Relativsätze (Relative Clauses)

A Relativsatz modifies a noun. It is introduced by a relative pronoun and follows the Nebensatz rule: verb goes to the end.

The relative pronoun must agree with the antecedent (the noun it refers to) in gender and number, but its case is determined by its role inside the relative clause.

Relative Pronoun Declension

The relative pronouns look almost exactly like the definite articles, with a few differences in Genitiv and Dativ Plural: Dativ Plural → denen (not den); Genitiv → dessen/deren (not des/der).

See Relativpronomen for the full declension table.

Choosing the Case — Step by Step

The relative pronoun's case comes from its grammatical role inside the relative clause. Work through three steps: (1) find the antecedent, (2) get gender/number from it, (3) determine case from function.

Nominativ — the pronoun is the subject of the relative clause:

Der Mann, der jeden Tag joggt, ist mein Nachbar. → Who jogs? Der Mann (er) → masculine singular → subject of joggt → Nominativ → der

Akkusativ — the pronoun is the direct object:

Das Auto, das ich kaufe, ist sehr teuer. → Ich kaufe was? Das Auto (es) → neuter singular → direct object of kaufe → Akkusativ → das

Dativ — the pronoun is after a dative verb or preposition:

Die Frau, der ich helfe, heißt Anna. → Ich helfe wem? Die Frau (ihr) → feminine singular → helfen takes Dativ → der

Genitiv — the pronoun shows possession:

Das Haus, dessen Garten sehr groß ist, gehört uns. → Whose garden? The house's → masculine singular → possession → Genitiv → dessen

Relative Clause Position and Verb-Final

The Relativsatz follows the noun it modifies and behaves like all Nebensätze: verb at the end.

Wortstellung: Verb ans Ende

The conjugated verb goes to the very end of the relative clause:

• Das Buch, das ich lese, ist interessant. (Präsens)
• Das Buch, das ich gestern gelesen habe, war gut. (Perfekt — Partizip II, then auxiliary at end)
• Die Frau, der ich helfen wollte, war nicht da. (Modal — infinitive before modal at end)

Common Mistakes