Lesson 37: Reflexive Verbs in the Imperative

37.1 The Imperative of Reflexive Verbs

You've done so much, VerbMasters, and come so far. We're in the home stretch! Let's connect some dots. So, what do we do with the reflexive pronoun when we use the imperative with a reflexive verb? Think of telling your friend to shave before work or to bathe after going to the gym.

37.2 Affirmative Imperative of Reflexive Verbs

In the affirmative imperative the reflexive pronoun must be attached to the end of the conjugated verb. Let's see what that looks like with each form.

1 Detach the reflexive pronoun from the end of the verb. We'll use bañarse as our example:
bañarse
bañar
2 Conjugate the verb in the affirmative form of the imperative:
baña
usted
bañe
nosotros
bañemos
vosotros
bañad
ustedes
bañen
3 Make the pronoun agree with the subject of the verb:
baña + te
usted
bañe + se
nosotros
bañemos + nos
vosotros
bañad + os
ustedes
bañen + se
4 Re-attach the pronoun to the verb and, after doing so, add a written accent over the 3rd to last syllable in the tú, usted/ustedes, and nosotros forms. Remove the ‑S from the nosotros ending and the ‑D from the vosotros ending:
baña + te → báñate
usted
bañe + se → báñese
nosotros
bañemos + nos → bañémonos
vosotros
bañad + os → bañaos
ustedes
bañen + se → báñense

Example:

Báñate porque estás cubierto de tierra.

Take a bath because you are covered in dirt.

37.3 Negative Imperative of Reflexive Verbs

In the negative imperative the reflexive pronoun must go before the conjugated verb. Let's see what that looks like with each form.

1 Detach the reflexive pronoun from the end of the verb and add no to the beginning:
bañarse
no bañar
2 Conjugate the verb in the negative form of the imperative:
no bañes
usted
no bañe
nosotros
no bañemos
vosotros
no bañéis
ustedes
no bañen
3 Make the reflexive pronoun agree with the subject of the verb and move it between no and the conjugated verb:
no te bañes
usted
no se bañe
nosotros
no nos bañemos
vosotros
no os bañéis
ustedes
no se bañen

Example:

No nos aburramos–es muy importante mantener nuestro enfoque en esta clase tan difícil.

Let's not get bored–it's very important to stay focused in this difficult class.

That's all there is! Now get out there and practice, VerbMasters!

Practice Time!

Master these verb conjugations from Lesson 37

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bañarse
affirmative imperative
comerse
affirmative imperative
aburrirse
affirmative imperative
bañarse
negative imperative
comerse
negative imperative
aburrirse
negative imperative