LEKTION 33
Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs are verbs whose agent performs an action which is directed at itself.
| Sich gewöhnen |
To get used to (the subject has to get used to something) |
| Sich freuen |
To be happy (the subject of the verbs gets happy) |
Reflexive verbs always have to be accompanied by a reflexive pronoun. The reflexive pronoun sometimes goes in the accusative or the dative.
| |
Accusative |
Dative |
| 1st Person Singular |
Mich |
Mir |
| 2nd Person Singular |
Dich |
Dir |
| 3rd Person Singular |
Sich |
Sich |
| 1st Person Plural |
Uns |
Uns |
| 2nd Person Plural |
Euch |
Euch |
| 3rd Person Plural |
Sich |
Sich |
In sentences with the structure "Subject + verb + object", the reflexive pronoun goes after the verb. However, with those sentences that have an auxiliary verb or main verb at the end of the sentence, the reflexive pronoun goes in front of the verb.
Here are some examples:
| Ich freue mich über das Geschenk |
I'm delighted with the present |
| Ich kann mich nicht freuen |
I can't cheer myself up |
| Wir treffen uns |
We bumped into each other |
| Wir können uns treffen |
We could bump into each other |
These reflexive verbs are sometimes accompanied by the reflexive pronoun in either the accusative or dative. You need to know each case in order to know the form they demand.
Here are some examples:
| Verbs with accusative |
Verbs with dative |
| Sich ändern |
To change |
Sich wünschen |
To wish/want |
| Sich trennen |
To separate |
Sich kaufen |
To buy |
| Sich treffen |
To meet |
Sich suchen |
To ask for |
| Sich freuen |
To be glad |
Sich vorstellen |
To imagine |
| Sich fürchten |
To be afraid |
Sich leisten |
To permit/allow oneself |
VOCABULARY
| Eagle |
Adler (m) |
Parrot |
Papagei (m) |
| Falcon |
Falke (m) |
Ostrich |
Strauss (m) |
| Dove |
Taube (f) |
Partridge |
Rebhuhn (n) |
| Vulture |
Geier (m) |
Goldfinch |
Stieglitz (m) |
| Crow |
Rabe (m) |
Nightingale |
Nachtigall (f) |
| Stork |
Storch (m) |
Duck |
Ente (f) |
| Canary |
Kanarienvogel (m) |
Goose |
Gans (f) |
| Seagull |
Möwe (f) |
Swan |
Schwan (m) |
| Sparrow |
Sperling (m) |
Cukoo |
Kuckuck (m) |
| Swallow |
Schwalbe (f) |
Condor |
Kondor (m) |
| Owl |
Uhu (m) |
Bat |
Fledermaus (f) |
