B1Syntax

German Relative Clauses

Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun. They use relative pronouns that match the gender of the noun they refer to.

Key Rules

  • 1Relative pronouns: der, die, das (same as definite articles)
  • 2Gender matches the noun, case depends on function in the clause
  • 3Verb goes to the end of the relative clause
  • 4Relative clause is always separated by commas

Examples

Der Mann, der dort steht, ist mein Vater.

The man who is standing there is my father.

💡 'der' refers to 'Mann' (masc.) and is nominative (subject).

Das Buch, das ich lese, ist interessant.

The book that I'm reading is interesting.

Related Grammar Topics

Word Order
German Subordinate Clauses (Nebensätze)
B1
Word Order
German Word Order Basics
A1

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