Reflexive verbs express an action that reciprocates back to the
subject. In other words, whoever is speaking is doing an action to himself.
Examples in English would be: I wash myself, he hurts himself, we hate ourselves.
The reflexive pronouns always follow the subject and verb.
Reflexive Pronouns
me
je / u
zich ons
je
zich
The reflexive pronoun u is often replaced by zich to avoid the
double occurrence of u.
Verbs that are always reflexive
zich afvragen
zich bevinden
zich ergeren
zich gedragen
zich generen
zich haasten
zich herinneren
zich herstellen
zich schamen voor
zich vergissen in
zich verheugen op
zich verslapen
zich voorstellen ask oneself
find oneself
get annoyed by
behave
be embarrassed
hurry
remember
recover
be ashamed of
be mistaken about
look forward to
oversleep
imagine, introduce oneself
Verbs that can be reflexive or used with other direct objects
aankleden
amuseren
bewegen
ergeren
opwinden
scheren
snijden
uitkleden
verbazen
verdedigen
verkleden
verontschuldigen
verschuilen
vervelen
voelen
wassen get dressed
enjoy oneself
move
make angry
get excited
shave (oneself)
cut oneself
undress (oneself)
be amazed
defend oneself
change clothes
excuse oneself/apologize
hide (oneself)
to be bored
feel
wash (oneself)
Emphatic Forms
mezelf
jezelf
zichzelf onszelf
jezelf
zichzelf
The emphatic forms of the reflexive pronouns can only be used
with the verbs that can be reflexive or used with other direct objects, and
never with verbs that are always reflexive.
Elkaar is used when there is a reciprocal meaning of
"each other" in English.
This article was used with permission from:
Indo-European Languages