A1 Grammar

Pronouns — Personal & Possessive

German pronouns let you avoid repeating nouns. Personal pronouns replace people and things. Possessive pronouns show belonging. Both are essential at A1.

Personal Pronouns

GermanEnglishNotes
ichINever capitalized (unlike English)
duyou (informal)For friends, family, children
erhe / it (masc.)Also used for masc. nouns
sieshe / it (fem.)Also used for fem. nouns
esit (neut.)Also used for neut. nouns
wirwe
ihryou (plural informal)Addressing a group of friends
sietheyLowercase — context distinguishes from she
Sieyou (formal)Always capitalized. For strangers, officials, older people
du vs Sie: Use du with friends, family, and children. Use Sie at work, with strangers, at the Amt, in shops, or with older people you don't know. When in doubt, use Sie — it is never rude.

Possessive Pronouns — Nominative

Possessive pronouns in German change ending depending on the gender of the noun they describe (not the owner).

PersonMaskulin/NeutrumFemininPluralMeaning
ichmeinmeinemeinemy
dudeindeinedeineyour
er/esseinseineseinehis/its
sie (she)ihrihreihreher
wirunserunsereunsereour
Sie (formal)IhrIhreIhreyour (formal)
Das ist mein Bruder. (Bruder = masc. → mein)
Das ist meine Schwester. (Schwester = fem. → meine)
Das ist mein Kind. (Kind = neut. → mein)
Das sind meine Eltern. (plural → meine)
Next: Modal Verbs →