By the end of this lesson, I can…
- Apply: Gender and number come from the noun
- Apply: Use nominative for the subject
- Apply: Use accusative for the direct object
- Apply: Determine the case inside the relative clause
- Usage, exceptions and meaning
Simple explanation
What is a relative clause?
A relative clause gives extra information about a person, object or thing that has already been mentioned. It helps avoid repetition. Instead of saying “Das ist der Mann. Der Mann arbeitet hier.”, you can say “Das ist der Mann, der hier arbeitet.” The part “der hier arbeitet” is the relative clause.
What is the noun the relative clause refers to?
The relative clause refers back to a noun in the main clause. This noun determines the gender and number of the relative pronoun. For example, if the noun is “die Frau”, the relative pronoun must use a feminine form. If the noun is plural, the relative pronoun must also be plural.
How do you choose the correct relative pronoun?
You need two pieces of information. First, identify the gender and number of the noun before the relative clause. Second, look inside the relative clause and ask what grammatical role the relative pronoun has. If it is the subject, use nominative. If it is the direct object, use accusative.
Nominative in relative clauses
Use nominative when the relative pronoun is the grammatical subject of the relative clause. A subject need not always perform an action. The forms are der for masculine nouns, die for feminine nouns, das for neuter nouns and die for plural nouns. Example: “Ich kenne einen Mann, der in Berlin arbeitet.” The man is the person doing the action.
Accusative in relative clauses
Use accusative when the relative pronoun is the direct object of the verb. The most visible change happens with masculine nouns: der becomes den. Feminine die, neuter das and plural die stay the same in the accusative. Example: “Das ist der Mann, den ich gestern gesehen habe.” Here, ich is the subject and den is the object.
Where does the verb go?
A relative clause is a subordinate clause, so the conjugated verb normally goes to the end. Say “die in München wohnt”, not “die wohnt in München”. In the perfect tense, the conjugated auxiliary also appears at the end, as in “das ich gestern gekauft habe”.
Commas with relative clauses
German relative clauses are separated from the main clause by commas. If the relative clause comes at the end, use a comma before it. If it appears in the middle of the sentence, it is usually enclosed by two commas.
Usage, exceptions and meaning
Gender and number come from the antecedent; case comes from the role inside the relative: Ich kenne den Mann, der hier wohnt. Den Mann is accusative in the main clause, but relative der is its own clause’s subject. Den ich sehe is an object pattern. A grammatical subject is not simply an active agent. Put the finite verb last and enclose an inserted relative in commas. This lesson targets nominative/accusative basics.
Usage reference table
The table gives construction models. Meaning-question options follow the interface language; translated sentences appear in Examples.
| Pattern or function | Target-language model |
|---|---|
| Use nominative for the subject | Das ist der Mann, der hier wohnt. |
| Use accusative for the direct object | Das ist der Mann, den ich gestern gesehen habe. |
| Gender and number come from the noun | Das ist die Frau, die hier arbeitet. |
| Gender and number come from the noun | Das ist das Kind, das hier wohnt. |
| Gender and number come from the noun | Das sind die Kinder, die hier spielen. |
| Put the conjugated verb at the end | Das ist der Mann, der in Bonn wohnt. |
Grammar formula
Masculine nominative
maskulines Bezugswort + , der + ... + VerbDas ist der Mann, der hier arbeitet.
Feminine nominative
feminines Bezugswort + , die + ... + VerbDas ist die Frau, die nebenan wohnt.
Neuter nominative
neutrales Bezugswort + , das + ... + VerbDas ist das Kind, das draußen spielt.
Plural nominative
Bezugswort im Plural + , die + ... + VerbDas sind die Leute, die hier arbeiten.
Masculine accusative
maskulines Bezugswort + , den + Subjekt + ... + VerbDas ist der Mann, den ich jeden Morgen sehe.
Feminine accusative
feminines Bezugswort + , die + Subjekt + ... + VerbDas ist die Frau, die wir gestern getroffen haben.
Neuter accusative
neutrales Bezugswort + , das + Subjekt + ... + VerbDas ist das Handy, das ich gestern gekauft habe.
Plural accusative
Bezugswort im Plural + , die + Subjekt + ... + VerbDas sind die Freunde, die wir oft besuchen.
Core rules
- 1
Gender and number come from the noun
The relative pronoun matches the gender and number of the noun it refers to. Use a masculine form for a masculine noun, a feminine form for a feminine noun, a neuter form for a neuter noun and a plural form for a plural noun.
- 2
Use nominative for the subject
If the relative pronoun performs the action, it is the subject and takes nominative: der Mann, der arbeitet; die Frau, die spricht; das Kind, das spielt; die Leute, die warten.
- 3
Use accusative for the direct object
If another subject performs the action and the relative pronoun receives that action, use accusative: der Mann, den ich sehe; die Frau, die wir kennen; das Buch, das du liest; die Freunde, die er besucht.
- 4
Determine the case inside the relative clause
Do not copy the case of the noun from the main clause. The case of the relative pronoun depends only on its grammatical function inside the relative clause.
- 5
Put the conjugated verb at the end
In a German relative clause, the conjugated verb normally appears at the end. This also applies to perfect forms such as “den ich gestern getroffen habe”.
- 6
Separate the relative clause with commas
A relative clause must be separated from the main clause with commas. If it is inserted in the middle of the main clause, use a comma before and after it.
- 7
Usage, exceptions and meaning
Gender and number come from the antecedent; case comes from the role inside the relative: Ich kenne den Mann, der hier wohnt. Den Mann is accusative in the main clause, but relative der is its own clause’s subject. Den ich sehe is an object pattern. A grammatical subject is not simply an active agent. Put the finite verb last and enclose an inserted relative in commas. This lesson targets nominative/accusative basics.
Useful examples
Das ist der Mann, der im Supermarkt arbeitet.
That is the man who works in the supermarket.
Der is nominative because the man is the subject of arbeitet.
Ich kenne eine Frau, die sehr gut Deutsch spricht.
I know a woman who speaks German very well.
Die refers to Frau and is the subject of spricht.
Das ist das Kind, das jeden Morgen mit dem Bus fährt.
That is the child who takes the bus every morning.
Das is nominative because the child performs the action.
Das sind die Studenten, die in unserer Klasse lernen.
Those are the students who study in our class.
Die is the nominative plural relative pronoun.
Der Mann, den ich gestern getroffen habe, kommt aus Hamburg.
The man whom I met yesterday comes from Hamburg.
Ich is the subject, so den is the masculine accusative object.
Wo ist die Jacke, die du gestern gekauft hast?
Where is the jacket that you bought yesterday?
Die refers to Jacke and functions as the direct object of gekauft hast.
Das Buch, das ich gerade lese, ist sehr interessant.
The book that I am reading right now is very interesting.
Ich is the subject and das is the direct object of lese.
Die Freunde, die wir am Wochenende besuchen, wohnen in Köln.
The friends whom we visit at the weekend live in Cologne.
Wir is the subject and die is the plural accusative object.
Ich brauche einen Arzt, der heute arbeitet.
I need a doctor who is working today.
Even though einen Arzt is accusative in the main clause, der is nominative because the doctor is the subject inside the relative clause.
Kennst du den Lehrer, den Anna so interessant findet?
Do you know the teacher whom Anna finds so interesting?
Anna is the subject, so den is the masculine accusative object.
Wir suchen ein Hotel, das nicht zu teuer ist.
We are looking for a hotel that is not too expensive.
Das refers to Hotel and is the subject of ist.
Ich mag die Fotos, die du im Urlaub gemacht hast.
I like the photos that you took on holiday.
Du is the subject and die is the direct object referring to Fotos.
Common mistakes
- ❌ Das ist der Mann, den hier wohnt. ✅ Das ist der Mann, der hier wohnt.
- ❌ Das ist der Mann, der ich gestern gesehen habe. ✅ Das ist der Mann, den ich gestern gesehen habe.
- ❌ Das ist die Frau, der hier arbeitet. ✅ Das ist die Frau, die hier arbeitet.
- ❌ Das ist das Kind, der hier wohnt. ✅ Das ist das Kind, das hier wohnt.
- ❌ Das sind die Kinder, der hier spielen. ✅ Das sind die Kinder, die hier spielen.
- ❌ Das ist der Mann, der in Bonn wohnen. ✅ Das ist der Mann, der in Bonn wohnt.
Learning tips
- First identify the gender and number of the noun before the relative clause.
- Then look only inside the relative clause and decide whether the relative pronoun is the subject or direct object.
- For masculine nouns, remember the contrast: der for nominative and den for accusative.
- If the relative clause already contains a clear subject such as ich, du, Anna or wir, the relative pronoun is often the object.
- After writing the sentence, check the verb position. The conjugated verb should normally be at the end of the relative clause.
- Do not forget the commas. They are required in German relative clauses.
- Do not let the case of the noun in the main clause confuse you. The relative pronoun gets its case from its own function inside the relative clause.
Use it in your own text
Write six connected sentences about your life, plans or experiences, using each table pattern once. Check why each construction fits, using this lesson’s rules. This is self-assessment; the multiple-choice test has a separate recorded score.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 1.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 2.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 3.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 4.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 5.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 6.
Show the model
Das ist der Mann, der hier wohnt. Das ist der Mann, den ich gestern gesehen habe. Das ist die Frau, die hier arbeitet. Das ist das Kind, das hier wohnt. Das sind die Kinder, die hier spielen. Das ist der Mann, der in Bonn wohnt.
Check your own work
- My intended meaning fits the chosen construction.
- I checked subject, verb form, case/preposition and word order.
- I adapted the models to my own context and considered the exceptions.
Put it into practice
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Related grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
What should I check for “Gender and number come from the noun”?
The relative pronoun matches the gender and number of the noun it refers to. Use a masculine form for a masculine noun, a feminine form for a feminine noun, a neuter form for a neuter noun and a plural form for a plural noun.
What should I check for “Use nominative for the subject”?
If the relative pronoun performs the action, it is the subject and takes nominative: der Mann, der arbeitet; die Frau, die spricht; das Kind, das spielt; die Leute, die warten.
What should I check for “Use accusative for the direct object”?
If another subject performs the action and the relative pronoun receives that action, use accusative: der Mann, den ich sehe; die Frau, die wir kennen; das Buch, das du liest; die Freunde, die er besucht.
What should I check for “Determine the case inside the relative clause”?
Do not copy the case of the noun from the main clause. The case of the relative pronoun depends only on its grammatical function inside the relative clause.
What should I check for “Put the conjugated verb at the end”?
In a German relative clause, the conjugated verb normally appears at the end. This also applies to perfect forms such as “den ich gestern getroffen habe”.
What should I check for “Separate the relative clause with commas”?
A relative clause must be separated from the main clause with commas. If it is inserted in the middle of the main clause, use a comma before and after it.
What should I check for “Usage, exceptions and meaning”?
Gender and number come from the antecedent; case comes from the role inside the relative: Ich kenne den Mann, der hier wohnt. Den Mann is accusative in the main clause, but relative der is its own clause’s subject. Den ich sehe is an object pattern. A grammatical subject is not simply an active agent. Put the finite verb last and enclose an inserted relative in commas. This lesson targets nominative/accusative basics.
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