Language/Ukrainian/Grammar/Verbs---Reflexive-and-Imperative

Ukrainian → Grammar → Verbs - Reflexive and Imperative

In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use reflexive and imperative verbs in Ukrainian. These are important and commonly used verb categories in the language, so understanding them will greatly improve your communication skills.

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: how to use numerals and nouns in pairs & Verbs Future Tense.

Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are used when the subject and object of a sentence refer to the same thing. This is indicated by the use of a reflexive pronoun. In Ukrainian, reflexive pronouns are formed by adding the suffix "-ся" to the end of the verb.

For example, the verb "мити" means "to wash." To make it reflexive, we add "-ся" to the end: "митися" (to wash oneself).

Here are some more examples:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
готуватися	hɔtu'vatisja	to prepare oneself
розумітися	rɔzu'mitɪsʲa	to understand each other
звернутися	zvɛrnu'tɪsʲa	to address oneself to

Note that in the present tense, reflexive verbs use the reflexive pronoun as the object of the sentence. For example: "Я миюсь" (I am washing myself).

In addition to the present tense, reflexive verbs can also be used in the past and future tenses. Here is an example in the past tense:

"Я вчора мився" (I washed myself yesterday).

And here is an example in the future tense:

"Я піде гуляти, коли помиється" (I will go for a walk when I wash myself).

Imperative Verbs

Imperative verbs are used to give commands or orders. In Ukrainian, imperative verbs are formed by using the stem of the verb and adding the appropriate ending.

The imperative forms of verbs can vary depending on the gender and number of the person being addressed. For example, the imperative form of the verb "читати" (to read) can be:

Gender	Singular	Plural
Masculine	читай	читайте
Feminine	читай	читайте
Neuter	читай	читайте

Here are some more examples of imperative verbs:

• "Напиши" (write)
• "Приготуйте" (prepare)
• "Послухайте" (listen)

Note that in informal situations, the imperative form can sometimes be simplified by dropping the subject pronoun. For example: "Йди туди" (Go there).

Conclusion

By learning how to form and use reflexive and imperative verbs, you will greatly improve your ability to communicate in Ukrainian. Remember to pay attention to the gender and number of the person being addressed, and don't hesitate to ask for clarification if you are not sure how to use these verb forms in a particular context.

Sources

• Ukrainian grammar - Wikipedia

Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Possessive Pronouns & The possessive pronoun sviy.

Other Lessons

• Future Tense
• Feminine
• Adverbs of time, place, intention and cause
• Questions
• Adjectives
• How to Use Have
• Verb to work
• Adverbs of quantity: how many
• Conditional Mood
• Verbs Perfective and Imperfective Aspect