In Russian, the word "себя" is a special word called a reflexive pronoun. This word helps show when someone does something to themselves. It's really important to know how to use "себя" correctly so we can communicate clearly. Let's go over some simple guidelines and examples to help you understand it better.

1. What is "себя"?

"Себя" works in different situations. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Nominative Form:

  • "я" means "I"
  • "ты" means "you"
  • "он/она" means "he/she"
  • For emphasis, you can say "я сам/сама," which means "I myself."

• Accusative Form:

  • This form is used when someone does something to themselves. For example:
    • Я вижу себя в зеркале. (I see myself in the mirror.)

• Genitive Form:

  • This form shows something that's missing or that belongs to someone. For example:
    • У него нет себя. (He has no self.)

2. How to Use "себя" in Different Cases

"Себя" can change depending on the grammar in the sentence, but it looks the same. Here’s how to use it:

• Accusative: For direct actions, like:

  • Она любит себя. (She loves herself.)

• Genitive: To show lack or care, like:

  • Я заботюсь о себе. (I take care of myself.)

• Dative: To show to whom something is done:

  • Я даю себе время. (I give myself time.)

3. Shortening in Everyday Talk

When people talk casually in Russian, they might use a shorter form of "себя":

• Simplifications:
  • In everyday speech, some people might say "ся" instead. For example:
    • Я вижу ся в зеркале. (I see myself in the mirror.)
  • Note: Use this carefully since it's very informal.

4. Practice Examples

Try changing these sentences by replacing "я" with "себя":

1. Я вижу. (Change to "себя.")
2. Я горжусь. (Change to "себя.")
3. Я забываю. (Change to "себя.")

By practicing these changes and using "себя" in sentences, you’ll get better at recognizing and using this important reflexive pronoun in Russian!