wir/ihr/sie/Sie

Personal Pronouns Plural and Formal

Level 1

German uses different pronouns for 'we', 'they', and 'you' depending on the number of people and the level of formality.

How It Works

In German, plural pronouns and formal address follow specific rules for both usage and verb endings:

  • wir (we): Used when the speaker is part of the group. Verbs usually end in -en (or just -n for verbs ending in -eln/-ern like sammeln or wandern).
  • ihr (you all): Used to address two or more people you know well (friends, family, children). Verbs end in -t.
  • sie (they): Used to talk about a group of people or things. Verbs usually end in -en (or -n).
  • Sie (formal you): Used for one or more people in professional or formal settings. It is always capitalized. Verbs usually end in -en (or -n).

Important Exceptions:
1. The verb sein (to be) is irregular: wir sind, ihr seid, sie/Sie sind.
2. If a verb stem ends in -d or -t (like arbeiten), add an 'e' before the -t ending for ihr (e.g., ihr arbeitet).
3. At the start of a sentence, Sie is always capitalized. You must look at the verb form and context to know if it means 'She', 'They', or 'You (formal)'.

Examples (6)

  1. Wir gehen heute ins Kino.

    We are going to the cinema today.

    Word by Word: We go today into-the cinema.

    'Wir' is the first person plural and takes the -en verb ending.

  2. Kinder, was macht ihr da?

    Children, what are you all doing there?

    Word by Word: Children, what make you-all there?

    'ihr' is used here because the speaker is addressing multiple children informally.

  3. Sie spielen im Garten.

    They are playing in the garden.

    Word by Word: They play in-the garden.

    Here 'sie' (lowercase) refers to 'they'. Note the -en ending on the verb.

  4. Können Sie mir helfen, Herr Schmidt?

    Can you help me, Mr. Schmidt?

    Word by Word: Can You me help, Mr. Schmidt?

    'Sie' is capitalized to show formal address to an adult stranger or superior.

  5. Wir wandern am Wochenende.

    We are hiking on the weekend.

    Word by Word: We hike on-the weekend.

    For verbs ending in -ern like 'wandern', the ending for 'wir', 'sie', and 'Sie' is just -n, not -en.

  6. Wir sind im Park und ihr seid zu Hause.

    We are in the park and you all are at home.

    Word by Word: We are in-the park and you-all are at home.

    The verb sein is irregular: 'wir sind', 'ihr seid', and 'sie/Sie sind'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'ihr' to address a group of strangers.

    Hallo, was macht ihr?
    Hallo, was machen Sie?

    Using 'ihr' with people you don't know (like shop assistants or bosses) can be seen as rude. Use the formal 'Sie' instead.

  • Forgetting to capitalize 'Sie' in writing.

    Können sie mir helfen?
    Können Sie mir helfen?

    Without capitalization, 'sie' means 'they' or 'she'. 'Sie' must always be capitalized when it means 'you (formal)'.

  • Using the wrong verb ending for 'ihr'.

    Ihr gehen nach Hause.
    Ihr geht nach Hause.

    While 'wir', 'sie', and 'Sie' usually use the -en ending, 'ihr' always requires the -t ending.

How It Connects

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wir/ihr/sie/SieLevel 1Personal Pronouns Plural and Formal

Learn This First

To understand plural and formal pronouns, you first need to grasp the basic concept of personal pronouns through the singular forms and be familiar with German capitalization rules, which are essential for identifying the formal 'Sie'.

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ihr