A2.27 - Clothing styles and fashion

Reflexive verbs: „sich kämmen, sich freuen, ..."

Reflexive Verben: „sich kämmen, sich freuen, ..."

Reflexive Verben mit Dativ/Akkusativ werden verwendet, wenn die Handlung das Subjekt direkt oder indirekt betrifft.

(Reflexive verbs with dative/accusative are used when the action affects the subject directly or indirectly.)

What changes: “mich” vs “mir” with reflexive verbs

With many reflexive verbs (like sich kämmen) German must choose a case for the reflexive pronoun:

  • Akkusativ = the reflexive pronoun is the direct object.
  • Dativ = the reflexive pronoun is “to/for myself” because something else is the direct object.

Think: Who receives the action? vs What is being done?

The quick decision rule (A2-friendly)

  1. Is there an extra accusative object (a “thing”)?
    • No → reflexive pronoun in Akkusativ.
    • Yes → reflexive pronoun in Dativ.
Structure Meaning German example
Verb + Reflexive (only) “I comb myself.” (no named body part/thing) Ich kämme mich.
Verb + Reflexive + Accusative object “I comb my hair.” (hair = direct object) Ich kämme mir die Haare.

How to spot the accusative object fast

The “extra thing” is often a body part or something you own:

  • die Haare, die Hände, das Gesicht, die Zähne
  • clothing in some contexts: die Jacke, das Hemd (depending on the verb)

If you can realistically answer “What exactly?”, you probably have an accusative object.

Pronoun switch: only “ich” and “du” look different

That’s why the change is easy to miss: in 3rd person and plural, the forms are identical.

Person Akkusativ Dativ
ich mich mir
du dich dir
er/sie/es sich sich
wir uns uns
ihr euch euch
sie/Sie sich sich

Typical pairs you will actually say

  • Ich kämme mich. (general grooming)
  • Ich kämme mir die Haare. (hair is the direct object)
  • Du kämmst dich.
  • Du kämmst dir die Haare.

Common mistake (watch the case):

  • Ich kämme mich die Haare. → Ich kämme mir die Haare.
  • Du kämmst dich die Haare. → Du kämmst dir die Haare.

Self-check in 10 seconds (before you answer in speaking class)

  1. Do I mention a “thing” (hair, teeth, face, hands)?
  2. If yes: that thing is usually Akkusativ → reflexive pronoun becomes Dativ (mir/dir).
  3. If no: reflexive pronoun stays Akkusativ (mich/dich).

Mini mantra: Hair/teeth/etc. present → mir/dir. No extra object → mich/dich.

Note: reflexive verbs are not all the same

Some reflexive verbs regularly use Akkusativ even when there is other information in the sentence, because that information is not an accusative object.

  • Ich freue mich auf das Gespräch. (no extra accusative object; auf is a prepositional phrase)
  • Wir beraten uns kurz. (no named “thing” as accusative object)

So always check for a real accusative object noun (like die Haare) — not just a preposition phrase.

  1. If there is only one object in the sentence: the reflexive pronoun is in the accusative.
  2. If there is more than one accusative object in the sentence: the reflexive pronoun is in the dative.
Verb (Verb)Akkusativ (Reflexivpronomen im Akkusativ) (Accusative (reflexive pronoun in the accusative))Dativ (Reflexivpronomen im Dativ) (Dative (reflexive pronoun in the dative))
Kämmen (Combing)ich kämme mich (I comb myself)ich kämme mir die Haare (I comb my hair)
 du kämmst dich (you comb yourself)du kämmst dir die Haare (you comb your hair)
 er/sie/es kämmt sich (he/she/it combs himself/herself/itself)er/sie/es kämmt sich die Haare (he/she/it combs his/her/its hair)
 wir kämmen uns (we comb ourselves)wir kämmen uns die Haare (we comb our hair)
 ihr kämmt euch (you (plural) comb yourselves)ihr kämmt euch die Haare (you (plural) comb your hair)
 sie/Sie kämmen sich (they/you (formal) comb themselves/yourself)sie/Sie kämmen sich die Haare (they/you (formal) comb their/your hair)

Exceptions!

  1. Only the first two persons change the form from accusative to dative.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. Vor dem Vorstellungsgespräch ziehe ich mich schnell um und kämme ____ im Bad.

Before the job interview I quickly get changed and comb ____ in the bathroom.

2. In der Umkleide kämme ich ____ die Haare und probiere dann das elegante Hemd an.

In the changing room I comb ____ hair and then try on the elegant shirt.

3. Freust du ____ auf den neuen Trend von der Marke?

Are you looking forward ____ to the new trend from the brand?

4. Nach der Arbeit ziehen wir uns um und beraten ____ kurz: sportlich oder elegant?

After work we get changed and consult ____ briefly: sporty or elegant?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence option.

1.
Without an additional accusative object (e.g. die Haare), dative (mir) is wrong here.
With the accusative object “die Haare”, the reflexive pronoun must be in the dative: mir, not mich.
2.
Even with a different word order, it remains: with “die Haare” (acc.), you need dir, not dich.
When there is an accusative object (“die Haare”), the pronoun is wrong; it must be dir (dative), not dich (accusative).

Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences: Replace the accusative reflexive pronoun (mich/dich/sich/uns/euch/sich) with the dative reflexive pronoun and add an accusative object (e.g. die Haare).

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Ich kämme mich jeden Morgen vor der Arbeit.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Ich kämme mir jeden Morgen vor der Arbeit die Haare.
    (I comb my hair every morning before work.)
  2. Du kämmst dich schnell im Bad.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Du kämmst dir schnell im Bad die Haare.
    (You quickly comb your hair in the bathroom.)
  3. Herr Becker kämmt sich im Büro nicht.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Herr Becker kämmt sich im Büro nicht die Haare.
    (Mr. Becker doesn't comb his hair in the office.)
  4. Wir kämmen uns nach dem Sport.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Wir kämmen uns nach dem Sport die Haare.
    (We comb our hair after working out.)

Exercise 4: Grammar in action

Instruction: Play customer advisory: You describe yourself, the other person advises you.

Show/Hide translation
Situation
In der Umkleide probierst du Büro-Outfits für einen wichtigen Termin an.
(In the changing room you try on office outfits for an important appointment.)
Discuss
  • Welche Kleidungsstile findest du im Büro passend – sportlich, elegant oder modern? Warum? (Which clothing styles do you find suitable in the office – sporty, elegant, or modern? Why?)
  • Beschreibe kurz: Was ziehst du aus und was probierst du an? Nenne 2–3 Schritte. (Describe briefly: What do you take off and what do you try on? Name 2–3 steps.)
Useful words and phrases
  • Ich probiere mir ein modernes Sakko an. (I’m trying on a modern blazer.)
  • Ich ziehe mich kurz aus und probiere das Kleid an. (I’ll quickly get undressed and try on the dress.)
  • Kannst du mich beraten? Welche Marke ist bequem? (Can you advise me? Which brand is comfortable?)
Use in conversation
  • sich anprobieren und sich ausziehen (to try something on and to get undressed)
  • sich kämmen (mich/dich) (to comb one’s hair (me/you))
  • sich die Haare kämmen (mir/dir) (to comb one’s hair (for me/for you))

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Louis Fernando Hess

Bachelor of Science - Intercultural Business Psychology

Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences

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Germany


Last Updated:

Saturday, 18/04/2026 03:57