The
German subject pronouns in the following table have a person (the
first person is "I", the second person is "you"
and the third person is "he", "she" or "it"
etc.) just as subject pronouns do in English, and in number (singular
or plural).
Subject Pronouns
Case
|
Singular
|
English
|
Plural
|
English
|
First
|
ich
iH
|
I
|
wir
veer
|
we
|
Second
|
du
dew
|
you
|
ihr
eer
|
you
|
Formal
|
Sie
zee
|
you
|
||
Third
|
er, sie, es
eR, zee, es
|
he, she, it
|
sie
zee
|
they
|
Finding the Subject
To express what people want to do, you need verbs, and verbs, of course, require a subject:
When a sentence takes the imperative form (the form of a command) the subject (you) is understood.
Subjects can either be nouns or pronouns that replace nouns:
Tip: Unlike German nouns, which are capitalized no matter where they appear in a sentence, most pronouns take a capital letter only when they begin a sentence. The only exception to this rule is the pronoun Sie (the polite form for du and ihr ), which is capitalized no matter where it appears in a sentence.
- You want to take quiet, relaxing strolls through churches and parks.
- The woman wants to spend three days shopping.
When a sentence takes the imperative form (the form of a command) the subject (you) is understood.
- Go shopping.
Subjects can either be nouns or pronouns that replace nouns:
- The man ate the entire chicken.
- He ate the entire chicken.
Tip: Unlike German nouns, which are capitalized no matter where they appear in a sentence, most pronouns take a capital letter only when they begin a sentence. The only exception to this rule is the pronoun Sie (the polite form for du and ihr ), which is capitalized no matter where it appears in a sentence.
