dasjenige

Dasjenige is a German demonstrative determiner and pronoun used to refer to a specific item that has been mentioned or is otherwise implied. It functions to pick out “the one” from a set of possibilities, or to refer back to something already established in discourse. It can occur with a following noun (dasjenige Buch) or stand alone as a pronoun (Ich habe dasjenige genommen).

Declension and forms

Dasjenige declines like other demonstratives, with gender and case. The base forms are derjenige (masculine), diejenige (feminine), dasjenige (neuter), and diejenigen (plural). In use before a noun, they are: derjenige Mann, diejenige Frau, dasjenige Kind, diejenigen Leute. In independent use, the forms align with the same gender and case: Nominative der/die/das; Accusative den/die/das; Dative dem/der/dem; Genitive des/der/des. Plural: Nom. diejenigen, Acc. diejenigen, Dat. denen/denen, Gen. derjenigen.

Nuance and usage

dasjenige contrasts with das Gleiche or derselbe. While derselbe or dieselbe emphasizes sameness or identity with a previously mentioned object, dasjenige highlights a particular item chosen from several options or singled out for discussion. It appears in formal, written, or careful speech, and is common in legal, academic, or explanatory contexts. It is also used in everyday language to avoid repetition by referring to “the one” previously noted.

Etymology and related terms

dasjenige is formed from the definite article das and the demonstrative jene (in the formjenige), yielding a compound demonstrative meaning “the one.” Related forms include derjenige (masc), diejenige (fem), diejenigen (plural), as well as dasjenige in various cases and genders.

Examples

Dasjenige, was du sagtest, ist wichtig. Diejenige Blume dort ist schön. Ich nehme dasjenige, das am Fenster steht. Diejenigen, die heute kommen, erhalten eine Nachricht.