es
it (referring to a neuter noun) · it (impersonal subject) · there (in existence statements) · it (placeholder for a clause)
Es is the German neuter personal pronoun, meaning 'it'. It is used for neuter nouns, as a placeholder subject, and in impersonal expressions like weather, time, and existence.
What es means
- it (referring to a neuter noun) — When replacing a noun with neuter grammatical gender.
- it (impersonal subject) — For weather, time, distance, and general conditions.
- there (in existence statements) — With 'es gibt' meaning 'there is/are'.
- it (placeholder for a clause) — When the real subject is a subordinate clause or infinitive phrase.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where es was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Ich glaube, es wird noch regnen.I think it will still rain.
- Es ist 23 Uhr.It's 11 PM.
Example sentences
- Das Kind spielt. Es ist glücklich.The child is playing. It is happy.
- Es regnet heute.It is raining today.
- Es gibt viele Bücher in der Bibliothek.There are many books in the library.
- Es ist wichtig, Deutsch zu lernen.It is important to learn German.
Grammar
| Type | personal pronoun, 3rd person singular neuter |
|---|---|
| Nominative | es |
| Accusative | es |
| Dative | ihm |
| Genitive | seiner (rare) |
As a pronoun, 'es' does not change for case in nominative and accusative, but becomes 'ihm' in dative when referring to a neuter noun.
Common phrases
- es gibtthere is / there are
- es gehtit's okay / I'm fine
- es tut mir leidI'm sorry
- es ist kaltit is cold
- es kommt darauf anit depends
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often omit 'es' in impersonal expressions, saying 'Ist kalt' instead of 'Es ist kalt'. Always include 'es' as the subject.
Don’t confuse it with
- das — 'Das' is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that', while 'es' is the personal pronoun 'it'.
Questions learners ask
When do I use 'es' as a placeholder subject?
Use 'es' as a placeholder when the real subject is a subordinate clause or infinitive phrase, e.g., 'Es ist schön, dich zu sehen.'
How do I say 'there is' in German?
Use 'es gibt' followed by the accusative case, e.g., 'Es gibt einen Tisch.'
Does 'es' change in different cases?
Yes, in dative it becomes 'ihm' when referring to a neuter noun, but in nominative and accusative it remains 'es'.