{"id":24027,"date":"2020-09-24T04:11:02","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T04:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sprachschule-aktiv-wien.at\/?p=24027"},"modified":"2020-09-24T04:11:02","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T04:11:02","slug":"the-german-relative-pronouns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sprachschule-aktiv-wien.at\/en\/the-german-relative-pronouns\/","title":{"rendered":"The German Relative pronouns"},"content":{"rendered":"

The German Relative pronouns – learn German Grammar<\/h1>\n

If you want to learn German grammar, you have to learn the pronouns.\u00a0Pronouns are little words that we use to avoid repeating a verb. You probably already know the pronouns for people: ich, du, er, sie, es, <\/em>etc. \u00a0<\/em>But there is another special group of pronouns: relative pronouns<\/strong>.\u00a0If you want to add additional information to a sentence, you can do that with a relative clause and a special pronoun. Relative clauses describe a noun more specifically and are always subordinate clauses i.e. the verb is at the end.<\/p>\n

Each relative clause begins with a relative pronoun.<\/p>\n

Das ist der Mann, der<\/strong> hier wohnt. \u2013 <\/em>That is the man who<\/strong> lives here.<\/p>\n

\u201aDer\u2018 is the relative pronoun. It looks like an article, but has a different function. It refers to the noun (the man) and describes it.<\/p>\n

Formation of relative pronouns<\/h2>\n

In the nominative and accusative<\/strong> form, the relative pronoun\u2019s form is the same as the form of the certain article.<\/p>\n

Nominative:<\/strong> masculine der<\/em> \u2013 feminine die<\/em> \u2013 neutral das<\/em> \u2013 plural die<\/em><\/p>\n

Accusative:<\/strong> masculine den<\/em> \u2013 feminine die<\/em> \u2013 neutral das<\/em> \u2013 plural die<\/em><\/p>\n

There are special forms of the relative pronouns in the dative plural and genitive:<\/p>\n

Dative<\/strong>: masculine dem<\/em> \u2013 feminine der<\/em> \u2013 neutral dem<\/em> \u2013 plural denen<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Genitive<\/strong>: masculine dessen<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 feminine deren<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 neutral dessen<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 plural deren<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In order to form the correct relative pronoun, you need three pieces of information<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Quantity (is it singular or plural?), the gender (masculine, feminine or neutral?), and the case (nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive?)<\/p>\n

Das ist der Mann. Der Mann wohnt in diesem Haus.<\/em><\/p>\n

Der Mann <\/em>in the first sentence is the reference to which we want to give the following information. It is singular (quantity), and masculine (gender). So we already have two pieces of information. For the third piece of information we need to look at the second sentence. Where here can we find the reference word?<\/p>\n

Der Mann<\/em> in the second sentence is the subject. And the subject is always nominative, so there we have our third piece of information \u2013 the case (nominative).<\/p>\n

These three steps help us find the suitable relative pronoun<\/h2>\n

Our relative pronoun is: a) singular, b) masculine, c) nominative \u2013 der<\/em><\/strong> is the correct pronoun:<\/p>\n

Das ist der Mann, der<\/strong> in diesem Haus wohnt.<\/em><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget: a relative clause is a subordinate clause where the verb is at the end!<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at another example:\u00a0<\/strong>Das ist der Mann. Ich liebe ihn.<\/em><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s try is again with the three steps: a) singular (Mann), b) masculine (der Mann), c) accusative (Ihn) \u2013 den<\/em><\/strong> is the correct pronoun here.<\/p>\n

Das ist der Mann, den<\/strong> ich liebe<\/em>. \u2013 This is the man (who) I love.<\/p>\n

And one final example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Das sind meine Eltern. Ich helfe ihnen oft. \u2013 <\/em>These are my parents. I help them a lot.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go through the three steps again:<\/strong> a) plural (Eltern), b) \u2013, c) dative (ihnen) \u2013 so here denen<\/em><\/strong> is the correct pronoun.<\/p>\n

Das sind meine Eltern, denen<\/strong> ich oft helfe. <\/em><\/p>\n

Now we\u2019re just missing the genitive which, as usual, is a bit unusual!<\/h2>\n

The genitive usually expresses something possessive. This is also the case with relative clauses.<\/p>\n

Das ist der Mann. Sein Auto ist neu.<\/em><\/p>\n

In order to get the correct pronoun, we need the three pieces of information again: a) singular (Mann), b) masculine (der Mann), c) genitive (sein = possessive article) \u2013 dessen<\/em><\/strong> is the correct pronoun here.<\/p>\n

Das ist der Mann, dessen<\/strong> Auto neu ist. <\/em><\/p>\n

Here is another example<\/strong>, but with a feminine reference word.<\/p>\n

Das ist die Frau. Ihr Auto ist neu. <\/em><\/p>\n

Once again, following our three steps: a) singular (Frau), b) feminine (die Frau), c) genitive (possessive article \u2018ihr\u2019<\/em>). The correct pronoun is deren<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Das ist die Frau, deren<\/strong> Auto neu ist. <\/em><\/p>\n

Small tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201aSein<\/em>\u2018 (masculine\/neutral) is always tied to the relative pronoun \u201adessen<\/em>\u2018.<\/p>\n

\u2018Ihr\u2019<\/em> (feminine\/plural) is always tied to the relative pronoun \u2018deren\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Got it?<\/p>\n

Practice The German Relative pronouns<\/h2>\n

Fill the gaps with the correct relative pronouns<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. a) Kaufst du mit bitte dir Torte, _________ ich so gern mag?<\/li>\n
  2. b) Oh, schau mal, da steht der Mann, ________ Sohn ein ber\u00fchmter S\u00e4nger ist.<\/li>\n
  3. c) Wo ist das Instrument, auf _________ ich das Weihnachtslied spielen wollte?<\/li>\n
  4. d) Das Kind, ________ ich du gestern im Park gesehen habe, ist das Kind von meiner Nachbarin.<\/li>\n
  5. e) Ich verstehe! Das ist die Tante aus S\u00fcdamerika, ________ ihr geschrieben habt, er soll uns besuchen!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\"learn<\/a>\n

    Answers: a) die; b) der; c) dem; d) das; e) der.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Would you like to improve your German grammar? Then visit on of our German courses!<\/p>\n

    Other interesting blogs and courses<\/h3>\n