German Relative Clauses
Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun using relative pronouns (der, die, das, etc.). The verb moves to the end, and the relative pronoun's case depends on its function within the clause.
Relative clauses (Relativsätze) add extra information about a noun, similar to English "who," "which," or "that." In German, they are always introduced by a relative pronoun and always send the conjugated verb to the end.
Relative Pronouns
German relative pronouns look almost identical to the definite articles (der, die, das), with a few exceptions in the dative plural (denen) and all genitive forms (dessen, deren). The gender and number of the relative pronoun match the noun they refer to, but the case depends on the pronoun's role within the relative clause.
How to Build a Relative Clause
Step 1: Identify the noun you want to describe. Step 2: Determine the gender and number of that noun (this determines the pronoun's gender/number). Step 3: Determine the pronoun's role in the relative clause — is it the subject, direct object, or indirect object? This determines the case. Step 4: Place the relative pronoun after a comma, add the clause content, and put the verb at the end.
Examples Explained
Der Mann, der dort steht, ist mein Lehrer. — 'der' is masculine nominative because it is the subject of 'steht'. Der Mann, den ich sehe, ist mein Lehrer. — 'den' is masculine accusative because it is the object of 'sehe'. Der Mann, dem ich helfe, ist mein Nachbar. — 'dem' is masculine dative because 'helfen' takes dative.
Relative Clauses with Prepositions
When a preposition is involved, it comes before the relative pronoun: Die Stadt, in der ich wohne, ist schön. (The city in which I live is beautiful.)
Punctuation
German relative clauses are ALWAYS set off by commas — this is not optional as it can be in English.
Reference Tables
Relative Pronouns
| 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 |
Example Sentences
Der Film, der gestern lief, war gut.
The film that played yesterday was good.
'der' = masculine nominative (subject of 'lief')
Die Frau, die ich kenne, ist Ärztin.
The woman whom I know is a doctor.
'die' = feminine accusative (object of 'kenne')
Das Kind, dem ich helfe, lernt schnell.
The child whom I help learns quickly.
'dem' = neuter dative ('helfen' takes dative)
Die Stadt, in der ich wohne, ist klein.
The city in which I live is small.
Preposition 'in' + dative relative pronoun 'der' (feminine)
Common Mistakes
Der Mann, der ich sehe, ist groß.
Der Mann, den ich sehe, ist groß.
The relative pronoun's case depends on its role in the relative clause. Here it is the object of 'sehe' (accusative), so it must be 'den', not 'der' (nominative).
Die Frau die ich kenne ist nett.
Die Frau, die ich kenne, ist nett.
In German, relative clauses must always be separated by commas. This is not optional.
Der Mann, den ich ihn sehe.
Der Mann, den ich sehe.
The relative pronoun already replaces the noun in the clause. Do not add an extra pronoun (ihn) — this is a common transfer error from Arabic, Turkish, and other languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do German relative pronouns work?
German relative pronouns (der, die, das, etc.) match the gender/number of the noun they refer to, but their case depends on their role in the relative clause (subject=nominative, direct object=accusative, etc.). The verb goes to the end of the relative clause.
Are commas required in German relative clauses?
Yes. German relative clauses must always be enclosed in commas. This is a strict grammar rule, unlike in English where commas are optional for restrictive clauses.
What is the difference between German relative pronouns and English 'that/which/who'?
German relative pronouns change form based on gender, number, and case (der, die, das, den, dem, dessen, deren, denen). English only distinguishes who/whom/whose/which/that. German relative pronouns cannot be omitted, unlike English 'that'.
Related Grammar Topics
Related Words
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