German

Verb

erinnern ‎(third-person singular simple present erinnert, past tense erinnerte, past participle erinnert, auxiliary haben)

1. (transitive) to remind
2. (reflexive) to remember
3. (transitive, rare) to remember

Conjugation

Usage notes

• That which is remembered was predominantly indicated by a genitive object in older usage (until ca. 1940-1950 in writing), nowadays this is restricted to elevated style. It had also been possible to express that which is reminded with a genitive object, but this usage has been archaic for one or two centuriesː

Er erinnerte mich dieses Tages.

He reminded me of that day.

Ich erinnere mich dieses Tages.

I remember that day.

• Today both senses are generally indicated with an + accusative:

Er erinnerte mich an diesen Tag.

Ich erinnere mich an diesen Tag.

• Occasionally, the reflexive verb is replaced with a simple verb + accusative object. This usage is much less common:

Ich erinnere diesen Tag.

I remember that day.

Related terms

• Erinnerung
• erinnerlich
• erinnerswert