In our Complete Guide to Lassen, we saw that this verb can mean “to let” or “to have something done.” But how do you actually build the sentence?
When you use lassen with another action (like schneiden, reparieren, gehen), it follows a very specific structure. In fact, it behaves almost exactly like a Modal Verb.
1. The Sentence Structure (Word Order)
In a standard main clause, lassen takes the second position and is conjugated. The second verb (the action) goes to the very end of the sentence in its infinitive form.
- Formula: Subject + lassen (conjugated) + Object + Infinitive (End).
Examples:
- “Ich lasse (2) мојот автомобил reparieren (End).” (I’m having my car repaired.)
- “Er lässt (2) неговите деца долго spielen (End).” (He lets his kids play for a long time.)
2. Lassen in the Perfect Tense (Perfekt)
This is where it gets interesting! When you use lassen + another infinitive in the past, you don’t use the usual ge-lassen form. Instead, you use the Double Infinitive.
- Rule: Subject + haben (conjugated) + … + Infinitive 1 + Lassen (Infinitive).
- Incorrect: Ich habe мојот автомобил reparieren gelassen.
- Correct: “Ich habe мојот автомобил reparieren lassen.” (I had my car repaired.)
3. Lassen with Reflexive Pronouns
As we saw in our Reflexive Verbs Guide, when an action is done to or for yourself, you need a reflexive pronoun (mich, mir, sich).
With lassen, this usually happens when you get a service done for yourself:
- “Ich lasse mir (Dativ) die Haare schneiden.” (I’m having my hair cut).
- “Er lässt sich (Akkusativ) gehen.” (He is letting himself go).
4. Summary of Positions
| Tense | Position 2 | Position End |
| Präsens | lasse / lässt | Infinitive |
| Perfekt | habe / hast | Infinitive + lassen |
| Questions | Conjugated Verb | Infinitive |
💡 Quick Tip for “Lassen”
Think of lassen as a “verb-pusher.” It always wants to be in the center of the action (Position 2), and it always pushes the other action to the very end of the “sentence-train.”
If you’re struggling with the Satzbau when using multiple verbs, just remember: Conjugated verb stays in front, everything else goes to the back!
Final Thoughts
Mastering the structure of lassen + infinitive is a major milestone. It allows you to talk about daily services, permissions, and complex actions with ease.
Next Step: Now that you’ve mastered the structure of one of the most versatile verbs, why not level up your sentence-building skills? Check out our guide on How to Form Kausalsätze to start connecting your ideas with “weil” and “denn”!