German Verb Conjugations - Lassen (To Let, Leave, and Allow)

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By
Hyde Flippo
German Expert
    Hyde Flippo taught the German language for 28 years at high school and college levels and published several books on the German language and culture.
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    Hyde Flippo
    Updated February 24, 2020

    The verb lassen has many meanings. It can be used alone in its basic meaning of "let" or "leave," but it also functions as a modal verb that modifies or alters the meaning of another verb. In this function, lassen can mean to "have or get something done," as in er lässt sich die Haare schneiden ("he's having his hair cut/getting a haircut"). See other examples in the conjugation chart below.

    Principal Parts: lassen (lässt) • ließ • gelassen
    Imperative (Commands): (du) Lass(e)! | (ihr) Lasst! | Lassen Sie!

    Present Tense - Präsens

    DEUTSCH ENGLISH
    ich lasse I let/leave
    I am letting/leaving
    du lässt you let/leave
    you are letting/leaving
    er lässt

    sie lässt

    es lässt    		 he lets/leaves
    he is letting/leaving
    she lets/leaves
    she is letting/leaving
    it lets/leaves
    it is letting/leaving
    wir lassen we let/leave
    we are letting/leaving
    ihr lasst you (guys) let/leave
    you (guys) are letting/leaving
    sie lassen they let/leave
    they are letting/leaving
    Sie lassen you let/leave
    you are letting/leaving

    Examples:
    Wir lassen einen Arzt kommen.
    We'll send for a doctor. ("have a doctor come")
    Lass das! Stop that! Leave that alone! Forget that!
    Lass mich in Ruhe! Leave me alone!
    PAST TENSES • VERGANGENHEIT

    Simple Past Tense - Imperfekt

    DEUTSCH ENGLISH
    ich ließ I let/left
    du ließest you let/left
    er ließ
    sie ließ
    es ließ    		 he let/left
    she let/left
    it let/left
    wir ließen we let/left
    ihr ließt you (guys) let/left
    sie ließen they let/left
    Sie ließen you let/left

    Compound Past Tense (Pres. Perfect) - Perfekt

    DEUTSCH ENGLISH
    ich habe gelassen I have let/left
    I let/left
    du hast gelassen you have let/left
    you let/left
    er hat gelassen

    sie hat gelassen

    es hat gelassen    		 he has let/left
    he let/left
    she has let/left
    she let/left
    it has let/left
    it let/left
    wir haben gelassen we have let/left
    we let/left
    ihr habt gelassen you (guys) have let/left
    you let/left
    sie haben gelassen they have let/left
    they let/left
    Sie haben gelassen you have let/left
    you let/left

    Past Perfect Tense - Plusquamperfekt

    DEUTSCH ENGLISH
    ich hatte gelassen I had let/left
    du hattest gelassen you had let/left
    er hatte gelassen
    sie hatte gelassen
    es hatte gelassen    		 he had let/left
    she had let/left
    it had let/left
    wir hatten gelassen we had let/left
    ihr hattet gelassen you (guys) had let/left
    sie hatten gelassen they had let/left
    Sie hatten gelassen you had let/left