em, et, es, ens, us, es

Basic Reflexive Verbs

Level 2

Pronominal verbs use em, et, es, ens, us or es to match their subject.

How It Works

Em llevo, et lleves and es lleva change both the pronoun and the verb for the person. The full present sequence uses em, et, es, ens, us, es before the finite verb, with elision where appropriate: m'aixeco.

A genuinely reflexive action returns to its subject, as in es renta. With a body part, the definite article is usual: es renta les mans. The pronoun identifies whose hands are involved, so a possessive is not normally needed.

Some pronominal verbs have a lexical meaning that is not simply doing something to oneself: llevar-se means get up. Do not attach es to any verb just because English mentions the subject's own action. For two people acting on each other, the same pronouns may have a reciprocal reading.

Examples (3)

  1. Em llevo a les set.

    I get up at seven.

  2. Es renta les mans.

    She washes her hands.

  3. Ens preparem per sortir.

    We get ready to leave.

How It Connects

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em, et, es, ens, us, esLevel 2Basic Reflexive Verbs

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Match a subject with a pronominal verb's person forms.

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Words in This Pattern

et