Reflexive pronouns (Reflexivpronomen) are pronouns used with reflexive verbs to express actions performed by oneself or carried out by oneself and someone else together. In German, reflexive pronouns (Reflexivpronomen) are used frequently, but this is an area of knowledge that easily confuses learners. Today's article will introduce reflexive pronouns.

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Table converting personal pronouns to reflexive pronouns:

1. Position of the reflexive pronoun

- The position of the reflexive pronoun depends on the position of the subject.

• When the subject is in position 1, the reflexive pronoun stands right after the verb.

Ich ärgere mich über ihre Verspätung.

(I am annoyed about her being late.)

• When the subject is a noun and is not in position 1, the reflexive pronoun stands before that subject.

Heute treffen uns die Lehrer um 8 Uhr.

(Today the teachers are meeting at 8 o'clock.)

• However, if the subject is a pronoun (Pronomen), the reflexive pronoun stands after the subject.

Morgen treffen wir uns im Café.

(Tomorrow we are meeting at the café.)

2. Usage

• The reflexive pronoun depends on the subject and can be in the Akkusativ or Dativ.

Ich wasche mein Auto.

(I wash my car.)

→ The verb waschen on its own shows that the subject performs the action on another person/thing. When combined with a reflexive pronoun, the verb waschen becomes a reflexive verb showing that the subject performs an action on themselves:

Ich wasche mich jeden Morgen.

(I wash myself every morning.)

→ When there are two objects, the direct object is put in the Akkusativ and the indirect object, which in this case is the reflexive pronoun, is put in the Dativ.

Ich wasche mir meine Hände.

(I wash my hands.)

***Note: When reflexive pronouns (Reflexivpronomen) are used with "each other" verbs (reziproke Verben), they express the relationship between individuals. These verbs are used only in the plural, so the reflexive pronoun will be in the corresponding plural form.

Die 2 Frauen sehen sich.

= Die 2 Frauen sehen einander.

(The 2 women look at each other.)