Reflexive Pronouns with Akkusativ and Dativ in German

Introduction to Reflexive Pronouns (Reflexivpronomen)

Reflexive pronouns (Reflexivpronomen) are used when the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing. In English, they correspond to words like myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.

In German, reflexive pronouns change according to case (Akkusativ or Dativ) and person (ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie).

Reflexive Pronouns in Akkusativ and Dativ

Reflexive Pronouns Chart

Rule: Most verbs take the Akkusativ reflexive pronoun. Some specific verbs, especially those involving benefit or harm to oneself, require the Dativ reflexive pronoun.

Reflexive Pronouns in Akkusativ

Reflexive pronouns are used in the Akkusativ when the verb does not take a separate direct object. In this case, the action turns back to the subject itself. The subject itself performs and receives the action.

Examples:

Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself)

“mich” (Akkusativ) because “waschen” does not have a direct object.

Er entschuldigt sich. (He apologizes.)

“sich” (Akkusativ) because “entschuldigen” is a reflexive verb.

Sie freut sich auf den Urlaub. (fuel She is looking to the vacation.)

“sich” (Akkusativ) because “freuen” is reflexive.

Wir treffen uns um 18 Uhr. (We meet each other at 6 PM)

“uns” (Akkusativ) because “treffen” is reflexive in this case.

Reflexive Pronouns in Dativ

Reflexive pronouns are in the Dativ when the verb has an additional direct object.

Examples:

Ich kaufe mir ein Buch. (I buy myself a book.)

“mir” (Dativ) because “ein Buch” is the direct object.

Du kannst dir Zeit nehmen. (You can take your time.)

“dir” (Dativ) because “Zeit” is the direct object.

Er hat sich eine Jacke gekauft. (He bought himself a jacket.)

“sich” (Dativ) because “eine Jacke” is the direct object.

Wir leisten uns ein neues Auto. (We afford ourselves a new car.)

“uns” (Dativ) because “ein neues Auto” is the direct object.

• Rule: If the sentence includes a direct object (action which is being done), the reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself etc.) is in the Dativ.

Differences Between Akkusativ and Dativ Reflexive Pronouns

List of Reflexive Verbs with Akkusativ and Dativ

Reflexive Verbs with Akkusativ

These verbs always take the Akkusativ reflexive pronoun:

sich freuen (to be happy)
sich ärgern (to be annoyed)
sich entschuldigen (to apologize)
sich interessieren (to be interested)
sich konzentrieren (to concentrate)
sich beeilen (to hurry)
sich setzen (to sit down)

Reflexive Verbs with Dativ

These verbs always take the Dativ reflexive pronoun:

sich etwas kaufen (to buy oneself something)
sich etwas wünschen (to wish for something)
sich etwas vorstellen (to imagine something)
sich etwas merken (to remember something)
sich etwas nehmen (to take something for oneself)
sich etwas leisten (to afford something)

Rule:

• If there is no additional object → Reflexive pronoun is in Akkusativ
• If there is an extra object in the sentence → Reflexive pronoun is in Dativ

• Common Akkusativ Reflexive Verbs:

These verbs do not require an extra object.

Examples:

Ich entspanne mich.
I relax.

Er erinnert sich an die Schule.
He remembers school.

• Common Dativ Reflexive Verbs:

These verbs require an additional object.

Examples:

Ich kaufe mir ein Buch.
I buy myself a book.

Sie wünscht sich eine Reise.
She wishes for a trip.

Reflexive Verbs That Change Meaning with Akkusativ vs. Dativ

Some verbs change their meaning depending on whether they take a reflexive pronoun in the Akkusativ or Dativ.

Example: “sich setzen” vs. “sich etwas setzen”

• • • Ich setze mich auf den Stuhl. (I sit down on the chair. → Akkusativ)
    • Ich setze mir hohe Ziele. (I set high goals for myself. → Dativ)

Example: “sich waschen” vs. “sich etwas waschen”

• • • Er wäscht sich. (He washes himself. → Akkusativ)
    • Er wäscht sich die Hände. (He washes his hands. → Dativ)

Example: “sich überlegen” (always Dativ)

Ich überlege mir die Antwort.
I am thinking about the answer.

Reflexive Pronouns with Prepositions

Some reflexive verbs require a preposition, and this preposition determines which case will follow.

Verbs with Akkusativ Reflexive Pronouns

These verbs are always Akkusativ, even if they have a preposition:

Examples:

Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub.
I am looking forward to the vacation.

Er erinnert sich an seine Kindheit.
He remembers his childhood.

Sie ärgert sich über das schlechte Wetter.
She is annoyed about the bad weather.

Verbs with Dativ Reflexive Pronouns

These verbs require Dativ, often with an extra object:

Ich mache mir Sorgen um dich.
I am worried about you.

Er denkt sich eine Geschichte aus.
He makes up a story.

Du kannst dir das nicht vorstellen.
You can’t imagine that.