German Phrase
Wer kümmert sich um diese Aufgabe?
Meaning
The sentence asks who is responsible for handling a specific task. It is a direct way to find out who will take care of something that needs to be done, often used in work or group settings.
When to use
Use this question when you need to clarify responsibility in a team, classroom, or any collaborative environment. It works well in both formal meetings and informal conversations among colleagues.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WerkümmertsichumdieseAufgabe?
Wer (interrogative pronoun)
‘Wer’ asks for a person. It stays unchanged regardless of case because it functions as the subject of the clause.
kümmert sich (reflexive verb)
‘sich kümmern’ is a reflexive verb meaning ‘to take care of’. In the present tense the verb is conjugated (kümmert) and the reflexive pronoun (sich) follows the verb.
um + accusative
The preposition ‘um’ always governs the accusative case. Here it introduces the object of care – ‘diese Aufgabe’.
diese Aufgabe (demonstrative + noun)
‘diese’ is a demonstrative determiner that agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. ‘Aufgabe’ is feminine; in the accusative it stays ‘die Aufgabe’, but the determiner changes to ‘diese’.
Question word order
In German yes‑no and wh‑questions, the finite verb moves to the first position, followed by the subject (if any) and then the rest of the clause.
🗨In Conversation
Wer kümmert sich um diese Aufgabe?
Who is taking care of this task?
Ich kümmere mich darum.
I'll take care of it.
✕Common Mistakes
Wer kümmert um diese Aufgabe?
The reflexive pronoun ‘sich’ is required with ‘kümmert’.
Wer kümmert sich für diese Aufgabe?
‘für’ is the wrong preposition; ‘um’ is used with ‘sich kümmern’.
Wer kümmert sich an diese Aufgabe?
‘an’ does not collocate with ‘sich kümmern’; use ‘um’.
Wer kümmert sich um diese Aufgab?
The noun ‘Aufgabe’ must be in its full form; the article/demonstrative changes with case.
↔Alternatives
Wer übernimmt diese Aufgabe?
Who will take over this task?
Wer ist für diese Aufgabe zuständig?
Who is responsible for this task?
Wer macht das?
Who does it?
Cultural Tip
German workplaces value clarity and directness. Asking ‘Wer kümmert sich um …?’ is perfectly acceptable and shows you want to know who is accountable. In more formal settings you might prefer ‘Wer ist für … zuständig?’ which sounds slightly more official. Remember that the reflexive verb ‘sich kümmern um’ is common in everyday speech, while ‘übernehmen’ is often used in written or formal contexts.