We usually know the question words wer, was, wen,… With these question words, we can obtain information about the subject of an action or the object affected by the action.
We commonly know the question words wer, was, wen,… With these question words, we can obtain information about the subject performing an action or the object affected by it. Beyond the more familiar question words, wem and wessen are two question words that appear less frequently but have very particular uses. In today's article, we will explore these two question words together!
- Fragen mit WEM
- Used to ask for information about the object in the Dativ case (Dativobjekt). Questions with wem typically contain verbs that take the Dativ case (case 3):
- Wem schickst du diese Blumen? (Who are you sending these flowers to?)
Ich schicke sie meiner Mutter. (I am sending them to my mother.)
- Wem can also be combined with prepositions that can take the Dativ case:
- Zu wem gehst du heute Abend? (Whose place are you going to tonight?)
Ich gehe zu meinen Eltern. (I am going to my parents' place.)
- Many adjectives that take the Dativ case (case 3) can also be used in questions with wem:
- Wem bist du dankbar? (Who are you grateful to?)
Ich bin meiner Mutter dankbar. (I am grateful to my mother.)
- Wem is used as a question word in indirect questions:
- Anna will wissen, von wem ich dieses Buch bekommen habe. (Anna wants to know who gave me this book.)
2. Fragen mit WESSEN
- The question word wessen is used with verbs that take the Genitiv case (case 2):
- Wessen gedenkt der Landtag heute? (Who does the state parliament commemorate today?)
Der Landtag gedenkt der Toten der Hochwasserkatastrophe. (The state parliament commemorates those who lost their lives in the flood disaster.)
- Some adjectives that take the Genitiv case are also used with wessen questions:
- Wessen bist du dir bewusst? (What are you aware of?)Ich bin mir des Problems bewusst. (I am aware of the problem.)
- Some prepositions that go with Genitiv are also used with the question word wessen:
- Zugunsten wessen hat das Gericht entschieden? (In whose favor did the court rule?)
Das Gericht hat zugunsten des Angeklagten entschieden. (The court ruled in favor of the defendant.)
3. WESSEN oder WEM for questions directed at the possessor
- In cases where the questioner wants to know who owns something, the questioner can use both question words wessen and wem simultaneously:
- Wessen Bleistift ist das? (Whose pencil is this?)
Das ist mein Bleistift. (This is my pencil.)
- Wem gehört dieser Bleistift? (Who does this pencil belong to?)
Dieser Bleistift gehört mir. (This pencil belongs to me.)
Knowledge test
WEM or WESSEN?
- 1.
Mit …………. sprichst du gerade? - Ich spreche gerade mit meiner Frau.
- 2.
……….. wird er beschuldigt? - Er wird seiner Mutter beschuldigt.
- 3.
Zu …………… gehört dieser Hund? - Dieser Hund gehört zu dem Mann auf der Treppe.