The German word "es" corresponds to the English pronoun "it" and serves as the neuter third-person singular pronoun. Like its English counterpart, "es" refers to things, concepts, and situations that are grammatically neuter or when the gender is unknown or irrelevant. However, German usage of "es" extends beyond simple English equivalents, appearing in impersonal constructions, weather expressions, and as a placeholder subject in ways that differ significantly from English patterns.
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FAQ Schema: Question: What does "es" mean in German? Answer: "Es" is the German pronoun meaning "it" in English. It is used for neuter nouns, impersonal expressions, weather descriptions, and as a placeholder subject. Unlike English, German "es" must agree with the grammatical gender of the noun it replaces, and it appears in many idiomatic expressions where English might not use "it" at all.
In this lesson, you will encounter "es" in various contexts: as a subject pronoun replacing neuter nouns, in weather expressions, in impersonal constructions, and in idiomatic phrases. The examples progress from simple subject usage to more complex grammatical constructions, helping you understand the full range of this essential German pronoun.
Educational Schema: Educational Level: Beginner to Intermediate German Subject: German Language Learning Topic: German Pronoun "es" (it) Learning Objectives: Students will learn to use the German pronoun "es" correctly in various contexts, understand its grammatical functions, and recognize differences between German and English usage. Prerequisites: Basic understanding of German noun genders and sentence structure
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"Es" is the German neuter pronoun corresponding to English "it" -
Unlike English, German "es" must match the grammatical gender of the noun it replaces -
"Es" appears in weather expressions where English often omits "it" -
German uses "es" in impersonal constructions more frequently than English -
"Es" can serve as a placeholder subject in German sentence structure -
The pronoun changes form in different cases: es (nominative), es (accusative), ihm (dative)
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10.1 Es it regnet rains heute today den the ganzen whole Tag day
10.2 Das the Kind child spielt plays im in-the Garten garden, es it ist is glücklich happy
10.3 Ist is es it möglich possible, morgen tomorrow zu to kommen come?
10.4 Es it gibt gives viele many Bücher books in in der the Bibliothek library
10.5 Wo where ist is mein my Buch book? Es it liegt lies auf on dem the Tisch table
10.6 Es it wird becomes langsam slowly dunkel dark draußen outside
10.7 Das the Auto car ist is neu new, es it fährt drives sehr very schnell fast
10.8 Es it tut does mir me leid sorrow, dass that ich I zu too spät late komme come
10.9 Wie how geht goes es it dir you heute today?
10.10 Es it war was einmal once ein a König king in in einem a fernen distant Land land
10.11 Das the Haus house ist is alt old, aber but es it hat has viel much Charme charm
10.12 Es it klopft knocks jemand someone an at der the Tür door
10.13 Ich I finde find es it schön beautiful, dass that du you gekommen come bist are
10.14 Es it schneit snows in in den the Bergen mountains sehr very stark strongly
10.15 Das the Brot bread schmeckt tastes gut good, es it ist is noch still warm warm
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10.1 Es regnet heute den ganzen Tag. It's raining all day today.
10.2 Das Kind spielt im Garten, es ist glücklich. The child is playing in the garden, it (he/she) is happy.
10.3 Ist es möglich, morgen zu kommen? Is it possible to come tomorrow?
10.4 Es gibt viele Bücher in der Bibliothek. There are many books in the library.
10.5 Wo ist mein Buch? Es liegt auf dem Tisch. Where is my book? It's lying on the table.
10.6 Es wird langsam dunkel draußen. It's slowly getting dark outside.
10.7 Das Auto ist neu, es fährt sehr schnell. The car is new, it drives very fast.
10.8 Es tut mir leid, dass ich zu spät komme. I'm sorry that I'm coming late.
10.9 Wie geht es dir heute? How are you today?
10.10 Es war einmal ein König in einem fernen Land. Once upon a time there was a king in a distant land.
10.11 Das Haus ist alt, aber es hat viel Charme. The house is old, but it has a lot of charm.
10.12 Es klopft jemand an der Tür. Someone is knocking at the door.
10.13 Ich finde es schön, dass du gekommen bist. I think it's nice that you came.
10.14 Es schneit in den Bergen sehr stark. It's snowing very heavily in the mountains.
10.15 Das Brot schmeckt gut, es ist noch warm. The bread tastes good, it's still warm.
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10.1 Es regnet heute den ganzen Tag.
10.2 Das Kind spielt im Garten, es ist glücklich.
10.3 Ist es möglich, morgen zu kommen?
10.4 Es gibt viele Bücher in der Bibliothek.
10.5 Wo ist mein Buch? Es liegt auf dem Tisch.
10.6 Es wird langsam dunkel draußen.
10.7 Das Auto ist neu, es fährt sehr schnell.
10.8 Es tut mir leid, dass ich zu spät komme.
10.9 Wie geht es dir heute?
10.10 Es war einmal ein König in einem fernen Land.
10.11 Das Haus ist alt, aber es hat viel Charme.
10.12 Es klopft jemand an der Tür.
10.13 Ich finde es schön, dass du gekommen bist.
10.14 Es schneit in den Bergen sehr stark.
10.15 Das Brot schmeckt gut, es ist noch warm.
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The German pronoun "es" functions as the neuter third-person singular pronoun, but its usage extends far beyond the simple English "it." Understanding "es" requires grasping several distinct grammatical contexts.
1. Basic Pronoun Usage When "es" replaces a neuter noun (das-words), it functions like English "it": -
Das Buch ist neu → Es ist neu (The book is new → It is new) -
Das Kind schläft → Es schläft (The child sleeps → It sleeps)
2. Case Forms Unlike English, German "es" changes with grammatical case: -
Nominative: es (subject) - Es ist groß (It is big) -
Accusative: es (direct object) - Ich sehe es (I see it) -
Dative: ihm (indirect object) - Ich gebe ihm Wasser (I give it water) -
Genitive: seiner (rarely used) - Ich erinnere mich seiner (I remember it)
3. Weather Expressions German requires "es" in weather expressions where English often omits "it": -
Es regnet (It rains/It's raining) -
Es schneit (It snows/It's snowing) -
Es ist kalt (It is cold)
4. Impersonal Expressions "Es" appears in many impersonal constructions: -
Es gibt... (There is/are...) -
Es tut mir leid (I'm sorry - literally "It does sorrow to me") -
Es geht mir gut (I'm fine - literally "It goes well to me")
5. Placeholder Subject "Es" can serve as a placeholder to maintain verb-second position: -
Es kommen viele Leute (Many people are coming) This could also be written as: Viele Leute kommen
1. Gender Agreement Error English speakers often use "es" for all objects, forgetting German gender: -
Wrong: Die Katze schläft. Es ist müde. -
Correct: Die Katze schläft. Sie ist müde. (The cat sleeps. She is tired.)
2. Omitting "es" in Weather English speakers may forget "es" in weather expressions: -
Wrong: Regnet heute. -
Correct: Es regnet heute. (It's raining today.)
3. Confusing "es gibt" with "es ist" -
Es gibt = there is/are (existence) -
Es ist = it is (identification) -
Es gibt einen Park (There is a park) -
Es ist ein Park (It is a park)
4. Wrong Case Usage Using "es" when "ihm" is needed: -
Wrong: Ich gebe es Wasser (with das Tier) -
Correct: Ich gebe ihm Wasser (I give it water)
Understanding When to Use "es":
Step 1: Identify if you're replacing a neuter noun -
If yes, use "es" in nominative/accusative
Step 2: Check if it's a weather expression -
If yes, "es" is required
Step 3: Determine if it's an impersonal expression -
Phrases like "es gibt," "es tut mir leid" require "es"
Step 4: Consider sentence structure -
German may need "es" as a placeholder for verb-second rule
Forms of "es" by case: Nominative: es (Es ist schön - It is beautiful) Accusative: es (Ich habe es - I have it) Dative: ihm (Ich gebe ihm Futter - I give it food)
Key Constructions: -
Es gibt + accusative (There is/are) -
Es geht + dative (How someone is doing) -
Es tut mir leid (I'm sorry) -
Es ist/sind (It is/they are)
Comparison with English: -
German requires "es" in weather (English often omits) -
German "es" changes form by case (English "it" doesn't) -
German uses "es" in more impersonal expressions -
German "es" strictly follows grammatical gender rules
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The use of "es" in German reflects deeper cultural and linguistic patterns that differ from English. German's systematic approach to grammar, including the consistent use of "es" in impersonal constructions, mirrors the culture's preference for structure and clarity.
In weather expressions, where English speakers might simply say "raining" or "cold outside," German always includes "es" (es regnet, es ist kalt). This reflects the German language's tendency toward grammatical completeness—every sentence needs a clear subject, even when discussing natural phenomena.
The phrase "Wie geht es dir?" (How are you?) literally translates to "How goes it to you?" This construction, foreign to English speakers, is ubiquitous in German-speaking countries. The response "Es geht mir gut" (I'm fine/It goes well to me) maintains this impersonal structure, avoiding the direct "I am" construction of English.
German fairy tales famously begin with "Es war einmal..." (Once upon a time/It was once...), using "es" to create the timeless, impersonal atmosphere essential to the genre. This construction has become so culturally significant that it immediately signals the start of a fairy tale or legendary narrative.
The expression "Es tut mir leid" (I'm sorry) literally means "It does sorrow to me," showing how German often uses impersonal constructions where English uses personal ones. This reflects a cultural tendency to express emotions through external constructions rather than direct personal statements.
In formal German, "es" appears in polite constructions like "Es freut mich" (I'm pleased/It pleases me) used when meeting someone. This impersonal formulation maintains the formal distance characteristic of German social interactions, particularly in professional contexts.
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From "Der Steppenwolf" by Hermann Hesse (1927):
"Es war einmal einer namens Harry, genannt der Steppenwolf. Er ging auf zwei Beinen, trug Kleider und war ein Mensch, aber eigentlich war er doch eben ein Steppenwolf. Es hatte mit ihm seine Richtigkeit, wie es schien, und doch stimmte es auch wieder nicht."
Es it war was einmal once einer one namens named Harry Harry, genannt called der the Steppenwolf Steppenwolf. Er he ging went auf on zwei two Beinen legs, trug wore Kleider clothes und and war was ein a Mensch human, aber but eigentlich actually war was er he doch yet eben just ein a Steppenwolf steppe-wolf. Es it hatte had mit with ihm him seine its Richtigkeit correctness, wie as es it schien seemed, und and doch yet stimmte was-right es it auch also wieder again nicht not.
"Es war einmal einer namens Harry, genannt der Steppenwolf. Er ging auf zwei Beinen, trug Kleider und war ein Mensch, aber eigentlich war er doch eben ein Steppenwolf. Es hatte mit ihm seine Richtigkeit, wie es schien, und doch stimmte es auch wieder nicht."
"Once upon a time there was someone named Harry, called the Steppenwolf. He walked on two legs, wore clothes and was a human being, but actually he was really just a steppe wolf. It seemed right with him, as it appeared, and yet it wasn't right either."
Hesse's use of "es" in this passage demonstrates several key functions of the pronoun. The opening "Es war einmal" immediately establishes the fairy-tale tone while introducing the protagonist. The subsequent uses of "es" create an impersonal, philosophical distance that characterizes the novel's exploration of dual nature and identity.
The phrase "Es hatte mit ihm seine Richtigkeit" uses "es" in an impersonal construction that would be foreign to English—literally "It had its correctness with him." This impersonal framing reflects the narrator's attempt to objectively assess Harry's nature. The final "es" in "stimmte es auch wieder nicht" (it also wasn't right again) maintains this philosophical distance while expressing paradox.
The passage showcases three distinct uses of "es": -
"Es war einmal" - formulaic fairy-tale opening using "es" as expletive subject -
"Es hatte...seine Richtigkeit" - impersonal construction with "es" as formal subject -
"wie es schien" - "es" referring to the general situation -
"stimmte es auch wieder nicht" - "es" as subject referring to the previous statement
The text demonstrates how German uses "es" to create narrative distance and philosophical abstraction, allowing Hesse to examine his protagonist's dual nature from an impersonal perspective that would be difficult to achieve in English without the systematic use of such constructions.
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10.16 Es it wird becomes heute today ein a sonniger sunny Tag day mit with Temperaturen temperatures bis up-to zu to 25 25 Grad degrees
10.17 Am on-the Morgen morning ist is es it noch still kühl cool, aber but es it wird becomes schnell quickly wärmer warmer
10.18 Es it besteht exists eine a geringe slight Chance chance auf for Regen rain am on-the Nachmittag afternoon
10.19 In in den the Bergen mountains bleibt remains es it bewölkt cloudy und and es it kann can schneien snow
10.20 Es it weht blows ein a starker strong Wind wind aus from Westen west
10.21 Morgen tomorrow wird becomes es it deutlich clearly kälter colder als than heute today
10.22 Es it ist is ratsam advisable, einen a Regenschirm umbrella mitzunehmen to-take-along
10.23 Am on-the Wochenende weekend soll shall es it wieder again schöner nicer werden become
10.24 Es it herrscht prevails dichter dense Nebel fog in in den the Flusstälern river-valleys
10.25 Heute today Nacht night wird becomes es it sternklar starry-clear sein be
10.26 Es it besteht exists Glatteisgefahr black-ice-danger auf on den the Straßen streets
10.27 Die the Sonne sun scheint shines, aber but es it ist is trotzdem nevertheless kalt cold
10.28 Es it wird becomes erwartet expected, dass that es it am on-the Dienstag Tuesday regnet rains
10.29 Im in-the Süden south bleibt remains es it trocken dry und and warm warm
10.30 Es it sieht looks nach after Gewitter thunderstorm aus out
10.16 Es wird heute ein sonniger Tag mit Temperaturen bis zu 25 Grad. It will be a sunny day today with temperatures up to 25 degrees.
10.17 Am Morgen ist es noch kühl, aber es wird schnell wärmer. In the morning it's still cool, but it will warm up quickly.
10.18 Es besteht eine geringe Chance auf Regen am Nachmittag. There's a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
10.19 In den Bergen bleibt es bewölkt und es kann schneien. In the mountains it will remain cloudy and it may snow.
10.20 Es weht ein starker Wind aus Westen. A strong wind is blowing from the west.
10.21 Morgen wird es deutlich kälter als heute. Tomorrow it will be significantly colder than today.
10.22 Es ist ratsam, einen Regenschirm mitzunehmen. It's advisable to take an umbrella along.
10.23 Am Wochenende soll es wieder schöner werden. On the weekend it's supposed to get nicer again.
10.24 Es herrscht dichter Nebel in den Flusstälern. There's dense fog in the river valleys.
10.25 Heute Nacht wird es sternklar sein. Tonight it will be starry and clear.
10.26 Es besteht Glatteisgefahr auf den Straßen. There's danger of black ice on the streets.
10.27 Die Sonne scheint, aber es ist trotzdem kalt. The sun is shining, but it's cold nevertheless.
10.28 Es wird erwartet, dass es am Dienstag regnet. It's expected to rain on Tuesday.
10.29 Im Süden bleibt es trocken und warm. In the south it will remain dry and warm.
10.30 Es sieht nach Gewitter aus. It looks like a thunderstorm.
10.16 Es wird heute ein sonniger Tag mit Temperaturen bis zu 25 Grad.
10.17 Am Morgen ist es noch kühl, aber es wird schnell wärmer.
10.18 Es besteht eine geringe Chance auf Regen am Nachmittag.
10.19 In den Bergen bleibt es bewölkt und es kann schneien.
10.20 Es weht ein starker Wind aus Westen.
10.21 Morgen wird es deutlich kälter als heute.
10.22 Es ist ratsam, einen Regenschirm mitzunehmen.
10.23 Am Wochenende soll es wieder schöner werden.
10.24 Es herrscht dichter Nebel in den Flusstälern.
10.25 Heute Nacht wird es sternklar sein.
10.26 Es besteht Glatteisgefahr auf den Straßen.
10.27 Die Sonne scheint, aber es ist trotzdem kalt.
10.28 Es wird erwartet, dass es am Dienstag regnet.
10.29 Im Süden bleibt es trocken und warm.
10.30 Es sieht nach Gewitter aus.
Weather forecasting in German extensively uses "es" in ways that differ significantly from English weather reports. Understanding these patterns is crucial for comprehending German weather information.
Essential Weather Constructions with "es": -
Temperature and Conditions -
Es ist kalt/warm/heiß (It is cold/warm/hot) -
Es wird kälter/wärmer (It's getting colder/warmer) -
Es bleibt sonnig (It remains sunny) -
Precipitation Verbs German always requires "es" with weather verbs: -
Es regnet (It rains/It's raining) -
Es schneit (It snows/It's snowing) -
Es hagelt (It hails/It's hailing) -
Es nieselt (It drizzles/It's drizzling) -
Existence and Probability -
Es besteht die Gefahr von... (There's danger of...) -
Es gibt Regen (There is rain) -
Es herrscht Nebel (There is fog - literally "fog prevails") -
Future Weather with Modal Verbs -
Es soll regnen (It's supposed to rain) -
Es kann schneien (It may snow) -
Es wird sonnig werden (It will become sunny)
Common Weather Forecast Patterns:
The construction "Es wird + adjective/participle" is fundamental: -
Es wird bewölkt (It's becoming cloudy) -
Es wird erwartet, dass... (It's expected that...)
The phrase "Es sieht nach...aus" (It looks like...) is idiomatic for weather predictions: -
Es sieht nach Regen aus (It looks like rain) -
Es sieht nach einem schönen Tag aus (It looks like a nice day)
Impersonal Weather Expressions:
Unlike English, which might say "Rain is expected," German maintains the impersonal construction: -
Es wird Regen erwartet (Rain is expected - literally "It is expected rain")
The verb "herrschen" (to prevail) often appears with weather conditions: -
Es herrscht Sonnenschein (There's sunshine - literally "Sunshine prevails") -
Es herrschen niedrige Temperaturen (There are low temperatures)
Time and Location References:
Weather forecasts often combine "es" with temporal and spatial markers: -
Am Morgen ist es kühl (In the morning it's cool) -
Im Norden wird es regnen (In the north it will rain) -
Heute Nacht wird es klar (Tonight it will be clear)
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