-ся · Lesson 1
Глаголы на -ся
-ся is a verb type
-ся is glued to the verb, not a separate object. Pronouns already cover себя. These verbs often take a case of their own — and many do not mean «oneself» at all.
How it works
-ся is glued to the verb, not a separate object. Pronouns already cover себя. These verbs often take a case of their own — and many do not mean «oneself» at all.
Then open Tables, Notes, Exceptions, and Examples in that order.
When to use it
- Infinitive always ends in -ся: нравиться, учиться, бояться, заниматься.
- After a vowel the ending is -сь: учусь, боюсь, занимаюсь. After a consonant: нравится, учится, боится.
- Don’t add себя on top: not Я учусь себя.
- The interesting part is government: нравиться + dative person, бояться + genitive, заниматься + instrumental.
Pro tip
Treat -ся as part of the infinitive you memorize. Then learn the case the verb wants. себя stays in Pronouns.