sevi / sev / sevis
The Reflexive Pronoun Sevi
When the object is the same person as the subject, use the reflexive pronoun: sevis, sev, sevi, sevī. Es nopirku sev kafiju. (I bought myself a coffee.)
How It Works
1. The forms.
- Genitive sevis: pie sevis (at one's own place)
- Dative sev: nopirkt sev (to buy for oneself), ticēt sev (to believe in oneself)
- Accusative sevi: par sevi (about oneself), ar sevi (with oneself)
- Locative sevī: paturēt sevī (to keep something to oneself)
2. One set for every person. Es domāju par sevi. Tu domā par sevi. Mēs domājam par sevi. The subject tells you who sevi is.
3. Sevi or a personal pronoun? Use sevi when the person is the subject of the same clause. A personal pronoun there means someone else: Jānis runā par sevi (Jānis is talking about himself), but Jānis runā par viņu (Jānis is talking about him, another person). This also holds for I and you: standard Latvian says Es nopirku sev kafiju, not man. Compare the ordinary object pronouns and pronouns after prepositions.
4. With pats. Pats can add emphasis: Viņa runā pati ar sevi. (She talks to herself.) The phrase pats par sevi saprotams means it goes without saying.
5. Often a reflexive verb instead. For everyday things you do to yourself, Latvian normally uses a reflexive verb rather than sevi: Es mazgājos. (I wash.) Viņš ģērbjas. (He is getting dressed.) The possessive partner of sevi is savs: Viņš domā par savu darbu. (He is thinking about his own work.)
Examples (6)
- Viņš domā tikai par sevi.
He thinks only about himself.
Word by Word: He thinks only about self.
Par takes the accusative: sevi.
- Es nopirku sev kafiju.
I bought myself a coffee.
The subject is es, but the form is still the reflexive dative sev.
- Pastāsti mazliet par sevi!
Tell me a little about yourself!
The same sevi works for you, because the subject is tu.
- Viņi aicināja mūs pie sevis.
They invited us to their place.
Pie + genitive sevis: to their own home.
- Viņa runā pati ar sevi.
She talks to herself.
Pati adds emphasis, and ar sevi is the reflexive object.
- Tici sev!
Believe in yourself!
Ticēt takes the dative, so the form is sev.
Common Mistakes
Using man or tev for the subject's own self.
Es nopirku man kafiju.Es nopirku sev kafiju.When the person is the subject of the same clause, standard Latvian uses the reflexive sev, also for I and you.
Using viņu when you mean himself.
Viņš domā tikai par viņu.Viņš domā tikai par sevi.Par viņu means about another person. To say about himself, use par sevi.
Using the genitive after par.
Pastāsti par sevis!Pastāsti par sevi!Par takes the accusative, so the form is sevi. The genitive sevis goes with pie and dēļ: pie sevis, sevis dēļ.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Sevi refers back to the subject.
Related Patterns
- Reflexive Verbs in -ties
Many everyday actions use a reflexive verb instead of sevi: mazgāties.
Level 2 - mani / tevi / viņuObject Pronouns
The ordinary object pronouns that refer to someone other than the subject.
Level 1 - Preposition + manis / tevis / viņaPronouns After Prepositions
Personal pronoun forms after prepositions, compared with pie sevis and par sevi.
Level 3 - viens otru / cits cituEach Other
Each other, for actions two people do to one another.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice sevi / sev / sevis in Bubblegum
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