Pronouns Concepts (German) | Learn German (Hallo Deutsch 2) - Class 6 PDF Download

Introduction

Pronouns are words that stand in for nouns to avoid repetition and add variety to language use. In German, pronouns can change form based on gender, number, and case.

Example

• Ich liebe Berlin. (I love Berlin.)
• Er ist mein Freund. (He is my friend.)
• Sie haben ein Buch. (They have a book.)

Types of Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns (Persönliche Pronomen): ich, du, er, sie, es, etc.
• Reflexive Pronouns (Reflexivpronomen): mich, dich, sich, etc.
• Possessive Pronouns (Besitzanzeigende Pronomen): mein, dein, sein, etc.
• Demonstrative Pronouns (Demonstrativpronomen): dieser, jene, etc.
• Interrogative Pronouns (Interrogativpronomen): wer?, was?, etc.
• Relative Pronouns (Relativpronomen): der, die, das, etc.
• Indefinite Pronouns (Indefinitpronomen): man, niemand, jeder, etc.

Personal Pronouns (Persönliche Pronomen)

Definition

• Personal pronouns are used to substitute for specific people or things and are categorized by person (first, second, third), number (singular, plural), and gender (masculine, feminine, neuter).

Examples

• First Person Singular: Ich (I)
• Second Person Singular: Du (You)
• Third Person Singular: Er (He), Sie (She), Es (It)

Use in Sentences

• Ich gehe ins Kino. (I am going to the cinema.)
• Du bist mein Freund. (You are my friend.)
• Er spielt Fußball. (He plays football.)

Conjugation

Personal pronouns change form based on the case:

Nominative Case

• Ich (I)
• Du (You)
• Er/Sie/Es (He/She/It)

Accusative Case

• Mich (Me)
• Dich (You)
• Ihn/Sie/Es (Him/Her/It)

Dative Case

• Mir (To me)
• Dir (To you)
• Ihm/Ihr/Ihm (To him/To her/To it)

Genitive Case

• Meiner (Mine)
• Deiner (Yours)
• Seiner/Ihrer/Seiner (His/Hers/Its)

Exercises

1. Replace the nouns in the sentences with the correct personal pronouns in the nominative case:
   • (Peter) ist mein Bruder.
   • (Maria und ich) gehen zur Schule.
   • (Das Buch) liegt auf dem Tisch.
2. Conjugate the following sentences into the accusative case:
   • Ich sehe (der Mann).
   • Kannst du (die Frau) helfen?
   • Wir finden (das Auto) nicht.

Solutions

• Er ist mein Bruder.
• Wir gehen zur Schule.
• Es liegt auf dem Tisch.
• Ich sehe ihn.
• Kannst du sie helfen?
• Wir finden es nicht.

Reflexive Pronouns (Reflexivpronomen)

Definition

• Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject of the sentence is also the object. In other words, the action of the verb is reflected back onto the subject.

Examples

• Sich waschen (to wash oneself)
• Sich freuen (to be happy about oneself)

Use in Sentences

• Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.)
• Du freust dich. (You are happy about yourself.)

Conjugation

• Reflexive pronouns in German change according to the case and the number (singular or plural):

Accusative Case

• Mich (myself)
• Dich (yourself)
• Sich (himself/herself/itself)
• Uns (ourselves)
• Euch (yourselves)
• Sich (themselves)

Dative Case

• Mir (to myself)
• Dir (to yourself)
• Sich (to himself/to herself/to itself)
• Uns (to ourselves)
• Euch (to yourselves)
• Sich (to themselves)

Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct reflexive pronouns in the accusative case:

• Ich ___ (myself) jeden Morgen.
• Er ___ (himself) auf das Wochenende.
• Sie ___ (themselves) im Spiegel.

Convert the sentences to use reflexive pronouns in the dative case:

• Ich kaufe ___ (myself) ein Geschenk.
• Du machst ___ (yourself) Sorgen.
• Wir stellen ___ (ourselves) vor.

Solutions

• Ich wasche mich jeden Morgen. (I wash myself every morning.)
• Er freut sich auf das Wochenende. (He is looking forward to the weekend.)
• Sie sehen sich im Spiegel. (They see themselves in the mirror.)
• Ich kaufe mir ein Geschenk. (I am buying a gift for myself.)
• Du machst dir Sorgen. (You are worrying yourself.)
• Wir stellen uns vor. (We introduce ourselves.)

Possessive Pronouns (Besitzanzeigende Pronomen)

Definition

• Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession. They replace a noun while also providing information about who owns that noun.

Examples

• Mein (My)
• Dein (Your)
• Sein/Ihr/Sein (His/Her/Its)

Use in Sentences

• Mein Buch ist neu. (My book is new.)
• Dein Auto ist schnell. (Your car is fast.)
• Ihr Haus ist groß. (Her house is big.)

Conjugation

Possessive pronouns change to agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun they are replacing:

Nominative Case

• Mein Hund (My dog)
• Deine Katze (Your cat)
• Sein Buch (His book)

Accusative Case

• Meinen Hund (My dog)
• Deine Katze (Your cat)
• Sein Buch (His book)

Dative Case

• Meinem Hund (To my dog)
• Deiner Katze (To your cat)
• Seinem Buch (To his book)

Genitive Case

• Meines Hundes (Of my dog)
• Deiner Katze (Of your cat)
• Seines Buches (Of his book)

Exercises

1. Replace the nouns in the sentences with the correct possessive pronouns:
   • (Das Auto von Peter) ist alt.
   • (Die Tasche von Maria) ist schwer.
   • (Die Bücher von den Kindern) sind bunt.
2. Provide the possessive pronoun for each case using the noun das Fahrrad (the bicycle):
   • (Nominative) ___ Fahrrad ist neu.
   • (Accusative) Ich habe ___ Fahrrad gekauft.
   • (Dative) Ich gebe ___ Fahrrad einen Korb.
   • (Genitive) Die Farbe ___ Fahrrads gefällt mir.

Solutions

• Sein Auto ist alt. (His car is old.)
• Ihre Tasche ist schwer. (Her bag is heavy.)
• Ihre Bücher sind bunt. (Their books are colorful.)
• (Nominative) Mein Fahrrad ist neu. (My bicycle is new.)
• (Accusative) Ich habe mein Fahrrad gekauft. (I bought my bicycle.)
• (Dative) Ich gebe meinem Fahrrad einen Korb. (I am giving my bicycle a basket.)
• (Genitive) Die Farbe meines Fahrrads gefällt mir. (I like the color of my bicycle.)

Demonstrative Pronouns (Demonstrativpronomen)

Definition

• Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific things or people. They can indicate objects that are close or far away in terms of distance or time.

Examples

• Dieser (this - masculine)
• Diese (this - feminine)
• Dieses (this - neuter)
• Jener (that - masculine)
• Jene (that - feminine)
• Jenes (that - neuter)

Use in Sentences

• Dieser Mann dort ist mein Onkel. (This man over there is my uncle.)
• Diese Blume riecht gut. (This flower smells good.)
• Jenes Haus sieht alt aus. (That house looks old.)

Conjugation

Demonstrative pronouns change according to the gender, number, and case of the noun they are replacing:

Nominative Case

• Dieser Baum (This tree - masculine)
• Diese Blume (This flower - feminine)
• Dieses Kind (This child - neuter)

Accusative Case

• Diesen Baum (This tree - masculine)
• Diese Blume (This flower - feminine)
• Dieses Kind (This child - neuter)

Dative Case

• Diesem Baum (To this tree - masculine)
• Dieser Blume (To this flower - feminine)
• Diesem Kind (To this child - neuter)

Genitive Case

• Dieses Baumes (Of this tree - masculine)
• Dieser Blume (Of this flower - feminine)
• Dieses Kindes (Of this child - neuter)

Exercises

1. Choose the correct demonstrative pronoun to fill in the blanks:
   • (___ Mann) dort ist mein Lehrer.
   • Ich mag (___ Buch) sehr.
   • (___ Kinder) spielen im Park.
2. Convert the sentences to use the appropriate case:
   • (Nominative) ___ Auto ist neu.
   • (Accusative) Ich sehe ___ Hund.
   • (Dative) Ich gebe ___ Frau das Buch.
   • (Genitive) Die Farbe ___ Himmels ist schön.

Solutions

• Dieser Mann dort ist mein Lehrer. (This man over there is my teacher.)
• Ich mag dieses Buch sehr. (I like this book a lot.)
• Diese Kinder spielen im Park. (These children are playing in the park.)
• (Nominative) Dieses Auto ist neu. (This car is new.)
• (Accusative) Ich sehe diesen Hund. (I see this dog.)
• (Dative) Ich gebe dieser Frau das Buch. (I am giving this woman the book.)
• (Genitive) Die Farbe dieses Himmels ist schön. (The color of this sky is beautiful.)

Interrogative Pronouns (Interrogativpronomen)

Definition

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. They replace the noun about which the question is being asked.

Examples

• Wer? (Who?)
• Was? (What?)
• Welcher/Welche/Welches? (Which?)

Use in Sentences

• Wer ist das? (Who is that?)
• Was machst du? (What are you doing?)
• Welches Buch liest du? (Which book are you reading?)

Conjugation

Interrogative pronouns do not conjugate like personal pronouns, but they must agree with the gender and number of the noun they are questioning:

Nominative Case

• Wer (Who - for people)
• Was (What - for things)

Accusative Case

• Wen (Whom - for people)
• Was (What - for things)

Dative Case

• Wem (To whom - for people)
• Was (What - for things, rarely used in dative)

Genitive Case

• Wessen (Whose - for people)

Exercises

1. Ask questions using interrogative pronouns for the following answers:
   • Ich sehe den Mann. (I see the man.)
   • Das ist das Buch von Maria. (That is Maria’s book.)
   • Ich gebe dem Kind das Spielzeug. (I give the child the toy.)
2. Provide the correct interrogative pronoun for each case:
   • (Nominative) ___ ist dein Lieblingssänger?
   • (Accusative) ___ hast du gestern getroffen?
   • (Dative) ___ gibst du das Geschenk?
   • (Genitive) ___ Auto ist das?

Solutions

• Wen siehst du? (Whom do you see?)
• Wessen Buch ist das? (Whose book is that?)
• Wem gibst du das Spielzeug? (To whom are you giving the toy?)
• (Nominative) Wer ist dein Lieblingssänger? (Who is your favorite singer?)
• (Accusative) Wen hast du gestern getroffen? (Whom did you meet yesterday?)
• (Dative) Wem gibst du das Geschenk? (To whom are you giving the gift?)
• (Genitive) Wessen Auto ist das? (Whose car is that?)

Relative Pronouns (Relativpronomen)

Definition

Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses, which provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence. They relate to a noun or pronoun mentioned earlier in the sentence.

Examples

• Der (who, which - masculine)
• Die (who, which - feminine)
• Das (who, which - neuter)
• Denen (whom - plural)

Use in Sentences

• Das ist der Mann, der mein Auto repariert hat. (That is the man who repaired my car.)
• Ich kenne eine Frau, die drei Sprachen spricht. (I know a woman who speaks three languages.)
• Siehst du das Haus, das am Ende der Straße steht? (Do you see the house that stands at the end of the street?)

Conjugation

Relative pronouns change according to the gender, number, and case of the noun they are referring to:

Nominative Case

• Der Hund, der bellt (The dog that barks - masculine)
• Die Katze, die miaut (The cat that meows - feminine)
• Das Kind, das spielt (The child that plays - neuter)

Accusative Case

• Den Hund, den ich sehe (The dog that I see - masculine)
• Die Katze, die ich höre (The cat that I hear - feminine)
• Das Kind, das ich rufe (The child that I call - neuter)

Dative Case

• Dem Hund, dem ich helfe (The dog to whom I help - masculine)
• Der Katze, der ich folge (The cat to whom I follow - feminine)
• Dem Kind, dem ich lese (The child to whom I read - neuter)

Genitive Case

• Des Hundes, dessen Schwanz wedelt (The dog whose tail wags - masculine)
• Der Katze, deren Fell glänzt (The cat whose fur shines - feminine)
• Des Kindes, dessen Lachen ich höre (The child whose laughter I hear - neuter)

Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct relative pronouns:
   • Das ist das Mädchen, ___ die ganze Nacht getanzt hat.
   • Kennst du den Lehrer, ___ in der Schule unterrichtet?
   • Das ist das Buch, ___ ich dir erzählt habe.
2. Rewrite the sentences using the appropriate case for the relative pronoun:
   • Der Mann, ___ (who) ich gestern getroffen habe, ist sehr nett.
   • Die Blumen, ___ (which) du mir geschenkt hast, sind wunderschön.
   • Das Auto, ___ (whose) Motor laut ist, gehört meinem Nachbarn.

Solutions

• Das ist das Mädchen, das die ganze Nacht getanzt hat. (That is the girl who danced all night.)
• Kennst du den Lehrer, der in der Schule unterrichtet? (Do you know the teacher who teaches at school?)
• Das ist das Buch, von dem ich dir erzählt habe. (That is the book I told you about.)
• Der Mann, den ich gestern getroffen habe, ist sehr nett. (The man whom I met yesterday is very nice.)
• Die Blumen, die du mir geschenkt hast, sind wunderschön. (The flowers which you gave me are beautiful.)
• Das Auto, dessen Motor laut ist, gehört meinem Nachbarn. (The car whose engine is loud belongs to my neighbor.)

Indefinite Pronouns (Indefinitpronomen)

Definition

Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific persons, objects, or quantities. They are used when the identity of the noun is unknown or irrelevant.

Examples

• Man (one, people, they)
• Etwas (something)
• Niemand (nobody)
• Jeder (everyone)

Use in Sentences

• Man kann hier gut essen. (One can eat well here.)
• Etwas stimmt nicht. (Something is wrong.)
• Niemand hat angerufen. (Nobody called.)
• Jeder ist willkommen. (Everyone is welcome.)

Conjugation

Indefinite pronouns are generally invariable, but some change according to the case:

Nominative Case

• Man (one)
• Etwas (something)
• Niemand (nobody)
• Jeder (everyone)

Accusative Case

• Etwas (something)
• Niemanden (nobody)
• Jeden (everyone)

Dative Case

• Niemandem (to nobody)
• Jedem (to everyone)

Genitive Case

• Jedes (of everyone)

Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct indefinite pronouns:
   • ___ hat mir geholfen. (Nobody helped me.)
   • Ich möchte ___ Neues probieren. (I want to try something new.)
   • ___ weiß die Antwort. (Everyone knows the answer.)
2. Use the appropriate case for the indefinite pronoun in the sentences:
   • ___ (one) sollte immer ehrlich sein.
   • Ich habe ___ (nobody) im Büro gesehen.
   • Kannst du ___ (something) für mich tun?

Solutions

• Niemand hat mir geholfen. (Nobody helped me.)
• Ich möchte etwas Neues probieren. (I want to try something new.)
• Jeder weiß die Antwort. (Everyone knows the answer.)
• Man sollte immer ehrlich sein. (One should always be honest.)
• Ich habe niemanden im Büro gesehen. (I saw nobody in the office.)
• Kannst du etwas für mich tun? (Can you do something for me?)

Other than these types, we have 

Reciprocal Pronouns (Reziprokpronomen)

Definition

• Reciprocal pronouns are used to indicate a mutual or reciprocal action between two or more people or things. In German, the reciprocal pronoun is “einander” and it means “each other” or “one another.”

Example

• Sie lieben einander. (They love each other.)

Use in Sentences

Reciprocal pronouns are used when each of two or more subjects is acting in the same way towards the other. Here are some examples:

• Wir helfen einander. (We help each other.)
• Die Kinder streiten sich einander. (The children are arguing with each other.)

Conjugation

The reciprocal pronoun “einander” does not change form for gender or number, but it can take different cases depending on its role in the sentence:

Nominative Case

• Not applicable as “einander” cannot be the subject of a sentence.

Accusative Case

• Sie sehen einander. (They see each other.)

Dative Case

• Sie geben einander Geschenke. (They give each other gifts.)

Genitive Case

• Rarely used and can often sound archaic or formal. It’s usually replaced by a prepositional phrase.
• Sie sind einander’s Glück. (They are each other’s happiness.)

Exercises

1. Create sentences using “einander” to express a mutual action between:
   • Zwei Freunde (two friends)
   • Ein Paar (a couple)
   • Drei Geschwister (three siblings)
2. Rewrite the following sentences using “einander”:
   • Die Katzen jagen sich. (The cats chase.)
   • Die Studenten helfen sich bei den Hausaufgaben. (The students help with homework.)
   • Die Kollegen gratulieren sich zum Erfolg. (The colleagues congratulate on the success.)

Solutions

• Zwei Freunde vertrauen einander. (Two friends trust each other.)
• Ein Paar umarmt einander. (A couple hugs each other.)
• Drei Geschwister erzählen einander Geschichten. (Three siblings tell each other stories.)
• Die Katzen jagen einander. (The cats chase each other.)
• Die Studenten helfen einander bei den Hausaufgaben. (The students help each other with homework.)
• Die Kollegen gratulieren einander zum Erfolg. (The colleagues congratulate each other on the success.)

Separable Prefixes

Separable prefixes in German verbs are unique elements that can detach from the verb stem in certain grammatical contexts. They are versatile and can significantly alter the meaning of the base verb.

Understanding Separable Prefixes

A separable prefix can be thought of as a movable piece of a verb that, when placed at the end of a sentence or clause, changes the verb’s action or direction. This separation typically occurs in the present tense and simple past tense, as well as in the imperative mood.

Grammatical Rules

In a main clause, when a separable prefix verb is conjugated, the prefix moves to the end of the clause. For example:

• Infinitive: fernsehen (to watch TV)
  Conjugated: Ich sehe fern. (I watch TV.)

In subordinate clauses, the prefix does not separate from the verb:

• Subordinate Clause: …weil ich fernsehen will. (…because I want to watch TV.)

Common Separable Prefixes and Their Meanings

• ab-: away, down
  abfahren (to depart)
• an-: on, to begin
  anfangen (to begin)
• auf-: up, open
  aufmachen (to open)

Usage Examples

• Infinitive: aufstehen (to get up)
  • Sentence: Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf. (I get up at 7 a.m.)
• Imperative: Komm her! (Come here!)
  • The prefix her- is separated in the imperative form.

Separable prefixes are a fundamental aspect of German verb conjugation, offering a dynamic way to express a variety of actions and movements.

Inseparable Prefixes

Inseparable prefixes in German are affixed to verbs and remain attached in all grammatical forms. Unlike separable prefixes, they do not move within the sentence and are integral to the verb’s meaning.

Characteristics of Inseparable Prefixes

Inseparable prefixes are always part of the verb and are not emphasized in pronunciation. They do not affect the word order in a sentence and are present in all conjugated forms, infinitives, and past participles.

Common Inseparable Prefixes

Here are some common inseparable prefixes with their meanings:

• be-: implies an effect or a change of state
  besuchen (to visit)
• er-: denotes the successful completion of an action
  erfinden (to invent)
• miss-: indicates a negative or opposite action
  missverstehen (to misunderstand)

Usage in Sentences

Inseparable prefixes maintain their position regardless of the sentence structure:

• Ich besuche meine Freunde. (I visit my friends.)
• Er hat das Rad erfunden. (He has invented the wheel.)

Stress and Pronunciation

The stress usually falls on the syllable following the inseparable prefix, which helps distinguish them from separable prefixes.

Examples

• verstehen (to understand)
  Ich verstehe dich. (I understand you.)
• entdecken (to discover)
  Wir haben eine neue Art entdeckt. (We have discovered a new species.)

Inseparable prefixes are a vital part of the German language, providing a way to express complex concepts through simple verb modifications.

Distinguishing Separable vs. Inseparable Prefixes

Understanding the difference between separable and inseparable prefixes is crucial for mastering German verb conjugation. Here’s how to distinguish between the two:

Identifying Separable Prefixes

Separable prefixes often originate from prepositions and can be detached from the verb in the sentence. They are typically used in the present tense and simple past tense, and in the imperative mood.

General Rules for Separable Prefixes

• If the prefix can stand alone as a preposition, it is likely separable.
• Separable prefixes affect the word order by moving to the end of the clause.

Examples of Separable Prefixes

• ab- (away from): abfahren (to depart)
• an- (on, at): anfangen (to begin)
• auf- (up, open): aufmachen (to open)

Identifying Inseparable Prefixes

Inseparable prefixes cannot be detached and do not affect the word order. They remain attached to the verb in all grammatical forms.

General Rules for Inseparable Prefixes

• Prefixes that do not function as prepositions are usually inseparable.
• Inseparable prefixes often have a strong emphasis on the verb’s root.

Examples of Inseparable Prefixes

• be- (to…): besuchen (to visit)
• er- (re-): erfinden (to invent)
• miss- (wrong, badly): missverstehen (to misunderstand)

Exceptions and Variations

While these rules can guide you, there are exceptions. Some verbs can have both separable and inseparable prefixes, changing the meaning based on the context.

Double Prefixes

Double prefixes in German verbs add a layer of complexity to the language. These verbs contain both a separable and an inseparable prefix, offering nuanced meanings and uses.

Understanding Double Prefixes

A double prefix verb has two prefixes: one inseparable that always remains attached to the verb, and one separable that can move to the end of the clause in certain tenses.

Examples and Usage

• über (over) + an (on) + fangen (to catch) = überanfangen
  Ich fange das Projekt überan. (I am starting over the project.)
• um (around) + er (re-) + fahren (to drive) = umerfahren
  Er fährt den Block um. (He drives around the block.)

Grammatical Structure

In sentences, the separable prefix moves according to the tense, while the inseparable prefix remains with the stem verb:

• Ich werde das Problem überanpacken. (I will tackle the problem anew.)

Distinguishing the Prefixes

The inseparable prefix often provides a general verb meaning, while the separable prefix can modify the direction or manner of the action.

Significance

Double prefixes allow for the expression of complex actions and are particularly useful in nuanced or specific contexts.

Prefixes with Shifting Meaning

In German, some prefixes can be both separable and inseparable, leading to verbs that have different meanings depending on the prefix type used. This dual nature can be challenging but also enriches the language with versatile expressions.

Dual Prefixes: Separable and Inseparable

Certain German prefixes can function as either separable or inseparable, which affects the meaning of the verb they are attached to.

Examples of Shifting Prefixes

• um-: This prefix can mean “around” when separable and “to change” when inseparable.
  Separable: umfahren (to drive around)
  Inseparable: umfahren (to knock down)
• durch-: As a separable prefix, it can mean “through,” and as an inseparable prefix, it often implies “completion.”
  Separable: durchsuchen (to search through)
  Inseparable: durchführen (to carry out)

Understanding the Context

The context in which the verb is used often clarifies the meaning:

• Er fährt den Zaun um. (He knocks down the fence.)
• Er fährt um den Zaun. (He drives around the fence.)

The Role of Stress

Pronunciation plays a key role in distinguishing between separable and inseparable uses:

• The stress is on the prefix in separable verbs.
• The stress is on the verb stem in inseparable verbs.