Grammar Activities: Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns

Hello all, Chris here with a fun activity for reflexive pronouns and verbs! While the activity will use German examples, this could easily be adapted to other languages. In German, use of the reflexive often involves speaking about our daily routines.

To start the activity I have students create a Wochenplan or weekly schedule with their courses and other information listed on them. For example:

Montag
9:00 Aufstehen
9:30 Duschen
10:00 Geschichte
12:00 Mittagessen
2:00 Sport
6:00 Kino mit Freunden

Each student will complete a full weekly schedule.You can also have students focus solely on daily hygiene using verbs such as sich waschen, sich duschen, sich buersten, sich kaemmen, sich baden and others. Organize the students into pairs. Each student will ask their partner about his/her schedule. Wann putzt du dir die Zaehne? (When do you brush your teeth?) Wann waescht du dir die Haende? (When do you wash your hands?) 

Another fun activity which works well as a review is to divide the class into two groups. The two groups will sit across from one another in a long line. Have each student write down 5 reflexive verbs and a reflexive pronoun on note cards. There should be one reflexive verb and one pronoun on each card, with 5 cards total. If you want to make the activity more advanced, students could also add a particular tense to their cards.

To start the activity, a student will choose one of their cards and show it to the student across from them. That student will then have to make a correct sentence using the information on the card. If the student answers correctly he/she will have won that card and may take it from their opponent. If they answer incorrectly, they must instead randomly give their opponent one of their cards. A student who loses all of their cards is eliminated from the game. All students who are eliminated must then write a short essay using 5 different reflexive verbs. Students can continue the game for about 10 minutes or so, or until there are only 2 students with cards remaining.