The different jobs of es
Distinguish referential es, impersonal subjects, correlates and first-field placeholders.
The rule
Identify the job of es: a noun reference, a fixed subject, a correlate or a first-field placeholder. Its removability depends on that job.
es regnet · es freut mich, dass … · es kamen Gäste / heute kamen Gäste
Referential es can stand for a neuter noun. Its reference must remain identifiable in context.
In weather expressions such as es regnet, es is an obligatory impersonal subject even after an initial adverb.
A first-field placeholder es is different: es kamen Gäste becomes heute kamen Gäste, with agreement controlled by Gäste.
Core forms and structures
Use this table as a reference, then retrieve the forms without looking.
| Form | Function | German example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| es | Weather regnen retains its impersonal subject es after heute. | Heute regnet es. | It is raining today. |
| kamen | Gäste controls plural kamen; initial es only fills the first field. | Es kamen viele Gäste. | Many guests arrived. |
| kamen | Fronting heute removes the placeholder; Gäste still controls kamen. | Heute kamen viele Gäste. | Many guests arrived today. |
| Es | Correlate es points forward to the dass-clause. | Es freut mich, dass du kommst. | I am glad that you are coming. |
| es | Neuter Gerät is referred to with es. | Das Gerät ist neu; es funktioniert gut. | The device is new; it works well. |
German examples with English meanings
Heute regnet es.
It is raining today.
Weather regnen retains its impersonal subject es after heute.
Es kamen viele Gäste.
Many guests arrived.
Gäste controls plural kamen; initial es only fills the first field.
Heute kamen viele Gäste.
Many guests arrived today.
Fronting heute removes the placeholder; Gäste still controls kamen.
Es freut mich, dass du kommst.
I am glad that you are coming.
Correlate es points forward to the dass-clause.
Das Gerät ist neu; es funktioniert gut.
The device is new; it works well.
Neuter Gerät is referred to with es.
Morgen schneit es.
It will snow tomorrow.
Es wird im Saal getanzt.
There is dancing in the hall.
Mir geht es gut.
I am doing well.
Es fehlen zwei Seiten.
Two pages are missing.
Heute wird hier gearbeitet.
Work is being done here today.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Morgen schneit sie.
Correct: Morgen schneit es.
Weather schneien retains es after morgen.
Incorrect: Es werden im Saal getanzt.
Correct: Es wird im Saal getanzt.
Subjectless passive activity has singular wird.
Incorrect: Mir geht ihn gut.
Correct: Mir geht es gut.
The fixed expression mir geht es gut retains es.
Incorrect: Es fehlt zwei Seiten.
Correct: Es fehlen zwei Seiten.
Zwei Seiten controls plural fehlen despite initial es.
Incorrect: Heute wird hier arbeiten.
Correct: Heute wird hier gearbeitet.
Subjectless process passive requires participle gearbeitet.
Details and useful distinctions
Correlate es can point forward to a clause: es freut mich, dass du kommst. Its optionality depends on the governing construction.
Impersonal passive can use first-field es but has no subject controlling plural agreement: es wird gearbeitet.
Practise this grammar
Test whether es refers to a noun, remains necessary after fronting, or only fills the first field.
Open The different jobs of es exercises →
For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.