TOPIC · Articles & pronouns

Personal pronouns in German

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After this lesson, you will be able to use personal pronouns in German correctly.

In this lesson, we will explore personal pronouns in German. These pronouns are crucial for constructing clear and precise sentences. Let's take a closer look at personal pronouns and their uses!

What are Personal Pronouns?

Personal pronouns are words that replace nouns representing people or things. They help to avoid repetition and make sentences clearer. For example:

  • Ich gehe ins Kino. (I am going to the cinema.)
  • Du bist mein Freund. (You are my friend.)

Usage of Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns can appear in different grammatical cases: nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive.

Table of Personal Pronouns

Here’s a table showing personal pronouns in German:

NominativeAccusativeDativeGenitive
Singular
1st Personichmichmirmeiner
2nd Persondudichdirdeiner
3rd Person m.erihnihmseiner
3rd Person f.siesieihrihrer
3rd Person n.esesihmseiner
Plural
1st Personwirunsunsunser
2nd Personihreucheucheuer
3rd Personsiesieihnenihrer
FormalSieSieIhnenIhrer

Examples for Different Cases

  • Er ist mein Bruder. (He is my brother.)
  • Ich liebe sie. (I love her.)

Special Note

The use of the genitive case with personal pronouns is uncommon and rarely used. Instead, it is more common to use the construction "von + name" to express possession.

With this knowledge, you are now equipped to use personal pronouns correctly!