Reflexive Verbs in Past and Future

Level 3

A reflexive verb keeps its reflexive ending in the past, the future and in commands. Past: es mācījos (I studied). Future: es mācīšos (I will study). Command: Apsēdies! (Sit down!)

How It Works

1. One verb in every tense. mācīties (to study, to learn):

  • present: mācos, mācies, mācās; mācāmies, mācāties, mācās
  • past: mācījos, mācījies, mācījās; mācījāmies, mācījāties, mācījās
  • future: mācīšos, mācīsies, mācīsies; mācīsimies, mācīsieties (also mācīsities), mācīsies
  • commands: Mācies! (to one person), Mācieties! (to several people, or politely)

2. The endings. Past: -os, -ies, -ās; -āmies, -āties, -ās. Future: -šos, -sies, -sies; -simies, -sieties, -sies. Commands: -ies and -ieties.

3. More verbs.

  • celties (to get up): cēlos, cēlās; celšos, celsies; Celies! Celieties!
  • ģērbties (to get dressed): ģērbos, ģērbās; ģērbšos, ģērbsies; Ģērbies!
  • apsēsties (to sit down): apsēdos, apsēdās; apsēdīšos, apsēdīsies; Apsēdies! Apsēdieties!

4. Forms that look alike. The tu command is the same as the present tu form: tu mācies (you study) and Mācies! (Study!). In the future, the tu form and the third person are the same: tu mācīsies, viņš mācīsies. For verbs like mazgāties (to wash), the third person differs only in one long vowel: viņš mazgājas (he is washing) and viņš mazgājās (he washed). The same goes for mēs and jūs: mazgājamies and mazgājāmies. The es and tu forms are the same in both tenses (mazgājos), so the context tells you which is meant.

5. Everyday phrases. Tiksimies! (See you!) is the future of tikties (to meet). The same form also makes suggestions, as in the let's form: Mācīsimies kopā! (Let's study together!)

6. Why the ending matters. Many reflexive verbs have a plain partner with a different meaning: mācīt (to teach) and mācīties (to learn), celt (to lift) and celties (to get up). Drop the reflexive ending and you say something else.

Examples (6)

  1. Vakar es mācījos līdz vēlam vakaram.

    Yesterday I studied until late in the evening.

    Past es form: mācījos.

  2. Rīt es celšos agri.

    Tomorrow I will get up early.

    Future es form of celties: celšos.

  3. Viņa ātri apģērbās un izgāja.

    She quickly got dressed and went out.

    Past third person: -ās.

  4. Mēs iepazināmies Rīgā.

    We met in Riga.

    Past mēs form of iepazīties (to get to know each other): -āmies.

  5. Tiksimies rīt!

    See you tomorrow!

    Word by Word: We-will-meet tomorrow!

    Future mēs form of tikties: tiksimies.

  6. Lūdzu, apsēdieties!

    Please sit down!

    The command for several people, or for one person you address politely.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the reflexive ending in the past.

    Vakar es mācīju latviešu valodu.
    Vakar es mācījos latviešu valodu.

    The first sentence is grammatical, but mācīju is the past of mācīt, so it says that you taught Latvian. To say you studied it, keep the reflexive ending: mācījos.

  • Using the plain future ending on a reflexive verb.

    Rīt es celšu agri.
    Rīt es celšos agri.

    Celšu is the future of celt (to lift) and needs an object. To say you will get up, use the reflexive form celšos.

  • Using the tu command when speaking to several people.

    Bērni, apsēdies!
    Bērni, apsēdieties!

    Apsēdies is for one person you address as tu. For several people, or to be polite, use apsēdieties.

How It Connects

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Reflexive Verbs in Past and FutureLevel 3

Learn This First

Reflexive verbs have past and future forms.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

-ties