A2 Finnish GrammarReflexive Pronouns
Use Finnish reflexive pronoun itse and reflexive possessive suffixes to refer back to the subject.
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1Itse (Self)
Itse means 'self' and can be used with all persons. It emphasizes the subject does something themselves.
Itse Usage
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| minä itse | I myself |
| sinä itse | you yourself |
| hän itse | he/she himself/herself |
| me itse | we ourselves |
Examples
Teen sen itse.
I'll do it myself.
itse for emphasis
Hän teki kaiken itse.
He/She did everything themselves.
independent action
Minä itse en usko sitä.
I myself don't believe it.
emphasis on subject
Voitko tehdä sen itse?
Can you do it yourself?
question form
2Itsensä (Oneself)
Itsensä is the reflexive form used when the action refers back to the subject.
Itsensä Forms
| Case | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | itse | self |
| Genitive | itsensä | oneself's |
| Partitive | itseään | oneself |
| Illative | itseensä | into oneself |
Examples
Hän katsoo itseään peilissä.
He/She looks at themselves in the mirror.
partitive form
Älä syyä itseäsi.
Don't blame yourself.
negative imperative
Hän puhuu itsekseen.
He/She talks to themselves.
itsekseen = to oneself
Pidän huolta itsestäni.
I take care of myself.
elative form
3Reflexive with Possessive Suffixes
Reflexive expressions often combine with possessive suffixes for different persons.
Reflexive + Possessive
| Person | Reflexive Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| minä | itseni | myself |
| sinä | itsesi | yourself |
| hän | itsensä | himself/herself |
| me | itsemme | ourselves |
Examples
Näen itseni kuvassa.
I see myself in the picture.
itseni = myself
Pidä huolta itsestäsi.
Take care of yourself.
itsestäsi = of yourself
He nauttivat itsestään.
They enjoy themselves.
itsestään = of themselves
Esittelemme itsemme.
We introduce ourselves.
itsemme = ourselves
4Reflexive Verbs
Some Finnish verbs have reflexive meaning built in with specific suffixes like -utua/-ytyä.
Reflexive Verbs
| Base Verb | Reflexive Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| pukea | pukeutua | to dress (oneself) |
| pestä | peseytyä | to wash (oneself) |
| herättää | herätä | to wake up |
| valmistaa | valmistautua | to prepare (oneself) |
Examples
Pukeudan nopeasti.
I dress quickly.
pukeutua = dress oneself
Hän peseytyi aamulla.
He/She washed in the morning.
peseytyä = wash oneself
Valmistaudun kokeeseen.
I'm preparing for the exam.
valmistautua = prepare oneself
Lapsi heräsi aikaisin.
The child woke up early.
herätä = wake up (intransitive)
Practice Exercises
4 exercises
Complete: 'Teen sen ___.' (I will do it myself.)
Complete: 'Hän katsoo ___ peilissä.' (He/She looks at themselves in the mirror.)
Complete: 'Esittelen ___.' (I introduce myself.)
Which verb means 'to dress oneself'?
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