lassen

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📘 Grammatik · Unit 22 · 1/14

lassen

4 parts8 examples3 common mistakes

Example

  1. Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden.I'm having my hair cut.

Rule

lassen has three meanings — to allow, to have something done and to leave behind — and is used with an infinitive without zu.

Practise

This topic’s own test: 10 sets, 10 questions in each.Grammatik-Test →

The three meanings

The context shows which one is meant. The second — having something done — is the most important in everyday life.

BedeutungBeispielEnglish
zulassen / erlaubenLass mich das machen.let me do it
veranlassenIch lasse mein Auto reparieren.I'm having my car repaired
zurücklassenIch habe den Schlüssel zu Hause gelassen.I left the key at home

to have something done

This is the construction that corresponds to English „to have something done“: I am not doing it myself, I am having it done.

  1. Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden.I'm having my hair cut.
  2. Wir lassen die Wohnung renovieren.We are having the apartment renovated.
  3. Er hat sich einen Anzug machen lassen.He had a suit made for himself.

In the perfect: the double infinitive

If lassen is used with a second verb, it forms the perfect not with gelassen but with the infinitive lassen.

  1. Ich habe mein Auto reparieren lassen.I had my car repaired.doppelter Infinitiv
  2. Ich habe den Schlüssel zu Hause gelassen.I left the key at home.ohne zweites Verb → gelassen

sich lassen as a substitute for the passive

sich lassen + infinitive means kann … werden. It is shorter than the passive with a modal verb and sounds more natural.

  1. Das Problem lässt sich lösen.The problem can be solved.
  2. Der Termin lässt sich verschieben.The appointment can be postponed.
  3. Das lässt sich leider nicht ändern.Unfortunately, that cannot be changed.

Common mistakes

Ich habe mein Auto reparieren gelassen. Ich habe mein Auto reparieren lassen.
With a second verb, the double infinitive is used.
Ich lasse meine Haare zu schneiden. Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden.
After lassen the infinitive stands without zu.
Das Problem lässt sich zu lösen. Das Problem lässt sich lösen.
Here too the bare infinitive is used.

Quick check · 3 questions

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