impersonal
unpersönlich – unpersönlicher – am unpersönlichsten
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impersonal
Not relating to a particular person, their feelings, or their private circumstances; objective and without personal reference.
Der Brief war sehr unpersönlich und wirkte wie ein Standardschreiben.
The letter was very impersonal and seemed like a standard letter.
impersonal
Lacking a recognizable personal touch or warmth; distant and lacking individuality.
Das große Büro wirkt kalt und unpersönlich.
The large office feels cold and impersonal.
impersonal
In grammar: used without an acting or specific personal subject.
In dem unpersönlichen Satz „Es regnet“ bezeichnet „es“ keine bestimmte Person.
In the impersonal sentence “It is raining,” “it” does not refer to a specific person.
| basic form | unpersönlich |
|---|---|
| comparative | unpersönlicher |
| superlative | am unpersönlichsten |
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to unpersönlich.
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to unpersönlich.
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to unpersönlich.
'Unpersönlich' (impersonal) consists of the prefix 'un-' and the adjective 'persönlich' (personal). Here, the prefix negates the quality expressed by the base word; the connection to 'Person' (person) helps you remember it.
Obwohl die Nachricht an mich gerichtet war, fand ich sie unpersönlich.
Although the message was addressed to me, I found it impersonal.
In written or spoken communication, typical collocations include 'eine unpersönliche Anrede' (an impersonal greeting), 'eine unpersönliche Formulierung' (impersonal wording), and 'ein unpersönlicher Ton' (an impersonal tone). These let you describe specific features of a message.
Die unpersönliche Anrede passte nicht zu einer Einladung an enge Freunde.
The impersonal greeting was unsuitable for an invitation to close friends.
When describing rooms and buildings, 'unpersönlich wirken' (to feel impersonal) and 'unpersönlich eingerichtet sein' (to be furnished in an impersonal style) are common expressions. In this context, 'unpersönlich' (impersonal) often appears alongside 'kalt' (cold) or 'steril' (sterile).
Das Hotelzimmer war unpersönlich eingerichtet und wirkte fast steril.
The hotel room was furnished in an impersonal style and felt almost sterile.
In the impersonal passive, 'es' (it) can occupy the first position in the sentence. If an expression of time or place occupies that position, this 'es' is omitted.
„Es wird heute gefeiert“ ist ein Beispiel für das unpersönliche Passiv.
“Es wird heute gefeiert” (There is a celebration today) is an example of the impersonal passive.
Auch „Heute wird gefeiert“ ist ein Beispiel für das unpersönliche Passiv.
“Heute wird gefeiert” (Today there is a celebration) is also an example of the impersonal passive.
