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

Caucasian woman reading book in library
Maxim Chuvashov / Getty Images
By
Hyde Flippo
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.
Learn about our Editorial Process
Updated on 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!

Also see The Many Meanings of lassen

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
Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Flippo, Hyde. "German Verb Conjugations - Lassen (To Let, Leave, and Allow)." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/lassen-to-let-leave-allow-in-all-tenses-4082156. Flippo, Hyde. (2023, April 5). German Verb Conjugations - Lassen (To Let, Leave, and Allow). Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/lassen-to-let-leave-allow-in-all-tenses-4082156 Flippo, Hyde. "German Verb Conjugations - Lassen (To Let, Leave, and Allow)." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/lassen-to-let-leave-allow-in-all-tenses-4082156 (accessed April 18, 2024).