VerbyGoSpanish Conjugation

Learn Reflexive Reflexive -IR in the Spanish present tense

Selected topic

Reflexive -IR

Follow the four steps in order, or open any step whenever you need it.

Step 1 · Learn

Understand this topic.

Read the explanation and examples, then continue when the pattern is clear.

Pronominal grammar

Regular -IR reflexive and pronominal verbs in the Spanish present tense

Regular -IR pronominal verbs describe opening, decisions, reactions, joining, reciprocal actions and changes affecting people or things.

Build the full form as one grammatical unit: matching pronoun + regular -IR present form + any connector required by the verb.

abrirseto open / become open / open upaburrirseto get boredconfundirseto get confused / make a mistakedecidirseto decide / make up one's minddefinirseto define oneself / be defineddescribirseto describe oneself / be describedcubrirseto cover oneself / become coveredsacudirseto shake offsubirseto get on / climb upunirseto joininscribirseto enroll / registersuscribirseto subscriberepartirseto divide / share among a groupescribirseto write to each otherdividirseto divide / be dividedpartirseto split / breakhundirseto sink / collapsepermitirseto allow oneself / be affordableresistirseto resist / be reluctantcumplirseto come true / be fulfilled / be completed
Pronoun + regular -IR present form

Remove -se, conjugate the base with -o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís or -en, and place me, te, se, nos, os or se before it.

Subject or verbPatternExample
yome + -ome abro
túte + -este abres
él, ella, ustedse + -ese abre
nosotros, nosotrasnos + -imosnos abrimos
vosotros, vosotrasos + -ísos abrís
ellos, ellas, ustedesse + -ense abren
1. Build the complete form

Remove -se, conjugate the regular -IR base, choose the matching pronoun and place it before the verb. The pronoun and ending must identify the same subject.

abrirse → abrir → abro → me abroto open up → I open up
subirse → subir → subimos → nos subimosto get on → we get on
2. Regular -IR present endings

The endings are -o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís and -en. The vosotros form keeps a written accent.

me decido / te decides / se decidesingular forms
nos decidimos / os decidís / se decidenplural forms
3. Natural meanings, not mechanical translations

These verbs include true reflexive actions, reciprocal actions, changes of state and fixed pronominal meanings. Translate the complete construction naturally rather than adding oneself to the English verb.

La puerta se abre.The door opens.
Nos escribimos cada semana.We write to each other every week.
4. Required connectors

Keep the connector that belongs to the verb: decidirse a, unirse a, inscribirse en, suscribirse a, dividirse en and resistirse a.

Se decide a llamar.She decides to call.
Nos inscribimos en el curso.We enroll in the course.
5. Opening, covering and removing

Abrirse can describe a door that opens or a person who becomes receptive. Cubrirse uses con for a covering and de for a resulting layer. Sacudirse means to remove dust, sand or water with a shaking motion.

La ventana se abre hacia fuera.The window opens outward.
Se cubre con una manta.He covers himself with a blanket.
6. Decisions and identity

Decidirse a introduces an action; decidirse por introduces a choice. Definirse and describirse commonly use como before a description.

Me decido por la opción sencilla.I choose the simple option.
Se define como una persona tranquila.She defines herself as a calm person.
7. Joining and registering

Subirse a describes getting onto transport or a higher place. Unirse a means to join a group or activity. Inscribirse en means to register for something, while suscribirse a means to subscribe.

Nos subimos al tren.We get on the train.
Se suscriben al boletín.They subscribe to the newsletter.
8. Reciprocal and distributed actions

Escribirse can be reciprocal: people write to one another. Repartirse describes sharing tasks or items among a group. The plural subject and plural form are essential.

Ana y Luis se escriben.Ana and Luis write to each other.
Nos repartimos las tareas.We divide the tasks among ourselves.
9. Changes affecting things

Dividirse, partirse, hundirse and cumplirse often have an inanimate subject. The verb agrees with that real subject; the construction does not imply a person acting on themself.

El grupo se divide en dos.The group divides into two.
El plazo se cumple mañana.The deadline is met tomorrow.
10. Permitirse and resistirse

Permitirse can mean allowing oneself an action or being able to afford something. Resistirse a expresses resistance or reluctance and always keeps a.

Me permito descansar.I allow myself to rest.
Se resiste a cambiar el plan.He resists changing the plan.
11. Pronoun position

Place the pronoun before a simple conjugated form. With an infinitive it may remain before the first verb or attach to the infinitive. In a compound tense it precedes the auxiliary.

Me quiero inscribir. / Quiero inscribirme.I want to enroll.
Se ha abierto.It has opened.
12. Questions and negatives

Questions keep the same pronoun-plus-verb order. Put no before the pronoun in a negative statement.

¿Te aburres durante el viaje?Do you get bored during the trip?
No me confundo con esos nombres.I do not confuse those names.
13. Keep irregular -IR reflexives separate

Irse, venirse, salirse and decirse have irregular forms. Dormirse, sentirse and vestirse change their stems. Reunirse and prohibirse require special accent handling. They do not belong in this regular path.

14. Common mistakes
Yo se abro.Yo me abro.

Yo requires me.

Tú te abre.Tú te abres.

Tú requires -es.

Nosotros nos abrimos.Nosotros nos abrimos.

This regular nosotros form is correct; do not change the stem.

Os subis al tren.Os subís al tren.

The vosotros ending requires an accent.

Se decide aceptar.Se decide a aceptar.

Decidirse takes a before an infinitive.

Nos unimos el grupo.Nos unimos al grupo.

Unirse takes a.

Se inscriben al curso.Se inscriben en el curso.

Inscribirse takes en.

Se suscribe en el boletín.Se suscribe al boletín.

Suscribirse takes a.

La clase se divide a cuatro grupos.La clase se divide en cuatro grupos.

Dividirse takes en.

Se resisten cambiar.Se resisten a cambiar.

Resistirse takes a.

Abre se automáticamente.Se abre automáticamente.

Place the pronoun before a simple conjugated form.

15. A reliable method
  1. Identify the real subject, including inanimate subjects.
  2. Choose the matching pronominal pronoun.
  3. Remove -se and add the regular -IR present ending.
  4. Restore any required connector such as a or en.
  5. Check whether the meaning is reflexive, reciprocal, a change of state or a fixed pronominal construction.
  6. Read the full phrase and verify accent, agreement and natural meaning.

Continue exploring VerbyGo

Create your free account to explore another Spanish tense.