Understanding how to say “this” in German is crucial for basic communication. Unlike English, German uses different words for “this” depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies.
Mastering these forms will significantly improve your fluency and accuracy in German. This guide is designed for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced students, and provides a comprehensive overview of the relevant grammar and usage.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of “This” in German
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of “This” in German
- Examples
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of “This” in German
In German, the equivalent of “this” is expressed using demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. These words point out a specific noun and agree in gender, number, and case with that noun. The most common forms are dieser (masculine), diese (feminine and plural), and dieses (neuter). They function similarly to “this” in English, indicating something nearby or recently mentioned.
The demonstrative adjective precedes the noun, while the demonstrative pronoun stands alone, replacing the noun. The choice depends on whether you are using the word to modify a noun directly or to refer to a noun that has already been identified.
For example, “This book” would use the adjective, while “This is interesting” would use the pronoun form.
Structural Breakdown
The structure for using “this” in German involves understanding the declension of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. Declension refers to the changes in form that words undergo to indicate grammatical relationships such as case, gender, and number.
This is a fundamental aspect of German grammar. The demonstrative adjectives and pronouns must agree with the noun they modify or replace in all three of these aspects.
The forms of dieser (this) are declined as follows:
- Nominative: dieser (m), diese (f), dieses (n), diese (pl)
- Accusative: diesen (m), diese (f), dieses (n), diese (pl)
- Dative: diesem (m), dieser (f), diesem (n), diesen (pl)
- Genitive: dieses (m), dieser (f), dieses (n), dieser (pl)
Understanding these declensions is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences. Each case serves a specific function in the sentence, indicating the role of the noun.
Types and Categories of “This” in German
The German equivalent of “this” varies depending on the gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and number (singular, plural) of the noun it refers to. Let’s explore each category in detail.
Masculine Nouns
For masculine nouns, the form dieser is used in the nominative case. In the accusative case, it becomes diesen. In the dative case, it becomes diesem, and in the genitive case, it becomes dieses. It’s crucial to choose the correct form based on the case of the noun in the sentence.
Feminine Nouns
For feminine nouns, the form diese is used in the nominative and accusative cases. In the dative case, it becomes dieser, and in the genitive case, it also becomes dieser. Note the overlap in forms between different cases, which requires careful attention to context.
Neuter Nouns
For neuter nouns, the form dieses is used in the nominative and accusative cases. In the dative case, it becomes diesem, and in the genitive case, it becomes dieses. Similar to masculine nouns, the nominative and accusative forms are identical.
Plural Nouns
For plural nouns, the form diese is used in the nominative and accusative cases. In the dative case, it becomes diesen, and in the genitive case, it becomes dieser. The plural forms are consistent across all genders.
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns stand alone and replace the noun. They have the same declensions as the demonstrative adjectives but are used when the noun is already understood or implied.
These pronouns are essential for avoiding repetition and making your speech more concise.
Examples
To illustrate the usage of “this” in German, let’s look at several examples categorized by gender and number.
Masculine Noun Examples
The following table provides examples of how to use dieser with masculine nouns in different cases.
| Case | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | Dieser Mann ist freundlich. | This man is friendly. |
| Accusative | Ich sehe diesen Mann. | I see this man. |
| Dative | Ich helfe diesem Mann. | I help this man. |
| Genitive | Das Auto dieses Mannes ist teuer. | This man’s car is expensive. |
| Nominative | Dieser Hund bellt laut. | This dog barks loudly. |
| Accusative | Ich streichle diesen Hund. | I pet this dog. |
| Dative | Ich gebe diesem Hund Wasser. | I give this dog water. |
| Genitive | Das Futter dieses Hundes ist teuer. | This dog’s food is expensive. |
| Nominative | Dieser Stuhl ist bequem. | This chair is comfortable. |
| Accusative | Ich kaufe diesen Stuhl. | I am buying this chair. |
| Dative | Ich sitze auf diesem Stuhl. | I am sitting on this chair. |
| Genitive | Die Farbe dieses Stuhls ist blau. | The color of this chair is blue. |
| Nominative | Dieser Tag ist schön. | This day is beautiful. |
| Accusative | Ich genieße diesen Tag. | I am enjoying this day. |
| Dative | An diesem Tag war ich glücklich. | On this day, I was happy. |
| Genitive | Die Erinnerung an diesen Tag ist wertvoll. | The memory of this day is precious. |
| Nominative | Dieser Baum ist hoch. | This tree is tall. |
| Accusative | Ich sehe diesen Baum. | I see this tree. |
| Dative | Unter diesem Baum ist es schattig. | Under this tree, it is shady. |
| Genitive | Die Wurzeln dieses Baumes sind stark. | The roots of this tree are strong. |
Feminine Noun Examples
The following table provides examples of how to use diese with feminine nouns in different cases.
| Case | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | Diese Frau ist nett. | This woman is nice. |
| Accusative | Ich sehe diese Frau. | I see this woman. |
| Dative | Ich helfe dieser Frau. | I help this woman. |
| Genitive | Das Haus dieser Frau ist groß. | This woman’s house is big. |
| Nominative | Diese Katze ist süß. | This cat is cute. |
| Accusative | Ich füttere diese Katze. | I feed this cat. |
| Dative | Ich gebe dieser Katze Milch. | I give this cat milk. |
| Genitive | Das Fell dieser Katze ist weich. | This cat’s fur is soft. |
| Nominative | Diese Lampe leuchtet hell. | This lamp shines brightly. |
| Accusative | Ich kaufe diese Lampe. | I am buying this lamp. |
| Dative | Unter dieser Lampe lese ich. | Under this lamp, I read. |
| Genitive | Der Schirm dieser Lampe ist kaputt. | The lampshade of this lamp is broken. |
| Nominative | Diese Blume ist rot. | This flower is red. |
| Accusative | Ich pflücke diese Blume. | I am picking this flower. |
| Dative | Mit dieser Blume dekoriere ich den Tisch. | With this flower, I decorate the table. |
| Genitive | Der Duft dieser Blume ist angenehm. | The scent of this flower is pleasant. |
| Nominative | Diese Tür ist geschlossen. | This door is closed. |
| Accusative | Ich öffne diese Tür. | I am opening this door. |
| Dative | Hinter dieser Tür ist ein Geheimnis. | Behind this door is a secret. |
| Genitive | Der Griff dieser Tür ist aus Metall. | The handle of this door is made of metal. |
Neuter Noun Examples
The following table provides examples of how to use dieses with neuter nouns in different cases.
| Case | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | Dieses Buch ist interessant. | This book is interesting. |
| Accusative | Ich lese dieses Buch. | I am reading this book. |
| Dative | In diesem Buch steht viel Neues. | In this book, there is much new information. |
| Genitive | Der Titel dieses Buches ist lang. | The title of this book is long. |
| Nominative | Dieses Haus ist schön. | This house is beautiful. |
| Accusative | Ich kaufe dieses Haus. | I am buying this house. |
| Dative | In diesem Haus wohne ich. | In this house, I live. |
| Genitive | Das Dach dieses Hauses ist neu. | The roof of this house is new. |
| Nominative | Dieses Auto ist schnell. | This car is fast. |
| Accusative | Ich fahre dieses Auto. | I drive this car. |
| Dative | Mit diesem Auto fahre ich in den Urlaub. | With this car, I drive on vacation. |
| Genitive | Die Farbe dieses Autos ist rot. | The color of this car is red. |
| Nominative | Dieses Fenster ist offen. | This window is open. |
| Accusative | Ich schließe dieses Fenster. | I am closing this window. |
| Dative | Hinter diesem Fenster ist ein Garten. | Behind this window is a garden. |
| Genitive | Der Rahmen dieses Fensters ist aus Holz. | The frame of this window is made of wood. |
| Nominative | Dieses Bild ist schön. | This picture is beautiful. |
| Accusative | Ich mag dieses Bild. | I like this picture. |
| Dative | Auf diesem Bild ist ein See. | In this picture is a lake. |
| Genitive | Der Rahmen dieses Bildes ist golden. | The frame of this picture is golden. |
Plural Noun Examples
The following table provides examples of how to use diese with plural nouns in different cases.
| Case | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | Diese Bücher sind interessant. | These books are interesting. |
| Accusative | Ich lese diese Bücher. | I am reading these books. |
| Dative | In diesen Büchern steht viel Neues. | In these books, there is much new information. |
| Genitive | Die Titel dieser Bücher sind lang. | The titles of these books are long. |
| Nominative | Diese Häuser sind schön. | These houses are beautiful. |
| Accusative | Ich kaufe diese Häuser. | I am buying these houses. |
| Dative | In diesen Häusern wohnen viele Leute. | In these houses, many people live. |
| Genitive | Die Dächer dieser Häuser sind neu. | The roofs of these houses are new. |
| Nominative | Diese Autos sind schnell. | These cars are fast. |
| Accusative | Ich fahre diese Autos. | I drive these cars. |
| Dative | Mit diesen Autos fahren wir in den Urlaub. | With these cars, we drive on vacation. |
| Genitive | Die Farben dieser Autos sind unterschiedlich. | The colors of these cars are different. |
| Nominative | Diese Fenster sind offen. | These windows are open. |
| Accusative | Ich schließe diese Fenster. | I am closing these windows. |
| Dative | Hinter diesen Fenstern ist ein Garten. | Behind these windows is a garden. |
| Genitive | Die Rahmen dieser Fenster sind aus Holz. | The frames of these windows are made of wood. |
| Nominative | Diese Bilder sind schön. | These pictures are beautiful. |
| Accusative | Ich mag diese Bilder. | I like these pictures. |
| Dative | Auf diesen Bildern sind Seen. | In these pictures are lakes. |
| Genitive | Die Rahmen dieser Bilder sind golden. | The frames of these pictures are golden. |
Demonstrative Pronoun Examples
The following table provides examples of how to use demonstrative pronouns in German.
| Case | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (m) | Dieser ist besser als jener. | This one is better than that one. |
| Accusative (m) | Ich nehme diesen. | I’ll take this one. |
| Dative (m) | Mit diesem kann ich arbeiten. | With this one, I can work. |
| Nominative (f) | Diese gefällt mir. | This one pleases me. |
| Accusative (f) | Ich möchte diese. | I would like this one. |
| Dative (f) | Von dieser habe ich geträumt. | I dreamed of this one. |
| Nominative (n) | Dieses ist neu. | This one is new. |
| Accusative (n) | Ich brauche dieses. | I need this one. |
| Dative (n) | Mit diesem kann man alles machen. | With this one, you can do everything. |
| Nominative (pl) | Diese sind meine. | These are mine. |
| Accusative (pl) | Ich suche diese. | I’m looking for these. |
| Dative (pl) | Mit diesen kann ich spielen. | With these, I can play. |
| General | Ist das dein Buch? – Nein, dieses ist meins. | Is that your book? – No, this one is mine. |
| General | Welchen Kuchen möchtest du? – Diesen hier. | Which cake would you like? – This one here. |
| General | Ich finde dieses besser. | I find this one better. |
| General | Diese sind die besten. | These are the best. |
| General | Was kostet dieses? | How much does this cost? |
| General | Diese sind nicht billig. | These are not cheap. |
| General | Diesen habe ich schon gelesen. | I have already read this one. |
| General | Diese hier sind schöner. | These here are more beautiful. |
Usage Rules
The main rule is to ensure that the demonstrative adjective or pronoun agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. This requires a solid understanding of German noun declensions.
Carefully consider the grammatical role of the noun in the sentence to determine the correct case.
Another important rule is to use the correct form when referring to something nearby or recently mentioned. Dieser, diese, and dieses are typically used for things that are close to the speaker or have just been discussed. They can also be used to emphasize a particular item.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake is using the wrong gender form. For example, saying “Dieser Frau” instead of “Diese Frau”. Another mistake is using the nominative case when another case is required, such as saying “Ich helfe dieser Mann” instead of “Ich helfe diesem Mann”. Pay close attention to the declensions and practice regularly to avoid these errors.
Another frequent error is confusing demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. Remember that demonstrative adjectives modify a noun, while demonstrative pronouns replace a noun. Incorrect: “Dieser ist Buch.” Correct: “Dies ist ein Buch.” or “Dieses Buch ist gut.”
Practice Exercises
Complete the following sentences with the correct form of “dieser.”
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. _______ Mann ist mein Vater. | Dieser |
| 2. Ich sehe _______ Frau dort. | diese |
| 3. _______ Buch gehört mir. | Dieses |
| 4. Ich helfe _______ Kindern. | diesen |
| 5. Das Auto _______ Mannes ist neu. | dieses |
| 6. _______ Katze ist sehr klein. | Diese |
| 7. Ich mag _______ Apfel nicht. | diesen |
| 8. _______ Lampe ist kaputt. | Diese |
| 9. _______ Fenster ist offen. | Dieses |
| 10. Ich spreche mit _______ Leuten. | diesen |
Translate the following sentences into German using the correct form of “this.”
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. This is my friend. (masculine) | Dieser ist mein Freund. |
| 2. I like this car. (neuter) | Ich mag dieses Auto. |
| 3. This woman is my mother. | Diese Frau ist meine Mutter. |
| 4. These books are interesting. | Diese Bücher sind interessant. |
| 5. I am helping this man. | Ich helfe diesem Mann. |
| 6. This is a good idea. (feminine) | Diese ist eine gute Idee. |
| 7. I see this house. (neuter) | Ich sehe dieses Haus. |
| 8. These are my pens. | Diese sind meine Stifte. |
| 9. He comes from this city. | Er kommt aus dieser Stadt. |
| 10. The color of this flower is red. | Die Farbe dieser Blume ist rot. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, it’s helpful to understand the nuances between dieser, jener (that), and der (the). Dieser refers to something closer, while jener refers to something farther away. Der is the definite article and simply identifies a specific noun without indicating proximity.
Also, explore the use of compound demonstratives like dies hier (this here) and dies da (this there) to further specify location or emphasis. Understanding the subtle differences in these forms can significantly enhance your fluency and precision.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about using “this” in German:
- Q: What is the difference between dieser and dieses?
A: Dieser is used for masculine nouns in the nominative case, while dieses is used for neuter nouns in the nominative and accusative cases. The ending changes based on the gender and case of the noun.
- Q: How do I know which case to use with dieser?
A: The case depends on the grammatical function of the noun in the sentence. Nominative is used for the subject, accusative for the direct object, dative for the indirect object, and genitive to show possession. Understanding the roles of each case will help you use the correct form.
- Q: Can diese be used for both feminine and plural nouns?
A: Yes, diese is used for feminine nouns in the nominative and accusative cases, as well as for plural nouns in the nominative and accusative cases. The context of the sentence will usually make it clear whether you are referring to a feminine singular noun or a plural noun.
- Q: What is the difference between a demonstrative adjective and a demonstrative pronoun?
A: A demonstrative adjective modifies a noun, while a demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun. For example, “Dieses Buch” (demonstrative adjective) vs. “Dieses ist meins” (demonstrative pronoun).
- Q: How do I use “this” in the dative case?
A: The dative forms are: diesem (masculine and neuter), dieser (feminine), and diesen (plural). Remember to use the dative case when the noun is the indirect object or after certain prepositions.
- Q: Is the genitive case still commonly used with “dieser”?
A: While the genitive case is less common in spoken German, it is still used in formal writing and certain expressions. It’s important to recognize it, even if you don’t use it frequently. The genitive forms are: dieses (masculine and neuter) and dieser (feminine and plural).
- Q: What are some common prepositions that require the dative case when using “this”?
A: Some common prepositions that require the dative case include mit (with), von (from), zu (to), bei (at/near), aus (out of), nach (after/to), and seit (since). For example, “Ich gehe mit diesem Freund” (I am going with this friend).
- Q: How can I practice using “this” in German?
A: Practice by creating your own sentences, doing translation exercises, and reading German texts. Pay attention to how native speakers use “dieser” in different contexts. You can also use online resources and language learning apps to get feedback on your usage.
Conclusion
Mastering the use of “this” in German requires understanding the different forms of dieser, diese, and dieses, as well as their declensions based on gender, number, and case. By practicing regularly and paying attention to the context in which these words are used, you can significantly improve your German language skills. Remember to focus on the rules of declension and common mistakes to develop a strong foundation. Continue to practice with varied exercises and real-world examples to solidify your understanding and increase your fluency.