German conjugation explanation

Reflexive pronouns

<p>Reflexive pronouns (<span style="font-style: italic;">Reflexivpronomen</span>) are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person or thing. The action "reflects" back onto the subject. </p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">The Forms</div>

<p>For the third person singular and plural (<span style="font-style: italic;">er, sie, es, sie</span>) and the formal form (<span style="font-style: italic;">Sie</span>), the reflexive pronoun is always <strong>sich</strong>.</p>

<p>However, for the first and second person singular (<span style="font-style: italic;">ich, du</span>), the form changes depending on the grammatical case: <strong>Accusative</strong> or <strong>Dative</strong>.</p>

<div class="table_container">

<div class="three_column_table">

<div><strong>Person</strong></div>

<div><strong>Accusative</strong></div>

<div><strong>Dative</strong></div>

<div><strong>ich</strong></div>

<div><strong>mich</strong></div>

<div><strong>mir</strong></div>

<div><strong>du</strong></div>

<div><strong>dich</strong></div>

<div><strong>dir</strong></div>

<div>er/sie/es</div>

<div>sich</div>

<div>sich</div>

<div>wir</div>

<div>uns</div>

<div>uns</div>

<div>ihr</div>

<div>euch</div>

<div>euch</div>

<div>sie/Sie</div>

<div>sich</div>

<div>sich</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_question">When to use Accusative vs. Dative?</div>

<p>Choosing the correct case depends on whether there is another object in the sentence.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">1. Accusative (The Default)</div>

<p>If the reflexive verb acts directly on the subject and there is <strong>no other direct object</strong> in the sentence, use the <strong>Accusative</strong> case.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich wasche <span class="green_emphasis">mich</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I wash myself.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Du wäschst <span class="green_emphasis">dich</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You wash yourself.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Wir interessieren <span class="green_emphasis">uns</span> für Musik. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We are interested in music.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">2. Dative (With a Direct Object)</div>

<p>However, if the sentence already contains a <strong>Direct Object</strong> (Accusative object), the reflexive pronoun changes to <strong>Dative</strong>. This often implies doing something <em>for</em> oneself or to a <em>part</em> of oneself.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich wasche <span class="green_emphasis">mir</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">die Hände</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I wash my hands.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Here, <span class="brown_emphasis">die Hände</span> is the direct object being washed, so the reflexive pronoun becomes <span class="green_emphasis">mir</span>.</div>

<br />

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Du kaufst <span class="green_emphasis">dir</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">ein Auto</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You buy yourself a car.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Because <span class="brown_emphasis">ein Auto</span> is the direct object, we use the dative <span class="green_emphasis">dir</span> instead of <span style="font-style: italic;">dich</span>.</div>

<p>Common verbs that often take a dative reflexive pronoun because they usually involve an object include

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/kaufen/" title="Click to see conjugations for kaufen" target="_blank">kaufen</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/waschen/" title="Click to see conjugations for waschen" target="_blank">waschen</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/vorstellen/" title="Click to see conjugations for vorstellen" target="_blank">vorstellen</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Summary of Meaning</div>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>Accusative (mich/dich):</strong> Reflexive verb + NO direct object.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich dusche <span class="green_emphasis">mich</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I shower.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>Dative (mir/dir):</strong> Reflexive verb + direct object.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich putze <span class="green_emphasis">mir</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">die Zähne</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I brush my teeth.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p><strong>Note:</strong> When using reflexive verbs in the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/52/" target="_blank">Perfect tense</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/german_auxiliary_verb/" target="_blank">HABEN or SEIN</a>