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Reflexivpronomen und reflexive Verben

  • Reflexive pronouns (Reflexivpronomen) are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same person or thing.
  • Reflexive verbs (Reflexive Verben) are verbs that require a reflexive pronoun to complete the meaning of the sentence.

1. Concept of reflexive pronouns (Reflexivpronomen)​

  • Reflexive pronouns are used when the action performed by the subject reflects back onto the subject itself.
  • They change according to the subject pronoun.

🔹 Reflexive pronouns by person​

PersonAccusativeDative
Ichmichmir
Dudichdir
Er/sie/essichsich
Wirunsuns
Ihreucheuch
Sie/siesichsich

Examples:

  • Ich wasche mich.
    (I wash myself.)

  • Du interessierst dich für Musik.
    (You are interested in music.)

  • Er freut sich auf den Urlaub.
    (He is looking forward to the vacation.)

Note:

"Sich" is used for third person singular and plural.
"Mich", "dich", "uns", "euch" are used for the other persons.

2. When to use which case for reflexive pronouns​

📌 Reflexive pronouns are used in accusative or dative depending on the verb.

🔹 When to use accusative?​

Use accusative when there is no other direct object in the sentence.

Examples:

  • Ich wasche mich.
    (I wash myself.)

  • Er erinnert sich an seine Kindheit.
    (He remembers his childhood.)

🔹 When to use dative?​

Use dative when there is another accusative object in the sentence.

Examples:

  • Ich wasche mir die Hände.
    (I wash my hands.)

  • Er kauft sich ein neues Auto.
    (He buys himself a new car.)

Note:

If there is no accusative object, the reflexive pronoun is accusative.
If there is an accusative object, the reflexive pronoun is dative.

3. Reflexive verbs (Reflexive Verben)​

  • Some German verbs always require a reflexive pronoun to complete their meaning.
  • There are two types: true reflexive verbs and non-true reflexive verbs.

3.1. Non-true reflexive verbs (Nicht echt reflexive Verben)​

These verbs can also be used without a reflexive pronoun.

Examples:

  • Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.) → Ich wasche das Auto. (I wash the car.)
  • Er setzt sich. (He sits down.) → Er setzt das Kind auf den Stuhl. (He puts the child on the chair.)
Note:

You can omit the reflexive pronoun if there is another object.

3.2. True reflexive verbs (Echt reflexive Verben)​

These verbs always require a reflexive pronoun and cannot omit it.

Examples:

  • Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub.
    (I look forward to the vacation.)

  • Du beschwerst dich über das Essen.
    (You complain about the food.)

Note:

You cannot use these verbs without the reflexive pronoun.
If you omit it, the sentence would be meaningless or grammatically incorrect.

4. The special verb "vorstellen"​

  • The verb "vorstellen" can have different meanings depending on how it is used with a reflexive pronoun.

4.1. "Vorstellen" as an independent verb​

Example:

  • Der Manager stellt das neue Produkt vor.
    (The manager presents the new product.)
Note:

No reflexive pronoun is needed.
It means "to present/introduction of something".

4.2. "Vorstellen" as a reflexive verb with accusative reflexive pronoun​

Examples:

  • Ich stelle mich der Klasse vor.
    (I introduce myself to the class.)

  • Er stellt sich seinem neuen Chef vor.
    (He introduces himself to his new boss.)

Note:

Use accusative when the subject introduces themselves.

4.3. "Vorstellen" as a reflexive verb with dative reflexive pronoun​

Examples:

  • Ich stelle mir eine Reise nach Japan vor.
    (I imagine a trip to Japan.)

  • Er stellt sich ein Leben ohne Internet vor.
    (He imagines a life without the internet.)

Note:

Use dative when it means "to imagine".
The actor of the action is always in dative.

🎯 5. Summary of key points​

note
  • Reflexive pronouns change according to person and are in accusative or dative.
  • Use accusative if there is no other direct object; dative if there is one.
  • There are two types of reflexive verbs: true reflexive and non-true reflexive.
  • Some verbs like "vorstellen" change meaning depending on the reflexive pronoun.

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