Most learners of German seem to struggle with the language\u2019s grammar cases. In this post I am going to explain why these cases exist and what they mean.<\/p>\n
The crucial element of every sentence is the verb<\/strong>, since it names a particular action<\/strong>. In this action, there are always specific subjects and objects (nouns) involved in. Since German word order is very changeable all nouns have to slip into particular roles, so that we have the chance to realize how each noun is related to the verb. These roles are the language\u2019s grammar cases: nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative.<\/p>\n Usually, we cannot realize the role or case by the form of the noun. Therefore, German nouns are preceded by other parts of speech, e.g. definite articles, indefinite articles, pronouns, and adjectives, which have the function to indicate the specific grammar case of the following noun.<\/p>\n As I cannot cover all parts of speech in a single post I will focus on the definite articles<\/strong> in the following.\u00a0 Below you can find an overview of all definite articles.<\/p>\n Here is a short description of what each case indicates, that is, how a particular noun is related to the verb or action.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/td>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/td>\n Here are some example sentences:<\/p>\n Der Mann<\/span><\/strong> der Nachbarin<\/span> liest das Buch<\/span><\/strong> mit der Brille<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> \u2013 The man\/husband of the (female) neighbor is reading the book with the glasses.<\/p>\n Die Frau<\/span><\/strong> schreibt den Brief<\/span><\/strong> mit dem Stift <\/span><\/strong>des Chefs<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> \u2013 The woman is writing the letter with the pen of the boss.<\/p>\n Das Kind<\/span><\/strong> spielt das Spiel<\/span><\/strong> des Jahres<\/span> mit der Freundin<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> \u2013 The child is playing the game of the year with the (female) friend.<\/p>\n From these example sentences, we can deduce the following two general rules:<\/p>\n 1) English \u201cof the\u201d corresponds always<\/span> to the German articles of the genitive case<\/span><\/strong>. That is, there are only two options to express \u201cof the\u201d in German: \u201cder\u201d or \u201cdes\u201d<\/p>\n 2) The preposition \u201cmit\u201d (with) requires always<\/span> the dative case<\/span><\/strong> <\/span>of the following noun. That is, it is either \u00a0\u201cmit dem\u201d or \u201cmit der\u201d (for singular nouns) or \u201cmit den\u201d (for plural nouns).<\/p>\n Here is a list of all the nouns, which I have just used, with their nominative articles, so that you can check my explanations.<\/p>\n der Mann \u2013 man; husband<\/p>\n die Nachbarin \u2013 (female) neighbor<\/p>\n das Buch \u2013 book<\/p>\n die Brille \u2013 glasses<\/p>\n die Frau \u2013 woman; wife<\/p>\n der Brief \u2013 letter<\/p>\n der Stift \u2013 pen<\/p>\n der Chef \u2013 boss<\/p>\n das Kind \u2013 child<\/p>\n das Spiel \u2013 game<\/p>\n das Jahr \u2013 year<\/p>\n die Freundin \u2013 (female) friend<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Most learners of German seem to struggle with the language\u2019s grammar cases. In this post I am going to explain why these cases exist and what they mean. The crucial element of every sentence is the verb, since it names a particular action. In this action, there are always specific subjects and objects (nouns) involved…<\/p>\n\n\n
\n <\/td>\n Singular<\/strong><\/td>\n Plural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n masculine<\/td>\n feminine<\/td>\n neuter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Nominative<\/span><\/td>\n der<\/span><\/td>\n die<\/span><\/td>\n das<\/span><\/td>\n die<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Genitive<\/span><\/td>\n des<\/span><\/td>\n der<\/span><\/td>\n des<\/span><\/td>\n der<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Dative<\/span><\/td>\n dem<\/span><\/td>\n der<\/span><\/td>\n dem<\/span><\/td>\n den<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Accusative<\/span><\/td>\n den<\/span><\/td>\n die<\/span><\/td>\n das<\/span><\/td>\n die<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\n
\n Nominative = <\/strong>DOER<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n (indicates who or what carries out the action)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Genitive = <\/strong>POSSESSION<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n (indicates that something belongs to the doer<\/span>, instrument<\/span>, OR <\/strong>target<\/span> of an action)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Dative = <\/strong>INSTRUMENT<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n (indicates with what the action is carried out)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Accusative = <\/strong>TARGET<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n (indicates who or what receives the action)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n