LESSON 17

Article as Pronoun / Artikel als Pronomen - I

OBJECTIVES

 Introduction to Demonstrative Pronouns

 Introduction to the use of demonstrative pronouns with articles as pronouns in Nominativ &
Akkusativ
 Demonstrate the Use of definite articles as pronouns
 Demonstrate the use of indefinite articles as pronouns

SUMMARY

In this lesson, we are going to focus on a set of pronouns known as demonstrative pronouns. You are
already familiar with personal pronouns and their usage. In this lesson, the focus would be on
demonstrative pronouns with definite and indefinite articles in Nominativ and Akkusativ. With the
help of various examples and exercises, the construction and use of demonstrative pronouns would
be shown.

TEXT

Demonstrative pronouns, as the name suggests, demonstrate or refer to a noun. Sometimes,

demonstrative pronouns are also known as indicative pronouns. Personal pronouns replace the
nouns. In a similar manner, demonstrative pronouns also replace the nouns. With demonstrative
pronouns, the speaker demonstrates who or what is being referred to in a given context. Just like
personal pronouns replace nouns demonstrative pronouns have a similar function. However, their
function is not merely replacing the noun, but also emphasising the noun, which is being referred to.

Unlike personal pronouns, there are many demonstrative pronouns in German. These pronouns are
like articles, and they change their form according to the case, gender and number of the noun they
are referring to. Demonstrative pronouns retain the same case, gender and number of the noun
they are replacing. Also, in spoken German, one can avoid repetition by using demonstrative
pronouns.

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Let us look at the below given table. Here, the definite articles are mentioned in singular and plural.
You are already familiar with definite articles and the change in masculine article in Akkusativ. Based
on the same aspect, let us look at some examples of the use of definite articles as pronouns in
Nominativ and Akkusativ.

Article as Pronoun – Definite Article

Nominativ (Subject) Akkusativ (Direct Object)

(M) der den
SINGULAR (F) die die
(N) das das
PLURAL die die

1. A: Ist das Buch gut?

B: Ja, das ist gut.

In this sentence, the noun ‘das Buch’, which is in Nominativ gets replaced by the neutral article ‘das’.
Here, the article ‘das’ functions as the demonstrative pronoun and refers to the noun ‘das Buch’
from the previous sentence. Also, just with the use of ‘das’, the noun ‘Buch’ is not repeated.

2. A: Sind die Bücher hier?

B: Ja, die sind hier.

In this sentence, the plural noun ‘die Bücher’, which is in Nominativ is replaced by the plural article
‘die’. As in the previous example, here the plural article ‘die’ replaces the noun ‘Bücher’ and
functions as a demonstrative pronoun and refers to the noun.

3. A: Kaufen Sie den Tisch?

B:Ja, ich kaufe den.

In this sentence, the noun ‘den Tisch’ is in Akkusativ. As we know, the masculine article ‘der’
changes its form to ‘den’ in Akkusativ. Here, the verb ‘kaufen’ which is an Akkusativ verb has ‘Sie’ as
the Nominativ. The masculine article ‘den’ replaces the noun ‘Tisch’ and ‘den’ functions as
demonstrative pronoun to refer to ‘den Tisch’.

In sentences 1 and 2, nouns are in Nominativ as the verb ‘ist’ is a Nominativ verb. In sentence 3, the
verb ‘kaufen’ is an Akkusativverb, hence it requires a Nominativ (Sie) and Akkusativ (den Tisch). As
one can see from these examples, to use articles as demonstrative pronouns, it is important to know
the verb case and the article of the noun.

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Let us look at the given below table. Here, indefinite articles as demonstrative pronouns are shown
in Nominativ and Akkusativ. As you can see, for the masculine indefinite article, the demonstrative
pronoun is ‘einer’. If we look at the ending ‘-er’ refers here to the masculine definite article ‘der’.
And we know that masculine definite article ‘der’ changes to ‘den’ in Akkusativ. In the same manner,
masculine indefinite article ‘einer’ changes to ‘einen’ in Akkusativ. Both the masculine indefinite
articles undergo transformation like the masculine definite articles.

Another important change of article takes place for neutral gender. Here the neutral indefinite
article ‘ein’ in Nominativ becomes ‘eins’ in Nominative and Akkusativ with the ending ‘-s’. This
ending is similar to the neutral definite article ‘das’. We know that the definite article ‘das’ and
indefinite article ‘ein’ in neutral gender do not change their form in Akkusativ. However, when ‘ein’
is used as a demonstrative pronoun in Nominativ and Akkusativ, it changes its form to ‘eins’, with
the ending ‘-s’ as a signal for demonstrative pronoun.

Apart from indefinite articles in masculine and neutral gender, the indefinite article in feminine
gender does not undergo any transformation and retains its form. They retain their form also as
demonstrative pronouns. Moreover, as we can see from the table, there are no demonstrative
pronouns for plural indefinite article.

Article as Pronoun – Indefinite Article

Nominativ (Subject) Akkusativ (Direct Object)

(M) einer einen
SINGULAR (F) eine eine
(N) eins eins
PLURAL ---- ---

Now let us look at some examples where indefinite articles are used as demonstrative pronouns.

1. A: Wohnt hier ein Student?

B: Ja, hier wohnt einer.

In this sentence, the noun ‘ein Student’ is replaced by the demonstrative pronoun in masculine
gender ‘einer’. Here the pronoun is in Nominativ because the verb ‘wohnen’ is a Nominativ verb.

2. A: Haben Sie eine Tasche?

B: Ja, ich habe eine.

In this sentence, the noun ‘eine Tasche’ is replaced by the demonstrative pronoun in feminine
gender ‘eine’. Here, the verb ‘haben’ is the Akkusativ verb. If we look at the table above, we see that

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the indefinite article ‘eine’ does not change its form in Akkusativ. Hence, it remains ‘eine’ and merely
replaces the noun.
3. A: Hast du einen Kugelschreiber?
B: Ja, ich habe einen.

Here, as you can see the indefinite article in Akkusativ ‘einen’ is retained in the following sentence,
whereas the noun is not used. Also, the verb ‘haben’ is an Akkusativ verb and you know that
masculine noun ‘Kugelschreiber’ carries the article ‘der’ and indefinite article ‘ein’, which becomes
‘einen’ in Akkusativ.

4. A: Haben Sie ein Fahrrad?

B: Ja, ich habe eins.

Like sentence 3, this sentence also has the Akkusativ article, which is used as a demonstrative
pronoun. The noun ‘ein Fahrrad’ is used in Akkusativ as the verb ‘haben’ is an Akkusativ verb. From
the table one can see that when the neutral indefinite article ‘ein’ is used as a demonstrative
pronoun, it becomes ‘eins’. Here the demonstrative pronoun ‘eins’ replaces the noun ‘Fahrrad’ in
the following sentence.

It is important to remember that demonstrative pronouns are based on definite articles of nouns.
Therefore, in order to understand the demonstrative pronouns with definite and indefinite articles,
one should know the definite articles of nouns, their plural forms and also verb forms.
CASE STUDY – This lesson does not require any case study.

FAQs

Q: Are there only two forms of demonstrative pronouns in German?

A: No, there are other forms of demonstrative pronouns in German. They have different forms,
meanings and usages.

Q: Are personal pronouns and demonstrative pronouns interchangeable?

A: No. They are not interchangeable. Personal pronouns are limited in their scope and usage
compared to demonstrative pronouns.

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ASSIGNMENT

1. Please see the video and revise the table fordemonstrative pronouns for definite and indefinite
articles in Nominativ and Akkusativ.
2. Please write sentences using the following nouns and the verbs ‘kaufen, haben, nehmen, fahren’
as given in the above mentioned example. Ein Auto, das Motorrad, ein Computer, die Bücher,
ein Tisch, eine Waschmaschine, der Fussball. Please mark the conjugated verb, the respective
demonstrative pronoun and the nouns in singular or plural along with their respective cases.

QUIZ - Choose the correct response from the given options.

1. Haben Sie einen Kühlschrank? – Ja, ich habe _______.

a) einen
b) eins
c) ein
d) einer

2. Sie kauft keine Wohnung. Sie hat ______.

a) ein
b) eine
c) einen
d) eins

3. Fragst du die Lehrerin? - Ja, ich frage _____.

a) den
b) das
c) die
d) der

4. Kaufst du den Pullover? - Ja, ich kaufe _______.

a) die
b) der
c) den
d) das

5. Trägst du das rote T-Shirt?- Ja, ich trage ____.

a) das
b) den
c) der
d) die

6. Nehmen Sie die Lampen? – Ja, ich nehme ________.

a) die
b) den
c) das
d) der

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7. Hast du eine Uhr? - Ja, ich habe ________.
a) einen
b) einer
c) eine
d) eins

8. Hört ihr die Nachrichten? - Ja, wir hören _______.

a) den
b) der
c) das
d) die

9. Nehmt ihr die Schuhe? Ja, wir nehmen ______.

a) die
b) den
c) das
d) der

10. Bringt ihr bitte eine Zeitung? Ja, wir bringen _______
a) einer
b) eine
c) eins
d) ein

TUTORIALS / LINKS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8K__gs7uTw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QPZu6YNr78

REFERENCES
Funk, H. Studio d. A1, Cornelsen, Berlin / Goyal Saab, Delhi

GLOSSARY

kaufen – to buy
tragen – to wear
hören – to hear/ to listen
haben – to have
wohnen – to live/ to stay
sehen – to see/to watch/ to view
nehmen – to take
rot – red

der Tisch, -e – table

der Pullover, - - sweater
der Stift, -e – pen
der Kühlschrank, ..e – refrigerator

das Hotel,-s – hotel

das Auto, -s – car
das Fahrrad, ..er– bicycle

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die Waschmaschine,-n – washing machine
die Zeitung, -en – newspaper
die Wohnung, -en - house
die Nachricht, -en – news/message
die Tasche, -n – bag
die Uhr, -en – watch/clock
die Schuhe – shoes (Plural)