CONTENT
  1. Verbs Without Subjects: Es regnet

Impersonal verbs are verbs in German that do not have a specific subject or that use a grammatical placeholder such as "es" (it) or "man" (one) as the subject of the sentence.

These verbs are used to describe general situations or states, rather than specific actions or activities performed by a particular person.

One example of an impersonal verb is "regnen" (to rain).

German

English

Es regnet.

It's raining.

Verbs Without Subjects: Es regnet

Impersonal verbs are those that are used with the impersonal pronoun "es."

The pronoun "es" has no meaning in the context of impersonal verbs but, rather, is just a grammatical function of a "fake subject." Other persons are not possible.

These impersonal verbs give information about the weather or the time of day.

German

English

Es schneit schon den ganzen Tag.

It has been snowing all day.

Note: Some verbs can be both personal and impersonal.

German

English

Es gibt ein Problem.

There's a problem.

Quiz

1/3

Determine the correct form of the verb: Er bezahlt mit Bargeld.

0

correct answers.