A1 Verb System 4 min read Facile

Reflexive Constructions

If you do it to yourself, add a reflexive pronoun after the verb!
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Reflexive verbs show that the subject is doing the action to themselves, using special pronouns like 'mig', 'dig', or 'sig'.

  • Use 'mig' for 'myself' (Jag tvättar mig - I wash myself).
  • Use 'dig' for 'yourself' (Du tvättar dig - You wash yourself).
  • Use 'sig' for 'himself/herself/themselves' (Han tvättar sig - He washes himself).
Subject + Verb + Reflexive Pronoun (mig/dig/sig/oss/er/sig)

Overview

## Overview
In Swedish, reflexive verbs are a fundamental part of the language. They occur when the person performing the action is also the person receiving the action. Think of it as a mirror: the action bounces back to the subject.
In English, we often use words like 'myself' or 'himself' to show this, but in Swedish, we use specific reflexive pronouns. These pronouns are mig (myself), dig (yourself), sig (himself/herself/itself/themselves), oss (ourselves), and er (yourselves). It is important to note that for the third person, sig is used regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural.
This makes Swedish slightly easier than some other languages! You will use these verbs constantly when talking about your daily routine, such as waking up, washing, or getting dressed. Mastering these will make your Swedish sound much more natural and native-like.
## How to Form It
To form a reflexive construction, you take the verb and place the reflexive pronoun immediately after it.
Structure: Subject + Verb + Reflexive Pronoun.
Example: Jag (Subject) tvättar (Verb) mig (Pronoun).
For negative sentences, add 'inte' after the verb: Jag tvättar mig inte.
For questions, invert the subject and verb: Tvättar du dig?
Remember that sig is the universal pronoun for all third-person subjects (han, hon, den, det, de). Whether it is one person or a group, sig remains the same.
## When to Use It
You will use these in almost every social interaction. When texting a friend, you might say 'Vi ses!' (We'll see each other!). When preparing for a job interview, you might say 'Jag förbereder mig' (I am preparing myself).
In travel, if you are lost, you might say 'Jag har förirrat mig' (I have lost my way). They are essential for describing daily habits, emotional states, and social interactions.
## Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is forgetting the pronoun entirely or using the wrong one. For example, saying 'Jag tvättar' sounds like you are washing something else, like a car or dishes. Always ensure the pronoun matches the subject.
Another mistake is using 'sig' for first or second person. Remember: mig for me, dig for you, sig for him/her/them.
## How It's Different From...
It is different from transitive verbs where the object is someone else. 'Jag tvättar hunden' (I wash the dog) is not reflexive because the dog is the object. 'Jag tvättar mig' is reflexive because I am the object. The structure is the same, but the meaning changes based on the pronoun.
## CEFR-Level Explanations
A1: Reflexive verbs are for when you do things to yourself. You use words like 'mig' (me) and 'dig' (you). For example, 'Jag tvättar mig' means 'I wash myself'. It is very simple to use!
A2: At this level, you start using reflexive verbs for routines and feelings. You can now form questions like 'Tvättar du dig?' and use the negative 'Jag klär inte på mig'. Remember that 'sig' is used for everyone else (he, she, they).
B1: Reflexive verbs often express reciprocal actions, like 'Vi ses' (We see each other). You should also notice that some verbs are 'inherently reflexive', meaning they always require the pronoun to make sense, like 'skynda sig' (to hurry).
B2: In B2, you explore the nuance between reflexive and non-reflexive usage. You will encounter verbs that change meaning when used reflexively. You can also handle complex sentence structures where the reflexive pronoun is placed correctly in subordinate clauses.
C1: At the C1 level, you master the subtle pragmatic uses of reflexive constructions in formal and literary Swedish. You understand the historical development of these forms and how they function in idiomatic expressions that are not strictly reflexive in a literal sense.
C2: C2 mastery involves identifying dialectal variations and archaic reflexive forms. You can analyze the syntactic constraints of reflexive pronouns in complex embedded clauses and understand their role in passive-reflexive constructions ('det sägs att...').

Meanings

Reflexive constructions are used when the subject and the object of the verb are the same person or thing.

1

Personal Hygiene/Routine

Actions performed on one's own body.

“Jag duschar mig.”

“Hon klär på sig.”

2

Emotional States

Expressing feelings or reactions.

“Jag känner mig trött.”

“Han oroar sig för provet.”

3

Reciprocal Actions

Actions done to each other (using 'oss' or 'sig').

“Vi ses imorgon.”

“De hjälps åt.”

Reflexive Pronoun Table

Person Pronoun Example
1st Sing mig Jag tvättar mig
2nd Sing dig Du tvättar dig
3rd Sing sig Han tvättar sig
1st Plural oss Vi tvättar oss
2nd Plural er Ni tvättar er
3rd Plural sig De tvättar sig

Reference Table

Reference table for Reflexive Constructions
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Subj + Verb + Pronoun Jag tvättar mig
Negative Subj + Verb + inte + Pronoun Jag tvättar mig inte
Question Verb + Subj + Pronoun? Tvättar du dig?
Past Subj + Verb(past) + Pronoun Jag tvättade mig
Perfect Subj + har + Verb(supine) + Pronoun Jag har tvättat mig
Future Subj + ska + Verb + Pronoun Jag ska tvätta mig

Spectre de formalité

Formel
Jag förbereder mig.

Jag förbereder mig. (Getting ready for an event)

Neutre
Jag gör mig redo.

Jag gör mig redo. (Getting ready for an event)

Informel
Jag fixar mig.

Jag fixar mig. (Getting ready for an event)

Argot
Jag fixar till mig.

Jag fixar till mig. (Getting ready for an event)

Reflexive Pronoun Map

Reflexive Pronouns

Singular

  • mig myself
  • dig yourself
  • sig him/her/itself

Plural

  • oss ourselves
  • er yourselves
  • sig themselves
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Examples by Level

1

Jag tvättar mig.

I wash myself.

2

Du klär på dig.

You get dressed.

3

Han rakar sig.

He shaves.

4

Vi ses.

See you.

1

Jag känner mig trött.

I feel tired.

2

Hon skyndar sig till bussen.

She hurries to the bus.

3

De oroar sig för provet.

They worry about the test.

4

Tvättar du dig varje dag?

Do you wash yourself every day?

1

Vi hjälps åt med maten.

We help each other with the food.

2

Han satte sig ner på stolen.

He sat down on the chair.

3

De lärde känna varandra.

They got to know each other.

4

Jag har bestämt mig.

I have made up my mind.

1

Det sägs att han är rik.

It is said that he is rich.

2

Hon förirrade sig i skogen.

She lost her way in the forest.

3

Vi måste anpassa oss till situationen.

We must adapt to the situation.

4

Han vägrade att ge sig.

He refused to give up.

1

Hon fördjupade sig i ämnet.

She immersed herself in the subject.

2

De fann sig tillrätta i den nya staden.

They settled into the new city.

3

Han uttryckte sig mycket väl.

He expressed himself very well.

4

Det visade sig vara sant.

It turned out to be true.

1

Han begav sig av i ottan.

He set off at dawn.

2

De ägnade sig åt studier.

They devoted themselves to studies.

3

Hon tog sig för pannan.

She put her hand to her forehead.

4

Det låter sig göras.

It can be done.

Easily Confused

Reflexive Constructions vs Reflexive vs. Object Pronouns

Learners mix up 'mig' (reflexive) with 'mig' (direct object).

Reflexive Constructions vs Sig vs. Varandra

Both can mean 'each other'.

Reflexive Constructions vs Transitive vs. Reflexive

Some verbs change meaning.

Erreurs courantes

✗

Jag tvättar.

✓

Jag tvättar mig.

Missing the reflexive pronoun.
✗

Han tvättar sig mig.

✓

Han tvättar sig.

Double pronoun usage.
✗

Jag tvättar sig.

✓

Jag tvättar mig.

Wrong pronoun for the subject.
✗

Tvättar du?

✓

Tvättar du dig?

Missing pronoun in question.
✗

Vi tvättar sig.

✓

Vi tvättar oss.

Using 'sig' for plural.
✗

Han oroar mig.

✓

Han oroar sig.

Wrong pronoun.
✗

De klär sig på.

✓

De klär på sig.

Wrong word order.
✗

Vi ses varandra.

✓

Vi ses.

Redundant object.
✗

Han hjälper sig.

✓

Han hjälps åt.

Wrong verb construction.
✗

Jag har rakat mig.

✓

Jag har rakat mig.

Correct, but ensure tense is right.
✗

Det sägs sig.

✓

Det sägs.

Redundant pronoun in passive.
✗

Han fann sig.

✓

Han fann sig tillrätta.

Incomplete idiom.
✗

Det låter sig att göras.

✓

Det låter sig göras.

Grammar error in passive.

Sentence Patterns

Jag ___ mig.

Du ___ dig.

Vi ___ oss.

Han ___ sig.

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

Vi ses på festen!

Texting very common

Hörs! Vi ses.

Job Interview common

Jag har förberett mig väl.

Travel occasional

Jag har förirrat mig.

Food Delivery App rare

Jag unnar mig en pizza.

Daily Routine constant

Jag duschar mig.

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💡

The 'Sig' Shortcut

Always use 'sig' for he, she, it, and they. It saves you from learning extra forms!
⚠️

Don't skip the pronoun

If you skip the pronoun, the meaning changes entirely. 'Jag tvättar' means you are washing something else.
🎯

Practice with routines

Narrate your morning routine out loud using reflexive verbs to build muscle memory.
💬

Social usage

Use 'Vi ses' as a standard way to say goodbye to friends.

Smart Tips

Use a reflexive verb for every step.

Jag tvättar. → Jag tvättar mig.

Always use 'sig'.

Han tvättar honom. → Han tvättar sig.

Invert the subject and verb, but keep the pronoun.

Du tvättar dig? → Tvättar du dig?

Place 'inte' after the verb.

Jag inte tvättar mig. → Jag tvättar mig inte.

Prononciation

sij

Sig

The 'g' at the end of 'sig' is pronounced like a 'j' sound in many dialects.

Question intonation

Tvättar du dig? ↑

Rising pitch at the end for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'M-D-S-O-E-S': Mig, Dig, Sig, Oss, Er, Sig.

Visual Association

Imagine a mirror. When you look in the mirror, you see 'mig' (me). If you are washing, you are washing 'mig'.

Rhyme

Jag tvättar mig, du tvättar dig, han tvättar sig, vi tvättar oss, ni tvättar er, de tvättar sig.

Story

Every morning, I look in the mirror. I wash 'mig'. You look in the mirror and wash 'dig'. We all look in the mirror and wash 'oss'.

Word Web

migdigsigossertvättakläkänna

Défi

Describe your morning routine in 5 sentences using reflexive verbs.

Notes culturelles

Swedes value personal hygiene and routines, hence the high frequency of reflexive verbs related to washing.

Sometimes uses slightly different verb choices, but the reflexive grammar remains the same.

Very common to use 'fixa sig' for getting ready.

Reflexive pronouns in Swedish derive from Old Norse.

Conversation Starters

“

Vad gör du när du vaknar?

“

Känner du dig trött idag?

“

När ses vi nästa gång?

“

Har du någonsin förirrat dig?

Journal Prompts

Beskriv din morgonrutin.
Hur känner du dig idag och varför?
Berätta om en gång du var stressad.
Reflektera över hur du anpassar dig till nya situationer.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.

Jag tvättar ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mig
First person singular requires 'mig'.
Choose the correct sentence. Choix multiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Han tvättar sig.
Third person singular requires 'sig'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vi tvättar sig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vi tvättar oss.
First person plural requires 'oss'.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Jag klär på mig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jag klär inte på mig.
Negative 'inte' goes after the verb.
Match the pronoun to the subject. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sig
Third person plural uses 'sig'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

mig / tvättar / jag

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jag tvättar mig.
Standard SVO order.
Conjugate for 'Du'. Conjugation Drill

Du ___ (tvätta) dig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tvättar
Present tense.
Identify the reflexive verb. Choix multiple

Which is a reflexive verb?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tvätta sig
Includes the reflexive pronoun.

Score: /8

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.

Jag tvättar ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mig
First person singular requires 'mig'.
Choose the correct sentence. Choix multiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Han tvättar sig.
Third person singular requires 'sig'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vi tvättar sig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vi tvättar oss.
First person plural requires 'oss'.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Jag klär på mig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jag klär inte på mig.
Negative 'inte' goes after the verb.
Match the pronoun to the subject. Match Pairs

Match: De -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sig
Third person plural uses 'sig'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

mig / tvättar / jag

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jag tvättar mig.
Standard SVO order.
Conjugate for 'Du'. Conjugation Drill

Du ___ (tvätta) dig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tvättar
Present tense.
Identify the reflexive verb. Choix multiple

Which is a reflexive verb?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tvätta sig
Includes the reflexive pronoun.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

Swedish simplifies third-person reflexives to 'sig' regardless of number.

Yes, if the subject is an object, like 'Bilen stannade av sig själv' (The car stopped by itself).

No, it can also be a direct object, like 'Han ser mig' (He sees me).

Check if the action is directed back to the subject. Many are common routines.

The sentence might sound incomplete or change meaning to a transitive action.

Some verbs are 'inherently reflexive' and don't make sense without the pronoun.

Just conjugate the verb: 'Jag tvättade mig'.

It is neutral and used in all registers.

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In Other Languages

German high

sich

German has more complex case endings for pronouns.

French high

se

French reflexive pronouns change based on person more frequently.

Spanish high

se

Spanish attaches the pronoun to the end of the infinitive.

Japanese low

jibun

Japanese does not conjugate verbs for reflexivity.

Arabic low

nafs

Arabic is not a verb-reflexive language in the same way.

Chinese low

ziji

Chinese has no verb conjugation for person or reflexivity.

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