Decoding Relative Clauses in German: A Comprehensive Guide for A2 Learners and Up

German relative clauses are an essential part of crafting precise and fluent sentences in German. Many learners find this topic challenging – almost as puzzling as Einstein’s theory of relativity – but fear not! With a clear understanding of what relative clauses are, how to use the relative pronouns (der, die, das, etc.), and how to handle word order and cases, you’ll soon be using relative clauses confidently. This comprehensive guide (targeted at A2 level learners and above) will explain everything from defining vs. non-defining clauses to using prepositions and genitive forms, with plenty of examples, common mistakes to avoid, and proven strategies. By the end, you’ll see why mastering relative clauses is a crucial step in learning German grammar and how a German private tutor can help you practice these skills effectively.

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What Are German Relative Clauses?

Relative clauses (Relativsätze) are subordinate clauses that provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in a main clause. In other words, they allow us to combine two sentences into one, avoiding repetition. A relative clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes and is introduced by a relative pronoun (such as der, die, das). For example:

• Das ist der Mann, den ich gestern getroffen habe. – “That is the man whom I met yesterday.”

Here, the clause “den ich gestern getroffen habe” is a relative clause giving more information about der Mann. Notice that in German, the relative clause is set off by commas (at the start and end of the clause). This is true for all relative clauses in German, unlike in Englis,h where commas are used only for non-essential information. German always requires the comma separation, making the structure clear.

How do relative clauses work? Essentially, they “relate” to a noun by replacing that noun with a pronoun inside a subordinate clause. If we start with two separate sentences that share a common element, we can combine them using a relative pronoun. For instance:

• Two sentences: Das ist die Frau. Sie wohnt in Berlin. (This is the woman. She lives in Berlin.)

• Combined with a relative clause: Das ist die Frau, die in Berlin wohnt. – “This is the woman who lives in Berlin.”

In the combined sentence, die is the relative pronoun referring to die Frau, and the clause die in Berlin wohnt gives additional information about her. Importantly, the conjugated verb goes to the end of the relative clause (wohnt comes at the end of die in Berlin wohnt) because a relative clause in German is a type of subordinate clause. Mastering this word order is key to forming correct relative clauses.

Defining vs. Non-Defining Relative Clauses

In German (as in English), relative clauses can be defining or non-defining (also called restrictive vs. non-restrictive). The difference lies in whether the clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence or just additional information:

• Defining Relative Clauses – These specify or identify which person or thing we are talking about, and they are essential to the meaning of the sentence. Without the relative clause, the sentence’s meaning would be incomplete or significantly changed. For example:Das ist das Buch, das ich lesen möchte. – “This is the book that I want to read.” Here, the relative clause das ich lesen möchte defines which book is being referred to. If we removed it, we would simply have Das ist das Buch (“This is the book”), which doesn’t convey the full message.

• Non-Defining Relative Clauses – These provide extra information that is not essential to identify the noun; the sentence would still make sense if the clause were removed. For example:Meine Schwester, die in Berlin lebt, kommt heute zu Besuch. – “My sister, who lives in Berlin, is coming to visit today.” The clause die in Berlin lebt gives additional info about the sister, but it’s not crucial for understanding the main point that the sister is coming to visit. We already know which sister (it’s implied by context or because we have only one sister), so this is extra (non-defining) information.

In written German, both defining and non-defining relative clauses are set off by commas. This differs from English, which uses commas only for non-defining clauses. So, whether the information is essential or not, you’ll put a comma before and after the relative clause in German. The distinction between these types in German is mainly about context and meaning, not punctuation. In speech, you might hear a slight pause before a non-defining clause (since it’s additional info), but grammatically, the construction is the same. As a learner, it’s useful to recognise the difference so you understand nuances in meaning, but remember that the comma rule in German is straightforward: always use commas around the relative clause.

Relative Pronouns in German (der, die, das, welcher, etc.)

Choosing the correct relative pronoun is the heart of forming a relative clause. German relative pronouns such as der, die, das (as well as “welcher” forms) agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to, but their function determines their case in the relative clause. The good news is that, for the most part, the forms of der, die, das used as relative pronouns closely mirror the definite articles in German. Here is a summary of the main German relative pronouns by case and gender/number:

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	der (welcher)	die (welche)	das (welches)	die
Accusative	den (welchen)	die (welche)	das (welches)	die
Dative	dem (welchem)	der (welcher)	dem (welchem)	denen
Genitive	dessen (–)¹	deren (–)¹	dessen (–)¹	deren

¹The relative pronoun welcher (and its forms) is generally not used in genitive; dessen/deren are used instead for “whose.”

As you can see, der, die, das change forms according to case, much like the definite article charts you may have learned. A quick way to choose the right pronoun is to break the process into two steps:

1. Determine the gender and number of the antecedent (the noun being described). This tells you the base form (der, die, or das for singular; die for plural).

2. Determine the case of the pronoun within the relative clause – i.e. what role does that pronoun play in the clause? Is it the subject (nominative), direct object (accusative), indirect object (dative), or possessive (genitive)? Once you know the case, use the corresponding form from the table.

For example, consider combining the sentences: Das ist der Mann. Ich kenne den Mann (This is the man. I know the man). “The man” is masculine singular (so think der), and in the second sentence den Mann is the direct object (accusative case). So when we form a relative clause, we use the masculine accusative pronoun den: Das ist der Mann, den ich kenne. – “This is the man whom I know.”In the relative clause den ich kenne, den refers to der Mann but we use den because within the clause “I know ”, “” is the object of kennen (to know) and thus accusative.

By contrast, if the noun’s role in the clause was subject, we’d use der. For instance: Das ist der Mann, der Max heißt. (literally “This is the man who is called Max.”) Here in the clause “__ heißt Max”, the missing part (the man) is the subject of “heißt”, so we use the nominative form der.

Key point: The gender/number comes from the main noun; the case comes from the clause. This is one of the most important rules to remember when learning German grammar for relative clauses.

Special Relative Pronouns: welcher and others

You might have seen relative pronouns like welcher, welche, welches in textbooks. These essentially mean the same as der/die/das (all translate as “who/which/that”), but they are used far less often in everyday German. In modern usage, welcher forms are mainly used to avoid confusion or awkward repetition. For example, consider the sentence: Das ist die Frau, die die E-Mail geschrieben hat. Technically, this is correct (meaning “That is the woman who wrote the email”), but it has die twice in a row, which could momentarily confuse the reader. In such cases, one might use welche to make it clearer: Das ist die Frau, welche die E-Mail geschrieben hat.. Aside from these situations, stick with der, die, das forms for relative pronouns – they are simpler and more common.

Also, note that welcher has the same endings as the definite article (welcher/welche/welches in nominative, welchen/welche/welches in accusative, etc.), so it follows a similar pattern. You can use welcher as a relative pronoun in any case, but again, it will sound more formal or old-fashioned in many contexts.

“Was” as a Relative Pronoun

There’s one more special case: when a relative clause refers not to a specific noun, but to an entire preceding clause or a nonspecific pronoun, German often uses “was” (which usually means “what”) as the relative pronoun. For example: Ich habe vergessen, was ich kaufen wollte. – “I forgot what I wanted to buy.” Here, was refers back to the entire idea “I wanted to buy something” rather than a particular noun. Similarly, after words like alles, etwas, nichts (everything, something, nothing), or after superlatives, you use was as the relative pronoun: e.g. Alles, was glänzt, ist nicht Gold. (All that glitters is not gold). This is a small detail, but a common mistake is to use das in these cases – remember that was is the correct choice when referring to an indefinite or whole idea.

Word Order in German Relative Clauses

A critical aspect of using relative clauses is getting the word order right. German relative clauses, being subordinate clauses, follow the standard subordinate clause word order: the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause. This is non-negotiable, and one of the most common mistakes learners make is to forget this rule.

Look at this example:Die Frau, die am Wochenende einen Kuchen gebacken hat, ist meine Tante. – “The woman who baked a cake on the weekend is my aunt.”. In the relative clause die am Wochenende einen Kuchen gebacken hat, notice that the verb phrase “gebacken hat” (has baked) is split, and the conjugated part hat comes at the very end of the clause. The structure is: [relative pronoun] + [other elements] + [verb]. No matter how long or short the clause, the verb will be the final element (unless you have a final particle or something, but that’s advanced usage).

Another example: Das ist das Haus, in dem ich aufgewachsen bin – “That is the house in which I grew up.” Here the relative clause is in dem ich aufgewachsen bin. The verb bin is at the end. Even if we add more details in the clause, the verb stays last: …in dem ich als Kind aufgewachsen bin (…in which I grew up as a child) – bin still comes after all other elements.

Remembering to kick the verb to the end of the relative clause is crucial. A handy tip: when writing or reviewing a relative clause, double-check that the conjugated verb (like hat, bin, ist, war, etc.) is sitting at the tail end of that clause. If it isn’t, the word order likely needs adjustment.

Relative Clauses with Prepositions (mit dem, für den, etc.)

Often, a relative clause will include or even begin with a preposition. In German, if the noun in the relative clause is connected to a preposition (for example, you want to say “the friend with whom I live” or “the topic about which we spoke”), the preposition must come before the relative pronoun. This is a bit different from everyday spoken English, where we often throw the preposition to the end (“the friend who I live with”). In German, you cannot put the preposition at the end; it sticks with the pronoun at the start of the clause.

For example:

• English: She is the friend who I live with. (preposition “with” at end)

• German: Sie ist die Freundin, mit der ich wohne. – literally “She is the friend with whom I live.” Here mit der starts the relative clause. Freundin is feminine, so we use der for the dative feminine (because mit always takes dative case).

Another example:Das ist das Thema, über das wir gesprochen haben. – “That is the topic that we talked about,” or more formally “...about which we talked.” In German, über (about) comes right before das, which is the neuter accusative form (since über is an accusative preposition) for “which.”

The rule of thumb is: determine which preposition is needed for the relative clause’s meaning, and then choose the relative pronoun that goes with that preposition by case. The case is dictated by the preposition (for instance, mit -> dative, für -> accusative, bei -> dative, ohne -> accusative, etc.). So if you know your prepositions and which case they use, you’ll know whether it should be dem/der (dative) or den/die/das (accusative), etc., for the relative pronoun. For example, mit (dative) + der (feminine dative), für (accusative) + den/die/das as appropriate, bei (dative) + dem, and so on.

One important thing to note: the special genitive forms dessen and deren (see next section) do not take prepositions directly. In other words, you generally won’t have a construction like “mit dessen” in standard usage. If a preposition is involved, you’ll use one of the dem/der/denen forms rather than dessen/deren. (This is because dessen/deren express possession – “whose” – which usually doesn’t combine with an additional preposition easily. If needed, German would restructure the sentence rather than say "mit dessen".)

Finally, remember that the preposition + pronoun combination will also be set off by a comma at the start of the relative clause, just like any other relative clause. Das ist die Stadt, in der ich studiert habe. – comma before in der to open the clause, and another comma after the clause if the sentence continues.

Genitive Relative Clauses: Expressing “Whose” with dessen and deren

German uses special genitive relative pronouns to express possession, equivalent to the English word “whose.” These are important to know, even if the genitive is less common in spoken language, because they do appear in both formal and written German.

• dessen – used for masculine or neuter singular antecedents (it means “whose” when referring to a masculine or neuter noun).

• deren – used for feminine singular or plural antecedents (it means “whose” for a feminine noun, or “whose” for plural "their" in context).

For example:Das ist der Mann, dessen Frau ich kenne. – “That is the man whose wife I know.” Here, dessen refers to der Mann (masculine), indicating his wife.Das ist die Frau, deren Auto kaputt ist. – “That is the woman whose car is broken.” (Here deren refers to die Frau).Das sind die Studenten, deren Bücher hier auf dem Tisch liegen. – “Those are the students whose books are lying here on the table.” (Here deren refers to a plural noun die Studenten).

Notice that dessen/deren don’t have different forms for accusative or dative – they are strictly genitive and generally translate as “whose.” These are among the few forms that do not follow the regular der/die/das paradigm, so they must be memorised as exceptions (along with denen for the dative plural). The relative pronoun chart above already includes them in the genitive row.

Using dessen/deren correctly can really make your German sound more advanced, since you can form more complex sentences without breaking them up. One common mistake learners make is to avoid genitive and try to substitute another structure – but sometimes dessen or deren is the simplest and most elegant solution. Practice by taking two sentences like: Der Autor ist berühmt. Seine Bücher sind Bestseller. (“The author is famous. His books are bestsellers.”) and combining them: Der Autor, dessen Bücher Bestseller sind, ist berühmt. – “The author whose books are bestsellers is famous.” Try creating a few such sentences with dessen/deren to get comfortable with the structure.

Common Mistakes with Relative Clauses (and How to Avoid Them)

Mastering German relative clauses takes practice, and it’s normal to stumble a bit at first. Here are some common mistakes learners make with relative clauses, along with tips to avoid them:

• Choosing the Wrong Case for the Relative Pronoun: This happens when one forgets that the case comes from the pronoun’s role in the clause, not from the noun’s role in the main sentence. Always analyze the relative clause by itself. Tip: A useful strategy (taught in our lessons) is to isolate the relative clause and turn it back into a normal sentence. Determine what article you’d use for the noun in that sentence, and that gives you the correct relative pronoun form. For example, to figure out “...der ich helfe” or “...den ich helfe”, think: Ich helfe dem Mann (I am helping the man) – you’d use dem Mann, so the relative pronoun should be dem: der Mann, dem ich helfe (the man whom I am helping). This method prevents case mix-ups.

• Forgetting to Send the Verb to the End: It’s easy to slip up and use main clause word order by habit. Always remember that a relative clause is a subordinate clause, so the verb must come at the very end. If you find a verb sitting in the middle of your relative clause, that’s a red flag. Tip: After writing a relative clause, double-check the verb position. If you had Die Frau, die hat am Wochenende einen Kuchen gebacken, ist meine Tante, the hat should be moved to the end: die am Wochenende einen Kuchen gebacken hat.

• Omitting the Relative Pronoun: In English, we can sometimes say “The friend I met” (dropping “whom/that”), but in German, you cannot drop the relative pronoun. Every relative clause in German needs that der/die/das (or welcher or was, etc.). Forgetting it isn’t grammatically possible in German. So never say der Mann ich kenne – it must be der Mann, den ich kenne.

• Misplacing or Dropping the Comma: Because German requires a comma before and after the relative clause, forgetting this comma is a punctuation mistake that can confuse readers. In our lessons, we encourage students to mark the beginning and end of the relative clause with commas as soon as they write it. This also helps visually chunk the sentence, making it easier to process the clause as a unit.

• Using “was” vs. “das” Incorrectly: As mentioned, when referring to an indefinite or an entire idea, use was, not das. A classic mistake is to translate “everything that I have” as alles, das ich habe. The correct German is alles, was ich habe. Similarly, Es ist das Beste, was passieren könnte. (“It’s the best (thing) that could happen.”). Keep an eye out for cases where English “what” (meaning “that which”) is used – that usually signals was in German.

• Overusing welcher: Some learners, after seeing welcher in a dictionary or textbook, might overuse it, thinking it’s interchangeable with der/die/das everywhere. While it’s not a grievous error, it will sound a bit odd or overly formal in many situations. Stick mostly to der, die, das forms for ease and naturalness. Use welcher sparingly, mainly if you need to avoid confusion or just want variety in very formal writing.

• Not Matching Gender/Number: Occasionally, one might use die when der was needed, etc., because the gender of the antecedent was misidentified. This is simply solved by reviewing noun genders and ensuring agreement. For instance, das Auto, das ich fahre (neuter Auto requires das, not der or die). Always check: what is the gender and number of the noun I’m describing? Make the relative pronoun match that.

Tips and Strategies for Practising Relative Clauses (from Olesen Tuition)

At Olesen Tuition, we have helped countless students (from A2 beginners to advanced speakers) conquer German relative clauses. Here are some tried-and-true strategies we use in our lessons to deepen understanding and make practice effective:

• Solidify the Basics: We make sure learners have a strong grasp of the foundational grammar that relative clauses build on – namely the cases, definite articles (der, die, das), and word order rules for subordinate clauses. Since relative clauses “seamlessly integrate your knowledge of the cases in German, prepositions, and word order in subordinate clauses”, reviewing these basics is step one. If you know, for example, that dem is the dative form of der, you’ll more quickly pick dem for a dative relative pronoun.

• Break Down the Sentence: As mentioned in the common mistakes section, one strategy we encourage is breaking down complex sentences. Take the relative clause apart, find the underlying simple sentences, and then rebuild it. This helps you see which noun is being replaced and what role it plays, so you can choose the right pronoun. Over time, this becomes an automatic mental step when you formulate sentences.

• Use Charts and Visuals: We often provide learners with a chart of relative pronoun forms (like the one above) and practice filling it in from memory. Because it mirrors the article chart, it’s less to memorise anew, more to recognise the pattern. Visualising the chart can help you recall the correct form under pressure.

• Practice with Prepositions: Many learners struggle when prepositions are added, so we dedicate practice to this by giving prompts that require phrases like mit dem, von der, auf das, etc. One activity is to list some common prepositional phrases and have students turn them into relative clauses. For example: mit dem Kind (with the child) – think of a sentence: Das ist der Ball, mit dem das Kind spielt. (“That is the ball with which the child is playing.”) This isolates the challenge of preposition + pronoun so you get comfortable with it.

• Translate from English (Carefully): We might use short English sentences and ask students to translate them into German with relative clauses. This is great for highlighting differences. For instance, translating “The girl I told you about is here” should yield Das Mädchen, von dem ich dir erzählt habe, ist hier. This drills the idea that “told you about” becomes von dem ich dir erzählt habe (preposition forward, verb at end, pronoun correctly chosen for das Mädchen).

• Incremental Complexity: Start with simple relative clauses (maybe only nominative case), then gradually include other cases and eventually genitive. We ensure the student is comfortable with each step. For A2 level, perhaps begin with a lot of nominative/accusative examples; by B1, integrate dative; by B2, genitive and more complex structures. This staged approach builds confidence.

• Real-life Examples and Variation: We use plenty of real-life examples and also encourage students to create their own sentences about their life or interests. This makes practice more engaging – e.g., talking about a favorite movie: “Das ist der Film, den ich letzte Woche gesehen habe*,”* or describing a friend: “Meine Freundin, die in München wohnt, kommt mich besuchen.” The more personal or interesting the sentence, the more likely you’ll remember the structure.

• Review and Reinforcement: Regular review is crucial. Relative clauses touch on multiple areas of grammar at once, so we revisit them frequently in different contexts (conversation, writing, grammar drills). Over time, students at Olesen Tuition find that what once seemed a daunting grammar puzzle becomes second nature!

Take Your German to the Next Level with Olesen Tuition

Mastering German relative clauses will significantly boost your fluency and confidence. You’ll be able to add nuance and detail to your statements – an absolute must as you progress from A2 to B1 and beyond. If you’re eager to improve and want personalised guidance, consider working with a German private tutor. At Olesen Tuition, the German lessons specialist, we offer a range of services to support your learning:

• Private German Lessons (1:1): One-on-one sessions with experienced tutors who can tailor the material to your needs – be it relative clauses or any other grammar topic. A private tutor can pinpoint your mistakes and explain tricky concepts in a way that clicks for you.

• Online German Courses: Learn German grammar and more from the comfort of your home. Our online courses and classes are interactive, structured, and led by expert instructors, making it easier to fit learning into your schedule.

• Grammar Clinics and Support: Stuck on a grammar issue like relative clauses? We provide dedicated grammar support, from quick question-and-answer sessions to intensive grammar workshops. Sometimes a short clarification can save you hours of confusion.

• Extensive German Language Blog: Explore Olesen Tuition’s German language blog “Auf Deutsch, bitte!” for more free resources, explanations, and articles on German grammar and vocabulary. We regularly post insightful content – from guides on subordinate conjunctions to vocabulary lists – to help learners deepen their understanding. It’s a treasure trove for anyone learning German grammar and looking to expand their knowledge.

Ready to take the next step? Whether you need help with relative clauses or any other aspect of German, we invite you to book a lesson with Olesen Tuition. Our top-rated tutors will help you learn German grammar effectively and make sure you progress toward your language goals. Check out our website for the full range of German lessons and services, and feel free to get in touch with any questions.

Start turning those perplexing relative clauses into a powerful tool in your German arsenal today! With practice, the right strategies, and possibly a bit of expert guidance, you’ll soon use German relative clauses naturally in your speaking and writing. Viel Erfolg – and we hope to see you in our classes or on our blog!

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