{"id":24001,"date":"2020-08-08T05:08:19","date_gmt":"2020-08-08T05:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sprachschule-aktiv-wien.at\/?p=24001"},"modified":"2021-03-15T14:35:06","modified_gmt":"2021-03-15T14:35:06","slug":"the-personal-pronoun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sprachschule-aktiv-wien.at\/en\/the-personal-pronoun\/","title":{"rendered":"The personal pronoun in German"},"content":{"rendered":"

The personal pronoun \u2013 learn German Grammar<\/h1>\n

Pronouns are words which closely describe and refer to a noun. Personal pronouns put emphasis on a noun which has already been named in a context and replace it. They\u2019re important words and have to be declined in German grammar.<\/p>\n

What are pronouns and personal pronouns?<\/h2>\n

In a German course, pronouns are provided for all ability levels. Personal pronouns are also used to talk to\/about someone or oneself. This group of words are written lower case.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/p>\n

Das Kind spielt im Garten. Es<\/strong> spielt gern mit dem Hund im Garten. – <\/em>The child plays in the garden. It<\/strong> likes to play with the dog in the garden. \u2018It<\/strong>\u2019 replaces the child.<\/p>\n

Der Rasen ist gr\u00fcn. Er<\/strong> ist auch sauber<\/em>. – The lawn is green. It<\/strong> is also clean. The \u2018it\u2019<\/strong> means the lawn.<\/p>\n

Ich gebe Paul den Brief. Er<\/strong> bringt ihn<\/strong> gleich zur Post.<\/em> \u2013 I give Paul the letter. He<\/strong> takes it<\/strong> to the post office immediately. In this case, \u2018it\u2019<\/strong> replaces both Paul<\/strong> and the letter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When do personal pronouns occur?<\/h2>\n

There are personal pronouns in both the singular and plural<\/strong> for each person and for each case (also in nominative, accusative, dative and genitive. Look at the following examples, which describe this in more detail.<\/p>\n

the individual cases and declensions of the personal pronouns<\/p>\n

With the nominative<\/strong>, with speaker answers the question: \u2018who\u2019?<\/p>\n

Example<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Wer hat den Kuchen gegessen?<\/em> Who ate the cake?
\nSie<\/em><\/strong> hat den Kuchen gegessen<\/em>. She<\/strong> ate the cake.<\/p>\n

The pronouns of the third person singular replace the pre-mentioned nouns and are often used so that the context has to be known. Instead of using the name (of the noun), we replace this with the pronoun.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Ich habe einen Bruder. Er<\/strong> ist 4 Jahre j\u00fcnger als ich<\/em>. I have a brother. He<\/strong> is 4 years younger than me.
\nIch habe einen Hund. Er<\/strong> ist sehr niedlich<\/em>. I have a dog. He<\/strong> is very cute<\/p>\n

We use the first person when we talk about ourselves.<\/p>\n

Ich<\/strong> habe Durst. \u2013 I\u2019m thirsty.
\nMir<\/strong> ist warm. \u2013 I\u2019m warm.
\nWir<\/strong> wollen wandern. \u2013 We want to go walking.<\/p>\n

Uns<\/strong> ist langweilig. \u2013 We are bored.<\/p>\n

In the nominative case personal pronouns are as follows: ich, du, er\/sie\/es, wir, ihr, sie<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Let us remember him\u2019 \u2013 the rare beauty of personal pronouns in the genitive case.<\/p>\n

The use of personal pronouns in the genitive case is rare.<\/strong> \u00a0However, it is so nice that it should be mentioned, for the sake of completeness: meiner, deiner, einer\/ihrer\/seiner, unser, euer, ihrer. <\/em><\/p>\n

The usage is fairly outdated, and there are only few verbs which take the genitive case.<\/p>\n

Einer<\/em><\/strong> Sache bed\u00fcrfen <\/em>\u2013 To need something
\nEiner<\/strong> Sache oder einer Person gedenken \u2013 <\/em>to remember something
\nJemanden einer<\/strong> Sache anklagen \u2013 <\/em>to accuse someone of something<\/p>\n

The personal pronoun in the dative<\/h2>\n

The dative is used if you can ask about something with \u2018whom\u2019. Personal pronouns in the dative indicate belonging and possession, but also the question of feelings or sensations. These are the declinations of the personal pronouns of the dative: mir, dir, ihm\/ihr\/ihm, uns, euch, ihnen.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of how personal pronouns can be used in the dative:<\/p>\n

Wem geh\u00f6rt diese Tasche?\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Who does this bag belong to?
\nSie geh\u00f6rt ihm<\/strong>. \u2013 <\/em>It belongs to him<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Wem hat Sabine die Uhr gegeben? \u2013 Who gave Sabine the watch?
\nSabine hat mir<\/strong> die Uhr gegeben. \u2013 <\/em>Sabine gave me the watch.<\/p>\n

The personal pronoun in the accusative and its uses<\/h2>\n

You ask about the accusative pronoun with \u2018whom\u2019? There are verbs and prepositions that the personal pronoun requires in the dative, such as for example, doing something for someone:<\/p>\n