Module 07 · The verb: present tense · Darbības vārds: tagadne · Level A2
Reflexive verbs (-ties) in the present tense
Atgriezeniskie darbības vārdi tagadnē
Reflexive verbs end in -ties and have their own set of endings. They often mean "oneself" (mazgāties — to wash oneself), "each other" (satikties — to meet each other), or are simply built that way (mācīties — to study/learn, smieties — to laugh).
Endings
| ending | mācīties (3rd) | skatīties (3rd) | celties (1st) | lepoties (2nd) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| es | -os | mācos | skatos | ceļos | lepojos |
| tu | -ies | mācies | skaties | celies | lepojies |
| viņš/-a | -as | mācās | skatās | ceļas | lepojas |
| mēs | -amies / -āmies | mācāmies | skatāmies | ceļamies | lepojamies |
| jūs | -aties / -āties | mācāties | skatāties | ceļaties | lepojaties |
| viņi/-as | -as | mācās | skatās | ceļas | lepojas |
In the 3rd conjugation the vowel before -mies/-ties is long (-āmies); in the 1st and 2nd it's short (-amies).
"Plain — reflexive" pairs
| Non-reflexive | Reflexive |
|---|---|
| mācīt (to teach someone) | mācīties (to study/learn) |
| mazgāt (to wash something) | mazgāties (to wash oneself) |
| celt (to lift) | celties (to get up) |
| satikt (to meet someone) | satikties (to meet each other) |
| just (to feel something) | justies (to feel — about oneself) |
| interesēt (to interest) | interesēties (to be interested) |
Common reflexive verbs
atcerēties (to remember), baidīties (to be afraid), censties (to try), priecāties (to be glad), smieties (to laugh), gatavoties (to prepare), iepazīties (to get acquainted), atpūsties (to rest), precēties (to get married), nodarboties (to be engaged in), tikties (to meet), sākties (to begin — of an event), beigties (to end — of an event).
Negation and "-ies" in the imperative
Es nemācos. Viņa nebaidās. Imperative: Mācies! Nebaidies! Skaties! — it matches the tu form.
Exercise
Conjugate justies (jūt-) and translate: 1) How do you feel? 2) We're meeting at five. 3) She isn't afraid.
Answers
jūtos, jūties, jūtas, jūtamies, jūtaties, jūtas · 1) Kā tu jūties? 2) Mēs tiekamies piecos. 3) Viņa nebaidās.Open the lesson in the trainer — with exercises and a “done” mark →Module test 07