Learn How to Use Spanish Reflexive Verbs and Speak Spanish with Confidence

Spanish reflexive verbs are very important in Spanish. Why is this? Because the same verb can change its meaning when it is combined with a pronoun.

Let’s make the same comparison with prepositions in English. The same verb can change its meaning when combined with different prepositions.

So if you are a Spanish student, you need to know this very well to avoid making mistakes.

An example for you

In Spanish we have the verb QUEDAR, which means to meet, to hang out.
Then we have the verb QUEDARSE, which means to stay.

As you can see here, the fact of combining the verb with a pronoun can make it a different verb.

Pronouns are as important in Spanish as prepositions are in English. Always remember this!

So, what about reflexive verbs?

Spanish reflexive verbs are the verbs we use to describe our daily lives.

They are called reflexive verbs because they only need to be combined with pronouns when the subject and object of the action are the same person.

This is called a reflexive action and that’s why we call them reflexive verbs.

An example for you

The verb LAVAR means to wash. If you wash “yourself” (which we don’t say in English, of course), then we need the pronoun. Here the subject and object are the same person.

In our lessons, we teach them carefully, because we understand that it is necessary to practise them several times in order to internalise them.

How many pronouns does the Spanish language have?

This is not a question I can answer in an article. The Spanish language has many types of contexts in which pronouns are needed. Students of Spanish learn them as they progress through the levels.

I always recommend not to rush when learning Spanish to be sure that you are really taking everything you learn onboard.

Not all cases are called reflexive

This is one of the most important things we will teach you in our Spanish lessons. Knowing when to use pronouns makes our Spanish high-quality and fluent.

Not all cases are called reflexive, because we have other situations that are different from reflexive ones. They are related to movement, to the psyche, to the emphasis of an action, to impersonal actions…

DON’T WORRY! You will become a master of Spanish as you progress through the levels.

We use many different types of activities to immerse our students in the Spanish language without it being overwhelming.

As you know if you have read other articles by Isbilia, I always say that grammar is not the problem. The real problem is the methodology that exists in many schools.