Reflexive verbs are an integral part of the German language, enabling speakers to indicate actions that the subject performs on themselves. Understanding how to use these verbs and correctly position the reflexive pronoun "sich" is essential for achieving fluency in German.
What Are Reflexive Verbs?
In German, reflexive verbs are accompanied by reflexive pronouns that refer back to the subject of the sentence. These verbs indicate that the action is being performed by the subject upon themselves. For example:
sich waschen – to wash oneself
sich freuen – to be happy
sich erinnern – to remember
Reflexive pronouns in German vary based on the subject and case (accusative or dative). Here’s a breakdown:
Reflexive Pronouns in the Accusative Case
Subject | Reflexive Pronoun |
ich (I) | mich (myself) |
du (you, informal singular) | dich (yourself) |
er/sie/es (he/she/it) | sich (himself/herself/itself) |
wir (we) | uns (ourselves) |
ihr (you, informal plural) | euch (yourselves) |
sie/Sie (they/you, formal) | sich (themselves/yourself) |
Reflexive Pronouns in the Dative Case
Subject | Reflexive Pronoun |
ich (I) | mir (to myself) |
du (you, informal singular) | dir (to yourself) |
er/sie/es (he/she/it) | sich (to himself/herself/itself) |
wir (we) | uns (to ourselves) |
ihr (you, informal plural) | euch (to yourselves) |
sie/Sie (they/you, formal) | sich (to themselves/yourself) |
When to Use the Accusative vs. Dative Reflexive Pronoun
The choice between accusative and dative reflexive pronouns depends on whether the verb takes a direct object.
If there is no additional object, the reflexive pronoun takes the accusative case.
If there is an additional object, the reflexive pronoun moves to the dative case.
Examples:
Accusative (No Additional Object)
Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.)
Du erinnerst dich an den Urlaub. (You remember the vacation.)
Wir freuen uns auf das Wochenende. (We are looking forward to the weekend.)
Dative (With an Additional Object)
Ich wasche mir die Hände. (I wash my hands.)
Er zieht sich eine Jacke an. (He puts on a jacket.)
Sie kauft sich ein neues Kleid. (She buys herself a new dress.)
Common Reflexive Verbs in German
Reflexive Verbs Always Used with "Sich"
Some verbs are always reflexive and require a reflexive pronoun:
sich beeilen (to hurry up) → Ich beeile mich. (I hurry up.)
sich erholen (to recover) → Du erholst dich schnell. (You recover quickly.)
sich schämen (to be ashamed) → Er schämt sich. (He is ashamed.)
sich verlieben (to fall in love) → Sie verliebt sich in ihn. (She falls in love with him.)
Partially Reflexive Verbs
Some verbs can be used reflexively or non-reflexively, depending on whether the subject and object are the same person.
treffen (to meet someone) → Ich treffe meine Freunde. (I meet my friends.)
sich treffen (to meet with someone) → Ich treffe mich mit meinen Freunden. (I meet up with my friends.)
setzen (to set something down) → Ich setze das Glas auf den Tisch. (I set the glass on the table.)
sich setzen (to sit down) → Ich setze mich auf den Stuhl. (I sit down on the chair.)
Where to Place "Sich" in a Sentence?
1. In Main Clauses
In a normal declarative sentence, the reflexive pronoun follows the conjugated verb.
Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub. (I am looking forward to the vacation.)
Er erinnert sich an die Kindheit. (He remembers childhood.)
2. In Questions
In yes/no questions, the reflexive pronoun comes right after the verb.
Freust du dich auf das Konzert? (Are you looking forward to the concert?)
Schämst du dich? (Are you ashamed?)
In W-questions, the reflexive pronoun comes after the subject.
Wann hast du dich verliebt? (When did you fall in love?)
Warum beschwerst du dich? (Why are you complaining?)
3. In Subordinate Clauses
In subordinate clauses (introduced by "weil", "dass", "ob", etc.), the reflexive pronoun follows the subject and precedes the verb at the end.
Ich glaube, dass du dich irrst. (I believe that you are mistaken.)
Sie sagt, dass sie sich müde fühlt. (She says that she feels tired.)
4. In Imperative Sentences
In commands, the reflexive pronoun follows the verb.
Setz dich! (Sit down!)
Beeilt euch! (Hurry up!)
Freuen Sie sich! (Be happy!)
Reflexive Verbs and Prepositions
Some reflexive verbs require specific prepositions, which influence the case of the object.
Verb | Preposition | Example Sentence |
sich freuen | auf (+ Akk.) | Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende. (I'm looking forward to the weekend.) |
sich erinnern | an (+ Akk.) | Er erinnert sich an seine Kindheit. (He remembers his childhood.) |
sich interessieren | für (+ Akk.) | Sie interessiert sich für Kunst. (She is interested in art.) |
sich bedanken | bei (+ Dat.) / für (+ Akk.) | Ich bedanke mich bei dir für deine Hilfe. (I thank you for your help.) |
Conclusion
Mastering reflexive verbs in German is essential for fluent communication. Understanding when to use accusative vs. dative reflexive pronouns, where to place "sich" in sentences, and which verbs always require reflexive pronouns can significantly improve your command of the language. By practising these structures regularly and exposing yourself to real-world usage, you’ll gain confidence in using reflexive verbs correctly!
What reflexive verbs do you struggle with? Let us know in the comments!
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