Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This lesson covers Dutch reflexive verbs like 'zich wassen' (to wash oneself) and 'zich scheren' (to shave oneself), focusing on conjugations with pronouns such as 'me', 'je', and 'zich' to express daily routines.
  1. Reflexive verbs use me, je, zich as pronouns.
Persoon (Person)Vervoeging (Conjugation)Wederkerend voornaamwoord (Reflexive pronoun)
Ikwasme
Jijwastje
Hij/Zijwastzich
Wijwassenons
Julliewassenje
Zijwassenzich

Exercise 1: Wederkerende werkwoorden (zich wassen, zich scheren)

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

was me, scheert je, vergist zich, wassen zich, haasten je, herinner me, schaamt zich

1. Zich scheren:
Jij ... elke dag voor het werk.
(You shave yourself every day for work.)
2. Zich wassen:
Ik ... elke ochtend met koud water.
(I washed myself with cold water every morning.)
3. Zich vergissen:
Hij ... in de tijd.
(He is mistaken about the time.)
4. Zich schamen:
Hij ... voor zijn fout.
(He is ashamed of his mistake.)
5. Zich wassen:
Zij ... na het sporten.
(They wash themselves after exercising.)
6. Zich haasten:
Jullie ... om op tijd op school te komen.
(You hurry to get to school on time.)
7. Zich herinneren:
Ik ... de afspraak met de dokter.
(I remember the appointment with the doctor.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Ik ____ me elke ochtend voordat ik naar mijn werk ga.

(I ____ myself every morning before I go to work.)

2. Jij ____ je gezicht en handen netjes.

(You ____ your face and hands neatly.)

3. Hij ____ zich elke dag vóór het ontbijt.

(He ____ himself every day before breakfast.)

4. Wij ____ ons na het sporten grondig.

(We ____ ourselves thoroughly after sports.)

5. Jullie ____ je nooit zonder scheerschuim.

(You (plural) ____ yourselves never without shaving foam.)

6. Zij ____ zich elke avond voordat ze naar bed gaat.

(She ____ herself every evening before she goes to bed.)

Understanding Dutch Reflexive Verbs: zich wassen and zich scheren

This lesson introduces you to reflexive verbs in Dutch, a fundamental part of daily communication. Reflexive verbs describe actions that a subject performs on themselves, such as washing or shaving. Mastering these verbs is essential for talking about everyday routines and personal care.

What Are Reflexive Verbs?

Reflexive verbs in Dutch use reflexive pronouns that correspond to the subject of the sentence. Common reflexive verbs include zich wassen (to wash oneself) and zich scheren (to shave oneself).

Reflexive Pronouns and Conjugation

Each subject pronoun pairs with a specific reflexive pronoun. Below is an overview of how to conjugate the verb wassen along with its reflexive pronoun:

PersonConjugationReflexive Pronoun
Ik (I)wasme
Jij (You singular)wastje
Hij/Zij (He/She)wastzich
Wij (We)wassenons
Jullie (You plural)wassenje
Zij (They)wassenzich

Key Points to Remember

  • Reflexive pronouns reflect the subject performing the action on themselves.
  • Common reflexive pronouns you will use are: me, je, zich, ons.
  • Both the verb and the reflexive pronoun change according to the subject.
  • Reflexive verbs are very common when describing daily routines like washing and shaving.

Examples in Context

  • Ik was me elke ochtend voordat ik naar mijn werk ga. (I wash myself every morning before going to work.)
  • Jij wast je gezicht en handen netjes. (You wash your face and hands neatly.)
  • Hij scheert zich elke dag vóór het ontbijt. (He shaves himself every day before breakfast.)
  • Wij wassen ons na het sporten grondig. (We wash ourselves thoroughly after exercising.)
  • Jullie scheren je nooit zonder scheerschuim. (You never shave without shaving foam.)
  • Zij wast zich elke avond voordat ze naar bed gaat. (She washes herself every evening before going to bed.)

Differences Compared to English

Unlike English, where reflexive pronouns like "myself," "yourself," "himself" are optional in some cases, Dutch requires reflexive pronouns with certain verbs to clarify that the action reflects back on the subject. Also, Dutch reflexive pronouns agree closely with the subject, which must be memorized to use verbs correctly.

Useful phrases to keep in mind include:
Zich wassen – to wash oneself
Zich scheren – to shave oneself
Me, je, zich, ons – reflexive pronouns used with different subjects
Remember that these words help indicate the subject is performing the action on themselves, critical for clear and natural Dutch communication.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 13:43