Reflexive Pronouns

Level 2

Reflexive pronouns (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch) show that an action 'reflects' back to the person doing it. In German, they are mandatory for certain verbs and are used much more frequently than in English.

How It Works

Reflexive pronouns function as the object of a sentence. They are categorized into two main cases:

1. Accusative Reflexive: This is the default case for most Reflexive Verbs when the pronoun is the only object.
Example: Ich freue mich. (I am glad).

2. Dative Reflexive: Used when there is already another direct (accusative) object in the sentence, often a body part or an item of clothing. It is also used with specific Dative Verbs (like sich schaden) even if no other object is present.
Example: Ich wasche mir die Hände. (I wash my hands).

The Forms:
For the 1st and 2nd person, the forms are identical to the Accusative Pronouns (mich, dich, uns, euch) or Dative Pronouns (mir, dir, uns, euch). For all 3rd-person subjects (er, sie, es, sie, Sie), German uses sich for both cases.

True vs. False Reflexive Verbs:
Some verbs are 'true' reflexive verbs, meaning they always require a reflexive pronoun (e.g., sich beeilen - to hurry). Others are 'false' reflexive verbs, which are only reflexive when the subject performs the action on themselves (e.g., ich wasche mich vs. ich wasche das Auto).

Reciprocal Meaning:
In the plural (wir, ihr, sie), reflexive pronouns can also mean 'each other'. For example, Wir sehen uns can mean 'We see ourselves' or 'We see each other'.

Word Order:
Reflexive pronouns occupy the 'Wackernagel position'. In main clauses, they follow the conjugated verb. In subordinate clauses, they follow the conjunction (like dass or weil). If the subject is a pronoun, the reflexive pronoun follows it (...dass ich mich freue); if the subject is a noun, the reflexive pronoun usually precedes it (...dass sich der Mann freut).

Examples (5)

  1. Ich beeile mich.

    I am hurrying.

    Word by Word: I hurry myself.

    'Beeilen' is a true reflexive verb; it cannot be used without the pronoun 'mich'.

  2. Du wäschst dir das Gesicht.

    You wash your face.

    Word by Word: You wash to-yourself the face.

    We use the dative 'dir' because 'das Gesicht' (the face) is the direct accusative object.

  3. Er setzt sich auf den Stuhl.

    He sits down on the chair.

    Word by Word: He sets himself on the chair.

    German uses a reflexive construction ('sich setzen') where English often uses an intransitive verb ('to sit down').

  4. Wir sehen uns morgen.

    We will see each other tomorrow.

    Word by Word: We see us tomorrow.

    In the plural, reflexive pronouns often have a reciprocal meaning ('each other').

  5. Sie interessieren sich für Musik.

    They are interested in music.

    Word by Word: They interest themselves for music.

    The pronoun 'sich' is used for all 3rd-person plural subjects.

Common Mistakes

  • Using personal pronouns instead of 'sich' in the 3rd person.

    Er sieht ihn im Spiegel.
    Er sieht sich im Spiegel.

    'Er sieht ihn' means he sees another man. To say he sees himself, you must use the reflexive 'sich'.

  • Forgetting the reflexive pronoun entirely.

    Ich erkälte oft im Winter.
    Ich erkälte mich oft im Winter.

    Many German verbs, like 'sich erkälten' (to catch a cold), are mandatory reflexives and require the pronoun to be grammatically correct.

  • Using possessive pronouns for body parts instead of the dative reflexive.

    Ich putze meine Zähne.
    Ich putze mir die Zähne.

    While 'meine Zähne' is understood, the natural German way to express actions on one's own body is using a dative reflexive pronoun + definite article.

How It Connects

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Reflexive PronounsLevel 2

Learn This First

To understand reflexive pronouns, you must first be familiar with personal pronouns in both the accusative and dative cases, as reflexive pronouns share the same forms for 'ich', 'du', 'wir', and 'ihr'. Additionally, you need to know how to conjugate verbs in the present tense to correctly place and use these pronouns in a sentence.

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