Satzbezogene Relativsätze mit 'was' und 'wo(r)-' Präpositionalpronomen
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'was' to refer to an entire preceding clause and 'wo(r)-' to replace prepositional objects.
- Use 'was' when the relative clause refers to the entire content of the main clause: 'Er lügt, was mich ärgert.'
- Use 'wo(r)-' + preposition for inanimate objects: 'Das ist das Haus, worin ich wohne.'
- If the preposition starts with a vowel, add 'r' to 'wo': 'worin', 'worauf', 'wovon'.
Overview
der, die, or das. But what happens when you want to comment on an entire situation? Imagine you are at a job interview. You mention you speak five languages. You want to add that this fact is a huge advantage. You aren't just describing "languages"; you are describing the fact that you speak them. This is where sentence-referring relative clauses come in. They act like a "meta-commentary" on your own speech. In English, we often use "which" for this (e.g., "He forgot my birthday, which annoyed me"). In German, we use was or special wo(r)- compounds. This is high-level German that makes your transitions smooth and your logic clear. Think of it as the ultimate tool for adding nuance without starting a new, clunky sentence.How This Grammar Works
was or the pronominal adverb wo(r)- looks back at the whole idea. If the verb in your relative clause doesn't need a preposition, you use was. For example: Er hat die Beförderung erhalten, was uns alle sehr freut. The thing that makes us happy isn't just "the promotion," but the fact that he got it. If your relative clause uses a verb that requires a preposition (like warten auf or rechnen mit), you must use the wo(r)- form. It’s like a grammar glue that binds two complex thoughts together. This structure is incredibly common in academic writing and sophisticated daily conversation. It helps you avoid repeating yourself or using too many short, choppy sentences.
Formation Pattern
was if the relative clause verb takes a direct object or no preposition. Use wo + [preposition] if the verb requires one.
r if the preposition starts with a vowel (e.g., wo + auf = worauf).
When To Use It
Wir haben das Projekt vor der Frist abgeschlossen, was die Kundenzufriedenheit deutlich steigern wird. Here, was summarizes the success. Use wo(r)- when your reaction involves a specific prepositional verb. For instance, Der Aktienkurs ist gefallen, womit wir nicht gerechnet hatten. (The stock price fell, which we hadn't expected). It’s also great for social situations. If a friend tells you they finally moved out, you might say: Du hast endlich eine Wohnung gefunden, worauf wir heute anstoßen sollten! It adds a layer of sophistication that shows you aren't just translating from English, but thinking in German structures.
When Not To Use It
was if you are referring to a specific person. That is a common trap! If you say Der Mann, was..., your German teacher might shed a tear. People always get der, die, or welcher. Also, do not use was when referring to a specific gendered noun. If you want to describe a "table," use der. This grammar is strictly for abstract ideas, whole sentences, or neuter pronouns like alles, nichts, and etwas. Think of it like a grammar traffic light: was only turns green for whole sentences or indefinite concepts. If there is a clear noun involved, the light stays red for was and you must use a standard relative pronoun.
Common Mistakes
das as a relative pronoun for a whole sentence. In English, we say "that," so it’s tempting to say Er kam zu spät, das ärgerte mich. This is 100% wrong in written German. It must be was. Another mistake is splitting the preposition: was ich mich darüber freue instead of worüber ich mich freue. Remember, the wo(r)- form is a single word. Also, watch out for the r. It’s not woauf, it’s worauf. It acts like a little cushion between the vowels so the word doesn't sound like a hiccup. Finally, don't forget the comma. Without it, the sentence loses its logical structure.Contrast With Similar Patterns
da(r)- compounds? Da(r)- compounds (like darüber or damit) usually start a new, independent sentence. They refer back to something mentioned previously, but they don't connect the clauses. Ich habe gewonnen. Darüber freue ich mich. (Two sentences). With our relative clauses, we merge them: Ich habe gewonnen, worüber ich mich freue. (One sentence). The relative version is much more fluid and elegant. Also, distinguish this from was used after superlatives. Das ist das Beste, was ich je gehört habe. Here, was refers to das Beste, not the whole sentence. It looks similar, but the logic is slightly different. At C2, you should be able to toggle between these styles depending on how much "punch" you want your sentence to have.Quick FAQ
Can I use was to refer to a whole paragraph? A: Usually, it refers to the immediately preceding clause, but context can extend it to the general idea. Q: Is womit formal? A: It is standard German. Using mit was is very informal and should be avoided in writing. Q: Does the verb always go at the end? A: Yes, it is a subordinate clause, so the verb is the caboose of the train. Q: Can I use woran for people? A: No, never. Use an den / an die for people. Q: Why do we use was for whole sentences? A: Because a whole sentence is considered a "neuter abstract concept," and was is the universal neuter relative pronoun.
Wo(r)- Compound Formation
| Preposition | Wo(r)- Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
auf
|
worauf
|
Das worauf ich warte.
|
|
in
|
worin
|
Das worin ich lebe.
|
|
mit
|
womit
|
Das womit ich schreibe.
|
|
über
|
worüber
|
Das worüber wir reden.
|
|
von
|
wovon
|
Das wovon ich träume.
|
|
für
|
wofür
|
Das wofür ich danke.
|
Meanings
These structures allow you to connect a whole thought or an inanimate object to a relative clause without repeating nouns.
Clause-referencing 'was'
Refers to the entire preceding statement.
“Sie kommt zu spät, was mich nervt.”
“Er hat gekündigt, was niemand erwartet hat.”
Inanimate 'wo(r)-' pronouns
Replaces a prepositional object referring to things.
“Das ist der Stuhl, worauf ich sitze.”
“Das ist das Ziel, worauf wir hinarbeiten.”
Reference Table
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Clause-Ref
|
Main Clause + , + was + ...
|
Er lacht, was mich freut.
|
|
Inanimate
|
Noun + , + wo(r)- + Prep + ...
|
Das Buch, worin ich lese.
|
|
Negative
|
Main Clause + , + was + nicht + ...
|
Er kam nicht, was mich nicht wundert.
|
|
Question
|
Was + ... + ?
|
Was ist das, worüber du sprichst?
|
|
Complex
|
Noun + , + wo(r)- + ... + Verb
|
Das Haus, worin ich wohne, ist alt.
|
Formality Spectrum
Dass er gelogen hat, was bedauerlich ist. (Describing a lie.)
Er hat gelogen, was bedauerlich ist. (Describing a lie.)
Er hat gelogen, was echt mies ist. (Describing a lie.)
Er hat gelogen, was voll kacke ist. (Describing a lie.)
Relative Clause Mapping
Referent
- was Whole clause
- wo(r)- Inanimate object
Examples by Level
Das ist gut, was ich weiß.
That is good, which I know.
Er lernt, was wichtig ist.
He learns what is important.
Sie kommt spät, was mich stört.
She is coming late, which bothers me.
Das ist das Haus, wo ich wohne.
That is the house where I live.
Er hat gelogen, was alle enttäuscht hat.
He lied, which disappointed everyone.
Das ist der Tisch, worauf das Buch liegt.
That is the table on which the book lies.
Die Firma ist pleite, was zur Kündigung führte.
The company is bankrupt, which led to the dismissal.
Das ist das Problem, worüber wir sprachen.
That is the problem about which we spoke.
Er ignorierte die Warnung, was fatale Folgen hatte.
He ignored the warning, which had fatal consequences.
Das ist das Ziel, worauf wir hinarbeiten.
That is the goal toward which we are working.
Die Regierung trat zurück, was eine Neuwahl erforderlich machte.
The government resigned, which made a new election necessary.
Das ist der Punkt, worauf es ankommt.
That is the point on which it depends.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'was' for nouns.
Common Mistakes
Der Mann, was ich kenne.
Der Mann, den ich kenne.
Das Haus, was ich wohne.
Das Haus, in dem ich wohne.
Das Buch, wo ich lese.
Das Buch, in dem ich lese.
Er ist krank, der mich traurig macht.
Er ist krank, was mich traurig macht.
Das ist das Ziel, wo ich arbeite.
Das ist das Ziel, worauf ich hinarbeite.
Ich habe Hunger, der mich nervt.
Ich habe Hunger, was mich nervt.
Das ist der Stuhl, wo ich sitze.
Das ist der Stuhl, worauf ich sitze.
Sie hat gewonnen, der mich freut.
Sie hat gewonnen, was mich freut.
Das ist die Idee, wo ich denke.
Das ist die Idee, woran ich denke.
Das ist der Plan, wo wir zustimmen.
Das ist der Plan, dem wir zustimmen.
Er kam zu spät, der mich ärgerte.
Er kam zu spät, was mich ärgerte.
Das ist das Haus, worin ich wohne.
Das ist das Haus, in dem ich wohne.
Sentence Patterns
___, was mich sehr ___.
Real World Usage
Er hat gewonnen, was mega ist!
The 'Was' Test
Smart Tips
Use 'was'.
Pronunciation
Stress
Stress the 'wo' in 'worauf'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Was for the whole thought, Wo(r) for the thing you bought.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant 'WAS' bubble encompassing a whole sentence, and a 'WOR-' hook pulling an inanimate object out of a box.
Rhyme
Was refers to the whole idea, Wo(r)- makes the object clear.
Story
I told a lie, which (was) made my mom sad. I looked at the table, on which (worauf) my book lay. I realized that grammar, which (was) is hard, is actually fun.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your day using 'was' to comment on your actions.
Cultural Notes
Using 'wo' for people is common in spoken dialects but strictly forbidden in formal writing.
Derived from Old High German interrogative pronouns.
Conversation Starters
Was ist etwas, was dich heute gefreut hat?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Er hat gelogen, ___ mich ärgert.
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercisesEr hat gelogen, ___ mich ärgert.
Score: /1
FAQ (1)
No, never.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
lo que
Spanish uses 'lo que' for everything; German distinguishes between 'was' and 'das'.
ce qui / ce que
French requires subject/object distinction for 'ce qui/ce que'.
koto
Japanese structure is entirely different, placing the verb at the end of the relative clause.
ma
Arabic 'ma' is less flexible for clause-referencing than German 'was'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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