Reflexive Verbs in the Present Tense in Spanish

This section explains Reflexive Verbs in the Present Tense in Spanish. Reflexive verbs are verbs where the subject and the object of the sentence are the same – in other words, the action is performed on the subject itself. In Spanish, reflexive verbs are used when the action of the verb reflects back onto the subject (i.e., the person doing the action is also receiving the action).

What are Reflexive Verbs?

Reflexive verbs are formed with a reflexive pronoun, which must agree with the subject. The reflexive pronouns in Spanish are:

• me (myself)
• te (yourself – informal singular)
• se (himself, herself, itself, yourself – formal singular)
• nos (ourselves)
• os (yourselves – informal plural in Spain)
• se (themselves, yourselves – formal plural)

The reflexive verb is conjugated in the usual way, but the reflexive pronoun is placed before the verb.

Conjugation of Reflexive Verbs in the Present Tense

Reflexive verbs are conjugated just like regular verbs in the present tense, but you need to add the appropriate reflexive pronoun before the verb.

For example, the verb "levantarse" (to get up) is conjugated as follows:

Common Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Here are some common reflexive verbs that you will encounter in the present tense:

• levantarse (to get up)
• ducharse (to shower)
• vestirse (to get dressed)
• acostarse (to go to bed)
• afeitarse (to shave)
• peinarse (to comb one's hair)
• maquillarse (to put on makeup)
• despertarse (to wake up)
• sentirse (to feel)
• divertirse (to have fun)

Examples:

• Yo me despierto a las siete (I wake up at 7 o’clock)
• Tú te duchas por la mañana (You shower in the morning)
• Él se maquilla antes de salir (He puts on makeup before going out)
• Nosotros nos peinamos en el baño (We comb our hair in the bathroom)

Using Reflexive Verbs in Sentences

Reflexive verbs can be used to describe daily routines or actions that someone does to themselves. These verbs can also be used to talk about emotions or states.

Foundation Tier Examples:

• Yo me levanto temprano (I get up early)
• Tú te acuestas tarde (You go to bed late)
• Él se siente cansado (He feels tired)
• Nosotros nos divertimos en la fiesta (We have fun at the party)

Higher Tier Examples:

• Me ducho antes de ir al trabajo (I shower before going to work)
• Nosotros nos vestimos rápidamente porque estamos tarde (We get dressed quickly because we’re late)
• Ellos se afeitan por la mañana (They shave in the morning)
• Te sientes nervioso antes del examen (You feel nervous before the exam)

Reflexive Verbs in Negative Form

In Spanish, you can also make reflexive verbs negative by placing “no” in front of the reflexive pronoun and the verb.

Examples:

• No me levanto temprano (I don’t get up early)
• No te acuestas tarde (You don’t go to bed late)
• Ella no se siente bien (She doesn’t feel well)
• Nosotros no nos duchamos por la mañana (We don’t shower in the morning)

Reflexive Verbs with Emotions or Feelings

Some reflexive verbs describe emotional or physical states. They often indicate how the subject is feeling or how they are affected by something.

• Sentirse (to feel):
  • Me siento feliz (I feel happy)
  • ¿Te sientes triste? (Do you feel sad?)
• Enfermarse (to get sick):
  • Me enfermo cuando hace frío (I get sick when it’s cold)
• Preocuparse (to worry):
  • Te preocupas mucho por tus amigos (You worry a lot about your friends)

Reflexive Verbs and Ongoing Actions

In Spanish, reflexive verbs can also be used in the present continuous to describe actions that are happening right now. To form the present continuous, use the verb estar (to be) + the gerund form of the reflexive verb. The reflexive pronoun still goes before the verb estar.

Examples:

• Me estoy levantando ahora (I’m getting up now)
• Te estás duchando (You are showering)
• Nos estamos divirtiendo mucho (We are having a lot of fun)

Summary of Reflexive Verb Conjugation

Here’s a quick summary of how reflexive verbs are conjugated in the present tense:

Key Reflexive Verbs with English and Spanish Translations

Conclusion

Reflexive verbs are a key part of expressing daily routines, personal actions, and feelings in Spanish. By mastering their conjugation and usage in different contexts, you’ll be able to talk about yourself and others more effectively in Spanish. Practise reflexive verbs in both positive and negative forms, and remember to use the correct reflexive pronoun with each subject.