How do you use reflexive verbs?

Question

Hello, I was watching a video lesson on "Reflexive Verbs" and I got the hang of most of it, but I still have doubts when to use it. Someone had told me that you only use the reflexive verbs with things that you do to yourself, but I was wondering if the sentence " Mastico la comida con mis dientes" requires the reflexive verb "me". Can you help me with reflexive verbs?

Great question. I don't completely understand either. - 0095ca4c, Sep 8, 2012

But you could totally say ''me mastico la comida lentamente'' ... Keep in mind that there is a lot more to language than grammar rules. A lot of it has to do with understanding outcomes. - Ox-Y-Gen, Sep 8, 2012

Unless i´m wrong. hahaha - Ox-Y-Gen, Sep 8, 2012

Carson -- I would never say me mastico la comida (unless I was kinda hiding from somebody). A dog could do that.. El perro se masticó la comida ferozmente. (Meaning he chewed the food in haste for fear of being found out). Good point. - - francobollo, Sep 8, 2012

a bit like comerse then? to eat it all up vs to chew it all up? - Kiwi-Girl, Sep 8, 2012

I´m glad that my sentence could help you to lead yourself to enlightenment upon the subject . Hahahaha - Ox-Y-Gen, Sep 8, 2012

@Kiwi -- Yes. Right on the money! - francobollo, Sep 9, 2012

Answer 1

Mastico la comida con "los" dientes does not require a reflexive. Chewing is an action, that when expressed with the right verb conjugation, immediately identifies the subject. Also, there is no need to use "my teeth" in Spanish. Mastico already tells the reader you are doing the chewing with your own teeth, so it is considered redundant.

Also, SD's reference section has great insight on reflexive verb usage. Check out this link

Answer 2

Thank-you.

Answer 3

Hi Green

It looks like you're really starting to get a grip on verbs that are used reflexively, especially now that you've had a bit of clarification from Franco. Be aware though that not all verbs that appear with a reflexive pronoun are used reflexively. If you'd like to learn more about verbs that work like 'gustar' - (a mi) me gusta helado etc then I hope this lesson might be useful - Verbs like gustar