In German, relative clauses (Relativsatz) are a part of grammar that can easily confuse learners. A relative clause can occur with a relative pronoun (Relativpronomen), with a preposition, or with wo, was, wer… Today's article will help you better understand relative clauses with wo, was, and wer.
In German, the relative clause (Relativsatz) is a grammar point that often confuses learners. A relative clause can be introduced by a relative pronoun (Relativpronomen), a preposition, or by wo, was, wer… Today's article will help you better understand relative clauses with wo, was, and wer.
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- Relativ mit Wo
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This is a subordinate clause (Nebensatz) that modifies and provides additional explanation about a noun or noun phrase indicating a place.
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The relative clause with Wo comes immediately after the noun or noun phrase indicating a place that it supplements, providing further information.
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The noun and the relative clause are separated by a comma.
Die Stadt, wo ich wohne, ist sehr schön.
(The city where I live is very beautiful.)
→ wo replaces die Stadt
→ the clause wo ich wohne adds further information about the noun die Stadt
- Relativ mit Was
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This is a subordinate clause (Nebensatz) that provides additional information about an indefinite pronoun (Indefinitpronomen) such as: nichts, alles, vieles, das, etwas, einiges, weniges… or that replaces the entire preceding clause.
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The relative clause with Was comes immediately after the noun it supplements. In the case where it replaces an entire clause, it comes directly after that clause and is separated from it by a comma.
Alles, was ich für die Prüfung gelernt habe, habe ich schon wieder vergessen.
(Everything that I had studied for the exam, I have already forgotten again.)
→ was replaces alles
→ the clause was ich für die Prüfung gelernt habe adds information about etwas
Er schenkte ihr wunderschöne Rosen, was sie sehr überraschte.
(He gave her beautiful roses, which surprised her very much.)
→ was replaces the entire preceding clause→ the clause was sie sehr überraschte adds information to the entire preceding clause
- Relativ mit Wer
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Is a subordinate clause (Nebensatz) that provides additional information about an unspecified person (unbestimmte Person) such as: jemand, eine Person, ein Mensch,...
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The relative clause with wer also stands directly after the noun it provides information about and is separated by a comma
***Note: Pay attention to the role of wer in the sentence (Nominativ, Akkusativ or Dativ)
Es gibt jemanden, wer meinen Kuchen gegessen hat.
(There is someone who has eaten my cake.)
→ wer replaces jemand
→ in the clause wer acts as the subject (Nominativ)
Der Mann findet eine Person, wen er lieben kann.
(The man is looking for a person whom he can love.)
→ wen replaces eine Person
→ in the clause wer acts as the object (Akkusativ) → wen
Anna mag ein Mensch, mit wem sie oft spricht.
(Anna likes a person whom she often talks to.)
→ wem replaces ein Mensch
→ in the clause wer goes with the preposition mit (Dativ) → wem
Knowledge test
Relative clauses with wo, was, wer
- 1.
Am Wochenende braucht Max eine Person, mit ___ er zur Party kommt.
- 2.
Ich mag Deutschland, ____sehr schön ist.
- 3.
Wir brauchen etwas,______ wir essen können.