Language/Romanian/Grammar/Reflexive-Verbs-and-Pronouns
Reflexive verbs and pronouns are an essential component of intermediate-level Romanian grammar. As a Romanian language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I've found that many students struggle to grasp the concept of reflexive verbs and pronouns. However, gaining a strong understanding of these elements is crucial for advancing to the next level of language proficiency. In this lesson, we'll explore what reflexive verbs and pronouns are, how to use them, and some common mistakes to avoid.
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Present Continuous in Romanian & Polite Requests.
What are reflexive verbs and pronouns?
Firstly, let's define what we're talking about. Reflexive verbs are verbs whose action is directed back onto the subject performing the action. In Romanian, this is expressed by adding the reflexive pronoun “se” at the end of the infinitive form of the verb.
For instance, consider the verb "spăla" (to wash):
- "Eu spăl vasele" (I wash the dishes) - non-reflexive
- "Eu mă spăl" (I wash myself) - reflexive
In the reflexive form, the subject is doing the action to themselves. Therefore, reflexive verbs require the addition of a reflexive pronoun, which agrees with the subject. The reflexive pronouns in Romanian are:
|- | style="background-color:#f0f0f0;"| Eu || style="background-color:#f0f0f0;"| Mă || Myself |- | El / ea || Se || Himself / herself |- | Noi || Ne || Ourselves |- | Voi || Vați || Yourselves |- | Ei / ele || Se || Themselves |}
These pronouns will follow the verb and will show the action is being performed by the subject onto themselves.
How to use reflexive verbs and pronouns
The reflexive form is used in a variety of situations where the subject is performing an action on themselves, such as:
- Daily routines: "Mă trezesc la ora 7" (I wake up at 7 o'clock)
- Personal care: "Îmi spăl părul" (I'm washing my hair)
- Accidents or actions by mistake: "M-am tăiat cu cuțitul" (I cut myself with the knife)
One common way reflexive verbs are used is in connection with reciprocal actions, i.e., when two or more people are performing the same action:
- "Ne îmbrățișăm" (We hug each other)
- "Se iubesc" (They love each other)
In these examples, the subjects are performing an action, which has the same effect for everyone involved.
As with any grammatical structure, it is crucial to know some of the common mistakes made by non-native speakers of Romanian. Here are some to look out for when using reflexive verbs and pronouns:
- Making the reflexive form when it is not needed: "Eu îmi scriu numele" (Correct) vs. "Eu scriu numele meu" (Incorrect)* Using the wrong reflexive pronoun: "Mă ușurez" (Correct) vs. "Te ușurez" (Incorrect)* Using an object pronoun instead of a reflexive pronoun: "Eu i-am tăiat părul" (I cut his hair) vs. "Eu mi-am tăiat părul" (I cut my hair)
These common mistakes can lead to confusion or misunderstandings, so it is essential to practice and understand the concept thoroughly.
Conclusion
Reflexive verbs and pronouns play an important role in Romanian grammar and are essential for intermediate level proficiency. By understanding the concept of reflexive verbs, learning when to use them and avoiding common mistakes, you'll be on your way to developing your language skills further.
I hope you found this lesson helpful in your language learning journey. See you soon for our next Romanian class!
Sources
Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Relative Pronouns and Clauses & How to use the verb there to be in Romanian.
Videos
The Romanian Reflexive Pronoun (pronumele reflexiv) - YouTube
Other Lessons
- Cases
- Prepositions and Postpositions
- The Accusative Case in Romanian
- Plural in Romanian
- How to Use Be
- Indefinite Articles in Romanian
- How to use ¨can¨ in Romanian
- Possessive Case in Romanian
- How to use ¨to speak¨ in Romanian
- Cardinal Numbers in Romanian