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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to use the German question words <notrans>wer</notrans> (who), <notrans>was</notrans> (what), and <notrans>welcher/welche/welches</notrans> (which) to ask about people, things, and selections, with examples like "Wer arbeitet als Ärztin?" and "Welche Frau ist deine Mutter?".
  1. Question words are used to ask for specific information – depending on whether it is about people, things, or a choice, different question words are used.
  2. Which are adapted in gender and number to the noun.
Fragewort (Question word)Verwendung (Usage)Beispielsatz (Example sentence)
Wer (Who)Für Personen (For people)Wer arbeitet als Ärztin?
Was (What)Für Dinge, Tiere oder abstrakte Begriffe (For things, animals or abstract concepts)Was arbeitest du?

Welcher / Welche / Welches (Which)

Plural: Welche (Plural: which)

Für Nomen (For nouns)

Welcher Lehrer ist nett?

Welche Frau ist deine Mutter?

Welches Kind ist das?

Exceptions!

  1. "Wer" is always singular, even when it refers to multiple people: "Wer sind das?"

Exercise 1: Fragewörter: Wer, Was und Welcher/Welche/Welches

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Welches, Was, Welcher, Welche, Wer

1.
... Kind kommt aus Spanien?
(Which child comes from Spain?)
2.
... ist selbstständig?
(Who is self-employed?)
3.
... Lehrerin ist deine Mutter?
(Which teacher is your mother?)
4.
... ist deinTraumjob?
(What is your dream job?)
5.
... ist dein Lehrer?
(Who is your teacher?)
6.
... arbeitet als Ärztin?
(Who works as a doctor?)
7.
... Stadt ist deine Lieblingsstadt?
(Which city is your favourite city?)
8.
... Tag ist heute?
(Which day is today?)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Die ______ erklärt den Schülern die Grammatik sehr gut.

(The ______ explains the grammar very well to the students.)

2. Wer arbeitet als ______ in diesem Krankenhaus?

(Who works as a ______ in this hospital?)

3. Die ______ verkauft frisches Obst und Gemüse.

(The ______ sells fresh fruit and vegetables.)

4. Welche ______ kocht heute das Mittagessen?

(Which ______ is cooking lunch today?)

5. Die ______ lernt fleißig für ihre Prüfung.

(The ______ studies diligently for her exam.)

6. Die ______ arbeitet in einer großen Firma.

(The ______ works in a big company.)

Understanding German Question Words: Wer, Was, and Welcher/Welche/Welches

This lesson introduces important German question words used to ask for specific information in different contexts. Knowing when and how to use wer, was, and the forms of welcher is essential for forming clear questions in everyday communication.

Question Words and Their Uses

  • Wer: Used exclusively for people. Example: Wer arbeitet als Ärztin? (Who works as a female doctor?)
  • Was: Refers to things, animals, or abstract concepts. Example: Was arbeitest du? (What do you work as?)
  • Welcher / Welche / Welches: Agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to, used to specify or select among several options. Examples:
    • Welcher Lehrer ist nett? (Which male teacher is nice?)
    • Welche Frau ist deine Mutter? (Which woman is your mother?)
    • Welches Kind ist das? (Which child is that?)
    • Plural form: Welche

Important Notes on Usage

The question word wer always takes singular form even when referring to multiple people, as in Wer sind das? (Who are they?).

Grammar Tips

The forms of welcher must match the gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and number (singular, plural) of the noun it modifies.

Differences and Tips for English Speakers

In English, "who" covers the same usage as German wer exclusively for people, while "what" translates directly to was for objects or things. The German equivalent for "which" is welcher / welche / welches, but these change according to the noun’s gender and number, unlike English where "which" remains the same.

Useful phrases to remember include:

  • Wer – Who (person)
  • Was – What (thing/animal/idea)
  • Welcher/Welche/Welches – Which (adjusted by gender and number)

Remember to adjust the question word depending on the noun's gender and number to form grammatically correct German questions.

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Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 00:41