Reflexive verbs in the past: Vratio se

A missing je

In the past tense, the 3rd person singular auxiliary is je: On je radio. But when the verb is REFLEXIVE, je disappears — se swallows it: | plain verb | reflexive verb | | --- | --- | | On je radio. | On se vratio. | | Ona je pjevala. | Ona se probudila. | Never say "se je" — the two clitics do not stand together in the 3rd person singular. In all other persons the auxiliary stays: Vratio sam se, vratili smo se.

In use

Word order

The rule you know still holds: clitics sit in second position. With a subject, se follows it directly: Marko se vratio. Without one, the participle leads: Vratio se.