I. Theory
Generally, es is a pronoun that corresponds to “it” in German and represents singular neuter subjects. However, es is also used as a placeholder for a subject in sentences where no specific subject is found. We see this at times in English in examples such as “It is raining” or “It’s quiet in the library”.While es is used with weather expressions, as it is in English, the impersonal es is found in additional instances which are not found in English.
| Es zieht. There is a draft. Es klopft. Someone is knocking (at the door). Es tut mir leid. I’m sorry. Es fehlt nur noch Katrin. We’re only missing Katrin. |
As you can see from the examples above, the impersonal es is often translated in English as “there is/are” or, “something/someone” may be used as the subject.
II. Es with Werden
The impersonal es is often found in conjunction with werden in the passive voice.| Es wird nur Französisch gesprochen. Only French is spoken. Es wurde den ganzen Abend getanzt. There was dancing the entire evening. Es wird heutzutage mehr Sport getrieben. People exercise more today. |
Because es is a placeholder, it disappears if a place or subject comes into the sentence (usually in the first position - where es is usually found).
| Es wurde viel getrunken. There was a lot of drinking. |
But:
| Auf der Hochzeit wurde viel getrunken. There was a lot of drinking at the wedding. |
III. Es gibt
Es gibt is used to convey the equivalent of “there is/there are” in English.| Es gibt Kaffee in der Küche. There is coffee in the kitchen. Im Badezimmer gibt es keinen Spiegel. There is no mirror in the bathroom. Gibt es in der Nähe einen Park? Is there a park nearby? |
IV. Other verbs with es
The impersonal es is often used with verbs describing weather or sound. Such verbs include: nieseln, hageln, gewittern, schneien, knallen, and pfeifen. Other constructions are also found using es such as telling time, as well when describing one's current state.| Es ist fünf Uhr. It is five o’clock. Es klingelt. (The phone) is ringing. Es dämmert. The sun is coming up. |