Placement of reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns Pronombres reflexivos are located:
- In front of the verb: most of the time.
Magda se levanta contenta.
Magda is happy when she gets up (literally: “Magda gets herself up happy”).
¡No me acuerdo!
I don't remember! (literally: “I don't remember myself!”)
- After the verb: in the infinitive and affirmative imperative forms.
Teo nunca pensó en casarse.
Teo never thought about getting married (literally: “getting himself married”).
¡Péinate!
Brush your hair! (literally: “Comb yourself!”).
- Either before or after the verb:
In most sentences that contain a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive.
No quiero ducharme más / No me quiero duchar más.
I don't want to shower (literally “shower myself”) for any longer.
With conjugated verbs in the near future tense (conjugated form of ir + a + infinitive).
Ana va a quedarse en el hotel / Ana se va a quedar en el hotel.
Ana is going to stay (literally “stay herself”) in the hotel.
In the construction estar (to be) + gerund (which describes actions currently taking place):
Ellas están mirándose / Ellas se están mirando.
They are looking at themselves.
Note: the direct Pronombres CD and indirect object pronouns Pronombres CI are positioned in the same way.
Ana va a guardarlo / Ana lo va a guardar.
Ana is going to keep it.
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