New German Lesson: Grammar - Pronouns 1 - Nominative Case

Pronouns 1 - The Nominative Case

Introduction
This lesson is the first in a set of lessons covering German pronouns. In these lessons we take an approach that differs from that taken by most German courses. Instead of initially introducing pronouns in the nominative case, then slowly, over time, introducing the other three cases, we introduce all four cases right up front, in this series of lessons. Of course, you don't have to study all four cases now. If you prefer, you could study the nominative and accusative cases now, and study the dative and genitive cases later. On the other hand, it's possible that getting an introduction to all four cases up front may be helpful to you in your German studies. We invite your feedback on this approach via the forums at LanguageCollaborative.com.

The Nominative Case
The following sentences use pronouns in the nominative case. What's the nominative case? Well, first of all, what's a case? A case is a set of rules that specify what forms of words are used in specific situations. Here's an example: We use the nominative case when we're referring to the subject of a sentence. The nominative case is used in other situations as well, but in this lesson we're focusing on pronouns that are the subject of a sentence. Put another way, the pronouns in the following sentences are nominative pronouns.

I am happy.
Ich bin glücklich.

You are happy.
Du bist glücklich.

She is happy.
Sie ist glücklich.

He is happy.
Er ist glücklich.

It is happy.
Es ist glücklich.

We are happy.
Wir sind glücklich.

Plural you are happy.
Ihr seid glücklich.

They are happy.
Sie sind glücklich.

Formal you are happy.
Sie sind glücklich.

I am curious.
Ich bin neugierig.

You are curious.
Du bist neugierig.

She is curious.
Sie ist neugierig.

He is curious.
Er ist neugierig.

It is curious.
Es ist neugierig.

We are curious.
Wir sind neugierig.

Plural you are curious.
Ihr seid neugierig.

They are curious.
Sie sind neugierig.

Formal you are curious.
Sie sind neugierig.

Plural you are happy.
Ihr seid glücklich.

She is curious.
Sie ist neugierig.

Plural you are curious.
Ihr seid neugierig.

She is happy.
Sie ist glücklich.

Formal you are curious.
Sie sind neugierig.

You are curious.
Du bist neugierig.

I am happy.
Ich bin glücklich.

He is curious.
Er ist neugierig.

We are curious.
Wir sind neugierig.

He is happy.
Er ist glücklich.

They are curious.
Sie sind neugierig.

You are happy.
Du bist glücklich.

I am curious.
Ich bin neugierig.

We are happy.
Wir sind glücklich.

Formal you are happy.
Sie sind glücklich.

It is happy.
Es ist glücklich.

It is curious.
Es ist neugierig.

They are happy.
Sie sind glücklich.

It is happy.
Es ist glücklich.

She is curious.
Sie ist neugierig.

We are happy.
Wir sind glücklich.

You are happy.
Du bist glücklich.

We are curious.
Wir sind neugierig.

They are happy.
Sie sind glücklich.

Plural you are curious.
Ihr seid neugierig.

Formal you are curious.
Sie sind neugierig.

He is happy.
Er ist glücklich.

You are curious.
Du bist neugierig.

I am happy.
Ich bin glücklich.

It is curious.
Es ist neugierig.

They are curious.
Sie sind neugierig.

Plural you are happy.
Ihr seid glücklich.

I am curious.
Ich bin neugierig.

Formal you are happy.
Sie sind glücklich.

She is happy.
Sie ist glücklich.

He is curious.

Er ist neugierig. 

You can study this lesson, and many others, using Language Mentor - an audio-centric app that is designed to be used while your hands and eyes are busy doing other things. You can download it at the Android Play Store and the iPhone App Store.​

This article and the lesson that it presents are both licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license.​