Reflexive se
Verbs with Se
Se occurs with verbs such as zvati se and smijati se. It does not always translate as myself or oneself.
How It Works
Perem se. can describe washing oneself. But Smijem se. means I am laughing, not I laugh myself. In Zovem se Ana., se belongs to the naming expression.
Se stays the same across persons: smijem se, smiješ se, smijemo se. It is an unstressed word with a position in the sentence, not an ending attached to the verb.
Do not insert se into every verb whose English translation contains myself, or remove it merely because English lacks such a word. Some verbs change their argument pattern or meaning when se is added. The past and passive uses of se need their own rules.
Examples (4)
- Zovem se Ana.
My name is Ana.
Se belongs to zvati se.
- Djeca se smiju.
The children are laughing.
There is no separate oneself meaning here.
- Perem se.
I am washing myself.
This use can refer the action back to its subject.
- Prijatelji se grle.
The friends are hugging each other.
The context gives a reciprocal reading.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The familiar naming phrase provides one lexical se example before contrasting other uses.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Reflexive se in Bubblegum
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