GCSE German · Verbs and tenses

Reflexive verbs

Ich freue mich, wir treffen uns: the reflexive pronoun in every person, and ich ziehe mir die Jacke an at Higher.

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Reflexive verbs, explained point by point

Everything the GCSE specification expects you to be able to do, and how to actually do it - the same lesson a signed-in student studies from.

  1. Learn the reflexive pronouns

    A reflexive verb has a pronoun that points back to the subject: ich freue mich, du freust dich, er freut sich, wir freuen uns, ihr freut euch, sie freuen sich. Sich is the form for er, sie, es, Sie and they.

  2. Know the common reflexive verbs

    Many daily-routine and feeling verbs are reflexive: sich anziehen, sich treffen, sich freuen, sich interessieren für, sich fühlen, sich entspannen, sich setzen, sich verstehen mit. Ich interessiere mich für Musik.

  3. Put the reflexive pronoun after the verb

    In a main clause the pronoun follows the verb: Ich ziehe mich an. If the subject comes after the verb, the pronoun usually follows the subject: Morgens ziehe ich mich schnell an.

  4. Use uns, euch and sich for each other

    The plural reflexive pronouns can mean each other: Wir treffen uns am Bahnhof (we meet each other), Sie verstehen sich gut (they get on well).

  5. Use the dative reflexive pronoun when there is another objectHigher only

    When the verb has a direct object as well, ich and du take the dative pronoun: Ich ziehe mir die Jacke an, Kaufst du dir ein Eis? The other persons look the same as before: er zieht sich die Schuhe an.

Reflexive verbs key terms

The words the specification and the mark schemes use, each defined the way an examiner wants it.

Reflexive verb
A verb used with a pronoun that refers back to the subject: sich freuen, to be pleased.
Reflexive pronoun
mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich: the pronoun that goes with a reflexive verb.
Reciprocal
Meaning each other: Wir sehen uns morgen, we'll see each other tomorrow.
Dative reflexive
mir and dir in place of mich and dich when the verb has another object: Ich ziehe mir die Jacke an.
sich interessieren für
To be interested in something, as in Ich interessiere mich für Sport.

Common mistakes in Reflexive verbs

The slips that cost marks year after year, and what to do instead.

  • Leaving out the pronoun, as in Ich freue auf die Ferien.

    A reflexive verb needs its pronoun: Ich freue mich auf die Ferien.

  • Using sich for every person, as in Ich freue sich.

    The pronoun matches the subject: ich freue mich, du freust dich.

  • Using mich with a second object, as in Ich ziehe mich die Jacke an.

    With a second object, ich takes mir: Ich ziehe mir die Jacke an.

  • Putting the pronoun at the start, as in Ich mich freue.

    The verb comes second, then the pronoun: Ich freue mich.

Practice

Try a Reflexive verbs question

A GCSE-style original question from this topic. Have a go before you open the working - deciding on an answer first is what makes the working stick.

Which word completes the sentence? Heute fühlt ___ meine Mutter nicht gut. (My mum isn't feeling well today.)

  1. sich
  2. ihr
  3. sie
  4. mich
Show the answer and the working

Answer: sich

The reflexive pronoun for she is sich, and it can come before a noun subject: Heute fühlt sich meine Mutter nicht gut.

  1. Meine Mutter is she.
  2. Her reflexive pronoun is sich.
  3. It comes right after the verb here.

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