Welcome to Lesson 13 of the German for English Speakers course. In this lesson, we will explore the English word "that" and its various German equivalents. This seemingly simple word presents unique challenges for English speakers learning German because it has multiple translations depending on its grammatical function. For a complete index of lessons in this course, please visit https://latinum.substack.com/p/index.
Definition: The English word "that" serves multiple grammatical functions: -
As a conjunction meaning "that" (German: dass) -
As a demonstrative pronoun/adjective meaning "that one" (German: der/die/das or jener/jene/jenes) -
As a relative pronoun introducing clauses (German: der/die/das or welcher/welche/welches)
In this lesson, we will explore all three uses through carefully constructed examples that progress from simple to more complex structures. Each example is designed to help you understand not just the translation, but the underlying grammatical patterns that govern when and how to use each form.
Key Takeaways: -
German distinguishes between conjunction "dass" and demonstrative/relative "der/die/das" -
Word order changes significantly after "dass" (verb goes to the end) -
Demonstrative pronouns must agree in gender, number, and case -
Relative pronouns also require case agreement -
Context determines which form of "that" to use
Question: What does "that" mean in German? Answer: The English word "that" has three main translations in German: 1) "dass" as a conjunction introducing subordinate clauses, 2) "der/die/das" as demonstrative pronouns meaning "that one", and 3) "der/die/das" or "welcher/welche/welches" as relative pronouns introducing relative clauses. The correct translation depends on the grammatical function of "that" in the sentence.
@context: http://schema.org @type: EducationalMaterial name: German Lesson 13 - That (Dass/Der/Die/Das) educationalLevel: Beginner to Intermediate German learningResourceType: Language Learning Lesson inLanguage: en, de teaches: German grammar, vocabulary, and usage of "that" typicalAgeRange: 14+ educationalUse: Self-study language learning provider: Latinum Institute dateCreated: 2024 description: Comprehensive lesson teaching English speakers the various German translations of "that" including dass, der/die/das as demonstratives and relatives
13.1 I Ich know weiß, that dass he er today heute comes kommt
13.2 That Das book Buch is ist very sehr interesting interessant
13.3 The Der man Mann, that der there dort stands steht, is ist my mein teacher Lehrer
13.4 She Sie says sagt, that dass the das weather Wetter tomorrow morgen beautiful schön will be sein wird
13.5 That Jenes house Haus over there dort drüben belongs gehört to meinem my Onkel uncle
13.6 The Die woman Frau, that die I ich yesterday gestern met traf, speaks spricht German Deutsch
13.7 Do Glaubst you du believe *, that dass it es tomorrow morgen will rain regnen wird?
13.8 That Das there da I kann cannot ich understand nicht verstehen
13.9 The Das child Kind, that das in im the Garten garden plays spielt, is ist happy glücklich
13.10 He Er hopes hofft, that dass you du soon bald again wieder healthy gesund become wirst
13.11 Is Ist that das your dein new neues car Auto?
13.12 Everything Alles, that was she sie said sagte, was war true wahr
13.13 I Ich think denke, that dass we wir now jetzt go gehen should sollten
13.14 That Der dog Hund, that der so so loud laut barks bellt, belongs gehört to den the Nachbarn neighbors
13.15 Did Wusstest you du know *, that dass she sie three drei languages Sprachen speaks spricht?
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13.1 Ich weiß, dass er heute kommt. I know that he is coming today.
13.2 Das Buch ist sehr interessant. That book is very interesting.
13.3 Der Mann, der dort steht, ist mein Lehrer. The man that stands there is my teacher.
13.4 Sie sagt, dass das Wetter morgen schön sein wird. She says that the weather will be beautiful tomorrow.
13.5 Jenes Haus dort drüben gehört meinem Onkel. That house over there belongs to my uncle.
13.6 Die Frau, die ich gestern traf, spricht Deutsch. The woman that I met yesterday speaks German.
13.7 Glaubst du, dass es morgen regnen wird? Do you believe that it will rain tomorrow?
13.8 Das da kann ich nicht verstehen. That there I cannot understand.
13.9 Das Kind, das im Garten spielt, ist glücklich. The child that plays in the garden is happy.
13.10 Er hofft, dass du bald wieder gesund wirst. He hopes that you will soon be healthy again.
13.11 Ist das dein neues Auto? Is that your new car?
13.12 Alles, was sie sagte, war wahr. Everything that she said was true.
13.13 Ich denke, dass wir jetzt gehen sollten. I think that we should go now.
13.14 Der Hund, der so laut bellt, gehört den Nachbarn. The dog that barks so loudly belongs to the neighbors.
13.15 Wusstest du, dass sie drei Sprachen spricht? Did you know that she speaks three languages?
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13.1 Ich weiß, dass er heute kommt.
13.2 Das Buch ist sehr interessant.
13.3 Der Mann, der dort steht, ist mein Lehrer.
13.4 Sie sagt, dass das Wetter morgen schön sein wird.
13.5 Jenes Haus dort drüben gehört meinem Onkel.
13.6 Die Frau, die ich gestern traf, spricht Deutsch.
13.7 Glaubst du, dass es morgen regnen wird?
13.8 Das da kann ich nicht verstehen.
13.9 Das Kind, das im Garten spielt, ist glücklich.
13.10 Er hofft, dass du bald wieder gesund wirst.
13.11 Ist das dein neues Auto?
13.12 Alles, was sie sagte, war wahr.
13.13 Ich denke, dass wir jetzt gehen sollten.
13.14 Der Hund, der so laut bellt, gehört den Nachbarn.
13.15 Wusstest du, dass sie drei Sprachen spricht?
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The English word "that" translates to German in three distinct ways, each with its own grammatical rules:
1. "Dass" - The Conjunction
"Dass" introduces subordinate clauses and always triggers a specific word order change: -
The conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause -
It is always spelled with double-s (dass), never to be confused with "das" (the/that) -
Common after verbs of thinking, saying, hoping, knowing: denken, sagen, hoffen, wissen
Step-by-Step Guide for "dass" clauses: -
Start with the main clause: "Ich weiß" (I know) -
Add comma and "dass": "Ich weiß, dass" -
Continue with subject: "Ich weiß, dass er" -
Add any time expressions or objects -
Put the verb at the end: "Ich weiß, dass er heute kommt"
2. "Der/Die/Das" - The Demonstrative
When "that" points to something specific: -
Must agree with the gender of the noun -
Masculine: der/dieser/jener -
Feminine: die/diese/jene -
Neuter: das/dieses/jenes -
Changes for case (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive)
3. "Der/Die/Das" - The Relative Pronoun
When "that" introduces a descriptive clause: -
Must agree with the gender AND case of its antecedent -
The verb goes to the end of the relative clause -
Can be replaced by "welcher/welche/welches" in formal writing
-
Confusing "das" and "dass" -
Wrong: "Ich weiß, das er kommt" -
Right: "Ich weiß, dass er kommt" -
Wrong word order after "dass" -
Wrong: "Sie sagt, dass sie kommt morgen" -
Right: "Sie sagt, dass sie morgen kommt" -
Using wrong gender for demonstratives -
Wrong: "Das Frau ist nett" -
Right: "Die Frau ist nett" -
Forgetting case changes in relative clauses -
Wrong: "Der Mann, der ich kenne" -
Right: "Der Mann, den ich kenne" (accusative)
Unlike English, which uses one word "that" for multiple functions, German distinguishes: -
Conjunction "that" = dass (introducing reported speech or thoughts) -
Demonstrative "that" = der/die/das (pointing to specific things) -
Relative "that" = der/die/das (describing nouns)
Demonstrative Declension (der/die/das as "that")
Nominative: der (m), die (f), das (n), die (pl) Accusative: den (m), die (f), das (n), die (pl) Dative: dem (m), der (f), dem (n), den (pl) Genitive: des (m), der (f), des (n), der (pl)
Relative Pronoun Declension
Same as demonstrative, but usage depends on the role in the relative clause: -
Subject of relative clause: nominative -
Direct object of relative clause: accusative -
Indirect object of relative clause: dative -
Possessive in relative clause: genitive
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Understanding the German use of "that" reveals important cultural aspects of German communication:
Precision in Language
German speakers value linguistic precision, which explains why German distinguishes between different types of "that." This reflects a broader cultural tendency toward exactness and clarity in communication. While English speakers might find this distinction cumbersome, German speakers see it as necessary for clear expression.
Formal vs. Informal Registers
The choice between "das" and "welches" as relative pronouns can signal formality levels. "Welches" appears more in written, formal German, while "das" dominates spoken language. This distinction helps German speakers navigate social hierarchies and professional contexts.
Regional Variations
In southern Germany and Austria, you might hear "dass" pronounced more like "das" in rapid speech, though the spelling distinction remains in writing. Swiss German often uses entirely different constructions, avoiding "dass" clauses in favor of simpler sentence structures.
Historical Development
The distinction between "das" and "dass" was codified relatively recently in German spelling reforms. Before 1996, many Germans wrote "daß" for the conjunction. The reform to "dass" helped clarify the distinction from the article/pronoun "das."
Impact on German Thinking
The requirement to plan ahead for verb placement in "dass" clauses may contribute to the German reputation for thorough planning and systematic thinking. Speakers must conceive their entire thought before beginning a subordinate clause, as the main verb must wait until the end.
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From Thomas Mann's "Der Zauberberg" (The Magic Mountain), 1924:
"Hans Castorp wusste wohl, dass das Leben, das er dort unten geführt hatte, für immer vorbei war, und dass er selbst sich so verändert hatte, dass er nie wieder der werden konnte, der er gewesen war."
Hans Castorp Hans Castorp knew wusste well wohl, that dass the das life Leben, that das he er there dort below unten led geführt had hatte, for für ever immer over vorbei was war, and und that dass he er himself selbst himself sich so so changed verändert had hatte, that dass he er never nie again wieder the one der become werden could konnte, who der he er been gewesen was war.
"Hans Castorp wusste wohl, dass das Leben, das er dort unten geführt hatte, für immer vorbei war, und dass er selbst sich so verändert hatte, dass er nie wieder der werden konnte, der er gewesen war."
Hans Castorp knew well that the life that he had led down there was over forever, and that he himself had changed so much that he could never again become who he had been.
"Hans Castorp wusste wohl, dass das Leben, das er dort unten geführt hatte, für immer vorbei war, und dass er selbst sich so verändert hatte, dass er nie wieder der werden konnte, der er gewesen war."
This passage masterfully demonstrates all three uses of "that" in German: -
"dass" (conjunction) appears three times, each introducing a subordinate clause -
"das" (relative pronoun) appears twice, referring back to "Leben" -
"der" (relative pronoun) appears twice, referring to the person he was
Note the complex word order: each "dass" clause ends with its verb, and the relative clauses also place verbs at the end. This creates the characteristically complex German sentence structure that allows for philosophical depth and precision.
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13.16 The Die scientists Wissenschaftler discovered entdeckten, that dass water Wasser on auf Mars dem Mars exists existiert
13.17 That Diese theory Theorie contradicts widerspricht our unseren previous bisherigen assumptions Annahmen
13.18 The Das experiment Experiment, that das we wir yesterday gestern conducted durchführten, showed zeigte surprising überraschende results Ergebnisse
13.19 It Es is ist proven bewiesen, that dass climate der Klimawandel change faster schneller progresses voranschreitet than als expected erwartet
13.20 That Das phenomenon Phänomen can kann one man only nur with mit quantum der Quantenmechanik mechanics explain erklären
13.21 The Die data Daten, that die the der computer Computer analyzed analysierte, confirm bestätigen our unsere hypothesis Hypothese
13.22 Researchers Forscher assume vermuten, that dass the das universe Universum constantly ständig expands sich ausdehnt
13.23 That Jene measurement Messung from vom last letzten year Jahr must muss repeated wiederholt be werden
13.24 The Der professor Professor, that der this diese study Studie leads leitet, received erhielt the den Nobel Nobelpreis Prize
13.25 We Wir know wissen now jetzt, that dass genes Gene not nicht everything alles determine bestimmen
13.26 Everything Alles, that was we wir about über atoms Atome thought dachten, was war incomplete unvollständig
13.27 That Diese result Ergebnis suggests deutet darauf hin on *, that dass our unsere model Modell correct richtig is ist
13.28 The Die technology Technologie, that die here hier used verwendet is wird, revolutionizes revolutioniert the die medicine Medizin
13.29 Is Stimmt it es **, that dass light Licht both sowohl wave Welle and als auch particle Teilchen is ist?
13.30 That Die discovery Entdeckung, that die she sie made machte, changed veränderte our unser understanding Verständnis of der nature Natur
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13.16 Die Wissenschaftler entdeckten, dass Wasser auf dem Mars existiert. The scientists discovered that water exists on Mars.
13.17 Diese Theorie widerspricht unseren bisherigen Annahmen. That theory contradicts our previous assumptions.
13.18 Das Experiment, das wir gestern durchführten, zeigte überraschende Ergebnisse. The experiment that we conducted yesterday showed surprising results.
13.19 Es ist bewiesen, dass der Klimawandel schneller voranschreitet als erwartet. It is proven that climate change progresses faster than expected.
13.20 Das Phänomen kann man nur mit der Quantenmechanik erklären. That phenomenon can only be explained with quantum mechanics.
13.21 Die Daten, die der Computer analysierte, bestätigen unsere Hypothese. The data that the computer analyzed confirm our hypothesis.
13.22 Forscher vermuten, dass das Universum sich ständig ausdehnt. Researchers assume that the universe constantly expands.
13.23 Jene Messung vom letzten Jahr muss wiederholt werden. That measurement from last year must be repeated.
13.24 Der Professor, der diese Studie leitet, erhielt den Nobelpreis. The professor that leads this study received the Nobel Prize.
13.25 Wir wissen jetzt, dass Gene nicht alles bestimmen. We now know that genes do not determine everything.
13.26 Alles, was wir über Atome dachten, war unvollständig. Everything that we thought about atoms was incomplete.
13.27 Dieses Ergebnis deutet darauf hin, dass unser Modell richtig ist. That result suggests that our model is correct.
13.28 Die Technologie, die hier verwendet wird, revolutioniert die Medizin. The technology that is used here revolutionizes medicine.
13.29 Stimmt es, dass Licht sowohl Welle als auch Teilchen ist? Is it true that light is both wave and particle?
13.30 Die Entdeckung, die sie machte, veränderte unser Verständnis der Natur. The discovery that she made changed our understanding of nature.
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13.16 Die Wissenschaftler entdeckten, dass Wasser auf dem Mars existiert.
13.17 Diese Theorie widerspricht unseren bisherigen Annahmen.
13.18 Das Experiment, das wir gestern durchführten, zeigte überraschende Ergebnisse.
13.19 Es ist bewiesen, dass der Klimawandel schneller voranschreitet als erwartet.
13.20 Das Phänomen kann man nur mit der Quantenmechanik erklären.
13.21 Die Daten, die der Computer analysierte, bestätigen unsere Hypothese.
13.22 Forscher vermuten, dass das Universum sich ständig ausdehnt.
13.23 Jene Messung vom letzten Jahr muss wiederholt werden.
13.24 Der Professor, der diese Studie leitet, erhielt den Nobelpreis.
13.25 Wir wissen jetzt, dass Gene nicht alles bestimmen.
13.26 Alles, was wir über Atome dachten, war unvollständig.
13.27 Dieses Ergebnis deutet darauf hin, dass unser Modell richtig ist.
13.28 Die Technologie, die hier verwendet wird, revolutioniert die Medizin.
13.29 Stimmt es, dass Licht sowohl Welle als auch Teilchen ist?
13.30 Die Entdeckung, die sie machte, veränderte unser Verständnis der Natur.
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1. Passive Voice Constructions
Scientific German frequently uses passive voice with "dass" clauses: -
"Es wird behauptet, dass..." (It is claimed that...) -
"Es wurde bewiesen, dass..." (It was proven that...) -
"Es kann gezeigt werden, dass..." (It can be shown that...)
2. Complex Relative Clauses
Scientific texts often contain nested relative clauses: -
"Die Methode, die in der Studie, die letztes Jahr publiziert wurde, verwendet wurde..." -
Multiple levels of "which/that" require careful tracking of gender and case
3. Formal Demonstratives
Scientific writing prefers: -
"diese/r/s" over simple "der/die/das" for clarity -
"jene/r/s" for distant reference -
"solche/r/s" for "such that"
4. Common Scientific Phrases with "dass" -
"daraus folgt, dass..." (it follows that...) -
"dies bedeutet, dass..." (this means that...) -
"die Tatsache, dass..." (the fact that...) -
"unter der Annahme, dass..." (under the assumption that...)
5. Word Order in Complex Sentences
Scientific German often features: -
Long distance between "dass" and its verb -
Multiple subordinate clauses -
Extended attributes before nouns
Example structure: "Die Forscher, die an verschiedenen Universitäten arbeiten, vermuten, dass die vor zehn Jahren entwickelte Theorie, die damals revolutionär war, möglicherweise revidiert werden muss."
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The Latinum Institute has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006, pioneering methods that help autodidacts master classical and modern languages independently. These lessons form part of our comprehensive Modern Language Course series, designed specifically for self-directed learners.
Our unique approach, detailed at https://latinum.substack.com/p/method and latinum.org.uk, combines several proven techniques:
The Construed Text Method: By providing word-by-word interlinear translations in Section A, learners can immediately understand the relationship between source and target languages. This granular approach helps beginners decode complex sentences while building vocabulary systematically.
Progressive Complexity: Each lesson moves from simple interlinear glosses through complete sentences to standalone target language text, allowing learners to gradually reduce their reliance on translations.
Comprehensive Grammar Integration: Rather than isolating grammar in separate lessons, we integrate grammatical concepts within meaningful contexts, showing how structures function in real communication.
Cultural and Literary Context: Sections E and F provide authentic cultural insights and literary examples, moving beyond mere translation to true language comprehension.
Genre-Based Learning: By including specialized sections like scientific writing, business correspondence, or narrative fiction, learners encounter the full range of language use.
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These lessons work best when studied sequentially, though each can stand alone for reference. Regular practice with our construed texts builds the pattern recognition essential for language mastery, while our cultural notes ensure learners can use their skills appropriately in real-world contexts.
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