A2 · Elementary Chapter 9

Asking and Identifying

5 Total Rules
52 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of precision by asking exactly who, what, and which one.

  • Distinguish between people and things in questions.
  • Apply the correct case endings to 'who' and 'which'.
  • Point out specific items using demonstrative pronouns.
Stop pointing, start pinpointing with German precision.

What You'll Learn

Ready to level up your German? You've got the basics down, but in this chapter, we're diving deep into asking precise questions and pinpointing exactly what you mean, whether you're talking about people or objects. Imagine you're in a bustling Berlin cafe, wanting to order *that specific* coffee your friend just had, or you're browsing a shop, trying to ask for *which* shirt you're interested in; the skills you'll gain here are your new superpowers! We'll kick things off with Was – your straightforward what for things and actions, always easy. Then, we tackle the who family in German:

wer, wen, wem, wessen.
You'll learn to perfectly match who or whom to the grammatical role of the person you're asking about. This is super important for understanding who's doing what to whom, making your conversations much clearer! Next up, we unlock how to ask which one using welcher, welche, welches. These act like precise selectors, helping you narrow down choices and clearly communicate your selection, whether it's which book? or which car?. Finally, we'll master dieser, diese, dieses, which acts like a laser pointer! You'll use it to specify this or that, perfectly mirroring the endings of definite articles to match the noun's gender and case. By the end of this chapter, you'll confidently ask detailed, unambiguous questions and precisely refer to anything or anyone around you. You'll feel much more at home navigating real-life German conversations!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Ask what an object is or what someone is doing using 'Was'.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Identify the correct case for 'who' based on its grammatical role in a sentence.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Select specific items from a group using 'welcher' and 'dieser' with correct gender endings.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Ready to elevate your A2 German grammar? You've mastered the basics, but now it's time to refine your communication by learning how to ask precise questions and identify specific things or people. This chapter is your guide to becoming more articulate and confident in real-world German interactions. Imagine yourself in a bustling German market, wanting to ask for *that specific* type of bread, or trying to figure out *who* is responsible for an event. The skills you'll gain here are fundamental for moving beyond simple statements and truly engaging in dynamic conversations. We'll explore essential German question words and demonstratives that will act as your linguistic "laser pointer," enabling you to pinpoint exactly what you mean. Mastering these structures is crucial for understanding nuanced meaning and making yourself understood clearly, a key step in your German language learning journey.

How This Grammar Works

This chapter focuses on several key tools for asking questions and identifying specifics. First, we tackle Was (What), your go-to for inquiries about things or actions. It's straightforward and doesn't change: Was ist das? (What is that?), Was machst du? (What are you doing?). Next, we dive into the "who" family, which is crucial for understanding cases. Wer asks "who" in the nominative case (the subject): Wer kommt heute? (Who is coming today?). For the accusative case (the direct object), you use Wen: Wen siehst du? (Whom/Who do you see?). When asking about the indirect object (dative case), you use Wem: Wem gibst du das Buch? (To whom/Who are you giving the book?). Finally, for possession (genitive case), it's Wessen: Wessen Handy ist das? (Whose phone is that?).
Moving on, we explore how to ask "which one" using welcher, welche, welches. These words function like articles and must agree in gender and case with the noun they refer to. For example, Welches Buch möchtest du? (Which book would you like?) uses welches because *Buch* is neuter accusative. For a feminine noun in nominative, it's Welche Farbe magst du? (Which color do you like?). For a masculine noun in dative, it could be Mit welchem Freund gehst du? (With which friend are you going?). Lastly, we'll master dieser, diese, dieses (this/that). These demonstratives also agree in gender and case with the noun, much like definite articles. Dieser Kaffee ist lecker. (This coffee is delicious.) (Dieser for masculine nominative *Kaffee*). Ich mag diese Tasche. (I like this bag.) (Diese for feminine accusative *Tasche*). Understanding these agreements is fundamental for precise communication in German grammar.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Wer siehst du?"
✓ Correct: "Wen siehst du?"
*Explanation:* "Wer" is nominative (who is doing the action), but here "du" is the subject doing the seeing, and the person being seen is the direct object (accusative). Therefore, you need "wen" (whom).
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Ich möchte dieser Apfel."
✓ Correct: "Ich möchte diesen Apfel."
*Explanation:* "Apfel" is masculine, and in this sentence, "Apfel" is the direct object of "möchte" (I would like), which requires the accusative case. The accusative form for masculine "dieser" is "diesen."
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Was ist der Mann dort?" (meaning "Who is the man there?")
✓ Correct: "Wer ist der Mann dort?"
*Explanation:* "Was" is used for things or actions. When asking about a person, you must use "wer" (who), which is the correct question word for people in the nominative case.

Real Conversations

A

A

Entschuldigung, wer ist der Mann mit dem roten Hemd? (Excuse me, who is the man with the red shirt?)
B

B

Das ist Herr Schmidt. Wen meinst du genau? (That is Mr. Schmidt. Whom do you mean exactly?)
A

A

Welches Auto gehört dir? Das blaue oder dieses rote hier? (Which car belongs to you? The blue one or this red one here?)
B

B

Dieses rote hier gehört mir. Das blaue ist von meinem Freund. (This red one here belongs to me. The blue one is my friend's.)
A

A

Was machst du am Wochenende? (What are you doing on the weekend?)
B

B

Ich besuche meine Familie. Wem soll ich Grüße bestellen? (I'm visiting my family. To whom should I give greetings?)

Quick FAQ

Q

When do I use 'wer' vs. 'wem' in German?

Use wer (nominative) when asking about the subject of a sentence (who is doing something). Use wem (dative) when asking about the indirect object (to whom or for whom something is done).

Q

How do 'welcher' and 'dieser' change their endings in German?

Both welcher and dieser (and their feminine/neuter forms) change their endings to match the gender, number, and case of the noun they refer to, just like definite articles (der, die, das).

Q

Can 'was' be used for people in German?

No, was is exclusively for things or actions. For people, you must use the appropriate form of "who" (wer, wen, wem, wessen), depending on the grammatical case.

Cultural Context

In German conversations, directness is often valued. Using precise question words like wer or was, and demonstratives like dieser, helps avoid ambiguity and is considered perfectly polite and clear. Unlike some languages where being too direct might be seen as impolite, in German, it's often preferred for clear communication. There aren't significant regional differences in the usage of these core grammatical structures; they are universally understood and applied across German-speaking countries, making your learning broadly applicable.

Key Examples (8)

1

Was machst du heute Abend?

What are you doing tonight?

German Question Word: 'What' (Was)
2

Was ist dein TikTok-Handle?

What is your TikTok handle?

German Question Word: 'What' (Was)
3

Wer hat die letzte Pizza-Ecke gegessen?

Who ate the last slice of pizza?

Asking 'Who?' (wer, wen, wem, wessen)
4

Wen hast du auf dem Foto markiert?

Whom did you tag in the photo?

Asking 'Who?' (wer, wen, wem, wessen)
5

Wen rufst du heute Abend an?

Whom are you calling tonight?

Asking 'Whom' (wen)
6

Wen hast du auf {dem|m} {Foto|n} markiert?

Whom did you tag in the photo?

Asking 'Whom' (wen)
7

Welcher Laptop ist besser?

Which laptop is better?

German 'Which': Using welcher, welche, welches
8

Welchen Song hörst du gerade?

Which song are you listening to right now?

German 'Which': Using welcher, welche, welches

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Verb Position

Always keep the verb right after 'was'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Question Word: 'What' (Was)
💡

Check the Verb

Always look at the verb first. Does it take a direct object (Accusative) or an indirect object (Dative)?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'Who?' (wer, wen, wem, wessen)
💡

Check the verb

If the verb takes the accusative, use 'wen'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'Whom' (wen)
💡

Check the Article

Always identify the noun's article first. If it's 'der', use 'welcher'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German 'Which': Using welcher, welche, welches

Key Vocabulary (6)

der Rock the skirt die Tasche the bag das Buch the book besuchen to visit gehören to belong to (+ Dative) gefallen to please / to like (+ Dative)

Real-World Preview

shopping-bag

At a Clothing Boutique

Review Summary

  • Was + Verb...?
  • Wer/Wen/Wem/Wessen + Verb...?
  • Welch- / Dies- + [Ending]

Common Mistakes

In German, you cannot use 'Was' for people. Use 'Wer' (Who) instead, even if you are asking about their identity.

Wrong: Was ist das Mann?
Correct: Wer ist der Mann?

'Buch' is neuter (das Buch). The ending of 'welcher' must match the gender and case of the noun.

Wrong: Welcher Buch liest du?
Correct: Welches Buch liest du?

The person being loved is the direct object (Accusative). Therefore, you must use 'wen' instead of the subject form 'wer'.

Wrong: Wer liebst du?
Correct: Wen liebst du?

Next Steps

You've just conquered one of the most technical parts of A2 German grammar! Being able to use cases with question words is a huge milestone. Keep practicing those endings!

Go to a grocery store or look at an online shop. Ask yourself 'Welchen [item] kaufe ich?' and answer 'Ich kaufe diesen [item].'

Write 5 questions starting with 'Wen' or 'Wem' to ask a friend about their family.

Continue to: Rules, Wishes, and Advice

Quick Practice (10)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Wer hast du getroffen?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wen hast du getroffen?
Object needs Wen.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'Whom' (wen)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Welcher {Auto|n} ist das?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Welches
Auto is neuter.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German 'Which': Using welcher, welche, welches

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Diese {Mann|m} ist nett.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dieser {Mann|m}
Gender mismatch.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Demonstratives: Using 'this' (dieser)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Was ist das Auto?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Welches Auto ist das?
Use 'welches' for specific items.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Question Word: 'What' (Was)

Fill in the blank.

___ kommt heute?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wer
Subject needs Nominative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'Who?' (wer, wen, wem, wessen)

Choose the correct form.

___ {Tasche|f} ist neu?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Welche
Tasche is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German 'Which': Using welcher, welche, welches

Fill in the blank.

___ rufst du an?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wen
Direct object.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'Whom' (wen)

Fill in the blank.

___ machst du?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Was
We are asking about an activity.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Question Word: 'What' (Was)

Select the correct pronoun.

___ liebst du?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wen
Direct object.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'Whom' (wen)

Select the correct pronoun.

___ hast du gesehen?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wen
Direct object.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'Whom' (wen)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No, use 'wer' for people.
German questions follow V2 word order.
German uses cases to show the role of a noun. 'Wer' changes to match these roles.
Check the verb. Verbs like 'helfen' take Dative, while 'sehen' takes Accusative.
Yes, 'wen' is specifically for people.
No, use 'was' for objects.
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