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German Grammar Lectures

German Grammar Lectures. Lecture 3: The German Case System Designed by Paul Joyce University of Portsmouth E-Mail: Paul.Joyce@port.ac.uk. 3.1 The German case system. Every European language uses different parts of speech in a sentence.

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German Grammar Lectures

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  1. German Grammar Lectures Lecture 3: The German Case System Designed by Paul Joyce University of Portsmouth E-Mail: Paul.Joyce@port.ac.uk

  2. 3.1 The German case system • Every European language uses different parts of speech in a sentence. • In a German sentence these parts of speech are clearly marked by case endings. • They help to distinguish between the active part of the sentence (the SUBJECT) and the parts affected by the action (OBJECTS).

  3. 3.2 The nominative case • The subject of a clause is normally the active part i.e. the part that performs an act. • The subject of a clause is said to be in the nominative case. • Example: Der Junge schreibt (The boy (= the SUBJECT in the nominative case) is writing.)

  4. 3.3 (In-)transitive verbs • The part of the clause that links the subject to an object is the VERB. Verbs that take an object are called TRANSITIVE verbs. • Example: He opened the door. • Not all verbs however can take an object. • Verbs that do not take an object are called INTRANSITIVE verbs. • Example: They arrived(i.e. you cannot “arrive” something!).

  5. 3.4 (In-)transitive verbs (2) • You must therefore take care to select the correct type of verb when looking up words in a German dictionary! See “to grow”: • Intransitive (vi): Ihre Pflanze wächst nicht. (= Her plant is not growing.) • Transitive (vt): Sie züchtet gern Pflanzen. (= She likes growing plants.)

  6. 3.5 (In-)transitive verbs (3) • Translating the verb “to leave” into German can cause problems for students: • Intransitive (vi): Der Zug fährt ab. (= The train leaves.) • Der Zug fährt vom Bahnhof ab. (= The train leaves the station.) • Transitive (vt): Sie verlässt das Haus. (= She leaves the house.)

  7. 3.6 The verbs sein, werden and bleiben • Note too that when the verbs sein, bleibenwerden and scheinen are followed by nouns, these nouns are in the NOMINATIVE case Examples: • Eristein guter Lehrer (not: “einen guten”) • Ballackbleibt der beste Spieler (not: “den ”) • Ulf wird mein Freund (not: “meinen...”) • Er scheint ein guter Mensch (not: “einen”)

  8. 3.7 The accusative case • The direct object in a clause is the noun or pronoun that is affected “directly” by the subject of the verb. • The direct object is in the accusative case. Example: • “Der Junge schreibt den/einen Brief”(The boy is writing the/a letter) (= the DIRECT OBJECT in the accusative case)

  9. 3.8 The accusative case in English • In English there are no special case endings for the accusative - the / a remain the same in both the nominative and accusative cases. • English merely retains some nominative pronouns: I (acc. me), we (acc. us) etc. • The direct object can however be easily identified by its position in the clause - it will always come after the subject.

  10. 3.9 The Accusative Case in German • In German objects can precede or follow the subject. It is the case endings and the verb endings that tell us which case is which. Example: • Der Hund sah die Katzen. (The dog saw the cats.) • Den Hund sahen die Katzen. (The cats saw the dog.)

  11. 3.10 Verbs + Direct Object • German verbs that take a direct object are listed in German dictionaries as transitive (vt) or are indicated by jdn. / etw. (short for jemanden / etwas(= acc. someone / -thing). • There can be only 1 direct object per clause: • Ich verstehe dich leider nicht! • Sonja ruft ihren Bruder an.

  12. 3.11 Verbs that take two direct objects • Note however that the following verbs can take 2 direct objects: • kosten: Das hat mich1000 Eurogekostet • lehren: Er hat ihnDeutschgelehrt • nennen: Ich nennedicheinen Lügner • fragen: Hast du sie etwasgefragt? • bitten:Das möchte ich Siebitten! • angehen: Das gehtdich nichtsan!

  13. 3.12 Verbs starting with the prefix be- • The prefix be- turns an intransitive verb into a transitive verb taking a direct object: • bezahlen:Das bezahle ich! (= to pay for) • bestellen: Ich bestelle das Buch (= to order) • besteigen: Er bestieg den Berg (= to climb) • One key exception! = begegnen + Dative e.g. Wir begegnen ihm (= We meet him)

  14. beantworten: Sie beantwortete die Frage (= to answer (+ Acc.)) bedienen: Ich bediene die Kundin(= serve) bedrohen: Bedrohst du mich?(= threaten) beenden: Sie beenden den Streik(= to end) antworten: Antwortet er auf meine Frage? (= to answer (+ Prep.)) dienen: Sie dienen dem König (+ Dative) drohen: Drohst du mir? (+ Dative) enden: Der Streik endet (= Intransitive) 3.13 Verbs with and without be-

  15. 3.14 Key accusative constructions • Non-Germans often forget that the following constructions require a direct object: • bezahlen: Wer bezahltden Schaden? (pay for the damage  NOT “bezahlen für”) • es gibt:Es gibt einen Gott! (= There is...) • fragen: Ich fragteden Chef nach Arbeit. (= I asked the boss if there was any work.)

  16. 3.15 The dative case • The indirect object in a clause is the noun or pronoun that is affected “indirectly” by the subject of the verb. • The indirect object is in the dative case. • “Der Junge schreibt dem/einem Politiker” (The boy is writing to the/a politician) (= the INDIRECT OBJECT in the dative case).

  17. 3.16 Dative singular endings • The -e dative ending on singular masculine and neuter (monosyllabic) nouns remains nowadays only in a few set phrases: • zu Hause, nach Hause • auf dem Lande(in the country) • im Jahre 2004 • im Laufe des Jahres (in the course of...) • in gewissem Maße (to a certain extent)

  18. 3.17 Dative plural endings • Nouns in the dative plural add -n...: die Stühle (Nom.)  den Stühlen(Dat.) die Dörfer (Nom.)  den Dörfern(Dat.) • …except if the plural already ends in -n: die Frauen (Nom.)  den Frauen(Dat.) • …or if the nom. plural ends in -s: die Autos (Nom.)  den Autos(Dat.)

  19. 3.18 Verbs that take the dative case • A number of verbs in German take an dative object as opposed to a direct object. • These have no direct equivalent in English, although some can be grouped together: • abraten: Sie hat ihm davon abgeraten (= She advised him against it) • raten: Sie hat ihmgeraten, etwas zu tun (= She advised him to do something)

  20. 3.19 Dative verbs of “answering” • antworten: Antworten Sie mir! (= Answer me!) • BUT: Antworten Sie auf die Frage! (= Answer the question!) • entgegnen: Er entgegnet dem Mann, dass… (= He replies to the man that...) • erwidern: Sie erwiderte demRichter, dass... (= She replied to the judge that...)

  21. 3.20 Dative verbs of “helping” • beistehen: Meine Freunde stehenmirbei (= My friends are giving me support) • dienen: Er dientederKönigin von England (= He served the queen of England) • helfen: Könnten Sie mir helfen ? (= Could you help me?) • nützen: Der Rat nützt ihnen nicht viel (= The advice doesn’t help them much)

  22. 3.21 Dative verbs of “(dis-)obeying” • folgen: Folgen Sie mirbitte! (= Follow me please!) • gehorchen: Das Kind gehorcht seinem Vater (= The child obeys its father) • widersprechen: Du hast ihmwidersprochen (= You disobeyed him) • widerstehen: Wir widerstehendem Zauber (= We’re resisting the magic)

  23. 3.22 Dative verbs of “(dis-)liking” • gefallen: Die Sache gefällt mirnicht! (= I don’t like this at all!) • missfallen: Der Film missfällt den Kritikern (= The critics don’t like the new film) • schmecken: Pizza schmecktallen Kindern (= All children like pizza) • Note the sentence constructions here – what would be the subject in English is in the dative case in German!

  24. 3.23 Dative verbs of “(mis-)trusting” • glauben: Natürlich glaube ichdir! (= Of course I believe you!) • misstrauen: Anna misstraut ihrem Gedächtnis (= Anna mistrusts her memory) • trauen: Der Soldat trautedem Frieden nicht (= The soldier was wary of the peace) • vertrauen: Ich vertrauemeiner Sekretärin (= I trust my secretary)

  25. 3.24 Dative verbs of “hurting/sorrow” • fehlen: Du fehlstmir sehr, Schatz! (= I miss you a lot, darling!) • Leid tun: Das tut mir wirklich Leid (= I am really sorry about that) • schaden: Der Lärm schadetdem Menschen (= Noise damages the individual) • wehtun: Er hat ihr sehr wehgetan (= He caused her a lot of pain)

  26. 3.25 Dative verbs of “resembling” • ähneln: Er ähnelt seinem Bruder (= He resembles his brother) • entsprechen: Das entsprichtden Tatsachen (= This corresponds to the facts) • gleichen: Jeder Tag gleichtdem anderen (= Every day is like the next)

  27. 3.26 Dative Verbs: Miscellaneous • befehlen: Er befiehltmir, das nicht zu tun (= He orders me not to do it.) • danken: Ich dankeIhnen sehr dafür! (= I thank you very much for this!) • einfallen: Das ist mir nicht eingefallen! (=That didn’t occur to me!) • gehören: Der BMW gehörtihrgar nicht (= The BMW doesn’t belong to her at all)

  28. 3.27 Dative Verbs: Miscellaneous (2) • gelingen: Das ist ihrnicht gelungen (= She didn’t succeed in this) • genügen: Das genügt mir eigentlich (= That’s enough for me actually) • gratulieren: Er gratuliertdirzum Geburtstag (= He congratulates you on your birthday) • verzeihen: Könnt ihr mirverzeihen? (= Can you forgive me?)

  29. 3.28 Verbs taking dative & accusative • There are a number of transitive verbs which take both an accusative or direct object and a dative or indirect object. • As a general rule, the direct object is usually a thing. • This thing is being taken from or given to a person who is the indirect object (i.e. is in the dative case).

  30. 3.29 Dative & acc.: verbs of “giving” • anbieten: Sie bieten mir eine Stelle an (= They’re offering me a job) • bringen: Er bringtihr einen Blumenstrauß (= He brings her a bunch of flowers) • geben: Julia gab dem Lehrer einen Apfel (= Julia gave the teacher an apple) • leihen: Kannst du mir zwanzig Euro leihen? (= Can you lend me twenty euros?)

  31. 3.30 Dative & acc.: verbs of “taking” • entziehen: Man entzog ihr den Führerschein (= They took her driving licence away) • nehmen: Sie nahmihnen die Hoffnung (= She took their hopes away) • rauben: Der Dieb raubte ihm das Geld (= The thief stole his money) • stehlen: Der Täter stahl mir den Fernseher (= The culprit stole my TV set)

  32. 3.31 Dative & acc.: verbs of “saying” • beantworten: Ich beantworte dir diese Frage (= I’ll answer this question for you) • erzählen: Anna erzähltemir die Geschichte (= Anna told me the story) • sagen: Ich sage Ihnen meine Meinung (= I’ll tell you my opinion) • versprechen: Man versprach ihm 100 Euro (= They promised him 100 euros)

  33. 3.32 German Case Quiz (1) Identify the verb, subject and object(s) here: 1) Diese Geschichte aus dem alten Russland lesen die Kinder gern 2) Welches Märchen erzählte er dem Kind? 3) Der Dame gehören diese Schuhe 4) Den Mann kennt in diesem Dorf niemand 5) Den Lehrern schenkten die StudentInnen guten Rotwein

  34. 3.33 Case Quiz (1) : Answers Verb,subject,direct object,indirect object: 1) Diese Geschichte aus dem alten Russland lesendie Kindergern 2) Welches Märchenerzählteerdem Kind? 3) Der Damegehörendiese Schuhe 4)Den Mannkennt in diesem Dorfniemand 5) Den Lehrernschenktendie StudentInnenguten Rotwein

  35. 3.34 Quiz (2) : Dative / indirect object Complete the clauses with the dative object: 1) Er antwortet ________________________ (= He is replying to the professor) 2) Gib es _____________________________ (= Give it to the girl!) 3) Die Wohnung gehört__________________ (= The flat belongs to the lady) 4) Ich habe es __________________ geschickt (= I sent it to the pupils)

  36. 3.35 Case Quiz (2) : Answers • Er antwortetder Professorin / dem Professor (= He is replying to the professor) • Gib es dem Mädchen! (= Give it to the girl!) • Die Wohnung gehört der Dame (= The flat belongs to the lady) • Ich habe es den Schülerngeschickt (= I sent it to the pupils)

  37. 3.36 Verbs that take the genitive • Very few verbs take a genitive object • Such verbs are used in formal German only and have more widely used alternatives. Examples: • gedenken: Der Minister gedachte derOpfer. (= The minister remembered the victims.) • bedürfen: Sie bedurfte meinerHilfe nicht. (= She didn’t need my help.)

  38. 3.37 Verbs + Genitive + Accusative • Some - mainly legal - verbs take agenitive objectand an accusative object. • anklagen: Man klagte unsdes Meineidsan. (= They accused us of perjury.) • bezichtigen: Er bezichtigt siedes Raubs. (= He accuses them of robbery.) • verdächtigen: Man verdächtigt ihnder Lüge(= They suspect him of lying.)

  39. 3.38 The genitive case • The main role of the genitive case is to link nouns or noun phrases. • It tends to indicate possession. • While the genitive usually follows the noun on which it depends, proper names may come first - withs but without apostrophe: • “Karls Freundin”(Karl’s girlfriend) • “Goethes Werke” (Goethe’s works)

  40. 3.39 The greengrocer’s apostrophe • But importing -s means importing bad habits - Bahnhof’s? • The superfluous apostrophe seems to be implying that there is a person called Bahnhof!

  41. Nominative der Mann (Masculine) die Frau (Feminine) das Mädchen (Neuter) die Kinder (Plural) Genitive des Mannes (Masculine) der Frau (Feminine) des Mädchens(Neuter) der Kinder (Plural) 3.40 Genitive case endings

  42. 3.41 The genitive ending -es • The (-es) genitive ending is added to masculine and neuter nouns ending in: • -s: das Haus  des Hauses • -ss: das Erdgeschoss  des Erdgeschosses • -ß: das Maß (measure) des Maßes • -x: der Reflex  des Reflexes • -z: der Platz  des Platzes • -nis: das Ereignis  des Ereignisses

  43. 3.42 The genitive ending –es (2) • Foreign nouns ending in -s or -x usually have no ending in the genitive: • der Rhythmus  des Rhythmus • der Organismus  des Organismus • BUT some key foreign words have now been assimilated into German and thus add (-es): • der Bus  des Busses • der Kongress  des Kongresses

  44. 3.43 The genitive ending -s • The (-s) genitive ending is added to masculine and neuter nouns with: • a vowel ending: der Schnee  des Schnees • a vowel ending + -h: der Schuh  des Schuhs • Names: Goethe  Goethes • Foreign nouns: das Hotel  des Hotels • Polysyllabic nouns with an unstressed final syllable: der Abend  des Abends

  45. 3.44 The genitive of other nouns • There are no clearcut rules for the genitive of the many masculine and neuter nouns that do not fall into the groups listed above. • As a rough guide, (-es) is more usually found: • in monosyllabic words • in words with the stress on the final syllable • in words ending with two consonants • in formal written German

  46. 3.45 Genitive in German dictionaries • Many English-German dictionaries list the genitive ending after the gender of a noun and before its nominative plural. • For example - Biss: m -es e • This means that the noun is “m” (= masculine)  der Biss • The genitive is formed with (-es) des Bisses • The plural is formed with -e die Bisse

  47. 3.46 Case Quiz (3) : Dictionary Usage • What information can be gained from the following two dictionary entries? • 1)Mädchen: nt -s– • 2)Kind: nt-(e)s-er

  48. 3.47 Case Quiz (3) : Answers • 1)Mädchen: nt -s– • The noun is “nt” (= neuter)  das Mädchen • The genitive ending is (-s) des Mädchens • The plural is the same  die Mädchen • 2)Kind: nt-(e)s-er • The noun is “nt” (= neuter)  das Kind • The genitive ending is (-s) or (-es) des Kindsordes Kindes • The plural is die Kinder

  49. 3.48 The Definite Article

  50. 3.49 The Indefinite Article

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