reflexive pronouns

The pronouns They are a set of words that are used to replace nouns or names to avoid their repetition or because they are known by those who intervene in a communicative situation.

There are many types of pronouns, although in this text we are going to focus on one of them: the reflexives pronouns.

What are reflexive pronouns?

Reflexive pronouns indicate what or who the action of the verb falls on.

On many occasions, they complement reflexive verbs and indicate that it is the subject itself that receives the action of the verb; For example:

Ramiro HE wash your hands.

It is Ramiro himself who receives the action of the verb, he executes it and it falls on him. If the reflexive pronoun “se” were not present, we would not know who receives the action of the verb: Ramiro washes his hands.

Us us We bought some cherries for dessert.

We are the ones who buy the cherries for ourselves. We perform the action for ourselves.

Due to this reason, it is easy to realize that reflexive pronouns must agree with the subject of the sentence, just as it happens with the rest of the pronouns. Example:

Pablo and Mario, ¿you have you washed your hands?

The question is addressed to two people and we want to know if they have carried out the action of the verb that falls on themselves: washing their own hands. Therefore, a plural reflexive pronoun is used.

What are reflexive pronouns?

Once we know the definition of the reflexives pronouns, it is important to know what they are so that they can be used correctly in each situation. To do this, the best and most visual way is through a table like the one shown below:

We have added a column with personal pronouns because they are better known and can facilitate understanding of the person we are referring to in each case. Furthermore, it helps us realize that each personal pronoun corresponds to a reflexive pronoun.

It is important to note that, if when making a sentence we change the person to the reflexive pronoun, the sentence acquires another meaning and this pronoun would stop functioning as a reflexive and become an indirect object. This phenomenon is clearer in the following sentence:

I I I prepare a salad in a few minutes. (reflexive subject pronoun) I prepare a salad for myself.

I tea I prepare a salad in a few minutes. (Indirect compliment) I prepare a salad for someone else.

Where are reflexive pronouns placed in sentences?

The reflexives pronouns They can be located in different positions within sentences:

In front of a verb that can take them in any of their personal forms. Examples: She HE brush hair several times a day. Us us we eat the snack when leaving school.

Behind a verb in the infinitive when reflexive verbs are formed and, therefore, with formulas such as “estar + gerund.” Examples:

To drinkus A juice for breakfast helps us start the day with energy. I’m buyingI some new pants.

Behind a verb in the imperative mood (forming part of it) or in front of the imperative if it is in the affirmative mood. Examples:

Washtea teeth when you finish dinner, please.
No tea go up to the stairs without help.

In front of a verbal periphrasis or behind when it is formed by an infinitive. Examples: She I used to bringHE the books to study here.
we were going to dressus to go out.

As we have seen throughout the text, these pronouns have a primary function when determining whether the subject performs the action for himself or for another person or another purpose. Sometimes, especially when they are part of a verb, they are difficult to analyze their function within a sentence, but the key is in that value towards the subject.

Before concluding, we leave you a few more resources so you can practice what you have learned.

Select a game 👇 👇 👇

Definition of reflexive pronouns

Relationship between personal and reflexive pronouns

Analysis of reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in sentences

Functions of pronouns in sentences

Questionnaire