Pronouns. Relative pronouns in German

Which indicate certain objects, signs, and so on. In German they are called Demonstrativpronomen.

Demonstrative pronouns include the following pronouns: der, das, die, dieser, diesels, diese, jener, jenes, jene, derjenige, dasjenige, diejenige, solcher, solches, solche, derselbe, dasselbe, dieselbe.

Pay attention to the declension of demonstrative pronouns by case. In principle, it is similar to the declension of other pronouns, such as personal pronouns. For convenience, we have summarized the declension of all demonstrative pronouns in German into one table:

In addition, it is very important to understand the difference in the use of demonstrative pronouns dieser, diesels, diese And jener, jenes, jene. The first are used when indicating objects that are in close proximity, while the second group of pronouns is applicable to objects located at a significant distance. Moreover, we are talking not only about distance; these pronouns can be used to indicate temporary proximity or distance.

Dieses Auto gehört mir, jenes meinem Nachbarn. – This car belongs to me, and that one belongs to my neighbor.

In the context of this sentence, under the word jenes (That) means a car most likely parked at a short distance.

Particular attention should be paid to the use of demonstrative pronouns solcher, solches, solche. As mentioned above, almost all demonstrative pronouns point to some object, creature, and so on. Demonstrative pronouns solcher, solches And solche are the exception to the rule. These pronouns indicate attributes or properties of objects, and not the objects themselves.

Eine solche Note war für mich unerwartet. – This assessment was unexpected for me.

In addition, the shortened form of the demonstrative pronoun is often used solcher – solch. This abbreviated pronoun is associated directly with, and not with, and thereby emphasizes and strengthens it.

Solch ein teures Auto würde ich mir nicht kaufen. – I wouldn’t buy such an expensive car.
Wir haben solch einen breiten Fluss noch nicht gesehen. “We have never seen such a wide river before.”

As you can see in both examples the pronoun solch enhances the meaning of adjectives " Expensive" And " wide».

A few words should also be mentioned about the use of demonstrative pronouns derjenige, dasjenige, diejenige. Most often they are used in complex sentences, being in the main sentence, they are closely related in meaning to the subordinate sentence.

Ich war derjenige, der die beste Diplomarbeit gemacht hat. – I was the one who wrote the best thesis.

And finally, some of the most frequently used demonstrative pronouns: der, das, die. These demonstrative pronouns are used to elevate or emphasize a particular object or feature. They can be distinguished from identical personal pronouns primarily by the intonation of pronunciation and stress in the sentence.

Das Auto ist einfach toll! – Das Auto ist einfach toll! (This car is just wonderful - This car is just wonderful)

As you can see, when placing emphasis on the demonstrative pronoun, we emphasize which particular car we are talking about. If we put emphasis on the attribute of a car, we emphasize the attribute of the car, and not a specific car. However, we must admit that it is quite difficult to determine this difference in intonation and stress, and it is almost impossible for a beginner who has just started learning German.

Declension of demonstrative pronouns der, das, die, die (PI.) "that, that, that, those" differs only partially from the declension of the definite article:

Coinciding with the definite article in most case forms, the demonstrative pronoun can only be emphasized in the text with a stronger emphasis:

Kennst du den Mann dort?
You know that one over there person?

Nein, den kenne ich nicht.
No, this person (him) I don't know.

Therefore, as demonstrative pronouns themselves, i.e. in their attributive function,der, das, die, die(PI.) are used primarily in the main clause, indicating the one (who) will be discussed in the subordinate clause, and are also translated into Russian with a demonstrative pronoun"that, that, that, those". For example:

Ich erinnere mich oft an den , der mir damals geholfen hat.
I often remember Togo , who helped me then.

Es ist nicht das Buch, das ich kaufen wollte.
This is not the one the book I wanted to buy.

The most common function of demonstrative pronouns der, das, die, die (PI.) is substantive. In this case, demonstrative pronouns appear in a sentence like personal or possessive pronouns. Such usage is not typical for the Russian language, so it should be
be especially careful when translating.

Replacing the previously mentioned noun in a sentence and acting as a functional equivalent of a personal pronoun, the demonstrative pronoun is translated into Russian by the corresponding personal pronoun. Sometimes, when translating, it is necessary to repeat the noun that is replaced in the German sentence by a demonstrative pronoun. For example:

Ich habe gestern meinen Schulfreund gesehen. Der hat es mir gesagt.
I met a classmate yesterday. He's the one That's what he told me.

Nimm dein Heft und das deines Bruders!
Take your notebook and your brother's notebook!

The genitive forms dessen (for masculine and neuter singular) and deren (for female singular and plural of all three genders) are inconsistent definitions and are used in sentences similarly to possessive pronouns. Since Russian demonstrative pronouns do not have such a function, the corresponding possessive pronouns should be used when translating. For example:

Hast du mit dem Professor selbst gesprochen?
Have you spoken to the professor himself?

Nein, nur mit dessen Assistenten.
No, only with his assistant.

Kommen Herr und Frau Müller heute abend zu uns? Jaund deren älteste Tochter auch.
Will Mr. and Mrs. Müller come to see us this evening? Yes, and their eldest daughter Same.

The use of demonstrative pronouns der, die, das, die (PI.) in the genitive case instead of the corresponding possessive pronouns is preferable in cases where possessive pronoun allows for ambiguous interpretation. For example:

Ihre Schwester und deren Tochter sind verreist.
Her sister and daughter(ie: sister and sister's daughter) left.

Sein Freund und dessen Sohn haben mich gestern besucht.
His friend with his son (i.e.: friend and friend's son)visited me yesterday.

Another very useful table:

Classification of pronouns

The main categories of pronouns are:

1. personal pronouns (die Personalpronomen): ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie, Sie;
2. impersonal pronoun (das unpersönliche Pronomen): es;
3. reflexive pronoun (das Reflexivpronomen): sich;
4. possessive pronouns (die Possessivpronomen): mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, ihr, Ihr;
5. demonstrative pronouns (die Demonstrativpronomen):
der, dieser, jener, solcher, derjenige, derselbe, es, selbst, selber;
6. indefinite pronouns (die Indefinitpronomen):
man, einer, jemand, jeder, jedermann, mancher, alles, beides, einiges, etwas, vieles; wenige, mehrere, sämtliche;
7. negative pronouns (die Negativpronomen): kein, niemand, nichts;
8. interrogative pronouns (die Interrogativpronomen): wer, was, welcher, was für ein;
9. relative pronouns (die Relativpronomen): der, welcher, wer, was, was für ein.

Pronouns can serve primarily two functions:
a) as a noun, acting as a subject or object in a sentence;
b) in the function of an adjective, being a definition or predicate in a sentence (the nominal part of a compound nominal predicate).

Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns include:

ich - I
du - you
er - he
sie - she
es - it
Sie - You (polite form)
wir - we
ihr - you
sie - they

Declension table for personal pronouns

Personal pronouns in declension have suppletive forms, i.e. forms formed from different roots, for example: ich - mir; er-ihm. The case forms of some pronouns may coincide, but differ in meaning, therefore, when translating into Russian, their function in the sentence should be clearly defined. This applies to pronouns: sie, es, wir, ihr, sie, Sie.

Compare:
Natürlich haben Sie recht. Ich habe Sie seit langem nicht gesehen. - Certainly. You're right. I haven't seen you for a long time.
Sie kommt zu uns morgen. Das ist unsere Lehrerin. Ich will sie fragen. - She will come to us tomorrow. This is our teacher. I'll ask her.

The polite form Sie is used when addressing one person or several persons, if the speaker addresses each of them with “you”

For example:
Wo sind Sie gestern abend gewesen? Where were you last night?

The 2nd person plural form ihr is used when addressing several persons, if each of them is spoken with “you”.

For example:

Die Mutter fragt ihre Kinder: "Warum seid ihr so ​​spät heimgekommen?"
A mother asks her children: “Why did you come back so late?”

Possessive pronouns

The system of possessive pronouns corresponds in German to the system of personal pronouns, that is, each person corresponds to a specific possessive pronoun.

Table of possessive pronouns 1st -3rd person
in singular and plural ( Nominative case)

There is no universal possessive pronoun similar to the Russian pronoun “your” in the German language.

Possessive pronouns appear in a sentence primarily in the function of defining the noun, agreeing with it in gender, number, and case.

For example:
Er hält immer sein Wort. - He always keeps his word.
Das Foto seines Vaters hängt an der Wand. - A photograph of his father hangs on the wall.

In the singular, possessive pronouns are inflected like the indefinite article, in the plural - like the definite.

Possessive pronouns in independent, i.e. substantive use, occur both with and without a definite article.

For example:
Gib mir dein Wörterbuch, das meine (meines) habe ich zu Hause vergessen. - Give me your dictionary, I forgot mine at home.

Demonstrative pronouns

The declension of demonstrative pronouns der, die, das, die (plural) “that, that, that, those” is only partially different from the declension of the definite article. Compare:

Coinciding with the definite article in most case forms, the demonstrative pronoun can only be emphasized in the text with a stronger emphasis.
Compare:
Kennst du den Mann dort? Nein, den kenne ich nicht. - Do you know that man over there? No, I don’t know this person (him).

Therefore, as demonstrative pronouns proper, i.e. in their attributive function, der, die, das. die (PI.) are used primarily in the main clause, indicating the one (that) who will be discussed in the subordinate clause, and are also translated into Russian by the demonstrative pronoun “that, that, that, those.”
For example:
Ich erinnere mich oft an den, der mir damals geholfen hat. - I often remember the one who helped me then.

The most common function of demonstrative pronouns der, die, das, die (PI.) is substantive. In this case, demonstrative pronouns appear in a sentence like personal or possessive pronouns. Such usage is not typical for the Russian language, so you should be especially careful when translating.

Replacing the previously mentioned noun in a sentence and acting as a functional equivalent of a personal pronoun, the demonstrative pronoun is translated into Russian by the corresponding personal pronoun. Sometimes, when translating, it is necessary to repeat the noun that is replaced in the German sentence by a demonstrative pronoun.
For example:
Nimm dem Heft und das deines Bruders! - Take your notebook and your brother’s notebook!

The genitive forms dessen (for the masculine and neuter singular) and deren (for the feminine singular and plural of all three genders) are inconsistent adjectives and are used in a sentence in a similar way to possessive pronouns. Since Russian demonstrative pronouns do not have such a function, the corresponding possessive pronouns should be used when translating.
For example:
Hast du mit dem Professor selbst gesprochen? Have you spoken to the professor himself?
Nein, nur mit dessen Assistenten. No, only with his assistant.

The use of demonstrative pronouns der, die, das, die (PI.) in the genitive case instead of the corresponding possessive pronouns is preferable in cases where the possessive pronoun is ambiguous.
For example:
Ihre Schwester und deren Töchter sind verreist. Her sister and daughter (ie: sister and sister's daughter) left.
Sein Freund und dessen Sohn haben mich gestern besucht. His friend and son (ie: friend and friend's son) visited me yesterday.

Negative pronouns

Negative pronouns in German include
kein(er), keine, kein(es), keine - no, -aya, -oe, -ie; nobody
niemand - no one nichts - nothing.
Kein only negates a noun that would appear in an affirmative sentence without an article or with an indefinite article (respectively, without an article in the plural). The pronoun kein is inflected in the singular, like the indefinite article, and in the plural, like the definite article.

The negative pronouns niemand and nichts occur exclusively in the substantive function. Niemand is inclined in the same way as jemand, nichts is not inclined.
For example:
Niemand wohnt in diesem Hans. Nobody lives in this house.
Sie hat nichts geantwortet. She didn't answer.

In German, unlike Russian, only one negation is possible. Compare:
Ich sehe hier niemanden. I don't see anyone here.
Nichts konnte ihn stören. Nothing could stop him.

Interrogative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns wer? Who? and was? What! always combined with a verb in the 3rd person singular, do not differ by gender and have the following declension forms:

Nominative wer? was?
Genitiv wessen?
Dativ wem?
Akkusativ wen? was?

For example:
Wer ist gekommen? Who's come?
Wessen Mantel hängt hier? Whose coat is hanging here?
Wem hat sie das gesagt? Who did she tell this to?
Wen soll ich grüßen? Who should I say hi to?
Was liegt auf dem Tisch? What's on the table?
Was siehst du dort? What do you see there?

The pronoun was? also used in questions regarding professional affiliation. For example:
Was ist dein Vater von Beruf? Who is your father's profession?

Pronoun welcher inflected like the definite article.

For example:
Welches Bild gefällt dir am besten? Which painting do you like best?
Mit welchem ​​Zug willst du fahren? Which train do you want to take?

A question using the pronoun welcher involves choosing one (or several) objects (persons) from among those already mentioned or well-defined. When answering, as a rule, the definite article is used.

With the help of was für ein, a question is asked about the properties, qualities or characteristics of an object (person). In the answer, the noun is usually used with an indefinite article.

Meaning pronouns in German very large. Often they can replace a noun, adjective, numeral, article. In a sentence, a pronoun can act as the subject. Using pronouns, interrogative or impersonal sentences and negations are made. This topic is quite extensive and requires in-depth study. Master pronouns in German The table will help.

Personal pronouns in German

Personalpronomen

_________
* Sie - polite form of you

Declension of personal pronouns

For example:

Ich warte auf dich. I'm waiting for you.
Ich (I) - nominative case.
Dich (you) is the accusative case of the pronoun du (you).

Ihm gefällt Deutschland.He likes Germany.
Ihm (to him) is the dative case of the pronoun er (he).

Possessive pronouns

Possessive pronoun in German- this is nothing more than the genitive case (Genetiv) of personal pronouns. It is formed as follows:

For example:

Ich liebe deine Schwester. I love your sister.
Ich is a personal pronoun.
Deine is a possessive pronoun.

Indefinite pronouns in German

Indefinite pronouns include pronouns such as: jemand, etwas, einer, mancher, alles, irgendein and others. This group can also include the indefinite personal pronoun man. In a sentence, they act as the subject or object (all except man, which is only the subject).

For example:

Alles ist in Ordnung. Everything is fine.
Sie muss etwasändern. She must change something.
Man kann dieses Fahrrad reparieren. This bike can be fixed.

Relative pronouns in German

Performing the function of a conjunction word, relative pronouns are used in complex sentences.

Das ist die Frau, deren Auto vor dem Haus steht. This is the woman whose car is parked in front of the house. This is a woman whose car is parked in front of the house.

Relative pronouns include: wer, was, welcher, der. The pronouns der, das, die are formed as follows:

Demonstrative pronouns in German

In a German sentence, demonstrative pronouns most often act as a determiner, however, in some cases they can take on the role of subject or object. The majority of demonstrative pronouns are inflected in the same way as the definite article.

Demonstrative pronouns in German include:
Dieser(this), der(That), jener(That), solcher(such), derselbe(the same), selbst(himself), etc.

For example:

Dieses Buch mast mir spaß. This book gives me pleasure.
Dieses (this) - demonstrative pronoun, s.r., im.p.
Mir (to me) - personal pronoun, date pad. from ich.

The topic “Pronouns in German” is very extensive. In this article we looked at only some of the most basic types of pronouns and ways of their declension.

Relative pronouns in German, or Relativpronomen, serve to link the main clause with the subordinate clause. In a sentence they replace a character or object. Such pronouns include:

der- which, die- which, das- which, die- which
wer- Who, was- What
welcher- which, welche- which, welches- which, welche- which

In colloquial speech the relative pronouns der/die/das are more often used. The pronouns welcher/welche/welches are usually used to avoid repetition.

As you already understood from the example, relative pronouns are declined by case.

Declension of relative pronouns in German - table

Exercise on using relative pronouns

1. Wie heißt das Buch, von ___ du mir gestern erzählt hast?
2. Das ist der Lehrer, ___ ich letzte Woche kennengelernt habe.
3. Kennst du die Leute, ___ das grüne Haus gehört?
4. Zu meinem Geburtstag hat meine Großmutter eine riesige Sahnetorte gebacken, ___ sofort aufgegessen wurde.
5. Ich fahre übermorgen zu meiner Freundin, ___ schon lange in Kroatien lebt.
6. Kennst du die Nachbarn, ___ Haus so groß ist?
7. Ist das das Kind, ___ du eine tolle Puppe geschenkt hast?
8. Gestern habe ich einen Film gesehen, in ___ es um berühmte Schriftsteller geht.
9. Auf dem Festival war auch Hanna, ___ Mutter bei der Post arbeitet.
10. Das war der Students, ___ mir gut gefallen hat.
11. Wir hatten kürzlich Herrn Holz bei uns zu Besuch, ___ Schwester in Brasilien arbeitet.
12. Ist das der Mann, an ___ Monika immer denkt?
13. Das sind die Nachbarn, ___ Auto immer am Eintritt steht.
14. Das ist der Junge, ___ mich eingeladen hat.
15. Wer ist die Frau, mit ___ du dich so lange unterhalten hast?
16. Siehst du den Polizist, ___ mit Journalisten redet?
17. Wir treffen uns vor dem Kino, ___ neu eröffnet hat.
18. Kann ich die Tasche umtauschen, ___ ich kürzlich gekauft habe?

Key:
1.dem
2.day
3. denen
4. die
5. die
6. deren
7.dem
8.dem
9. deren
10.der
11.dessen
12. den
13. deren
14.der
15.der
16.der
17.das
18. die

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