es (Expletivum)

Expletive Es

Level 4

The German 'Expletive Es' is a 'dummy' word. It doesn't refer to a specific thing; it simply exists to satisfy German's strict verb-second rule or to act as a subject for verbs that don't have a real agent (like weather).

How It Works

While most German sentences require a subject, the word es often serves as a 'dummy' filler. Understanding when it is required versus when it must disappear is key to becoming proficient in German syntax:

1. Mandatory Subject: Used for weather and time. This es is a true subject and remains even if the word order changes.
Example: Es regnet. → Heute regnet es.

2. Sensations: With feelings like 'being cold', es is optional if the dative object comes first.
Example: Es ist mir kalt. or simply Mir ist kalt.

3. The 'Vorfeld' Placeholder: Used to fill the first slot in a main clause, especially in the impersonal passive. This es disappears if another word takes the first position or if the sentence becomes a subordinate clause.
Example: Es wird hier gearbeitet. → Hier wird gearbeitet. (No 'es')
Example: Ich weiß, dass hier gearbeitet wird. (No 'es')

4. Correlative Es: Acts as a placeholder for a dass-clause or infinitive. It is often optional when representing an object clause.
Example: Ich liebe (es), im Meer zu schwimmen.

5. Fixed Idioms (Dummy Object): Some verbs require es as a fixed accusative object.
Example: Ich habe es eilig. (I am in a hurry.)

Examples (5)

  1. Es schneit heute den ganzen Tag.

    It is snowing all day today.

    Word by Word: It snows today the whole day.

    This is a mandatory impersonal subject used for weather. Even if you start with 'Heute', the 'es' must remain: 'Heute schneit es'.

  2. Es sind noch Plätze frei.

    There are still seats available.

    Word by Word: It are still places free.

    Here, 'es' is a placeholder. Notice the verb 'sind' is plural because it agrees with 'Plätze', not 'es'.

  3. Es wird heute Abend viel getanzt.

    There will be a lot of dancing tonight.

    Word by Word: It becomes today evening much danced.

    This is an impersonal passive. The 'es' fills the first position but disappears if another word starts the sentence: 'Heute Abend wird viel getanzt'.

  4. Es freut mich, dass du gekommen bist.

    It pleases me that you have come.

    Word by Word: It pleases me, that you come are.

    This is a correlative es. It acts as a placeholder for the entire dass-clause that follows.

  5. Es gibt viele Probleme in der Welt.

    There are many problems in the world.

    Word by Word: It gives many problems in the world.

    In the idiom es gibt, 'es' is the formal subject, so the verb 'gibt' stays singular even though 'Probleme' is plural.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting 'es' with weather verbs when another word starts the sentence.

    Gestern regnete stark.
    Gestern regnete es stark.

    In weather expressions, 'es' is a mandatory subject. It doesn't disappear just because an adverb like 'Gestern' moved to the front.

  • Keeping the placeholder 'es' in a subordinate clause.

    Ich weiß, dass es heute getanzt wird.
    Ich weiß, dass heute getanzt wird.

    The placeholder 'es' used in impersonal passives only exists to fill the first position of a main clause. In a subordinate clause, the verb moves to the end and the placeholder 'es' must be removed.

  • Using a plural verb with 'es gibt' when followed by a plural noun.

    Es geben viele Autos auf der Straße.
    Es gibt viele Autos auf der Straße.

    Unlike the structural placeholder 'es', the 'es' in es gibt is the grammatical subject. Therefore, the verb must always be singular ('gibt'), regardless of the noun that follows.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

es (Expletivum)Level 4Expletive Es

Learn This First

To understand the expletive 'es', you first need to be familiar with 'es' as a personal pronoun and how verbs are conjugated in the present tense. It is also essential to understand basic German word order, as the expletive 'es' often serves as a grammatical placeholder to ensure the verb remains in the second position when no other subject is present.

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