Spanish Reflexive verbs
Q: Tengo que (cepillarse, lavarse)las manos. My answer was me lavo but the answer was lavarme. I'm confused when to use each of them...
4 Answers
After "tengo que", which means "I have to", you will use the infinitive of the verb.
Tengo que comer - I have to eat.
When the infinitive is reflexive, you match the pronoun:
Tengo que lavarme las manos - I have to wash my hands.
Tengo que irme - I have to leave.
Tengo que levantarme - I have to get up.
The same when talking to someone else:
Tienes que irte - you have to go.
Tienes que levantarte - you have to get up.
Or when talking about "us":
Tenemos que irnos - we have to go.
Tenemos que levantarnos - we have to get up.
"Me lavo" could be used like this:
From "lavarse": Me lavo las manos - I was my hands.
From "irse": Me voy - I'm going/I'm leaving.
The phrase "tengo que" is a somewhat formulaic phrase used to imply obligation. The verb that follows generally occurs in its infinitive form, i.e. "lavar."
It is very much analogous to the way in which we use (in English) the expression "I have to do something." For example, we would never complete either expression with a conjugated verb:
?I have I wash to wash my hands.
?Tengo que me lavo lavarme las manos.
In this case placement of the object pronoun can follow two patterns.
| (1). It can be placed at the beginning of the entire verb phrase | Me tengo que lavar las manos |
| (2). It can be attached to the end of the infinitive | Tengo que lavarme las manos |
Choice of placement is a matter of stylistic preference and has no overall impact on the meaning of the expression.
—billygoat: I think strictly speaking irse is not a reflexive verb
—Tosh: ¿Por qué no? Irse = to take oneself.
—billygoat: Tosh, its pronominal (ie uses reflexive pronouns) but it is not actually a reflexive verb. Hey, mate, lets not go there - i'll leave the arguments to the grammarians - great answer by the way!
Speaking of grammarians, you might enjoy this reference article on the differences between ir and irse. It is a compilation (collected by Moe) of thoughts that Lazarus has had over the years on the subject and includes the following tidbit:
"Irse" is an idiomatic pronominal verb. While "irse" shares the reflexive pronouns, me, te, se, nos, os, and se, it is not a reflexive verb
Here's the link: SpanishDict Reference Article: Ir vs. Irse
You might also try searching previous threads on the subject where you can find such opinions as follows (again, from Lazarus):
A good starting point would be to think of them as separate verb, because calling "irse" a reflexive verb is misleading and confusing unless you have an deep knowledge of ancient Indo-European grammars and how they have evolved over the last 3 or 4 millennia, so you can connect this "se" with the behaviour of the verb, and even then, you need the adequate information to start with.The usual interpretation of reflexive -especially using English as a reference- not only doesn't help, but it is counter-productive.
"Me lavo las manos" is saying "I wash my hands". "Tener que + infinitive" is "To have to+verb".
"Tengo que lavarme las manos." I have to wash my hands."
"Tiene que mandar un cheque." He/she/it has to send a check."
"Tenemos que ir de compras." "We have to go shopping."
The verb form of "tener" determines who is doing the action. Therefore, using the infinitive after "que" is never ambiguous.
