In German, the verb lassen is one of the most special and important verbs. In today's article we will look at the different uses of the verb lassen and the points to keep in mind when using it.

Let's get started!!

1. lassen used as a regular verb meaning to stop doing something

• Ich lasse das Rauchen.

= Ich höre auf zu rauchen. / Ich rauche nicht mehr. (I'm giving up smoking. / I don't smoke any more.)

2. lassen used as an auxiliary verb

a. Meaning to leave something somewhere, not to take it with you: lassen + Infinitiv

• Ich lasse mein Auto in der Garage stehen. (I leave my car in the garage.)

= Das Auto bleibt in der Garage stehen. (The car stays in the garage.)

• Ich lasse mein Handy zu Hause liegen. (I leave my mobile phone at home.)

= Ich nehme das Handy nicht mit. (I'm not taking the mobile phone with me.)

- Here lassen is used with verbs of state such as: stehen, liegen, sitzen,….

- The second verb is often omitted without affecting the meaning of the sentence. In that case lassen becomes the main verb: Ich lasse mein Handy zu Hause (liegen).

b. Meaning to allow something to be done: lassen + Infinitiv

• Ich lasse meinen Sohn abends fernsehen. (I let my son watch TV in the evening.)

= Ich erlaube meinem Sohn, abends fernzusehen. (I allow my son to watch TV in the evening.)

c. Meaning that something is possible/impossible: lassen sich + Infinitiv

• Der Fernseher lässt sich nicht reparieren. (The TV cannot be repaired.)

= Man kann den Fernseher nicht reparieren. (The TV can't be repaired.)

d. Meaning that something gets done and you don't do it yourself - a substitute for the passive: lassen + Infinitiv

• Ich lasse mein Fahrrad reparieren. (I'm having my bicycle repaired [but I'm not doing it myself].)

= Jemand anderes repariert das Fahrrad für mich. (Someone else is repairing the bicycle for me.)

• Ich lasse mir eine Pizza bringen. (I have a pizza brought to me.)

= Ich bestelle mir eine Pizza und jemand bringt sie mir. (I order a pizza and someone brings it to me.)

• Mein Vater lässt sich morgen operieren. (My father is having an operation tomorrow)

= Passiv: Mein Vater wird morgen operiert. (My father is being operated on tomorrow)

3. Conjugation of the verb lassen

!!! When to use lassen and gelassen

- Active sentences in the present perfect use gelassen:

Ich habe mein Auto zu Hause gelassen.

(I left the car at home.)

- Passive-like sentences in the present perfect use lassen:

Das Problem hat sich einfach lösen lassen.

(The problem was solved easily.)