ABSTRACT
Other reflexive verbs include: acostarse, afeitarse, arreglarse, bañarse, conocerse (a sí mismo), cortarse (el pelo), ducharse, peinarse, ponerse (ropa), quitarse (ropa), vestirse
(ii) Pronominal verbs that look reflexive but express non-voluntary actions or metaphorical meanings
Él siempre se consideró culpable de la muerte de su hermana. (He always considered himself guilty for his sister’s death.) Se ha golpeado en la cabeza al salir. (He’s hit his head going out.) Se ha roto el espejo. (The mirror has broken.); Se ha roto la pierna. (She has broken her leg.)
Other verbs of this type include: abrirse (e.g. una puerta), hacerse (e.g. una herida), levantarse, llamarse (+ name), moverse (e.g. la cortina), sentarse; verbs expressing an incipient emotion: alegrarse, asustarse, emocionarse, entristecerse, inquietarse, ponerse (e.g. nervioso, contento), preocuparse; periphrasis with infinitive, such as: echarse a llorar, decidirse a (hacer algo, e.g. a hablar), negarse a (hacer algo, e.g. a pedir perdón)
(iii) Reciprocal verbs (only in the plural forms) indicate that the subjects do the action of the verb to each other, e.g. ayudarse, ‘to help each other’
Se quieren como si fueran hermanas. (They love each other as if they were sisters.) Se pegaron una paliza. (They had a brawl.)
Other verbs with reciprocal meaning include: amarse, comunicarse, conocerse, escribirse, gritarse, hablarse, mirarse, odiarse, pelearse, quererse, verse * Note that some of these verbs can also be reflexive, e.g. Alicia sonrió cuando se miró en el espejo. (Alicia smiled when she looked at herself in the mirror.) The category will become clear in the context. (iv) Verbs that exist both in pronominal and
non-pronominal forms, where the pronominal form adds a special emphasis
Nos comimos un pollo entero. (We ate a whole chicken.) Compare this with: Comimos pollo al almuerzo. (We ate chicken for lunch.)
Many verbs fall into this category: Verbs of consumption: beberse/tomarse (una cerveza), comerse; Verbs of movement: bajarse, escaparse, irse, marcharse, subirse, volverse; Verbs that denote perception or knowledge: aprenderse, conocerse, creerse (algo), estudiarse, imaginarse, leerse (e.g. el libro en una sola noche), olvidarse (e.g. la cartera en el coche), saberse (e.g. los verbos irregulares); Other verbs: morirse (de repente, de un susto, sin darse cuenta...).
