Reflexive Verbs, Reciprocal Verbs, and lassen

1. Introduction

German has verbs that are used with a reflexive pronoun. This pronoun shows that the action is connected with the person doing the action.

• Ich wasche mich. - I wash myself.
• Er setzt sich. - He sits down.

The reflexive pronoun changes according to person and case.

2. Reflexive verbs with the accusative

Many reflexive verbs use a reflexive pronoun in the Akkusativ. The person does something to themselves or describes their own state.

Table: sich setzen - to sit down

• Ich setze mich ans Fenster. - I sit down by the window.
• Du kämmst dich. - You comb your hair.
• Er freut sich. - He is happy.
• Wir erholen uns. - We are resting or recovering.

Common reflexive verbs with the accusative

3. Position of the reflexive pronoun in the sentence

In a normal statement, the conjugated verb stands in second position. The reflexive pronoun usually stands close to the verb.

• Er setzt sich ans Fenster. - He sits down by the window.
• Die Wohnung befindet sich im dritten Stock. - The apartment is on the third floor.

If the subject is a personal pronoun, it usually comes before the reflexive pronoun.

• Heute fühlt er sich gut. - Today he feels well.

If the subject is a noun, the reflexive pronoun often stands after the conjugated verb and before that noun.

• Wie fühlt sich dein Freund? - How is your friend feeling?
• Wie fühlst du dich? - How are you feeling?

4. Reflexive verbs and constructions with the dative

Some reflexive verbs and reflexive constructions use a reflexive pronoun in the Dativ. The pronoun often means "for oneself" or "to oneself". Very often, there is another object in the accusative.

Table: sich etwas kaufen - to buy something for oneself

• Ich kaufe mir ein neues Buch. - I am buying myself a new book.
• Du suchst dir eine Wohnung. - You are looking for an apartment for yourself.
• Er sieht sich den Film an. - He watches the film.
• Wir stellen uns eine Frage. - We ask ourselves a question.

Reflexive pronouns in the dative

Common constructions with the dative

With these constructions, another complement in the Akkusativ often appears next to the dative pronoun.

• Ich habe mir ein neues Auto gekauft. - I bought myself a new car.
• Kannst du dir ein neues Auto leisten? - Can you afford a new car?

mir / dir are reflexive pronouns in the Dativ. ein neues Auto is the object in the Akkusativ.

5. Reciprocal verbs

Some verbs describe an action between two or more people. They can also be used with sich, uns, or euch.

• Wir kennen uns seit der Kindheit. - We have known each other since childhood.
• Sie treffen sich heute Abend. - They are meeting this evening.
• Die Freunde helfen sich. - The friends help each other.

To make the reciprocal meaning clearer, German can use einander - "each other".

• Wir kennen einander gut. - We know each other well.

Common reciprocal verbs

6. The verb lassen

The verb lassen has several important meanings.

It can be used as an independent verb or together with the infinitive of another verb.

6.1. Lassen as an independent verb

When used independently, lassen often means "to leave" something somewhere.

• Ich lasse den Mantel in der Garderobe. - I leave the coat in the cloakroom.
• Wo hast du deine Bücher gelassen? - Where did you leave your books?

In this construction, the object stands in the Akkusativ: den Mantel, deine Bücher.

7. Lassen + infinitive

lassen can be used with the infinitive of another verb. Depending on context, this construction can mean "to let", "to allow", "to have someone do something", "to ask someone to do something", or "to make something possible".

• Er lässt dich grüßen. - He sends you his regards.
• Lassen Sie mich Ihnen helfen. - Allow me to help you.
• Lass ihn tun, was er will. - Let him do what he wants.

The infinitive stands at the end of the construction.

8. Sich lassen + infinitive

The construction sich lassen + Infinitiv can express that an action is possible or impossible. It often has a passive-like meaning: "can be done".

• Dieses Auto lässt sich reparieren. - This car can be repaired.
• Die Tür lässt sich leicht öffnen. - The door can be opened easily.
• Das Problem lässt sich nicht lösen. - The problem cannot be solved.

In the negative form, German uses nicht.

• Dieses Gerät lässt sich nicht reparieren. - This device cannot be repaired.

9. Sich etwas machen lassen

The construction sich + Dativ + etwas + machen lassen means that someone else does the action for the person expressed by the reflexive pronoun.

• Ich werde mir ein neues Kleid machen lassen. - I will have a new dress made for myself.
• Er lässt sich einen Anzug nähen. - He is having a suit tailored for himself.

mir / sich names the person for whom the action is done. ein neues Kleid / einen Anzug names the object of the action. machen lassen / nähen lassen shows that the person is not doing the action themselves.

10. Lass uns / Lasst uns + infinitive

Lass uns + Infinitiv is used as an invitation to do something together.

• Lass uns spielen! - Let's play!
• Lass uns gehen! - Let's go!

Lasst uns + Infinitiv is used when addressing several people.

• Lasst uns anfangen! - Let's begin!
• Lasst uns Deutsch lernen! - Let's learn German!

11. What to remember

Reflexive verbs are used with a reflexive pronoun.

In the Akkusativ, the forms are:

In the Dativ, the forms are:

• Some verbs describe reciprocal action: Wir kennen uns. - We know each other.
• lassen can mean "to leave": Ich lasse den Mantel hier. - I leave the coat here.
• lassen can be used with an infinitive: Er lässt dich grüßen. - He sends you his regards.
• sich lassen + Infinitiv expresses possibility: Das lässt sich machen. - That can be done.
• Lass uns + Infinitiv suggests a shared action: Lass uns gehen! - Let's go!