PronomenPronomen

Personal pronouns in GermanPersonal pronouns in German

Are you aware of how often you use Are you aware of how often you use pronouns every day?pronouns every day?

Imagine a conversation without pronouns. It may sound something Imagine a conversation without pronouns. It may sound something like this:like this:

““Hi! Did your brother get his girlfriend an engagement Hi! Did your brother get his girlfriend an engagement ring?”ring?”

““Yes, my brother bought the engagement ring this Yes, my brother bought the engagement ring this weekend.”weekend.”

“ “ Did your brother give the ring to his girlfriend yet?”Did your brother give the ring to his girlfriend yet?”““No, my brother and his girlfriend are going out to No, my brother and his girlfriend are going out to

dinner tomorrow night, and my brother will then pop dinner tomorrow night, and my brother will then pop the question. My brother hopes his girlfriend will say, the question. My brother hopes his girlfriend will say, “Yes!”“Yes!”

…….and the saga continues. Redundant , right? That’s why we can’t .and the saga continues. Redundant , right? That’s why we can’t live without pronouns.live without pronouns.

So, let’s substitute some pronounsSo, let’s substitute some pronouns

““Hi! Did Hi! Did your brotheryour brother get get his girlfriendhis girlfriend an engagement ringan engagement ring?”?”

““Hi! Did Hi! Did hehe get get ItIt for herfor her?”?”

But what if you selected the WRONG pronouns? It could look and sound like this:

“Hi! Did him get it she?”

If you use the wrong pronouns in German, you could sound like that.

Here are the pronouns:Here are the pronouns:NominativeNominative (subj.)(subj.)

Accusative Accusative

(dir. obj.)(dir. obj.)

DativeDative

(indir. obj.)(indir. obj.)

ichich michmich mirmir

dudu dichdich dirdir

erer ihnihn ihmihm

siesie siesie ihrihr

wirwir unsuns unsuns

ihrihr eucheuch eucheuch

siesie siesie ihnenihnen

SieSie SieSie IhnenIhnen

Before you decide which pronoun to use, Before you decide which pronoun to use, remember….remember….

1.1. The meaning you want.The meaning you want.

2.2. The function it has in the sentence.The function it has in the sentence.

3.3. The correct gender and number.The correct gender and number.

Replace the noun phrases in the following Replace the noun phrases in the following sentence with pronouns. sentence with pronouns.

Remember word order rules.Remember word order rules.

Mein Bruder kauft seiner Freundin einen Ring.Mein Bruder kauft seiner Freundin einen Ring.

How well did you do?How well did you do?

Er kauft ihn ihr.Er kauft ihn ihr.

Viel Glück! Viel Glück!