Reflexive Verben
| Zusammenfassung | |
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Practice Exercises |
| Definition | Table of Reflexive Pronouns |
| Obligatory and Optional Reflexives | Accusative vs Dative Reflexive Pronouns |
| Important Details | A List of Common Reflexive Verbs |
Zusammenfassung
- A reflexive verb is a verb that has an object which is the same as the subject of the verb ==> the action of the reflexive verb is something one is doing to or for oneself. Some verbs are always reflexive, others are not. This is discussed in more detail below. Click here for some examples.
- The reflexive pronouns are similar to the regular accusative and dative pronouns, but in the 3rd person singular and plural, there is only one form of the reflexive pronoun for all genders and both accusative and dative: sich. Click here to see the table of reflexive pronouns, and
compare it to the table of regular accusative and dative pronouns. - Languages differ in what actions they consider to be reflexive. Some verbs will always be accompanied by a reflexive pronoun, e.g. Germans always think of sich kämmen, sich waschen, sich beeilen [=to hurry up] and even sich erkälten [=to catch a cold] as something one is doing
to oneself. In general, the reflexive is obligatory for many more verbs in German than in English; a representative list of such reflexive verbs is provided in the last section. Any other transitive verb [i.e. verb that can take an object] will be reflexive when its subject and object are the same. Thus, if Larry hits Moe and Curly over the head, the verb schlagen will not be reflexive, but if Larry hits himself on the head, you need to use a reflexive pronoun with schlagen. Finally, there are some cases where it is up to you to decide whether you want to emphasize that one is performing the action for oneself: in German as in English, I can say “Ich kaufe einen Opel” [=I buy an Opel] or “Ich kaufe mir einen Opel” [=I buy myself an Opel]. Click here for some examples. - Normally the reflexive pronoun will be accusative. If the verb already has an accusative object, however, then the reflexive pronoun will be dative. Note that you will only notice this difference in the ich- and du-forms, since for all the other persons, the accusative and dative reflexive pronouns are identical. Click here for some examples.
- Note that the plural reflexive pronouns can sometimes be used to express that two people are doing something to each other, and are thus sometimes interchangeable with the adverb “einander.” Reflexive constructions are also sometimes used as substitutes for the passive. Click here for more details and examples.
- Click here for a list of common reflexive verbs.
- Finally, a warning: after reading about reflexive verbs, it is natural to overuse reflexive pronouns for a while. Please remember that you should only use reflexive pronouns in the situations described here!
Practice Exercises
Try these to see if you understand reflexive pronouns!
Reflexive or not? This exercise asks you to decide whether you need the reflexive pronoun sich or a regular third person singular or plural pronoun. The third person is used since for the first and second person singular and plural, the reflexive pronouns are the same as the regular pronouns anyway. Click here and here if this exercise gives you trouble.
Pick the correct reflexive pronoun to fill in the blank This exercise allows you to practice using a variety of reflexive pronouns with a variety of reflexive verbs. Click here and here if this exercise gives you trouble.
Ein wunderbarer Urlaub Decide if you need an accusative or a dative reflexive pronoun to fill in the blank. This exercise focuses primarily on mich and mir since the accusative and dative reflexive pronouns are the same for most of the other persons. Click here if this exercise gives you trouble.
Exzentriker Practice using a variety of reflexive pronouns in this exercise about the habits of various eccentric people.
Definition
A reflexive verb is a verb that has an object which is the same as the subject of the verb ==> the action of the reflexive verb is something one is doing to or for oneself. Some verbs are reflexive all or most of the time, others are only reflexive when used in certain ways. Here are some examples to illustrate what is meant by this definition. Where the infinitive is listed with a reflexive pronoun in the table below, the verb is reflexive all or most of the time; in many cases, the corresponding English verb is not reflexive. This is discussed in more detail below.
| sich erkälten | Er erkältet sich. | He catches a cold. [literally: he “colds” himself ==> he is the subject, and he is also the object] |
| sich anziehen | Sie zieht sich an. |
She gets dressed. [literally: she dresses herself ==> she is the subject, and she is also the object] The only way for this verb not to be reflexive is if someone dresses someone else. |
| sich amüsieren | Ich habe mich auf dem Nagelbett amüsiert. |
I enjoyed myself on the bed of nails. [==> I am the subject, and I am also the object] The only way for this verb not to be reflexive is if someone amuses someone else. |
| machen | Er macht sich einen Teller Käsespätzle. | He makes himself a plate of cheese Spätzle. [==> He is the subject, and he is doing this for himself, so he is also the (indirect) object (the Spätzle being the direct object in this case)] |
| lieben | Erst muss man sich selbst lieben. Dann kann man Deutsch lieben. |
First one must love oneself. Then one can love German. [In the first sentence one is loving oneself, i.e. one is the subject and the object, and the sentence is reflexive. In the second sentence, one is the subject and German is the object; these are different, so the second sentence is not reflexive.] |
| weh tun | Er hat sich auf dem Nagelbett weh getan. Ich habe ihm nicht weh getan. |
He hurt himself on the bed of nails. I did not hurt him. [In the first sentence he is the subject, and he is also the object and the sentence is reflexive. In the second sentence, I am and he is the object; these are different, so the second sentence is not reflexive.] |
Table of Reflexive Pronouns
The reflexive pronouns are similar to the regular accusative and dative pronouns, but in the 3rd person singular and plural, there is only one form of the reflexive pronoun for all genders and both accusative and dative: sich:
| Person | Accusative Reflexive Pronoun |
Dative Reflexive Pronoun |
| ich | mich | mir |
| du | dich | dir |
| er/sie/es | sich | sich |
| wir | uns | uns |
| ihr | euch | euch |
| sie/Sie | sich | sich |
Compare this to the table of regular accusative and dative pronouns:
| Person | Accusative Pronoun |
Dative Pronoun |
| ich | mich | mir |
| du | dich | dir |
| er/sie/es | ihn/sie/es | ihm/ihr/ihm |
| wir | uns | uns |
| ihr | euch | euch |
| sie/Sie | sie/Sie | ihnen/Ihnen |
Obligatory and Optional Reflexives
Obligatory Reflexives
Languages differ in what actions they consider to be reflexive. Some verbs will always be accompanied by a reflexive pronoun, e.g. Germans always think of sich kämmen, sich waschen, sich beeilen [=to hurry up] and even sich erkälten [=to catch a cold] as something one is doing to oneself. In general, the reflexive is obligatory for many more verbs in German than in English; a representative list of such reflexive verbs is provided in the last section; here is an excerpt from that list related to grooming and one’s daily routine:
| Deutsch | Englisch | Beispiel |
| sich (+Akk) baden | to take a bath | Ich bade mich gern jeden Sonntag. |
| sich (+Akk) duschen | to shower | Es ist gesund, sich manchmal kalt zu duschen. |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) waschen, du wäschst, wusch, hat gewaschen | to wash (oneself) | Niemand liebt mich. Ich muss mir den Rücken alleine waschen. |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) kämmen | to comb oneself | Ihr seid cool, weil ihr euch nie die Haare kämmt. |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) rasieren | to shave | Niemand rasiert sich gern den Rücken. |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) an•ziehen, zog an, hat angezogen | to get dressed | Zieh dir die Lederhosen an! |
| sich (+Akk) beeilen | to hurry | Wir müssen uns beeilen! |
| sich (+Akk) verfahren, verfuhr, hat verfahren | to lose one’s way (by car) | Habt ihr euch wieder verfahren? |
| sich (+Akk) verlaufen, verlief, hat verlaufen | to lose one’s way (on foot) | Nein, wir haben uns verlaufen. |
| sich (+Akk) verspäten | to be late | Deshalb haben wir uns verspätet. |
| sich (+Akk) aus•ruhen | to rest | Es ist OK. Ruht euch jetzt aus. |
| sich (+Akk) setzen | to sit down | Darf ich mich auf dein antikes Sofa setzen? |
| sich (+Akk) hin•legen | to lie down | Leg dich lieber hin. |
Reflexives with other Transitive Verbs when Subject and Object are the same
Any other transitive verb [i.e. verb that can take an object] will be reflexive when its subject and object are the same. Thus, if Larry hits Moe and Curly over the head, the verb schlagen will not be reflexive, but if Larry hits himself on the head, you need to use a reflexive pronoun with schlagen.
| verletzen | Jake Barnes hat sich verletzt. | Jake Barnes hurt himself. [Jake is the subject and the object ==> reflexive] |
| verletzen | Eine Kugel hat Jake Barnes verletzt. | A bullet injured Jake Barnes. [The bullet is the subject, Jake is the object ==> not reflexive] |
| schreiben | Hemingway hat viele Romane geschrieben. | Hemingway wrote many novels. [Hemingway is the subject, the novels are the object ==> not reflexive] |
| schreiben | Hat Hemingway in seinen Büchern über sich selber geschrieben? |
Did Hemingway write about himself in his books? [Hemingway is the subject and the object ==> reflexive] |
| hassen | Hemingway hat den Film A Farewell to Arms (1932) gehasst. [Er dachte der Film war zu romantisch.] | Hemingway hated the movie A Farewell to Arms (1932). [Hemingway is the subject and the movie is the object ==> not reflexive] |
| hassen | Hat Hemingways sich selbst gehasst? |
Did Hemingway hate himself? [Hemingway is the subject and the object ==> reflexive] |
Notice the adverbs “selbst” and “selber” in two of the above examples. This is sometimes used to give added emphasis to the reflexive character of the action. Don’t confuse this with the other meaning of “selbst” and “selber,” namely, “by oneself,” as in: “Ich muss immer alles selber machen” or “Ich kann mir meine Schuhe selbst anziehen.”
Optional Reflexives
Finally, there are some cases where it is up to you to decide whether you want to emphasize that one is performing the action for oneself: in German as in English, I can say “Ich kaufe einen Opel” [=I buy an Opel] or “Ich kaufe mir einen Opel” [=I buy myself an Opel]. More examples of this:
| kaufen | Ich kaufe die deutsche Ausgabe von Harry Potter. Ich kaufe mir die deutsche Ausgabe von Harry Potter. |
I buy the German edition of Harry Potter. I buy myself the German edition of Harry Potter. |
| machen | Wir machen einen SPAM Reuben. Wir machen uns einen SPAM Reuben. |
We make a SPAM Reuben.We make ourselves a SPAM Reuben. |
Accusative vs Dative Reflexive Pronouns
Normally the reflexive pronoun will be accusative. If the verb already has an accusative object, however, then the reflexive pronoun will be dative. Note that you will only notice this difference in the ich- and du-forms, since for all the other persons, the accusative and dative reflexive pronouns are identical.
| Ich wasche mich. [no object other than the reflexive object] | I’m washing myself. |
| Ich wasche mir das Gesicht. [here, the verb already has an accusative object: “das Gesicht,” the specific part of my body that needs washing because it’s covered in disgusting filth and I have a big date tonight, though no amount of washing is going to remove the huge, throbbing, excruciatingly painful, greenish zit [der Pickel] on the tip of my nose. Consequently, my face, which is being washed, is accusative, and I’m the beneficiary/recipient of this action ==> dative] |
I’m washing my face. |
|
Ich habe mir beim Skifahren auf dem Großglockner den Arm gebrochen. [here, the arm is the specific part of my body that I broke, so again it’s accusative and I’m the “beneficiary”/recipient of this action ==> dative] |
I broke my arm while skiiing on the Großglockner. |
| Kauf dir ein Bonbon! [Here, the accusative object is “das Bonbon”; you’re the beneficiary/recipient when you buy it ==> dative] |
Buy yourself some candy! |
Important Details
- The plural reflexive pronouns can sometimes be used to express that two people are doing something to each other, and are thus sometimes interchangeable with the adverb “einander.” In some cases, it is preferable to use “einander” in order to avoid ambiguity: see the third example below:
| Wir haben uns in der Stadt getroffen. Wir haben einander in der Stadt getroffen. |
We met (each other) in town. |
| Sie hatten sich jahrelang nicht mehr gesehen. Sie hatten einander jahrelang nicht mehr gesehen. |
They hadn’t seen each other for years. |
| Die Affen entfernen sich die Läuse. Die Affen entfernen einander die Läuse. |
With “sich” this can mean the monkeys are each removing their own lice on their own bodies, or that they are doing this for each other. With “einander,” it has to mean that they are doing it for each other. |
- Reflexive constructions are sometimes used as substitutes for the passive. Particularly common in this context is the expression “sich lassen” [ “(it) lets itself be done,” i.e. “(it) can be done”]:
| Das lässt sich (nicht) machen. | That can (can’t) be done. |
| Die Dose SPAM lässt sich leicht öffnen. | The can of SPAM can be opened easily. |
| “Scheiße” schreibt sich mit “ß”. | “Scheiße” is spelled with an “ß”. |
- Another use of “sich lassen” is to express that one is having something done for oneself:
| Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden. | I’m having my hair cut. |
| Wir lassen uns ein Haus bauen. | We’re having a house built for ourselves. |
A List of Common Reflexive Verbs
| Deutsch | Englisch | Significantly different meanings of the verb when not used reflexively |
| sich (+Akk) baden | to take a bath | |
| sich (+Akk) duschen | to shower | |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) waschen, du wäschst, wusch, hat gewaschen | to wash (oneself) | |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) kämmen | to comb oneself | |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) rasieren | to shave | |
| sich (+Akk/+Dat) an•ziehen, zog an, hat angezogen | to get dressed | |
| sich (+Akk) beeilen | to hurry | |
| sich (+Akk) verfahren, verfuhr, hat verfahren | to lose one’s way (by car) | |
| sich (+Akk) verlaufen, verlief, hat verlaufen | to lose one’s way (on foot) | |
| sich (+Akk) verspäten | to be late | |
| sich (+Akk) aus•ruhen | to rest | |
| sich (+Akk) setzen | to sit down | |
| sich (+Akk) hin•legen | to lie down | to put something down |
| sich (+Dat) etwas merken | to commit something to memory | |
| sich (+Dat) etwas überlegen | to think something over | |
| sich (+Akk) (gut/schlecht) fühlen | to feel well/ill etc. | to sense (physically or mentally) |
| sich (+Akk) erkälten | to catch a cold | |
| sich (+Dat) etwas brechen | to break something (arm, leg) | to break (something); to vomit |
| sich (+Akk) erholen | to recover | |
| sich (+Akk) amüsieren | to have a good time, enjoy oneself | to amuse someone |
| sich (+Akk) langweilen | to be bored | |
| sich (+Dat) etwas an•sehen, du siehst an, sah an, hat angesehen | to take a look at something | |
| sich (+Dat) etwas ein•bilden | to (falsely) imagine/think something | |
| sich (+Dat) etwas vor•stellen | to imagine something (in the sense of picturing it) | |
| sich (+Akk) benehmen, benahm, hat benommen | to behave (well, badly, oddly) | |
| sich (+Akk) entschuldigen | to apologize | to excuse (someone/something) |
| sich (+Akk) vor•stellen | to introduce oneself | |
| sich (+Akk) erinnern an (acc.) | to remember | to remind |
| sich (+Akk) freuen auf (acc.) | to look forward to | |
| sich (+Akk) freuen über (acc.) | to be glad about | |
| sich (+Akk) gewöhnen an (acc.) | to get used to | |
| sich (+Akk) interessieren für | to be interested in | |
| sich (+Akk) kümmern um | to look after, to bother about | |
| sich (+Akk) sehnen nach | to long for | |
| sich (+Dat) Sorgen machen um | to be worried about | |
| sich (+Akk) verlieben in (acc.) | to fall in love with |