What is the difference between a reflexive and ordinary verb?

A reflexive verb is a verb describing an action which is being done onto the subject themselves instead of onto another person or object as is the case with ordinary verbs. Reflexive verbs usually describe actions of a person getting themselves ready to go out for example; Peinar (se) el pelo (To comb one's hair).
When conjugating the verb 'Peinar' as an ordinary verb you would use the formula: Personal pronoun+conjugated verb. This would thus be as follows: Yo peino (I brush) , Tu peinas (You brush) and so on. To make this a reflexive verb, you would add (SE) onto the infinitive main verb to make it Peinar (SE) and conjugate by adding a subject prounoun in between the personal pronoun and conjugated verb. Thus, the formula would be: Yo+me+peino (I brush my hair) (Personal pronoun+Subject pronoun+conjugated verb) Tu Te peinas (You brush your hair) and so on.

Answered by Hannah P. Spanish tutor

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