Object- and subject clauses in German

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Lesson outline

1.What is a object clause in German?
1.1.Asking for the Object
1.2.Examples of Object clauses
2.What is a Subject clause?
2.1.Example for Subject clauses
3.Exercises
3.1.Exercise: Is it an object- or a subject clause?

What is a object clause in German?

An object clause replaces the object of a sentence. In German there are genitive-, dative- and accusative objects

An object sentence replaces the object of a sentence. We distinguish between genitive, dative or accusative object.

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Eleonora S.

Ruta Z.

Martina C.

Camilla R.

Theresa S.

Giulia M.

Liudmyla K.

Juli Piscedda P.

Uta H.

Nina T.

Eleonora S.

Ruta Z.

Martina C.

Camilla R.

Theresa S.

Giulia M.

Liudmyla K.

Juli Piscedda P.

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Asking for the Object

There are certain words with which you can ask for the object of a sentence. With the help of these questions you can find out the case of the object.

Genitive object: Wessen?
Dative object: Wem?
Accusative object: Wen?

Examples of Object clauses

Object	Example	Example translation	Question	Question translation
Genitive object	Ich bin mir bewusst, dass meine Tat Konsequenzen haben wird.	I am aware, that my act will have consequences	Wessen bin ich mir bewusst?	Of what am I aware?
Dative object	Wir helfen, wem wir wollen.	We help, who we want to	Wem helfen wir?	Who do we help?
Accusative object	Er sieht nicht, wer da kommt.	Er doesn't see, who comes there	Wen sieht er nicht?	Who doesn't he see?

What is a Subject clause?

A subject clause replaces the subject of a sentence. You ask for the subject with "Wer/Was?" (Who/What?)

Example for Subject clauses

Example	Example translation	Question	Question translation
Jeder der mithilft, wird belohnt	Everyone that helps, gets a reward	Wer wird belohnt? Jeder der hilft	Who gets rewarded? Everyone who helps
Es freut mich sehr, dass du da bist	I'm very glad, that you are here	Was freut mich sehr? Dass du da bist	What am I glad about? That you're here
Dass sie Recht hat, wird nicht in Frage gestellt	That she is right, is not being doubted	Was wird nicht in Frage gestellt? Dass sie Recht hat	What is not being doubted? That she's right
Es ist unbekannt, wie viele Verletzte es gab	It is unknown, how many injured there were	Was ist unbekannt? Wie viele Verletzte es gab	What is unknown? How many injured there were

Prove your knowledge now with our free exercises!

Exercises

Exercise: Is it an object- or a subject clause?

Exercise: Is it an object- or a subject clause?

Slide 1 of 9

Jeder der mithilft, wird belohnt. (Everyone who helps gets rewarded)

Object clause
Subject clause

Ich bin mir bewusst, dass meine Tat Konsequenzen haben wird. (I am aware, that my action has consequences)

Subject clause
Object clause

Es freut mich sehr, dass du da bist. (I'm very gladm that you're here)

Object clause
Subject clause

Dass sie Recht hat, wird nicht in Frage gestellt. (That she's right is not being doubted)

Object clause
Subject clause

Wir helfen, wem wir wollen. (We help, who we want to)

Subject clause
Object clause

Es ist unbekannt, wie viele Verletzte es gab. (It is unknown, how many injured there were)

Object clause
Subject clause

Er sieht nicht, wer da kommt. (He doesn't see, who comes)

Subject clause
Object clause

Ich bedauere, dass die Schule so früh beginnt. (I'm sorry, that the school begins so early)

Subject clause
Object clause