sich lassen + Infinitive

Passive-Like Construction (Sich Lassen)

Level 4

The construction sich lassen + infinitive is a popular alternative to the passive voice. It expresses possibility or capability, meaning something 'can be' or 'is able to be' acted upon.

How It Works

This structure is known as a Passiversatz (passive substitute). It is highly idiomatic and often sounds more natural than a formal passive construction.

1. Structure:
The sentence starts with the object of the action (which becomes the subject), followed by the conjugated form of lassen, the reflexive pronoun sich, and finally the bare infinitive at the end of the sentence.

2. Meaning:
It is equivalent to können + passive. It often appears with adverbs like leicht (easily), schwer (with difficulty), or gut (well) to describe how feasible an action is.

3. Past Tense (Perfekt):
When used in the perfect tense, this construction uses the double infinitive. Instead of the past participle gelassen, you use the infinitive lassen.
Example: Das hat sich machen lassen. (That could be done.)

4. Transitive Verbs:
This pattern usually works with transitive verbs (verbs that take an accusative object). The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the sich lassen sentence. Some verbs without an object also work, with es as the subject: Hier lässt es sich gut leben. (One can live well here.)

Examples (5)

  1. Das Problem lässt sich leicht lösen.

    The problem can be solved easily.

    Word by Word: The problem lets itself easily solve.

    Here, 'sich lassen' indicates that the problem has the quality of being solvable.

  2. Diese Tür lässt sich nicht öffnen.

    This door cannot be opened.

    Word by Word: This door lets itself not open.

    A common way to describe a functional impossibility.

  3. Der Text lässt sich nur schwer übersetzen.

    The text is difficult to translate.

    Word by Word: The text lets itself only difficultly translate.

    Using 'schwer' with 'sich lassen' is a standard way to express difficulty in performing an action.

  4. Das lässt sich einrichten.

    That can be arranged.

    Word by Word: That lets itself arrange.

    A very common idiomatic expression used when agreeing to a request.

  5. Das hat sich leider nicht vermeiden lassen.

    Unfortunately, that could not be avoided.

    Word by Word: That has itself unfortunately not avoid let.

    This shows the 'double infinitive' (lassen instead of gelassen) in the Perfekt tense.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'zu' before the infinitive.

    Das lässt sich leicht zu machen.
    Das lässt sich leicht machen.

    Just like modal verbs, 'lassen' takes a bare infinitive without 'zu'.

  • Forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'sich'.

    Das lässt einfach erklären.
    Das lässt sich einfach erklären.

    Without 'sich', the sentence is grammatically incomplete or changes meaning to a permissive 'letting' someone do something.

  • Using 'gelassen' in the Perfekt tense.

    Das hat sich machen gelassen.
    Das hat sich machen lassen.

    In this construction, 'lassen' follows the double infinitive rule in the perfect tense.

How It Connects

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sich lassen + InfinitiveLevel 4Passive-Like Construction (Sich Lassen)

Learn This First

To understand 'sich lassen + infinitive', you first need to be familiar with the basic 'lassen + infinitive' construction. Additionally, because this is a reflexive construction, you must understand how reflexive pronouns work. Finally, since this pattern is a common alternative to the passive voice (specifically expressing 'can be done'), familiarity with the German passive voice provides the necessary conceptual context.

Words in This Pattern