Introduction to Relative Clauses
Relative clauses (Relativsätze) are dependent clauses used to provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They are introduced by relative pronouns and help connect sentences smoothly while avoiding repetition.
In German, relative clauses agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they refer to, but their case depends on their function within the relative clause itself.
Das ist der Mann, der im Park läuft.
Das ist der Mann, der im Park läuft.
That is the man who is running in the park.
Relative Pronouns in German
Relative pronouns connect the relative clause to the main clause. The most common relative pronouns in German are der, die, das and their declined forms. They correspond to the definite articles but change according to the case within the relative clause.
Here is a table of relative pronouns by gender, number, and case:
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | die | das | die |
| Accusative | den | die | das | die |
| Dative | dem | der | dem | denen |
| Genitive | dessen | deren | dessen | deren |
Ich kenne die Frau, die im Büro arbeitet.
Ich kenne die Frau, die im Büro arbeitet.
I know the woman who works in the office.
Cases in Relative Clauses
The case of the relative pronoun depends on its grammatical role inside the relative clause, not the main clause. This means you must identify whether the pronoun is the subject, direct object, indirect object, or shows possession within the relative clause.
Das ist der Mann, den ich gestern gesehen habe.
Das ist der Mann, den ich gestern gesehen habe.
That is the man whom I saw yesterday.
Here, den is accusative because it is the direct object of gesehen habe.
Die Frau, der ich geholfen habe, ist nett.
Die Frau, der ich geholfen habe, ist nett.
The woman whom I helped is nice.
Here, der is dative because it is the indirect object of geholfen habe.
Word Order in Relative Clauses
Relative clauses in German follow the same word order rules as other subordinate clauses: the conjugated verb is placed at the end of the clause.
Das Buch, das du liest, ist spannend.
Das Buch, das du liest, ist spannend.
The book that you are reading is exciting.
Notice that the verb liest comes at the end of the relative clause.
Der Lehrer, mit dem ich gesprochen habe, ist freundlich.
Der Lehrer, mit dem ich gesprochen habe, ist freundlich.
The teacher with whom I spoke is friendly.
Defining vs. Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Defining (restrictive) relative clauses provide essential information about the noun and are not set off by commas. Non-defining (non-restrictive) relative clauses add extra information and are separated by commas.
Das ist der Mann, der den Hund besitzt.
Das ist der Mann, der den Hund besitzt.
That is the man who owns the dog. (Defining)
Herr Müller, der den Hund besitzt, ist mein Nachbar.
Herr Müller, der den Hund besitzt, ist mein Nachbar.
Mr. Müller, who owns the dog, is my neighbor. (Non-defining)
Commas in German signal the non-defining relative clause, which provides additional but not essential information.
Common Errors to Avoid
Many learners struggle with the correct case of relative pronouns, often confusing the case from the main clause with that of the relative clause. Always analyze the function of the pronoun inside the relative clause.
Incorrect: Das ist die Frau, die ich geholfen habe.
Incorrect: Das ist die Frau, die ich geholfen habe.
Incorrect: That is the woman who I helped.
The correct sentence uses the dative relative pronoun der:
Correct: Das ist die Frau, der ich geholfen habe.
Correct: Das ist die Frau, der ich geholfen habe.
Correct: That is the woman whom I helped.
Also, remember the verb must always go to the end in the relative clause.
Practice Examples
Das ist das Auto, ______ ich gekauft habe.
Das ist das Auto, ______ ich gekauft habe.
That is the car that I bought.
Fill in the blank with the correct relative pronoun.
Die Kinder, ______ im Park spielen, sind glücklich.
Die Kinder, ______ im Park spielen, sind glücklich.
The children who are playing in the park are happy.
Try to identify the correct relative pronoun and case.
Der Mann, mit ______ ich gesprochen habe, ist Lehrer.
Der Mann, mit ______ ich gesprochen habe, ist Lehrer.
The man with whom I spoke is a teacher.
Tips for Remembering Rules
- Always determine the function of the relative pronoun within the relative clause first to select the correct case.
- Remember that relative pronouns decline similarly to definite articles but have unique genitive forms (dessen, deren).
- Practice identifying the subject, object, and indirect object roles in sentences before choosing the pronoun.
- Keep in mind the verb placement rule: the conjugated verb goes to the very end of the relative clause.
- Pay attention to commas, as they help distinguish defining from non-defining relative clauses.
- Use example sentences and practice regularly to internalize patterns.