Personalpronomen (Personal pronouns)
A1 German grammar — Greetings. Personal pronouns replace nouns. In German they change with **case** (Kasus), not just in plural. These are **nominative…
Rule explained
Personal pronouns replace nouns. In German they change with **case** (Kasus), not just in plural. These are **nominative** subjects: *ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie*. **Sie** with capital **S** is the polite **you** (singular or plural) and always stays capital in writing — same forms as *sie* "they" but context clarifies. **du/ihr** signal solidarity; switching from *Sie* to *du* (*die Du-Anrede*) is a cultural ritual in German workplaces. Verbs **agree** with the pronoun subject (*ich bin*, *du bist*, *Sie sind*).
Examples
Use these mini-pairs as templates:
- Ich bin Anna. — I am Anna.
- Du bist nett. — You are nice.
- Er ist mein Bruder. — He is my brother.
- Wir lernen Deutsch. — We learn German.
- Sind Sie Herr Müller? — Are you Mr. Müller?
Common mistakes
Watch out for these learner errors:
- Don't confuse 'sie' (she/they, lowercase) with 'Sie' (formal you, always capitalised).
- 'du' is only for one person you know well — use 'Sie' with strangers and at work.