9.6 – Reciprocal Constructions
Reflexive pronouns typically mean ‘oneself’ (myself, yourself, himself, herself, etc.). So for example when we say dám si guláš ‘I’ll have goulash’, it literally means/comes from ‘I’ll give to myself’. Similarly, sprchuju se ‘I take a shower’ literally means ‘I shower myself’. Často kupuju pro sebe oblečení ‘I often buy clothing for myself.’
|
ACC |
se |
‘oneself’ |
|
DAT |
si |
‘to oneself’ |
|
pro ACC |
pro sebe |
‘for oneself’ |
However, these pronouns can mean each other, typically when more than one person is involved:
|
|
|
|
Pes a kočka se mají rádi. The dog and cat like each other. |
Angela a Marie si často dávají dárky. Angela and Marie often give each other gifts. |
|
ACC |
se |
‘each other’ |
|
DAT |
si |
‘to each other’ |
|
pro ACC |
pro sebe |
‘for each other’ |
One last additional phrase worth learning is Uvidíme se – ‘We’ll see each other’, which is similar to English “See you later.”
Images used in this document come from these sources.