German Topic

FAQ - Cases Summary

Frequently asked questions: Cases Summary in German.

Introduction

German grammar is known for its cases, which can be challenging for learners. Cases are used to show the function of a word in a sentence – whether it's the subject, direct object, indirect object, or shows possession. Let's break down each case to provide a clearer understanding.

If at any point you want more detail about a specific case, you can check out the specific topic for that case via the related topics navigation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which word is correctly declined in the nominative singular case?

For example - "Der Wald ist grün und voller Leben."

In this specific context, 'Wald' is the correct noun as it is in nominative singular form. This case is used for the subject of a sentence. In this context, it means 'forest'. The other options 'Wälder' (plural), 'Walde' (singular in dated dative form), or 'Waldes' (genitive) do not fit into the sentence properly.

What is the Dative Case form of 'die' for Plural Noun 'Kinder'?

For example - "Das Buch gehört den Kindern"

The dative case of the definite article 'die' (the) when used with plural nouns is 'den'. So, the sentence should read 'Das Buch gehört den Kindern', translating to 'The book belongs to the children' in English.

Which Preposition Pairs with "Kämpfen"?

For example - "Er kämpft um seine Rechte."

The correct preposition to use with "kämpfen" to convey the meaning of "to fight for" is "um", making the expression "kämpfen um". The sentence "Er kämpft um seine Rechte" means "He is fighting for his rights." The other prepositions are not suitable to express the act of fighting for something. An alternative that also works is "für" - "Er kämpft für seine Rechte".

Which preposition pairs with "suchen" to mean "to search for"?

For example - "Ich suche nach meinen Schlüsseln"

The correct preposition to use with "suchen" to convey the meaning of "to search for" is "nach", creating the expression "suchen nach". So, the sentence "Ich suche nach meinem Schlüsseln" means "I am searching for my keys". The other prepositions cannot be used to express the act of searching for someone or something. Fun Fact: 'Suchen nach' requires the dative case.

What is the Genitive Case form of 'Mein' Personal Pronoun?

For example - "Der Hund meines Nachbarn ist sehr freundlich"

The genitive case form of the possessive pronoun 'mein' (my) corresponding to a masculine or neuter noun is 'meines'. In the sentence 'Der Hund meines Nachbarn ist sehr freundlich', 'meines' is used to show possession, indicating that the neighbor is the owner of the dog. 'Mein' changes to 'meines' in the genitive case to express this possession.

What preposition pairs with 'sprechen' to mean 'to talk about'?

For example - "Sie spricht immer von ihrem Bruder"

The correct preposition to use with 'sprechen' to convey the meaning of 'to talk about' is 'von'. The phrase formed is 'sprechen von'. The sentence 'Sie spricht immer von ihrem Bruder' translates to 'She always talks about her brother.' The other prepositions cannot be used to express the concept of talking about something. Note that 'sprechen von' requires the dative case.

What is the Genitive Case form of 'Mein' for a Feminim Noun?

For example - "Das ist das Haus meiner Schwester."

The genitive case form of the possessive pronoun 'mein' (my) corresponding to a feminine noun is 'meiner'. In the sentence, "Das ist das Haus meiner Schwester," the word 'meiner' is showcasing possession, translating to 'That is the house of my sister' in English.

What preposition pairs with 'achten'?

For example - "Wir achten auf die Details"

The correct preposition to use with 'achten' to convey the meaning of 'to pay attention to' is 'auf', forming the phrase 'achten auf'. The sentence 'Wir achten auf die Details' translates to 'We pay attention to the details.' The other prepositions cannot be used to express the concept of paying attention to something. Fun Fact: 'Achten auf' requires the accusative case.

What preposition pairs with 'sich interessieren'?

For example - "Sie interessiert sich für Kunst."

The correct preposition to use with "sich interessieren" to convey the meaning of "to be interested in" is "für", forming the phrase "sich interessieren für". The sentence "Sie interessiert sich für Kunst" translates to "She is interested in art." The other prepositions are not used to express the concept of being interested in something or someone.

What is the Genitive Case form of the Possessive Pronoun 'sein'?

For example - "Die Katze seiner Schwester ist süß."

The genitive case form of the possessive adjective 'sein' corresponding to a feminine noun is 'seiner'. In the sentence 'Die Katze seiner Schwester ist süß', 'seiner' is used to show possession, indicating that the sister is the owner of the cat. The noun 'Schwester' is feminine and singular; therefore, 'sein' takes the form 'seiner' to match the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies.

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