was

What (Free Relative)

Level 3

In German, while der, die, and das are the standard relative pronouns for specific nouns, was is used for abstract or non-specific things. It translates to 'what' or 'that' in English.

How It Works

The relative pronoun was is essential for expressing abstract ideas. It follows specific rules for when it must replace the standard das:

  • After Indefinite Pronouns: Use it after words like alles, etwas, nichts, vieles, or einiges. Example: Alles, was ich brauche... (Everything [that] I need...).
  • After Substantivized Superlatives: When a superlative adjective is used as a noun (neuter), was follows. Example: Das Beste, was ich tun kann... (The best thing [that] I can do...).
  • Sentential Relatives: Use was to comment on an entire preceding clause. Example: Er kommt zu spät, was mich ärgert. (He is coming late, which annoys me).
  • Free Relatives: It can start a sentence without an antecedent, meaning 'that which' or 'whatever'. Example: Was du sagst, ist wahr. (What you say is true).

Note: was only works in the nominative and accusative cases. If you need a preposition (like 'about which'), you usually use a wo-compound like worüber or wofür.

Examples (5)

  1. Das ist alles, was ich weiß.

    That is everything (that) I know.

    Word by Word: That is all, what I know.

    After 'alles', you must use 'was' instead of 'das'.

  2. Das war das Schönste, was ich je gesehen habe.

    That was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

    Word by Word: That was the most-beautiful, what I ever seen have.

    After a neuter superlative like 'das Schönste', 'was' is the correct relative pronoun.

  3. Sie hat den Job bekommen, was uns sehr freut.

    She got the job, which makes us very happy.

    Word by Word: She has the job gotten, what us very pleases.

    Here, 'was' refers to the entire fact that she got the job, not just a single noun.

  4. Was er sagt, ist nicht wichtig.

    What he says is not important.

    Word by Word: What he says, is not important.

    This is a 'free relative' where 'was' acts as the subject and has no word before it.

  5. Ich habe nichts, was ich dir geben kann.

    I have nothing (that) I can give you.

    Word by Word: I have nothing, what I you give can.

    After 'nichts', 'was' is used to introduce the relative clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'was' for specific neuter nouns.

    Das Buch, was ich lese, ist gut.
    Das Buch, das ich lese, ist gut.

    If you are referring to a specific noun like 'das Buch', you must use the standard relative pronoun 'das'. 'Was' is only for indefinite or abstract references.

  • Omitting the relative pronoun.

    Alles ich brauche ist hier.
    Alles, was ich brauche, ist hier.

    In English, we often drop 'that' (Everything I need). In German, the relative pronoun 'was' is mandatory and cannot be omitted.

  • Confusing 'was' with 'dass'.

    Ich weiß, dass du meinst.
    Ich weiß, was du meinst.

    'Dass' is a conjunction meaning 'that' (introducing a fact), while 'was' is a pronoun meaning 'what' (referring to a thing/concept).

How It Connects

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

wasLevel 3What (Free Relative)

Learn This First

To use 'was' as a relative pronoun, you must first understand how relative clauses are structured in German, specifically the verb-final word order. Additionally, you need to be familiar with the specific triggers for 'was' instead of 'das', which include indefinite pronouns like 'etwas', 'nichts', and 'alles', as well as substantivized superlatives.

Words in This Pattern

was