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Questions & Answers about Das Mädchen kämmt sich jetzt.
Why doesn't the German sentence mention "her hair"?
In German, the verb kämmen (to comb) is usually used reflexively when doing it to yourself. Instead of saying she combs her hair, you literally say she combs herself. The word sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun for the third person (he, she, it, or they).
If a girl is female, why does it use the neuter article das?
The word Mädchen ends in -chen, which is a suffix used to make things sound small or cute. In German, any noun that ends in -chen is automatically neuter, which is why it must use the article das regardless of biological gender.
Why does jetzt come after sich?
In German sentences, reflexive pronouns like sich prefer to stay very close to the verb. Because the conjugated verb kämmt is in the second position, sich tucks in right behind it as the object, pushing the time word jetzt (now) to the end of the sentence.
The English translation says "is combing", but is kämmt just the regular present tense?
Yes! German doesn't have a separate "is doing" tense like English does. You use the simple present tense (kämmt) for both things that happen generally and things happening right now. The word jetzt (now) emphasizes that she is doing the action at this very moment.