Pronominal Adverbs: "This" vs. "That"
While da-compounds (like damit or dazu) refer back to something already mentioned ("with that"), hier-compounds point to something immediately in front of you or about to be stated ("with this").
Just like da-compounds, they refer to inanimate objects, ideas, or statements—never people. To form them, simply combine hier with a preposition.
Hiermit (with this / hereby)
Use hiermit (hier + mit) to say you are using a specific, present object ("with this").
| I am working with this, provided that the lab is free. | Ich arbeite hiermit, sofern das Labor frei ist. |
In formal contexts, hiermit often translates to "hereby" (by means of this document or action).
| We hereby confirm the result. | Hiermit bestätigen wir das Ergebnis. |
Hierzu (for this / to this)
Use hierzu (hier + zu) to express a purpose or requirement for a task at hand.
| We need the microscope for this. | Hierzu brauchen wir das Mikroskop. |
| Whoever leads the experiment must write a report on this. | Wer den Versuch leitet, muss hierzu einen Bericht schreiben. |
Hierdurch (through this / thereby)
Use hierdurch to describe how a process is achieved or the direct consequence of an action. It is highly useful in scientific and procedural descriptions.
| Through this, the experiment succeeds. | Hierdurch gelingt der Versuch. |
| They had heated the substance and thereby recognized the danger. | Sie hatten die Substanz erhitzt und hierdurch die Gefahr erkannt. |
Hieran (on this / of this)
Many verbs pair with the preposition an, such as denken an (to think of) or forschen an (to do research on). To refer to "this" with these verbs, use hieran.
Unlike da-compounds, which need an extra "r" before vowels (daran), hier already ends in an "r" and connects directly to the vowel.
| We still need to do research on this. | Hieran müssen wir noch forschen. |
| Whoever orders the chemical must also think of this. | Wer die Chemikalie bestellt, muss auch hieran denken. |
