Relative pronouns - the German equivalents of 'which' and 'that' in English - are an important way of giving more information about a noun, and thereby constructing more complex sentences. This exercise provides practice in choosing the most common relative pronouns correctly to the noun being referred back to and the case taken by the relative pronoun within the relative clause.
Activity 1: Fill in the gaps
Instruction
Fill in the gaps with the correct personal pronoun. Then open and read the feedback.
Der aggressive Hund, vor dem ich immer Angst hatte, ist gestern gestorben.
The relative pronoun refers back to the 'Hund', which is masculine. It needs to be in the dative case because it comes after the preposition 'vor' within the relative clause. The dative masculine relative pronoun is 'dem'.
Die alte Frau, ueber die wir gestern gesprochen haben, ist weggezogen.
The relative pronoun refers back to the 'alte Frau', which is feminine. It needs to be in the accusative because it is the accusative object of the verbal phrase in the relative clause ('ueber jemanden sprechen). The female accusative relative pronoun is 'die'.
Das ist der Zaun, hinter dem die Einbrecher sich versteckt haben.
The relative pronoun refers back to the 'Zaun', which is masculine. The preposition governing the relative pronoun - 'hinter' - takes the dative case when no movement is involved. Therefore the masculine dative pronoun - 'dem' - is needed.
4. Die Schauspielerin, die du so gerne magst, erschien gestern im Fernsehen.
The relative pronoun refers back to the 'Schauspielerin', which is feminine. It is the accusative object of the verb in the relative clause ('moegen'). Therefore the feminine accusative relative pronoun - 'die' - is needed.
Die Kinder, denen wir vorhin begegnet sind, wohnen neben dem Park.
The relative pronoun refers back to the 'Kinder', who are in the plural. The 'Kinder' are the dative objects of the verb in the relative clause ('begegnen'). Therefore the dative plural relative pronoun - 'denen' - is needed.
Der Film, den wir gestern Abend sahen, war gut aber bedrueckend.
The relative pronoun refers back to the 'Film', which is masculine. The 'Film' is the accusative object of the verb 'sehen' within the relative clause, so the masculine accusative relative pronoun - 'den' - is needed.
Activity 2: Choose the correct sentence
Instruction
Choose the sentence which uses the correct relative pronoun to link the sentences given. Then open and read the feedback.
1. Ich kenne einen Hund. Der Hund bellt immer.
Ich kenne einen Hund, der immer bellt.
The relative pronoun refers back to the 'Hund', which is masculine. The 'Hund' is the subject of the relative clause, so the nominative masculine relative pronoun - 'der' - is needed. In addition, the relative pronoun sends the verb 'bellen' to the end of the relative clause.
2. Wir haben ein Thema besprochen. Ich hatte sehr lange ueber dieses Thema nachgedacht.
Wir haben ein Thema besprochen, ueber das ich lange nachgedacht hatte.
The relative pronoun refers back to 'Thema', which is neuter. In the relative clause, it is the accusative object of the verbal phrase 'nachdenken ueber', so the neuter accusative relative pronoun - 'das' - is needed. The preposition 'ueber' needs to be included in the relative clause as it is part of the verbal phrase 'nachdenken ueber'.
3. Letzten Sommer gab es eine sehr schoene Party. Ich kann mich noch ganz genau an diese Party erinnern.
Letzten Sommer gab es eine sehr schoene Party, an die ich mich noch ganz gut erinnern kann.
The relative pronoun refers back to 'Party', which is feminine. Within the relative clause it is the accusative object of the verbal phrase 'sich erinnern an', so the accusative feminine personal pronoun, 'die', is needed. The preposition 'an' and the reflexive pronoun 'mich' are also needed because they are components of the verbal phrase 'sich erinnern an'.
4. Heute besuche ich eine Freundin. Ich helfe ihr immer.
Heute besuche ich eine Freundin, der ich immer helfe.
The relative pronoun refers back to 'Freundin', which is feminine. The 'Freundin' is the dative object of the verb 'helfen' within the relative clause, so the dative feminine relative pronoun, 'der', is needed.
5. Es gab 12 Personen beim Treffen. Ich kannte zehn von ihnen.
Es gab 12 Personen beim Treffen, von denen ich zehn kannte.
The relative pronoun refers back to 'Personon' which is a plural. Within the relative clause it comes after the preposition 'von', which always takes the dative. As a result the dative plural relative pronoun - 'denen' - is needed.
6. Ich kenne die Frau nicht. Alle reden staendig ueber sie.
Ich kenne die Frau nicht, ueber die alle reden.
The relative pronoun refers back to 'Frau', which is feminine. The relative pronoun is the accusative object of the phrasal verb 'ueber jemanden reden', so the feminine accusative relative pronoun, 'die' is required.