NOMINATIVE forms der das die die
ACCUSATlVE forms den das die die
DATIVE forms dem dem der den (-n)
NEUNUNDFttNFZIG 59
UNIT 3 GERMAN BASIC COURSE
3.
Note: The symbol (-n) signifies that the noun itself, in the DATIVE PLURAL form, adds an -~, if the noun's general plural form does not already end in -~: Nominative Plural die Koffer, Dative Plural den Koffern.4. Here are similar tables of the forms of dieser 'this' and welcher 'which' with der-nouns, das-nouns, die-nouns and plural nouns and with the pronouns which replace them, as noted in Unit 2.
Nominative:
Accusative:
Dative:
dieser Koffer dieses Hotel diese Bank diese Zigarren welcher Koffer welches Hotel welche Bank welche Zigarren
er es sie sie
diesen Koffer dieses Hotel diese Bank diese Zigarren welchen Koffer welches Hotel welche Bank welche Zigarren
ihn es sie sie
diesem Koffer diesem Hotel dieser Bank diesen Zigarren welchem Koffer welchem Hotel welcher Bank welchen Zigarren
ihm ihm ihr ihnen
J' In Unit 1 your attention was directed to the correspondence of the final sounds in the pairs der-er, das-es, die-sie, and die-sie. If
we
now make more extensive comparisonS-Of~he-same-sort--das-es-dieses-welches and den-ihn-diesen-welchen-- we begin to see that a-relatively simple pattern underlies the profusion of forms. It can be summed up in the following PATTERN CHART;Pattern Chart 1 Nom.
Acc.
Dat.
R N M
s
S M
E E R
E E N (-n)
6.
Important Note: Pattern Charts are not to be used in the classroom.They are presented for two reasons only: to call to your attention the fact that there is a pattern for whatever part of the language may be concerned, and to display that pattern as clearly and simply as possi-ble, study the chart at home if you find i t helpful. but do not try to use i t in class. Your purpose is to learn to speak German, not to learn to look it up in a book.
7.
Remember also that substitution of nouns and pronouns operates hori-zontally on the chart. For example. from the Accusative-form line:Ich sehe den Bahnhof und das Rathaus und die Bank und die Koffer.
8.
There are half a dozen more der-type specifiers. all of which exhibit the pattern of Chart 1 above. They are of less frequent occurren~e than the three here introduced, and will be pointed out to you as they turn up in later units.11. Uses
1. Der means 'the' when unstressed, but means 'that' when stressed. Without a noun it means 'that one'. and is often followed by da 'there'.
60
Wir können den Polizisten fragen.
Wir können!k.n. Polizisten dort fragen.
Wir können den da fragen.
We can ask the policeman.
We can ask that policeman there.
We can ask that one there.
SECHZIG
BASIC COURSE GERMAN UNIT
3
2. Dieser is used primarily for contrastive purposes. It doesn't just mean 'close to me' as the English this does, but rather 'the one I'm indicating now as opposed to that other one'.
Ich habe dieses Glas, er hat das da.
Ich fahre mit diesem Omnibus nicht mit dem da.
I have this glass; he has that one.
I'm going on ~his bus, not that (~) one.
3.
When there is no contrast, but only a pointing indication, the pointing-word das is equivalent to both this and that.Das ist die Strasse.
Das ist die Strasse.
This is the street.
That's the street.
4.
Welcher is used primarily in questions. When used without a noun, i t means 'which one?' .Welchen Polizisten ki:)nnen wir fragen?
Mit welchem spricht er?
Which policeman can we ask?
Which one is he talking to?
5.
Whenever one of the der-type specifiers is used without a noun, the form of the specifier is exactly the same as if the noun were there.Ich spreche mit dem.
Ich spreche mit dieser.
Mit welchem sprechen Sie?
1 ' m talking to that man.
I'm talking to this woman (not to that other one).
Which one (man) are you talking to?
Note: The stressed der-type specifier has adefinite pointing implication.
The conventions of polite behavior set certain limitations on the pointing gesture, particularly as applied to persons. In general the same limi-tations are observed in the use of the der-type specifier without a noun.
There are certainly situations where both the pointing gesture and the stressed der-type specifier are not only appropriate but necessary, as in giving directions for instance. However, indiscriminate use is avoided.
C. NOUNS
I. We have noted that German distinguishes der-nouns, das-nouns and die-nouns and furthermore Nominative forms, Accusative forms and Dative for~ The distinctions occur in the pronouns and in the specifiers.
11. Some German NOUNS also show distinctions in form.
Herr Becker trifft Herrn und Frau Allen in München.
Dort ist der Polizist.
Ich will den Polizisten dort mal fragen.
Mr. Becker meets Mr. and Mrs. Allen in Munich.
There's the policeman.
1'11 just ask the policeman there.
Four nouns which we have encountered up to this point have distinctive Nominative and non-Nominative forms. They are listed below for reference:
Nominative form:
Accusative form:
Da-Live form:
EINUNDSECHZIG
der Herr den Herrn dem Herrn
der Diploma t den Diplomaten dem Diplomaten
der Beamte den Beamten dem Beamten
der Polizist den Polizisten dem Polizisten