Reflexive verbs
Reflexive verbs carry the pronoun se in the infinitive (levantarse). The pronoun changes with the person and shows that the action returns to the subject.
| levantarse (get up) | llamarse (be called) | |
|---|---|---|
| yo | me levanto | me llamo |
| tú | te levantas | te llamas |
| él / ella / usted | se levanta | se llama |
| nosotros | nos levantamos | nos llamamos |
| vosotros | os levantáis | os llamáis |
| ellos / ustedes | se levantan | se llaman |
Common reflexive verbs
- Daily routine: despertarse, levantarse, ducharse, vestirse, acostarse.
- Change of state: sentarse (sit down), casarse (get married), enfadarse (get angry), quedarse (stay).
- Meaning changes: ir (go) / irse (leave), dormir (sleep) / dormirse (fall asleep), llamar (call) / llamarse (be called).
Position of the pronoun
Before a conjugated verb: Me ducho. Attached to an infinitive, gerund or positive command: Voy a ducharme. Estoy duchándome. ¡Siéntate!
Examples
- Me levanto a las siete.I get up at seven.
- ¿Cómo te llamas?What’s your name?
- Mis amigos se casan en junio.My friends are getting married in June.
- Ya nos vamos.We’re leaving now.
- Mi hijo se ducha antes de dormir.My son has a shower before going to sleep.
Common mistakes
- ✗ Yo levanto a las siete.✓ Me levanto a las siete.The reflexive pronoun is required: levantarse is “to get (oneself) up”. English “I get up” hides the pronoun.
- ✗ Me lavo mis manos.✓ Me lavo las manos.Body parts take the article, since me already shows whose hands they are. English “my hands” does not work here.
- ✗ Ella levanta temprano.✓ Ella se levanta temprano.The verb needs se. Without it levantar means to lift something else.
- ✗ Nosotros levantamos temprano.✓ Nosotros nos levantamos temprano.The pronoun matches the person: nosotros takes nos, not se or me.
- ✗ Me llamo es Ana.✓ Me llamo Ana.Llamarse already means “to be called”, so no es follows it. English “My name is Ana” has a verb of its own.