The verb lassen (A2) – German grammar

lassen has three main uses: let someone do something, have something done, and leave something: Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren.

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Conjugation of lassen

Pronoun	Conjugated lassen (Position 2)	Main infinitive verb (end of clause)	Example sentence	English translation
ich	lasse	machen	Ich lasse das machen.	I'll have that done / let it be done.
du	lässt	reparieren	Du lässt das Auto reparieren.	You are having the car repaired.
er / sie / es	lässt	liefern	Er lässt eine Pizza liefern.	He is having a pizza delivered.
wir	lassen	sprechen	Wir lassen den Chef sprechen.	We let the boss speak.
ihr	lasst	warten	Ihr lasst die Gäste warten.	You all keep the guests waiting.
sie / Sie	lassen	machen	Sie lassen das machen.	They / You are having that done.

The main points

Permission: Lass mich das machen!
Service: Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren.
Leaving: Ich lasse die Tasche im Auto.
lassen in position 2 (du lässt, er lässt), second verb at the end.
Perfekt: hat … gelassen, but hat … reparieren lassen.

Practise this · 5 questions

Part 1 of 4

When you use it

1
Let someone do something
- Lass mich das machen!Let me do that!
- Der Chef lässt uns früher nach Hause gehen.The boss lets us go home earlier.
Use lassen to allow something, or to ask someone to let you do it.
2
Have something done
- Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren.I'm having my car repaired.
- Sie lässt ihre Haare schneiden.She is having her hair cut.
When a professional does a job for you, use lassen + the thing + an infinitive at the end.
3
Leave something somewhere
- Ich lasse meine Tasche hier.I'm leaving my bag here.
- Wo hast du dein Handy gelassen?Where did you leave your phone?
lassen can also mean leave a thing in a place. Here there is often no second verb.

The forms

Conjugation of lassen

lassen goes in position 2. The second verb goes to the end in the infinitive.

Pronoun	Conjugated lassen (Position 2)	Main infinitive verb (end of clause)	Example sentence	English translation
ich	lasse	machen	Ich lasse das machen.	I'll have that done / let it be done.
du	lässt	reparieren	Du lässt das Auto reparieren.	You are having the car repaired.
er / sie / es	lässt	liefern	Er lässt eine Pizza liefern.	He is having a pizza delivered.
wir	lassen	sprechen	Wir lassen den Chef sprechen.	We let the boss speak.
ihr	lasst	warten	Ihr lasst die Gäste warten.	You all keep the guests waiting.
sie / Sie	lassen	machen	Sie lassen das machen.	They / You are having that done.

What to notice

du and er/sie/es change a to ä: du lässt, er lässt.

Part 2 of 4

Step by step

1
Put lassen in position 2
Match lassen to the subject. du and er/sie/es take ä.
- ich lasse, du lässt, wir lassen
2
Send the second verb to the end
Like a modal verb, lassen sends the second verb to the end in the infinitive.
- Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren.I'm having my car repaired.
3
Leaving something? Just say where
When lassen means leave, you need no second verb. Just say where the thing stays.
- Ich lasse den Schlüssel im Auto.I'm leaving the key in the car.

Part 3 of 4

Common mistakes

~~Ich lasse mein Auto repariert.~~
Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren.
The second verb is an infinitive (reparieren), not a participle.
~~Lass mich machen das.~~
Lass mich das machen!
The object goes in the middle. The infinitive closes the sentence.
~~Er lasst das Auto waschen.~~
Er lässt das Auto waschen.
er and du take an umlaut: lässt.

Exceptions

Tap one to open it.

The Perfekt uses haben. Without a second verb, use gelassen. With a second verb, use lassen: hat machen lassen. Some people say gelassen here, but lassen is correct.
- Ich habe die Tasche im Auto gelassen.I left the bag in the car.
- Ich habe das Auto reparieren lassen.I had the car repaired.
Lass uns + infinitive is a friendly way to suggest something to one person.
- Lass uns einen Kaffee trinken.Let's have a coffee.
In the infinitive, hier and lassen are written as one word: hierlassen, hierzulassen. People often write them apart.
- Kann ich mein Fahrrad hierlassen?Can I leave my bike here?

Don't mix it up

Three meanings of lassen

Permission: you let someone do something. Service: someone does a job for you. Leaving: a thing stays somewhere.

Meaning of lassen	Example sentence	English translation
Permission	Lass mich gehen!	Let me go!
Service	Ich lasse das Bad putzen.	I am having the bathroom cleaned.
Leaving	Ich lasse den Schlüssel hier.	I am leaving the key here.

Part 4 of 4

In real life

Repairs in the apartment

David and Sarah talk about the repairs their flat in Leipzig needs. · Tap EN for English.

David
Die Heizung funktioniert nicht richtig. Wir lassen am besten einen Handwerker kommen.
Sarah
Ja, gute Idee. Und was ist mit der Wand im Flur?
David
Die lassen wir nächste Woche von einer Firma renovieren.
Sarah
Perfekt. Und lass uns bitte nicht vergessen, den Schlüssel für den Handwerker hierzulassen.
David
Keine Sorge, ich lege ihn auf den Küchentisch!

That's the whole topic.

Next topicbrauchen with nicht/nur + zu

Conjugation of lassen

The main points

When you use it

Let someone do something

Have something done

Leave something somewhere

The forms

Conjugation of lassen

Step by step

Put lassen in position 2

Send the second verb to the end

Leaving something? Just say where

Common mistakes

Exceptions

Don't mix it up

Three meanings of lassen

In real life

Sources