Present Tense of Reflexive Verbs

In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate reflexive verbs in the present tense. Reflexive verbs are used when the subject of the action is also the receiver of the action. For example, "I wash myself." The reflexive pronoun is attached to the verb to indicate that the action is being done to oneself.

Let's take a look at some examples of reflexive verbs in the present tense:

• lavarsi (to wash oneself)
• vestirsi (to dress oneself)
• alzarsi (to get up)

Conjugating Reflexive Verbs in the Present Tense

To conjugate reflexive verbs in the present tense, follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the reflexive pronoun

The reflexive pronouns are:

• mi (myself)
• ti (yourself)
• si (himself/herself/itself)
• ci (ourselves)
• vi (yourselves)
• si (themselves)

Step 2: Remove -si from the infinitive form of the reflexive verb

Starting with the infinitive form of the verb (e.g., lavarsi, vestirsi), remove the -si ending.

Step 3: Conjugate the verb according to the subject

Conjugate the verb as you would with a regular verb in the present tense, taking into account the subject. Here are the conjugations for each subject pronoun:

• io (I): mi + verb
• tu (you): ti + verb
• lui/lei (he/she): si + verb
• noi (we): ci + verb
• voi (you all): vi + verb
• loro (they): si + verb

Examples

• Io mi lavo ogni mattina. (I wash myself every morning.)
• Tu ti vesti velocemente. (You dress yourself quickly.)
• Lei si alza sempre presto. (She always gets up early.)
• Noi ci laviamo le mani prima di mangiare. (We wash our hands before eating.)
• Voi vi vestite elegantemente per la festa. (You all dress elegantly for the party.)
• Loro si alzano tardi durante il weekend. (They get up late on weekends.)

Conclusion

Conjugating reflexive verbs in the present tense is fairly straightforward. Just remember to identify the reflexive pronoun, remove -si from the infinitive form, and conjugate the verb according to the subject. Practice with different reflexive verbs to become more comfortable with this grammar structure.