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What are German Reflexive Pronouns? (Reflexivpronomen)
The German Reflexive Pronouns are mich, mir, dich, dir, sich, uns, euch and sich. We use them together with Reflexive and Reciprocal verbs.
They always correspond to the subject and can only be in the Dative and Accusative case.
Examples:
- „Ich wasche mir die Hände.“
- „Wir treffen uns.”
How to form Reflexive Pronouns
The subject determines the Reflexive Pronouns, and you have to decline them:
There is a difference between Accusative and Dative in the 1st and 2nd Person singular.
Use of Reflexive Pronouns
Use with Reflexive Verbs:
Reflexive Verbs - Verbs that refer back to the subject itself.
- „Ich wasche mich.“ - Accusative
- „Ich wasche mir die Hände.“ - Dative
In general, the Reflexive Pronoun is in the Accusative. However, it is only in the Dative if the verb requires a Dative Complements or both an Accusative and Dative complement.
Simply Explained: If there are two (grammatical) objects, we use the Reflexive Pronoun in the Dative case. It is also used in the Dative case if the verb requires it, like „sich schaden“.
- „Du schadest dir.“ - Dative
- „Ich kaufe mir ein Auto.“ - Dative
Use with Reciprocal Verbs:
Reciprocal verbs are verbs with a Plural subject where the two people in the subject perform the action with the other person in the subject. Reciprocal Reflexive Pronouns correspond to the meaning „einander/miteinander“ and thus exist only in the Plural.
- „Die 2 Frauen sehen sich.“ = „Sie sehen einander.“
- „Sie streiten sich.“ = „Sie streiten miteinander.“
These verbs also include: „sich kennen“, „sich lieben“, „sich einigen“, „sich küssen“
Recommendation: Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive pronouns are mainly used with Reflexives Verbs. There is an extra lesson in which I explain the use of Reflexive verbs in great detail: Reflexive Verbs.
Summary
- Reflexive Pronouns always correspond to the subject.
- They can only be in the Dative and Accusative cases.
- If there is no 2nd object and the verb doesn't use Dative complement, the Reflexive pronoun is Accusative.
Related Topics:
Entire lesson in German only: Reflexivpronomen
Reflexive pronouns are used mainly with Reflexiven Verben (Reflexive Verbs).
More lessons on Pronouns:
- Was sind Pronomen? (What are Pronouns?)
- Personalpronomen (Personal Pronoun)
- Possessivpronomen (Possessive Pronoun)
- Demonstrativpronomen (Demonstrative Pronoun)
- Relativpronomen (Relative Pronoun)
- Indefinitpronomen (Indefinite Pronoun)
- Pronomen „es" (Pronoun "es")
Pronouns have to be declined. Therefore, you must also be familiar with the declension and the deutschen Fällen (German Cases):
You can find an overview of all topics under German Grammar.
Recommendation: Free lessons in Email Grammar course.
