1. Du, Ihr, and Sie: How do you know which one to use?
Deutsch I
Frau Spampinato

2. Du: you, singular & informal
“Du” is used for when you are talking to only one person face to face
Use “du” only when you are talking to friends, family, and pets, people you know well
Do not use “du” and the du-verb form with adults, strangers, and people in positions of authority like policemen, teachers, store clerks, etc.

3. Sie: You, formal (sing. and plural)
“Sie” means “you” when it is capitalized—you use this when you are talking to adults, strangers, and people in positions of authority like policemen, teachers, store clerks, etc.
You can use “Sie” and the Sie-verb form with one adult or more (both sing. and plural)
When in doubt, use “Sie”—never “du”

4. Ihr: you (all) “ya’ll” plural form of “you”
Standard English does not differentiate between the singular and plural forms of “you”
z.B. You do your homework.
This is why there are so many different, regional ways to compensate for this lack of clarity.
People will say “ya’ll” or “you’s(e)” or “yous guys” or “all’ya’ll” or …?? what else?
(are you talking to one person or 2? the whole class?...no clue unless you point or use body language.)

5. Examples of when to use each pronoun:
Ich heiße Martina, und du?
Hallo! Wie heißt du?
2 friends, teens the same age

6. Guten Morgen! Ich heiße Frau Martins. Und du? Wie heißt du?
Wie heißen Sie?
Guten Morgen! Ich heiße Frau Martins.
Und du? Wie heißt du?

7. Wir heißen Johann und Dirk.
Hallo, wie heißt ihr?

8. What would you say to these people?du
your mom
your math teacher
your friend’s aunt
a cashier at the store
your cousins
the principal of the school
Frau Spampinato
your grandma
Sie
Sie
Sie
ihr
Sie
Sie du