Meaning
Used to express that the subject allows or has something done to an accusative object (e.g., "sich die Haare schneiden lassen" = to have one's hair cut).
Primary Function
Expressing passive actions or states
Communicative Purpose
Describe actions where the subject experiences or permits something, often with passive or reflexive nuance.
Pattern
sich; lassen
Core Structure
sich; lassen
Função primária
Expressing passive actions or states
Propósito comunicativo
Describe actions where the subject experiences or permits something, often with passive or reflexive nuance.
Situações de gatilho
When describing services (e.g., haircuts), emotional reactions (e.g., being surprised), or medical procedures (e.g., surgeries).
Contextos
Everyday conversations, service interactions, medical or personal situations.
Padrão
sich; lassen
Estrutura central
sich; lassen
Slots de substituição
The accusative object can be replaced by a direct object (noun or pronoun in accusative case), e.g., die Haare, einen Rat, die Zeit.
Colocados típicos
- die Haare
- den Arm
- einen Rat
- die Zeit
- operieren
- schneiden
- überraschen
- beraten
Substituições comuns
- sich + dative object + lassen (incorrect
- as accusative is required).
Erros comuns
Using dative instead of accusative (e.g., *sich mir die Haare schneiden lassen instead of sich die Haare schneiden lassen).
Similar / contraste
sich + dative + verb (e.g., sich die Hände waschen), passive with 'werden' (e.g., Die Haare werden geschnitten).
Interferências
English speakers may incorrectly use the dative after lassen (e.g., *"sich mir die Haare schneiden lassen"), confusing it with English constructions like "let me cut my hair". They may also substitute the construction with the passive "werden" which changes the nuance.
Família do chunk
- sich + Akkusativobjekt + lassen
- lassen + Infinitiv
- sich lassen + Partizip II
Nuance
Emphasizes that the subject actively permits or experiences the action, unlike a pure passive construction which focuses on the action itself.
Efeito pragmático
Sounds more natural and idiomatic when the subject has control over the action or consciously allows it.
Dica de memória
sich lassen + Akkusativ
Nota
Achten Sie darauf, das Akkusativobjekt korrekt zu verwenden; häufige Fehler sind die Verwendung des Dativs (z. B. *"sich mir die Haare schneiden lassen"). Die Konstruktion ist besonders üblich in Service‑ und Gesundheitssituationen.
Upgrade path
sich + Akkusativobjekt + von + Dativagent + lassen (z. B. sich von einem Friseur die Haare schneiden lassen).
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