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| Learn German __ Genitive Case, To Do or Make , Prepositions |
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Genitive Case
The genitive case is used to show possession, more often in writing than in speech. When speaking, most people use von (of) plus the dative case to show possession. For proper nouns, German only adds an -s to the noun, whereas English would add an apostrophe and an -s. Femine and Plural nouns do not change in the Genitive case. Masculine and Neuter nouns add an -s if the word is more than one syllable, or an -es if the word is one syllable. Except the weak masculine nouns that added -(e)n in the accusative and dative; they also also add -(e)n in the genitive. There are some irregular nouns that add -s after -en in the genitive case as well, for example der Name becomes des Namens and das Herz becomes des Herzens.
die Farbe des Vogels - the color of the bird
die Grösse des Hauses - the size of the house
die Tasche meiner Mutter - my mother's purse
der Bleistift des Studenten - the student's pencil
Definite and Indefinite Articles
|
Masc. |
Fem. |
Neu. |
Plural |
| Definite |
des |
der |
des |
der |
| Indefinite |
eines |
einer |
eines |
keiner |
To Do or Make
| Machen - to do or make |
| mache |
mock-uh |
machen |
mock-en |
| machst |
mockst |
macht |
mockt |
| macht |
mockt |
machen |
mock-en |
Prepositions
| Prepositions that take the Accusative case |
| durch |
through |
| gegen |
against |
| um |
around |
| für |
for |
| ohne |
without |
| Preps. that take the Dative case |
| aus |
out (of), from (country, town or place) |
| mit |
with, by means of (transportation) |
| von |
from (person, open space, or direction), by |
| seit |
since, for |
| bei |
near, at, at home of or place of business |
| nach |
after, to (cities and countries) |
| zu |
to (mostly people and specifically named buildings) |
| gegenüber |
across from |
| außer |
except for, besides |
| Preps. that take the Genitive case |
| während |
during |
| trotz |
in spite of |
| anstatt |
instead of |
| wegen |
because of |
| Preps. that may take Acc. or Dat. |
| an |
at, to, on (vertical surfaces, denotes border or limiting area) |
| auf |
onto, on (horizontal surfaces), to (some public buildings) |
| hinter |
behind |
| in |
in, into (building, enclosed space, feminine or plural countries) |
| neben |
beside, next to |
| über |
over, above, across, about |
| unter |
under, below, among, beneath |
| vor |
in front of, before |
| zwischen |
between |
For the two-way prepositions: the dative form indicates position and location and answers the question where? The accusative form indicates direction and movement and answers the question where to? For example: In die Schule means to school and uses the accusative form because it is a direction. In der Schule means in school and uses the dative form because it is a location. But one exception is zu Hause - at home (dat.) and nach Hause - (to) home (acc.) Ich bin zu Hause is I am at home, and Ich gehe nach Hause is I am going home.
| Accusative: movement & direction |
Dative: location & position |
Er hängt das Bild über das Sofa.
He hangs the picture over the sofa. |
Das Bild hängt über dem Sofa.
The picture hangs over the sofa. |
Stell es unter den Tisch.
Put it under the table. |
Es ist unter dem Tisch.
It is under the table. |
Fahren Sie den Wagen hinter das Haus.
Drive the car behind the house. |
Der Wagen steht hinter dem Haus.
The car is behind the house. |
Stellen Sie die Flaschen vor die Tür.
Put the bottles in front of the door. |
Die Flaschen stehen vor der Tür.
The bottles are in front of the door. |
Stell es auf den Tisch.
Put it on the table. |
Es liegt auf dem Tisch.
It's lying on the table. |
Schreib es an die Tafel.
Write it on the board. |
Es steht an der Tafel.
It is on the board. |
Er geht in die Küche.
He goes into the kitchen. |
Er ist in der Küche.
He is in the kitchen. |
Stellen Sie es neben das Haus.
Put it beside the house. |
Es ist neben dem Haus.
It is beside the house. |
Stell die Lampe zwischen das Sofa und den Tisch.
Put the lamp between the sofa and the table. |
Die Lampe steht zwischen dem Sofa und dem Tisch.
The lamp is between the sofa and the table. |
Note: Stellen, legen and setzen use the accusative case, while stehen, liegen and sitzen use the dative case.
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