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

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Serbian Grammar → Adjectives: Declension → Verbs: Reflexive Verbs

As a Serbian language teacher with 20 years of experience, I understand the importance of learning reflexive verbs for students who want to master the Serbian language. In this lesson, we will explore the use of reflexive verbs in Serbian and provide examples to help you gain an understanding of when and how to use them.

With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: How to Use Be & How to Use Have.

What Are Reflexive Verbs?

Reflexive verbs are used when the subject of the sentence performs an action on themselves. These verbs are formed by adding a reflexive pronoun to the end of the verb. In Serbian, reflexive verbs are usually in the present tense, but they could also be in the past or future tenses. Reflexive verbs are quite common in the Serbian language, and they are essential for expressing actions that someone performs on themselves. Here are some examples:

Ja perem sebe – I wash myself
Ti češljaš sebe – You comb yourself
Oni briju sebe – They shave themselves

As you can see from the examples, the reflexive pronoun "sebe" changes according to the subject and the tense of the verb used.

How to Use Reflexive Verbs in Serbian

So how do you know when to use reflexive verbs? It is important to remember that reflexive verbs are used only when the subject of the sentence is also the object of the action. In other words, the subject performs the action on themselves. Here are some additional examples to help you understand better:

Ja se umivam – I wash my face
Ti se oblačiš – You get dressed
Oni suzdržavaju se – They restrain themselves
Mi ne smejemo se – We aren't laughing
Vi se opuštate – You relax

Notice that in each sentence, the subject reflexive pronoun "se" changes according to the verb tense.

It is also important to remember that reflexive verbs take different forms in different persons (I, you, he/she/it, we, you, they). In Serbian, these forms are built by adding a reflexive pronoun to the end of the verb. Here are a few examples to help you understand better:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
Ja se budim	[ja se bʊdɪm]	I wake up
Ti se smeješ	[ti se smɛjɛʃ]	You are laughing
On/a se bori	[ɔn/ʌ sɛ bɔrɪ]	He/she fights
Mi se šalimo	[mi sɛ ʃalɪmɔ]	We joke
Vi se vozite	[vi sɛ vɔzɪtɛ]	You are driving
Oni/e se igraju	[ɔnɪ/ɛ sɛ ɪgraʝu]	They are playing

As you can see, the reflexive pronoun "se" changes according to the verb tense and the subject of the sentence.

Tips for Mastering Reflexive Verbs

Here are a few tips to help you master reflexive verbs in Serbian:

Practice, practice, practice! The more you use reflexive verbs, the more comfortable and natural they will become.
Pay attention to verb tense and subject agreement. Remember that the reflexive pronoun changes according to the subject of the sentence.
Learn common reflexive verbs and their meanings. Some common reflexive verbs in Serbian include prati se (wash up), buditi se (wake up), spustiti se (come down), voziti se (ride), and ruke umiti se (wash one's hands).

Conclusion

In conclusion, reflexive verbs are used in Serbian when the subject of a sentence performs an action on themselves. By adding the reflexive pronoun "se" to the end of the verb, you can express a wide range of actions in the Serbian language. With practice and patience, you can master reflexive verbs and add them to your growing Serbian language skills.

Sources

Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Verbs: Future Tense & Verbs: Present Tense.

Table of Contents - Serbian Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Introduction to Serbian Grammar

Introduction to Serbian Vocabulary

Introduction to Serbian Culture

Pronouns: Possessive Pronouns

Shopping

Sports and Recreation

Adjectives: Declension

Jobs and Professions

Literature and Poetry

Verbs: Conditional

Entertainment and Media

Art and Artists

Other Lessons

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