43) Reflexive
In theory
The reflexive is used when a subject performs an action "on itself". In English it is generally not stated explicitly. When you say that someone shaves or stops, it is understood that the action relates to themselves, unless a different "object" is provided.
These verbs end in -ся /-сь in Russian («ся» after a consonant, «сь» after a vowel)
As a rule, these verbs never take a direct object in the Accusative. «Бояться» (to be afraid of) is one of the few exceptions, in that it can use Accusative for people.
In practice
Russian reflexive verbs may mean a number of things. Here are the most popular meanings:
- true reflexive: мыться, бриться. Mostly for verbs like "wash", "shave", "comb your hair".
- reciprocal ("each other"): встречаться, целоваться, "meet/date/go out with", "kiss".
- passive (for imperfective verbs only): Еда готовится лучшими поварами. "The food is (being) prepared by the best chefs"
- emotional state or some movement/change: родиться, удивиться, учиться, радоваться, меняться, двигаться, "to be born", "to be surprised", "to learn", "to be glad", "to change", "to move".
- inclination to do something (in impersonal constructions): Мне не спится = I do not feel like sleeping.
- lexical verbs that are reflexive for no particular reason: нравиться, бояться, заниматься, садиться. Some of these are only used with «-ся». Some also exist in a "bare" form but mean a completely different thing.
We do not have some of the non-reflexive base verbs in the course (some are rare or just a little beyond what we could include in the course and not make it overly long). However, some just don't exist.
себя
«Себя» is a reflexive object pronoun: it means the same thing as the subject of the verb (or the implied subject, if the sentence doesn't contain a subject):
- Посмотри на себя! = Look at yourself!
- Мы не думали о себе. = We didn't think about ourselves.
- Он говорит сам с собой. = He is talking to himself («сам с собой» is just more idiomatic here)
Note that, as usual for pronouns, it is much more natural before the verb. Its declension pattern is, naturally, the same as for «меня» or «тебя». Since it can't be the subject of the sentence, it doesn't have a Nominative form.
It is also used with some verbs:
- чувствовать себя = to feel (a certain way)
- представить (себе) = to imagine
- вести себя = to behave
- брать с собой = to take along ("with yourself")
- выходить из себя = to lose one's temper
(«с собой» then is generally used to express having something with you or "on one's person", not only with "брать")
Remember the «Мы у друга»-structures? They work here, too:
- Я у себя. = I am at my place.
- Мы у себя дома. = We are at (our) home.
Other
- reflexive verbs for some actions (often harmful) typical of a subject: Собака кусается = The dog bites.
It often works for animals and people (to scratch, to butt, to swear). However, in a sense, it is also the meaning in "Книга легко читается", which corresponds to "The book is easy to read", i.e. usually it "is read" without difficulty (by whoever reads it).
- про себя = "to oneself" (as opposed to "aloud")
- сам по себе = on its own
- само собой (разумеется) = "it goes without saying"
- Мне не по себе. = I feel uneasy/sick/uncomfortable.