Extended Wo-Compounds

Level 3

Wo-compounds (like 'worauf' or 'womit') are used instead of 'preposition + what'. They function as question words for objects and as relative connectors for abstract ideas.

How It Works

Wo-compounds serve two main purposes in German:

1. Interrogative Function:
When asking a question about a thing or an action involving a verb with a fixed preposition, wo-compounds are the standard formal choice. For example, instead of 'Für was...?', you use Wofür. While 'Preposition + was' (e.g., 'Für was?') is common in informal speech, wo-compounds are preferred in writing. Note that these are only for things; for people, you must use the preposition + accusative or dative pronoun (e.g., 'Auf wen').

2. Relative Function (Extended Use):
In advanced German, wo-compounds act as relative pronouns. They are used when the antecedent is:

  • An indefinite pronoun like alles, etwas, nichts, vieles, or weniges.
  • A demonstrative pronoun like das.
  • An entire preceding clause or idea.

Morphology and Case:

  • Consonant start: wo + mit = womit
  • Vowel start: wo + r + preposition (e.g., woran, worüber, worunter).
  • Case Neutrality: A major benefit is that wo-compounds are case-neutral; the form stays the same whether the preposition governs the Accusative or Dative.

Restrictions:
Not all prepositions can form wo-compounds. Common exceptions include ohne and seit, which must use the 'Preposition + was' construction even in formal contexts.

Examples (4)

  1. Woran denkst du gerade?

    What are you thinking about right now?

    Word by Word: Where-at think you just?

    The verb 'denken' takes the preposition 'an'. Since we are asking about a thought (a thing), we use 'woran'.

  2. Das ist alles, worüber wir heute gesprochen haben.

    That is everything (about which) we spoke about today.

    Word by Word: That is all, where-over we today spoken have.

    After the indefinite pronoun 'alles', a wo-compound ('worüber') is used instead of a standard relative pronoun.

  3. Er hat den Job bekommen, wozu ich ihm gratuliere.

    He got the job, for which I congratulate him.

    Word by Word: He has the job gotten, where-to I him congratulate.

    Here, 'wozu' refers back to the entire previous event (him getting the job).

  4. Womit hast du das repariert?

    With what did you repair that?

    Word by Word: Where-with have you that repaired?

    A standard question using 'womit' to ask about a tool or means.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a wo-compound for a person.

    Womit gehst du ins Kino? (Asking about a friend)
    Mit wem gehst du ins Kino?

    Wo-compounds are strictly for objects and concepts. For people, use the preposition followed by 'wem' or 'wen'.

  • Forgetting the '-r-' infix before a vowel.

    Woauf wartest du?
    Worauf wartest du?

    If the preposition starts with a vowel (auf, an, in, über, etc.), you must insert an '-r-' to make it easier to pronounce.

  • Using English-style preposition stranding.

    Was wartest du auf?
    Worauf wartest du?

    In standard German, you cannot leave a preposition at the end of the sentence like in English. The compound must stay together.

How It Connects

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

Extended Wo-CompoundsLevel 3

Learn This First

Extended wo-compounds require a solid understanding of basic wo-compounds and a broad vocabulary of both accusative and dative prepositions, as these compounds are formed by combining 'wo-' (or 'wor-' before vowels) with these specific prepositions to ask about things or concepts.

Words in This Pattern

woranworaufworauswobeiwofürwogegenwomitwonachworüberworumwovonwovonwovorwozu