Track references in a complex account
Bezüge in komplexen Texten
Identify what a relative clause refers to and choose its case from its function inside that clause.
Relative clauses let a text specify a person, group or idea without starting a new sentence. Gender and number come from the antecedent, but case comes from the pronoun’s role within the relative clause. Die Lernenden, denen wir helfen uses dative because helfen takes a dative object; die Methode, die wir prüfen uses accusative because the method is what we examine. A preposition may determine the case: die Gruppe, mit der … . Deren and dessen express a possessive relationship, not the case of the preceding noun. Was can refer to a whole preceding statement: Der Kurs wurde verlängert, was zusätzliche Kosten verursachte. Ask precisely what caused the costs; the reference may cover an event, not a nearby noun.
Die Teilnehmenden, denen wir helfen, besuchen unterschiedliche Kurse.
The participants whom we help attend different courses.
Die Methode, die wir prüfen, soll selbstständiges Lernen erleichtern.
The method we are examining is intended to make independent learning easier.
Die Gruppe, mit der wir arbeiten, trifft sich zweimal wöchentlich.
The group we work with meets twice a week.
Die Lehrerin, deren Vorschlag wir diskutieren, begleitet den Versuch.
The teacher whose proposal we are discussing is supporting the trial.
Der Kurs wurde verlängert, was zusätzliche Kosten verursachte.
The course was extended, which caused additional costs.
Die Ergebnisse, auf die sich der Bericht bezieht, stammen aus einer kleinen Gruppe.
The results to which the report refers come from a small group.
Relative clauses let a text specify a person, group or idea without starting a new sentence. Gender and number come from the antecedent, but case comes from the pronoun’s role within the relative clause. Die Lernenden, denen wir helfen uses dative because helfen takes a dative object; die Methode, die wir prüfen uses accusative because the method is what we examine. A preposition may determine the case: die Gruppe, mit der … . Deren and dessen express a possessive relationship, not the case of the preceding noun. Was can refer to a whole preceding statement: Der Kurs wurde verlängert, was zusätzliche Kosten verursachte. Ask precisely what caused the costs; the reference may cover an event, not a nearby noun.
Identify what a relative clause refers to and choose its case from its function inside that clause.
Do not copy the antecedent’s case mechanically. In die Personen, denen wir helfen the relative pronoun is dative despite the form die.
Antecedent → gender and number; function or preposition in the relative clause → case. Was can refer to an entire preceding statement.
Write 180–220 German words describing two learning groups to a new course coordinator. Clarify their needs with four relative clauses, use one possessive relative form and one was referring to a whole event. Check that every reference has an unambiguous antecedent.