Instruction: Spanish Subjunctive with Reflexive Verbs
In Spanish, reflexive verbs are those where the subject performs an action on itself. These verbs are paired with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se), which must agree with the subject. When conjugating reflexive verbs in the subjunctive mood, the reflexive pronoun precedes the conjugated verb. Reflexive verbs in the subjunctive are often used in contexts involving wishes, emotions, doubts, and hypothetical situations, just like non-reflexive verbs.
In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate reflexive verbs in the present subjunctive and see how they function in sentences.
Conjugation of Reflexive Verbs in the Subjunctive
To conjugate reflexive verbs in the present subjunctive:
- Start with the “yo” form of the verb in the present tense (indicative).
- Drop the -o ending.
- Add the present subjunctive endings corresponding to the verb type (-ar, -er, -ir).
- Place the reflexive pronoun before the verb.
Example: Levantarse (to wash oneself)
Yo | me levante I get up | Nosotros | nos levantemos we get up |
Tú (Juana, Juan) | te levantes you get up | Vosotros (informal Spain) | os levantéis (Spain) you all get up |
Él/Ella/Ud. (Sra./Dr. Garce) | se levante he/she/you get up | Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | se levanten they/you all get up |
Common Reflexive Verbs in the Subjunctive
Levantarse (to get up):
- Quiero que te levantes temprano mañana. (I want you to get up early tomorrow.)
- Es posible que él se levante tarde si no pone la alarma. (It’s possible that he will get up late if he doesn’t set the alarm.)
Acostarse (to go to bed):
- Es importante que nos acostemos a la misma hora cada noche. (It’s important that we go to bed at the same time every night.)
- Espero que tú te acuestes temprano para descansar bien. (I hope you go to bed early to get a good rest.)
Sentirse (to feel):
- Espero que ella se sienta mejor pronto. (I hope she feels better soon.)
- Dudo que ellos se sientan cómodos en esa situación. (I doubt that they feel comfortable in that situation.)
Divertirse (to have fun):
- Quiero que ellos se diviertan en la fiesta. (I want them to have fun at the party.)
- Es necesario que nos divirtamos durante las vacaciones. (It’s necessary that we have fun during the holidays.)
Vestirse (to get dressed):
- Es necesario que te vistas antes de las ocho. (It’s necessary that you get dressed before eight.)
- Quiero que ellos se vistan de manera formal para la ceremonia. (I want them to dress formally for the ceremony.)
Relajarse (to relax):
- Espero que tú te relajes después de un día tan ocupado. (I hope you relax after such a busy day.)
- Es importante que nos relajemos el fin de semana para recargar energías. (It’s important that we relax over the weekend to recharge.)
Prepararse (to get ready):
- Quiero que te prepares para la reunión con tiempo. (I want you to get ready for the meeting in advance.)
- Es posible que ellos se preparen para el examen en la biblioteca. (It’s possible that they will prepare for the exam in the library.)
Despertarse (to wake up):
- Dudo que ella se despierte a tiempo sin una alarma. (I doubt that she will wake up on time without an alarm.)
- Espero que nos despertemos temprano para aprovechar el día. (I hope we wake up early to make the most of the day.)
Enojarse (to get angry):
- Es posible que él se enoje si le dices la verdad. (It’s possible that he will get angry if you tell him the truth.)
- Espero que tú no te enojes por el malentendido. (I hope you don’t get angry about the misunderstanding.)
Despedirse (to say goodbye):
- Quiero que ellos se despidan antes de irse. (I want them to say goodbye before they leave.)
- Es importante que tú te despidas de tus abuelos antes de regresar. (It’s important that you say goodbye to your grandparents before returning.)
Quedarse (to stay):
- Espero que tú te quedes en casa durante la tormenta. (I hope you stay at home during the storm.)
- Es necesario que nosotros nos quedemos en la oficina hasta que termine la reunión. (It’s necessary that we stay in the office until the meeting ends.)
Arreglarse (to get ready, to freshen up):
- Quiero que te arregles antes de que lleguen los invitados. (I want you to freshen up before the guests arrive.)
- Es posible que ella se arregle rápidamente porque ya está tarde. (It’s possible that she will get ready quickly because it’s already late.)
Conclusion
These examples show how reflexive verbs are used in the subjunctive mood to express actions related to the subjects themselves, often in contexts of uncertainty, desire, or necessity. Practice using these verbs in similar sentences to become more comfortable with reflexive verbs in the subjunctive mood.