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Questions & Answers about Я дивлюся не туди.
What exactly does the phrase не туди convey here?
It’s directional: “to the wrong place/way,” implying a mistaken direction of gaze. It contrasts with static location.
- не туди = wrong direction (“the way you’re looking is off”)
- не там = not at that place (location), less natural with “look” in this sense
Can I say Я не дивлюся туди instead? Does it mean the same?
It’s different.
- Я дивлюся не туди = I’m looking the wrong way (there’s a specific expected direction, and I’m off).
- Я не дивлюся туди = I’m not looking there (neutral: I’m simply not directing my gaze there).
Is the word order flexible? What about Я не туди дивлюся?
Yes. Both are correct:
- Я дивлюся не туди (neutral, very common)
- Я не туди дивлюся (puts extra emphasis on the wrong direction)
In speech, shifting не туди earlier adds emphasis to “not that way.”
Why does the verb end in -ся (дивлюся)? Is it reflexive?
The -ся marker here forms the standard verb “to look/watch” (дивитися). It’s historically reflexive, but in modern Ukrainian it’s just part of the verb’s form. You don’t use a separate reflexive pronoun in English; it’s just “look.”
I’ve seen дивлюсь without the final -я. Is that different from дивлюся?
They’re the same meaning. -сь is a common colloquial contraction of -ся after a vowel.
- Formal/neutral: дивлюся
- Colloquial/very common: дивлюсь
Do I need a preposition like “at” after дивитися?
It depends:
- With a concrete object/person: use на: дивитися на небо (look at the sky), дивитися на мене (look at me).
- With directional adverbs: no preposition: дивитися туди/сюди/вгору/вниз.
What’s the difference between туди, там, сюди, and тут?
- туди = to there (direction, away from me)
- там = there (location)
- сюди = to here (direction, toward me)
- тут = here (location)
So with “looking,” туди/сюди are the natural directional choices.
How would I say this in the past if I glanced the wrong way once?
Use a perfective verb:
- Masculine: Я подивився не туди. / Я глянув не туди.
- Feminine: Я подивилася не туди. / Я глянула не туди.
Does Я дивлюся mean “I am looking” (progressive) or “I look” (simple present)?
Both. Ukrainian doesn’t have a separate progressive form. Context tells you whether it’s right now or habitual. Here it’s naturally “I’m looking (right now).”
Can I drop the pronoun Я?
Yes. The verb ending shows the person.
- Дивлюся не туди. sounds perfectly natural in context.
Which question word corresponds to туди?
Куди? (to where?).
- — Куди ти дивишся? — Туди.
For location (not direction), you use Де? — Там.
How could I say to someone “You’re looking the wrong way”?
- Ти дивишся не туди.
- Colloquial, without the pronoun: Дивишся не туди.
You can add tone with an exclamation mark if needed.