B1 · Intermediário
Capítulo 48
Pronouns and Relative Clauses
9
Regras totais
96
exemplos
11
min
Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of connecting ideas and referring to people or things with precision and confidence.
- Construct complex sentences using relative clauses.
- Use dative and indefinite pronouns to replace nouns.
- Connect abstract concepts with pronominal adverbs.
Connect, refer, and refine your German fluency.
O que você vai aprender
Use dative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, reflexive forms, and build relative clauses.
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Pronomes dativos alemães: me, te, lhe (mir, dir, ihm)Os pronomes no Dativo focam em quem recebe a ação ou o benefício, funcionando como o objeto indireto. Guarde estas ferramentas:
mir,direihm. -
Descrever lugares: Orações relativas com 'wo'Use o
wopara descrever locais de forma natural, mantendo sempre overbono final da frase e avírgulaantes do conectivo. -
Pronomes Relativos no Dativo (dem, der, denen)Use
dem,deroudenenpara conectar informações extras quando o verbo ou a preposição exigir o caso dativo. -
Pronomes indefinidos em alemão para coisas: etwas, nichts, allesSempre use letra maiúscula no adjetivo após essas palavras e lembre dos finais:
etwas/nichtslevam-eseallesleva «-e». -
Pronomes relativos possessivos: Cujo (dessen, deren)Os pronomes
dessenederenfuncionam como o nosso 'cujo' ou 'de quem', conectando frases e jogando o verbo lá para o final. -
Pronomes reflexivos no dativo (mir, dir, sich)Quando um objeto específico ocupa a 'vaga' do acusativo, o pronome reflexivo pula para o dativo.
mirdirsich -
Pronomes Indefinidos para Pessoas (jemand, niemand)
jemand(someone) andniemand(no one) refer to people and must be declined for case just like articles. -
Perguntando sobre coisas: Compostos com Wo (worüber, wovon)Use os compostos com
wo-para perguntar sobre objetos ou conceitos de forma rápida, mas lembre-se:coisas sim,pessoas não. -
Advérbios pronominais: Falar sobre coisas (dafür, damit)Use as combinações com
da-para substituir objetos e deixar seu alemão mais fluido, curto e natural, usandodamit,dafüroudarauf.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: Use dative pronouns to express indirect objects in daily conversation.
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2
By the end you will be able to: Build relative clauses to provide detailed descriptions of places and people.
Guia do capítulo
Overview
This chapter is your gateway to expressing more complex ideas and engaging in nuanced conversations in German. By mastering pronouns and relative clauses, you'll be able to connect sentences smoothly, refer to people and things efficiently, and ask and answer questions about them with greater precision. This knowledge moves you beyond simple statements, allowing you to describe relationships, places, and possessions in detail.
You will learn to use dative pronouns like *mir* and *dir*, skillfully build relative clauses with *wo*, *dem*, *der*, *dessen*, and *deren*, and correctly employ indefinite pronouns such as *etwas* and *jemand*.
Understanding these structures is crucial for natural communication. For instance, instead of saying
I gave a book to the man. The man was happy,you'll be able to say
I gave a book to the man, *who* was happy,making your language more fluid.
Similarly, knowing *wo*-compounds (*worüber*) and pronominal adverbs (*dafür*) will enable you to speak about abstract concepts without awkward constructions. This chapter will equip you with the tools to significantly enhance your descriptive and conversational abilities, making your German sound much more native-like.
How This Grammar Works
Let's explore the mechanics of these essential grammar points with clear examples. Remember, we'll be using the informal 'du' form for personal examples.
German Dative Pronouns (mir, dir, ihm)
These pronouns function as the indirect object in a sentence, indicating to whom or for whom something is done. They often follow verbs or prepositions that require the dative case.
* Gibst du *mir* bitte das Buch?
(Will you please give *me* the book?)
* Ich helfe *dir* gerne bei den Hausaufgaben.
(I gladly help *you* with your homework.)
* Wir erzählen *ihm* die Geschichte.
(We tell *him* the story.)
Describing Places: Relative Clauses with 'wo'
When you want to describe a place, *wo* (where) can introduce a relative clause, acting as a relative adverb. The verb goes to the end of this clause.
* Das ist das Café, *wo* wir uns immer treffen.
(That is the café *where* we always meet.)
* Ich kenne einen Park, *wo* du gut joggen kannst.
(I know a park *where* you can jog well.)
German Dative Relative Pronouns (dem, der, denen)
These pronouns refer back to a noun in the main clause and introduce a relative clause. They must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to, but their case is determined by their function within the relative clause (here, dative).
* Das ist der Freund, *dem* ich geholfen habe. (Masculine singular, dative)
(That is the friend *to whom* I helped.)
* Kennst du die Frau, *der* du das Geschenk gegeben hast? (Feminine singular, dative)
(Do you know the woman *to whom* you gave the gift?)
* Das sind die Kinder, *denen* wir zugewinkt haben. (Plural, dative)
(These are the children *to whom* we waved.)
German Indefinite Pronouns: etwas, nichts, alles (Things)
These pronouns refer to an unspecified quantity or type of 'thing'. They are invariant.
* Hast du *etwas* Interessantes gelesen?
(Have you read *something* interesting?)
* Ich habe *nichts* verstanden.
(I understood *nothing*.)
* Du weißt *alles* über ihn.
(You know *everything* about him.)
Whose? Genitive Relative Pronouns (dessen, deren)
These pronouns indicate possession within a relative clause. They agree in gender and number with the *antecedent* (the noun they refer back to), while the *possessed item* determines the word order. *Dessen* is used for masculine and neuter singular antecedents, *deren* for feminine singular and all plural antecedents.
* Das ist der Mann, *dessen* Auto kaputt ist. (Man is masculine, car is possessed)
(That is the man *whose* car is broken.)
* Das ist die Frau, *deren* Kinder hier spielen. (Woman is feminine, children are possessed)
(That is the woman *whose* children are playing here.)
* Das ist das Haus, *dessen* Dach neu ist. (House is neuter, roof is possessed)
(That is the house *whose* roof is new.)
* Das sind die Leute, *deren* Hund bellt. (People are plural, dog is possessed)
(Those are the people *whose* dog is barking.)
German Dative Reflexive Pronouns (mir, dir, sich)
Some verbs are reflexive and take a dative object, especially when the action is done *for oneself* or affects oneself indirectly.
* Ich kaufe *mir* einen Kaffee.
(I buy *myself* a coffee.)
* Du wünschst *dir* einen Urlaub, richtig?
(You wish *yourself* a holiday, right?)
* Er bestellt *sich* immer Pizza.
(He always orders *himself* pizza.)
Indefinite Pronouns for People (jemand, niemand)
These pronouns refer to an unspecified person or no person. They can take case endings, but often remain uninflected in the nominative and accusative, especially in informal speech.
* Ist *jemand* zu Hause?
(Is *someone* at home?)
* Ich habe *niemand* gesehen.
(I saw *no one*.)
* Hast du *jemandem* davon erzählt? (Dative)
(Did you tell *someone* about it?)
Asking About Things: Wo-Compounds (worüber, wovon)
When you want to ask about a 'thing' or an abstract concept that would normally require a preposition and a pronoun (e.g., *über was*), German uses *wo*-compounds. These are formed by *wo* + preposition (or *wor* + preposition if the preposition starts with a vowel).
* *Worüber* sprichst du? (statt: Über was sprichst du?)
(*About what* are you talking?)
* *Wovon* träumst du? (statt: Von was träumst du?)
(*Of what* are you dreaming?)
German Pronominal Adverbs: Talking About Things (dafür, damit)
These are the counterparts to *wo*-compounds, used to refer *back* to a 'thing' or an abstract concept using a preposition. They are formed by *da* + preposition (or *dar* + preposition if the preposition starts with a vowel).
* Ich interessiere mich für Sport. Ich trainiere täglich *dafür*.
(I'm interested in sports. I train daily *for it*.)
* Sie hat viel Arbeit. Sie ist müde *davon*.
(She has a lot of work. She is tired *of it*.)
Common Mistakes
✗ Das ist der Mann, dem Auto kaputt ist.
✓ Das ist der Mann, *dessen* Auto kaputt ist.
Why:
Dem is dative, indicating an indirect object. Dessen indicates possession (whose) and matches the masculine singular antecedent Mann.✗ Ich gehe zu dem Haus, das ich gewohnt habe.
✓ Ich gehe zu dem Haus, *wo* ich gewohnt habe.
Why:
Das is a relative pronoun for things, but wo is specifically used for describing places.✗ Ich brauche etwas für meine Hausaufgaben. Ich suche für es.
✓ Ich brauche etwas für meine Hausaufgaben. Ich suche *danach*.
Why: When referring to inanimate objects or abstract concepts with a preposition, pronominal adverbs like
danach (da + nach) are used instead of für es.✗ Ich gebe dir den Schlüssel. Du hast mir geholfen.
✓ Ich gebe dir den Schlüssel, *dem* du geholfen hast.
Why: The second sentence
Du hast mir geholfendoesn't make sense in this context. If
dem refers to Schlüssel, it means to which you helped, which is grammatically incorrect and makes no sense. The original example for dative relative pronoun is correct:
Das ist der Freund, dem ich geholfen habe.
Let's fix this example.
✗ Das ist der Freund, den ich geholfen habe.
✓ Das ist der Freund, *dem* ich geholfen habe.
Why: The verb
helfen (to help) always takes a dative object. The relative pronoun must therefore be in dative case, *dem* (for masculine singular).✗ Was denkst du über es?
✓ *Worüber* denkst du?
Why: When asking about things or abstract concepts with a preposition, use a *wo*-compound (*worüber*) instead of
über es.✗ Kaufst du einen Kaffee mir?
✓ Kaufst du *mir* einen Kaffee?
Why: Reflexive pronouns, especially dative ones, typically come after the conjugated verb or directly after the subject if there's no direct object (and often before the direct object when there is one).
Real Conversations
A
A
Hallo, wie geht es dir? Ich habe da ein kleines Problem, *wofür* ich deine Hilfe brauche.
B
B
Hallo! Mir geht es gut, danke. Klar, sag mal, *worum* geht es denn? Ich helfe *dir* gerne.
A
A
Ich habe da ein Buch, *dessen* Geschichte sehr spannend ist, aber ich verstehe einen Teil nicht. Es geht um einen Mann, *der* einen Schatz sucht.
B
B
Ah, ich weiß schon, *was* du meinst! Ich habe das Buch auch gelesen. Der Mann, *dem* du hilfst, ist sehr clever.
A
A
Ja, genau! Ich wollte *mir* auch ein ähnliches Buch kaufen. Hast du *etwas* Empfehlenswertes?
B
B
Ich habe *nichts* mehr im Kopf, aber ich schaue mal nach und melde *mich* bei *dir*.
---
A
A
Hello, how are you? I have a small problem *for which* I need your help.
B
B
Hello! I'm good, thanks. Sure, tell me, *what* is it about? I'd love to help *you*.
A
A
I have a book *whose* story is very exciting, but I don't understand one part. It's about a man *who* is looking for a treasure.
B
B
Ah, I know *what* you mean! I also read that book. The man *whom* you are helping is very clever.
A
A
Yes, exactly! I also wanted to buy *myself* a similar book. Do you have *anything* recommendable?
B
B
I can't think of *anything* right now, but I'll check and get back to *you*.
Quick FAQ
Q
What's the main difference between *mir* (dative personal pronoun) and *mir* (dative reflexive pronoun)?
Both are dative, but their function differs. As a personal pronoun, *mir* (me) is the indirect object of an action done *to* or *for* you by someone else (e.g.,
Er gibt *mir* ein Geschenk- He gives *me* a gift). As a reflexive pronoun, *mir* (myself) indicates an action you do *for yourself* or that affects you directly (e.g.,
Ich kaufe *mir* ein Eis- I buy *myself* an ice cream).
Q
When should I use *wo* versus a dative relative pronoun (*dem/der/denen*) for places?
Use *wo* when the relative clause describes the *location* where an action happens (e.g.,
Das ist das Haus, *wo* ich wohne- That's the house *where* I live). Use a dative relative pronoun (*dem/der/denen*) when the place itself is the *indirect object* within the relative clause, often following a dative preposition (e.g.,
Das ist der Ort, *an dem* ich mich wohlfühle- That's the place *at which* I feel comfortable. Note that sometimes *an dem* can be replaced by *wo*, but *wo* is more common for simple location).
Q
How do I choose between *dessen* and *deren* for whose?
The choice depends on the *gender and number of the antecedent* (the person or thing that possesses something). Use *dessen* for masculine singular (der Mann, *dessen* Auto) and neuter singular (das Kind, *dessen* Spielzeug). Use *deren* for feminine singular (die Frau, *deren* Hund) and all plural nouns (die Leute, *deren* Haus). The gender/number of the possessed item does not affect *dessen/deren* itself.
Q
Why do Germans use *dafür* or *wovon* instead of *für es* or *von was*?
In German, it's considered unidiomatic and often grammatically incorrect to use a preposition directly with a personal pronoun (*es*, *sie*, *ihn*, etc.) when referring to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. Instead, Germans use *pronominal adverbs* (*dafür, damit, davon, darüber*) to refer back to such things, and *wo-compounds* (*wofür, womit, wovon, worüber*) to ask questions about them. This creates a more concise and natural-sounding sentence structure.
Cultural Context
The precise nature of German grammar, particularly the case system and its impact on pronouns and relative clauses, reflects a cultural value placed on clarity and detail. The ability to clearly distinguish between direct and indirect objects, or to precisely specify possession with *dessen* and *deren*, allows for unambiguous communication. This meticulousness in language can be seen as mirroring German engineering or organizational tendencies, where every component has a specific function and placement.
Furthermore, the use of indefinite pronouns and the nuanced constructions of relative clauses contribute to a sophisticated style of communication often valued in German discourse. While informal 'du' forms are common among friends and family, the ability to construct grammatically sound and detailed sentences, especially in more formal settings, is highly regarded. Mastering these structures not only improves your linguistic skills but also helps you engage more effectively in German conversations, understanding and appreciating the precision that native speakers often employ.
Exemplos-chave (8)
1
Gefällt dir das neue Update von Instagram?
Você gostou da nova atualização do Instagram?
Pronomes dativos alemães: me, te, lhe (mir, dir, ihm)
2
Kannst du mir bitte das WLAN-Passwort schicken?
Você pode me enviar a senha do Wi-Fi, por favor?
Pronomes dativos alemães: me, te, lhe (mir, dir, ihm)
3
Das ist das Café, wo wir uns gestern getroffen haben.
Esse é o café onde nos encontramos ontem.
Descrever lugares: Orações relativas com 'wo'
4
Ich poste ein Bild von dem Ort, wo ich gerade Urlaub mache.
Vou postar uma foto do lugar onde estou passando férias agora.
Descrever lugares: Orações relativas com 'wo'
5
Ich habe dir etwas Wichtiges zu sagen.
Eu tenho algo importante para te dizer.
Pronomes indefinidos em alemão para coisas: etwas, nichts, alles
6
Heute passiert nichts Spannendes.
Nada de emocionante está acontecendo hoje.
Pronomes indefinidos em alemão para coisas: etwas, nichts, alles
7
Ich habe einen Nachbarn, dessen WLAN-Passwort ich kenne.
Eu tenho um vizinho cuja senha do Wi-Fi eu conheço.
Pronomes relativos possessivos: Cujo (dessen, deren)
8
Die Künstlerin, deren Bilder auf Instagram viral gingen, ist erst 19.
A artista cujas fotos viralizaram no Instagram tem apenas 19 anos.
Pronomes relativos possessivos: Cujo (dessen, deren)Dicas e truques (4)
💡
O Truque do 'M'
Assim como no inglês 'him', os pronomes masculinos e neutros no Dativo alemão costumam terminar em 'm'. Exemplo:
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes dativos alemães: me, te, lhe (mir, dir, ihm)
Ich helfe ihm gerne.
⚠️
A armadilha da vírgula
Nunca esqueça a vírgula antes do 'wo'. Em alemão, orações relativas são sempre separadas por vírgulas. É a lei!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Descrever lugares: Orações relativas com 'wo'
Das ist der Ort, wo ich arbeite.
🎯
O Diferencial do 'Denen'
Lembre-se sempre: o pronome relativo para o plural dativo é
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes Relativos no Dativo (dem, der, denen)
denen, e não den. Esse é o erro mais comum no B1! Die Freunde, denen ich schreibe, sind toll.
💡
Pense como 'O Algo'
Se esquecer a maiúscula, lembre que 'etwas' transforma o adjetivo em um substantivo neutro. Como em:
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes indefinidos em alemão para coisas: etwas, nichts, alles
Ich brauche etwas Kaltes.
Vocabulário-chave (5)
helfen
to help
jemand
someone
niemand
no one
worüber
about what
dadurch
thereby / through that
Real-World Preview
coffee
Meeting at the Cafe
Review Summary
- Subject + Verb + Indirect Object (mir/dir/ihm/ihr/uns/euch/ihnen)
- da + preposition (e.g., dafür, damit)
Erros comuns
Prepositions like 'mit' require the dative case. 'Er' is nominative, 'ihm' is dative.
Wrong:
Ich gehe mit er.
Correto:
Ich gehe mit ihm.
When referring to a location, 'wo' is the correct relative adverb.
Wrong:
Das ist das Haus, das ich wohne.
Correto:
Das ist das Haus, wo ich wohne.
Pronominal adverbs (damit) only refer to things. For people, use a preposition + pronoun.
Wrong:
Ich habe damit gesprochen.
Correto:
Ich habe mit ihm gesprochen.
Regras neste capítulo (9)
Next Steps
You've conquered a huge part of German syntax. Keep building those complex sentences!
Write a diary entry using 5 pronominal adverbs.
Prática rápida (10)
Encontre e corrija o erro.
Find and fix the mistake:
Dort sind die Leute, dessen Haus wir gekauft haben.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dort sind die Leute, deren Haus wir gekauft haben.
'Leute' está no plural, então você deve usar 'deren', não 'dessen'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes relativos possessivos: Cujo (dessen, deren)
Qual frase está correta?
Escolha a frase gramaticalmente correta:
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Freunde, denen ich schreibe, sind im Urlaub.
Para frases relativas no plural dativo, o pronome deve ser
denen.frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes Relativos no Dativo (dem, der, denen)
Correct the sentence.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ich habe niemandem gesehen.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe niemanden gesehen.
Sehen takes Accusative.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes Indefinidos para Pessoas (jemand, niemand)
Preencha a lacuna com o pronome Dativo correto.
Ich danke ___ (você, informal) für die Hilfe.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dir
O verbo 'danken' sempre exige o caso Dativo. 'dir' é a forma Dativa de 'du'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes dativos alemães: me, te, lhe (mir, dir, ihm)
Qual frase refere-se corretamente a uma pessoa?
Escolha a frase certa para dizer 'Eu estou sonhando com ela':
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich träume von ihr.
Você não pode usar compostos com 'da-' para pessoas. Use 'von' + o pronome pessoal 'ihr'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advérbios pronominais: Falar sobre coisas (dafür, damit)
Encontre e corrija o erro.
Find and fix the mistake:
Wofon träumst du jede Nacht?
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wovon träumst du jede Nacht?
A forma correta é 'wovon' porque 'träumen' pede a preposição 'von'. A grafia 'Wofon' está errada.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Perguntando sobre coisas: Compostos com Wo (worüber, wovon)
Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.
Dort wo die Sonne scheint ist es warm.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dort, wo die Sonne scheint, ist es warm.
Você precisa de vírgulas para separar a oração relativa da oração principal.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Descrever lugares: Orações relativas com 'wo'
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'jemand'.
Ich sehe ___ im Garten.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: jemanden
Sehen takes the Accusative case.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes Indefinidos para Pessoas (jemand, niemand)
Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ich bin daan interessiert.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich bin daran interessiert.
Preposições que começam com vogal precisam da ponte '-r-'. 'da' + 'an' vira
daran.frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advérbios pronominais: Falar sobre coisas (dafür, damit)
Preencha a lacuna com o composto da- correto.
Ich warte auf das Paket. Ich warte ___.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: darauf
O verbo 'warten' pede a preposição 'auf'. Como 'auf' começa com vogal, adicionamos o '-r-', formando
darauf.frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advérbios pronominais: Falar sobre coisas (dafür, damit)
Score: /10
Perguntas comuns (6)
'mir' é Dativo (receptor), enquanto 'mich' é Acusativo (objeto direto). Use 'mir' com verbos como 'helfen' e 'mich' com verbos como 'sehen'. Exemplo:
Du siehst mich, aber du hilfst mir.
Sim, no Dativo, 'ihr' significa 'para ela'. Não confunda com o Nominativo 'ihr', que significa 'vocês'. Exemplo:
Das Buch gehört ihr.
Sim! É perfeitamente correto após nomes geográficos e advérbios como 'da' ou 'dort'. Usar após substantivos comuns como
das Haus, wo... é considerado coloquial, mas super comum na fala.Evite usar 'wo' para se referir a pessoas ou tempo. Para pessoas, use 'der/die/das'. Para tempo, use
quando, como em als ich jung war.
É uma palavra como 'que' ou 'quem' que liga uma descrição a um substantivo. No alemão, ele precisa combinar com o gênero e o caso da frase, como em:
Der Mann, dem ich helfe.
O alemão usa
denen para diferenciar o pronome relativo do artigo definido no plural. Isso evita confusão em frases longas como: Die Kinder, denen ich vorlese.
