Relative clauses in the nominative, accusative and dative
Choose a relative pronoun by its antecedent and its role inside the relative clause.
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What you will learn
Choose a relative pronoun by its antecedent and its role inside the relative clause.
Relative clauses in the nominative, accusative and dative
A relative clause describes an earlier noun, is separated by commas and has its verb last. Gender and number come from the antecedent; case comes from the role inside the clause: Das ist der Mann, der hier wohnt. Der is the subject of wohnt.
Nominative forms are der, die, das and plural die. Masculine der becomes den in the accusative: Der Mann, den ich sehe. Ich is the subject and the man is the object. Die, das and plural die stay unchanged in the accusative.
Dative forms are dem for masculine and neuter, der for feminine and denen for plural: Die Frau, der ich helfe. A preposition comes before the pronoun: der Mann, mit dem ich spreche. The dative plural relative pronoun is denen, not den.
Rule summary
Form
Example or use
Nominativ
der · die · das · die
Akkusativ
den · die · das · die
Dativ
dem · der · dem · denen
Examples
Das ist der Mann, der hier wohnt.
Meaning
That is the man who lives here.
Das ist der Mann, den ich gestern gesehen habe.
Meaning
That is the man whom I saw yesterday.
Das sind die Kinder, denen ich helfe.
Meaning
Those are the children whom I help.
Das ist die Frau, mit der ich arbeite.
Meaning
That is the woman with whom I work.
Lesson exercises
B1 · 10
Choose one answer for immediate feedback and a brief explanation.
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Exercise 1 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Der Mann, ___ hier wohnt, heißt Ben.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: der
Why? Answer: der — The pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, so use nominative.
Exercise 2 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Die Frau, ___ dort steht, ist Ärztin.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: die
Why? Answer: die — The pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, so use nominative.
Exercise 3 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Das Buch, ___ hier liegt, ist neu.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: das
Why? Answer: das — The pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, so use nominative.
Exercise 4 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Der Mann, ___ ich sehe, winkt.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: den
Why? Answer: den — The pronoun is a direct object inside the clause: accusative.
Exercise 5 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Die Frau, ___ ich sehe, winkt.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: die
Why? Answer: die — The pronoun is a direct object inside the clause: accusative.
Exercise 6 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Das ist der Mann, ___ ich helfe.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: dem
Why? Answer: dem — Helfen requires a dative relative pronoun.
Exercise 7 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Das ist die Frau, ___ ich helfe.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: der
Why? Answer: der — Helfen requires a dative relative pronoun.
Exercise 8 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Die Kinder, ___ ich helfe, lernen Deutsch.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: denen
Why? Answer: denen — Helfen requires a dative relative pronoun.
Exercise 9 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Der Mann, mit ___ ich spreche, ist nett.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: dem
Why? Answer: dem — The preposition precedes the pronoun and determines its case here.
Exercise 10 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context and requested tense.
Welche Form ist korrekt?
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: Das ist das Buch, das ich lese.
Why? Answer: Das ist das Buch, das ich lese. — Separate the relative clause with commas and put its verb last.
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Grammar references for further reading
Original B1 lessons, examples and exercises by WikiGerman. Study in order or choose a topic to review.