How to Say "That" in German: A Comprehensive Guide

Mastering the translation of “that” into German is crucial for accurate and fluent communication. The English word “that” has several German equivalents, each used in specific contexts.

Understanding these nuances is essential for constructing grammatically correct and natural-sounding sentences. This guide provides a detailed exploration of the various German translations of “that,” including their grammatical functions, usage rules, and common pitfalls.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will equip you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently use “that” in German.

This article is designed for English speakers learning German, German learners seeking clarification on this specific point, and anyone interested in comparative grammar between English and German. By the end of this guide, you will be able to identify the correct German equivalent of “that” in a wide range of situations.

Introduction
Definition: Understanding the German Equivalents of “That”
Structural Breakdown: Grammatical Roles of “That” in German
Types and Categories of “That” in German
Examples: “That” in Various Contexts
Usage Rules: Guidelines for Correct Usage
Common Mistakes: Avoiding Translation Errors
Practice Exercises: Test Your Knowledge
Advanced Topics: Nuances and Complexities
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion

Definition: Understanding the German Equivalents of “That”

The English word “that” can be translated into German in several ways, depending on its function in the sentence. The most common translations include the demonstrative pronouns das, dieser/diese/dieses, and jener/jene/jenes; the relative pronouns der, die, das, and welcher/welche/welches; the conjunction dass; and the adverb so. Each of these German words serves a distinct grammatical purpose and is used in different contexts.

Understanding the distinctions between these translations is critical for accurate and idiomatic German. Failing to choose the correct equivalent can lead to miscommunication and grammatical errors.

This section provides a comprehensive overview of each translation, outlining its function and providing clear examples.

Structural Breakdown: Grammatical Roles of “That” in German

The German equivalents of “that” play various grammatical roles within a sentence. These roles determine which translation is appropriate in a given situation.

Here’s a breakdown of the key grammatical functions:

Demonstrative Pronoun: Points to a specific noun or pronoun, indicating “that one” or “that thing.” Examples include, Das ist mein Buch. (That is my book.)
Relative Pronoun: Introduces a relative clause, providing additional information about a noun or pronoun. Examples include, Das Buch, das ich lese, ist interessant. (The book that I am reading is interesting.)
Conjunction: Connects two clauses, indicating that one clause is subordinate to the other. Examples include, Ich weiß, dass du recht hast. (I know that you are right.)
Adverb: Modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating degree or manner. Examples include, Ich bin nicht so müde. (I am not that tired.)

Each of these functions requires a different German word to accurately convey the intended meaning. The following sections provide detailed explanations and examples of each type.

Types and Categories of “That” in German

The English word “that” can be expressed in German through several different grammatical categories. Understanding these categories is crucial for selecting the correct German equivalent.

Demonstrative Pronoun: Das, Dieser/Diese/Dieses, Jener/Jene/Jenes

Demonstrative pronouns in German, such as das, dieser/diese/dieses, and jener/jene/jenes, are used to point out specific nouns or pronouns. Das can often directly translate to “that,” but it’s crucial to understand its declension and usage based on the noun it replaces. Dieser/diese/dieses translates to “this/these,” but can also be used contextually to mean “that.” Jener/jene/jenes means “that/those” but refers to something more distant than dieser.

The choice between these pronouns depends on the proximity of the object being referred to and the grammatical gender and number of the noun.

Relative Pronoun: Der, Die, Das, Welcher, Welche, Welches

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, which provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. In German, the relative pronouns are der, die, das, and welcher/welche/welches. The choice of relative pronoun depends on the gender, number, and case of the noun it refers to.

Der, die, and das are the most common relative pronouns and are declined according to the case required by the relative clause. Welcher/welche/welches are often used as alternatives, especially when the relative clause follows a preposition.

Conjunction: Dass

The German conjunction dass is used to introduce subordinate clauses that function as nouns. It is equivalent to the English “that” when it introduces a clause that serves as the subject or object of a verb.

Dass clauses typically follow verbs of knowing, thinking, believing, saying, and feeling. The verb in the subordinate clause is always conjugated in the final position.

Adverb: So

The German adverb so can sometimes be used to translate “that” when indicating degree or manner. It is often used with adjectives or adverbs to express a level of intensity.

So is typically placed before the adjective or adverb it modifies. It is less direct translation of ‘that’ and more of an equivalent in specific contexts.

Examples: “That” in Various Contexts

To illustrate the different uses of “that” in German, here are several examples categorized by grammatical function.

Demonstrative Pronoun Examples

The following table provides examples of das, dieser/diese/dieses, and jener/jene/jenes used as demonstrative pronouns.

English	German	Explanation
That is my car.	Das ist mein Auto.	Das refers to a specific car.
That house over there is very old.	Jenes Haus dort ist sehr alt.	Jenes refers to a house that is farther away.
That woman is my sister.	Diese Frau ist meine Schwester.	Diese refers to a specific woman.
I want that one.	Ich möchte das.	Das refers to a specific item.
That is not what I meant.	Das ist nicht, was ich gemeint habe.	Das refers to a concept or statement.
That’s a good idea.	Das ist eine gute Idee.	Das refers to an idea.
Who is that?	Wer ist das?	Das refers to a person.
That’s it!	Das ist es!	Das refers to a situation or conclusion.
That’s right.	Das stimmt.	Das refers to a statement or fact.
That’s enough.	Das reicht.	Das refers to an amount or limit.
That man over there is my neighbor.	Jener Mann dort ist mein Nachbar.	Jener refers to a man who is farther away.
That car is faster than mine.	Dieses Auto ist schneller als meines.	Dieses refers to a specific car.
That book is very interesting.	Dieses Buch ist sehr interessant.	Dieses refers to a specific book.
I like that dress.	Ich mag dieses Kleid.	Dieses refers to a specific dress.
That movie was boring.	Dieser Film war langweilig.	Dieser refers to a specific movie.
That seems like a good plan.	Das scheint ein guter Plan zu sein.	Das refers to a plan or idea.
That’s exactly what I needed.	Das ist genau das, was ich brauchte.	Das refers to a specific need.
That was a great experience.	Das war eine tolle Erfahrung.	Das refers to an experience.
That’s the best way to do it.	Das ist der beste Weg, es zu tun.	Das refers to a method or approach.
That story he told was fascinating.	Jene Geschichte, die er erzählte, war faszinierend.	Jene refers to a story that is specific and perhaps further in the past.
That summer was unforgettable.	Jener Sommer war unvergesslich.	Jener refers to a summer that is specific and perhaps further in the past.
That day changed my life.	Jener Tag hat mein Leben verändert.	Jener refers to a day that is specific and significant.

Relative Pronoun Examples

The following table provides examples of der, die, das, and welcher/welche/welches used as relative pronouns.

English	German	Explanation
The book that I am reading is interesting.	Das Buch, das ich lese, ist interessant.	Das refers to the neuter noun Buch.
The man who is talking is my father.	Der Mann, der spricht, ist mein Vater.	Der refers to the masculine noun Mann.
The woman who is singing is my sister.	Die Frau, die singt, ist meine Schwester.	Die refers to the feminine noun Frau.
The car that I bought is new.	Das Auto, das ich gekauft habe, ist neu.	Das refers to the neuter noun Auto.
The house in which I live is small.	Das Haus, in dem ich wohne, ist klein.	Dem refers to the neuter noun Haus in the dative case.
The students who study hard will succeed.	Die Studenten, die fleißig lernen, werden Erfolg haben.	Die refers to the plural noun Studenten.
The movie that we saw was amazing.	Der Film, den wir gesehen haben, war toll.	Den refers to the masculine noun Film in the accusative case.
The city where I was born is beautiful.	Die Stadt, in der ich geboren wurde, ist wunderschön.	Der refers to the feminine noun Stadt in the dative case.
The reason why I am here is important.	Der Grund, warum ich hier bin, ist wichtig.	While “warum” (why) is used here, relative pronouns can replace it.
The problem that we are facing is complex.	Das Problem, das wir haben, ist komplex.	Das refers to the neuter noun Problem.
The book, which I found yesterday, is very old.	Das Buch, welches ich gestern gefunden habe, ist sehr alt.	Welches is an alternative to das for the neuter noun Buch.
The woman, who I spoke to, is very kind.	Die Frau, mit der ich gesprochen habe, ist sehr freundlich.	Der is the dative feminine form referring to Frau.
The cake, which she baked, was delicious.	Der Kuchen, den sie gebacken hat, war köstlich.	Den is the accusative masculine form, referring to Kuchen.
The topic, which we discussed, was interesting.	Das Thema, das wir besprochen haben, war interessant.	Das is the neuter form, referring to Thema.
The people, who helped us, were very friendly.	Die Leute, die uns geholfen haben, waren sehr freundlich.	Die is the plural form, referring to Leute.
The tool that is used for this task is specialized.	Das Werkzeug, das für diese Aufgabe verwendet wird, ist spezialisiert.	Das refers to the neuter noun Werkzeug.
The plant that grows in the garden is very rare.	Die Pflanze, die im Garten wächst, ist sehr selten.	Die refers to the feminine noun Pflanze.
The song that she sang was beautiful.	Das Lied, das sie gesungen hat, war wunderschön.	Das refers to the neuter noun Lied.
The lesson that we learned today was important.	Die Lektion, die wir heute gelernt haben, war wichtig.	Die refers to the feminine noun Lektion.
The project that he is working on is innovative.	Das Projekt, an dem er arbeitet, ist innovativ.	Dem refers to the neuter noun Projekt in the dative case.
The question that was asked was very difficult.	Die Frage, die gestellt wurde, war sehr schwierig.	Die refers to the feminine noun Frage.
The game that they are playing is exciting.	Das Spiel, das sie spielen, ist spannend.	Das refers to the neuter noun Spiel.

Conjunction Examples

The following table provides examples of dass used as a conjunction.

English	German	Explanation
I know that you are right.	Ich weiß, dass du recht hast.	Dass introduces a clause stating what the speaker knows.
He said that he was tired.	Er sagte, dass er müde war.	Dass introduces a clause stating what he said.
I think that it will rain.	Ich denke, dass es regnen wird.	Dass introduces a clause stating what the speaker thinks.
It is important that you arrive on time.	Es ist wichtig, dass du pünktlich ankommst.	Dass introduces a clause stating what is important.
She believes that he is honest.	Sie glaubt, dass er ehrlich ist.	Dass introduces a clause stating what she believes.
We hope that you will visit us soon.	Wir hoffen, dass du uns bald besuchen wirst.	Dass introduces a clause stating what they hope.
They fear that they will fail.	Sie fürchten, dass sie scheitern werden.	Dass introduces a clause stating what they fear.
It is obvious that he is lying.	Es ist offensichtlich, dass er lügt.	Dass introduces a clause stating what is obvious.
I understand that you are busy.	Ich verstehe, dass du beschäftigt bist.	Dass introduces a clause stating what the speaker understands.
She noticed that he was nervous.	Sie bemerkte, dass er nervös war.	Dass introduces a clause stating what she noticed.
It is clear that she is very talented.	Es ist klar, dass sie sehr talentiert ist.	Dass introduces a clause stating what is clear.
I am convinced that he will win.	Ich bin überzeugt, dass er gewinnen wird.	Dass introduces a clause stating what the speaker is convinced of.
She admitted that she was wrong.	Sie gab zu, dass sie falsch lag.	Dass introduces a clause stating what she admitted.
We assume that you will agree.	Wir nehmen an, dass du zustimmen wirst.	Dass introduces a clause stating what they assume.
They suspect that he is involved.	Sie vermuten, dass er beteiligt ist.	Dass introduces a clause stating what they suspect.
It seems that everything is fine.	Es scheint, dass alles in Ordnung ist.	Dass introduces a clause stating what it seems.
I hope that you have a good day.	Ich hoffe, dass du einen schönen Tag hast.	Dass introduces a clause stating what the speaker hopes.
She knows that he loves her.	Sie weiß, dass er sie liebt.	Dass introduces a clause stating what she knows.
We believe that you are telling the truth.	Wir glauben, dass du die Wahrheit sagst.	Dass introduces a clause stating what they believe.
They think that it is a good idea.	Sie denken, dass es eine gute Idee ist.	Dass introduces a clause stating what they think.
I feel that we should leave now.	Ich fühle, dass wir jetzt gehen sollten.	Dass introduces a clause stating what the speaker feels.

Adverb Examples

The following table provides examples of so used as an adverb.

English	German	Explanation
I am not that tired.	Ich bin nicht so müde.	So modifies the adjective müde (tired).
It is not that expensive.	Es ist nicht so teuer.	So modifies the adjective teuer (expensive).
He is not that tall.	Er ist nicht so groß.	So modifies the adjective groß (tall).
She doesn’t sing that well.	Sie singt nicht so gut.	So modifies the adverb gut (well).
The movie wasn’t that interesting.	Der Film war nicht so interessant.	So modifies the adjective interessant (interesting).
I didn’t expect it to be that difficult.	Ich habe nicht erwartet, dass es so schwierig ist.	So modifies the adjective schwierig (difficult).
The weather isn’t that bad.	Das Wetter ist nicht so schlecht.	So modifies the adjective schlecht (bad).
The food wasn’t that great.	Das Essen war nicht so toll.	So modifies the adjective toll (great).
I am not that hungry.	Ich bin nicht so hungrig.	So modifies the adjective hungrig (hungry).
She is not that happy.	Sie ist nicht so glücklich.	So modifies the adjective glücklich (happy).
The party wasn’t that fun.	Die Party war nicht so lustig.	So modifies the adjective lustig (fun).
The exam wasn’t that hard.	Die Prüfung war nicht so schwer.	So modifies the adjective schwer (hard).
The coffee isn’t that hot.	Der Kaffee ist nicht so heiß.	So modifies the adjective heiß (hot).
The book wasn’t that long.	Das Buch war nicht so lang.	So modifies the adjective lang (long).
I don’t think it’s that important.	Ich glaube nicht, dass es so wichtig ist.	So modifies the adjective wichtig (important).
He isn’t acting that strange.	Er verhält sich nicht so komisch.	So modifies the adjective komisch (strange).
I didn’t realize it was that late.	Ich habe nicht bemerkt, dass es so spät ist.	So modifies the adjective spät (late).
The noise wasn’t that loud.	Der Lärm war nicht so laut.	So modifies the adjective laut (loud).
The explanation wasn’t that clear.	Die Erklärung war nicht so klar.	So modifies the adjective klar (clear).
The task wasn’t that difficult.	Die Aufgabe war nicht so schwierig.	So modifies the adjective schwierig (difficult).

Usage Rules: Guidelines for Correct Usage

Understanding the usage rules for each German equivalent of “that” is essential for accurate communication.

Demonstrative Pronoun Usage Rules

Gender and Number Agreement: Demonstrative pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
Case: The case of the demonstrative pronoun depends on its function in the sentence.
Proximity: Dieser/diese/dieses is used for objects that are closer, while jener/jene/jenes is used for objects that are farther away.

Relative Pronoun Usage Rules

Gender, Number, and Case Agreement: Relative pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to, but their case is determined by their function within the relative clause.
Word Order: The verb in the relative clause is always at the end.
Punctuation: Relative clauses are typically separated from the main clause by commas.

Conjunction Usage Rules

Word Order: The verb in the dass-clause is always at the end.
No Inversion: The subject and verb in the main clause are not inverted after dass.
Use with Verbs of Knowing, Thinking, etc.: Dass is typically used with verbs expressing knowledge, belief, opinion, or communication.

Adverb Usage Rules

Placement: The adverb so is placed before the adjective or adverb it modifies.
Meaning: So indicates a degree or intensity.

Common Mistakes: Avoiding Translation Errors

One common mistake is using das as a relative pronoun when the noun it refers to is masculine or feminine. For example, incorrectly saying “Der Mann, das spricht…” instead of “Der Mann, der spricht…”

Another frequent error is using dass when a relative pronoun is required, or vice versa. For instance, incorrectly saying “Das Buch, dass ich lese…” instead of “Das Buch, das ich lese…”

Confusing dieser/diese/dieses and jener/jene/jenes is also common. Remember that dieser refers to something closer, while jener refers to something farther away.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Der Mann, das spricht…	Der Mann, der spricht…	Der is the correct relative pronoun for the masculine noun Mann.
Das Buch, dass ich lese…	Das Buch, das ich lese…	Das is the correct relative pronoun for the neuter noun Buch.
Ich bin dass müde.	Ich bin so müde.	So is the correct adverb to modify the adjective müde.
Ich weiß der du recht hast.	Ich weiß, dass du recht hast.	Dass is the correct conjunction to introduce the subordinate clause.

Practice Exercises: Test Your Knowledge

Test your understanding of the German equivalents of “that” with these practice exercises.

Question	Answer
Translate: The car that is parked outside is mine.	Das Auto, das draußen parkt, gehört mir.
Translate: I know that she is a good student.	Ich weiß, dass sie eine gute Studentin ist.
Translate: That is my friend.	Das ist mein Freund.
Translate: I am not that tall.	Ich bin nicht so groß.
Translate: The woman who is talking is my mother.	Die Frau, die spricht, ist meine Mutter.
Translate: It is important that you study hard.	Es ist wichtig, dass du fleißig lernst.
Translate: That house over there is for sale.	Jenes Haus dort steht zum Verkauf.
Translate: The book that I borrowed is very interesting.	Das Buch, das ich ausgeliehen habe, ist sehr interessant.
Translate: He said that he was happy.	Er sagte, dass er glücklich war.
Translate: That seems like a good idea.	Das scheint eine gute Idee zu sein.

Exercise 1: Choose the correct word

#	Question	Options	Answer
1	I think ____ he will come.	a) der, b) dass, c) das	b) dass
2	The book ____ I read was interesting.	a) der, b) dass, c) das	c) das
3	____ is my car.	a) der, b) dass, c) das	c) das
4	I am not ____ tired.	a) so, b) dass, c) das	a) so
5	The man ____ is standing there is my father.	a) der, b) dass, c) das	a) der
6	She said _____ she was going home.

How to Say “That” in German: A Comprehensive Guide

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