Demonstrative adjectives in German show exactly which thing you are talking about and match gender, number, and case. They help listeners identify the noun more clearly.
Key Demonstratives
The main demonstrative adjectives in German are dies-, jen-, and der/die/das when used for pointing. Each one changes its ending to agree with the noun's gender, number, and case.
Dies-
Dies- is used for things that are close in time or space and can replace or emphasize a particular noun. It works well when you want to highlight something specific.
| Gender | Case | German Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Nominative | dieser | this | |
| Masculine | Accusative | diesen | this | |
| Feminine | Nominative | diese | this | |
| Feminine | Accusative | diese | this | |
| Neuter | Nominative | dieses | this | |
| Neuter | Accusative | dieses | this | |
| Plural | Nominative | diese | these | |
| Plural | Accusative | diese | these |
This book is on the table.
Jen-
Jen- points to something more distant or less immediate and is often used to contrast two things. It also changes endings to match the noun.
| Gender | Case | German Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Nominative | jener | that | |
| Masculine | Accusative | jenen | that | |
| Feminine | Nominative | jene | that | |
| Feminine | Accusative | jene | that | |
| Neuter | Nominative | jenes | that | |
| Neuter | Accusative | jenes | that | |
| Plural | Nominative | jene | those | |
| Plural | Accusative | jene | those |
Der / Die / Das as Demonstratives
The definite articles der, die, and das can also function as demonstrative adjectives when they clearly point to a particular noun, especially in spoken German. They follow the usual article endings.
| Gender | Case | German Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Nominative | der | that | |
| Masculine | Accusative | den | that | |
| Feminine | Nominative | die | that | |
| Feminine | Accusative | die | that | |
| Neuter | Nominative | das | that | |
| Neuter | Accusative | das | that | |
| Plural | Nominative | die | those | |
| Plural | Accusative | die | those |
Usage
Demonstrative adjectives must match the noun in gender, number, and case, so you first determine the noun's grammatical role and then choose the appropriate ending. They help make your speech more precise.
Summary
Use dies- for nearby things, jen- for more distant or contrasting items, and der/die/das for definite pointing. Always match gender, number, and case to the noun, and choose the demonstrative that fits the emphasis you want.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025