reflexive verbs - If you have to place the corresponding pronoun with the infinitive, then what is the purpose of having the the suffix "se" on the verb (example - ducharse)? The verb duchar. Why have ducharse at all?

Question

Hello,

 I just completed lesson 2.5 on reflexive verbs.  What is the purpose of having a verb such as "ducharse".  The infinitive is duchar.  When using duchar in a reflexive state I would place the pronoun me, te, se, etc in front of the verb.  What is the purpose of the word "ducharse"?  When do i need to use that whole word "ducharse" in a sentence?

Thank you

Andrew Goldfine

Answer 1

Welcome to the forum!

"Ducharse" is the infinitive and literally means "to shower oneself"

If we didnt have that "se," we wouldn't be specifying the reflexivness of the verb.

Duchar= to shower

Ducharse= to shower oneself.

So the "se" at the end of the infinitive adds "oneself" to the original meaning of the infinitive, and tells us that its happening to the subject.

Another one would be....

Levantar= to lift. Levantarse= to lift oneself (to get up)

It's a neat little trick for spanish speakers to be more precise when specifying that something is happening to oneself.

Remember, you can only conjugate a verb reflexively (by placing pronouns in front of a conjugated verb) if the infinitive is reflexive. (Reflexive infinitives always end in "se.")

Answer 2

you would use the whole word ducharse after a preposition or another verb... " va a ducharse"- " he will wash himself" " antes de ducharme..." - "before I shower/wash myself"

ducharse just tells you that the verb duchar can be used reflexively... some verbs cant, you wont find correrse in the dictionary because you cant run yourself. thats the way i look at the reflexives.