Talking about the past with the verb lassen can be tricky. In German, the form changes significantly depending on whether you are using it as a main verb (to leave something) or as a helper verb (to have something done).
In this guide, we will break down the two main past tenses—Präteritum and Perfekt—and explain the “Double Infinitive” rule that every German learner needs to know.
1. Lassen in the Präteritum (Simple Past)
The Präteritum of lassen is ließ. This is mostly used in written stories, news, or with high-frequency verbs in spoken German.
Conjugation of “ließ”:
- Ich ließ
- Du ließt
- Er/Sie/Es ließ
- Wir ließen
- Ihr ließt
- Sie/sie ließen
Example (Main Verb): “Ich ließ мојот клуч дома.” (I left my key at home.)
Example (With another verb): “Er ließ mich не одам.” (He didn’t let me go.)
2. Lassen in the Perfekt (Present Perfect)
The Perfekt is what you will use 90% of the time when speaking. This is where it gets interesting because lassen has two different forms in the Perfekt.
A. When “lassen” is the ONLY verb
If you are just saying “I left [something],” you use the regular Partizip II form: gelassen.
- Structure: haben + … + gelassen.
- Example: “Ich habe мојот чадор во воз gelassen.” (I left my umbrella on the train.)
B. When “lassen” is with another verb (The Double Infinitive)
If you are using lassen to mean “let” or “had something done” (paired with another verb), you do not use gelassen. Instead, you use the infinitive lassen at the end. This is called the Ersatzinfinitiv.
- Structure: haben + … + [Infinitive] + lassen.
- Example: “Ich habe мојот автомобил reparieren lassen.” (I had my car repaired.)
- Incorrect: “Ich habe мојот автомобил reparieren gelassen.”
3. Comparison: Präteritum vs. Perfekt
| Context | Präteritum | Perfekt |
| As a Main Verb (To leave) | Ich ließ das Buch hier. | Ich habe das Buch hier gelassen. |
| With another verb (To let/allow) | Sie ließ ihn gehen. | Sie hat ihn gehen lassen. |
| As a Service (To have done) | Er ließ sein Haar schneiden. | Er hat sein Haar schneiden lassen. |
4. Word Order in Subordinate Clauses
When you use the “Double Infinitive” in a weil or dass sentence, the conjugated verb (haben) actually moves before the two infinitives. This is a rare exception to the “verb at the end” rule!
- Standard: “…weil ich das Auto reparieren lasse.”
- Past (Perfekt): “…weil ich das Auto habe reparieren lassen.”
💡 Summary Cheat Sheet
- Main Verb? Use gelassen (Perfekt) or ließ (Präteritum).
- Two Verbs? Use the Double Infinitive (inf. + lassen) in the Perfekt.
- Speaking? Stick to the Perfekt for daily life.
- Writing? Use the Präteritum (ließ) for reports or stories.
Final Thoughts
The “Double Infinitive” is one of the more advanced parts of German grammar, but once you hear it a few times, it becomes natural. Just remember: if there’s another action involved, keep lassen in its basic form!
Next Step: Now that you can talk about the past, why not learn how to talk about hypothetical situations? Check out our guide on Konjunktiv II with würde – When and How to Use It!