klar↗A2 grammar topics

A2 · SUPPLEMENTARY GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Reflexive pronouns in accusative and dative

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject. With ich and du, accusative and dative differ: mich/mir and dich/dir. A reflexive construction with another accusative object often uses dative for the person: Ich wasche mir die Hände. Learn each verb pattern, including any fixed preposition.

Reference

SubjectAccusativeDative
ichmichmir
dudichdir
er / sie / essichsich
wirunsuns
ihreucheuch
sie / Siesichsich

Try four exercises

Choose an answer, then check your work. No signup needed. Results stay on this page and do not add ranking points.

1. Ich wasche ___. (myself)
Answer and explanation

mich

With no separate accusative object here, use mich.

2. Ich wasche ___ die Hände.
Answer and explanation

mir

Die Hände is accusative; the reflexive person is dative mir.

3. Du freust ___ auf den Urlaub.
Answer and explanation

dich

Sich freuen auf uses an accusative reflexive pronoun here.

4. Wir erinnern ___ an den Tag.
Answer and explanation

uns

The reflexive form for wir is uns.

Use it yourself

Write or say two new sentences using this pattern. Compare the forms and word order with the reference above.

Next: Relative clauses with der die das den and dem →