The verb lassen in German

In German, the verb lassen is one of the most special and important verbs. In today's article, we will explore together the various uses of the verb lassen and important notes when using it.

Let's get started!!

1. lassen is used as a regular verb with the meaning of stopping doing something

• Ich lasse das Rauchen.

= Ich höre auf zu rauchen. / Ich rauche nicht mehr. (I give up smoking. / I no longer smoke.)

2. lassen is used as an auxiliary verb

a. With the meaning of leaving something somewhere, not taking it along: lassen + Infinitiv

• Ich lasse mein Auto in der Garage stehen. (I leave my car in the garage.)

= Das Auto bleibt in der Garage stehen. (The car stays in the garage.)

• Ich lasse mein Handy zu Hause liegen. (I leave my mobile phone at home.)

= Ich nehme das Handy nicht mit. (I don't take the mobile phone with me.)

- lassen here is used with verbs indicating a state, such as: stehen, liegen, sitzen,….

- Usually the second verb can be omitted without affecting the meaning of the sentence. In that case, lassen becomes the main verb: Ich lasse mein Handy zu Hause (liegen).

b. With the meaning of allowing someone to do something: lassen + Infinitiv

• Ich lasse meinen Sohn abends fernsehen. (I let my son watch TV in the evening.)

= Ich erlaube meinem Sohn, abends fernzusehen. (I allow my son to watch TV in the evening.)

c. With the meaning of something being possible/impossible: lassen sich + Infinitiv

• Der Fernseher lässt sich nicht reparieren. (The TV cannot be repaired.)

= Man kann den Fernseher nicht reparieren. (One cannot repair the TV.)d. With the meaning that something is being done, one does not do something oneself - a passive substitute: lassen + Infinitiv

• Ich lasse mein Fahrrad reparieren. (I am having my bicycle repaired [but I am not doing it myself].)

= Jemand anderes repariert das Fahrrad für mich. (Someone else is repairing the bicycle for me.)

• Ich lasse mir eine Pizza bringen. (A pizza is being brought to me.)

= Ich bestelle mir eine Pizza und jemand bringt sie mir. (I order a pizza and someone brings it to me.)

• Mein Vater lässt sich morgen operieren. (My father will be operated on tomorrow.)

= Passiv: Mein Vater wird morgen operiert. (My father will be operated on tomorrow.)

3. Conjugation of the verb lassen

!!! When to use lassen and gelassen

- Active sentences in the present perfect use gelassen:

Ich habe mein Auto zu Hause gelassen.

(I left my car at home.)

- Passive sentences in the present perfect use lassen:

Das Problem hat sich einfach lösen lassen.

(The problem was easily solved.)