APPENDICES, VOCABULARY, INDEX

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1 APPENDICES, VOCABULARY, INDEX 33490_31_appA_p indd /27/07 6:49:41 PM

2 The German Case System APPENDIX A German uses a signal called case to identify the function of nouns and s within a sentence. The ending of the and the definite or in indicate case. Note that the boldfaced endings for each gender follow a pattern: As long as they are put in their proper Gender Pronoun/Article Nominative Subject/Predicate Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural Interrogative in in in er der Mann ein Mann kein Mann/ mein Mann, der... die Frau eine Frau keine Frau/ meine Frau es das Kind ein Kind kein Kind/ mein Kind, das die Männer/ keine/meine Wer? 288 zweihundertachtundachtzig Appendix A 33490_31_appA_p indd /28/07 1:38:14 AM

3 cases, the nouns and s in the sentence can be moved around in a variety of ways that effect emphasis and style without changing the essential meaning of the sentence. The word order system is outlined in the Sentence Formula following the case system table. Accusative Dative Genitive Direct Object/ Object of Accusative Preposition ihn den Mann einen Mann keinen Mann/ meinen Mann, den... die Frau eine Frau keine Frau/ meine Frau es das Kind ein Kind kein Kind/mein Kind, das... Indirect Object/ Object of Dative Preposition or Verb ihm dem Mann einem Mann keinem Mann/ meinem Mann, dem... ihr der Frau einer Frau keiner Frau/ meiner Frau, der... ihm dem Kind einem Kind keinem Kind/ meinem Kind, dem... Possession/ Object of Genitive Preposition (seinet-) des Mann(e)s eines Mannes keines Mannes/ meines Mannes, dessen... (ihret-) der Frau einer Frau keiner Frau/ meiner Frau, deren... (seinet-) des Kind(e)s eines Kindes keines Kindes meines Kindes, dessen... APPENDICES die Männer/ keine/meine ihnen den Männern/ n keinen + n/ meinen + n, denen... der Männer/ keiner/meiner, deren... Wen? Wem? Wessen? zweihundertneunundachtzig _31_appA_p indd /27/07 6:49:42 PM

4 Note that the conjugated verb (V1) is always in the second position in a German statement. The first position does not necessarily have to be and often is not the subject, but rather new, important information that is answering a specific question. The other primary syntactical elements making up a German statement follow this formulaic pattern: Sentence Formula: X V1 n a d N Adverbs D A V2 time// (wann/wie/wo) any item in the formula can be X in first position V1 = the conjugated main verb n = nominative (subject) a = accusative (direct object) d = dative (indirect object) N = Nominative Noun (Subject) Adverbs of time / / D = Dative Noun (Indirect Object) A = Accusative Noun (Direct Object) V2 = final component of compound verb (prefixes, participles, infinitive) German case and word order allow at least two variations whereas the English is basically limited to expressing actions in syntax from left to right: German Der Mann küsst die Frau. Er küsst. Die Frau küsst der Mann. Sie küsst er. Die Frau küsst den Mann. Sie küsst ihn. Den Mann küsst die Frau. Ihn küsst. Der Mann bringt der Frau das Kind. Er bringt es ihr. Der Frau bringt der Mann das Kind. Ihr bringt er es. Das Kind bringt der Mann der Frau. Es bringt er ihr. English translation The man kisses the woman. He kisses her. The man kisses the woman. He kisses her. The woman kisses the man. She kisses him. The woman kisses the man. She kisses him. The man brings the child to the woman. The man brings the child to the woman. The man brings the child to the woman. 290 zweihundertneunzig Appendix A 33490_31_appA_p indd /27/07 6:49:43 PM

5 Note in the following examples a) that V1 is the conjugated verb agreeing in number with the subject whereas V2 (always in final position of the clause) completes a compound verb, and b) that the order of the adverbs and objects as well the order of the objects themselves depends on whether the objects are Nouns or s. WANN WIE WO Im Jahr 1717 streitet Bach mit dem Herzog in Dresden. X = time V1 N Adverb of In the year 1717, Bach argues in Dresden with the duke. Adverb of APPENDICES Wo hat er für 100 Dukaten X = V1 n Adverb of seiner neuen Frau den Ring D A V2 gekauft? In Arnstadt X = hat er ihn ihr für 100 Dukaten V1 n a d Adverb of gekauft. Where did he buy his new wife the ring for 110 ducats? In Arnstadt, he bought it for her for 100 ducats. V2 zweihunderteinundneunzig _31_appA_p indd /27/07 6:49:43 PM