Rules and usage
Relative clauses are dependent clauses that add information about a noun. They are introduced by a relative pronoun and must immediately follow the noun they modify. The defining feature of a German relative clause is that the finite verb moves to the end of the clause.
When to use relative clauses
- Relative clauses provide additional information about a specific noun (the antecedent).
- They clarify, identify, or describe the noun.
- Unlike in English, where the relative clause can sometimes be shortened or omitted, German often requires a full relative clause for clarity.
- Examples:
- Der Mann, der neben mir sitzt, ist mein Freund.
- Das Haus, das wir kaufen möchten, ist sehr alt.
- Die Frau, deren Tochter Ärztin ist, arbeitet als Lehrerin.
✅ Positive sentence examples
| German | English |
|---|
| Das Auto, das ich gestern gekauft habe, ist sehr schnell. | The car that I bought yesterday is very fast. |
| Die Frau, die neben mir sitzt, ist meine Kollegin. | The woman who sits next to me is my colleague. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| German | English |
|---|
| Der Film, den ich nicht sehen will, ist zu lang. | The film that I don't want to watch is too long. |
| Das Buch, das du mir nicht empfohlen hast, war langweilig. | The book that you didn't recommend to me was boring. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| German | English |
|---|
| Kennst du den Jungen, der im Klassenzimmer sitzt? | Do you know the boy who sits in the classroom? |
| Wo ist das Geschäft, das du besuchen möchtest? | Where is the shop that you want to visit? |