Personal pronouns
A1 · Beginner · Basics
The rule
ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie.
How it works
Personal pronouns replace a noun or a person: ich (I), du (you, informal), er (he), sie (she), es (it), wir (we), ihr (you plural, informal), sie (they) and Sie (you, formal). Sie with a capital letter always means the formal you. Pronouns change case in the accusative and dative, which you learn in the case lessons.
When to use it
Use ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr and sie to replace the person or thing already named.
Use cases
- Avoiding repetition in conversation and writing
- Choosing between du and Sie when you address someone
- Referring to a thing with es or a plural with sie
Examples
- Wir wohnen hier – We live here
- Wir fahren nach Berlin. Sie ist sehr groß. – We go to Berlin. It is very big.
- Kommst du heute? – Are you coming today?
- Haben Sie einen Moment Zeit? – Do you have a moment? (formal)
Common mistake
Confusing sie (she/they) with Sie (formal you), which is always capitalised.
Memory tip
Sie with a capital S is always "you" in the polite form; sie with a small s is "she" or "they".