Transcript Reflexive Verbs in English

Reflexive Verbs in English
WHAT ARE THEY? The reflexive pronouns are defined as pronoun objects or
complements that refer to the same person(s) or thing(s) as another element
in the sentence, most frequently the subject.
WHAT FORMS DO THEY HAVE?
Person
1
2
3
Singulal
myself
yourself
himself,
herself,
itself,
oneself
Plural
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Reciprocal
each other or one another
each other or one another
each other or one another
Reflexive Verbs in English
WHAT USES DO THEY HAVE? Reflexive pronouns are used
as objects of a verb or a preposition.
WHAT KINDS ARE THERE? Reflexive pronouns are
usually used only when the subjects act directly on
themselves or do something for themselves directly:
Paul cut himself.
I told myself it didn’t matter.
Occasionally, they are used idiomatically:
They always enjoy themselves.
Reflexive Verbs in English
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For a mutual or reciprocal action, we use
each other or one another. This expression
does not change form:
They congratulated each other.
We talked to each other yesterday.
Y’all saw each other last night.
Reflexive Verbs in English
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In English we often omit reflexive and reciprocal objects and
expect everyone to understand what we mean:
We talked yesterday. (“to each other” is understood)
Or we shift to a construction that requires no object:
Paul got hurt. (“hurt himself” is understood)
However, consider the sentence:
We washed this morning.
It is meaningless if you have not heard the rest of the
conversation. It may mean:
We washed ourselves (got washed). OR
We washed our clothes (did the laundry).
Reflexive Verbs in English
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In short, some verbs in English, as in German, just
require a direct object in order to make sense.
Consider the following sentence:
They are enjoying…
Doesn’t this just scream for more information?
Perhaps…
They are enjoying themselves.
Or, they are enjoying the game.
Reflexive Verbs in German
Accusative
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In German, reflexive verbs are usually
identified (in a vocabulary section) by the
reflexive pronoun sich preceding the infinitive
form.
The reflexive pronoun sich, similar to the
English “oneself,” is always used in the third
person singular and plural.
Reflexive Verbs in German
Accusative
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The reflexive pronoun refers to a person who
is both the subject and the object of the
sentence.
When a reflexive pronoun is used as a direct
object, it appears in the accusative case.
Reflexive Verbs in German
Accusative
ich
du
er/ sie / es
wir
ihr
sie
Sie
sich kämen
sich waschen
to comb one’s hair
to wash oneself
kämme mich
kämmst dich
kämmt sich
kämmen uns
kämmt euch
kämmen sich
kämmen sich
wasche mich
wäscht dich
wäscht sich
waschen uns
wascht euch
waschen sich
waschen sich
Reflexive Verbs in German
Accusative
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Contrary to English verbs, many German verbs are always
used with a reflexive pronoun and, therefore, are called
“reflexive verbs.” Examples:
sich freuen auf (+ acc.) – to look forward to
Ich freue mich auf die Reise.
I’m looking forward to the trip.
sich beeilen – to hurry
Wir müssen uns beeilen.
We’ll have to hurry.
Reflexive Verbs in German
Accusative
Some verbs are reflexive in German but not in English:
sich beeilen – to hurry
sich entschuldigen – to apologise
sich freuen auf – to look forward to
sich interessieren für – to be interested in
sich kämmen – to comb one’s hair
sich rasieren – to shave
sich schminken – to put on one’s make-up
sich treffen – to meet
Reflexive Verbs in German
Accusative
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With separable prefix verbs, the prefix goes to
the end of the sentence.
sich anziehen – to get dressed
Er zieht sich an. He gets dressed.
sich ausziehen – to undress
Ich ziehe mich aus. I’m getting undressed
sich umziehen – to change one’s clothes
Ziehst du dich um? Are you getting changed?
Reflexive Verbs in German
Dative
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The reflexive verb appears in the dative case
when it functions as an indirect object.
If you use a reflexive verb with a part of the
body or an article of clothing, you use a dative
reflexive pronoun.
The dative reflexive pronouns are the same as
the accusative reflexive pronouns except for
the I and you forms.
Reflexive Verbs in German
Dative
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ich  mir
Ich putze mir die Zähne.
I clean/brush my teeth. (lit. I clean to me the teeth.)
du  dir
Du ziehst dir ein Hemd an.
You put a shirt on.
er, sie, es, sie, Sie  sich
Sie wäscht sich die Hände.
She’s washing her hands. (lit. She washes to herself
the hands.)
Reflexive Pronouns
Accusative
Dative
ich
mich
mir
du
dich
dir
er / sie / es
sich
sich
wir
uns
uns
ihr
euch
euch
sie
sich
sich
Sie
sich
sich
Reflexive Verbs in German
Command Forms
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Command forms are constructed in the same way that
you have learned before, except that the reflexive
pronoun is now part of the sentence.
sich hinsetzen – to sit down
Setz dich hin! – Sit down!
sich duschen – to take a shower
Duscht euch! – Take a shower!
sich beeilen – to hurry
Beeilen Sie sich, bitte! – Hurry, please!
Das Ende
Vielen Dank!