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      Denken Jugendliche heute global? Accusative and dative reflexive verbs

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use accusative and dative reflexive verbs, including reciprocal forms, to understand and talk about how young people engage with global issues.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. We usually use accusative reflexive pronouns with reflexive verbs: 'mich', 'dich', 'sich', 'uns', 'euch', 'sich'.
      2. Some verbs are used with dative reflexive pronouns. 'Mir' and 'dir' are used instead of 'mich' and 'dich'.
      3. In two-verb structures, such as with modal verbs, the reflexive pronoun comes directly after the first verb.
      4. In sentences with two pronouns, the object pronoun comes before the dative reflexive pronoun.
      5. If the action of the verb is two-way, plural reflexive pronouns can mean ‘each other’. This is called reciprocal use.

      Keywords

      • Reflexive pronoun - used to indicate doing something to yourself, words like ‘myself’ and ‘yourself’

      • Reciprocal - describes an action that is two-way or mutual

      • Dative - case used for the indirect object in a sentence and after a dative verb or preposition

      Common misconception

      If we see a reflexive pronoun, e.g., 'uns' or 'sich', this always means that the subject (doer) and object (receiver) of the verb are the same.

      Some plural reflexive verbs are reciprocal, meaning the action of the verb is done 'to each other' rather than 'to oneself'. The word 'gegenseitig' can be used to emphasise reciprocal use. Otherwise, use context to work out which meaning is intended.

      Teacher tip

      Reflexive and reciprocal use of verbs with dative reflexive pronouns is Higher-only grammar.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which word means 'just as'?

      beide
      Correct answer: genauso
      links
      rechts
      bewusst

      Q2.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:auswählen,to choose, select

      to choose, select

      Correct Answer:erwarten,to expect, expecting

      to expect, expecting

      Correct Answer:fürchten,to fear, be afraid of

      to fear, be afraid of

      Correct Answer:fühlen,to feel, feeling

      to feel, feeling

      Correct Answer:antworten,to answer, answering

      to answer, answering

      Correct Answer:vorhaben,to have in mind, be planning, intend

      to have in mind, be planning, intend

      Q3.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:Politik (f),politics

      politics

      Correct Answer:Beziehung (f),relationship

      relationship

      Correct Answer:Krieg (m),war

      war

      Correct Answer:Zukunft (f),future

      future

      Correct Answer:Welt (f),world

      world

      Correct Answer:Versuch (m),attempt, experiment

      attempt, experiment

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'I don't understand what happened yesterday.'

      1 - ich
      2 - verstehe
      3 - nicht
      4 - was
      5 - gestern
      6 - passiert
      7 - ist

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'Es gab nur zwei Gruppen.'

      Correct Answer: there were only two groups, there were only 2 groups

      Q6.
      Write in German: 'We have to be patient.'

      Correct Answer: wir müssen geduldig sein, wir muessen geduldig sein

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the subject pronouns and reflexive pronouns.

      Correct Answer:ich,mich

      mich

      Correct Answer:du,dich

      dich

      Correct Answer:er, sie, es; sie, Sie,sich

      sich

      Correct Answer:wir,uns

      uns

      Correct Answer:ihr,euch

      euch

      Q2.
      'Ich bin __________ sicher, dass du ihn gesehen hast.' Choose the correct missing word.

      mich
      dich
      Correct answer: mir
      dir

      Q3.
      Which of these sentences are reciprocal?

      Er erklärt sich.
      Correct answer: Wir streiten uns.
      Sie äußert sich.
      Correct answer: Sie streiten sich.
      Correct answer: Wir kennen uns.

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'You can't afford that.'

      1 - du
      2 - kannst
      3 - das
      4 - dir
      5 - nicht
      6 - leisten

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