Hot answers tagged reflexives
13
Both are reflexive verbs that can also be used in a non-reflexive way.
Reflexive verbs are more common in German than in English (like "enjoy yourself").
"Ich bin mir sicher" works with or without the "mir", but "Ich kann mir vorstellen" does not, because the reflexive version "sich (etwas) vorstellen" (=> imagine something) has a different meaning than ...
12
Verlassen is an adjective here. The predicate is vorkommen. The closest translation keeping the structure of the sentence is
Lars seemed endlessly deserted to himself.
while in an English text you would probably just say
Lars felt endlessly deserted.
Vorkommen is not necessarily reflexive, it can be used in this sense with any kind of indirect ...
7
Feelings/emotions are expressed here with the Dativ (mir ist), not with Nominativ (ich bin).
You could argue, that this is done for differentiation purposes, because (as Matthias mentioned) "Mir ist übel" and "Ich bin übel" mean different things. But that does not explain other uses like:
Mir ist, als hätte es geklopft. (I think someone knocked at the ...
7
"sich" can often be translated to "himself/herself/itself, themselves" (*) or "each other", which covers all but one of your examples:
Eine Klasse für sich. -> A class of its own (or, literally, by itself).
Frauen unter sich. -> Women among themselves.
Deutschland schafft sich ab. -> Germany abolishes itself.
Your first example is a different ...
6
At this time of the year an old Christmas carol from 1480 comes to my mind where "träumen" was used reflexive (i.e. "unecht reflexiv" or rather reciprocal):
Und unsrer lieben Frauen
der traumete ein Traum:
als unter ihrem Herzen
gewachsen ward ein Baum.
In modern German it is only rarely used reflexive, here are a few examples:
Mir ...
5
This page lists the rules in more detail, and with examples. You should find most of your answers there.
(EDIT) Excerpts pertaining to the question:
Today, the reflexive pronoun is usually pulled as far to the beginning as possible. In the main clause, the reflexive pronoun is usually placed directly behind the conjugated verb:
"Der Professor ärgert ...
4
Having a quick look at the link TvF posted, another good reference came to my mind.
On belleslettres.eu, there's a good article (in German, including video) on where to place a reflexive pronoun.
The most essential information are already given in the other answers. The reflexive pronoun is usually placed behind the verb. This is valid for a simple ...
4
The word "mir" is in this case a reflexive pronoun.
Em1 already stated that "übel" can have different meanings.
Without a reflexive pronoun ("Ich bin übel") you would say that you are vicious (not very common).
With a reflexive pronoun ("Mir ist übel") you say that you are feeling sick.
I am not sure why a reflexive pronoun is used. Possibly to
...
3
A sentence that has sich in it is a Reflexivsatz. Sich is a "Reflexivpronomen", just like mir, mich, dir, dich...
Off the top of my head, I agree with Anurag Kalia and his comment that, in a statement, the "Reflexivpronomen" belongs after the verb that follows the subject that the verb refers to.
In a question, however, the "Reflexivpronomen" is after the ...
1
Heinrich Heine träumte es von einem Königskind:
Mir träumte von einem Königskind
Mir träumte von einem Königskind,
Mit nassen, blassen Wangen;
Wir saßen unter der grünen Lind',
Und hielten uns liebumfangen.
"Ich will nicht Deines Vaters Thron,
Und nicht sein Zepter von Golde,
Ich will nicht seine demantene Kron',
...
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