Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to use the German demonstrative pronouns "dieser, diese, dieses" correctly according to gender, case, and number. This lesson covers the nominative, accusative, and dative forms with practical examples and explanations for A1 level learners.
  1. The pronoun adapts to case, number, and gender.
Kasus (Case)Maskulin (Masculine)Feminin (feminine)Neutrum (neuter)Plural (Plural)
Nominativ (Nominative)dieser (this)diese (these)dieses (this)diese (these)
Akkusativ (Accusative)diesen (this)diese (these)dieses (this)diese (these)
Dativ (dative)diesem (this)dieser (this)diesem (this)diesen (this)

Exercise 1: Das Demonstrativpronomen (dieser, diese, dieses)

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Dieser, dieses, diesem, Dieses, Diese, diesen, diese

1.
Wir arbeiten mit ... Rechteck aus Pappe.
(We are working with this rectangle made of cardboard.)
2.
... Dreieck passt nicht in das Quadrat.
(This triangle does not fit into the square.)
3.
Schau mal! ... Linie ist sehr gerade.
(Look! This line is very straight.)
4.
Ich finde ... Kreis schöner als den daneben.
(I find this circle more beautiful than the one next to it.)
5.
Wir wählen ... Rechteck, weil es besser passt.
(We choose this rectangle because it fits better.)
6.
Ich finde ... Linie zu krumm.
(I find this line too crooked.)
7.
Sie zeigen den Kindern ... Linien auf dem Papier.
(They show the children these lines on the paper.)
8.
... Kreis ist rund.
(This circle is round.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___ Stuhl ist sehr bequem.

(___ chair is very comfortable.)

2. Ich mag ___ Lampe im Wohnzimmer.

(I like ___ lamp in the living room.)

3. Kannst du ___ Bild beschreiben?

(Can you describe ___ picture?)

4. Ich sehe ___ Tisch im Büro.

(I see ___ table in the office.)

5. ___ Formen sind sehr interessant.

(___ shapes are very interesting.)

6. Wir benutzen ___ Glas jeden Tag.

(We use ___ glass every day.)

Introduction to Demonstrative Pronouns in German

This lesson focuses on the demonstrative pronouns dieser, diese, and dieses, which are essential for pointing out or emphasizing specific things in German. These pronouns vary depending on case (nominative, accusative, dative), gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), and number (singular or plural). Understanding how to correctly use them is a fundamental step for learners at the A1 level.

Key Forms and Cases

The pronouns change form to match the noun they refer to. For example, "dieser" is masculine nominative, while "diesen" is masculine accusative. In plural, "diese" is used in nominative and accusative cases, but "diesen" shifts to the dative case. A helpful table summarizes these forms for quick reference:

  • Nominative: dieser (m), diese (f), dieses (n), diese (pl)
  • Accusative: diesen (m), diese (f), dieses (n), diese (pl)
  • Dative: diesem (m), dieser (f), diesem (n), diesen (pl)

Usage Examples

Practical sentences for practice include:

  • Dieser Stuhl ist sehr bequem. (This chair is very comfortable.)
  • Ich mag diese Lampe im Wohnzimmer. (I like this lamp in the living room.)
  • Kannst du dieses Bild beschreiben? (Can you describe this picture?)
  • Ich sehe diesen Tisch im Büro. (I see this table in the office.)

Additional Notes on German vs. English

Unlike English, German demonstrative pronouns agree with the gender, number, and grammatical case of the noun they modify. English typically uses "this" or "these" without changes. For example, English "this chair" simply becomes "dieser Stuhl" in German, changing to "diesen Stuhl" in the accusative case. Learning to adapt to this inflection is important for proper grammar and clear communication in German.

Useful phrases to remember:

  • dieser, diese, dieses – "this" (masc., fem., neut.)
  • diesen – accusative masculine singular
  • diesen – dative plural

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Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

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Last Updated:

Monday, 14/07/2025 20:14