It's pretty hard to say much in Spanish without using reflexive and transitive verbs. Remember that the action of a reflexive verb reflects back on the subject. In a transitive (nonreflexive) verb, the action usually affects someone or something else. Often this is very obvious. Let's look at some examples:

mirar: Miramos los animales en el zoológico.

mirarse: Nos miramos en el espejo después de vestirnos.

lavar: Martina lava su coche cada sábado por la tarde.

lavarse: Me lavo el pelo con un champú especial para estar bonita.

acostar: Las mamás acuestan a sus niños después de la cena para descansar.

acostarse: ¿A qué hora te acuestas?

llamar: Llamo a mi novio todas las noches.

llamarse: Hola, me llamo Sandra; ¿cómo te llamas tú?

Practice: Transitive or Reflexive?

Translate the following sentences using a transitive verb or its reflexive counterpart as appropriate. Remember that a transitive verb normally affects someone or something other than the subject while the action of a reflexive verb reflects back onto the subject. Then compare your work to the answers in Appendix D.

• José usually puts his books on the table.

• María puts on good clothes to go to a restaurant.

• I don't like to bathe; I shower.

• Sometimes we give the dog a bath.

• You wash your windows a lot to enjoy the view.

• You wash your hands before eating, don't you?

• We generally take off our shoes when we enter the house.

• My grandparents take things off the chair and I sit down.

Of course, not all transitive verbs have reflexive counterparts, so don't get carried away! Think about whether or not the action is directed toward someone or something else or whether it directly affects the subject. Verbs like andar, tejer, and visitar, for example, are only transitive with no reflexive option: you walk somewhere or with someone; you knit or weave something; you visit people or places.

Let's look at some more after-hours activities. Pay attention to which ones are transitive and which are reflexive.

reunirse con amigos (to get together with friends)

salir (to go out)

divertirse (to enjoy oneself, to have a good time)

pasarlo bien (to have a good time)

tomar algo (to have a drink or snack)

hacer ejercicio (to exercise)

relajarse (to relax)

dar un paseo (to go for a stroll)

jugar a las cartas (to play cards)

descansar (to rest)

quedarse en casa (to stay home)

Verbs that Change Meaning

Some verbs actually change meaning when used as reflexives. Sometimes the change is slight, sometimes it's fairly significant. Let's look at a few examples:

dormir (to sleep or put to sleep as in rock or sing a child to sleep)

dormirse (to fall asleep)

ir (to go)

irse (to take off in a hurry)

volver (to return)

volverse (to become, to turn into)

hacer (to do or to make)

hacerse (to make for oneself, to become)

comer (to eat)

comerse (to gobble up)

cambiar (to change or exchange)

cambiarse (to change oneself or to change clothes)

perder (to lose)

perderse (to get lost, to miss a bus, train, etc.)

quedar (to remain, to be left)

quedarse (to stay)

Transitives and Reflexives

TRACK 35

Listen carefully to the use of transitive and reflexive verbs in the examples on Track 35. (The examples are not shown here because this is meant to be a more challenging exercise.) Think about the meaning of each and then write an English translation. Compare your sentences to the answers in Appendix D. There may be slight variations, but you should be able to see if you understand the way transitive and reflexive verbs differ in meaning.

• Por and Para: Part 2
• Special Applications of Reflexives