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Eigentum von Leuten

Using one positive and one negative attribute, describe six people (a woman, a man, a girl, a boy, you, and me) and the items they have. Ex. The woman’s coins are silver. They are not gold.

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I must have missed a lesson or something like that because I don't know the grammar rules about those "der, des, etc."... How do I know which one to use ?

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Submitted: 2008-08-04 14:03:37

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2008-08-04 15:27:43
Lichtenberg

"der und des" are standing for "of the" in english. For example: The purse of the women. Die Handtasche der Frau. When the person or object whose it is (in this case the women) is male or neuter of gender you have to use "des" and when it is female or plural you have to use "der", hope that helps, just try it...

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2008-08-04 15:43:40
Antoine Malette

Excellent ! Thanks Lichtenberg ! Exactly what I needed ! Okay here's my try ! --- Das Auto des Mann ist gelb. Es ist nicht blau. Das Buch der Frau ist sehr gut ! Die Münze des Mädchen ist silbern. Sie ist nicht golden. Das Sofa des Junge ist orange. Das Auto des du (Sounds strange no?!) ist blau, nicht rot. --- Should I use "dir" or something like that ? I'm not sure I understood everything but, let's see ! Thanks in advance !

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2008-08-04 16:50:38
alexis

the genitive case doesn't really use pronouns, so to say 'the car of you' you're better off saying dein Auto.

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2008-08-04 16:52:41
Lichtenberg

Ok you did it right but there is one more thing I forgot to tell you: when the person or objekt whose it is, is male or neuter of gender (so when you use "des") the noun gets a different ending (when you use "der" it does not, the second sentence is correct) here the right answers: Das Auto des Mannes ist gelb. Es ist nicht blau. Die Münze des Mädchens ist silbern. Das Sofa des Jungen ist... And about the last question: I think it is in this case better to say "Dein Auto ist blau..." it's the same in english: you'd rather say You're car... instead of The car of you... but when you for instance want to say: Are they friends of yours? You would say in german: Sind das Freunde von dir? so you don't say "von du" but "von dir"

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2008-08-04 18:29:33
Antoine Malette

Excellent ! Those tips really help me ! But, one more question : how do I know, what is the final of the persons when I use der and des ? You said for example : Das Auto des Mannes How do I know how Mannes should be written ? Thanks a lot !

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2008-08-05 09:06:58
Lichtenberg

Ok I hope I understood you right, you want to know how you can find out wich ending you have to take, right? Well thats a bit difficult. It has to do with how the word that gets the new ending is ending itself I guess: Words that end on an -e like Hase, Junge or Raabe get simply a -n as new ending (des Hasen, des Jungen, des Raaben...); Words that end on -en -er or on a vowel like Garten, Schraubenzieher, Auto... get an -s as ending (des Gartens, des Schraubenziehers, des Autos...) and words that end like Baum, Mann, Buch, Regal... get an -es as ending (des Baumes, des Mannes, des Buches, des Regales...) I don't know if this is fully correct, just try a few words that i don't mentioned here and ask someone to correct them. I think this way you'll see if my explanation goes in the right direction...

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2008-08-05 14:57:59
Antoine Malette

Okay ! Here are my random tries ! Der Frosch des Mannes ist grün. Das Buch des Mannes ist sehr gut. Die Birne des Landwirts sind köstlich ! Die Feuerwaffe des Politizten ist neu. Does that sound okay ?

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2008-08-06 02:01:27
LennyL

I am having a lot of trouble with this stuff too and I found a very helpful German grammar website. Link: http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~tphillip/grammar.html It helped me. I hope you find it helpful too.

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2008-08-06 07:52:26
Lichtenberg

I've got nothing more to add :)

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2008-08-08 01:01:41
Antoine Malette

Excellent then ! Thanks to both of us !

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2008-08-08 07:28:30
Phantom.de

Hello Antoine, in your examples are two litte mistakes. Die Birne des Landwirts IST köstlich! Or if you mean plural: Die BirneN des Landwirts sind köstlich! Die Feuerwaffe des POLIZISTEN ist neu. Bye, Kerstin

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2008-08-08 14:05:41
Antoine Malette

Oh excellent ! Thanks !

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2008-08-08 16:16:11
Via

there is a good rule for that!! and it is not like with using an article itself!!where u must FEEL! it is connected with learning the stuff first!! need help?

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