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German - selber/sich selbst

4

Most of the time I use selber/sich selbst depending on what I think sounds correct - but what's the rule on it? Does anyone know?

Reply 1

hobnob

14

friendsfanatic

Most of the time I use selber/sich selbst depending on what I think sounds correct - but what's the rule on it? Does anyone know?

It's a bit like the difference between "oneself" and "self". One is a reflexive pronoun of sorts, the other is... uh, something else. It depends on what the object of the sentence is, basically. To give you an example:
Ich kann mich selbst waschen.
Ich kann selbst Wäsche waschen.

(By the way, you don't use "selber" in every region of Germany, as far as I know. "selbst" is the more neutral form.)

Reply 2

hobnob

14

friendsfanatic

Most of the time I use selber/sich selbst depending on what I think sounds correct - but what's the rule on it? Does anyone know?

It's a bit like the difference between "oneself" and "self". One is a reflexive pronoun of sorts, the other is... uh, something else (it may or may not be an adjective). It depends on what the object of the sentence is, basically. To give you an example:
Ich kann mich selbst waschen.
Ich kann selbst Wäsche waschen.

(By the way, you don't use "selber" in every region of Germany, as far as I know. "selbst" is the more neutral form.)

Reply 3

generalebriety

16

Selber = selbst, but the former is slightly less formal. The "sich" is the reflexive pronoun.

Ich habe mir selber/selbst ein Geschenk geschickt.
Ich kann selber/selbst kochen.

Reply 4

generalebriety

16

hobnob

It's a bit like the difference between "oneself" and "self". One is a reflexive pronoun of sorts, the other is... uh, something else (it may or may not be an adjective).

Damn it, you beat me. :p:

Selbst, by the way, is a pronoun... it's almost a part of the pronoun 'ich'/'du' etc. Besides, it can be used on its own: "Wie geht's?" "Gut, danke, und selbst?" ("Fine, thank you, and yourself?").

Reply 5

friendsfanatic

OP

4

OK. Thanks.

Reply 6

Gooner

14

I don't know whether this would be right, but I very rarely say 'sich selbst' because I think that it sounds very 'me me me'...if that makes sense? I normally use it only when I want to make sure that the emphasis is strongly placed on something else or on me etc. Otherwise I use selber :rolleyes:

Reply 7

generalebriety

16

gooner1592

I don't know whether this would be right, but I very rarely say 'sich selbst' because I think that it sounds very 'me me me'...if that makes sense? I normally use it only when I want to make sure that the emphasis is strongly placed on something else or on me etc. Otherwise I use selber :rolleyes:

Noooo, 'sich' is the reflexive pronoun. 'Selbst' and 'selber' are the same thing. "Mutti, ich kann mich selber waschen!"

Reply 8

hobnob

14

gooner1592

I don't know whether this would be right, but I very rarely say 'sich selbst' because I think that it sounds very 'me me me'...if that makes sense? I normally use it only when I want to make sure that the emphasis is strongly placed on something else or on me etc. Otherwise I use selber :rolleyes:

It won't sound like that to a German, though, trust me.

Reply 9

Gooner

14

generalebriety

Noooo, 'sich' is the reflexive pronoun. 'Selbst' and 'selber' are the same thing. "Mutti, ich kann mich selber waschen!"

Tells you how much I know :p:

German - selber/sich selbst

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