A guide for Australians on german relative clauses.
## 33. German Relative Clauses: How to Build Complex Sentences Once you can make simple German sentences, the next step toward sounding fluent is connecting ideas with relative clauses. German relative clauses follow specific rules that differ from English β but are entirely learnable. ### What Is a Relative Clause? A relative clause is a subordinate clause that describes or defines a noun. In English: "The woman **who lives next door**..." or "The book **that I bought yesterday**..." In German, relative clauses work similarly but have specific grammar rules. ### The Relative Pronouns German relative pronouns are the same forms as the definite articles (*der*, *die*, *das*, *die* plural) with one exception: the genitive and dative plural forms. | Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural | |------|-----------|----------|--------|--------| | Nominative | der | die | das | die | | Accusative | den | die | das | die | | Dative | dem | der | dem | denen | | Genitive | dessen | deren | dessen | deren | ### The Rules **Rule 1:** The relative pronoun agrees with the noun it refers to in **gender and number** (masculine/feminine/neuter/plural). **Rule 2:** The relative pronoun takes the **case** determined by its role *within* the relative clause. **Rule 3:** The verb goes to the **end** of the relative clause. **Rule 4:** The relative clause is separated from the main clause by a **comma**. ### Examples **Nominative** (the noun is the subject of the relative clause): *Der Mann, **der** dort steht, ist mein Vater.* The man who stands there is my father. (*der Mann* = masculine β *der*; he is doing the standing = nominative) **Accusative** (the noun is the direct object in the relative clause): *Das Buch, **das** ich gestern gekauft habe, ist sehr interessant.* The book that I bought yesterday is very interesting. (*das Buch* = neuter β *das*; it is being bought = accusative) **Dative** (the noun is the indirect object or follows a dative preposition): *Die Frau, **der** ich geholfen habe, war sehr dankbar.* The woman whom I helped was very grateful. (*die Frau* = feminine; I helped her β *helfen* takes dative β *der*) **With preposition:** *Der Freund, **mit dem** ich nach Berlin gefahren bin, heiΓt Thomas.* The friend with whom I travelled to Berlin is called Thomas. (*mit* requires dative; *der Freund* = masculine dative = *dem*; preposition goes before the relative pronoun) ### The Practical Approach For beginners and intermediate learners: focus on nominative and accusative relative clauses first. These cover the vast majority of relative clauses you will want to use or encounter. The key step: identify the gender of the noun you are connecting to, then determine the case of the pronoun within the relative clause. Most German learners at B1 level can construct serviceable relative clauses. Perfecting the genitive forms (*dessen*, *deren*) comes later and naturally with reading and listening exposure.Found this useful? Share it with other Australians learning German π¦πΊ
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An Australian who learned German to B1 level without living in Germany β navigating the same lack of local resources that most Australian learners face. Currently learning Swiss German. This site is the resource I wished had existed when I started.
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