Relative Clauses (Relativsätze)
A relative clause (Relativsatz) adds information about a noun. German uses the relative pronouns der / die / das (identical in form to the definite articles, except in a few cases). The key rule: the relative pronoun takes its gender and number from the noun it refers back to (the antecedent), but its case from the job it does inside the relative clause. As a subordinate clause, its finite verb goes to the end, and it is set off by commas.
Gender/number from outside, case from inside
This is the whole skill in one sentence. Look at the antecedent to pick masculine/feminine/neuter/plural. Then look at what the pronoun does in the relative clause — subject (Nominativ), direct object (Akkusativ), indirect object (Dativ), possessor (Genitiv) — to pick the case.
der Mann, der dort steht
the man who is standing there
masc. + subject → Nominativ "der".
der Mann, den ich sehe
the man (whom) I see
masc. + direct object → Akkusativ "den".
der Mann, dem ich helfe
the man (whom) I am helping
masc. + dative object (helfen takes dative) → Dativ "dem".
The verb goes to the end
A relative clause is a subordinate clause, so its finite verb moves to the final position, and a comma separates it from the main clause.
Das ist das Buch, das ich gestern gekauft habe.
That is the book (that) I bought yesterday.
neuter + object → "das"; verb "habe" at the end.
Die Frau, die neben mir wohnt, ist Ärztin.
The woman who lives next to me is a doctor.
Relative clause embedded; "wohnt" at its end.
The Genitiv relative pronoun: dessen / deren
To express "whose", German uses the genitive relative pronouns dessen (for a masculine or neuter antecedent) and deren (for a feminine or plural antecedent). These forms replace the possessive and come directly before the noun they possess (with no article on that noun).
der Mann, dessen Auto kaputt ist
the man whose car is broken
masc. antecedent → dessen.
die Frau, deren Kinder hier spielen
the woman whose children are playing here
fem. antecedent → deren.
die Leute, deren Haus wir gekauft haben
the people whose house we bought
plural antecedent → deren.
With prepositions
If the relative pronoun is governed by a preposition, the preposition comes first and decides the case: "mit dem", "für die", "auf das". The preposition never gets stranded at the end as in English.
der Freund, mit dem ich spreche
the friend (whom) I am talking to
mit + Dativ → "dem".
das Thema, über das wir reden
the topic (that) we are talking about
über here + Akkusativ → "das".
Examples
Kennst du die Frau, die dort steht?
Do you know the woman who is standing there?
fem. + subject → "die".
Das Kind, dem ich das Buch gebe, ist klein.
The child to whom I am giving the book is small.
neuter + dative → "dem".
Das ist der Lehrer, dessen Kurs ich besuche.
That is the teacher whose course I am attending.
Genitiv → "dessen".
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der | die | das | die |
| Akkusativ | den | die | das | die |
| Dativ | dem | der | dem | denen |
| Genitiv | dessen | deren | dessen | deren |
Common mistakes
- Taking the case from the antecedent instead of from the pronoun's role in the relative clause: "der Mann, der ich sehe" ✗ → "der Mann, den ich sehe" ✓ (object → Akkusativ).
- Leaving the verb in second position: "…, das ich habe gekauft" ✗ → "…, das ich gekauft habe" ✓.
- Forgetting that Dativ plural is "denen", not "den": "die Leute, den ich helfe" ✗ → "die Leute, denen ich helfe" ✓.
- Using "wessen"/"von dem" for "whose": prefer "dessen"/"deren": "der Mann, von dem Auto…" ✗ → "der Mann, dessen Auto…" ✓.
- Omitting the commas that fence off the relative clause.
Lookup tips
- Two-step check: gender/number = look at the noun before the comma; case = look at what the pronoun does inside the clause.
- The relative pronoun forms are the definite articles, with only four exceptions: Dativ plural "denen" and all four genitives "dessen/deren".
- "whose" = dessen (masc./neuter antecedent), deren (feminine/plural antecedent).
Frequently asked questions
How is "das" (relative pronoun) different from "dass" (conjunction)?
One "s" = the relative pronoun/article ("das Buch, das…"). Double "s" (dass) = the conjunction meaning "that" introducing a content clause ("Ich weiß, dass…"). They sound the same but are never interchangeable.
Can I drop the relative pronoun like English drops "that"?
No. English allows "the book I bought"; German always keeps the pronoun: "das Buch, das ich gekauft habe".
What about "welcher/welche/welches"?
They are an older, more formal alternative to der/die/das as relative pronouns and are rare in everyday speech. Stick with der/die/das.