Spanish · A2 · Family moment
Before Club Starts in Spanish
Helping your child prepare for after-school clubs involves specific actions like changing clothes and sitting down. In Spanish, these are expressed using reflexive verbs where the action is performed by the subject on themselves.
What you'll learn
- Understand how to use reflexive pronouns with verbs like 'cambiarse' and 'sentarse'.
- Describe the process of getting ready for physical activities.
- Express excitement or anticipation for upcoming events using reflexive structures.
Spanish phrases for before club starts
Me estoy cambiando para natación.
I'm getting changed for swimming.
Uses 'cambiarse' (to change oneself).
¿Te estás cambiando aquí?
Are you getting changed here?
The pronoun 'te' indicates the action is for 'you'.
Tu hermano se está cambiando ahora.
Your brother is getting changed now.
Reflexive pronouns go before the conjugated verb 'está'.
Nos estamos cambiando antes del entrenamiento.
We're getting changed before practice.
'Nos' refers to 'we'.
Me voy a sentar junto a la ventana.
I'll sit down by the window.
'Sentarse' means to sit down; the pronoun 'me' matches 'I'.
Por favor, siéntate a mi lado.
Please sit down next to me.
In a command, the pronoun 'te' is attached to the end of 'siéntate'.
Tu hermana se alegra mucho por el club.
Your sister is looking forward to the club.
'Alegrarse' is used here to express being happy/excited about something.
Nos alegramos mucho por tu partido.
We're looking forward to your match.
'Nos alegramos' literally means 'we gladden ourselves'.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
cambiarse
to change (clothes)
Different from 'cambiar' (to change something else).
sentarse
to sit down
This is a stem-changing verb (e to ie) in many forms.
natación
swimming
Refers to the sport or activity.
entrenamiento
practice / training
Commonly used for sports clubs.
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive verbs require a pronoun that matches the person doing the action. These pronouns (me, te, se, nos) usually come before the verb.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I (Yo) | me | Me cambio (I change) |
| You (Tú) | te | Te sientas (You sit down) |
| He/She/It (Él/Ella) | se | Se alegra (He/She is happy) |
| We (Nosotros) | nos | Nos cambiamos (We change) |
More examples
¡Date prisa y cámbiate!
Hurry up and get changed!
Both 'darse prisa' and 'cambiarse' are reflexive here.
Nos sentamos en el banco.
We sit down on the bench.
Present tense reflexive use.
Se alegran de verte.
They are happy to see you.
Reflexive 'se' for plural 'they'.