Aim of this section is to learn how to use reflexive verbs.

What are "reflexive Verben"?

example 1:

• Ichwasche mich jeden (I wash myself every day.)

"Ich" is the subject of the sentence. I'm acting. I wash. "waschen" is the reflexive verb of the sentence.

"mich" (=> ich) is the object of the sentence. Someone does something with me. Somebody washes me.

example 2:

• Ichkonzentriere mich auf das (I concentrate on the exam.)

"Ich" is the subject of the sentence. I'm acting. I concentrate. "konzentrieren" is the reflexive verb of the sentence.

"mich" (=> ich) is the object of the sentence although I must admit that's quite difficult to understand because how can somebody or something "being concentrated"?

It's logical that somebody can wash me or move me or shave me but concentrate me???

Well this leads us to the insight that:

Which are the reflexive pronouns?

If you check the chart carefully you see that the reflexive pronouns are almost the same as the personal pronouns. Just the er/sie/es and the sie (pl.) form is new to you.

Dative or Accusative?

The next question is how do you know

if the reflexive pronoun takes the dative case or the accusative case.

There is even an easier way to find out the case.

examples:

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

In the first example there is just one object (mich=direct object). So, the reflexive pronoun must take the accusative.

In the second example there are two objects: "mir" (=indirect object) and "Hände" (=direct object). So, the reflex pronoun must take the dative.

Word order of reflexive pronouns

In statements the reflexive pronoun follows the conjugated verb (=main verb in typ1-sentences / =helping verb in typ2-sentences).

examples:

• Ich dusche mich (I take a shower in the evenings.)
• Er bewegt sich sehr langsam. (He moves very )

• Ich habe mir die Haare (I washed my hair.)
• Wir haben uns gestern (We met yesterday.)

In questions the reflexive pronoun follows the subject.

examples:

• Rasierst du dich jeden Tag? (Do you shave every day?)
• Erinnert ihr euch an Joy? (Do you remember Joy?)

• Hast du dir die Zähne geputzt? (Have you brushed your teeth?)
• Habt ihr euch erholt? (Have you recovered?)

general verbs

special verbs to describe the daily routine

I added in brackets the case (A) = accusative / (D) = dative.