Question

Question 1 with 2 blanksJosefina las manos en el lavabo. Josefina la ropa en casa de su madre. (peinar/peinarse) Question 2 with 2 blanks(yo) a mi hermana todas las mañanas. (yo) en el baño, delante del espejo. (poner/ponerse) Question 3 with 2 blanks(nosotros) nerviosos antes de un examen. (nosotros) la toalla al lado de la ducha. (levantar/levantarse) Question 4 with 2 blanksLos estudiantes muy temprano. Los estudiantes la mano y hacen preguntas.

Answer 1

Answer:

1.

• REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Josefina SE LAVA las manos en el lavabo  
• NO-REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Josefina LAVA la ropa en casa de su madre  

2.

• REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Yo ME PONGO en el baño, delante del espejo
• NO-REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Yo PEINO a mi hermana todas las mañanas  

3.  

• REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Nosotros NOS PONEMOS nerviosos antes de un examen  
• NO-REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Nosotros PONEMOS la toalla al lado de la ducha  

4.  

• REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Los estudiantes SE LEVANTAN muy temprano
• NO-REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Los estudiantes LEVANTAN la mano y hacen preguntas

Explanation:

To answer this exercise we first have to know what REFLEXIVE VERBS are because it is the main theme of our sentences.

REFLEXIVE VERBS

They are a special kind of CONJUGATED VERBS that are transitive. It means that the action expressed by the verb is affecting the subject of the sentence. Thus, the person who does the action is the same person who receives that action.

For example: Yo me peino (I comb my hair); here I’m the person who is doing the action of “combing”, but my own hair is who is being combed, so I do and receive the action of the verb at the same time.

Verbs related to personal routines (for example combing, making up, dressing up, washing, having a bath, etc.) are commonly REFLEXIVE VERBS.

GRAMMATICAL RULE: It is really important to notice that REFLEXIVE VERBS are always accompanied by REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS, which are in charge of expressing who is receiving the action.

REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

• Yo –Me
• Tú- Te
• ÉL/ella/usted- Se
• Nosotros-Nos
• Vosotros-Os
• Ellos-Se

Now, here we have the answers, please focus your attention in the conjugated verb and the reflexive pronoun that is always next to it. Each example has the same conjugated verb but one sentence is reflexive and the other isn’t.

ANSWERS

1.

• REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Josefina SE LAVA las manos en el lavabo  
• NO-REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Josefina LAVA la ropa en casa de su madre  

2.

• REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Yo ME PONGO en el baño, delante del espejo
• NO-REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Yo PEINO a mi hermana todas las mañanas  

3.  

• REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Nosotros NOS PONEMOS nerviosos antes de un examen  
• NO-REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Nosotros PONEMOS la toalla al lado de la ducha  

4.  

• REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Los estudiantes SE LEVANTAN muy temprano
• NO-REFLEXIVE SENTENCE: Los estudiantes LEVANTAN la mano y hacen preguntas