German Reflexive Verbs with Accusative Explained
Reflexive verbs are complicated, but the German language uses them every day in every conversation. This lesson teaches you the reflexive pronouns in the accusative case, the sentence structure with many examples, and two bonus tips that you should not miss.
First the Bad News
There is no rule that tells you whether a verb is reflexive. You simply have to memorize them. The good news is that there is only one difference between a normal verb and a reflexive verb: the reflexive pronoun (das Reflexivpronomen) that is added to it.
The Basics: The Reflexive Pronoun
Take the verb sich konzentrieren (to concentrate). Konzentrieren is the infinitive and sich is the reflexive pronoun. The reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of the sentence, so the two have to match. They must be the same person: Ich konzentriere mich. The subject ich and the pronoun mich both mean me.
| Subject | sich konzentrieren |
|---|---|
| ich | konzentriere mich |
| du | konzentrierst dich |
| er / sie / es | konzentriert sich |
| wir | konzentrieren uns |
| ihr | konzentriert euch |
| sie / Sie | konzentrieren sich |
The video looks only at the accusative case, the dative case comes in another lesson. These pronouns look like the personal pronouns in the accusative (mich, dich, uns, euch). The difference is the third person, singular and plural, where you use sich.
Sentence Structure: Subject in Position 1
The best case is that the subject is in position 1. Then the conjugated verb is in position 2, and the reflexive pronoun follows right behind the verb, in position 3.
- Die Frau freut sich auf ihren Urlaub.
- Sie freut sich auf ihren Urlaub.
Rule 1: Put the Reflexive Pronoun Right Behind the Subject
If the subject is not in position 1, there are two rules. Rule 1 works for almost every kind of sentence: place the reflexive pronoun right behind the subject.
| Type of sentence | Example |
|---|---|
| Main clause | Im Büro beschwert Kai sich sehr oft. |
| Subordinate clause | Kai ist unbeliebt, weil er sich sehr oft beschwert. |
| Question with question word | Warum beschwert Kai sich so oft? |
| Yes / no question | Beschwert er sich wirklich so oft? |
Rule 2: Before or Behind the Subject, but Not with a Pronoun
Rule 2: you can place the reflexive pronoun before or behind the subject. This rule does not work if the subject is a personal pronoun such as ich, du, er. Compare:
- Im Büro beschwert Kai sich sehr oft. and Im Büro beschwert sich Kai sehr oft. Both are correct, because Kai is a noun.
- Im Büro beschwert er sich sehr oft. This is correct. Im Büro beschwert sich er sehr oft is not possible, because you cannot place the reflexive pronoun before a personal pronoun.
The same is true for subordinate clauses and for questions.
More Example Sentences
These are the example sentences from the video:
| Type | Example | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Main clause | Wir interessieren uns für Deutschland. | Subject in position 1, the pronoun right behind the verb. |
| Main clause | Gestern hat sich mein Bruder verletzt. | Mein Bruder is a noun, so the pronoun can come before or behind it. |
| Subordinate clause | Ella und Rainer gehen jetzt zum Arzt, weil sie sich erkältet haben. | The subject is the pronoun sie, so sich comes right behind it. |
| Question with question word | Wann bedankt ihr euch für das Geschenk? | The subject ihr is a pronoun, so there is only one place for euch. |
| Yes / no question | Freust du dich auf das Konzert? | Again a pronoun subject, so no choice. |
| Yes / no question | Möchte sich Petra um die Stelle bewerben? | Petra is a noun, so the pronoun can go in front of it. |
For a longer list of verbs, see German reflexive verbs with AKKUSATIV.
Bonus Tip 1: Reflexive Verbs Often Have a Preposition
Many reflexive verbs come together with a preposition. The best way to memorize them is to learn them together with the preposition, and even better, to make your own example sentence. For example sich konzentrieren auf: Ich konzentriere mich auf meine Arbeit. Continue with German verbs with prepositions and 18 German Verbs with Prepositions for A2.
Bonus Tip 2: Real and Fake Reflexive Verbs
There are also many unechte reflexive Verben (fake reflexive verbs). With them, the pronoun does not have to match the subject. It can even be another object. Sich waschen is a good example:
- Ich wasche mich.
- Ich wasche dich. (weird, but correct)
- Ich wasche mein Baby.
This is not possible with echte reflexive Verben (real reflexive verbs). They need a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject, and you have to use it in every sentence. You cannot leave it out: Ich bedanke mich für deine Aufmerksamkeit. You cannot say ich bedanke or ich bedanke dich.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reflexive verb in German?
A verb that is used with a reflexive pronoun that refers back to the subject, for example sich konzentrieren: Ich konzentriere mich.
How do I know whether a verb is reflexive?
There is no rule. You have to memorize the reflexive verbs, ideally together with an example sentence.
What are the reflexive pronouns in the accusative?
mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich. They look like the accusative personal pronouns, except in the third person, where you use sich.
Where does the reflexive pronoun go in the sentence?
Right behind the conjugated verb when the subject is in position 1, and otherwise right behind the subject. With a noun subject it can also go before the subject, but never before a personal pronoun.
What are real and fake reflexive verbs?
Real reflexive verbs always need a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject (Ich bedanke mich). With fake reflexive verbs such as sich waschen, the object can be someone else (Ich wasche mein Baby).
Want to use reflexive verbs confidently? Our A2 German course practises them step by step.
