Questions & Answers about Я обычно просыпаюсь рано.
Why does просыпаюсь end in -сь instead of -ся?
The reflexive ending you choose depends on the letter right before it. If the regular conjugated verb ends in a vowel (like the -ю in я просыпаю), you add -сь. If it ends in a consonant (like the -т in он просыпается), you add -ся.
Does просыпаюсь literally mean "I wake myself"?
Exactly! The reflexive ending -сь or -ся shows that the action reflects back onto the subject. While in English we just say "I wake up," in Russian you are essentially saying "I wake myself."
Both обычно (usually) and рано (early) end in -о. Is that a common pattern?
Yes, it is very common! In Russian, you can turn many adjectives into adverbs (words that describe an action) by replacing their ending with -о. For example, the adjective обычный (usual) becomes the adverb обычно (usually).
Could I change the word order and say Обычно я просыпаюсь рано?
Absolutely. Russian word order is quite flexible. Putting Обычно at the very beginning of the sentence is perfectly natural and simply puts a little more emphasis on the fact that this is your usual routine.
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