Relative clauses in German
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HideWhat is a relative clause?
A relative clause is a dependent clause. The finite verb has to be placed in the last position. You will always find a comma in order to separate the relative clause from the main clause. With a relative clause you can give additional information about the main clause.
For example:
- Das ist mein Cousin, den ich am Meisten mag. (That is my cousin, that I like the most)
- Lisa, die groß ist, stellt sich in die letzte Reihe. (Lisa, who is tall, is standing in the last row)
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Construction and Usage of relative clauses
In order to form a relative clause we need a relative pronoun or a relative adverb. In German, the relative pronoun always has to be in the dependent sentence. Comparing to English to German, the relative pronouns can sometime be left out. Relative pronouns have to be declined according to the case. Relative adverbs don't change their form.
Recap of the declension of relative pronouns
We already discussed the declension of relative pronouns, but here is the most important table.
For example:
- Die Spülmaschine, die schon ewig läuft, funktioniert nicht mehr. (The dishwasher, that is running since forever, doesn't work anymore)
- Das Buch, das viele Seiten hat, ist sehr schwer. (The book, that has many pages, is very heavy)
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | der/ welcher | die/ welche | das/ welches | die/ welche |
| accusative | den/ welchen | die/ welche | das/ welches | die/welche |
| dative | dem/ welchem | der/ welcher | dem/ welchem | denen/ welchen |
| genitive | dessen | deren | dessen | deren |
Sometimes there is a "problem" occurring, if you are using der/die/das as a relative pronoun. The better version is to use welcher.
- Das ist die Flasche, die die richtige Größe hat. (That is the bottle, that has the right size)
- Das ist die Flasche, welche die richtige Größe hat. (That is the bottle, which has the right size)
Relative Adverbs in relative clauses
The relative adverbs often are connected to a entire clause. Therefore, they don't change their form.
- Wir treffen uns an dem Ort, wo wir uns das letzte mal trafen. (We meet at the place, where we met the last time)
- Meine Eltern haben mir immer geholfen, wofür ich sehr dankbar bin. (My parents always helped my, for which I am very grateful)
Different constructions with relative clauses
Relative clauses refer usually to a subject or an object of the previous main clause. Therefore, they are placed right after the subject or object they do describe. The position of the relative clause can be at the end, or in the middle of a sentence.
- Sophia, die in Brasilien war, liebt Portugiesisch. (nominative case, end of the sentence) - (Sophia, who is Brazilian, loves Portuguese)
- Sophia, deren Portugiesisch sehr gut ist, redet gerne. (genitive case, middle of the sentence) - (Sophia, whose Portuguese is very good, likes to talk)
- Das sind die Bücher, mit denen ich gelernt habe. (dative case, end of the sentence) - (Those are the books, with which I learned)
- Die Bücher, die ich schon ewig habe, sind eingestaubt. (accusative case, middle of the sentence) - (The books, that I have since forever, are dusty)
Test your skills by doing the exercises!
Exercises
Exercise of relative clauses
Fill in the missing relative pronouns of the combined sentence.
For example:
- Du kennst die Menschen. Du hast ihnen deine Kunst gezeigt. (You know the people. You showed them your art)
- Du kennst die Menschen, denen du deine Kunst gezeigt hast. (You know the people, who you showed your art to)
1. Wo ist die Jacke? Ich habe sie gekauft. - Wo ist die Jacke, ich gekauft habe?
(Where is the jacket? I bought it. - Where is the jacket, that I bought?)
2. Die Kinder spielen mit der Puppe. Sie hat sie mitgebracht. - Die Kinder spielen mit der Puppe, sie mitgebracht hat.
(The kids play with the puppet. She brought it. - The kids play with the puppet, that she brought)
3. Dort steht die Flasche. Die trinke ich gleich leer. - Dort steht die Flasche, ich gleich leertrinken werde.
(Over there is the bottle. I will drink it soon. - Over there is the bottle, that I will drink soon)
4. Hilfst du den Kindern? Die Mutter ist krank. - Hilfst du den Kinder, Mutter krank ist?
(Are you helping the children? Their mother is sick. - Are you helping the children, whose mother is sick?)
5. Wo sind die Karten? Sie hat sie vorbeigebracht. - Wo sind die Karten, sie vorbeigebracht hat?
(Where are the cards? She brought them. - Where are the cards, that she brought?)
6. Dort steht meine Freundin. Ich habe sie in Frankreich kennen gelernt. - Dort steht meine Freundin, ich in Frankreich kennen gelernt habe.
(Over there is my friend. I met her in France. - Over there is my friend, who I met in France)
7. Das Buch ist schwer. Das Buch hat viele Seite. Das Buch, viele Seiten hat, ist schwer.
(The book is heavy. It has many pages. The book, that has many pages, is heavy)
8. Das ist mein Cousin. Den Cousin mag ist am meisten. - Das ist mein Cousin, ich am meisten mag.
(That is my cousin. I like him the most. - That is my cousin, who I like the most)
9. Lisa stellt sich in die letzte Reihe. Lisa ist groß. Lisa, groß ist, stellt sich in die letzte Reihe.
(Lisa is standing in the last row. Lisa is tall. - Lisa, who is tall, is standing in the last row.)
10. Das ist die Flasche. Die Flasche hat die richtige Größe. - Das ist die Flasche, richtige Größe hat.
(That is the bottle. The bottle has the right size. That is the bottle, that has the right size)
Exercises
Exercise of relative clauses
Fill in the missing relative pronouns of the combined sentence.
For example:
- Du kennst die Menschen. Du hast ihnen deine Kunst gezeigt. (You know the people. You showed them your art)
- Du kennst die Menschen, denen du deine Kunst gezeigt hast. (You know the people, who you showed your art to)
1. Wo ist die Jacke? Ich habe sie gekauft. - Wo ist die Jacke, ich gekauft habe?
(Where is the jacket? I bought it. - Where is the jacket, that I bought?)
2. Die Kinder spielen mit der Puppe. Sie hat sie mitgebracht. - Die Kinder spielen mit der Puppe, sie mitgebracht hat.
(The kids play with the puppet. She brought it. - The kids play with the puppet, that she brought)
3. Dort steht die Flasche. Die trinke ich gleich leer. - Dort steht die Flasche, ich gleich leertrinken werde.
(Over there is the bottle. I will drink it soon. - Over there is the bottle, that I will drink soon)
4. Hilfst du den Kindern? Die Mutter ist krank. - Hilfst du den Kinder, Mutter krank ist?
(Are you helping the children? Their mother is sick. - Are you helping the children, whose mother is sick?)
5. Wo sind die Karten? Sie hat sie vorbeigebracht. - Wo sind die Karten, sie vorbeigebracht hat?
(Where are the cards? She brought them. - Where are the cards, that she brought?)
6. Dort steht meine Freundin. Ich habe sie in Frankreich kennen gelernt. - Dort steht meine Freundin, ich in Frankreich kennen gelernt habe.
(Over there is my friend. I met her in France. - Over there is my friend, who I met in France)
7. Das Buch ist schwer. Das Buch hat viele Seite. Das Buch, viele Seiten hat, ist schwer.
(The book is heavy. It has many pages. The book, that has many pages, is heavy)
8. Das ist mein Cousin. Den Cousin mag ist am meisten. - Das ist mein Cousin, ich am meisten mag.
(That is my cousin. I like him the most. - That is my cousin, who I like the most)
9. Lisa stellt sich in die letzte Reihe. Lisa ist groß. Lisa, groß ist, stellt sich in die letzte Reihe.
(Lisa is standing in the last row. Lisa is tall. - Lisa, who is tall, is standing in the last row.)
10. Das ist die Flasche. Die Flasche hat die richtige Größe. - Das ist die Flasche, richtige Größe hat.
(That is the bottle. The bottle has the right size. That is the bottle, that has the right size)
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