Deutsch · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Relative pronouns and case
Match gender/number to the antecedent but choose case from the pronoun’s role inside the relative clause.
Understand the choice
Relative case must be solved inside the smaller clause. Kollegin is feminine, and mit requires dative, so the correct link is mit der regardless of the main-clause case.
Core rule: Relative pronouns resemble definite articles; their gender/number comes from the antecedent, while case comes from the missing role or preposition in the relative clause.
Notice it in context
Das ist die Kollegin, mit der ich das Projekt leite.
That is the colleague with whom I lead the project.
Die identifies feminine Kollegin; mit assigns dative der inside the relative clause; finite leite is final.
Der Mann, den du gesehen hast, ist mein Nachbar.
The man whom you saw is my neighbor.
Masculine Mann is direct object inside the relative, so den.
Die Bücher, die auf dem Tisch liegen, gehören mir.
The books that lie on the table belong to me.
Plural Bücher is subject inside the relative, so die.
What to remember
- Relative clauses are separated by commas and send the finite verb to the end.
- Genitive relative forms are dessen and deren.
Common trap: Do not copy the antecedent’s case from the main clause. Recalculate the pronoun’s role inside the relative clause.