Reflexive Present & Preterite Verbs

When do you use reflexive verbs?

• To talk about things that you do to or for yourself OR something that someone does to or for themselves.

You can recognize a reflexive verb if it ends

in "se". Ex. Llamarse

Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive Verbs

Steps to Conjugating Reflexive Present Verbs

• 1. Drop the "se" from the verb and put the correct reflexive pronoun that agrees with he subject.

Steps to Conjugating Reflexive Present Verbs

• 2. Look and see if there is just 1 verb or if there are 2 verbs in a row. If there is just 1 verb, you place the reflexive pronoun in front of the verb and conjugate the verb using the ar/ir/er conjugation endings.

Ex. Jose se cepilla los dientes.

Steps to Conjugating Reflexive Present Verbs

• If there are 2 verbs in a row, you place the reflexive pronoun directly behind the infinitive (not conjugated) verb.

Ex. Yo necesito peinarme.

Preterite Reflexive Verbs

For preterite,the reflexive pronoun will stay the same

but you will conjugate using preterite endings and rules.

é amos

aste xxxxxxx

ó aron

í imos

iste xxxxxxx

ió ieron

Preterite Conjugations

Ar

Er/Ir

Cepillarse

(Yo) Me cepillo (Yo) Me cepillé

For example...

Present Preterite

Preterite or Present? Key Words

Present

Hoy: Today Ahora: Now

Esta Noche: This night Este Verano: Summer has not happened

Todos los días: All the days

Preterite or Present? Key Words

Preterite

Ayer: Yesterday Anteayer: Day before yesterday

Anoche: Last night Verano pasado: Summer has passed

Esta mañana: This morning (if passed)