Brottin

TOPIC · Articles & pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns in German

A1A2B1

After this lesson you can use the German demonstrative pronouns like „dieser“, „der“, „jener“ and „derselbe“ correctly in simple sentences.

In this lesson you learn the most important Demonstrativpronomen in German and how to use them correctly in simple sentences.

1What are Demonstrativpronomen?

Demonstrativpronomen are pronouns we use to point to something specific or to emphasize something: dieser, diese, dieses, der, die, das, jener, jene, jenes, derselbe, dieselbe, dasselbe.

They replace a noun or refer to something that is clear from the context:

  • Das ist mein Bruder. (That is my brother.)
  • Diese gefallen mir nicht. (I don’t like these.)

2„dieser, diese, dieses“ – expressing closeness

We use dieser, diese, dieses to point to something close (in space, time or in the text).

Declension of „dieser, diese, dieses“

NominativeAccusativeDativeGenitive
Masculinedieserdiesendiesemdieses
Femininediesediesedieserdieser
Neuterdiesesdiesesdiesemdieses
Pluraldiesediesediesendieser

Examples

  • Dieser Stuhl ist bequem. (This chair here is comfortable.)
  • Diese Tasche ist teuer, aber diese ist billig. (This bag is expensive, but this one is cheap.)
  • Ist dieses Kind dein Sohn? (Is this child your son?)

3„der, die, das“ as Demonstrativpronomen

The articles der, die, das can function as Demonstrativpronomen when we stress them and use them to point at something, often with an attitude (criticism, surprise, etc.):

  • Der da ist mein Chef. (That one there is my boss.)
  • Die in der roten Jacke ist meine Schwester. (The one in the red jacket is my sister.)
  • Das ist eine gute Idee. (That is a good idea.)

In spoken German der, die, das as Demonstrativpronomen are very frequent, especially in the Nominativ.

4„jener, jene, jenes“ – expressing distance

Jener, jene, jenes point to something more distant in space or time, or to something mentioned earlier. In modern German they are rare and sound formal or literary.

Declension of „jener, jene, jenes“

NominativeAccusativeDativeGenitive
Masculinejenerjenenjenemjenes
Femininejenejenejenerjener
Neuterjenesjenesjenemjenes
Pluraljenejenejenenjener

Examples

  • Jenes Haus dort gehört meinen Großeltern. (That house over there belongs to my grandparents.)
  • Ich erinnere mich an jene Tage. (I remember those days.)

5„derselbe, dieselbe, dasselbe“ – identity

With derselbe, dieselbe, dasselbe we emphasize that it is exactly the same object or person.

Declension of „derselbe, dieselbe, dasselbe“

NominativeAccusativeDativeGenitive
Masculinederselbedenselbendemselbendesselben
Femininedieselbedieselbederselbenderselben
Neuterdasselbedasselbedemselbendesselben
Pluraldieselbendieselbendenselbenderselben

Examples

  • Wir haben denselben Lehrer. (We have the same teacher.)
  • Sie trägt jeden Tag dieselbe Jacke. (She wears the same jacket every day.)
  • Ist das wirklich dasselbe Problem? (Is that really the same problem?)

Be careful: derselbe expresses identity (exactly the same), not just similarity.

6Typical short A1–B1 sentences

  • Das ist mein Zimmer. (This / that is my room.)
  • Diese hier nehme ich. (I’ll take these / this one.)
  • Der da ist mein Freund. (That one there is my friend.)
  • Wir gehen in dieses Restaurant. (We are going to this restaurant.)
  • Sie erzählt immer dieselbe Geschichte. (She always tells the same story.)

7Memory tips

  • dieser = near: here, now, just mentioned.
  • jener = distant: there, then, earlier.
  • derselbe = exactly identical.
  • In everyday speech you hear der, die, das very often as Demonstrativpronomen.

Practice by pointing at things around you and forming sentences: „Das ist …“, „Dieser Tisch …“, „Diese Lampe …“.