German Relative Clauses: Nominativ Explained
A relative clause lets you add information to a noun without starting a new sentence. This is the first lesson in our Relativsatz series and it covers what makes a German relative clause tick, plus the relative pronouns in the nominative case.
What Is a Relative Clause?
A relative clause (Relativsatz) gives more information about a noun in the main clause. It is a subordinate clause, so two rules always apply: it is separated by commas, and the conjugated verb goes to the end.
- Der Mann, der dort steht, ist mein Lehrer. (The man who is standing there is my teacher.)
The Relative Pronouns in the Nominative
The good news: in the nominative, the relative pronoun is identical to the definite article.
- masculine: der
- feminine: die
- neuter: das
- plural: die
How to Choose the Right Pronoun
The pronoun takes its gender and number from the noun it refers to. It takes its case from its job inside the relative clause. In the nominative, the pronoun is the subject of the relative clause.
- Die Frau, die neben mir wohnt, ist sehr nett.
- Das Kind, das im Garten spielt, ist mein Neffe.
- Die Kinder, die laut singen, sind meine SchĆ¼ler.
What Comes Next
Once you understand this basic concept, the Akkusativ, Dativ and Genitiv versions are easy to follow, because they only change the pronoun. Continue with relative clauses in the accusative case and relative clauses in the dative case. For relative clauses with prepositions, see Relative Clauses WITH Prepositions, and for a more advanced structure, embedded relative clauses and relative clauses with wo and was.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Relativsatz in German?
A relative clause is a subordinate clause that gives extra information about a noun in the main clause, for example Der Mann, der dort steht, ....
Where does the verb go in a relative clause?
At the end of the clause, because a relative clause is a subordinate clause.
What are the relative pronouns in the nominative?
der (masculine), die (feminine), das (neuter) and die (plural): the same as the definite articles.
Do I need a comma before a relative clause?
Yes. A German relative clause is always separated from the main clause by a comma, and by a second comma if it sits in the middle of the sentence.
How do I know which relative pronoun to use?
Gender and number come from the noun you refer to; the case comes from the pronoun's role inside the relative clause.
Want to master complex sentences like these? Our B1 German course guides you through them.
