Reflexive Verben (reflexive verbs)

Reflexive verbs are verbs where the action done by the subject turns back on the subject itself; in German they are formed with a reflexive pronoun (Reflexivpronomen): ich → mich, du → dich, er/sie/es → sich. For example, in the sentence "Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende" (I am looking forward to the weekend) the verb "sich freuen" is conjugated with "mich". In the same way, in "Wäschst du dich?" (Are you having a wash?) and "Sie interessiert sich für Musik" (She is interested in music) the pronoun changes with the subject. At A2, recognising these verbs and choosing the right pronoun is the basis of everyday conversation.

There is just one trick with reflexive verbs: choosing the pronoun that fits the subject. "Ich" goes with "mich", "du" with "dich", "er/sie" with "sich". In the exercise you choose this pronoun in each sentence, and when you get it wrong you see a short note explaining why, for example, "mich" is needed rather than "dich"; so you reinforce the rule through examples. These verbs are everywhere when you describe your daily routine: you keep meeting them in "sich waschen, sich freuen, sich interessieren". In Goethe-Zertifikat A2 and telc A2 they come up often in the parts where you introduce yourself, your interests and your daily routine, so the practice pays off directly. By repeating the pronouns you are unsure of, you get used to using them correctly in both speaking and writing.