Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns in German

Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns in German

This section explains demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in German and includes tips for students studying foundation and higher tiers.

Introduction to Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

In German, demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns are used to point out or emphasise a particular noun. They are similar to English words like "this," "that," "these," and "those." The key difference is that in German, demonstrative adjectives agree with the noun they modify in gender, case, and number, while demonstrative pronouns replace the noun entirely.

Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives are used to modify nouns, similar to the English words "this," "that," "these," and "those." They help specify which noun is being referred to.

Forms of Demonstrative Adjectives

The most common demonstrative adjectives in German are:

• dieser (this, these)
• jener (that, those)
• solcher (such)
• derjenige (the one)

These adjectives change their endings depending on the gender, case, and number of the noun they modify. Let's look at their forms in different cases:

Singular:

Plural:

Examples of Demonstrative Adjectives:

• Dieser Hund ist groß. = This dog is big. (Masculine, nominative)
• Ich sehe diese Katze. = I see this cat. (Feminine, accusative)
• Dieses Auto ist schnell. = This car is fast. (Neuter, nominative)
• Wir sprechen mit diesen Leuten. = We are speaking with these people. (Plural, dative)

Translation:

• dieser = this (masculine)
• diese = this (feminine/plural)
• dieses = this (neuter)
• jener = that (masculine)
• jene = that (feminine/plural)
• jenes = that (neuter)
• solcher = such (masculine)
• solche = such (feminine/plural)
• derjenige = the one (masculine)

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns that have already been mentioned or are understood from context. They answer questions like "Which one?" or "What is this?"

The forms of demonstrative pronouns are similar to demonstrative adjectives, but instead of modifying a noun, they stand in for the noun.

Forms of Demonstrative Pronouns:

• dieser (this one, these ones)
• jener (that one, those ones)
• solcher (such one, such ones)

Again, the pronouns agree with the noun in gender, case, and number. Let's look at their forms in the nominative, accusative, and dative cases:

Singular:

Plural:

Examples of Demonstrative Pronouns:

• Dieser ist mein Hund. = This one is my dog. (Masculine, nominative)
• Ich mag diese. = I like these. (Feminine, accusative)
• Dieses ist mein Auto. = This one is my car. (Neuter, nominative)
• Wir sprechen mit diesen. = We are talking to these. (Plural, dative)

Translation:

• dieser = this one (masculine)
• diese = this one (feminine/plural)
• dieses = this one (neuter)
• jener = that one (masculine)
• jene = that one (feminine/plural)
• jenes = that one (neuter)
• solcher = such one (masculine)
• solche = such one (feminine/plural)

Difference between Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

• Demonstrative adjectives modify a noun and are placed in front of it (e.g., dieser Hund = this dog).
• Demonstrative pronouns replace the noun and do not require a noun to follow (e.g., Dieser ist mein Hund = This one is my dog).

Using Demonstratives for Emphasis

In addition to their usual function of indicating or replacing nouns, demonstratives in German can also be used to emphasise a noun. This often involves adding "da" or "hier" to the demonstrative.

• Dieser hier = This one here
• Jener da = That one there

Examples:

• Dieser hier ist besser. = This one here is better.
• Jener da ist teurer. = That one there is more expensive.

Higher Tier: Using Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives in More Complex Sentences

In higher-tier German, you may encounter more complex sentences using demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. Here are a few examples:

• Derjenige, der das sagt, hat recht. = The one who says that is right.
• Jene, die du getroffen hast, sind meine Freunde. = Those that you met are my friends.
• Solche Menschen sollte man nicht ignorieren. = Such people should not be ignored.

In these examples, the demonstrative pronouns or adjectives are used to refer back to specific things or people, often in more formal or descriptive contexts.

Key Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns:

• dieser = this (masculine)
• diese = this (feminine/plural)
• dieses = this (neuter)
• jener = that (masculine)
• jene = that (feminine/plural)
• jenes = that (neuter)
• solcher = such (masculine)
• solche = such (feminine/plural)

Summary:

• Demonstrative adjectives (dieser, diese, dieses) modify nouns and agree with them in gender, case, and number.
• Demonstrative pronouns (dieser, diese, dieses) replace nouns and stand in their place.
• Both demonstrative adjectives and pronouns can be used to emphasise or specify a particular noun.
• In higher-tier German, you might need to use demonstratives in more complex sentences to express more detailed meanings.

By understanding and practising the use of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns, you'll be able to express specific references with clarity and precision in German.