Back arrow for previous Spanish language lesson
 BACK TO ALL LESSONS
Back arrow for previous Spanish language lesson
LESSON 32
LESSON 34
Next arrow for next Spanish language lesson
Back arrow for previous Spanish language lesson

Lesson 33: Reflexive Verbs in the Present Progressive

lesson on reflexive verbs in the Spanish present progressive

33.1

Pause button to pause voices when listening to Spanish verb lessonsVoice symbol to read Spanish verb lesson aloud

Reflexive Verb Formation

What happens with reflexive verbs in the present progressive? What do we do with the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se)? Don’t worry. We have answers, and you have options!

  1. First, remove the reflexive pronoun from the infinitive. We will find a home for it shortly:
bañarse → bañar + se
comerse → comer + se
aburrirse → aburrir + se
how to conjugate reflexives in the affirmative imperative
  1. Conjugate estar and add the present participle for the present progressive as you learned in the previous lesson:
(yo) bañarse → estoy bañando
(nosotros) comerse → estamos comiendo
(los alumnos) aburrirse → están aburriendo
Table illustrating step one in forming the Spanish present progressive tense of reflexive verbs
  1. Make the pronoun agree with the subject of the verb:
(yo) bañarse → estoy bañando + me
(nosotros) comerse → estamos comiendo + nos
(los alumnos) aburrirse → están aburriendo + se
Table illustrating step two in forming the Spanish present progressive tense of reflexive verbs
  1. Now we have two options for where to put the pronoun.
    1. You can put the pronoun right in front of the complete present progressive.
(yo) bañarse → me estoy bañando
(nosotros) comerse → nos estamos comiendo
(los alumnos) aburrirse → se están aburriendo
Table illustrating step three in forming the Spanish present progressive tense of reflexive verbs
  1. Or you can attach the pronoun to the end of the infinitive and, after you’ve done so, add an accent over the 3rd to last syllable (that’s the a in ‑ando and the e in ‑iendo).
(yo) bañarse → estoy bañándome
(nosotros) comerse → estamos comiéndonos
(los alumnos) aburrirse → están aburriéndose
Table of bañarse in the Spanish present progressive, an example of how to conjugate reflexives in the Spanish present progressive

‍VerbMaster uses the second option, so be aware of that as you practice, but both ways are common in Spanish.

33.2

Pause button to pause voices when listening to Spanish verb lessonsVoice symbol to read Spanish verb lesson aloud

Using the Present Progressive with Reflexives

Below are some examples of how to use the present progressive with reflexive verbs in the real world:

bañarse → bañar + se
comerse → comer + se
aburrirse → aburrir + se
(yo) bañarse → estoy bañando
(nosotros) comerse → estamos comiendo
(los alumnos) aburrirse → están aburriendo
(yo) bañarse → estoy bañando + me
(nosotros) comerse → estamos comiendo + nos
(los alumnos) aburrirse → están aburriendo + se
(yo) bañarse → me estoy bañando
(nosotros) comerse → nos estamos comiendo
(los alumnos) aburrirse → se están aburriendo
Lesson 31 bored students image
Los alumnos están aburriéndose porque el profesor nunca deja de hablar.
The students are getting bored because the professor never stops talking.
Los alumnos están aburriéndose porque el profesor nunca deja de hablar.
The students are getting bored because the professor never stops talking.
Lesson 31 talking on phone in the bathtub image
Yo estoy bañándome, ¿podemos hablar después?
I’m taking a bath, can we talk after?
Yo estoy bañándome, ¿podemos hablar después?
I’m taking a bath, can we talk after?
Lesson 31 leaving the movie already image
¿Estas levantándote ahora? La película acaba de empezar.
Are you getting up now? The movie just started.
¿Estas levantándose ahora? La película acaba de empezar.
Are you getting up now? The movie just started.

Practice Time!

The only way to master these verbs is through targeted practice. Fortunately for you, VerbMaster’s intelligent tutoring system makes conjugation practice a breeze!

In this session, you’ll practice conjugating estar in the present tense paired with the present participles of bañarse, comerse, and aburrirse to form the present progressive tense.
So what are you waiting for? Get to studying, you’re on your way to becoming a VerbMaster!

Border for all practice cards leading to the Verbmaster app Spanish verb practice

Don't just read the lesson, practice conjugating in the app!

Download VerbMaster now for iOS or Android!

Try for FreeVerbMaster Spanish Lesson end decorative icon