Language/Serbian/Grammar/Verbs:-Reflexive-Verbs

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Serbian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adjectives: Declension → Verbs: Reflexive Verbs

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on reflexive verbs in Serbian! In this lesson, we will explore the concept of reflexive verbs and how they are used in the Serbian language. Understanding reflexive verbs is crucial for developing your language skills and becoming proficient in Serbian. We will start by explaining what reflexive verbs are and how they work, and then we will delve into the different forms and conjugations of reflexive verbs. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid foundation in using reflexive verbs in your conversations and written expressions. So let's get started!

What are Reflexive Verbs?

Reflexive verbs are a special category of verbs that indicate that the subject of the verb is also the object of the action. In other words, when we use reflexive verbs, the subject is performing the action on themselves. This adds a reflexive or reflective meaning to the verb.

In Serbian, reflexive verbs are formed by adding the reflexive pronoun "sebe" or its different forms to the verb. The reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject in terms of gender and number. For example:

• "Ja se umivam." (I wash myself.)
• "Ti se budiš." (You wake up.)
• "Ona se oblači." (She is getting dressed.)
• "Mi se pravimo." (We pretend.)
• "Vi se smejete." (You laugh.)
• "Oni se zovu." (They are called.)

As you can see from these examples, the reflexive pronoun "se" or its different forms are attached to the verb to indicate that the subject is performing the action on themselves.

Reflexive Pronouns

In Serbian, reflexive pronouns are used to indicate that the subject of the verb is also the object of the action. Let's take a closer look at the reflexive pronouns and their different forms:

Pronoun	Singular	Plural
Ja (I)	sebe	sebe
Ti (You)	sebe	sebe
On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It)	sebe	sebe
Mi (We)	sebe	sebe
Vi (You)	sebe	sebe
Oni/One/Ona (They)	sebe	sebe

As you can see from the table, the reflexive pronoun "sebe" is used for both singular and plural subjects. It is important to note that the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject in terms of gender and number.

Conjugating Reflexive Verbs

To conjugate reflexive verbs in Serbian, we need to attach the reflexive pronoun to the verb. Let's take a look at the conjugation of the reflexive verb "umivati se" (to wash oneself) in the present tense:

Person	Conjugation
Ja (I)	umivam se
Ti (You)	umivaš se
On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It)	umiva se
Mi (We)	umivamo se
Vi (You)	umivate se
Oni/One/Ona (They)	umivaju se

In the present tense, the reflexive pronoun "se" is attached to the verb "umivati" to form the reflexive verb "umivati se". Notice how the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject in terms of gender and number.

Now let's take a look at the conjugation of the reflexive verb "buditi se" (to wake up) in the past tense:

Person	Conjugation
Ja (I)	budio/budila sam se
Ti (You)	budio/budila si se
On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It)	budio/budila se
Mi (We)	budili/budile smo se
Vi (You)	budili/budile ste se
Oni/One/Ona (They)	budili/budile su se

In the past tense, the reflexive pronoun "se" is attached to the past participle of the verb "buditi" to form the reflexive verb "buditi se". Again, notice how the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject in terms of gender and number.

Cultural Insights

In Serbian culture, the use of reflexive verbs is quite common in everyday conversations. People use reflexive verbs to express actions that are performed on oneself, such as washing oneself, getting dressed, or waking up. It is considered polite and respectful to use reflexive verbs when talking about personal hygiene or daily routines.

Additionally, reflexive verbs are often used in idiomatic expressions and proverbs in Serbian. For example, the expression "praviti se lud" (to pretend to be crazy) is formed by the reflexive verb "praviti se" (to pretend) and the noun "lud" (crazy). This expression is used to describe someone who is pretending not to know or understand something.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to practice using reflexive verbs in Serbian! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding:

Exercise 1: Conjugate the reflexive verb "oblačiti se" (to get dressed) in the present tense for the given subjects.

• Ja (I) -
• Ti (You) -
• Ona (She) -
• Mi (We) -
• Vi (You) -
• Oni (They) -

Solution:

• Ja (I) - oblačim se
• Ti (You) - oblačiš se
• Ona (She) - oblači se
• Mi (We) - oblačimo se
• Vi (You) - oblačite se
• Oni (They) - oblače se

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct reflexive pronoun.

• "Ja ____ zovem Marko."
• "Ti ____ smeješ."
• "Ona ____ budi rano."
• "Mi ____ pravimo za rođendan."
• "Vi ____ umivate pre spavanja."
• "Oni ____ zovu na večeru."

Solution:

• "Ja se zovem Marko."
• "Ti se smeješ."
• "Ona se budi rano."
• "Mi se pravimo za rođendan."
• "Vi se umivate pre spavanja."
• "Oni se zovu na večeru."

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned about reflexive verbs in Serbian. You now understand what reflexive verbs are, how to conjugate them, and their cultural significance. Reflexive verbs are an important aspect of Serbian grammar and will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively. Keep practicing and incorporating reflexive verbs into your conversations to further improve your Serbian language skills. Good luck!

Table of Contents - Serbian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Serbian Grammar

• Nouns: Gender and Number
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative
• Pronouns: Personal Pronouns
• Verbs: Present Tense
• Verbs: Past Tense

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Introduction to Serbian Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Counting
• Food and Drink
• Family and Relationships
• Transportation and Directions

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Introduction to Serbian Culture

• Traditional Serbian Music
• Religious Festivals
• Folk Dances
• Serbian Films
• Cuisine

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Pronouns: Possessive Pronouns

• Verbs: Future Tense
• Adjectives: Comparative and Superlative
• Verbs: Imperative

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Shopping

• Clothes and Accessories
• At the Market
• Banking and Money

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Sports and Recreation

• Football in Serbia
• Winter Sports
• Music Festivals

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Adjectives: Declension

• Verbs: Perfective and Imperfective
• Verbs: Reflexive Verbs

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Jobs and Professions

• Places around Town
• Education and Learning

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Literature and Poetry

• Medieval Serbian Literature
• Contemporary Serbian Poetry

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Verbs: Conditional

• Verbs: Participles
• Verbs: Infinitives

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Entertainment and Media

• Movies and Theater
• Music and Performances

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Art and Artists

• Famous Serbian Painters
• Contemporary Serbian Art Scene

Sources

• Serbian verb aspect and reflexive verbs - Serbian language lessons
• Learn Serbian language – Fast Language Mastery

Other Lessons

• 0 to A1 Course
• Verbs: Perfective and Imperfective
• Comaratives and Superlatives
• Gender
• Future Tense
• Present Tense
• Conditional Tense
• Adjectives
• Verbs: Present Tense

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