The verb lassen in German

In this lesson you learn the main uses of lassen: as a full verb, for permission, for having things done, for leaving things somewhere, and the special form sich lassen (“can, be possible”).

Overview: main meanings of "lassen"

• to stop doing something: Ich lasse das Rauchen. (I stop smoking.)
• to leave something somewhere/in a state: Ich lasse die Tür offen. (I leave the door open.)
• to allow someone to do something: Ich lasse meine Kinder lange aufbleiben. (I let my children stay up late.)
• to have something done: Ich lasse mein Auto waschen. (I have my car washed.)
• possibility: Das Problem lässt sich lösen. (The problem can be solved.)

Conjugation of "lassen"

Key forms

Especially important are du lässt, er lässt in the present.

1"lassen" as a full verb (without another verb)

Here lassen stands alone and means “to stop, to give up”.

• Ich lasse das Rauchen. (I stop smoking.)
• Lass das bitte! (Stop that, please!)

Imperative forms are very common: Lass das!, Lasst mich in Ruhe! (“Leave me alone!”).

2"lassen" + object (leave something somewhere/like that)

Meaning: to leave something at a place or in a state.

• Ich lasse das Buch auf dem Tisch. (I leave the book on the table.)
• Wir lassen die Fenster offen. (We leave the windows open.)
• Lass die Tasche im Auto. (Leave the bag in the car.)

Structure: subject + lassen + object + complement (place/state).

3Permission: let someone do something

Meaning: someone is allowed to do something. The second verb is an infinitive at the end.

• Ich lasse meine Tochter allein fahren. (I let my daughter drive alone.)
• Lässt du die Kinder heute fernsehen? (Do you let the kids watch TV today?)
• Der Chef lässt uns früher gehen. (The boss lets us leave earlier.)

Structure: subject + lassen + accusative object (person) + infinitive.

4Causative use: have something done

Meaning: someone else performs the action for you.

• Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren. (I have my car repaired.)
• Sie lässt sich die Haare schneiden. (She has her hair cut.)
• Wir lassen das Haus renovieren. (We have the house renovated.)

Structure: subject + lassen + object + infinitive.

With a reflexive pronoun sich lassen:

• Ich lasse mir die Zähne kontrollieren. (I have my teeth checked.)

Here mir is dative (“for me”).

5Possibility: "sich ... lassen"

Meaning similar to können (“can, to be possible”).

• Das Problem lässt sich lösen. (The problem can be solved.)
• Die Tür lässt sich nicht öffnen. (The door cannot be opened.)
• Der Text lässt sich leicht verstehen. (The text is easy to understand.)

Structure: subject + lässt sich + infinitive.

6Perfect with "lassen" + infinitive

In the perfect tense you normally use haben + lassen + infinitive.

• Ich habe mein Fahrrad reparieren lassen. (I have had my bike repaired.)
• Wir haben die Wohnung streichen lassen. (We have had the flat painted.)

For your level it is enough to remember: haben + lassen + infinitive.

summaryEn: After this lesson you can use "lassen" in its main meanings (stop, allow, have done, leave, possibility) and build correct sentences with it in everyday situations.