Reflexive -si
Reflexive Verbs in -si
Add -si or -s after the ending: moka → mokosi, mokame → mokomės, mokyti → mokytis.
How It Works
Many verbs have a reflexive partner that ends in -tis in the infinitive: prausti (to wash someone) and praustis (to wash oneself), mokyti (to teach) and mokytis (to learn, to study).
1. The present tense.
- mokytis: mokausi, mokaisi, mokosi, mokomės, mokotės, jie mokosi
- juoktis: juokiuosi, juokiesi, juokiasi, juokiamės, juokiatės, jie juokiasi
Look at how the ending changes before the particle:
- I-form: -u becomes -uosi (prausiu → prausiuosi), but -au just adds -si (mokau → mokausi).
- You-form: -i becomes -iesi (prausi → prausiesi), but -ai just adds -si (mokai → mokaisi).
- He, she, they: add -si (mokosi, juokiasi).
- We, you plural: -me, -te become -mės, -tės (mokomės, mokotės).
2. The past tense works the same way: mokiausi, mokeisi, mokėsi, mokėmės, mokėtės (studied), as in the -ė past.
3. What reflexive verbs mean.
- Doing something to yourself: praustis (to wash oneself), rengtis (to get dressed).
- A different meaning from the plain verb: mokyti means to teach, but mokytis means to learn.
- Some verbs exist only with -si: juoktis (to laugh), šypsotis (to smile).
- With a plural subject, some mean each other: see susitikti.
4. With ne- or a prefix, -si- moves forward. Jis nesimoko. (He does not study.) Atsikeliu (I get up). You will learn this in -si- after a prefix.
Examples (6)
- Aš mokausi lietuvių kalbos.
I am learning Lithuanian.
Word by Word: I study-myself Lithuanian language.
Mokytis means to learn. It takes the genitive: lietuvių kalbos.
- Kodėl tu juokiesi?
Why are you laughing?
Word by Word: Why you laugh?
Juoktis exists only as a reflexive verb. The you-form ends in -iesi.
- Kur jūs mokotės?
Where do you study?
Word by Word: Where you study?
The you-plural ending -te becomes -tės.
- Rytais prausiuosi šaltu vandeniu.
In the mornings I wash with cold water.
Word by Word: In-mornings I-wash-myself cold water.
The I-form prausiu becomes prausiuosi.
- Vakar visą dieną mokiausi.
Yesterday I studied all day.
Word by Word: Yesterday whole day I-studied.
The past tense adds -si in the same way: mokiausi.
- Ji greitai rengiasi.
She gets dressed quickly.
Word by Word: She quickly dresses-herself.
Common Mistakes
Using the plain verb when you mean to learn.
Aš mokau lietuvių kalbos.Aš mokausi lietuvių kalbos.The speaker wants to say I am learning. Mokau means I teach. Only the reflexive mokausi means I am learning.
Dropping -si from a verb that only exists as a reflexive.
Kodėl tu juoki?Kodėl tu juokiesi?There is no plain verb juokti. Juoktis always has its reflexive ending: juokiesi.
Adding the full -si after the we-form.
Mes mokomesi kartu.Mes mokomės kartu.After -me and -te, only -s is added, and the e becomes ė: mokomės, mokotės.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Unprefixed reflexive verbs add their marker to ordinary verb forms.
Related Patterns
- Reflexive -si- After a Prefix
With a prefix or ne-, the -si- moves in front of the root.
Level 3 - Doing Things to Each Other
With a plural subject, some reflexive verbs mean each other.
Level 3 - Things That Happen by Themselves
Reflexive verbs can also describe things that happen by themselves.
Level 4 - savęs / sau / saveThe Reflexive Pronoun Savęs
The reflexive pronoun is a separate word for oneself.
Level 3 - Past -ėSimple Past in -ė
The reflexive past mokiausi, mokėsi uses these -ė past endings.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Reflexive -si in Bubblegum
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