Relative pronouns are words that connect two clauses by replacing a noun or pronoun in the first clause. In German, there are several relative pronouns, each with their specific use cases. In this article, we will provide an introduction to German relative pronouns, explaining the meaning of each and providing examples to help you understand how to use them correctly.
Der/Die/Das
The most common relative pronoun in German is “der/die/das,” which translates to “who,” “whom,” or “that” in English. “Der” is used for masculine nouns, “die” for feminine nouns, and “das” for neuter nouns. Here are some examples:
Der Mann, der das Auto fährt, ist mein Bruder. (The man who is driving the car is my brother.)
Die Frau, die ich gestern getroffen habe, ist meine Nachbarin. (The woman whom I met yesterday is my neighbor.)
Das Buch, das ich lese, ist sehr interessant. (The book that I am reading is very interesting.)
Welcher/Welche/Welches
Another relative pronoun in German is “welcher/welche/welches,” which can be translated as “which” or “who.” This pronoun is used when there is a choice between two or more options. Here are some examples:
Welches Auto, das rote oder das blaue, ist deins? (Which car, the red one or the blue one, is yours?)
Der Mann, welcher das Auto fährt, ist mein Nachbar. (The man who is driving the car is my neighbor.)
Wer
The relative pronoun “wer” means “who.” It is only used when referring to people and not objects. Here are some examples:
Der Mann, wer das Auto fährt, ist mein Bruder. (The man who is driving the car is my brother.)
Die Frau, wer gestern bei uns war, ist meine Schwester. (The woman who was at our place yesterday is my sister.)
Was
The pronoun “was” means “what.” It is used to refer to things or concepts. Here are some examples:
Das, was du sagst, ist nicht wahr. (What you are saying is not true.)
Ich suche das Buch, was ich gestern gekauft habe. (I am looking for the book that I bought yesterday.)
Wem
“Wem” means “whom” and is used in indirect object sentences. Here are some examples:
Dem Mann, wem ich das Buch gegeben habe, ist mein Freund. (The man whom I gave the book to is my friend.)
Der Frau, wem ich gestern geholfen habe, ist meine Schwester. (The woman whom I helped yesterday is my sister.)
Dessen
The relative pronoun “dessen” means “whose” and is used for masculine and neuter nouns. Here are some examples:
Der Mann, dessen Auto gestohlen wurde, ist sehr verärgert. (The man whose car was stolen is very upset.)
Das Haus, dessen Dach kaputt ist, gehört meinem Onkel. (The house whose roof is broken belongs to my uncle.)
Deren
“Deren” is also used for “whose,” but for feminine and plural nouns. Here are some examples:
Die Frau, deren Kinder ich gestern betreut habe, ist meine Freundin. (The woman whose children I took care of yesterday is my friend.)
Die Bücher, deren Titel ich nicht kenne, sind alle sehr alt. (The books whose titles i do not know are all very old.)
Dem/Den/Dem
The pronoun “dem/den/dem” means “whom,” “which,” or “that,” depending on the gender of the noun it refers to. “Dem” is used for masculine and neuter nouns, and “den” is used for feminine nouns. Here are some examples:
Der Mann, dem ich gestern das Buch gegeben habe, ist mein Nachbar. (The man whom I gave the book to yesterday is my neighbor.)
Die Frau, der ich gestern geholfen habe, ist meine Kollegin. (The woman whom I helped yesterday is my colleague.)
Das Haus, das ich kaufen möchte, gehört meinem Onkel. (The house that I want to buy belongs to my uncle.)
Conclusion
In conclusion, German has several relative pronouns that are used to connect two clauses and replace nouns or pronouns. The most common relative pronoun is “der/die/das,” which can be translated as “who,” “whom,” or “that.” Other relative pronouns include “welcher/welche/welches,” “wer,” “was,” “wem,” “dessen,” “deren,” and “dem/den/dem.” Each of these pronouns has a specific use case, and it is important to use them correctly to convey meaning accurately.
Learning and practicing the correct use of German relative pronouns can be challenging for beginners, but it is a critical aspect of speaking and writing in German. By studying the examples provided in this article, you can start to understand the proper usage of each relative pronoun and become more confident in your German language skills.
Originally posted 2023-07-17 14:36:50.