Pronoun in German. Possessive and personal pronouns in German

People begin to learn German with pronouns; this is necessary in order to achieve rapid immersion both in the language itself and in spoken grammar.

Unfortunately, the variety of pronouns in the German language causes some difficulties for many students. The purpose of this article is to explain and show how some pronouns differ from others.

A pronoun is a part of speech that points to objects but does not name them. Pronouns replace or accompany a noun. The German language has the following pronouns: personal, possessive, demonstrative, interrogative, relative, indefinite, reciprocal, reflexive and impersonal es.

In this article we will take a closer look at personal and possessive pronouns.

Pronouns

German Personal Pronouns

(Personalpronomen) point to a person or object.

Note! The polite form Sie/you in German coincides in its grammatical forms with the pronoun sie/they of the 3rd person plural.

This fact is that many pronouns have the same form but have different meanings, often leads to great confusion. I will give some examples later to illustrate.

Personal pronouns change by case (inflect). In the table below you can see the declination.

The table contains other cases of coincidence of personal pronouns. For example, uns may mean us or us. If you have any doubt about how to correctly translate a pronoun, you can always ask a question about the pronoun and get your bearings.

Example: Martin sieht uns jeden Tag. (Martin sees us every day.) Wen sieht Martin jeden Tag? (Who does Martin see every day?) Question wen? corresponds accusative case(Akkusativ). The pronoun in this sentence translates us.

German possessive pronouns

(Possessivpronomen) denote that the word being defined belongs to someone or something.

Let's look at possessive pronouns. In Russian the pronoun mine may indicate belonging to different persons. In German, each personal pronoun has its own possessive pronoun.

Possessive pronouns are associated as a definition with a noun and agree with it in gender, number and case using case endings

Possessive pronouns are inflected in the singular as the indefinite article, and in the plural as the definite article.

02/12/2014 WEDNESDAY 00:00

GRAMMAR

Personal pronouns- Personalpronomen - indicate a person or object.

In this article we will get to know:

With personal pronouns;

With their inclination;

And with their use.

Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns include:

Personal pronouns always denote persons. Personal pronouns can refer to both persons and objects.

Personal pronouns have two numbers: singular and plural.

The 3rd person singular has all three genders.

Personal pronouns change by case, that is, they are inclined.

Declension of personal pronouns

The 1st and 2nd person pronouns do not differ in gender. Only the 3rd person pronoun has all three genders in the singular.

Use of personal pronouns

Personal pronouns are used instead of nouns.

Since the gender of nouns in German and Russian languages ​​does not always coincide, it is necessary to translate German personal pronouns into Russian pronouns depending on the gender of the Russian noun being replaced:

Das ist ein Buch. Es gehört mir.

This is a book. She belongs to me.

Hier ist ein Fluss. Er ist breit.

There is a river here. It's wide.

1. Ich - I denotes the speaker and is used in direct speech.

Ich tanze mit ihr.

I'm dancing with her.

2. Du - you are also used in direct speech. This is the person who is directly addressed. This form of address indicates friendly relations. it is used in the family, between relatives, friends, good acquaintances, among young people, adults to children, to animals, objects or abstract concepts:

Du bist mein bester Freund!

You are my best friend!

Ich befehle dir.

I order you.

3.Er - he, sie - she, es - it denotes the one being spoken about.

Dort steht ein Mann. Ihn kenne ich nicht.

A man is standing there. I don't know him.

Sie kommt zu mir.

She comes up to me.

4. Wir - we are used by a speaker or author when addressing on behalf of or with reference to two or more persons.

Wir fahren ins Ausland.

We are going abroad.

5. The pronoun ihr - you is used when addressing children, friends, etc., i.e. to several persons, with each of whom the speaker addresses on “you”:

Kinder, kommt ihr in den Wald?

Guys, are you going to the forest?

6. The pronoun Sie - You is used to express politeness when addressing adults and strangers or one or more persons with whom the speaker addresses “You”.

In grammatical terms, it coincides with the 3rd person plural pronoun sie - they.

The form of polite address Sie - You is written with a capital letter in all cases:

Herr Müller, commen Sie morgen?

Mr. Müller, will you come tomorrow?

Herren, Gehen Sie mit?

Gentlemen, are you coming with us?

Zum Geburtstag wünsche ich Ihnen alles Gute.

On the occasion of your birthday, I wish you all the best.

Darf ich Sie zum Tanz bitten?

Can I invite you to dance?

Personal pronouns ich - I, du - you, wir - we, ihr - you, Sie - you denote only persons, and personal pronouns er - he, sie - she, es - it, sie - they- faces and objects.

Genitiv - Genitive case - personal pronouns are rarely used, only with verbs requiring Genitiv:

Ich gedenke deiner.

I remember about you.

This lesson covers the following topics: Personal and indefinite pronouns, relative and reflexive pronouns. This course is prepared to help you learn grammar and complete lexicon. Try to concentrate on the following examples as they are very important for learning the language.

Pronouns

Grammar Tips:
Prepositions in expressions for time and place and demonstrative pronouns are very important to learn because they are used in everyday communication. Try to remember the new words you have. Also try to write down words that you do not understand or expressions that you are not familiar with.

The following table provides some examples, please read them carefully and determine if you can understand them.

You are finished with the first table. Did you notice any grammatical patterns? Try to use the same words in different sentences.

Pronouns - Expressions

The following table will help you understand this topic more deeply. It's important to remember any new words you come across because you'll need them later.

We hope this lesson helped you with your grammar and vocabulary

Classification of pronouns

The main categories of pronouns are:

1. personal pronouns (die Personalpronomen): ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie, Sie;
2. impersonal pronoun(das unpersönliche Pronomen): es;
3. reflexive pronoun(das Reflexivpronomen): sich;
4. possessive pronouns (die Possessivpronomen): mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, ihr, Ihr;
5. demonstrative pronouns (die Demonstrativpronomen):
der, dieser, jener, solcher, derjenige, derselbe, es, selbst, selber;
6. indefinite pronouns (die Indefinitpronomen):
man, einer, jemand, jeder, jedermann, mancher, alles, beides, einiges, etwas, vieles; wenige, mehrere, sämtliche;
7. negative pronouns (die Negativpronomen): kein, niemand, nichts;
8. interrogative pronouns (die Interrogativpronomen): wer, was, welcher, was für ein;
9. relative pronouns(die Relativpronomen): der, welcher, wer, was, was für ein.

Pronouns can serve primarily two functions:
a) as a noun, acting as a subject or object in a sentence;
b) in the function of an adjective, being a definition or predicate in a sentence (the nominal part of a compound nominal predicate).

Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns include:

ich - I
du - you
er - he
sie - she
es - it
Sie - You (polite form)
wir - we
ihr - you
sie - they

Declension table for personal pronouns

Personal pronouns in declension have suppletive forms, i.e. forms formed from different roots, for example: ich - mir; er-ihm. The case forms of some pronouns may coincide, while differing in meaning, therefore, when translating into Russian, their function in the sentence should be clearly defined. This applies to pronouns: sie, es, wir, ihr, sie, Sie.

Compare:
Natürlich haben Sie recht. Ich habe Sie seit langem nicht gesehen. - Certainly. You're right. I haven't seen you for a long time.
Sie kommt zu uns morgen. Das ist unsere Lehrerin. Ich will sie fragen. - She will come to us tomorrow. This is our teacher. I'll ask her.

The polite form Sie is used when addressing one person or several persons, if the speaker addresses each of them with “you”

For example:
Wo sind Sie gestern abend gewesen? Where were you last night?

The 2nd person plural form ihr is used when addressing several persons, if each of them is spoken with “you”.

For example:

Die Mutter fragt ihre Kinder: "Warum seid ihr so ​​spät heimgekommen?"
A mother asks her children: “Why did you come back so late?”

Possessive pronouns

The system of possessive pronouns corresponds in German to the system of personal pronouns, that is, each person corresponds to a specific possessive pronoun.

Table of possessive pronouns 1st -3rd person
in the only and plural(Nominative case)

There is no universal possessive pronoun similar to the Russian pronoun “your” in the German language.

Possessive pronouns appear in a sentence primarily in the function of defining the noun, agreeing with it in gender, number, and case.

For example:
Er hält immer sein Wort. - He always keeps his word.
Das Foto seines Vaters hängt an der Wand. - A photograph of his father hangs on the wall.

In the singular, possessive pronouns are inflected like the indefinite article, in the plural - like the definite.

Possessive pronouns in independent, i.e. substantive use, occur both with definite article, and without it.

For example:
Gib mir dein Wörterbuch, das meine (meines) habe ich zu Hause vergessen. - Give me your dictionary, I forgot mine at home.

Demonstrative pronouns

The declension of demonstrative pronouns der, die, das, die (plural) “that, that, that, those” is only partially different from the declension of the definite article. Compare:

Coinciding with the definite article in most case forms, the demonstrative pronoun can only be emphasized in the text with a stronger emphasis.
Compare:
Kennst du den Mann dort? Nein, den kenne ich nicht. - Do you know that man over there? No, I don’t know this person (him).

Therefore, as demonstrative pronouns proper, i.e. in their attributive function, der, die, das. die (PI.) are used mainly in the main sentence, indicating the one (that) who will be discussed in the subordinate clause, and are also translated into Russian by the demonstrative pronoun “that, that, that, those.”
For example:
Ich erinnere mich oft an den, der mir damals geholfen hat. - I often remember the one who helped me then.

The most common function of demonstrative pronouns der, die, das, die (PI.) is substantive. In this case, demonstrative pronouns appear in a sentence like personal or possessive pronouns. Such usage is not typical for the Russian language, so you should be especially careful when translating.

Replacing the previously mentioned noun in a sentence and acting as a functional equivalent of a personal pronoun, the demonstrative pronoun is translated into Russian by the corresponding personal pronoun. Sometimes when translating it is necessary to repeat the noun that is replaced in German offer demonstrative pronoun.
For example:
Nimm dem Heft und das deines Bruders! - Take your notebook and your brother’s notebook!

The genitive forms dessen (for the masculine and neuter singular) and deren (for the feminine singular and plural of all three genders) are inconsistent definitions and are used in a sentence similarly to possessive pronouns. Since Russian demonstrative pronouns do not have such a function, the corresponding possessive pronouns should be used when translating.
For example:
Hast du mit dem Professor selbst gesprochen? Have you spoken to the professor himself?
Nein, nur mit dessen Assistenten. No, only with his assistant.

The use of demonstrative pronouns der, die, das, die (PI.) in the genitive case instead of the corresponding possessive pronouns is preferable in cases where the possessive pronoun is ambiguous.
For example:
Ihre Schwester und deren Töchter sind verreist. Her sister and daughter (ie: sister and sister's daughter) left.
Sein Freund und dessen Sohn haben mich gestern besucht. His friend and son (ie: friend and friend's son) visited me yesterday.

Negative pronouns

Negative pronouns in German include
kein(er), keine, kein(es), keine - no, -aya, -oe, -ie; nobody
niemand - no one nichts - nothing.
Kein only negates a noun that would appear in an affirmative sentence without an article or with an indefinite article (respectively, without an article in the plural). The pronoun kein is inflected in the singular, like the indefinite article, and in the plural, like the definite article.

The negative pronouns niemand and nichts occur exclusively in the substantive function. Niemand is inclined in the same way as jemand, nichts is not inclined.
For example:
Niemand wohnt in diesem Hans. Nobody lives in this house.
Sie hat nichts geantwortet. She didn't answer.

In German, unlike Russian, only one negation is possible. Compare:
Ich sehe hier niemanden. I don't see anyone here.
Nichts konnte ihn stören. Nothing could stop him.

Interrogative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns wer? Who? and was? What! always combined with a verb in the 3rd person singular, do not differ by gender and have the following declension forms:

Nominative wer? was?
Genitiv wessen?
Dativ wem?
Akkusativ wen? was?

For example:
Wer ist gekommen? Who's come?
Wessen Mantel hängt hier? Whose coat is hanging here?
Wem hat sie das gesagt? Who did she tell this to?
Wen soll ich grüßen? Who should I say hi to?
Was liegt auf dem Tisch? What's on the table?
Was siehst du dort? What do you see there?

The pronoun was? also used in questions regarding professional affiliation. For example:
Was ist dein Vater von Beruf? Who is your father's profession?

Pronoun welcher inflected like the definite article.

For example:
Welches Bild gefällt dir am besten? Which painting do you like best?
Mit welchem ​​Zug willst du fahren? Which train do you want to take?

A question using the pronoun welcher involves choosing one (or several) objects (persons) from among those already mentioned or well-defined. When answering, as a rule, the definite article is used.

With the help of was für ein, a question is asked about the properties, qualities or characteristics of an object (person). In the answer, the noun is usually used with an indefinite article.

In this lesson we will talk about pronouns again. Like nouns, they are also declined according to case. To say “me”, “you”, “him”, etc., study the table carefully.

Declension of personal pronouns

The genitive case of pronouns is practically not used; phrases requiring these forms are considered obsolete.

Pronouns in German are used to replace the noun that has already named the object.
For example:
Ich habe eine Schwester. Sie ist plug. - I have a sister. She's smart.
Das ist ein Telefon. Er arbeiten nicht. - This is a phone. He does not work.

Remember! Not all pronouns are used exactly as we are accustomed to using them in Russian. Many German verbs require a specific case of nouns or pronouns after them.

For example, the verb danken is to thank, which requires the dative case, not the accusative case, as in Russian: Ich danke die für alles. - I thank you for everything.

Declension of possessive pronouns

No less important in language are possessive pronouns, which answer the questions “whose?” whose? whose?". Possessive pronouns once evolved from the genitive case form of personal pronouns. The table will help you verify this.

The possessive pronouns “sein” and “ihr”, which correspond to the personal pronouns “er” and “sie”, can be translated into Russian as his/her or “yours”. This feature also applies when translating other pronouns.

For example:
Das ist seine Wohnung. Er wohnt in seiner Wohnung. - This is his apartment. He lives in his own apartment.
Das ist mein Buch. Ich lese mein Buch. - It is my book. I'm reading my book.

All possessive pronouns are declined according to case, receiving the same endings as articles. Let's consider this rule using the example of the pronoun “mein”.

Now do a few exercises to consolidate what you have learned.

Lesson assignments

Exercise 1. Translate the personal pronouns in brackets into German.
1. Ich liebe (you).
2. Ich gebe (to you) meine Telefonnummer.
3. Sie hasse (him).
4. Sie versteht (me)?
5. Ich verstehe (you – polite form) nicht.
6. Ich zeige (im) die Fotos.
7. Mein Freund dankt (me).
8. Sag (to him) bitte deine Adresse.
9. Hilfst du (to us)?
10. Sie sagt es (us –2 liters plural) uns.

Exercise 2. Translate the possessive pronouns in brackets into German. Pay attention to the case and gender of the noun.
1. Sie ist (my) Freundin.
2. Wir lieben (our) Stadt.
3. (his) Schwester ist Studentin.
4. (Their) Wohnung ist teuer.
5. Wo ist (your) Haus?
6. Er schreibt (to one's own - date) Bruder einen Brief.
7. (Yours) Kleid ist sehr schön.
8. Er fragt (her) über die Schule.
9. Wir verkaufen (our) Auto.
10. Die Mutter liest das Buch (its own - date) Tochter.

Answers to exercise 1.
1. Ich liebe dich.
2. Ich gebe dir meine Adresse.
3. Sie hasse ihn.
4. Sie versteht mich.
5. Ich verstehe Sie nicht.
6. Ich zeige sie die Fotos.
7. Mein Freund dankt mir.
8. Sag ihm bitte deine Adresse.
9. Hilfst du euch? 10. Sie sagt es uns.

Answers to exercise 2.
1. Sie ist meine Freundin.
2. Wir lieben unsere Stadt.
3. Seine Schwester ist Studentin.
4. Ihre Wohnung ist teuer.
5. Wo ist dein Haus?
6. Er schreibt ihrem Bruder einen Brief.
7. Dein Kleid ist sehr schön.
8. Er fragt sie über die Schule.
9. Wir verkaufen unser Auto.
10. Die Mutter liest das Buch ihrer Tochter.