Reflexivformen

Reflexivformen, or reflexive forms, are linguistic forms that indicate the subject of a clause is also its object. They commonly appear as reflexive pronouns or reflexive verb forms and are used to express actions performed by the subject on itself or directed back toward the subject.

In German grammar, reflexive forms are realized with personal reflexive pronouns. The accusative forms are mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich, and the dative forms are mir, dir, sich, uns, euch, sich, depending on the sentence. Some verbs require a reflexive pronoun and are called reflexive verbs, such as sich waschen (to wash oneself), sich erinnern (to remember), or sich freuen (to be glad). Other verbs can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively, often with different meanings (for example, setzen vs. sich setzen, to set vs. to sit down oneself). A common pattern involves pairing a reflexive pronoun with a separate accusative object when the body part or item affected is specified, as in Ich kämme mir die Haare (I comb my hair).

Word order in German places the reflexive pronoun after the finite verb in simple tenses, and before the infinitive with modal verbs, as in Ich muss mich heute beeilen (I must hurry today). The reflexive pronoun typically marks the action’s relation to the subject rather than introducing a passive meaning.

Outside German, reflexive forms are expressed similarly in many languages, either through reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself) or through reflexive verb forms or affixes. In English, reflexives are often used for emphasis or when the action involves the subject itself, as in John hurt himself, while other languages may use dedicated reflexive constructions or suffixes.