Derjenige

Derjenige is a German demonstrative pronoun and nominal determiner used to refer to a specific person or thing that has already been mentioned or is understood from context. It translates roughly as "the one" or "the person/thing in question" and can introduce a defining relative clause or stand as a substitute for a noun already named. It is declined for gender and number, with forms that resemble the demonstrative pattern der/die/das plus the suffix -jenige.

Declension (singular and plural):

- Singular: masculine N derjenige, G desjenigen, D demjenigen, A denjenigen; feminine N diejenige, G derjenigen, D derjenigen, A diejenige; neuter N dasjenige, G desjenigen, D demjenigen, A dasjenige.

- Plural: N diejenigen, G derjenigen, D denjenigen, A diejenigen.

Usage: Derjenige is typically used when pointing to a particular member of a known set or when referring to the person or thing in question without repeating the noun. It can introduce a clause, as in "Derjenige, der angerufen hat, ist der Verdächtige," or stand as a pronoun, as in "Ich kenne denjenigen." It is common in written and formal language and can carry a slightly distancing or emphasis effect.

Relation to related forms: Derjenige is related to other demonstratives such as jener, jene, jenes and to the determiner derselbe (the same). Unlike saying simply "die Person," derjenige foregrounds identification with the previously mentioned referent. The feminine, neuter, and plural forms align with standard German agreement patterns for demonstratives.

Notes: In everyday speech, speakers often prefer concrete nouns or gendered pronouns like "die Person" or "der Mann," reserving derjenige for stylistic or formal contexts. Proper use requires a clear antecedent; otherwise ambiguity can arise.