In reflexive sentences, the subject performs and receives the action at the same time. The reflexive pronoun indicates that the action returns to the subject. In Portuguese, the reflexive is common with verbs such as lavar-se, chamar-se, and lembrar-se. The reflexive marker can change the meaning of the verb.

The basic reflexive pronouns are "me", "te", "se", "nos" and "vos". They agree with the subject's person. "Se" is the form for the third person singular and plural. In standard Portuguese, "vos" is rare in modern usage.

Pronominal verbs are verbs used with a reflexive pronoun as an integral part of their meaning. Many pronominal verbs express actions of the subject upon itself, states, or changes of state. In many cases, omitting the pronoun changes or loses the intended meaning. Chamar-se and lembrar-se are common examples.

In the present indicative with an explicit subject, the reflexive usually appears before the verb. This order is standard in affirmative sentences with a subject. In more formal or poetic registers, the order can vary, but pre-verbal position is the basic rule. The sense remains reflexive due to agreement with the subject.

With the infinitive, the reflexive can attach to the verb as -se. Verb + se is common after prepositions and in verb phrases with an infinitive. The graphical union keeps the reflexive meaning attached to the verb. The subject of the implicit infinitive must agree with the context.

With the gerund, the reflexive usually appears before the gerund or hyphenated in reduced constructions. In phrases with estar, the reflexive normally comes before the auxiliary verb. Clarity increases by keeping the pronoun close to the verb it belongs to. Usage depends on the structure chosen in the sentence.

In the affirmative imperative, the reflexive usually appears after the verb and is joined by a hyphen. In the negative imperative, the reflexive tends to come before the verb. The difference in position clearly separates affirmative and negative commands. Agreement with the person remains mandatory.

Some verbs change meaning with and without the reflexive. Lembrar without the reflexive usually takes a direct object; lembrar-se requires a complement with de. Mudar can mean to alter something; mudar-se usually means to change residence. The reflexive pronoun guides the intended meaning in the sentence.

The reflexive can appear with explicit emphasis using expressions like to oneself. In these cases, the reflexive pronoun remains required with pronominal verbs. To oneself reinforces that the action returns to the subject, creating contrast or clarity. The combination is common in emphatic contexts.

In the plural, the reflexive can indicate that each member of the group receives the action themselves or that there is mutual action. The context decides whether the meaning is individual or reciprocal. In Portuguese, nos and se can be used with reciprocal meaning without changing the form. Expressions like one to the other make the reciprocal meaning explicit.