1. Introduction
In German, many verbs are used with a specific preposition.
- warten auf - to wait for something
- sprechen über - to speak about something
- sich interessieren für - to be interested in something
When you ask about a thing, a situation, or an abstract idea, German often uses a pronominal adverb.
A pronominal adverb combines a pronoun-like part with a preposition.
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Question form | wo(r)- + preposition | worauf, womit, worüber |
| Reference form | da(r)- + preposition | darauf, damit, darüber |
2. Interrogative pronominal adverbs
Interrogative pronominal adverbs are used in questions.
They are formed like this:
| Preposition | Question form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mit | womit | with what / what with |
| von | wovon | about what / from what |
| über | worüber | about what |
| auf | worauf | what for / what onto |
| für | wofür | for what / what for |
| an | woran | what about / what at |
| vor | wovor | before what / of what |
If the preposition begins with a vowel, German normally adds r:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| wo + mit | womit |
| wo + von | wovon |
| wo + r + über | worüber |
| wo + r + auf | worauf |
| wo + r + an | woran |
Examples
- Worüber sprechen sie? - What are they talking about?
- Worauf wartest du? - What are you waiting for?
- Womit beginnt der Unterricht? - What does the lesson begin with?
- Wofür interessierst du dich? - What are you interested in?
3. Demonstrative pronominal adverbs
Demonstrative pronominal adverbs refer to a thing, a situation, an action, or an idea.
They are formed like this:
| Preposition | Reference form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mit | damit | with it / with that |
| von | davon | about it / from it |
| über | darüber | about it / about that |
| auf | darauf | for it / on it / onto it |
| für | dafür | for it / in favor of it |
| an | daran | about it / on it |
| vor | davor | before it / in front of it |
Examples
- Sie sprechen darüber. - They are talking about it.
- Ich warte darauf. - I am waiting for it.
- Er interessiert sich dafür. - He is interested in it.
- Wir beginnen damit. - We begin with it.
4. Important rule: not for people
Pronominal adverbs normally refer to things, actions, situations, and abstract ideas.
For people, use the preposition with a pronoun or an interrogative word.
| Thing / abstract idea | Person |
|---|---|
| Worüber sprechen sie? What are they talking about? | Über wen sprechen sie? Whom are they talking about? |
| Sie sprechen darüber. They are talking about it. | Sie sprechen über ihn. They are talking about him. |
More examples
- Worauf hofft sie? - What is she hoping for?
- Sie hofft darauf. - She is hoping for it.
- Auf wen wartet sie? - Whom is she waiting for?
- Sie wartet auf ihn. - She is waiting for him.
5. Verbs with fixed prepositions
Some German verbs are often used with a specific preposition. You should learn the preposition together with the verb.
Verbs with auf
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| antworten auf | to answer, respond to |
| hoffen auf | to hope for |
| warten auf | to wait for |
| achten auf | to pay attention to |
| sich freuen auf | to look forward to |
| verzichten auf | to give up / do without |
| reagieren auf | to react to |
- Ich warte auf deine Antwort. - I am waiting for your answer.
- Worauf wartest du? - What are you waiting for?
- Ich warte darauf. - I am waiting for it.
Verbs with über
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sprechen über | to talk about |
| schreiben über | to write about |
| erzählen über | to tell about |
| lachen über | to laugh about / at |
| nachdenken über | to think about |
| sich unterhalten über | to have a conversation about |
| diskutieren über | to discuss |
- Wir sprechen über Kunst. - We are talking about art.
- Worüber sprechen wir? - What are we talking about?
- Wir sprechen darüber. - We are talking about it.
Verbs with mit
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| anfangen mit | to start with |
| aufhören mit | to stop doing something |
| beginnen mit | to begin with |
| fertig sein mit | to be finished with |
| sich beschäftigen mit | to deal with / occupy oneself with |
| vergleichen mit | to compare with |
- Er beschäftigt sich mit Musik. - He is occupied with music.
- Womit beschäftigt er sich? - What is he occupied with?
- Er beschäftigt sich damit. - He is occupied with it.
Verbs with an
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| denken an | to think of / about |
| sich erinnern an | to remember |
| sich gewöhnen an | to get used to |
| arbeiten an | to work on |
- Sie denkt an das Problem. - She is thinking about the problem.
- Woran denkt sie? - What is she thinking about?
- Sie denkt daran. - She is thinking about it.
Verbs with von
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sprechen von | to speak of / about |
| schreiben von | to write about |
| erzählen von | to tell about |
| reden von | to talk about |
| träumen von | to dream of / about |
| abhängen von | to depend on |
- Der Erfolg hängt von der Arbeit ab. - Success depends on the work.
- Wovon hängt der Erfolg ab? - What does success depend on?
- Er hängt davon ab. - It depends on it.
Verbs with für
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sich interessieren für | to be interested in |
| sich entscheiden für | to decide on / choose |
| sorgen für | to take care of / provide for |
| loben für | to praise for |
| sparen für | to save for |
| zahlen für | to pay for |
- Ich interessiere mich für Geschichte. - I am interested in history.
- Wofür interessierst du dich? - What are you interested in?
- Ich interessiere mich dafür. - I am interested in it.
6. Pronominal adverbs in subordinate clauses
The question forms worauf, worüber, womit, woran, wofür, wovon, and wovor can introduce a subordinate clause.
In that case, they work like interrogative or relative linking words.
- Erzähl mir, worauf du so stark reagierst. - Tell me what you react to so strongly.
- Ich weiß nicht, worüber sie lachen. - I do not know what they are laughing about.
- Darf ich fragen, womit er sich beschäftigt? - May I ask what he is occupied with?
- Sag mir, woran du arbeitest. - Tell me what you are working on.
- Ich möchte wissen, wofür du dich interessierst. - I would like to know what you are interested in.
- Er versteht nicht, wovon du träumst. - He does not understand what you dream about.
In these subordinate clauses, the finite verb normally stands at the end.
- Ich weiß nicht, worüber sie sprechen. - I do not know what they are talking about.
sie sprechen becomes worüber sie sprechen in the subordinate clause. The verb form sprechen stands at the end.
7. Restrictive subordinate clauses
Restrictive subordinate clauses clarify how far the content of the main clause is valid.
They are introduced by these conjunctions:
| Conjunction | Meaning |
|---|---|
| soweit | as far as |
| soviel | as far as / as much as |
| sofern | if / provided that |
- Soweit ich weiß, ist diese Information richtig. - As far as I know, this information is correct.
- Soviel ich weiß, war er gestern nicht da. - As far as I know, he was not there yesterday.
- Wir helfen dir, sofern es möglich ist. - We will help you if it is possible.
In these clauses, too, the finite verb stands at the end of the subordinate part.
- Soweit ich weiß, kommt er morgen. - As far as I know, he is coming tomorrow.
8. Concessive subordinate clauses
Concessive subordinate clauses name a circumstance that does not prevent the action in the main clause.
They are introduced by these conjunctions:
| Conjunction | Meaning |
|---|---|
| obwohl | although |
| obgleich | although |
| obschon | although |
- Obwohl er müde ist, arbeitet er weiter. - Although he is tired, he keeps working.
- Obgleich das Wetter schlecht war, gingen wir spazieren. - Although the weather was bad, we went for a walk.
- Obschon sie wenig Zeit hatte, half sie uns. - Although she had little time, she helped us.
After obwohl, obgleich, and obschon, the finite verb stands at the end of the subordinate clause.
- Obwohl er sich nicht gut fühlte, störte er uns nicht. - Although he was not feeling very well, he did not disturb us.
9. Key points to remember
Pronominal adverbs combine a pronoun-like part and a preposition.
| Question | Reference |
|---|---|
| womit | damit |
| wovon | davon |
| worüber | darüber |
| worauf | darauf |
| wofür | dafür |
| woran | daran |
| wovor | davor |
Forms with wo(r)- are used in questions and subordinate clauses.
Forms with da(r)- refer to a thing, situation, or idea that is already known.
If the preposition begins with a vowel, German adds r:
- wo + r + auf = worauf
- da + r + auf = darauf
Pronominal adverbs normally do not refer to people.
For people, use the preposition with a pronoun or question word:
- Worüber sprichst du? - What are you talking about?
- Über wen sprichst du? - Whom are you talking about?
Learn verbs with prepositions as fixed combinations:
- warten auf - to wait for something
- sprechen über - to speak about something
- sich interessieren für - to be interested in something
In subordinate clauses with worauf, worüber, womit, soweit, or obwohl, the finite verb normally stands at the end.