B1 · GRAMMAR
Relative clauses 2: dem, denen, mit dem, wo, was
In A2 you learned relative clauses with der/den. In B1 there are three new things: Dative relative pronouns (dem, der, denen), relative clauses starting with a preposition (die Stadt, in der ich wohne), and those with wo / was (alles, was du sagst). The rule is the same: the gender comes from the noun, the case from the role in the subordinate clause.
In this lesson
1. Dative pronouns
dem, der, dem, plural denen (!).
Der Freund, dem ich helfe, ...
The friend whom I am helping ...
2. Preposition + pronoun
The preposition comes before the relative pronoun.
Die Stadt, in der ich wohne, ist schön.
The city in which I live is beautiful.
3. wo
Use wo instead of in dem / in der for places.
Das ist das Café, wo wir uns kennengelernt haben.
This is the café where we met.
4. was
Use was after alles, etwas, nichts, das, vieles.
Alles, was du sagst, stimmt.
Everything that you say is correct.
5. Genitive (in reading)
dessen (der/das), deren (die/plural): der Mann, dessen Auto ...
💡 Watch out for verbs with prepositions: sprechen mit → der Kollege, mit dem ich spreche. The preposition of the verb moves in front of the relative pronoun.