zich laten + Infinitive

Level 5

The pattern zich laten + infinitive acts as a 'pseudo-passive.' It translates to 'letting oneself be [verb-ed]' or 'can be [verb-ed].'

How It Works

The zich laten + infinitive construction serves two main purposes in Dutch:

1. Permissive Passive: The subject gives permission or allows an action to be performed on them. Unlike the standard passive with worden, which is neutral, this construction implies the subject's involvement or consent.
Example: Hij laat zich opereren. (He lets himself be operated on.)

2. Modal Passive (Potential): It expresses that something can or cannot be done, often describing a quality of the subject. This is common in formal writing and often uses adverbs like gemakkelijk (easily) or moeilijk (with difficulty).
Example: Dat laat zich raden. (That can be guessed / That is obvious.)

Grammar Rules:

  • Reflexive Agreement: The pronoun must match the subject (ik laat me, wij laten ons, etc.).
  • Transitivity: This pattern is used with transitive verbs (verbs that take an object).
  • Word Order: In the perfect tense, the double infinitive (IPP) rule applies. You use laten as an infinitive instead of a past participle: Ik heb me laten overtuigen.

Examples (5)

  1. Hij liet zich niet door de kritiek uit het veld slaan.

    He did not let himself be discouraged by the criticism.

    Word by Word: He let himself not by the criticism out the field hit.

    This is a permissive use where the subject 'he' is the one allowing (or in this case, not allowing) the action to affect him.

  2. De gevolgen laten zich nog niet overzien.

    The consequences cannot yet be overseen (predicted).

    Word by Word: The consequences let themselves yet not oversee.

    This is a modal passive use, indicating that it is currently impossible to see the full scope of the consequences.

  3. Ik heb me gisteren door de kapper laten knippen.

    I had my hair cut by the barber yesterday.

    Word by Word: I have me yesterday by the barber let cut.

    Notice the use of the double infinitive 'laten knippen' in the perfect tense instead of a past participle.

  4. Dat laat zich gemakkelijk verklaren.

    That can be easily explained.

    Word by Word: That lets itself easily explain.

    A common formal construction expressing that an explanation is possible and easy to find.

  5. Zij liet zich overtuigen door zijn argumenten.

    She let herself be persuaded by his arguments.

    Word by Word: She let herself persuade by his arguments.

    The subject 'she' is the recipient of the persuasion, having allowed it to happen.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the reflexive pronoun in modal passive constructions.

    Dat laat raden.
    Dat laat zich raden.

    In this construction, the reflexive pronoun 'zich' is mandatory to indicate the 'pseudo-passive' meaning.

  • Using 'zich' for all subjects instead of matching the person.

    Ik laat zich niet bang maken.
    Ik laat me niet bang maken.

    The reflexive pronoun must agree with the subject. For 'ik', you must use 'me'.

  • Adding 'te' before the infinitive.

    Dat laat zich te verklaren.
    Dat laat zich verklaren.

    The verb 'laten' is a modal-like verb that takes a bare infinitive; 'te' should never be used here.

How It Connects

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zich laten + InfinitiveLevel 5

Learn This First

To understand 'zich laten + infinitive', you first need to be familiar with the basic causative use of 'laten' (to let/have someone do something). You also need to know how to use reflexive pronouns like 'zich', as this pattern uses them to shift the focus from an active agent to a passive-like state (e.g., 'it lets itself be guessed'). Finally, knowing that 'laten' belongs to the group of verbs that take a bare infinitive is necessary for correct word order.

Words in This Pattern

latenzich