Which of the following sentences in English would require a reflexive verb in Spanish? I dry the dishes. I dry my hair. I dry the paint. I dry my clothes.

Respuesta :

I dry my hair

Reflexive verbs are used to describe an action that is done to oneself. I dry MY hair, I am doing the action to myself.

Answer:

I dry my hair is the correct answer.

Explanation:

First, I want to provide the translation of the four sentences:

I dry the dishes: (yo) seco los platos

I dry my hair: (yo) me seco el cabello

I dry the paint: (yo) seco la pintura

I dry my clothes: (yo) seco mi ropa

The sentence "I dry my hair" requires the reflexive verb in Spanish "secarse", which is formed with the reflexive pronoun "me" to agree with the 1st person singular subject (yo me seco). Reflexive verbs in Spanish are used to indicate actions that are performed on oneself. In this case "me seco" (I  dry my own hair), the verb "secarse" means "to dry to oneself."

Reflexive verbs require the use of reflexive pronouns to indicate that the the subject and object of the action are the same (in other words, the subject is performing the action on himself or herself). They agree with the subject in gender and number.

As to the other sentences (I dry the dishes, I dry the paint, and I dry my clothes), the subject (yo) does not coincide with the objects (the dishes, the paint and the clothes). Therefore, in these cases, you do not need a reflexive verb and the verb "secar" is a transitive verb with one direct object: secar los platos, secar la pintura and secar la ropa.