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If wer inquires into the direct object of a sentence or the object of an accusative preposition,
the pronoun becomes wen (whom, who). If it inquires into an object in the dative case, the pronoun
becomes wem (whom, who). And if it replaces a possessive adjective or a genitive case noun
showing possession, the form wessen (whose) is used. Let’s look at some example sentences.
The case of the interrogative pronoun wer, wen, wem, or wessen is determined by the case
of the noun or pronoun it replaces: nominative, accusative, dative, or possessive. In the following
example, the nominative subject is replaced by the nominative wer in a question:
Statement: Der Lehrer ist noch nicht da.
Question: Wer ist noch nicht da?
The teacher isn’t here yet.
Who isn’t here yet?
In the next example, the accusative noun is replaced by the accusative wen in a question:
Statement: Sie kennt den Lehrer.
Question: Wen kennt sie?
She knows the teacher.
Whom does she know?
If the accusative noun is introduced by an accusative preposition, that preposition will introduce
wen:
Statement: Er wartet auf den Lehrer.
Question: Auf wen wartet er?
He’s waiting for the teacher.
For whom is he waiting?
If the dative case is required to replace an indirect object or a noun introduced by a dative
preposition, the interrogative wem will be used:
Statement: Sie gab es dem Lehrer.
Question: Wem gab sie es?
Statement: Du sprachst mit dem Lehrer.
Question: Mit wem sprachst du?
She gave it to the teacher.
To whom did she give it?
You spoke with the teacher.
With whom did you speak?
And if the noun is in the genitive case showing possession, or there is a possessive pronoun
showing possession, the possessive wessen is required:
Statement: Der Sohn des Lehrers ist
krank.
Question: Wessen Sohn ist krank?
The teacher’s son is sick.
Whose son is sick?
Übung
2·3
Example:
Rewrite the following sentences, changing the underlined word or phrase to the appropriate
form: wer, wen, wem, or wessen.
Er kann uns gut verstehen.
Wer kann uns gut verstehen?
1. Maria hatte ein Geschenk für dich.
2. Peter möchte mit der neuen Studentin tanzen.
3. Die Verwandten in Deutschland wollen ihr helfen.
14 Practice Makes Perfect German Sentence Builder