Reflexive and pseudo-reflexive Verbs

Let us now consider verbs ending in the suffix -sja. These are reflexive and pseudo-reflexive verbs. The verbal ending -sj does not exist in the LPQR language. Russian verbs ending in -сь are translated using verbs ending in -sja: pridtisja (to fall to one's lot), oboidtisjasja (to manage/get by), naidtisja (to be found), vjestisja (to be conducted/carried on), razidtisja (to disperse/part ways). Most verbs ending in -sja correspond to a non-reflexive verb (the motivating verb). In the LPQR language—unlike in Russian—only transitive verbs can serve as motivating verbs. The suffix -sja is appended to the following word forms of the motivating verb: the infinitive, the present-tense form of imperfective verbs (*presens*), and the first past-tense form (*preterit*). The second past-tense form (*particip*) is absent in reflexive and pseudo-reflexive verbs.

Example: nahoditj – nahodit – nahodil (to find – finds – found)

nahoditjsja – nahoditsja – nahodilsja (to be found – is found – was found)

Truly reflexive verbs are divided into several semantic groups:

Properly Reflexive Verbs: These denote an action performed by the subject and directed toward the subject itself. This may be a physical action or an action aimed at altering the subject's internal state.

Verbs of Physical Action: mǐtjsja, umǐtjsja (to wash oneself); odjevatjsja, odjetjsja (to dress oneself); razdjevatjsja, razdjetjsja (to undress oneself); pričjesǐvatjsja, pričjesatjsja (to comb oneself); britjsja, pobritjsja (to shave oneself); kupatjsja, izkupatjsja (to wash oneself/bathe); vǐtiratjsja, vǐtjerjetjsja (to dry oneself)

Verbs denoting a change in the subject's state: sderžǐvatjsja, sderžatjsja (to restrain oneself); udjeržǐvatjsja, udjeržatjsja (to maintain one’s balance, not to fall); nastroivatjsja, nastroitjsja (to set oneself/get in the right frame of mind); vozbuždatjsja, vozbuditjsja (to excite oneself); unižatjsja, unizitjsja (to humiliate oneself).

A characteristic feature of these verbs is that they can be replaced—without any loss of meaning—by the construction: <motivating verb> + sjebje.

“sjebje” is a reflexive pronoun corresponding to the Russian pronoun “себя” (oneself).

Examples of verbs in this group also include: zašičjatjsja (to defend oneself) and prjatatjsja (to hide oneself).

Reciprocal-reflexive verbs:

celovatjsja, pocelovatjsja (to kiss each other); obnimatjsja, obnjatjsja (to embrace each other);

vstrječjatjsja, vstrjetitjsja (to meet each other);

vidjetjsja, uvidjetjsja (to see each other); miritjsja, primiritjsja (to reconcile); soritjsja, posoritjsja (to argue/quarrel); šeptatjsja (to whisper to each other).

These verbs express a reciprocal (joint) action performed by multiple subjects and directed toward one another.

All reciprocal-reflexive verbs belong to the broader group of verbs denoting reciprocal action. As in Russian, this group also includes certain verbs that do not end in -sja: družǐtj (to be friends), razgovarivatj (to talk to one another), sporitj (to argue). If the subject of a sentence is in the singular, reciprocal verbs are used with the preposition "s." All reciprocal verbs are intransitive.

Passive voice verbs: These describe an external influence acting upon the subject of the sentence.

The house is being built by workers – Eto dom stroitsja ot rabočij homǐ

The experiment is being conducted by a renowned scientist – Eto experiment provoditsja ot izvjestnǐj učjonǐj homo

The monument is protected by the state – Pamjatnik ohranjatsja ot gosudarstvo.

(Note! Here, there is a "false friend": ohranjatjsja ot gosudarstvo means "to be protected by the state." The Russian expression "to be protected from thieves" translates into LPQR as ohranjatjsja protiv vorǐ.)

All passive voice verbs are formed from imperfective transitive verbs by adding the ending -sja.

Indirect reflexive verbs: These denote an action that a person performs for themselves, in their own interest.

sobiratjsja (to get ready for a journey), sobratjsja;

There are very few of these in the LPQR language.

General reflexive verbs: These denote the internal state of the subject, as well as a change in the subject's state, position, or movement.

vjesjelitjsja (to have fun);

razstroivatjsja, razstroitjsja (to get upset);

ostanovlivatjsja, ostanovitjsja (to come to a halt);

obradovatjsja (to become happy);

razočarovǐvatjsja, razočarovatjsja (to become disappointed);

smučjatjsja, smutitjsja (to become confused);

trjevožǐtjsja, vstrjevožǐtjsja (to be anxious / to get alarmed);

dvigatjsja, dvignutjsja (to move); peremeshchat'sya, peremestit'sya (to shift position / to relocate);

podnimatjsja, podnyatjsja (to stand up);

nagibatjsja, nagnutjsja (to bend down);

sklonjatsja, sklonitjsja (to incline);

povorachivatjsja, povernutjsja (to turn / to rotate);

oglyadyvatjsja, oglyadetjsja, oglyanutjsja (to look back);

umenshatjsja, umenjshitjsja (to decrease);

uvelichivatjsja, uvelichitjsja (to increase);

usilivatjsja, usilitjsja (to intensify)

Among such verbs, one can distinguish a group denoting the beginning, continuation, and end of a particular phenomenon or action:

nachinat'sya, nachat'sya (to begin / to start)

prodolzhat'sya, prodolzhit'sya (to continue / to go on)

končatjsja, končitjsja (to end / to finish)

In Russian, all verbs ending in -sya are considered reflexive and are intransitive. In LPQR, the situation is not quite so clear-cut. Most truly reflexive verbs are indeed intransitive; however, there are exceptions—for instance, the verbs nazǐvatjsa (to be called), sčitatjsja (to be considered), and naznačjatjsja (to be appointed).

As for pseudo-reflexive verbs, they denote actions or emotions directed toward an external object. Consequently, all such verbs can be used transitively—that is, with a direct object — although this usage is not always recommended. As transitive verbs, it is recommended to use verbs denoting active physical action or contact — such as djeržatjsja (to hold on), hvatatjsja (to grasp), shvatitjsja (to seize), bratjsja / vzjatjsja (to take hold / to undertake), kasatjsjsa / kasnutjsja (to touch), and cepljatjsja / zacepitjcja (to cling / to catch onto)—as well as verbs expressing the emotion of fear (*bojatjsja* [to be afraid], ispugatjsja [to get scared]). It is also permissible to use these verbs with the preposition na (e.g., ispugatjsja lupus or ispugatjsja na lupus [to be frightened by a wolf]; djeržatjsja pjerilǐ or djeržatjsja na pjerilǐ [to hold onto the railing]). Pseudo-reflexive verbs—specifically those reflecting a situation involving a collision or impact—are recommended to be used with the preposition ot:

udaritjsja ob ugol (to bump into the corner) — udaritjsja ot eto ugol

tjerjetjsja o zabor (to rub against the fence) — tjerjetjsja ot eto zabor

It should be noted that a single verb, depending on its specific meaning, can function as either a truly reflexive verb or a pseudo-reflexive one. For instance, the verb djeržatjsja is pseudo-reflexive in the phrase djeržatjsja poručjenj (to hold onto a handrail), whereas it is truly reflexive in the phrase horošo djeržatjsja (to carry oneself well / to hold up well).

In a number of cases where Russian employs a reflexive verb, the LPQR language utilizes alternative means to convey the intended meaning. For example, there are no verbs ending in -sja that are derived from Russian imperfective verbs.

Translation:

Grozitjsja (to make threats) — (mnogo) grozitj

Stučjatjsja (to knock repeatedly) — (dolgo ili mnogo razǐ) stučjatj

to ring (repeatedly) — zvonitj

Therefore, the LPQR language also lacks so-called "active-non-objective" verbs—that is, verbs that describe an action as a permanent and characteristic attribute of a subject, or as its defining trait:

nettles sting — urtika palit

cows butt — korova bit s rogǐ

dogs bite — ċanus kusat

cats scratch — felisǐ carapat

In Russian, some reflexive verbs are derived from adjectives. In LPQR, in many such instances, it is recommended to use a short-form adjective combined with the verb bǐtj rather than a reflexive (*-sja*) verb.

To rejoice — bǐtj rad

To be saddened — bǐtj pječaljn

To be angry — bǐtj sjerdit