A1 · Beginner Chapter 14

Who is Who? Introducing People

6 Total Rules
61 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of introducing yourself and others while navigating German social etiquette with ease.

  • Identify all personal pronouns in the nominative case.
  • Distinguish between informal and formal addresses to avoid social blunders.
  • Use impersonal pronouns to talk about general cultural norms.
Connect with confidence, from the café to the boardroom.

What You'll Learn

Hey there! Ready for another super exciting chapter? This one's going to be incredibly useful because we'll learn how to introduce people and connect with them in various situations. First up, you'll get familiar with German nominative personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it) and understand how to match them to gender (for example, 'der' becomes 'er' and 'die' becomes 'sie'). Don't worry, this part is simpler than you think and will make your sentences flow much more naturally. Then, we'll dive into a super important aspect of German: when to use 'du' (informal 'you') versus 'Sie' (formal 'you'). This is crucial for navigating social situations, like politely ordering from a waiter in a Berlin café or keeping things casual with a close friend. You'll learn to distinguish the line between intimacy and respect, ensuring you avoid any misunderstandings in Germany. With what you learn here, you'll be able to easily introduce yourself and others, sound professional in work or university settings, and generally speak German much more fluently. Finally, you'll get to know 'man,' an impersonal pronoun that lets you talk about general actions or what 'people' do without referring to a specific person. Let's go make your German even better!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to substitute any noun with its correct gender-matched pronoun (er, sie, es).
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to choose the correct register (du vs. Sie) based on the social context provided.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to make general statements using the impersonal pronoun 'man'.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome to this exciting new chapter in your A1 German journey! Mastering introductory phrases and understanding how to refer to people is fundamental for effective communication. This section focuses on essential German grammar that will unlock your ability to introduce yourself and others, making your interactions more natural and confident. We'll be covering German personal pronouns, the crucial distinction between formal and informal 'you' (du vs. Sie), and the handy impersonal pronoun 'man'. By the end of this chapter, you'll be well-equipped to navigate social situations with ease, sound more professional when needed, and generally improve your fluency in German. This is a key step in progressing through the CEFR A1 level and beyond, building a solid foundation for all your future German learning.
This chapter is designed to be incredibly practical. You'll learn how to correctly identify and use pronouns like 'I', 'you', 'he', 'she', and 'it' in the nominative case. Understanding how these pronouns link to grammatical gender in German, such as der becoming er and die becoming sie, is a core skill that simplifies sentence construction. Furthermore, the distinction between du and Sie is paramount for social etiquette in German-speaking countries. Knowing when to use the informal du with friends and family, and when to opt for the respectful formal Sie with strangers or in professional settings, is crucial for avoiding misunderstandings and showing appropriate politeness. We'll also introduce 'man', a versatile pronoun that allows you to speak about general actions and common practices.

How This Grammar Works

This chapter dives into the core of referring to people in German, starting with German Personal Pronouns (Nominativ). These are the basic building blocks: ich (I), du (you, informal), er (he), sie (she), es (it), wir (we), ihr (you, plural informal), and sie (they). In the nominative case, these are used as the subject of a sentence. For example, Ich bin hier (I am here). When referring to people or things, German uses grammatical gender. This is where German Pronouns: Matching Gender comes in. For masculine nouns like der Mann (the man), the pronoun is er. For feminine nouns like die Frau (the woman), the pronoun is sie. For neuter nouns like das Kind (the child), the pronoun is es. So, if you say Der Mann ist nett (The man is nice), you can follow up with Er ist nett (He is nice). Similarly, Die Frau ist nett (The woman is nice) becomes Sie ist nett (She is nice).
A critical aspect of A1 German is understanding Formal 'You' (Sie) versus the informal 'du'. This is known as the German Politeness: du vs. Sie (Register Shift). You use du when speaking to friends, family, children, and sometimes colleagues if you have a very casual relationship. You use the formal Sie (always capitalized) when speaking to strangers, elders, superiors, or in formal settings like shops or official appointments. When using Sie, the verb conjugation changes. For instance, instead of Du bist nett (You are nice), you would say Sie sind nett (You are nice - formal). This is part of Formal German: Using 'Sie' and Pronouns Correctly. Finally, we introduce German 'man': Talking about Everyone (Impersonal Pronoun). Man is used to talk about general actions or what people in general do. For example, Man lernt viel in Deutschland (One learns a lot in Germany), meaning people in general learn a lot.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Ich bin Anna. Du bist Peter."
✓ Correct: "Ich bin Anna. Du bist Peter."
*Explanation:* While this sentence is grammatically correct, it's often used incorrectly in introductions where the speaker is introducing *someone else*. The correct way to introduce another person is by using their name and then referring to them with the appropriate pronoun or stating their relationship. For example, "Das ist mein Freund, Peter. Er ist nett." (This is my friend, Peter. He is nice.)
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Hallo, Herr Müller. Wie geht es dir?"
✓ Correct: "Hallo, Herr Müller. Wie geht es Ihnen?"
*Explanation:* This is a common mistake related to the du vs. Sie distinction. When addressing someone formally with "Herr Müller," you *must* use the formal "Ihnen" (the dative form of Sie) and not the informal "dir." Using "dir" in this context would be considered impolite.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Meine Schwester ist nett. Er ist nett."
✓ Correct: "Meine Schwester ist nett. Sie ist nett."
*Explanation:* This mistake arises from not correctly matching the pronoun to the gender of the noun. "Meine Schwester" (my sister) is feminine, so the correct pronoun to refer to her is sie (she), not er (he).

Real Conversations

A

A

Hallo, ich bin Maria. (Hello, I am Maria.)
B

B

Hallo Maria, ich bin Stefan. Schön, dich kennenzulernen. (Hello Maria, I am Stefan. Nice to meet you.)
A

A

Schön, dich auch kennenzulernen, Stefan. (Nice to meet you too, Stefan.)
A

A

Guten Tag, Frau Schmidt. (Good day, Ms. Schmidt.)
B

B

Guten Tag, Herr Weber. Wie geht es Ihnen? (Good day, Mr. Weber. How are you?)
A

A

Danke, gut. Und Ihnen? (Thank you, fine. And you?)
A

A

Man muss hier vorsichtig sein. (One has to be careful here.)
B

B

Ja, das stimmt. Es ist eine belebte Straße. (Yes, that's true. It is a busy street.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What is the difference between 'du' and 'Sie' in German for A1 learners?

'Du' is the informal 'you' used with friends, family, and children. 'Sie' is the formal 'you' used with strangers, elders, and in professional settings; it is always capitalized.

Q

How do I know whether to use 'er', 'sie', or 'es' in German?

You use 'er' for masculine nouns (e.g., der Mann), 'sie' for feminine nouns (e.g., die Frau), and 'es' for neuter nouns (e.g., das Kind). This is linked to the grammatical gender of the noun.

Q

When should I use the German pronoun 'man'?

Use 'man' when you want to talk about general actions or what people in general do, without referring to a specific person. It's similar to saying "one" or "people" in English.

Q

Is it okay to switch from 'Sie' to 'du' with someone in German?

Yes, it is common to switch from 'Sie' to 'du' once a closer relationship has been established. This is usually done by mutual agreement, often with one person asking, "Sprechen wir uns jetzt mit 'du' an?" (Shall we start addressing each other with 'du' now?).

Cultural Context

In Germany, the distinction between 'du' and 'Sie' is a strong marker of social hierarchy and politeness. While younger generations and more casual environments are increasingly using 'du', it's always safer to start with 'Sie' when in doubt, especially in formal or professional situations. Using 'man' is a common way to express general truths or common practices, fostering a sense of shared experience.

Key Examples (8)

1

Ich bin auf Instagram.

I am on Instagram.

German Personal Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it (Nominativ)
2

Bist du heute Abend online?

Are you online tonight?

German Personal Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it (Nominativ)
3

Wo ist {der|m} Schlüssel? Er liegt auf dem Tisch.

Where is the key? It is lying on the table.

German Pronouns: Matching Gender (er, sie, es)
4

Die Kamera ist neu. Sie macht tolle Fotos.

The camera is new. It makes great photos.

German Pronouns: Matching Gender (er, sie, es)
5

Kommen Sie aus Berlin?

Are you from Berlin?

Formal 'You' (Sie)
6

Haben Sie ein Profil auf LinkedIn?

Do you have a profile on LinkedIn?

Formal 'You' (Sie)
7

Kommst du heute Abend zur Party?

Are you coming to the party tonight?

German Politeness: du vs. Sie (Register Shift)
8

Wie heißen Sie, Herr Schmidt?

What is your name, Mr. Schmidt?

German Politeness: du vs. Sie (Register Shift)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Capitalization

Always capitalize 'Sie' when it means 'you'. It is a sign of respect.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Personal Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it (Nominativ)
💡

Learn the article!

Always learn a noun with its article. It makes picking the pronoun automatic.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Pronouns: Matching Gender (er, sie, es)
💡

Capitalization

Always capitalize 'Sie' to show you know the rules.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal 'You' (Sie)
💡

The 'Sie' Safety Net

When in doubt, use 'Sie'. It is better to be too formal than too rude.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Politeness: du vs. Sie (Register Shift)

Key Vocabulary (6)

wer who der Kollege the male colleague die Kollegin the female colleague höflich polite hier here sprechen to speak

Real-World Preview

presentation

At a Business Meeting

Review Summary

  • ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie
  • der -> er, die -> sie, das -> es
  • Du = Friends/Family, Sie = Strangers/Authority
  • man + verb (3rd person sing.)

Common Mistakes

Using 'du' with a title like 'Herr' or 'Frau' is a contradiction. Titles always require the formal 'Sie'.

Wrong: Wie heißt du, Herr Müller?
Correct: Wie heißen Sie, Herr Müller?

In English, objects are 'it'. In German, an object's pronoun must match its gender. Since 'Tisch' is masculine (der), you must use 'er'.

Wrong: Das ist der Tisch. Es ist blau.
Correct: Das ist der Tisch. Er ist blau.

'Man' is singular, even though it refers to people in general. It always takes the same verb ending as 'er', 'sie', or 'es'.

Wrong: Man sprechen Deutsch.
Correct: Man spricht Deutsch.

Next Steps

You've just unlocked a huge part of German social life. Being able to navigate 'du' and 'Sie' shows real cultural respect. Keep up the amazing work!

Roleplay a formal introduction in front of a mirror.

Write 5 sentences replacing nouns with er/sie/es.

Continue to: Talking About Your Things

Quick Practice (10)

Choose the correct pronoun.

___ (He) ist nett.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er
Masculine subject.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Personal Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it (Nominativ)

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Man essen Pizza.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: essen
Should be 'isst'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German 'man': Talking about Everyone (Impersonal Pronoun)

Find the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

sie sind sehr nett.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sie
Must be capitalized.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal 'You' (Sie)

Choose the correct pronoun.

___ spricht Deutsch in Berlin.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man
Impersonal pronoun.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German 'man': Talking about Everyone (Impersonal Pronoun)

Correct the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

{das|n} Auto ist schnell. Sie fährt gut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie -> Es
Auto is neuter.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Pronouns: Matching Gender (er, sie, es)

Fill in the correct pronoun.

___ bin Student.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich
1st person singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Personal Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it (Nominativ)

Choose the correct pronoun.

{der|m} Kaffee ist heiß. ___ schmeckt gut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: er
Kaffee is masculine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Pronouns: Matching Gender (er, sie, es)

Fill in the blank.

{die|f} Sonne scheint. ___ ist warm.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sie
Sonne is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Pronouns: Matching Gender (er, sie, es)

Fill in the blank.

Wie geht es ___? (formal)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ihnen
Formal dative is Ihnen.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal German: Using 'Sie' and Pronouns Correctly

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'Sie'.

Wie heißen ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie
Formal address requires 'Sie'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal 'You' (Sie)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

It is a sign of respect to distinguish it from 'sie' (she/they).
No, German requires the subject pronoun in almost all cases.
It is a diminutive form. All words ending in -chen are neuter.
No, that would be grammatically incorrect and confusing.
To distinguish it from 'sie' (she/they).
Yes, it is used for both singular and plural formal address.
Previous Chapter
Possession and Intentions
Next Chapter
Talking About Your Things
Back to Roadmap