Cleft sentences are special constructions that allow you to highlight or emphasize a particular part of a sentence. In German, there are several common ways to create cleft sentences, including using Es gibt, Es ist ... , der/die ..., and other similar structures.
Es gibt … (There is/are …)
Es gibt is a very common and useful phrase meaning “there is” or “there are.” It introduces the existence of something.
- Form: Es gibt + accusative object
- Used to state that something exists or is present
- The rest of the sentence follows after the object introduced by Es gibt
Examples
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Es gibt drei Bücher auf dem Tisch. | There are three books on the table. |
| Gibt es einen Supermarkt in der Nähe? | Is there a supermarket nearby? |
| Es gibt keine Antwort auf die Frage. | There is no answer to the question. |
Tips
- The object after Es gibt is always in the accusative case.
- The verb gibt does not change for singular or plural subjects.
- Can be used in questions and negative sentences.
There is a problem with the computer.
Es gibt ein Problem mit dem Computer.
Singular nouns in cleft sentences still use 'Es gibt' (not 'Es sind'). So, 'Es gibt ein Problem mit dem Computer' is correct.
Es ist … , der/die … (It is … who/that …)
This structure is used to emphasize or identify a specific person or thing performing an action. It’s similar to the English cleft sentence “It is … who/that …” or “It was … who/that …”
- Form: Es ist/war + noun/pronoun + der/die/das + relative clause
- Used to highlight or single out a subject
- The relative pronoun der, die, or das agrees with the noun being emphasized
Examples
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Es ist Anna, die den Brief geschrieben hat. | It is Anna who wrote the letter. |
| Es war der Lehrer, der die Hausaufgaben erklärt hat. | It was the teacher who explained the homework. |
| Es sind die Kinder, die im Garten spielen. | It is the children who are playing in the garden. |
Tips
- The relative pronoun must match the gender and number of the noun (der = masculine, die = feminine/plural, das = neuter).
- The verb in the relative clause goes to the end.
- The main verb is ist (present) or war (past), but other tenses can be used accordingly.
Andere Cleft-Sätze (Other Cleft Sentences)
German also has other ways to create cleft sentences without using Es gibt or Es ist …, der/die …. These often involve fronting a phrase for emphasis and using inversion.
Beispiel: Mit Adverbialem Vorderang
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Gestern hat er den Wagen gekauft. | It was yesterday that he bought the car. |
| Im Park trifft man oft seine Freunde. | It is in the park that you often meet your friends. |
It was loudly that the cat meowed last night.
Gestern Nacht hat die Katze laut miaut.
While less common, fronting time expressions ('Gestern Nacht') and focusing adverbs ('laut') is possible for emphasis; verb-second order is maintained.
Beispiel: Mit was für … (What kind of …)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Was für ein Buch liest du? | What kind of book are you reading? |
| Was für Menschen wohnen hier? | What kind of people live here? |
Beispiel: Mit nur … (Only …)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Nur Peter hat die Aufgabe gemacht. | It was only Peter who did the task. |
| Nur im Sommer gehen wir ans Meer. | It is only in summer that we go to the sea. |
Zusammenfassung (Summary)
Cleft sentences in German help you focus on or emphasize specific parts of a sentence. The most common patterns are:
| Pattern | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Es gibt + Akkusativ | Introduce existence | Es gibt viele Möglichkeiten. |
| Es ist …, der/die … | Emphasize subject | Es ist die Mutter, die ruft. |
| [Adverbial/vollständige Phrase] + Verb + Subjekt | Emphasize time/place/condition | Gestern habe ich frei. |
By using these structures, you can make your German more precise and expressive.
Flashcards (1 of 12)
- English: There are three books on the table.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
