Was or das? in German
Understanding grammar is key to understanding a language.
Learn how to use Was or das? in German and many other tips and tricks with Wunderbla.
Test your German level for free today.
Was or das?
Das (which, that) generally refers to a neuter noun.
Das Haus, das ich sehe. Relativpronomen
The house which I am looking at.
Was, when it means “which, that”, is used:
- after words such as nichts (nothing), alles (everything), etwas (something) or das (this, that) – without a noun.
Nichts, was du möchtest.
Nothing that you would like.
Das, was wir essen.
What we are eating (literally “That which we are eating”).
- after superlative neuter nouns (meaning “the most…”): das + noun + ‑ste ending + comma + was.
Das Schönste, was es gibt.
The most beautiful thing that there is.
Note:
- After a preposition such as auf (on), mit (with), ohne (without) or über (over, about), we use das rather than was.
Nichts, über das wir sprechen.
Nothing which we are talking about (literally “Nothing about which we are talking”).
Das Schönste, auf das wir anstoßen.
The most wonderful thing which we drink to.
Still facing difficulties with 'Was or das?'? Learn and enhance your German grammar through our online German course. Start with a free test and improve today!
What our users say:
Improve your German further and test Wunderbla, online German lessons.
