German reflexive pronouns
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Hide- 1.What are reflexive pronouns in German?
- 2.Declension of German reflexive pronouns
- 2.1.Nominative case
- 2.2.Accusative case
- 2.3.Dative case
- 3.Usage and function of reflexive pronouns
- 3.1.Reflexive verbs
- 3.2.Reciprocal verbs
- 4.The position of German reflexive pronouns in a sentence
- 5.Exercises
- 5.1.Exercise of German reflexive pronouns
- 5.2.Exercise: Which German reflexive pronoun is needed?
What are reflexive pronouns in German?
Reflexive pronouns ensure that the action expressed by the predicate is reflected on the subject. They linked to specific verbs that require reflective pronominal use, the so-called reflexive or reciprocal verbs.
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Declension of German reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are declined by their...
- ... number (singular, plural)
- ... case (nominative, accusative, dative)
| Person | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | In English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular | ich | mich | mir | myself |
| 2nd person singular | du | dich | dir | yourself |
| 3rd person singular | er / sie / es | sich | sich | him- /her- / itself |
| 1st person plural | wir | uns | uns | ourselves |
| 2nd person plural | ihr | euch | euch | yourselves |
| 3rd person plural | sie | sich | sich | themselves |
Reflexive pronouns equal personal pronouns, except the 3rd-person forms in singular and plural.
Nominative case
The nominative case is used to express the subject. For this reason thee are no reflective forms to the nominative. It coincide with the personal pronoun.
Examples:
- Das bin ich. - That's me.
- Wohin gehst du? - Where do you go?
Accusative case
Verbs and prepositions which require accusative
| German | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Verbs | sich auf den Weg machen sich auskennen sich ausruhen, sich erholen sich irren ... | to set off to know about (something) to rest to recover to be wrong ... |
| Preposition | bis durch entlang für gegen ohne um ... |
till through along for against without around ...
|
Examples:
- Ich bereite mich für die Prüfung vor. - I prepare myself for the exam.
- Sie wäscht sich. - She washes herself.
Dative case
Verbs and prepositions which require dative
| German | Prepositions | |
|---|---|---|
| Verbs | sich etwas denken sich Mühe geben sich Zeit lassen sich Sorgen machen sich etwas merken sich vorstellen ... | to think something make an effort to take yourself time to worry to memorize something to introduce oneself ... |
| Prepositions | aus bei gegenüber mit nach seit von zu ... | out at opposite with after since from to ... |
Examples:
- Er kocht sich ein Ei. - He cooks (himself) an egg.
- Du machst dir Sorgen. - You worry.
There is no genitive case of reflexive pronouns!
Usage and function of reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns can be used to reflect an action to oneself or to indicate a reciprocal action between two or more people or things.
Reflexive verbs
These verbs need a reflexive pronoun to refer to oneself.
Examples:
- Er schneidet sich. - he cuts himself.
- Ich wünsche mir viel Glück. - I wish myself good luck.
Reciprocal verbs
These verbs need a reflexive pronoun to refer to each other. They are exclusively used in plural form.
Examples:
- Wir lieben uns. - We love each other.
- Sie verstehen sich. - They understand each other.
The position of German reflexive pronouns in a sentence
Unlike in English the reflexive pronoun can occupy different positions in sentences in German.
- Third position: in a main sentence, immediately after the subject and the conjugate verb.
- Fourth position: in a main sentence, when the first place is already occupied by another element and follows verb and subject.
- Before or after the subject: depending on the length of the subject can precede or follow it.
- It can not only stand in the main sentence. It can also be part of a secondary sentences.
| Examples | |
|---|---|
| 3rd position | Er hat sich heute ein neues Auto gekauft. - He bought himself a new car today. |
| 4th posiion | Heute hat er sich ein neues Auto gekauft. - Today he bought himself a new car. |
Before or after the subject | Seit langem wollte Hans sich ein neues Auto kaufen. - Since a long time hans wated to buy (himself) a car. Seit langem wollte sich Hans ein neues Auto kaufen. - Since a long time Hans wated to buy (himself) a car. |
Subordinate clause | Hans ist aufgeregt, weil er sich heute ein neues Auto gekauft hat. - Hans is excited because he bought (himself) a new car today. |