Answers

Jan 25, 2017 - 10:52 AM
Hi Joshua, well they're quite similar, the main difference is that you generally use "es" to speak in general, while with der/die/das you're referring to something in particular. So if you just mentioned your new bag for example (meine neue Tasche), you'd rather use "Die": Die ist blau/It(f) is blue, yet when you're not referring to something specific you'd use "es".
From an English perspective, you could sum it up this way:
- Dies ist = This is (general)
- Das ist = That is (general)
- Es ist = It is (general)
- Der ist = It(m) is (specific)
- Die ist = It(f) is (specific)
- Das ist = It(n) is (specific)
From an English perspective, you could sum it up this way:
- Dies ist = This is (general)
- Das ist = That is (general)
- Es ist = It is (general)
- Der ist = It(m) is (specific)
- Die ist = It(f) is (specific)
- Das ist = It(n) is (specific)