German Phrase
Wer übernimmt das?
Meaning
A direct question asking who will take responsibility for a specific task, object, or situation that has just been mentioned. It can be literal (who will physically take something) or figurative (who will handle a problem).
When to use
Use this sentence in work meetings, group projects, or everyday situations when a task needs a clear owner – e.g., assigning duties, clarifying who will handle a request, or confirming who will pick up an item.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Werübernimmtdas
Wer (interrogative pronoun)
Used in the nominative case to ask about the subject of a sentence.
übernimmt (verb übernehmen)
Present‑tense, 3rd‑person singular of übernehmen ‘to take over, assume responsibility’. The stem is ‘übernehm‑’ and the ending –t marks the present tense.
das (demonstrative pronoun)
Accusative neuter singular referring to a previously mentioned task, object or situation.
🗨In Conversation
Wir müssen das Protokoll bis morgen fertig haben. Wer übernimmt das?
We have to finish the minutes by tomorrow. Who will take that on?
Ich kann das übernehmen.
I can take care of it.
✕Common Mistakes
Wen übernimmt das?
‘Wen’ is accusative; the subject of the sentence stays in nominative, so you must use ‘Wer’.
Wer übernehm das?
The verb must agree with the subject ‘Wer’; using ‘übernimmt’ is correct, but learners sometimes drop the ‘-t’ and say ‘übernehm das’, which is ungrammatical.
Wer übernimmt den?
If the thing referred to is masculine or feminine, you need the appropriate pronoun (den, die, ihn, sie). ‘Das’ only works for neuter nouns.
↔Alternatives
Wer kümmert sich darum?
Who will look after that?
Wer macht das?
Who does that?
Wer ist dafür verantwortlich?
Who is responsible for it?
Cultural Tip
German speakers appreciate clear responsibility allocation, especially in professional settings. Using ‘übernehmen’ sounds formal and efficient, while ‘kümmern sich darum’ is a bit more casual. In the north of Germany you’ll hear the shorter ‘Wer macht das?’ more often, whereas in Austria and southern Germany ‘übernehmen’ is common in business contexts.