Reflexive pronouns problem

Question

I am using Rosetta Stone for studying Spanish and in today's lesson I was supposed to learn how to use reflexive pronouns.

In the example there was a woman washing a shirt and saying "Me lavo la camisa". I don't understand why can't I just say "Lavo la camisa" because it makes perfect sense to me. And then in another picture there were some people washing the dishes and correct one was "Las personas están lavando los platos." Why? Aren't reflexive pronouns supposed to be used when one is performing an action on himself/herself? Like "I am washing myself"?

Yes, but Spanish uses them more. You just have to get used to it being different. - annierats, Aug 21, 2014

Answer 1

A personal pronoun doesn´t always have to be reflexive. I have used this example before but it works well for explanation: No te me vayas a cortar el pelo. Here the speaker tells his girlfriend not to cut her hair. The te is reflexive as the hair is hers. The me is not necessarily reflexive but indicates that the speaker will be affected if this action takes place - he doesn´t want her to cut her hair.

A very simple reflexive statement: Me voy a bañar (I am going to bathe). This is thought of as doing the action to ones self or the speaker being the recipient of the action.

In the case of the shirt being washed, "Lavo la camisa" doesn´t indicate who the shirt belongs to. It can be spoken this way, but it´s a very elemantary sentence. "Me lavo la camisa" and "Lavo mi camisa" are very similar but the first variant, because of being reflexive, indicates that the speaker is affected by the action (maybe he will wear it soon, maybe he is happy it´s no longer dirty, etc.) where the first variant simply indicates that the speaker is washing his shirt without being affected in any way.

Thank you for finaly clearing this out. This explanation makes sense unlike the other's I read... - olilivia96, Aug 22, 2014

Answer 2

It is common to use reflexive pronouns when you wash part of yourself- the hands, the hair, etc.

For things that are not an integral part:

Here is a little thread that indicates that it is okay with the reflexive pronoun to some Spanish speakers as emphasizing that you are doing it for yourself, but may not be the most natural expression.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120624131628AAMQgF3

2 of the answers are by people who specifically state they are native Spanish speakers and they disagree.