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UNIT SEVEN
The pronouns zich, zelf and elkaar
Introduction
The pronoun zich is a reflexive pronoun. It occurs with reflexive verbs such
as zich schamen ‘to be ashamed’ or with verbs that can be reflexive or not,
for example zich wassen ‘to wash oneself’. For an overview on reflexive
verbs, see Basic Dutch, Unit 21. The pronoun zelf can be connected to
reflexive and personal pronouns to emphasize a contrast between self and
other. The pronoun elkaar ‘each other’ is a reciprocal pronoun.
Conjugation of a reflexive verb, the pronoun zich
In this overview of the verb zich schamen, you notice that zich is the reflexive
pronoun for the second person formal (u), and the third person singular
and plural.
Singular Plural
ik schaam me myself wij/we schamen ons ourselves
jij schaamt je yourself jullie schamen je yourselves
u schaamt zich (u) yourself u schaamt zich (u) yourselves
hij, zij/ze schaamt zich him/her/itself zij/ze schamen zich themselves
The reflexive pronoun and zelf
In combination with verbs that can be used as reflexive or non-reflexive
verbs, the reflexive pronoun can be combined with zelf to emphasize a
contrast with ‘other’.
Ik was mezelf en daarna de baby. I wash myself and then the baby.
Hij stelde zichzelf en zijn vrouw He introduced himself and his
voor. wife. 55