Reflexive Verben - UCD Beginners German A1

Reflexive Verben
"Reflexive Verben" are special verbs which require a pronoun to complete the sentence.
In sentences with "refexive verbs" the subject and the object (=pronoun) are the same
person.
The object (=pronoun) reflects back to the subject.
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
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.
sich
anziehen
sich
duschen
sich
waschen
Sie zieht sich an.
[sich anziehen =
separable verb]
Ich dusche mich
Ich wasche mich
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.
I shower/wash myself .
[==> I am the subject, and
also the object]
The only way for this verb not to be
reflexive is if someone
showers/washes someone else.
Ich wasche mich jeden Tag. (I wash myself every day.)
"Ich" is the subject of the sentence. I'm acting. I wash.
"waschen" is the reflexive verb of the sentence.
"mich" (=> ich) is the object of the sentence.
Someone does something with me. Somebody washes me.
Which are the reflexive pronouns?
Nominativ
Akkusativ
Deutsch
Dativ
Englisch
Deutsch
Englisch
ich
mich
(myself)
mir
(myself)
du
dich
(yourself)
dir
(yourself)
er
sich
(himself)
sich
(himself)
sie
sich
(herself)
sich
(herself)
es
sich
(itself)
sich
(itself)
wir
uns
(ourselves)
uns
(ourselves)
ihr
euch
(yourselves)
euch
(yourselves)
sie
sich
(themselves)
sich
(themselves)
• If the object is a direct object (what?) then you need the accusative case.
• If the object is an indirect object (to whom?) then you need the dative case.
There is even an easier way to find out the case.
If there is just one object then reflexive pronoun takes the accusative.
If there are two objects then the reflexive pronoun takes the dative.
examples:
• Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.)
• Ich wasche mir die Hände. (I wash my hands.)
In the first example there is just one object (mich=direct object). So, the reflexive pronoun
must take the accusative.
In the second example there are two objects: "mir" (=indirect object) and "Hände" (=direct
object). So, the reflex pronoun must take the dative.
Word order of reflexive pronouns
In statements the reflexive pronoun follows the conjugated verb (=main verb in typ1sentences / =helping verb in typ2-sentences).
examples:
• Ich dusche mich abends. (I take a shower in the evenings.)
• Er zieht sich aus. (He takes his clothes off.) - separable verb = ausziehen
• Ich wasche mir die Haare. (I wash my hair.)
• Wir treffen uns morgen. (We'll met tomorrow.) Future indicated by tomorrow.
In questions the reflexive pronoun follows the subject.
examples:
• Rasierst du dich jeden Tag? (Do you shave every day?)
• Putzt du dir die Zähne zweimal am Tag? (Do you brush your teeth twice a day?)
see also: Obligatory and Optional Reflexives
•
Reflexive verbs
Listen to the interview: (daily routine):
Der Alltag: Jens Hoffmann