In German, we often use something called da(r)-compounds to refer back to the object of a verb, when that verb marks its object with a specific preposition, like warten auf meaning to wait for or denken an meaning to think of. In a da(r)-compound, the word da(r) acts like a pronoun and combines with the preposition:
However, you can’t use a da(r)-compound to refer to any such object! We only use these compounds to refer back to abstract and definite objects. These are the rough German equivalents of English words like “therefore,” “thereby,” or “therein,” but in German they are quite common and do not sound nearly as old-fashioned!
In this post, we’ll talk all about how to form da(r)-compounds with different prepositions and when you can use them in German sentences. Keep reading to find out more!
How to form ‘da(r)’ compounds: When to use ‘da’ vs. ‘dar’?
All German da(r)-compounds are formed by placing da or dar before a preposition:
preposition
But how do you choose between da and dar? There is a pretty easy formula that you can rely on:
Use da if the preposition starts with a consonant.
Preposition Da-compound nachTranslation: afterdanachfürTranslation: fordafürUse dar if the preposition starts with a vowel. This makes pronunciation easier.
Preposition Dar-compound überTranslation: about, overdarüberunterTranslation: underdarunter
Let’s look at some examples in sentences.
Check out this list of all the German da(r)-compounds !
When to use ‘da(r)’-compounds in German?
In German, we use da(r)-compounds in the following situations:
When the object of a preposition is a pronoun referring back to a specific, non-living noun. Generally this is something abstract, not something you might call “that” in English.
Speaker A:Wartest du immer noch auf einen Anruf?Translation: Are you still waiting for a call from the soccer club you applied for?Speaker B:Ja, ich warte immer noch darauf.Translation: Yes, I am still waiting for it.The call is specific, but not a living thing.When the object of a preposition is a pronoun referring back to a previous clause:
Die Fußballmannschaft hat das Finale verloren und darüber ist Peter sehr traurig.Translation: The soccer team lost the finals and Peter is very sad about that.Words like damit meaning so that or darum meaning that’s why refer to another clause this way, though they have acquired a non-literal meaning over time.
Es regnet stark. Darum trainiert die Mannschaft drinnen.Translation: It’s raining heavily. That’s why the team is having practice indoors.Damit die Mannschaft nicht nass wird, trainiert sie heute drinnen.Translation: So that the team doesn’t get wet they are having practice indoors today.
When to NOT use ‘da(r)’-compounds in German?
There are some prepositions that cannot be combined with da(r) to form a compound. There are also some other cases where you cannot use these compounds. Let‘s take a look at them!
With some prepositions
Some German prepositions never form da(r)-compounds. These prepositions include:
Genitive prepositions like außerhalb meaning outside of, innerhalb meaning inside of, or während meaning during.
A few others, such as: außer meaning except, ohne meaning without, seit meaning since, gegenüber meaning across from, towards.
For relative pronouns or interrogative pronouns
You cannot use them to replace relative or interrogative pronouns. In these are cases, you should either use a plain sequence of preposition + pronoun or a wo(r)-compound (see below).
Das ist der Ball, mit dem der Stürmer das Tor geschossen hat.Translation: That’s the ball with which the striker scored the goal.Das, worauf ich lange gewartet hatte, ist endlich eingetroffen.Translation: That for which I had long been waiting, has finally happened.To replace people or animals
You cannot use da(r)-compounds to replace people or animals that are perceived to have a personality. They are only used for things you might reference as “that.” For people or animals, use prepositions and a personal pronoun.
Die Fans träumen von den neuen Spielern. → Die Fans träumen von ihnen.Translation: The fans are dreaming of the new players. → The fans are dreaming of them.Was macht das Mädchen mit dem Hund? → Es spielt Ball mit ihm.Translation: What is the girl doing with the dog? → She’s playing ball with it.
Where to put ‘da(r)’-compounds in a sentence?
In German, you will mostly see da(r)-compounds at the beginning or the end of a main clause.
However, you can sometimes put them in the middle of a clause, right after the verb.
If they’re used in a subordinate clause, they’re generally used at the beginning:
‘Da’-compounds vs. ‘wo’-compounds
German wo(r)-compounds, formed by combining wo(r) with a preposition, are very similar to da(r)-compounds. However, wo(r)-compounds are only used when an interrogative pronoun or relative pronoun follows a preposition:
interrogative / relative
preposition
You can read more about these wo(r)-compounds in our articles on German interrogatives and German relative pronouns.
‘Da’-compounds vs. ‘hier’-compounds
There is a third preposition compound that works the same way as wo(r) and da(r)compounds, formed by combining hier- with a preposition. These act mostly as adverbs in German, and you’ll probably do best to learn them just as dictionary words. Some examples include hierzu meaning hereto, hierauf meaning subsequently, or hiermit meaning with that.
(keeps the r!)
preposition
Hier-compounds are the German equivalent of “here-” compounds like “hereto” or “hereupon” in old-fashioned English!
Summary
In today’s article, we talked about…
Da(r)-compounds are formed by combining da- with a preposition. Add an r between the two if the preposition begins with a vowel.
Use da(r)-compounds to when a preposition comes before a pronoun that refers back to an inanimate noun (non-human, non-animal).
Do not use da(r)-compounds if the object of the preposition is a human, an animal, a relative pronoun, or an interrogative pronoun. There are also some prepositions that cannot be used in these compounds.
Da(r)-compounds mainly come at the beginning or end of the clause, but they can come after the verb.
And now, head on over to da(r)-compound activities to get in some practice, or review our da(r)-compound reference sheet to start memorizing!
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