6.5 Reflexive Verbs
In Norwegian many verbs are used with a reflexive object.
In some of these examples the reflexive element is clear: the subject is doing something to herself / himself / itself.
For example:
Han legger seg. (He’s going to bed, lying down.)
Hun falt og slo seg. (She fell and hurt herself.)
Any object could be used in place of the reflexive pronoun:
Han legger boka på bordet. (He lays the book on the table.)
Hun slo hunden. (She hit the dog.)
With other verbs the reflexive pronoun is part of an idiomatic expression that simply must be memorized.
For example:
Han føler seg dårlig. (He feels bad.)
Vi liker oss i Norge. (We like it in Norway.)
Han kommer seg. (He’s getting better.)
Hun finner seg i deg. (She’s putting up with it.)
Jeg ønsker meg blomster til valentinsdag. (I wish for flowers for Valentine’s day.)