German Personal Pronouns (ich, du, er, sie, es)
After this lesson you can use the right word for I, you, he, she, it, we and they.
German Personal Pronouns (ich, du, er, sie, es)
A pronoun is the little word standing in for a person — I, you, he, she. German has three different words for "you", and choosing the right one is half of sounding polite.
A pronoun is the little word standing in for a person — I, you, he, she. German has three different words for "you", and choosing the right one is half of sounding polite.
ich
↓
I
lower-case, unlike English "I"
The letter ich becomes I. For example: lower-case, unlike English "I".
The video for this lesson is being made. Here is the idea in the meantime.
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Kulturnotiz
The move from Sie to du is a small social event with its own phrase: Wir können uns duzen — "we can say du to each other". It is normally offered by the older or more senior person, and once offered it does not go back. Workplaces vary enormously: a Berlin startup will be du from the first minute, a bank or a Behörde will be Sie for years.
Common questions
+Why does German have three words for "you"?
Because it marks both number and formality. Du is one person informally, ihr is several informally, Sie is formal for any number. English lost this distinction when "thou" fell out of use.
+How do I tell sie (she), sie (they) and Sie (you) apart?
By the verb and the context. Sie ist = she is (singular verb). Sie sind = they are or you are. In writing the capital marks the formal you; in speech only context does.
+Why is a table er and not es?
Because pronouns follow the noun's grammatical gender. Der Tisch is masculine, so it is er. Das Mädchen is neuter, so a girl is es — grammar, not biology.
+When can I switch from Sie to du?
When it is offered — usually by the older or more senior person, with Wir können uns duzen. Offering it upward yourself is a misstep in traditional workplaces, though far less so in younger ones.