Subject Pronouns in German

This section explains Subject Pronouns in German and includes foundation and higher tier examples.

Introduction to Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are words used to replace the subject (the person or thing doing the action) in a sentence. In English, the subject pronouns are I, you, he, she, it, we, they. In German, subject pronouns also replace the subject and are essential for conjugating verbs correctly.

Subject Pronouns in German

Here are the subject pronouns in German:

Pronoun Usage and Verb Conjugation

In German, the subject pronoun must agree with the verb in terms of person (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and number (singular or plural). The verb changes depending on the subject pronoun.

1st Person Singular: "ich" (I)

When using "ich" (I) as the subject pronoun, the verb usually ends in -e.

Examples:

Ich lerne Deutsch.
(I learn German.)

Ich habe Hunger.
(I am hungry.)

2nd Person Singular Informal: "du" (you)

"Du" is used for informal singular situations (talking to one person you know well, such as a friend or family member). The verb often ends in -st.

Examples:

Du bist nett.
(You are nice.)

Du spielst Fußball.
(You play football.)

3rd Person Singular: "er, sie, es" (he, she, it)

• Er (he) is used for masculine nouns.
• Sie (she) is used for feminine nouns.
• Es (it) is used for neuter nouns.

Examples:

Er geht zur Schule.
(He goes to school.)

Sie liest ein Buch.
(She is reading a book.)

Es regnet.
(It is raining.)

1st Person Plural: "wir" (we)

"Wir" is used when talking about a group of people, including yourself. The verb often ends in -en.

Examples:

Wir gehen ins Kino.
(We are going to the cinema.)

Wir spielen zusammen.
(We play together.)

2nd Person Plural Informal: "ihr" (you)

"ihr" is used for informal plural situations (talking to more than one person you know well). The verb often ends in -t.

Examples:

Ihr seid meine Freunde.
(You are my friends.)

Ihr arbeitet viel.
(You work a lot.)

3rd Person Plural: "sie" (they)

"Sie" is used for talking about more than one person or thing. The verb also ends in -en.

Examples:

Sie spielen Tennis.
(They play tennis.)

Sie sind müde.
(They are tired.)

2nd Person Singular/Plural Formal: "Sie" (you)

"Sie" is used for both formal singular and plural. It is used in formal situations, such as with people you don’t know well, or in professional settings. Note that "Sie" is always capitalised.

Examples:

Sind Sie Herr Müller?
(Are you Mr. Müller?)

Haben Sie einen Hund?
(Do you have a dog?)

Key Differences Between "du" and "Sie"

• "du" is informal, used with friends, family, or people of your own age.
• "Sie" is formal, used with strangers, in professional situations, or when showing respect.

Subject Pronouns in Questions

In questions, subject pronouns are still used, and the word order may change, but the subject pronoun still agrees with the verb.

Examples:

Bist du müde?
(Are you tired?)

Kommt er heute?
(Is he coming today?)

Geht ihr ins Kino?
(Are you going to the cinema?)

Haben Sie Zeit?
(Do you have time?)

Subject Pronouns with Modal Verbs

Modal verbs (like können, wollen, müssen, etc.) are often used in combination with other verbs. In this case, the subject pronoun still follows the regular pattern, but the modal verb stays in the second position, and the main verb stays at the end of the sentence.

Examples:

Ich kann schwimmen.
(I can swim.)

Du musst lernen.
(You must learn.)

Er möchte ein Eis.
(He would like an ice cream.)

Wir wollen ins Kino gehen.
(We want to go to the cinema.)

Key Vocabulary:

• ich = I
• du = you (informal singular)
• er = he
• sie = she
• es = it
• wir = we
• ihr = you (informal plural)
• sie = they
• Sie = you (formal singular/plural)

Summary

• Subject pronouns in German are used to replace the subject (the person or thing doing the action) in a sentence.
• Subject pronouns must agree with the verb in terms of person (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and number (singular/plural).
• The subject pronouns are:
  • ich = I
  • du = you (informal singular)
  • er = he, sie = she, es = it
  • wir = we
  • ihr = you (informal plural)
  • sie = they
  • Sie = you (formal singular/plural)
• In German, the verb changes depending on the subject pronoun.
• The formal "Sie" is capitalised and used in formal contexts, while "du" and "ihr" are informal and used for people you know well.

Foundation and Higher Tier Notes:

• At the foundation level, focus on recognising and using subject pronouns in simple sentences and with regular verbs.
• At the higher tier, practice using subject pronouns with modal verbs, in more complex sentence structures, and in both informal and formal situations. You should also be able to recognise the difference between informal and formal language use.