21.8. German Verb Conjugation: Reflexive Verbs

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German verb conjugation is a crucial topic for anyone learning the language, especially when it comes to reflexive verbs. These verbs are those in which the action reflects on the subject itself, that is, the subject performs and receives the action. In German, reflexive verbs are accompanied by reflexive pronouns, which vary according to grammatical case.

To begin with, let's understand the reflexive pronouns in the accusative. In German we have: "mich" for "I", "dich" for "you/you", "sich" for "he/she/it", "uns" for "us", "euch" for "you/ you", and again "sich" for "they". For example, the verb "sich freuen" (rejoice) is conjugated as "Ich freue mich" (I rejoice), "Du freust dich" (You rejoice), "Er freut sich" (He rejoices), and so on.

In addition, we have the reflexive pronouns in the dative: "mir" for "I", "dir" for "you/you", "sich" for "he/she/it", "uns" for "we" , "euch" for "you/you", and again "sich" for "they/they". These are used with reflexive verbs that require the dative, like "sich etwas merken" (to remember something). The conjugation would be "Ich merke mir das" (I remember that), "Du merkst dir das" (You remember that), "Er merkt sich das" (He remembers that), and so on.

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It is important to note that not all reflexive verbs in German have a reflexive equivalent in English. For example, the verb "sich treffen" (to find oneself) can simply be translated as "to find" in English. Similarly, "sich fühlen" (to feel) can be translated as "feel".

Also, some verbs can be reflexive or not, depending on the context. For example, "sich ändern" (to move) is reflexive, but "ändern" (to change) is not. In "Ich ändere meine Meinung" (I change my opinion), the verb "ändern" is not reflexive. But in "Ich ändere mich" (I change), it's reflective.

When it comes to conjugation, reflexive verbs follow the same rules as regular or irregular verbs in German. This means that they can end in "-en", "-eln", or "-ern", and can have different endings depending on the tense and the subject. For example, "sich freuen" is conjugated as "freue", "freust", "freut", "freuen", "freut", and "freuen" in the present tense.

Finally, it is important to remember that reflexive verbs always require a reflexive pronoun, even when one is not needed in English. For example, in German we say "Ich fühle mich gut" (literally, "I feel good") and not "Ich fühle gut".

In summary, German reflexive verbs are an important part of German grammar and take practice to master. With time and practice, however, you'll get used to them and they'll become second nature. Remember to always use the appropriate reflexive pronoun and follow the conjugation rules. With that, you'll be one step closer to speaking German like a native speaker!

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6321.9. German Verb Conjugation: Separable Verbs