German Relative Clauses: Complete Guide with Examples
Introduction to German Relative Clauses
Relative clauses (Relativsätze) are subordinate clauses that provide additional information about a noun in the main clause. They function similarly to English relative clauses introduced by "who," "which," "that," or "whose." Understanding German relative clauses is essential for constructing complex sentences and achieving fluency in the language.
In German, relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns (Relativpronomen), which must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to. However, their case is determined by their function within the relative clause itself—a crucial distinction that learners must master.
Formation of Relative Clauses
German relative pronouns are derived from the definite articles and follow a similar declension pattern. Here is the complete table of 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 |
Key formation rules:
- The relative pronoun takes the gender and number from the noun it refers to (the antecedent)
- The relative pronoun takes its case from its function within the relative clause
- The conjugated verb moves to the end of the relative clause
- Relative clauses are always separated from the main clause by commas
When a relative pronoun is combined with a preposition, the preposition comes directly before the relative pronoun:
| Preposition + Case | Example |
|---|---|
| mit + Dative | mit dem, mit der, mit denen |
| für + Accusative | für den, für die, für das |
| von + Dative | von dem, von der, von denen |
Usage of Relative Clauses
Understanding how to use relative clauses in German requires attention to several important aspects:
1. Determining the correct gender and number:
Look at the noun being described (the antecedent). The relative pronoun must match this noun in gender and number.
- Der Mann (masculine) → der/den/dem/dessen
- Die Frau (feminine) → die/die/der/deren
- Das Kind (neuter) → das/das/dem/dessen
- Die Leute (plural) → die/die/denen/deren
2. Determining the correct case:
Analyze the function of the relative pronoun within its own clause:
- Nominative: The relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause
- Accusative: The relative pronoun is the direct object
- Dative: The relative pronoun is the indirect object or follows a dative preposition
- Genitive: The relative pronoun shows possession (equivalent to "whose")
3. Word order in relative clauses:
German relative clauses follow subordinate clause word order, meaning the conjugated verb appears at the end. If there are multiple verbs (such as with modal verbs or perfect tense), the conjugated verb comes last.
German Relative Clauses Examples
Here are detailed German relative clauses examples demonstrating each case:
Nominative (subject of relative clause):
Der Lehrer, der aus Berlin kommt, unterrichtet Deutsch.
The teacher who comes from Berlin teaches German.
Die Frau, die neben mir wohnt, ist Ärztin.
The woman who lives next to me is a doctor.
Accusative (direct object of relative clause):
Das Buch, das ich gestern gekauft habe, ist sehr interessant.
The book that I bought yesterday is very interesting.
Der Film, den wir gesehen haben, war langweilig.
The film that we watched was boring.
Dative (indirect object or after dative preposition):
Der Mann, dem ich geholfen habe, hat sich bedankt.
The man whom I helped thanked me.
Die Kollegin, mit der ich arbeite, spricht fünf Sprachen.
The colleague with whom I work speaks five languages.
Genitive (showing possession):
Der Student, dessen Vater Professor ist, studiert Medizin.
The student whose father is a professor is studying medicine.
Die Stadt, deren Geschichte sehr alt ist, hat viele Touristen.
The city whose history is very old has many tourists.
With prepositions:
Das Haus, in dem ich wohne, wurde 1900 gebaut.
The house in which I live was built in 1900.
Die Freunde, auf die ich warte, kommen aus Österreich.
The friends for whom I am waiting come from Austria.
Common Mistakes
Learners of German frequently make these errors when forming relative clauses:
1. Using the wrong case:
Many learners confuse the case of the antecedent with the case needed in the relative clause.
- ❌ Der Mann, der ich sehe...
- ✓ Der Mann, den ich sehe... ("den" is accusative because it's the direct object of "sehe")
2. Forgetting verb-final word order:
The conjugated verb must go to the end of the relative clause.
- ❌ Das Auto, das ist rot...
- ✓ Das Auto, das rot ist...
3. Omitting commas:
Unlike English, German always requires commas around relative clauses.
- ❌ Die Frau die dort steht ist meine Mutter.
- ✓ Die Frau, die dort steht, ist meine Mutter.
4. Confusing "dessen/deren" with "sein/ihr":
The genitive relative pronouns do not change based on the possessed noun—they only reflect the gender of the antecedent.
- ❌ Der Mann, deren Frau krank ist...
- ✓ Der Mann, dessen Frau krank ist... ("dessen" because "der Mann" is masculine)
5. Placing prepositions incorrectly:
Unlike English, prepositions cannot be stranded at the end of a relative clause in German.
- ❌ Der Mann, den ich mit arbeite...
- ✓ Der Mann, mit dem ich arbeite...
6. Using "was" instead of "das":
"Was" is only used as a relative pronoun after indefinite pronouns (alles, nichts, etwas), superlatives, or entire clauses—not after specific nouns.
- ❌ Das Buch, was ich lese...
- ✓ Das Buch, das ich lese...
- ✓ Alles, was ich weiß... (correct use of "was" after "alles")