Relative Pronouns in Nominative

A relative clause is what we call a Nebensatz (subordinate clause). This is the most important thing to remember. In a Nebensatz, the conjugated verb loves to travel. It doesn't stay in the second position; it packs its bags and moves to the very end of the clause. The relative pronoun itself always starts the clause and sits right after a comma. Yes, in German, commas are mandatory. You can’t just skip them like you sometimes do in English. The pronoun’s job is to represent the noun from the main clause (the antecedent). It matches that noun's gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter) and number (singular or plural). Since we are focusing on the Nominative today, the pronoun’s case is determined by its role as the subject within that relative clause. If it's the one doing the action in that small part of the sentence, it's Nominative. It’s like a grammar ghost: it looks like an article but behaves like a subject.

1. 1Creating these clauses is a step-by-step process. Think of it like building a LEGO set.
2. 2Find the noun you want to describe in your main sentence.
3. 3Determine its gender: der (masculine), die (feminine), das (neuter), or die (plural).
4. 4Place a comma immediately after that noun (or at the end of the main thought).
5. 5Pick the matching Nominative relative pronoun. (Spoiler: they look exactly like the definite articles!)
6. 6Start your relative clause with that pronoun.
7. 7Add your details, but keep the verb for last.
8. 8Place the conjugated verb at the very end of the relative clause.
9. 9If your main sentence continues, add another comma after the verb and keep going.
10. 10Here’s a quick mental check: Masculine = der, Feminine = die, Neuter = das, Plural = die. Yes, even at B2, we still love these four!

You’ll use this constantly in real life. If you’re at a Bürgeramt (registry office) and need to describe the clerk who helped you, you’ll say: "Der Beamte, der mir geholfen hat..." It’s also vital for defining things when you forget the actual word. "Das Ding, das man zum Aufmachen von Flaschen benutzt" (The thing that one uses to open bottles). It’s a lifesaver when your vocabulary fails you. In professional settings, it helps you provide detail without sounding like a toddler. "Die Strategie, die wir verfolgen, ist sehr effektiv." It adds weight and precision to your arguments. Use it when you want to be specific, when you’re telling a story, or when you’re describing a person’s characteristics in a job interview. It’s the difference between "I have a car. It is fast" and "I have a car that is fast."

Don't go overboard. If you can use a simple adjective, do it. "Der rote Apfel" is usually better than "Der Apfel, der rot ist." Relative clauses are for adding *extra* or *complex* information, not just for basic colors or sizes. Also, avoid "stacking" them. If you have three relative clauses in one sentence, your listener will need a GPS to find the end of the thought. "Der Mann, der den Hund hat, der die Katze jagt, die..." Stop right there! That’s a grammar nightmare. Also, if the pronoun isn't the subject of the description, you’ll need a different case (like Accusative or Dative). If you aren't sure who is doing what, keep the sentence simple until you’re confident. Grammar should be a tool, not a trap.

The number one mistake? Putting the verb in the wrong place. Native speakers will still understand you, but their brains will do a little hiccup. The verb *must* go to the end. Another classic is forgetting the comma. German grammar is very strict about this; think of the comma as the glue that holds the two clauses together. Many English speakers also try to omit the pronoun (like saying "The book I read"). In German, this is a total no-go. You *must* include the das. "Das Buch, das ich lese." Also, watch out for the plural. Many learners use die correctly but then forget to conjugate the verb for the plural at the end. "Die Kinder, die dort spielt" is wrong; it must be spielen. It's like a matching game where all the pieces have to fit perfectly.

You might come across the pronoun welcher (welche, welches). It sounds very fancy and a bit old-fashioned. You’ll see it in newspapers or legal documents to avoid repeating der/die/das too many times. In everyday conversation, though, welcher sounds like you’re reading from a 19th-century novel. Another point of confusion is was. You only use was as a relative pronoun after specific words like alles, etwas, nichts, or a superlative (e.g., "Das Beste, was ich je gesehen habe"). For standard nouns, stick to the der/die/das family. Finally, don't confuse relative pronouns with conjunctions like dass. Dass introduces a fact, while a relative pronoun refers back to a specific noun. One is a statement; the other is a description.