Progressive tenses with reflexive verbs

Question

Hola amigos

I wonder how to use reflexive verbs in progressive tenses.

Is it right to say Estoy me afeitando to mean I am shaving?

or

Is it right to say Estuve me afeitando to mean I was shaving?

Muchas gracias

Answer 1

You can use either:

Me estoy afeitando or estoy afeitándome.

The same applies with 'estuve' although this is the preterite tense, I believe you would use 'estaba' here with the present participle to show a continuous action in the past (imperfect indicative).

However, I am not a native speaker, so please wait for confirmation!

The reference article seemed to indicate that it was required to be on the end but I am not a native speaker either, so I don't know. - Jadey7, Jan 11, 2012

you are not wrong! I think either way is correct. I take your point about the reference article though. - billygoat, Jan 11, 2012

Another perfect answer. :) - cogumela, Jan 11, 2012

Eh, I remember something about this being discussed in my class. Don't remember what was decided but I think you might be right about both being okay. - Jadey7, Jan 11, 2012

cogu, gracias mi mentora :) - billygoat, Jan 11, 2012

Great answer Billygoat...one small typo: "afeitandome" → "afeitándome" - Izanoni1, Jan 11, 2012

thank you Izanoni. I often forget the tildes! - billygoat, Jan 11, 2012

Answer 2

Is it right to say Estoy me afeitando to mean I am shaving?

or

Is it right to say Estuve me afeitando to mean I was shaving?

Both of your sentences are actually incorrect, but only in a small way. When using the progressive tenses with reflexive verbs the pronoun is attached to the gerund. Your correct sentences would be:

Estoy afeitandome.

Estuve afeitandome

Here is the reference article on reflexive verbs. It's got a small section on this topic. (Look under examples. The section is really easy to miss.)

Edit: Billygoat says that the pronoun can be attached to the gerund or in the same place you have placed it. I remember this being discussed in my textbook (I do not remember what was actually said). Just something to consider.

If you look a little more closely, you will see that the placement suggested by Billygoat differs from that suggested by the initial poster. In Billy's post he correctly places the pronoun at the beginning of the entire verb phrase; whereas, the original - Izanoni1, Jan 11, 2012

poster had placed the pronoun in the middle of the verb phrase (i.e. between the conjugated verb "estar" and the gerund "afeitar") - Izanoni1, Jan 11, 2012