Mastering Reflexive Verbs in German: A Complete Beginner’s Guide with Example

Learning German grammar is not an easy task. And one among those super tough concepts to learn in German grammar is reflexive verbs. These verbs are used in sentences in which the subject and object are the same. To say it better, the sentences using reflexive pronouns are used to describe a scenario in which something or someone is doing something to themselves. Learn how to use reflexive verbs in German with this complete beginner’s guide.

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Reflexive Verbs in German: Introduction

Reflexive verbs in German are used very often in day-to-day conversations. These might include many instances, such as

• Getting ready in the morning
• Expressing emotions
• Describing personal actions

You will use reflexive verbs in German all the time. They can be used to express personal routines or even emotions. For example:

• “Ich wasche mich”—I wash myself
• “Ich freue mich”—I’m happy

In this beginner’s guide, we will learn about reflexive verbs in German from basics to more advanced levels. We will explain everything step-by-step with the help of clear examples. We will also provide you practical tips to help you learn and comprehend this topic better. In this blog, we will learn:

• When to use them
• How to conjugate them
• Common mistakes to avoid

After reading this blog, you can confidently use reflexive verbs in real conversations. You can even master using them in more tenses. So, let us go ahead and learn reflexive verbs in German!

Mastering Reflexive Verbs in German: A Complete Beginner’s Guide with Examples

In this blog, let us master the reflexive verbs in German with the help of clear explanations and examples. Let us dive right in!

What Are Reflexive Verbs?

The first thing to understand in this situation is what reflexive verbs are. The verbs that include a reflexive pronoun, i.e., the pronoun that refers to the subject, are called reflexive verbs. The simplest way to explain this is to say that the person doing the action is also the one receiving it. Here the subject and object are the same. Let us look at some English examples.

• I wash myself.
• She prepares herself.

Here the subjects are “I” and “she,” and the objects are “myself” and “herself,” which are one and the same.When it comes to the German language context, the same idea is expressed with the word “sich” along with a reflexive pronoun; this depends on the subject. Let us look at the same sentences given above as examples here.

• Ich wasche mich (I wash myself)
• Er freut sich (He is happy)

So, we can say that the reflexive verbs often appear with a “sich” in the infinitive form in the German language context. A few examples are given below.

• sich waschen – to wash oneself
• sich beeilen – to hurry
• sich interessieren – to be interested

Reflexive Pronouns in German

How can we learn reflexive verbs without properly understanding reflexive pronouns? Look at the table below. It shows reflexive pronouns in the accusative or general case.

Most of the reflexive verbs use the Akkusativ case, but there are some that use the Dativ case. This happens mostly when another object is involved. Look at the table below to understand these differences better.

Therefore, we can conclude that:

• Use accusative when there’s no other object.
• Use dative when there’s another body part or object involved.

Examples of Common Reflexive Verbs

A list of common reflexive verbs is provided below for your reference.

Separable vs Inseparable Reflexive Verbs

Some reflexive verbs are separable, while others are inseparable. Look at the examples given below.

Some points to keep in mind are:

• In main clauses, the reflexive pronoun usually comes right after the verb.
• In subordinate clauses, it follows the subject.
• Separable verbs often include a prefix that splits off in the present tense (e.g., an, auf, ein).
• Inseparable verbs typically begin with prefixes like be-, ver-, er-, ent-, etc., and do not use “ge-” in the Perfekt.

Reflexive Verbs in Different Tenses

In this section we will learn how reflexive verbs behave in different tenses. Look at the table below.

So, we could say that the position of the reflexive pronoun changes slightly depending on the verb tense but always stays close to the conjugated or auxiliary verb. In compound tenses like Perfekt and Futur, the reflexive pronoun stays close to the auxiliary or modal verb.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Some common mistakes done by newbies while using reflexive verbs are discussed below.

Practice Exercises

Some practice exercises are given below to reinforce what we learned about reflexive pronouns in German.

1. Ich __________ (sich freuen) auf das Konzert.
2. Du __________ (sich waschen) jeden Morgen.
3. Wir __________ (sich beeilen), sonst kommen wir zu spät.
4. Er __________ (sich setzen) neben mich.
5. Ich __________ (sich interessieren) für Sprachen.

Answers

Did you do the practise exercise? Now compare your answers with the ones given below.

1. freue mich
2. wäschst dich
3. beeilen uns
4. setzt sich
5. interessiere mich

How many did you get correct? What were the mistakes you made? Take the help of an experienced mentor to understand the mistakes you made better. Learn the correct concepts from the best study materials. Heard of the Entri Elevate German language proficiency course? Join to gain access to the best German learning materials, online classes, the Goethe exam-oriented syllabus, and the best teachers.

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Reflexive Verbs in German: Conclusion

Want to achieve fluency in the German language? Want to improve your German grammar skills naturally? Then the first step to do is mastering reflexive verbs in German. They are essential for day-to-day conversations, as we cannot express personal routines and feelings without their help. Take your time. Practice daily. Review your notes and practice exercises daily. Discuss your doubts with your mentor. Pay attention to case, person, and tense. Only with constant exposure will new rules from a target language start to feel natural. Happy learning!