Notes On Usage Flashcards
For personal care use definite article preceding parts of the body
e.g
We wash our faces.
They brush their teeth
They take off their hats
Nos lavamos la cara
Se cepillan los dientes
( it’s “la” cara ..singular.. despite several people because it’s one item each not teeth plural as in dientes)
Se quitan “el “ sombrero para saludar
Use of reflexive verbs
To describe actions related to personal care and habitual routines.
They brush their teeth.
To express feelings and emotions or changes in conditions moods and emotional states. In English the verbs “to get, to become “ communicate these ideas.
At night I sit down to watch myself soap opera in Spanish
Se lavan los dientes.
Por la noche me siento para ver mi telenovela en español .
Reflexive pronouns proceed conjugated verb in simple tenses and in compound tenses.
The gymnasts have prepared themselves for the Olympic games .
Los gimnastas se han preparado para las Olimpíadas
With affirmative commands attach the pronoun to the command.
Brush your teeth before you go to bed.
They had not fooled themselves
Cepíllense los dientes antes de acostarse.
No se habían engañado.
In the case of two object pronouns place the reflexive pronoun (indirect object )before any direct object pronoun.
Waiter.This fish does not smell good. Take it away with you.!
Mesero. Este pescado nos huele bien. Lléveselo!
With negative commands placed the pronoun before the verb.
Do you not wash your hair with that soap .
No sé lave usted los cabellos con ese jabón .
As a rule reflexive pronouns proceed both of simple and compound tenses of conjugated verbs.
There are two options.
I am falling asleep.
Options are.
- Estoy durmiéndome.
- Me estoy durmiendo
Mutual actions with the plural forms of reflective verbs and the corresponding pronouns. The equivalent in English is the phrase “each other.”
Pedro and I help each other.
My cat and my dog fight with each other every day.
Pedro y yo nos ayudamos .
Mi gato y mi perro se pelean todos los días.
If previous construction is not clear enough you can use the expressions…
El uno al otro , Laguna alle Ultra, Los unos a los otros, Las unas a las otras ..or the adverb
“ mutuamente”
We are never upset with each other
Nunca nos enfadamos el uno con el otro .
