Reflexive Verbs and Gustar-Type Constructions
Reflexive verbs are verbs built with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) that shows the subject does the action to or for itself, such as levantarse (to get up), ducharse (to shower) and llamarse (to be called). Gustar-type verbs (gustar, encantar, interesar, aburrir, doler, quedar, apetecer) work the opposite way round from English: the thing liked, interesting or hurting is the grammatical subject, so the verb agrees with it (gusta/gustan, encanta/encantan), while the person is expressed with an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les), often reinforced by 'a + noun/pronoun' for clarity or emphasis. The examiner is testing whether a student can select the correct reflexive pronoun for the subject, apply stem changes in the present tense (acostarse: o to ue), and reverse the English word order correctly for gustar-type verbs, including making the verb agree with a plural thing liked rather than with the person who likes it.
Before you start
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Method
- Match the subject to its reflexive pronoun before conjugating: yo - me, tú - te, él/ella/usted - se, nosotros/as - nos, vosotros/as - os, ellos/ellas/ustedes - se.
- Conjugate the verb as normal for that subject, keeping the reflexive pronoun directly in front of a conjugated verb: me levanto, se levanta, nos levantamos.
- Check for a stem change in the present tense: acostarse (o to ue: me acuesto), despertarse (e to ie: te despiertas), vestirse (e to i: se viste), divertirse (e to ie: nos divertimos).
- When the reflexive pronoun attaches to an infinitive, a gerund or a positive command instead of standing in front of a conjugated verb, add a written accent to keep the original stress: levantarme, levantándote, levántate.
- For gustar-type verbs, first find the person who likes, is interested in or is in pain, and convert them into an indirect object pronoun: me, te, le, nos, os, les.
- Then find the thing liked, which is the grammatical subject of the sentence: if it is singular or an infinitive (or a string of infinitives), use the singular verb form (gusta, encanta, duele); if it is plural, use the plural form (gustan, encantan, duelen).
- Add 'a + noun' or 'a + pronoun' (a mi hermano, a ellos) whenever le or les could refer to more than one person, or whenever you want emphasis or contrast (a mí me gusta el fútbol, pero a ella le gusta el baloncesto).
- Put 'no' immediately before the reflexive or object pronoun to negate the sentence: no me levanto temprano, no le gustan las verduras.
Worked example
Build two full Spanish sentences from these notes: (1) yo / despertarse / a las siete / y / vestirse / rápidamente. (2) a mis abuelos / no / gustar / los ordenadores.
- For sentence 1, the subject is yo, so the reflexive pronoun is me for both verbs: me despierto (despertarse is e to ie) and me visto (vestirse is e to i).
- Join the two actions with y and add the time phrase: Me despierto a las siete y me visto rápidamente.
- For sentence 2, the person is mis abuelos (plural, third person), so the indirect object pronoun is les.
- The thing not liked, los ordenadores, is plural, so gustar takes the plural form gustan; because the sentence is negative, no goes immediately before les.
- Assemble the full sentence: A mis abuelos no les gustan los ordenadores.
Practice questions
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Q1Conjugate 'acostarse' for 'nosotros' in the present tense.Show answer
Answer: Nos acostamos.
Q2Complete with the correct pronoun: A mi hermana ___ duele la espalda.Show answer
Answer: le (A mi hermana le duele la espalda - my sister's back hurts).
Q3Translate into Spanish: 'I love Spanish music' (use encantar).Show answer
Answer: Me encanta la música española.
Q4Spot and correct the error: 'Ellos se levanta muy tarde los domingos.'Show answer
Answer: Ellos se levantan muy tarde los domingos - the reflexive pronoun and verb must both agree with the plural subject ellos.
Q5Translate into English: 'A mis padres les interesan las noticias.'Show answer
Answer: My parents are interested in the news.
Q6Where does the reflexive pronoun go in 'Voy a ___ (ducharse) antes de salir'?Show answer
Answer: It attaches to the infinitive: Voy a ducharme antes de salir.
Q7Complete: ¿A ti ___ (apetecer) una pizza esta noche?Show answer
Answer: te apetece (¿A ti te apetece una pizza esta noche?).
Q8Translate: 'We get dressed very quickly every morning.'Show answer
Answer: Nos vestimos muy rápido cada mañana.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Spanish exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Translate this passage into English: Todos los días me despierto a las siete y media, pero a mi hermano le encanta quedarse en la cama hasta tarde. A nuestros padres no les gusta nada este hábito, así que siempre discuten por las mañanas. Sin embargo, nos llevamos bien porque nos apoyamos los unos a los otros.
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Translate into Spanish: 'My sister and I always get up early, but we don't like getting up before six o'clock. My friends are very interested in music, and they love going to concerts together.'
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Free printable worksheet
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