Key points about using pronouns in different cases in German
German has a In German, this is when a word changes form or adds different endings according to their function in a sentence. system which means certain words change according to their function in a sentence.
The pronouns that show contrasts of person, gender, number, and case. change in the Used for the subject of the sentence - the person or thing doing the action., Used for the direct object of the sentence – the person or thing directly affected by the action. and Used for the indirect object – usually the person receiving something or being affected indirectly by the action. cases.
Word order rules apply when more than one pronoun is used in a sentence.
Check your understanding
Get to know the cases before you start using them in sentences.
Accusative pronouns
When a pronoun is used as the The person or thing that receives the action of the verb., it changes form. This is called the accusative case.
For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. – I see him
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. = subject (nominative)
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. = direct object (accusative)
Here is a list of pronouns in the nominative and accusative cases:
| Nominative case | Accusative case | English |
|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (singular) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/him |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | she/her |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | it |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we/us |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (plural) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (formal) |
Dative pronouns
In German, when someone gives, shows or tells something to someone, that someone becomes the indirect object.
Use the dative case for indirect objects, including for personal pronouns:
| Nominative case | Accusative case | Dative case | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (singular) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/him |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | she/her |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | it |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we/us |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (plural) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (formal) |
Mini quiz
- Replace the indirect object in the sentence with a pronoun in the dative case. The indirect object is underlined:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Answer:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
- Replace the indirect object in the sentence with a pronoun in the dative case:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Answer:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Quiz
Practise what you've learned about using pronouns in different cases with this quiz.
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