Indefinite pronoun 'etwas' (something)
Indefinitpronomen 'etwas'
'etwas' (something) refers to an unspecified thing.
Structure
etwas (+ Verb/Adjektiv) - unbestimmte Sache
etwas (+ verb/adjective) - indefinite thing
Details
- Part of Speech
- Pronoun
- Word Type
- Indefinite pronoun
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
What it is. etwas means something and refers to an unspecified thing (never a person). It is one of the indefinite pronouns alongside nichts, alles, jemand and niemand.
How it is used. etwas is invariable - it never changes its form for , gender or . It can stand as an (Ich höre etwas), before a , or before an (etwas Schönes - something beautiful). In casual speech it is often shortened to was: Möchtest du was trinken?
Examples.
- Ich möchte etwas trinken. - I would like something to drink.
- Hast du etwas gehört? - Did you hear something?
- Das ist etwas Besonderes. - That is something special.
Common mistakes. Use etwas only for things, not people - for a person use jemand. Do not try to give it endings; etwas stays the same everywhere.
About Indefinite pronoun 'etwas' (something)
'etwas' (something) refers to an unspecified thing.
Refers to an unspecified thing; it never changes form.
'etwas' bezeichnet eine unbestimmte Sache.
Caution
'etwas' is invariable. In casual speech it is often shortened to 'was': 'Möchtest du was trinken?'.