Lassen + infinitive
The verb lassen is a special verb that can be used as a main and auxiliary verb together with a second verb in the infinitive. Lassen has different meanings.
In addition, lassen can also be used as a substitute for the passive.
Lassen as the main verb
As a main verb, lassen can have the following meanings:
- "quit" or "stop" doing something
- "don't take something with you" or "don't change anything"
Ich lasse das Rauchen. (I quit smoking)
Ich lasse meine Haarfarbe so. (I don't change my hair color)
Ich lasse mein Handy zu Hause. (I leave my phone at home)
Lassen as an auxiliary verb
As an auxiliary verb, lassen can have the following meanings:
- Permission or Prohibition
- A possibility or impossibility
- An action performed by another person (replacing the Passive)
- Make a suggestion
Ich lasse meine Tochter mit dem Tablet spielen. (I allow my daughter to play with the tablet)
Er lässt seine Schwester nicht mit seinem Fahrrad fahren. (He won't let his sister ride a bike)
Dieses Problem lässt sich ganz leicht lösen. (This problem can be solved quite easily)
Die Waschmaschine lässt sich nicht reparieren.(The washing machine cannot be repaired)
Ich lasse meine Uhr reparieren. (I let my watch fix)
Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden. (I'm gonna cut my hair)
Wir lassen uns massieren (We will have a massage = someone will massage us)
Lass uns morgen ins Schwimmbad gehen (Let's go to the pool tomorrow)
Conjugation
| Präsens | Präteritum | Perfekt | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich (I) | lasse | ließ | habe lassen/gelassen | |
| du (you) | lässt | ließt | hast lassen/gelassen | |
| er/sie/es (he/she/it) | lässt | ließ | hat lassen/gelassen | |
| wir (we) | lassen | ließen | haben lassen/gelassen | |
| ihr (you) | lasst | ließt | habt lassen/gelassen | |
| sie/Sie (they) | lassen | ließen | haben lassen/gelassen |
Word order
This word order works for a normal phrase:
| Subject | "lassen" | Infinitive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meine Mutter | lässt | sich morgen | massieren |
This word order works for a question:
| "lassen" | Subject | Infinitive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lässt | meine Mutter | sich morgen | massieren? |
When lassen is used as the main verb, it comes in the 2nd (normal sentence) or 1st (question) position. When used as an auxiliary verb, all grammar and word order rules are the same as for modal verbs.
Creating the Perfekt of lassen
When do you use lassen and when do you use gelassen?
- As an auxiliary verb, lassen does not create Participle II, in this case, we have two infinitives.
- As a main verb, lassen forms the participle II normally: gelassen
haben (conjugated) + infinitive verb + lassen
Examples:
Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden (I'll let my hair cut) - Ich habe mir die Haare schneiden lassen (I got my hair cut)
Wir lassen die Katze im Bett schlafen (We let the cat sleep on the bed) - Wir haben die Katze gestern im Bett schlafen lassen (Yesterday we let the cat sleep in the bed)
Example:
Ich lasse mein Handy auf dem Tisch (I leave my phone on the table) - Ich habe das Handy auf dem Tisch gelassen (I left my phone on the table)