Reflexive Verbs

Level 2

In German, reflexive verbs require a reflexive pronoun (like 'mich', 'dich', or 'sich') that matches the subject. They are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person or thing.

How It Works

Reflexive verbs are categorized into two main types:

  • True Reflexive Verbs: These verbs only exist with a reflexive pronoun. For example, sich beeilen (to hurry) or sich beschweren (to complain).
  • Optional Reflexive Verbs: These can be used reflexively or with a separate object. For example, Ich wasche mich (I wash myself) vs. Ich wasche das Auto (I wash the car).

The 3rd Person Rule:
For all 3rd person forms (er, sie, es, sie-plural, and the formal Sie), the reflexive pronoun is always sich, regardless of whether the verb requires the Accusative or Dative case.

Case Selection:
1. Use the Accusative when the pronoun is the only object: Ich kämme mich.
2. Use the Dative when there is already a direct Accusative object: Ich kämme mir die Haare.
Note: While the 'second object' rule is the standard, some specific verbs (like sich etwas merken) always require the Dative case.

Important Constraint:
A reflexive pronoun can only function as an object; it can never serve as the subject of a sentence.

Reciprocal Meaning:
In the plural (uns, euch, sich), these pronouns can also mean 'each other'. For example: Wir sehen uns morgen (We are seeing each other tomorrow).

Word Order:
The pronoun usually follows the conjugated verb. However, if the subject is a Noun (not a pronoun) and the sentence is inverted or a subordinate clause, the reflexive pronoun often moves before the subject: Heute freut sich der Mann vs. Heute freut er sich.

Examples (5)

  1. Ich interessiere mich für Musik.

    I am interested in music.

    Word by Word: I interest myself for music.

    This is a 'true' reflexive verb in the accusative case. The pronoun 'mich' matches the subject 'Ich'.

  2. Du wäschst dir das Gesicht.

    You wash your face.

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

    Because 'das Gesicht' is the direct object (accusative), the reflexive pronoun 'dir' must be in the dative case.

  3. Wir freuen uns auf den Sommer.

    We are looking forward to the summer.

    Word by Word: We rejoice ourselves on the summer.

    This uses a fixed preposition (auf) which is common with reflexive verbs.

  4. Setzt euch bitte!

    Please sit down (plural)!

    Word by Word: Seat yourselves please!

    In the imperative form, the reflexive pronoun 'euch' still follows the verb.

  5. Er verspätet sich oft.

    He is often late.

    Word by Word: He delays himself often.

    The pronoun 'sich' is used for all third-person subjects (er, sie, es, sie-plural, and formal Sie).

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the reflexive pronoun because it isn't used in English.

    Ich freue auf die Party.
    Ich freue mich auf die Party.

    Many German verbs are mandatory reflexives. Without 'mich', the sentence is grammatically incomplete.

  • Using a possessive pronoun instead of a dative reflexive for body parts.

    Ich putze meine Zähne.
    Ich putze mir die Zähne.

    'Meine Zähne' is not wrong, but the dative construction is more usual. The usual German construction uses the dative reflexive pronoun + the definite article.

  • Using the wrong case when a direct object is present.

    Ich wasche mich die Hände.
    Ich wasche mir die Hände.

    If the sentence has an accusative object (die Hände), the reflexive pronoun must shift to the dative (mir).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Reflexive VerbsLevel 2

Learn This First

To learn reflexive verbs, you first need to understand how to conjugate regular verbs and be familiar with accusative pronouns. Most importantly, you must learn the specific set of reflexive pronouns (Reflexivpronomen) that are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same.

Words in This Pattern