Es freut mich, dass du kommst.

to come

Breakdown of Es freut mich, dass du kommst.

• du: you
• es: it
• dass: that
• mich: me
• freuen: to please

Questions & Answers about Es freut mich, dass du kommst.

What does the pronoun es refer to here? Is it required?

Es is a dummy subject that anticipates the following dass-clause. The real content is the clause dass du kommst. In this word order, standard written German normally keeps es. Alternatives:

• Dass du kommst, freut mich. (front the clause; no es)
• Colloquial: Freut mich, dass du kommst. (drops es in speech)

Why is it freut (3rd person) and not freue?

Because the grammatical subject is es (3rd person singular), so the verb is freut. Conjugation of freuen (present): ich freue, du freust, er/sie/es freut, wir freuen, ihr freut, sie/Sie freuen.

Why is it mich (accusative) and not mir (dative)?

Here freuen is used transitively: the pattern is etwas freut jemanden (something pleases/makes someone happy), so the person is in the accusative: mich. Compare:

• Transitive: Es freut mich, dass ...
• Reflexive: Ich freue mich, dass ... (here mich is reflexive)
• Dative would be used with different structures, e.g., Es ist mir eine Freude, dass ...

Can I also say Ich freue mich, dass du kommst? Does it mean the same?

Yes. Both are natural.

• Es freut mich, dass ... slightly highlights the cause/event.
• Ich freue mich, dass ... foregrounds the speaker’s feeling. In practice, both mean “I’m happy that ...” and are interchangeable in most contexts.

What’s the difference between Es freut mich and Das freut mich?

• Es freut mich, dass ... uses dummy es to introduce a content clause.
• Das freut mich uses das to refer back to a specific thing just mentioned (no clause needed). Example: Someone says a good piece of news, you answer Das freut mich. You wouldn’t normally say Das freut mich, dass ... right after it; use Es freut mich, dass ... with a following clause.

Why is there a comma before dass, and why is the verb at the end in dass du kommst?

German requires a comma before subordinate clauses introduced by dass. In such clauses, the finite verb goes to the end, so it’s dass du kommst, not dass kommst du. If you front the clause, you get Dass du kommst, freut mich.

Is it dass or das? How can I tell?

• dass (with ss) is a conjunction meaning “that” (introduces a clause): Es freut mich, dass du kommst.
• das is a determiner or a pronoun (the/that/which). Tests: if you can replace it with dieses/jenes/welches, it’s das. Modern spelling is dass (never daß); daß is pre‑1996.

Why is kommst in the present tense if the visit is in the future?

German often uses the present to talk about the near or scheduled future, especially with a time context. ..., dass du kommst is perfectly fine. You can use ..., dass du kommen wirst for emphasis or clarity, but it’s not usually necessary.

How do I say this formally or to more than one person?

• Formal singular/plural: Es freut mich, dass Sie kommen.
• Informal plural: Es freut mich, dass ihr kommt.

Can I drop es and just say Freut mich, dass du kommst?

Yes, that’s common in casual speech and writing (messages, chat). In careful or formal writing prefer Es freut mich, dass ... or front the clause: Dass du kommst, freut mich.

How can I intensify or soften the feeling?

• Intensify: Es freut mich sehr/wirklich/unglaublich/total (colloq.), dass du kommst.
• Soften: Es freut mich ein bisschen/auch, dass du kommst.
• Polite/formulaic: Es freut mich sehr, dass Sie kommen.

How do I negate it correctly?

• Es freut mich nicht, dass du kommst. = I’m not happy that you’re coming.
• Es freut mich, dass du nicht kommst. = I’m happy that you’re not coming. Placement of nicht changes what’s negated (the feeling vs. the event).

Can I use an infinitive instead of a dass‑clause?

Yes, when it fits:

• Different subject: Es freut mich, dich zu sehen. (I’m happy to see you.)
• Same subject as the feeler: prefer reflexive: Ich freue mich, zu kommen. Avoid mismatches like Es freut mich, zu kommen when the subject of kommen is “ich” but the main clause subject is dummy es; say Ich freue mich, zu kommen instead.

How does Es freut mich compare to Es gefällt mir or Ich mag ...?

• Es freut mich = I’m pleased/glad about a fact or event.
• Es gefällt mir = I find it pleasing/appealing (taste/aesthetic preference).
• Ich mag ... = I like (something/someone) in general. You can say Ich finde es gut/schön, dass du kommst as a neutral alternative.

What other verbs follow the same pattern?

Common ones: Es ärgert mich, dass ... (annoys), Es wundert mich, dass ... (surprises), Es stört mich, dass ... (bothers), Es überrascht mich, dass ... (surprises). All take jemanden in the accusative.

What is the grammatical subject in Es freut mich, dass du kommst?

Semantically, dass du kommst is the subject (the thing that pleases). Es is a dummy that “stands in” for the clause. You can see this by fronting the clause: Dass du kommst, freut mich.

Where do adverbs go inside the dass‑clause?

They go before the verb at the end: ..., dass du morgen wirklich kommst. With more elements, the finite verb still stays last: ..., dass du morgen um acht auch noch kommst.

Can I add modals or nuance in the dass‑clause?

Yes: Es freut mich, dass du kommen kannst/wirst/darfst. Choose the modal to match the meaning (can/will/may).

Is there a set phrase for “Nice to meet you” using this?

Yes: Freut mich! (very common, informal), Es freut mich, dich kennenzulernen. Formal: Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

• freut sounds like English “froit” (German eu ≈ “oy”).
• dass has a short “a” and a simple “s” sound; the double ss signals the short vowel.