Indefinite pronoun 'jemand' (someone)
Indefinitpronomen 'jemand'
'jemand' (someone) refers to an unspecified person.
Structure
jemand (+ Verb) - unbestimmte Person
jemand (+ verb) - indefinite person
Details
- Part of Speech
- Pronoun
- Word Type
- Indefinite pronoun
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
What it is. jemand means someone / somebody and refers to an unspecified person whose identity is unknown or unimportant.
How it is used. jemand takes a singular verb: Jemand klopft (someone is knocking). In careful written German it can add endings in the (jemanden) and (jemandem), but at A2 the bare form jemand is also widely accepted. Its negative counterpart is niemand.
Examples.
- Jemand klopft an die Tür. - Someone is knocking at the door.
- Hast du jemanden gesehen? - Did you see someone?
- Ich helfe jemandem. - I'm helping someone.
Common mistakes. Use jemand only for people, not things (for things use etwas). Keep the : Jemand kommt, not Jemand kommen.
About Indefinite pronoun 'jemand' (someone)
'jemand' (someone) refers to an unspecified person.
An unspecified person; takes a .
'jemand' bezeichnet eine unbestimmte Person.
Caution
'jemand' takes a singular verb. In the accusative/dative you may hear 'jemanden'/'jemandem'.