What are common mistakes with Zvratná slovesa?

Learners confuse se vs si, and place the reflexive pronoun in the wrong position (often at the end of the sentence). 🇬🇧 English speakers: English reflexives (myself, yourself) are full words placed after the verb. Czech clitics se/si must go in second position, which feels unnatural. Speakers often say *Jmenuju Tomáš se. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian uses the suffix -ся/-сь (учиться), which is attached to the verb. The free-standing Czech se/si with second-position rule is a new concept. 🇺🇦 Ukrainian speakers: Ukrainian also uses -ся (вчитися), so the separate clitic se/si with strict position rules requires adjustment.

Zvratná slovesa: pravidla, příklady a cvičení | Czech Grammar A1

Zvratná slovesa

A1 — Slovesa

Reflexive verbs with se (accusative) and si (dative): usage and clitic position rules

Can use reflexive verbs with se and si correctly, including proper clitic placement

Reflexive verbs with se (accusative) and si (dative): usage and clitic position rules

Examples

Jmenuju se Anna. — My name is Anna.
Jak se máš? — How are you?
Chci si objednat kávu. — I want to order a coffee (for myself).

VerbsA1

Zvratná slovesa

Reflexive verbs with se (accusative) and si (dative): usage and clitic position rules

Learning Goal

Can use reflexive verbs with se and si correctly, including proper clitic placement

Exam Skills:ListeningSpeaking

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Jmenuju se Anna.

My name is Anna.

Jak se máš?

How are you?

Chci si objednat kávu.

I want to order a coffee (for myself).

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Mnoho českých sloves je zvratných — používají zvratné zájmeno se (4. pád) nebo si (3. pád).

se (akuzativ)	Význam	si (dativ)	Význam
jmenovat se	jmenovat se	přát si	přát si
učit se	učit se	myslet si	myslet si
dívat se	dívat se	objednat si	objednat si
těšit se	těšit se	povídat si	povídat si
smát se	smát se	vzít si	vzít si

Pozice klitik: Se/si stojí na druhé pozici ve větě (po prvním přízvučném slově):

Jmenuju se Tomáš. (za slovesem)
Jak se jmenuješ? (za tázacím slovem)
Já se učím česky. (za podmětem)

Rozlišení: Se = děj se vrací k podmětu (mýt se = mýt sebe). Si = děj je ve prospěch podmětu (koupit si = koupit pro sebe).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Learners confuse se vs si, and place the reflexive pronoun in the wrong position (often at the end of the sentence). 🇬🇧 English speakers: English reflexives (myself, yourself) are full words placed after the verb. Czech clitics se/si must go in second position, which feels unnatural. Speakers often say *Jmenuju Tomáš se.

Common Error Patterns

Used se where si is required or vice versa (e.g., *objednat se instead of objednat si)

Se = accusative (action returns to subject: mýt se). Si = dative (action benefits subject: koupit si). Learn each verb's reflexive pronoun.

Placed se/si in wrong position (e.g., *Jmenuju Tomáš se instead of Jmenuju se Tomáš)

Se/si always goes in second position: after the first stressed word or phrase in the clause

Jmenuju se Anna.

My name is Anna.

Jmenovat se: the reflexive se goes after the verb in second position. Se = accusative reflexive.

Jak se máš?

How are you?

After a question word, se moves to second position: Jak SE máš? (not *Jak máš se?)

Chci si objednat kávu.

I want to order a coffee (for myself).

Objednat si: si (dative) means 'for oneself'. With modal verbs, si stays with the infinitive.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

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Frequently asked questions

When is Zvratná slovesa used?: Mnoho českých sloves je zvratných — používají zvratné zájmeno se (4. pád) nebo si (3. pád).
How is Zvratná slovesa formed?: Pozice klitik: Se/si stojí na druhé pozici ve větě (po prvním přízvučném slově): Rozlišení: Se = děj se vrací k podmětu (mýt se = mýt sebe). Si = děj je ve prospěch podmětu (koupit si = koupit pro sebe).
What are common mistakes with Zvratná slovesa?: Learners confuse se vs si, and place the reflexive pronoun in the wrong position (often at the end of the sentence). 🇬🇧 English speakers: English reflexives (myself, yourself) are full words placed after the verb. Czech clitics se/si must go in second position, which feels unnatural. Speakers often say *Jmenuju Tomáš se. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian uses the suffix -ся/-сь (учиться), which is attached to the verb. The free-standing Czech se/si with second-position rule is a new concept. 🇺🇦 Ukrainian speakers: Ukrainian also uses -ся (вчитися), so the separate clitic se/si with strict position rules requires adjustment.