The moring routine and reflex verbs

Question

Would someone please help me understand reflex verbs? I don't understand in the video when they put in a sentence A las 6:45 David (levantarse). How did the sentence change to a la's 6:45 David se levante? Where did se come from and why did lavantarse change? Please help!!!

Answer 1

In reflexive or pronomial verbs the subject of the verb is reflected in the pronoun and verb form. David se levanta - David (subject - reflexive pronoun = se) gets up. Me levanto. I get up. (I subject because of -o ending - reflexive pronoun = me).
You need to study the Learn, Spanish Grammar section of this site. The topic you ask about is much more complex than anyone can answer in a simple way. However by studying the reflexive and pronomial verbs you will learn a lot to answer questions you may have now.

Answer 2

In addition to Jubilado´s comments:

There are a few exceptions, but verbs used in reflexive are transitive verbs and to show reflexive we must use a personal pronoun. If you say only A las 6:45 David levanta, listeners will ask What does he lift up? In this usage se indicates himself, so David se levanta now means he gets himself up while translated to common usage "He gets up."

I should have voted yesteday. Your answers are always helpful. - Jubilado, Jun 20, 2013

Answer 3

Oh ok thank you!!!

Note JulianChivi's answer as well. If you don't already know, learn what transitive and intrasitive verbs are. - Jubilado, Jun 20, 2013