Breakdown of Die neue Anleitung liest sich wirklich gut.
gut
good / well
neu
new
lesen
to read
wirklich
really
sich
oneself / himself / herself / themselves (reflexive pronoun)
die Anleitung
the manual (instructions, guide)
Questions & Answers about Die neue Anleitung liest sich wirklich gut.
Wait, manuals can't read. Why does this sentence use the active verb liest with the reflexive sich?
This is a reflexive construction used as a passive alternative. Instead of using the normal passive to say the manual is read by someone, German uses liest sich to focus on the manual's qualities. English does the exact same thing here: The manual reads well.
How is this different in meaning from the standard passive, like Die Anleitung wird gelesen?
A standard passive like wird gelesen just describes an action happening to the manual at a specific time. The reflexive alternative liest sich describes a permanent characteristic of the manual itself. It implies that the experience of reading it is easy, pleasant, or successful.
Could I just say Die Anleitung liest sich and drop the wirklich gut?
Generally, no. When using the reflexive as a passive alternative, you almost always need an adverb or adjective that tells us how the action unfolds. Words like gut, schlecht, leicht (easily), or schwer (with difficulty) are necessary to complete the meaning.
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