In my previous post, I explained to you the basic idea of the four German grammar cases.<\/p>\n
Remember:<\/p>\n
DOER-noun = nominative<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>(carries out the action)<\/p>\n POSSESSION-noun = genitive<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>(belongs to DOER, INSTRUMENT or TARGET) <\/strong><\/p>\n INSTRUMENT-noun = dative<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>(with what the action is carried out)<\/p>\n TARGET-noun = accusative<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>(receives the action)<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the German language is not so consistent when it comes to grammar.<\/p>\n While:<\/p>\n – the DOER-noun<\/strong> asks always<\/span> for the nominative<\/span>; and<\/p>\n – the POSSESSION-noun<\/strong> requires always<\/span> the genitive<\/span>,<\/p>\n Both:<\/p>\n – the INSTRUMENT-noun<\/strong> can either be in the genitive<\/span>, dative<\/span>, or accusative<\/span> case (3); and<\/p>\n – the TARGET-noun<\/strong> can either be in the nominative<\/span>, genitive<\/span>, dative<\/span>, or accusative<\/span> case (4).<\/p>\n But there is absolutely no need to worry because from this post onwards I will tell you when to choose which grammar case.<\/p>\n I introduced you to the concepts TARGET<\/strong> and INSTRUMENT<\/strong> for a specific reason:<\/p>\n – the TARGET-noun<\/strong> is always<\/span> related to a verb<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n e.g. Er sucht<\/span><\/strong> die<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>Brille<\/span><\/strong>. \u2013 He is searching (for) the glasses.<\/p>\n – the INSTRUMENT-noun<\/strong> is always<\/span> connected with a preposition<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n e.g. Er sucht mit<\/span><\/strong> der<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>Brille<\/span><\/strong>. \u2013 He is searching with the glasses.<\/p>\n That is, whenever there comes a preposition directly after a verb, the preposition (not the verb!) determines the grammar case of the following noun.<\/p>\n The two most important and useful prepositions, which require the genitive case are w\u00e4hrend<\/em> (during; in the course of) and wegen<\/em> (because of).<\/p>\n Sie sprach w\u00e4hrend des Essens<\/span><\/strong> kein Wort.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Es darf w\u00e4hrend der Besprechung<\/span><\/strong> nicht geraucht werden.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Sie besuchten w\u00e4hrend ihres Aufenthalts<\/span><\/strong> in Berlin den Fernsehturm.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Er konnte wegen der lauten Musik<\/span><\/strong> nicht schlafen.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Wir konnten wegen des schlechten Wetters<\/span><\/strong> <\/span>nicht zum Strand fahren.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Sie sind wegen des Verkehr<\/span><\/strong>s<\/span><\/strong> zu sp\u00e4t gekommen.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Further useful preposition, which require the genitive case are:<\/p>\n anhand \u2013 with the help of; on the basis of<\/p>\n anstatt \u2013 instead of<\/p>\n anstelle \u2013 in place of<\/p>\n trotz \u2013 in spite of; despite<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In my previous post, I explained to you the basic idea of the four German grammar cases. Remember: DOER-noun = nominative (carries out the action) POSSESSION-noun = genitive (belongs to DOER, INSTRUMENT or TARGET) INSTRUMENT-noun = dative (with what the action is carried out) TARGET-noun = accusative (receives the action) Unfortunately, the German language is…<\/p>\n\n\n
\n w\u00e4hrend \u2013 during; in the course of<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n (das Essen \u2013 the meal)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n She did not say a word during the meal.<\/td>\n W\u00e4hrend<\/span><\/strong> <\/span>des Essen<\/span><\/strong>s<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>sprach sie kein Wort.<\/p>\n \n (die Besprechung \u2013 the meeting)<\/td>\n <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n It is not allowed to smoke during the meeting.<\/td>\n W\u00e4hrend der Besprechung<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>darf nicht geraucht werden.<\/p>\n \n (der\/ihr Aufenthalt \u2013 the\/their stay)<\/td>\n <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n They visited the TV Tower during their stay in Berlin.<\/td>\n W\u00e4hrend ihres Aufenthalts<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>in Berlin, besuchten sie den Fernsehturm.<\/p>\n \n\n
\n wegen \u2013 because of<\/strong><\/p>\n \n (die laute Musik \u2013 the loud music)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n He could not sleep because of the loud music. <\/strong><\/td>\n Wegen<\/span><\/strong> <\/span>der lauten Musik<\/span><\/strong> konnte er nicht schlafen.<\/p>\n \n (das schlechte Wetter \u2013 the bad weather) <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n We could not go to the beach because of the bad weather.<\/td>\n Wegen des schlechten Wetters<\/span><\/strong> konnten wir nicht zum Strand fahren.<\/p>\n \n (der Verkehr \u2013 the traffic) <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n They were late because of the traffic.<\/td>\n Wegen des Verkehrs<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>sind sie zu sp\u00e4t gekommen.<\/p>\n