criticism in his post I can see that I was wrong in my explanation to refer to the action in both these examples as being reflexive ''.She combed her hair''= Se peinó su cabello'' would be an example of a pronominal verb used reflexively since she would be doing this action towards herself whereas you would not be waking yourself up...you could wake someone else up or ask someone else to wake you up.

1 Mis hermanos despierten (wake up) a las seis y media de la mañana.

Despertar) (vi) = to wake up Example in dictionary: Despertó sobresaltado = He woke up/awoke with a start.

Despertarse v pron to become awake Example in dictionary: Se despertó con un dolor de cabeza terrible = She woke up with a terrible headache.

2.(Yo) me pongo (put on) los zapatos lentamente porque no quiero correr.

Ponerse v pron Sentido uno (refl)

The personal pronoun is usually not needed since the conjugation normally makes it clear who is being referred to in the sentence.

I hope this helps

Corrijan mi Español, por favor

I sincerely apologise if I have uninitentionally misled you - FELIZ77, Nov 15, 2011

Answer 2

Mis hermanos se despierten (wake up) a las seis y media de la mañana.

Would you ever say in English, "My brothers wake themselves up ..."?

Probably not haha, but then again half the things I learn in Spanish II are useless in the real world. - whizkid457, Nov 15, 2011

Point taken Samdie:) - FELIZ77, Nov 15, 2011

Thank You :) - FELIZ77, Nov 15, 2011

Answer 3

@amyfreelance & wrl1509: So, when would it not be reflexive?

Lets say the sentence was:

Nosotros ________ (train) en el gimnasio después de las clases.

This would NOT be reflexive, right?

Yes it could be: Nosotros nos entrenamos al gimnasio... - wrl1509, Nov 15, 2011