Pronominal Adverbs — The "Da-" Words 📦✨
To avoid repeating 'preposition + it', German merges them into da-compounds (dafür, damit, darauf). For asking questions about things, use wo-compounds (wofür, womit). Note: These compounds are only used for objects and ideas, never for people.
You recall the Fixed Prepositions and the "Wo-" questions (Worauf wartest du?). Now, let's learn how to answer them. We use Pronominal Adverbs, also known as the Da-Compounds.
The "Da-" Formula 🧪
Instead of repeating the noun ("I wait for the bus"), we want to say "I wait for it."
In English, we split it up. In German, we glue it together!
Da + Preposition.
Ich warte auf den Bus. ➔ Ich warte darauf. (I wait for it / "there-on".)
Ich träume von dem Urlaub. ➔ Ich träume davon. (I dream of it / "there-of".)
The "R" Rule
Just like with the "Wo-" words, if the preposition starts with a vowel (auf, an, über, in), we add an -r- for pronunciation.
- da + auf = darauf
- da + über = darüber
- da + an = daran
| Verb + Prep | Question (Wo-) | Answer (Da-) |
|---|---|---|
| Warten auf | Worauf wartest du? | Ich warte darauf. |
| Denken an | Woran denkst du? | Ich denke daran. |
| Sprechen über | Worüber sprecht ihr? | Wir sprechen darüber. |
[!CAUTION]
Things ONLY! 🚫🧍♂️
You can only use Da-words for things or ideas. Never for people!
- Ich warte auf den Bus. ➔ Ich warte darauf. (Correct).
- Ich warte auf Tom. ➔ Ich warte auf ihn. (Use the personal pronoun!)
See also...
- Fixed Prepositions — The list of verbs you need for this.
- Personal Pronouns — What to use for people.
Ready to practice?
Train your preposition usage!