Deep Dive into the Reflexive Pronouns German for Beginners

Definition of Reflexive Pronouns

There are many different types of pronouns, out of which one type is reflexive pronouns. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject forms of personal pronouns. You can refer back to the person you previously mentioned using reflexive pronouns. In a sentence, reflexive pronouns can function as direct or indirect objects. The person or thing that is directly affected by the action of the verb is called a direct object, and the person or thing that receives the direct object is called an indirect object.

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Reflexive Pronouns in English

When the subject and object of a phrase are the same, reflexive pronouns are used. These pronouns end in -self or -selves and are called "reflexive" because they reflect the action back onto the subject. The following are the nine reflexive pronouns in English:

 There are various methods to utilize reflexive pronouns:

1. When both the subject and the object refer to the same person or thing. For example, "I taught myself to play the guitar."
2. To highlight a noun. For instance, "She couldn't believe they made the costumes themselves!"
3. To indicate that the subject is performing the action independently, use the prepositions by or for. As an illustration, "I did it by myself."

Reflexive Pronouns in German

Reflexive pronouns in German are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same person, meaning the subject performs an action on themselves. They show that one is performing the activity on oneself. These pronouns are called "reflexive" because the action reflects back onto the subject.

In German, reflexive pronouns are formed by adding "Sich" to the personal pronoun. They are commonly used with reflexive verbs that imply the subject is performing on himself. For instance, sich anziehen" means "to put on". Additionally, reflexive pronouns in German appear in idiomatic expressions and reflexive contexts. Understanding how to use them correctly will significantly improve your command of German pronouns.

German Reflexive Pronouns Chart

The German Reflexive Pronouns Chart is a helpful tool for choosing the correct reflexive pronoun based on the subject and the verb’s case. It shows which form to use depending on whether the sentence requires the accusative or dative case. Here’s the chart to guide you:

Moreover, the German Reflexive pronouns chart shows that the third-person singular and plural use "sich" as the reflexive pronoun for both accusative and dative cases, regardless of gender. Similarly, the formal second-person singular and plural (Sie) also uses "sich" as its reflexive pronoun, similar to the third-person plural.

How to Use Reflexive Pronouns in German

The German reflexive pronouns are an integral part of German grammar that are essential to be learned and practised. Reflective pronouns are used with reflexive verbs in both the accusative and dative cases. So, the following are the accusative and dative reflexive pronouns in German explained for you in detail:

Reflexive Pronouns in Accusative Case

When there is no other object in a phrase, and the subject and object are the same, reflexive pronouns are used in the accusative case. Moreover, verbs that take a direct object are typically paired with accusative reflexive pronouns in German. These pronouns take the place of the direct object in the sentence, which is generally the person carrying out the action. The following are the accusative pronouns in German:

Singular

Plural

Below are some common accusative reflexive pronouns German phrases for you to explore:

Reflexive Pronouns in Dative Case

Dative reflexive pronouns in German are used with verbs that require an indirect object. The indirect object in the sentence is then replaced with these pronouns when the subject and the indirect object are the same. If the subject and the indirect object differ, regular dative pronouns are used. The following are the reflexive pronouns in German in the dative case:

Singular

Plural

Next are some common phrases which show the use of reflexive pronouns German in the dative case:

How to Pick the Correct Reflexive Pronoun?

Now that you are aware of the various types of German reflexive pronouns, it is necessary to understand which one to use and where. Hence, here are some pointers to help you out:

• Firstly, you need to know which case to use. To find that out, you need to check whether the direct object in the sentence is the same as the subject or not. If it is the same, then you need to use the accusative case.
• If you want to specify how the object is related to the subject in the statement, then you can use the dative case.
• The reflexive pronouns German will follow the conjugated verb form if the verb has more than one word. For instance, Ich habe mich gewaschen.” – I have washed myself.

Mistakes to Avoid in Using Reflexive Pronouns German

Making mistakes in the initial stages of learning a language is natural. However, if you wish to master the language, then you need to reduce the number of mistakes you make. Hence, the following are some errors to avoid while using reflexive pronouns German language:

1. When you are not using the reflexive pronoun in the sentence where it is required, you are making a mistake. For instance:

Incorrect: Ich freue auf die Party.

Correct: Ich freue mich auf die Party. (I'm looking forward to the party.)

2. While using the reflexive pronouns, you need to remember to use the correct German cases. Otherwise, it will be grammatically incorrect. For example,

Incorrect: Ich wasche mir. (using dative instead of accusative)

Correct: Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.)

3. Forgetting to use the German reflexive pronoun in the right place may change the sentence's meaning. For instance:

Incorrect: Ich mich freue.

Correct: Ich freue mich. (I'm happy.)

Conclusion

On the whole, these are the different kinds of reflexive pronouns in German. They are used in both accusative and dative cases in the German language. Moreover, if you want to learn German from A1 to C2 level, then you can consult the experts at Gradding. Here, you will get German online coaching that will help you enhance your German skills. Moreover, there are different lesson plans that you can choose from to learn this language.

Also Read: 

• German Possessive Pronouns
• German Personal Pronouns 
• German Adjectives