![]() ![]() In English, we use “which” or “that.” In German, you use welche and der, die, or das. Use relative pronouns to connect clauses with a shared noun. Interrogative pronouns, like “who” and “what,” ask questions about people and objects.Īsking these questions can often help you identify the subject, direct object, and indirect object of a sentence. The accusative form of “man” is einen, and the dative form is einem. ![]() Example: Das kann man nicht machen! (You “one” can't do that!).Instead of his/her or you, German uses the word man, meaning “one” to speak about a person in general, without indicating the gender. The words jemand, niemand, and jeder require endings according to their gender and case. Indefinite pronouns are words such as somebody, nobody, and anyone that don't specify a particular person or object. Let's look at the different forms of reflexive pronouns, followed by examples. On a positive note, you only have to deal with two cases. The equivalent in English would be myself, yourself, himself, etc. ![]() Some verbs in German are reflexive, which means the subject performs the action on him or herself. When addressing someone formally, choose Sie with a capital “S.” If you're talking to a friend or informal acquaintance, use du. You may have noticed that there are three different ways of saying “you” in German. (You can cook well.)Įxample: Es freut mich, dass es dir gut geht. Example: Wie heißt ihr? (What are your names?) Du kannst gut kochen.Speak about others using second-person pronouns “du,” “ihr,” and “Sie.” Talk about yourself using the first person singular ich or plural wir pronouns These words replace names and enable us to talk about ourselves and others.īelow are examples of when to use personal pronouns in German. Personal pronouns are words like I, you, we, and they. So far, you've been introduced to the personal pronouns in German.Īltogether, there are seven different kinds of pronouns to choose from. Next, let's look at different types of German pronouns and how to use them. I'll dive into possessive pronouns later. “I” is the subject, “it” is the direct object, and “you” is the indirect object. “I” is the subject, and “you” is the direct object. (I drink water.)ĭirect object – Takes the accusative case The next step is to identify whether a pronoun is the subject, direct object, or indirect object of the sentence. Now, you're probably wondering how to decide between the nominative, accusative, and dative cases. Remember, in German, there are different pronouns for the word “you,” depending on the formality of the conversation, and whether you're speaking to one person, or multiple individuals. The following table displays the personal pronouns in each case: Which pronoun to use depends on whether you're using the nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive case. If not, you may want to review my 5-part guide on the German cases. If you've already learned about German cases, then you're no stranger to the notion of word genders and adjective endings. Let's review the essential grammar concepts that will help you choose the correct form of a pronoun.ĭon't worry! I've made the explanations as straightforward as possible. Case – Is the pronoun the subject, direct object, or indirect object of the sentence?.Number – Do you require a singular or plural form of the pronoun?.Word gender – The gender of the word following the pronoun will determine its ending.The person – Do you need a first (I), second (you), or third person (he/she/it) pronoun?.A Prelude To German Pronounsīefore you can choose the correct German pronoun, there are a few factors you have to determine. If you’re ready to get started, click here for a 7-day FREE trial. With German Uncovered you’ll use my unique StoryLearning® method to learn German pronouns and other tricky grammar naturally through stories. Fortunately, I can guarantee to simplify the process by showing you how to recognize common patterns.īy the end of the post, you'll be on your way to becoming a German pronoun master.īy the way, if you want to learn German fast and have fun while doing it, my top recommendation is German Uncovered which teaches you through StoryLearning®. I can't promise that you won't have to memorize a few new words. You're probably asking yourself how you should grasp this concept, considering that there are three different ways to say “you!” One of the seemingly most complicated aspects of learning German is getting a handle on all the variations of German pronouns. ![]()
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