One of our Facebook followers asked to do a spell and grammar check of her German composition. She used the greeting \u201cWie gehts, wie stehts?\u201d, which simply means \u201cHow are things?\u201d Immediately, I suggested that she should use apostrophes when using the expression above, and write \u201cWie geht\u2019s, wie steht\u2019s?\u201d instead. But is her version really wrong?<\/p>\n
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Afterwards I devoted myself to the subject \u201capostrophes in German\u201d and was surprised about what I had found out. Thus, I think this topic is worth a post.<\/p>\n
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1. Where apostrophes CAN be used<\/strong><\/p>\n a) You can use an apostrophe in cases where the German pronoun \u201ces\u201d (it) is contracted to \u201cs\u201d. But since the spelling reform you can also omit the apostrophe. That is, you can decide whether you want to place an apostrophe. Thus, both of each forms is correct.<\/p>\n Wie geht\u2019s? \/ Wie gehts?\u2013 How\u2019s it going?<\/p>\n Nimm\u2019s leicht! \/ Nimms leicht! \u2013 Take it easy!<\/p>\n Sag\u2019s mir! \/ Sags mir! \u2013 Tell me!<\/p>\n Um\u2019s kurz zu machen \u2026 \/ Ums kurz zu machen \u2013 To cut a long story short \u2026<\/p>\n Hat\u2019s geschmeckt? \/ Hats geschmeckt?\u2013 Did you enjoy your meal?<\/p>\n Mach\u2019s gut! \/ Machs gut! \u2013 All the best!<\/p>\n Hol\u2019s der Teufel! \/Hols der Teufel! \u2013 Damn it!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n b) The apostrophe can be used when someone wants to conduct trade and, therefore, sets up a sign saying:<\/p>\n Bellini\u2019s Bar \/ Bellinis Bar<\/p>\n Willi\u2019s Weinstube \/ Willis Weinstube \u2013 Willi\u2019s wine tavern<\/p>\n This rule was actually completely new to me because the version with an apostrophe is, according to German grammar rules, wrong. So, when you want to write something similar in a text, for example, \u201cMarias Tasche\u201d (Maria\u2019s bag), \u201cPeters Schl\u00fcssel\u201d (Peter\u2019s keys), etc. you should use the apostrophe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n c) An apostrophe can be used when the indefinite article \u201cein\u201d, \u201ceine\u201d, or \u201ceinen\u201d (a) is contracted to \u201cn\u201d. All examples are colloquial.<\/p>\n Was \u2018n Gl\u00fcck! \/ Was n Gl\u00fcck! \u2013 lit. What a luck!<\/p>\n Das ist \u2018ne bl\u00f6de CD. \/ Das ist ne bl\u00f6de CD. \u2013 That\u2019s a stupid CD.<\/p>\n Haste mal \u2018nen Euro? \/Haste mal nen Euro? \u2013 Have you got one Euro?<\/p>\n This rule was also completely new to me. I prefer the option with apostrophes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2. Where apostrophes MAY NOT be used<\/strong><\/p>\n a) Apostrophes are not allowed when definite articles blend with preceding prepositions.<\/p>\n aufs Dach (auf das Dach) \u2013 on the roof<\/p>\n ins Haus (in das Haus) \u2013 into the house<\/p>\n hinterm Baum (hinter dem Baum) \u2013 behind the tree<\/p>\n unterm Tisch (unter dem Tisch) \u2013 under the table<\/p>\n beim Essen (be idem Essen) \u2013 at dinner<\/p>\n vorm Bus (vor dem Bus) \u2013 in front of the bus<\/p>\n f\u00fcrs Kind (f\u00fcr das Kind) \u2013 for the child<\/p>\n durchs Fenster (durch das Fenster) \u2013 through the window<\/p>\n <\/p>\n b) You may not use an apostrophe with plural-s in German.<\/p>\n Autos \u2013 cars; Babys \u2013 babies; E-Mails; Parks; Singles; Shorts; Taxis; Videos; Zoos<\/p>\n <\/p>\n c) You may not use an apostrophe with abbreviations (acronyms) in German:<\/p>\n CDs; DVDs; LPs<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3. Where apostrophes HAVE TO BE used<\/strong><\/p>\n a) You have to use an apostrophe when you omit an inner part of a word:<\/p>\n Ku\u2019damm = Kurf\u00fcrstendamm (outdoor mall in Berlin)<\/p>\n M\u2019gladbach = M\u00f6chengladbach (a city in Germany)<\/p>\n Lu\u2019hafen = Ludwigshafen (city)<\/p>\n D\u2019dorf = D\u00fcsseldorf (city)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n b) You have to use an apostrophe when you want to mark the genitive form of names that end with s, ss, \u00df, tz, z, and x. In such cases, the apostrophe replaces genitive-s.<\/p>\n Hans\u2019 Mutter \u2013 Hans\u2019 mother<\/p>\n Max\u2019 Cousine \u2013 Max\u2019 (female) cousine<\/p>\n Grass\u2019 Romane \u2013 Grass\u2019 novels<\/p>\n Ringelnatz\u2019 Gedichte \u2013 Ringelnatz\u2019 poems<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of our Facebook followers asked to do a spell and grammar check of her German composition. She used the greeting \u201cWie gehts, wie stehts?\u201d, which simply means \u201cHow are things?\u201d Immediately, I suggested that she should use apostrophes when using the expression above, and write \u201cWie geht\u2019s, wie steht\u2019s?\u201d instead. But is her version…<\/p>\n