In English, we often use the word "it" in fixed expressions where "it" does not refer to any specific noun, such as "take it easy" or "make it far." German does the exact same thing using the dummy object es.
Being in a hurry
One of the most common expressions with a dummy object is es eilig haben (to be in a hurry). Even though eilig means "hurried," you must always include es when using it as a fixed phrase with haben.
| I am in a hurry because I missed the train. | Ich habe es eilig, weil ich den Zug verpasst habe. |
Taking things personally
When dealing with mistakes, another common es phrase describes holding a grudge: es jemandem übel nehmen (to hold it against someone, literally: to take it amiss from someone).
Notice that this phrase requires the dative case for the person you are holding the grudge against (e.g., mir, dir).
| He held it against me. | Er hat es mir übel genommen. |
Going far and having a hard time
You can also use es to describe general success or difficulty in life:
- es weit bringen: to go far
- es schwer haben: to have a hard time
| With diligence, you can go far. | Mit Fleiß kannst du es weit bringen. |
Rushing and intentions
When you are in a rush (die Hektik) or acting out of haste (aus Eile), accidents and minor mishaps (das Missgeschick) happen.
| Because of his haste, he had a mishap. | Aus Eile ist ihm ein Missgeschick passiert. |
To explain that you or someone else did not intend for a mishap to happen, use the expression es gut meinen (to mean well) or es böse meinen (to mean harm).
| In the rush, she often means no harm. | In der Hektik meint sie es oft nicht böse. |
Taking it seriously or lightly
You can use es with the verb nehmen (to take) to describe your attitude toward a situation or mishap:
- es ernst nehmen: to take it seriously
- es leicht nehmen: to take it lightly
- es genau nehmen: to be particular or precise (to take it exactly)
| Either you take it seriously, or you have a hard time. | Entweder nimmst du es ernst, oder du hast es schwer. |
| I stumbled, but I took it lightly. | Ich bin gestolpert, aber ich habe es leicht genommen. |
When you are feeling scatterbrained (schusselig) and accidentally mess something up (vermasseln), remembering that you "meant well" can often soften the blow!
| He was scatterbrained today, but he really meant well. | Er war heute schusselig, aber er hat es wirklich gut gemeint. |
| I meant well, but unfortunately I messed everything up. | Ich habe es gut gemeint, aber leider habe ich alles vermasselt. |
