PronounsGenders

Understanding how to use pronouns in place of nouns, and which case to put them in, will enable you to add variety to your German and will help you to communicate more effectively.

Part ofGermanGrammar (for exams until 2025)

Genders

Sometimes German affect the choice of pronoun you use.

Using the correct gender for your pronouns helps to clarify which previously mentioned noun you’re referring to.

Gender symbol of a man.

Refer to all masculine nouns, eg der Baum (tree), der Tisch (table) and der Hut (the hat) as er (he), even though we would say ‘it’ in English.

Gender symbol of a woman.

Refer to all feminine nouns, eg die Tasche (bag), die Stadt (town) and die Tasse (cup) as sie (she).

Gender symbol which is half man and half woman.

Refer to all neuter nouns, eg das Mädchen (girl), das Fenster (window) and das Handy (mobile phone) as es (it), as in English.

A row of men and women gender symbols.

Refer to all plural nouns, eg die Bäume (trees), die Tassen (cups) and die Fenster (windows) as sie (they), just as in English.

Question

Which German pronoun would you use to replace these nouns?

  • meine Eltern
  • meine Eltern und ich
  • mein Freund
  • die Geschenke
  • die Katze
  • das Haus

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