Verbs: Reflexive Verbs

01

What the Reflexive Adds

The reflexive piece is not always a literal "myself". It can carry several related meanings:

• True reflexive - the action turns back on the subject: praustis (to wash oneself).
• "Feel / become" - an inner state: jaustis (to feel), jaudintis (to worry).
• Activity without an object: mokytis (to study), maudytis (to bathe, swim).
• Enjoying / engaging with: klausytis (to listen to), mėgautis (to enjoy).
• Reciprocal - "each other": susipažinti (to get to know one another). This one ends in -ti, not -tis, because its reflexive piece has moved inside the word, behind the prefix su- - the rule described below.

02

Where the Ending Goes

In a simple conjugated form the reflexive piece sits at the very end, as -si or -s. Take mokytis (to study):

• mokausi, mokaisi, mokosi, mokomės, mokotės, mokosi

• Aš mokausi lietuvių kalbos.

  I am learning Lithuanian.

• Kaip tu jautiesi?

  How do you feel?

• Mes džiaugiamės.

  We are glad.

03

It Jumps After a Prefix

This is the key rule. As soon as the verb takes a prefix - including the negative ne- - the reflexive -si- moves inside, right after that prefix:

• mokosi → nesimoko

  studies → does not study.

• Jis pasimokė.

  He studied (for a while).

• Ji nusiprausė.

  She washed (herself).

So the reflexive marker is mobile: at the end in plain forms, but tucked behind the first prefix otherwise. Most of the reflexive verbs in this course are of exactly that shape, which means their dictionary form ends in an ordinary -ti and only the -si- in the middle gives them away:

• nusipirkti (to buy oneself something), atsiprašyti (to apologise), susipažinti (to get acquainted), pasirinkti (to choose)

04

Reflexive Imperative

The command forms keep the reflexive at the end, as -kis / -kitės:

• Nesijaudink!

  Don't worry!

• Klausykitės.

  Listen. (plural / polite)

05

Through the Tenses

The reflexive ending stays attached as the verb moves through the tenses, sitting after the personal ending. Take mokytis again:

• Mokausi.

  I study. (present)

• Mokiausi.

  I studied / was studying. (past)

• Mokysiuosi.

  I will study. (future)

So once you can conjugate the matching plain verb, you simply add the reflexive piece at the end - and remember to slide it inside after any prefix.

06

Reflexive Verbs in the Course

You will meet a steady set of these: sektis (to go well, as in "how are you doing"), laikytis (to hold on, to keep to), tikėtis (to hope), klostytis (to turn out). Learn each one with its -tis ending so the reflexive piece is part of the word in your memory from the start.

• Kaip tau sekasi?

  How are you doing?

• Tikiuosi, kad viskas gerai.

  I hope everything is well.