Lassen can mean leaving something in place, allowing an action or arranging for somebody to perform it.
The idea
An accompanying infinitive has no zu. In Perfekt with a second infinitive, lassen remains an infinitive: hat reparieren lassen. Used alone, its participle is gelassen.
| Form / Muster | Beispiel / Gegensatz |
|---|---|
| zurücklassen | Ich lasse die Tasche hier. |
| erlauben / veranlassen | Ich lasse ihn spielen. / das Rad reparieren. |
| Perfekt allein | hat die Tasche hier gelassen |
| Perfekt mit Infinitiv | hat das Rad reparieren lassen |
Examples
- Lass das Fenster offen!
- Ich lasse mein Fahrrad reparieren.
- Sie lässt ihre Kinder draußen spielen.
- Wir lassen die Tasche im Auto.
- Er hat sein Handy zu Hause gelassen.
- Sie hat den Wagen reparieren lassen.
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Watch out
With another infinitive in Perfekt, use lassen instead of gelassen: Ich habe das Rad reparieren lassen. Used on its own, lassen has the participle gelassen.
Try it yourself
Ich lasse den Mantel ___. (reinigen / zu reinigen)
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reinigen
“Reinigen” is a bare infinitive after lassen. Do not insert zu in this construction: Ich lasse den Mantel reinigen.
Du ___ mich warten. (lassen)
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lässt
Answer: “lässt”. Check the subject: this verb changes its stem in du and er/sie/es, not generally in the plural.
Ich habe das Rad reparieren ___. (gelassen / lassen)
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lassen
Answer: “lassen”. With a second infinitive, lassen keeps its infinitive form in Perfekt instead of gelassen.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Ich lasse den Mantel ___. (reinigen / zu reinigen)
Du ___ mich warten. (lassen)
Ich habe das Rad reparieren ___. (gelassen / lassen)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write a two-line conversation around “Lass das Fenster offen!”. Use the target expression in your reply and make its intended meaning clear.