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

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

Welcome to our lesson on Reflexive Verbs in Serbian! Understanding reflexive verbs is essential for mastering the nuances of the Serbian language. Reflexive verbs are verbs whose action reflects back upon the subject. In simpler terms, when someone does something to themselves, we use a reflexive verb. This aspect of grammar may seem a bit tricky at first, especially for English speakers, but with a bit of practice, you'll find it quite intuitive!

In this lesson, we will cover the following:

1. Definition of Reflexive Verbs

2. Formation of Reflexive Verbs in Serbian

3. Common Reflexive Verbs with Examples

4. Usage of Reflexive Verbs in Sentences

5. Exercises to Practice Reflexive Verbs

By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of reflexive verbs in Serbian, and you will be able to use them in your speaking and writing. Let's dive in!

Definition of Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are those that express an action performed by the subject on itself. In Serbian, these verbs are often accompanied by reflexive pronouns. The reflexive pronoun "se" (or its forms, depending on the grammatical case) indicates that the subject is also the object of the action.

For example, the verb "prati" (to wash) becomes "prati se" (to wash oneself).

Formation of Reflexive Verbs in Serbian

In Serbian, reflexive verbs are typically formed by adding the reflexive pronoun "se" to the base form of the verb. Here’s a simple breakdown of how this works:

• Base Verb + Reflexive Pronoun (se)

For example:

• "gledati" (to watch) becomes "gledati se" (to watch oneself).

Here are some examples of how reflexive verbs are formed:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
prati se	prah-tee seh	to wash oneself
oblačiti se	ob-lah-chee-tee seh	to dress oneself
smejati se	smeh-yah-tee seh	to laugh
igrati se	ee-grah-tee seh	to play
brijati se	bree-yah-tee seh	to shave oneself

Common Reflexive Verbs with Examples

Now, let’s explore 20 common reflexive verbs in Serbian along with their meanings and example sentences:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
smejati se	smeh-yah-tee seh	to laugh
oblačiti se	ob-lah-chee-tee seh	to dress oneself
brijati se	bree-yah-tee seh	to shave oneself
kupati se	koo-pah-tee seh	to bathe oneself
odmarati se	od-mah-rah-tee seh	to rest
igrati se	ee-grah-tee seh	to play
sećati se	seh-chah-tee seh	to remember
čuditi se	choo-dee-tee seh	to be surprised
ljutiti se	lyoo-tee-tee seh	to get angry
smejati se	smeh-yah-tee seh	to laugh
kretati se	kre-tah-tee seh	to move
posvetiti se	pos-ve-tee-tee seh	to dedicate oneself
brinuti se	bree-noo-tee seh	to worry
truditi se	troo-dee-tee seh	to try hard
nalaziti se	nah-lah-zee-tee seh	to find oneself
viđati se	vee-jah-tee seh	to see each other
obazirati se	ob-ah-zee-rah-tee seh	to be cautious
smejati se	smeh-yah-tee seh	to laugh
zamerati se	zah-meh-rah-tee seh	to hold a grudge
šminkati se	shmeen-kah-tee seh	to put on makeup
veseliti se	veh-seh-lee-tee seh	to be happy

Usage of Reflexive Verbs in Sentences

Reflexive verbs can be used in various contexts. Below are some examples of how to use reflexive verbs in complete sentences:

1. Ja se smejem. (I laugh.)

2. Ona se oblači. (She is dressing herself.)

3. On se brije svaki dan. (He shaves himself every day.)

4. Mi se igramo u parku. (We are playing in the park.)

5. Ti se sećaš tog trenutka. (You remember that moment.)

6. Oni se čude novoj situaciji. (They are surprised by the new situation.)

7. Ja se odmaram posle posla. (I rest after work.)

8. Ona se trudi da uči. (She is trying hard to study.)

9. Mi se nalazimo kod kuće. (We find ourselves at home.)

10. Ti se ljutiš bez razloga. (You are getting angry for no reason.)

These examples illustrate how reflexive verbs are used in everyday conversations. They often describe actions related to self-care, emotions, and social interactions.

Exercises to Practice Reflexive Verbs

To reinforce your understanding of reflexive verbs, here are 10 exercises. Try to complete each one, and then check the solutions provided below.

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with the correct reflexive verb form:

1. Ja se _______ (smejati).

2. Ona se _______ (kupati).

3. Mi se _______ (oblačiti).

4. Oni se _______ (igrati).

Exercise 2

Translate the sentences into Serbian:

1. I am resting.

2. She is playing.

3. They are laughing.

4. We are dressing ourselves.

Exercise 3

Match the reflexive verbs with their English translations:

1. brijati se

2. igrati se

3. odmarati se

4. sećati se

a. to remember

b. to shave oneself

c. to play

d. to rest

Exercise 4

Conjugate the following reflexive verbs in the first person singular:

1. kupati se

2. brinuti se

Exercise 5

Write a short paragraph about your daily routine using at least five reflexive verbs.

Exercise 6

Choose the correct reflexive pronoun for each sentence:

1. Ja _______ (se, te) smejem.

2. Ti _______ (se, me) oblačiš.

3. Oni _______ (se, mu) brinu.

Exercise 7

Identify the reflexive verbs in the following sentences:

1. Ona se smeje svaki put kada ga vidi.

2. Mi se nalazimo u kafiću.

Exercise 8

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the reflexive verb in parentheses:

1. Oni se _______ (ljutiti) zbog toga.

2. Ja se _______ (truditi) da učim srpski.

Exercise 9

Create your own sentences using these reflexive verbs:

1. čuditi se

2. viđati se

Exercise 10

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Ja se brijem.

2. Ona se veseli.

Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 1

1. Ja se smejem. (I laugh.)

2. Ona se kupati. (She is bathing.)

3. Mi se oblačimo. (We are dressing ourselves.)

4. Oni se igraju. (They are playing.)

Exercise 2

1. Ja se odmaram.

2. Ona se igra.

3. Oni se smeju.

4. Mi se oblačimo.

Exercise 3

1 - b (b)

2 - c (c)

3 - d (d)

4 - a (a)

Exercise 4

1. Ja se kupam.

2. Ja se brinem.

Exercise 5

(Example answer may vary)

Exercise 6

1. Ja se smejem.

2. Ti se oblačiš.

3. Oni se brinu.

Exercise 7

1. smeje, vidi

2. nalazimo

Exercise 8

1. Oni se ljute zbog toga.

2. Ja se trudim da učim srpski.

Exercise 9

(Example answers may vary)

Exercise 10

1. I am shaving.

2. She is happy.

Congratulations! You’ve just completed the lesson on reflexive verbs in Serbian. Remember, practice makes perfect. Keep using these verbs in your conversations, and soon they will become second nature to you.

Table of Contents - Serbian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Grammar

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

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Vocabulary

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

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Culture

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

  ---

Pronouns: Possessive Pronouns

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

  ---

Shopping

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

  ---

Sports and Recreation

• Football in Serbia
• Winter Sports
• Music Festivals

  ---

Adjectives: Declension

• Verbs: Perfective and Imperfective
• Verbs: Reflexive Verbs

  ---

Jobs and Professions

• Places around Town
• Education and Learning

  ---

Literature and Poetry

• Medieval Serbian Literature
• Contemporary Serbian Poetry

  ---

Verbs: Conditional

• Verbs: Participles
• Verbs: Infinitives

  ---

Entertainment and Media

• Movies and Theater
• Music and Performances

  ---

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

◀️ Verbs: Perfective and Imperfective — Previous Lesson

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