A subordinate clause can come before or after the main clause. Explanation of german relative clauses and relative pronouns. A relative pronoun introduces the relative clause that modifies the idea, word, or sometimes,a phrase, in the main clause. Advanced choose the correct response to complete each relative clauses. Choose the correct subordinate conjunction from the four options provided. Sag mir, wenn du zeit hast tell me if you have time. Thus, normally, the relative pronoun will be the first word in the clause, unless it is used with a preposition, which will precede it. We dont need a relative pronoun, because the first word in the relative clause is not a verb. Relative clauses german free german exercises and lessons. The relative pronouns reflect gender, number, and case. In order to form a relative clause we need a relative pronoun or a relative adverb.
The relative clause is linked to the superordinate clause by a relative pronoun. Conditional clauses without wenn conditional clauses can also be formed without the conjunction wenn but by changing the position of the verb to position 1. Types of relative clauses to understand the distinctions between that and which it is necessary to understand defining restrictive and nondefining nonrestrictive clauses. The function of relative pronouns in english is usually served by that, who or which. Choose the correct relative pronoun who, whose, that, which, why, when or where. The use of relative pronouns is important in any language. These exercises cover topics at the b1 early intermediate level such as reflexive verbs, subordinate and relative clauses and noun cases. The relative pronoun acts as a subject and the conjugated verb is placed at the end of the relative clause. Below are links to some basic checkyourself tests for relative pronouns. By the way, the clause which is added to the sentence by a german relative pronoun is called relative. Ware ich reich, wurde ich dir helfen if i were rich, i. Webbased quizzes on german relative pronouns and relative clauses. Relative clauses defining and nondefining that, which. A relative clause is a dependent clause used to provide additional information in a sentence by defining the noun given.
Learn about the construction and word order of german relative clauses with lingolia. Fill in the missing relative pronouns of the combined sentence. The relative clause is linked to the superordinate clause with a relative pronoun. Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence. You can do the exercises online or download the worksheet as pdf.
Comparing to english to german, the relative pronouns can sometime be left out. Wenn ich reich ware, wurde ich dir helfen if i were rich, i would help you. In german, as opposed to english, the relative pronoun cannot be omitted. Learning these distinctions is one technical aspect of grammar that every user of english should understand, because it is at the root of an assortment of grammatical. This video provides an introduction to the grammatical concept of relative clauses in german. Having been trained for 2 years, he has become very skilful in the trade. Table 2 frequency of relative pronouns and relative clauses in the book of. Relative clauses give more information about the noun or pronoun in the superordinate clause. Then put your knowledge to the test in the free exercises. Here we need the relative pronoun which, because it is a nondefining relative clause and the first word after the pronoun is a verb. As a rule, they cannot stand alone and are dependent on a superordinate main clause or subordinate clause. In certain sentences we can use that instead of which and who to refer to people, things and animals. And thats what lots of exercises for relative clauses end up training finding the gender, getting the case right. Personal pronouns are ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr and sie and are the equivalent of the english, i, you, he, she, it, we, you and they.
There is no genitive form of welch as a relative pronoun. Placing the subject at the beginning of the participle clause. The gender of the relative pronoun is the same as the gender of its antecedent the noun to which it is referring. Grammatik relative clauses and contact clauses 3 exercise 4 fill in the correct relative pronoun who, which or whose. Relative pronouns and relative clauses a foundation. Relative clauses 1 adv failed to load the quiz data. Relative clauses describe or give extra information about something. He wears his baseball cap backwards, which makes him look particularly stupid. All exercises are fill in theblank exercises, and they have immediate corrections after each question for instant feedback. Lets look at them all in detail because this is very important.
In german, prepositions are inseparable from the nouns or pronouns they bring into a sentence. Tarone, frauenfelder, and selinker 1975 registered several cases of. Some relative clauses act rather like an adjective by providing more information about a particular noun. In relative clauses, just as in dependent clauses, the finite verb goes to the end. Relative pronouns german free german exercises and lessons. Defining relative clauses these describe the preceding noun in such a way as to distinguish it from other nouns of the same class. Exercise 1 complete the sentences with a relative pronoun or. Relative clauses learning english grammar collins education.
A clause of this kind is essential to the clear understanding of the noun. Relative clauses generally come immediately after the word to which they relate the antecedent. In this multiplechoice exercise, each sentence is missing the subordinate conjunction. German relative clauses perform the same function as in english, but there are differences in form. When we describe something by using a relative clause, we use the article the and not aan 8.
A subordinate clause begins with a subordinating conjunction like wenn, weil, als. All downloads are in pdf format and consist of a worksheet and answer sheet to check your results. Relative clauses and contact clauses englischtipps. The goal of this exercise is not that you can use relative clauses perfectly after it. May 24, 2014 relative clauses with comics and jokes. This usually adapts, describes, or modifies a noun or a noun phrase, and is introduced by a relative pronoun that, which. Defining and nondefining relative clauses there are two sorts of relative clause. You simply type or choose the correct word pronoun, and the test will tell you whether its correct or not. The conjugated verb always goes at the end of the subordinate clause. German relative pronouns are the words which join two clauses together. Learn about the construction and word order of german relative clauses online with lingolia. Put the relative pronoun in brackets if you can leave it out.
A relative clause is also a type of subordinate clause. Aug 31, 2012 some short exercises for you with relative pronouns in german. Page 1 of 4 participle phrases as reduced relative clauses. Relative clauses relativsatze are clauses added on to a main clause hauptsatz that provide. In identifying relative clauses, either which or that can be used to refer to things. Relative clauses can be nominative, accusative, dative or genitive. O we use whose to express possession and other relationships. Esl english relative clauses quiz 5 mixed relative. It shows that the action is done to the subject, not by the subject. Relative clauses in german and german relative clauses are different to english ones in pretty much every aspect well, except the core feature of being a relative clause. First of, german does not have this notion of defining or nondefining.
Relative clauses are for adding information about a noun. Werden, relative clauses a foundation course in reading. Relative clauses quizzes 1 like any pronoun, relative pronouns are substituted for nouns and other pronouns that functions as subjects or objects in a sentence. The relative pronouns antecedent determines gender and number, while the pronouns function within the dependent clause determines the case see the examples below. There are two rules in german that make recognizing relative clauses easier than in english. German relative pronouns learn german with languageeasy. Combine the two sentences in each pair to make a new complex sentence containing an adjective clause in the subject pattern. The relative pronouns which and that can replace the pronoun it. Relative pronouns are mostly used when combining sentences in which a word or phrase is repeated. The formation of relativsatze explained in english, relative pronouns deren and dessen. Relative pronouns english grammar today cambridge dictionary. Some short exercises for you with relative pronouns in german. Relative clausesrelative pronouns mixed relative pronouns 1 level. Just like in english, they are used as words to modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs, as well as used to show time, place, cause, and manner.
My cousin ethan, who whom that which when where whose why. Defining relative clauses are not put in commas imagine, tom is in a room with five girls. Relative clauses give more precise information about a noun or pronoun in the superordinate clause. The table provides an overview of masculine, feminine, neuter and plural relative. Defining relative clauses also called identifying relative clauses or restrictive relative clauses give detailed information defining a general term or expression. These explain things like when, or how long, or how wo or whoin. In case you want to add on an extra clause to a sentence, you will be joining it up with a german relative pronoun. The conjugated verb normally comes at the end of the relative clause. Relative pronouns as subjects chapter14 i adjective clauses 235 a. Relative pronouns german for english speakersgerman for. Test your understanding of german relative pronouns by using this interactive. The exercises below will help you learn and practice the different forms as well as types of pronouns used.
Relative clause exercise 1 2 advanced relative clause exercise 3 4 intermediate pdf exercises. The goal is that you really understand how relative clauses work in german and that youve seen and understood how various things are expressed and constructed in german. Like adjectives, pronouns change their form according to gender, case and quantity. Relative pronoun genitive relative pronouns relative pronouns relative pronouns relative pronouns relative pronouns relative pronouns relative clauses doubleclick on words you dont understand. Learn about relative pronouns in german grammar and practise using them in the nominative, accusative, dative and genitive with lingolias online lesson and exercises.
Turn the underlined sentence into a relative clause. We use relative pronouns like which, that, who and where at the beginning of relative clauses. Nondefining relative clauses defining relative clauses these describe the preceding noun in such a way to distinguish it from other nouns of the same class. Our discussion of word order has been equating the german sentence with main, or independent, clauses, but we can also also use our model to describe dependent, or subordinate, clauses. This website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses. Acquisition of english relative clauses by german l1. In german, the relative pronoun always has to be in the dependent sentence. The conjugated verb is usually at the end of the relative clause. Contents introduction vii unit 1 pronouns in the nominative case 3 unit 2 pronouns and gender 11 unit 3 pronouns in the accusative case 16 unit 4 pronouns in the dative case 22 unit 5 pronouns in prepositional phrases 29 unit 6 direct and indirect object pronouns in the same sentence 35 unit 7 possessive pronouns 41 unit 8 einerkeiner and interrogatives used as. Relative clauses english grammar online free exercises. These units of grammatical organization consist of a subject and predicate, but they are dependent on a main clause. Type 0 clauses are used to express empirical or scientific realities.
A subordinate clause is also known as a dependent clause because it cannot stand by itself. A clause of this kind is essential to clear understanding of the noun. The case of the relative pronoun nominative, accusative, dative or genitive depends on its grammatical function in the relative clause. German only rarely omits the relative pronoun as we often do in english. This may also be referred to as an adjective clause, an adjectival clause, or a relative construction. To understand the distinctions between that and which it is necessary to understand defining restrictive and nondefining nonrestrictive clauses learning these distinctions is one technical aspect of grammar that every user of english should understand, because it is at the root of an assortment of grammatical errors. Heres a list of all the relative clause exercises on the site. German adverbs are not as hard to learn because they are similar to english adverbs. The relative pronoun gender is defined by the gender of the noun that it complements. In german grammar, relative clauses are always set off by commas. The girl who was on the bus with us is called sonia.