Spanish: An Essential Grammar

Reflexive verbs with a reflexive meaning

In some cases, though by no means always, the action of a reflexive verb

reflects back on to its subject. This genuinely ‘reflexive’ usage arises in the

following instances.

(a) The reflexive pronoun as the direct object of the reflexive verb:

Usted tendrá que cuidarse. You will have to look after

yourself.

Podía verse en el espejo. She could see herself in the

mirror.

(b) The reflexive pronoun as the indirect object of the reflexive verb:

Typically the indirect object pronoun identifies the person interested in or

affected by the action of the verb (as in ‘I bought myselfseveral books’ or

‘I bought several books for myself’):

Ayer nos compramos un Yesterday we bought ourselves

perrito. a puppy.

Se ha conseguido un empleo. He has found himself a job.

In addition, the reflexive pronoun as an indirect object is commonly found

in constructions where English has a possessive adjective, especially when

referring to parts of the body or to clothing (see also 5.5):

Andrea se ha torcido el Andrea has twisted her ankle.

tobillo.

Reflexive verbs with a reciprocal meaning

This refers to persons acting upon one another and corresponds to English

‘each other’ or ‘one another’. It necessarily only occurs with verbs used in

the plural:

Las dos profesoras se odian. The two teachers hate each

other.

Nos saludamos al salir de We greeted one another as we

la iglesia. came out of the church.

Since the true reflexive and the reciprocal forms are identical in Spanish,

ambiguity may occur in some contexts, e.g. Se felicitaroncould mean ‘They

14.3

14.2^1111

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1011

1

12111

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

20111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

30111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

40

41111

14

Reflexive
verbs

166