When do I use 'du' instead of 'Sie' in German?

You use 'du' when speaking to a friend, a family member, or a child. 'Sie' is the formal version used for teachers, employers, or adults you do not know well. In your AQA GCSE, you will mostly use 'du' in informal writing tasks, but you must use 'Sie' if the prompt asks you to write to a business or a headteacher.

Why is 'it' sometimes translated as 'er' or 'sie'?

In German, pronouns must match the grammatical gender of the noun they replace. Since 'der' is masculine, 'die' is feminine, and 'das' is neuter, you use 'er' for masculine nouns, 'sie' for feminine nouns, and 'es' for neuter nouns. For example, 'the bag' (die Tasche) becomes 'sie' (she/it).

What is the difference between 'mein' and 'meine'?

The choice depends on the gender of the noun that follows. Use 'mein' for masculine (der) and neuter (das) nouns, like 'mein Vater' or 'mein Haus'. Use 'meine' for feminine (die) nouns and all plural nouns, such as 'meine Mutter' or 'meine Bücher'. This is a common area where students lose marks in the writing exam.

How can I tell if 'sie' means 'she', 'they', or 'you' (formal)?

Context and verb endings are key. If the verb ends in '-t' (e.g., sie spielt), it usually means 'she'. If the verb ends in '-en' (e.g., sie spielen), it means 'they'. If the 'S' is capitalized in the middle of a sentence (Sie), it means the formal 'you'. Always look at the surrounding words to be sure.

Do I need to know the Dative case for Foundation pronouns?

For AQA Foundation, your primary focus should be on the Nominative and Accusative cases. While knowing some Dative pronouns like 'mir' (to me) or 'dir' (to you) is helpful for set phrases like 'Es gefällt mir', you are mostly assessed on your ability to use subject and direct object pronouns correctly.

What is the plural of 'du' in German?

The plural of 'du' is 'ihr'. You use 'ihr' when you are talking to a group of friends or children. For example, if you are asking two friends if they are coming to the cinema, you would say 'Kommt ihr mit?'. It is important not to confuse this with the possessive 'ihr' which means 'her' or 'their'.

Grammar (Foundation): Pronouns

AQA

GCSE

This topic covers the use of personal pronouns in German, including the specific use of 'man' as an indefinite pronoun.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

Topic Overview

Pronouns are the essential building blocks of fluid German communication, acting as substitutes for nouns to prevent repetitive and clunky sentences. At the AQA Foundation level, mastering pronouns is vital because it demonstrates your ability to handle basic grammatical structures, which is a core requirement for achieving a Grade 4 or 5. By using pronouns correctly, you show the examiner that you understand the relationship between subjects and objects in a sentence.

This topic covers personal pronouns in the nominative (subject) and accusative (direct object) cases, alongside possessive adjectives like 'mein' and 'dein'. In German, pronouns must agree with the gender and number of the noun they replace. This means you cannot simply use 'es' for 'it' every time; you must consider if the original noun was masculine, feminine, or neuter. Mastering these nuances is what separates a basic learner from a confident GCSE candidate.

In the wider context of the AQA GCSE, pronouns are tested across all four papers. Whether you are identifying who 'sie' refers to in a Reading task, or ensuring you use the correct form of 'my' in a Writing task, these small words carry significant weight. They allow you to describe yourself, your family, and your opinions with the precision required for the Foundation tier syllabus.

Key Concepts

Core ideas you must understand for this topic

→Personal Pronouns in the Nominative Case: Understanding the basic subjects (ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie, Sie) and when to use them.
→Accusative Personal Pronouns: Learning how pronouns change when they are the direct object of a sentence (e.g., 'ich' becomes 'mich', 'er' becomes 'ihn').
→Possessive Adjectives: Using 'mein', 'dein', 'sein', and 'ihr' correctly, ensuring the endings match the gender of the noun that follows.
→Formal vs. Informal: Distinguishing between the informal 'du' (singular) / 'ihr' (plural) and the formal 'Sie' used for adults and strangers.
→Gender Agreement: Replacing nouns with the correct gendered pronoun (er for der-nouns, sie for die-nouns, es for das-nouns).

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Correct selection of personal pronouns based on person, number, and gender.
Accurate use of 'man' to express 'one', 'you', or 'people' in general statements.
Correct placement of pronouns within the sentence structure.
Appropriate use of formal (Sie) and informal (du) address.

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Correct selection of personal pronouns based on person, number, and gender.
Accurate use of 'man' to express 'one', 'you', or 'people' in general statements.
Correct placement of pronouns within the sentence structure.
Appropriate use of formal (Sie) and informal (du) address.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Remember that 'man' is always followed by a verb in the third person singular.
💡Check the noun gender in the sentence to ensure the correct pronoun (er, sie, es) is selected.
💡Practice identifying the subject of the sentence to determine which pronoun is required.
💡Ensure consistency in the mode of address (du vs Sie) throughout a piece of writing or speaking.
💡Use the pronoun 'man' (one/people) to make general statements about your school or town. This is a simple way to add variety to your 40-word and 90-word writing tasks.
💡When translating from English to German, always check if the pronoun is the subject or the object. If 'he' is being seen or hit, 'er' must change to 'ihn' in the accusative case.
💡In the Speaking exam, if you forget the gender of a noun, try to use the plural 'sie' (they) if appropriate, as the plural forms of pronouns are often easier to remember and apply.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing the gender of pronouns when referring to nouns.
Misusing 'man' as a direct translation for 'man' (the noun) instead of the indefinite pronoun.
Incorrectly applying case endings to pronouns in the nominative case.
Mixing formal and informal address within the same context.
Using 'es' for all inanimate objects: Students often translate 'it' as 'es' regardless of the noun. In German, if you are talking about 'der Tisch' (the table), you must use 'er' (he) to say 'it'.
Confusing 'ihr' meanings: The word 'ihr' can mean 'you' (plural), 'her', or 'their'. Students must learn to use the verb ending or the following noun to determine the correct meaning.
Forgetting the capital 'S' for 'Sie': In the writing exam, failing to capitalize the formal 'Sie' (you) can lead to it being mistaken for 'sie' (she or they), resulting in a loss of marks for accuracy.

Revision Plan

How to revise this topic in 1–2 weeks

1Day 1-3: Memorize the Nominative personal pronoun table and practice replacing people's names with the correct pronoun (e.g., 'Maria' to 'sie').
2Day 4-5: Focus on the Accusative case. Create flashcards for the changes, specifically noting that only the masculine 'er' changes significantly to 'ihn'.
3Day 6-8: Practice possessive adjectives (mein/dein). Write five sentences about your family members and their hobbies using 'mein Bruder' or 'meine Schwester'.
4Day 9-10: Complete AQA-style translation sentences from English to German, focusing on sentences that include 'him', 'her', 'us', and 'them'.
5Day 11-14: Review the formal 'Sie' and practice writing a short formal email to a teacher to ensure you use the correct capitalized forms.

Exam Question Types

How this topic typically appears in the exam

📋Short Translation (English to German): You will be asked to translate sentences like 'I like my school'. You must ensure 'mein' has the correct ending for 'Schule'.
📋Reading Comprehension (Referencing): A question might ask 'Who does the word "sie" in line 4 refer to?'. You must look back at the text for the feminine or plural noun mentioned previously.
📋Photo Card (Speaking): You will need to use pronouns to describe people in a picture, such as 'Sie spielen Fußball' (They are playing football) or 'Er trägt ein T-Shirt' (He is wearing a t-shirt).

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Before You Start

Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

•Knowledge of noun genders (der, die, das) and how they function in a sentence.
•Basic understanding of the Nominative and Accusative cases.
•Familiarity with high-frequency verbs such as 'sein' (to be) and 'haben' (to have).

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Describing daily routines and personal hygiene using reflexive pronouns (e.g., 'sich waschen', 'sich anziehen') to denote self-directed action.
Narrating social interactions and gift-giving using dative indirect objects (e.g., 'Ich schenke ihm ein Buch') to clarify recipients.
Expressing generalisations and unspecified actions using 'man', 'jemand', and 'niemand' within social and community contexts.

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Schreib

Beschreib

Ergänze

Wähle

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

Grammar (Foundation): Pronouns

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Revision Plan

Exam Question Types

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Key Terminology

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in AQA GCSE German

Communication strategies

Communication strategies: Strategies for production

Communication strategies: Strategies for understanding

General vocabulary: Access

How to Revise Grammar (Foundation): Pronouns — AQA GCSE German

Examiner Tips for Grammar (Foundation): Pronouns

Common Mistakes in Grammar (Foundation): Pronouns

Key Marking Points

Grammar (Foundation): Pronouns

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Revision Plan

Exam Question Types

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I use 'du' instead of 'Sie' in German?

Why is 'it' sometimes translated as 'er' or 'sie'?

What is the difference between 'mein' and 'meine'?

How can I tell if 'sie' means 'she', 'they', or 'you' (formal)?

Do I need to know the Dative case for Foundation pronouns?

What is the plural of 'du' in German?

Before You Start

Key Terminology

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in AQA GCSE German

Communication strategies

Communication strategies: Strategies for production

Communication strategies: Strategies for understanding

General vocabulary: Access