Lavarme and me lavo

Question

When should I use lavarme or me lavo? What is the difference between these two? Same goes for prepararme and me preparo, verstirme and me viesto, ect. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum. If you were to fill out your profile, it would be helpful. :) - bosquederoble, Sep 21, 2015

Welcome to the forum , we want to help you so fill out your profile If you have a problem PM a mod Bienvenido al foro. Queremos ayudarle, entonces hay que llenar su perfil. Si hay un problema, envíe un mensaje personal (PM) - ray76, Sep 21, 2015

I get these confused as well. Welcome to the forum! - Findy, Sep 22, 2015

vestirse / me visto - Maria-Russell, Sep 22, 2015

Answer 1

lavarme or me lavo

me lavo- use when it is the primary verb in the clause:

Me lavo las manos antes de comer. I wash my hands before eating.

Lavarme- when there is another verb controlling it in the clause:

Tengo que lavarme las manos. I have to wash my hands. Tener que (Tengo) is the conjugated verb in the clause)

Quiero lavarme las manos. I want to wash my hands. Querer (Quiero) is the verb that is conjugated in this clause.

Same goes for other verbs. Note that each time I used lavarme, in English it was "to" wash, not just wash.

Thanks! This was really helpful! - thelamas, Sep 21, 2015

De nada. :) - bosquederoble, Sep 21, 2015

Thanks, bosque! Somehow I missed this when I did that lesson in Fluencia and I couldn't figure out why I kept getting the answers wrong. lol - Findy, Sep 22, 2015

Answer 2

You have to also consider the following.

Cuando voy a salir lo primero que hago es: lavarme/me lavo, etc...

When I am going to go out the first thing I do is: to wash (myself), etc...

Both would be correct. Once you opt for one form, you continue to list it in the same way the rest of the things you do in order to go out.

C?

Yes, whenever it serves as a noun. :) - bosquederoble, Sep 22, 2015