How do relative clauses work in German?

A German relative clause adds information about a noun using a relative pronoun (der, die, das, dem, den, dessen, deren). The relative clause always follows the noun it describes and sends the verb to the end. Example: 'Das ist der Mann, der hier wohnt' (That is the man who lives here). The relative pronoun must match the gender of the noun it refers to.

How do I choose the right relative pronoun in German?

The relative pronoun has two requirements: it must match the GENDER of the noun it refers to (from outside the relative clause), and it must match the CASE of its role inside the relative clause. Example: 'Das ist die Frau, der ich geholfen habe' — die Frau is feminine, but inside the clause she is the indirect object (dative), so the pronoun is 'der' (feminine dative).

German Relative Clauses (Relativsätze) — B1 Grammar

What you already know

At A2 you learned Nebensätze with dass/weil/obwohl where the verb goes to the end. Relative clauses work the same way — the verb goes to the end — but the relative pronoun (der/die/das/dem/den/dessen/deren) determines which case you use.

Structure of a Relative Clause

STRUCTURE

Main noun + [, Relativpronomen + ... + VERB]

The relative pronoun matches the gender of the noun it refers to. The CASE of the pronoun depends on its role in the relative clause. Verb always goes to the END of the relative clause.

Relative Pronoun Table — All Cases

Case	Maskulin	Feminin	Neutrum	Plural
Nominativ (subject)	der	die	das	die
Akkusativ (object)	den	die	das	die
Dativ (ind. object)	dem	der	dem	denen
Genitiv (possession)	dessen	deren	dessen	deren

💡 Notice: Most relative pronouns look like the definite article (der/die/das), except Dativ plural (denen) and Genitiv (dessen/deren).

Case 1: Nominativ Relative Clause

Use Nominativ when the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause.

Das ist der Mann, der mir geholfen hat.

That is the man who helped me. (der = Maskulin Nominativ → subject of relative clause)

Ich kenne die Frau, die dort arbeitet.

I know the woman who works there. (die = Feminin Nominativ)

Das ist das Formular, das wichtig ist.

That is the form that is important. (das = Neutrum Nominativ)

Case 2: Akkusativ Relative Clause

Use Akkusativ when the relative pronoun is the direct object of the relative clause.

Das ist der Arzt, den ich empfohlen habe.

That is the doctor whom I recommended. (den = Maskulin Akkusativ → object of "empfehlen")

Das Dokument, das ich brauche, ist nicht da.

The document that I need is not here. (das = Neutrum Akkusativ)

Case 3: Dativ Relative Clause

Use Dativ when the relative pronoun is the indirect object OR follows a Dativ preposition.

Der Kollege, dem ich geholfen habe, ist sehr dankbar.

The colleague whom I helped is very grateful. (dem = Maskulin Dativ → indirect object of "helfen")

Das ist die Behörde, bei der ich meinen Antrag gestellt habe.

That is the authority at which I submitted my application. (der = Feminin Dativ after "bei")

Case 4: Genitiv Relative Clause

Use Genitiv to show possession: whose. Use dessen (masc/neut) or deren (fem/plural).

Der Student, dessen Visum abgelaufen ist, muss zum Ausländeramt.

The student whose visa has expired must go to the immigration office.

Die Firma, deren Produkte ich nutze, ist sehr zuverlässig.

The company whose products I use is very reliable.

⚠️ The 3 Most Common Mistakes

✗ Das ist der Mann, der ich gesehen habe.
✓ Das ist der Mann, den ich gesehen habe.
Maskulin, but it's the object of "sehen" → Akkusativ → den

✗ Das ist das Buch, das ich mit lese.
✓ Das ist das Buch, mit dem ich lese.
Prepositions come BEFORE the relative pronoun, not separated from it.

✗ Die Frau, die arbeitet dort.
✓ Die Frau, die dort arbeitet.
In a relative clause the verb ALWAYS goes to the end.

Mini Quiz

← Passive Voice

Review passive constructions

Next: Konjunktiv II Full →

Wishes, conditions, polite requests

Relative Clauses — Relativsätze