Relative clauses are used to connect a part of the sentence to a noun, providing additional information about it. In German, relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns that agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to, but their case depends on their function within the relative clause.
- Connect a clause to a noun, providing more information
- Use relative pronouns: der, die, das, die (for plural), etc.
- Pronouns agree with the noun in gender and number
- Pronouns change form according to their role in the relative clause (case)
Exercise:
- What is the role of a relative clause in a sentence?
- How do you know which relative pronoun to use in German?
Structure of Relative Clauses
The relative pronoun introduces the relative clause, which immediately follows the noun it describes. The verb in the relative clause is placed at the end.
- The relative clause follows the noun directly.
- The verb is always placed at the end of the relative clause.
- The relative pronoun replaces the subject, object, or other element in the clause.
Example:
Der Mann, der dort steht, ist mein Onkel.
(The man who is standing there is my uncle.)
Exercise:
- Where is the verb placed in a German relative clause?
- Give an example of a relative clause in German with an English translation.
Relative Pronouns and Their Cases
Relative pronouns must match the gender and number of their antecedent, but their case depends on their role in the relative clause:
| Gender/Number | Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Genitive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der | den | dem | dessen |
| Feminine | die | die | der | deren |
| Neuter | das | das | dem | dessen |
| Plural | die | die | denen | deren |
Example:
- Der Mann, der (nom) spricht, ist nett.
- Den Mann, den (acc) ich sehe, kenne ich.
- Das Haus, in dem (dat) ich wohne, ist alt.
- Der Mann, dessen (gen) Auto kaputt ist, kommt später.
Exercise:
- Match the relative pronoun to the noun and case: "The woman (fem), whom I see..."
- What is the dative plural relative pronoun?
Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses
- Defining clauses: essential info, no commas if restrictive, relative pronoun used.
- Non-defining clauses: extra info, always comma-separated, relative pronoun used, cannot be omitted, and cannot be restrictive.
Example:
- Defining: Das ist der Mann, der den Hund hat. (I know only this man because of the dog.)
- Non-defining: Herr Müller, der einen Hund hat, ist nett. (You already know Herr Müller.)
Relative clauses add precision and detail to sentences by linking information about nouns through pronouns that adapt to grammatical roles.
- They provide essential (defining) or extra (non-defining) information about nouns.
- Relative pronouns must match the noun’s gender/number and reflect their role (case) in the clause.
- The verb in a relative clause is always placed at the end.