Grammar Snippet:



Grammar Snippet: Things we do to ourselves

Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns

• Many active verbs may be followed by a direct object that refers to a person, animal or object

Ich trockne meine Hände. = I dry my hands

• The direct object may also refer back to the subject of the sentence

Ich dusche mich. = I shower (myself).

• Reflexive pronouns = Reflexivpronomen are used for activities people do for themselves.

• Many German verbs require reflexive verbs where as in English the reflexive pronoun “self/selves” is never required.

Ich ziehe mich an I’m getting (myself) dressed.

Karl rasiert sich. Karl shaves (himself).

Ich fühle mich krank. I’m feeling sick.

• Some German verbs may or may not be used with a reflexive pronoun (waschen versus sich waschen).

• Some German verbs and verb + preposition expressions* (marked with a *) always require a reflexive pronoun in the accusative and cannot be used without one.

• sich beeilen (to hurry)

• sich freuen auf* (to look forward to)

• sich freuen über* (to be happy about)

• sich konzentrieren auf* (to concentrate on)

• sich verlieben in* (to fall in love with)

• sich verloben mit* (to get engaged to)

• sich trennen von* (to break up with)

• sich etwas teilen (to share sth.)

• sich aufregen (to get upset)

• sich entspannen (to relax)

• sich erholen (to recuperate)

• sich erkälten (to catch a cold)

• sich fit halten (to keep fit)

• sich (wohl) fühlen (to feel)

• sich interessieren (für)* (to be interested in)

• Some verbs that require an accusative object can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively. Beware: in many instances there is a change of meaning!

reflexive non-reflexive

(sich) anziehen to get dressed to dress s.o. else

(sich) kämmen to comb one’s hair to comb

(sich) (hin)legen to lie (down) place, lay (down)

(sich) (hin)setzen) to sit (down) to set sth. down

(sich) treffen to meet one another to meet s.o. else

(sich) verletzen to injure oneself to hurt, injure

(sich) waschen to wash oneself to wash

Reflexive Pronouns—Accusative Case:

|Nominativ |Refl.pronomen |Refl.pronomen Akkusativ |Nominativ |Refl.pronomen |Refl.pronomen Akkusativ |

| |Dativ | | |Dativ | |

|ich |mir |mich |wir |uns |uns |

|du |dir |dich |ihr |euch |euch |

|er,sie es |sich, sich, sich |sich, sich, sich |sie,Sie |sich, sich |sich, sich |

Reflexive verbs with dative reflexive pronouns

• Sentences that have accusative reflexive pronouns express only general activities.

Ich rasiere mich. = I shave (myself).

• To specify which part of the body is being groomed, you need to add more information.

• When a part of the body or an article of clothing is specified, the reflexive pronoun is in the dative case and the direct object (the part of the body or clothing) is in the accusative.

Ich rasiere mir (refl. pronoun in the dative) die Beine (accusative)

Ich putze mir die Zähne. = I brush (myself) my teeth

Sie wäscht sich die Haare.

• When talking about specific items of clothing that are being put on or taken off German speakers often use a dative case reflexive pronoun to designate the beneficiary of the action.

sich das Hemd anziehen = Ich ziehe mir das Hemd an. = I put (myself) the trousers on

sich die Socken ausziehen = du ziehst dir die Socken aus. = I take (myself) the socks off.

• A dative case reflexive pronoun may also designate the beneficiary of actions other than grooming:

Ich backe mir einen Kuchen. I’m baking a cake for myself.

Er hat sich einen BMW gekauft. He bought himself a BMW.

Schreib dir einen Zettel. Write yourself a note.

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Ich lege mich hin. VERSUS: Ich lege das Kind hin. (non-reflexive)

Ich kämme mich. VERSUS Ich kämme den Hund. (non-reflexive)

Er wäscht sich. VERSUS Er wäscht die Katze. (non-reflexive)

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