The Secret of the German Language

• Lesson 4:• Does your brain hurt yet?• Remember, that’s a good hurt.• It’s better than a conk on the noggin.• Or maybe a smack in the face would be

preferred to taking these notes?

The Secret of the German Language

• Today we talk about ein words. • This will be just like the der- words with three

small exceptions.• We also approach a very sad topic:• Little orphaned endings.• Don’t worry. Some of those endings will get

adopted . . .• Next time.

The Secret of the German Language

• Add the ein- words to your preliminary notes as you did the der- words:

The Secret of the German Language

• The ein- words are:• ein• kein• And all of the possessive adjectives:

meinunser

deineuer

sein/ihrihr

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Back in your preliminary notes, please add the three crossed out circles you see above.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

The symbol indicates that the normal –r or –s ending is dropped with ein- words. The ein words have orphaned their endings in these cases.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Therefore where we say:Der Mann ist hier.We don’t say:Einer Mann ist hier.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

We don’t say:Einer Mann ist hier.Instead we orphan that –r like this.Ein Mann ist hier.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

This happens only on the three places indicated by the symbol. We keep the endings in every other case. Therefore here are the four cases:

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Ein Mann ist hier. Eine Frau ist hier.Ein Kind ist hier. Keine Kinder sind hier.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Ich sehe einen Mann.Ich sehe eine Frau.Ich sehe ein Kind. Ich sehe keine Kinder.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Ich gebe einem Mann einen Apfel.Ich gebe einer Frau einen Apfel.Ich gebe einem Kind einen Apfel.Ich gebe keinen Kindern einen Apfel.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Der Apfel eines Mannes ist hier.Der Apfel einer Frau ist hier.Der Apfel eines Kindes ist hier.Der Apfel meiner Kinder ist hier.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

This works with all of the ein- words.Ein Mann ist hier.Mein Mann ist hier.Dein Mann ist hier.Ihr Mann ist hier.Kein Mann ist hier.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

So try these:

Mein__ Vater ist hässlich.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

That one takes no ending (orphaned)

Mein Vater ist hässlich.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Okay, how about this one:

Dein__ Schwester erkennt mein__ Bruder.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Nothing was orphaned this time. Regular endings.

Deine Schwester erkennt meinen Bruder.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

How about this one? Much harder!

Sein__ Sohn gibt mein__ Tochter kein__ Geschenk.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Two endings were orphaned.

Sein Sohn gibt meiner Tochter kein Geschenk.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

One more:

Die Schwester mein__ Freundin ist hübsch.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Regular genitive ending here.

Die Schwester meiner Freundin ist hübsch.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Now some translations. Try these:

My brother stinks.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

That was too easy. Orphaned ending.

Mein Bruder stinkt.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

How about this?

My mother kisses my father.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

No orphaned endings. Way to go, ‘rents!

Meine Mutter küsst meinen Vater.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Try this one:

His dog gives his cat a toy.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Such nice pets. Two orphaned endings.

Sein Hund gibt seiner Katze ein Spielzeug.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

One more:

My uncle’s nose is red.(The nose of my uncle)

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

Eskimo kisses for those who get this right.

Die Nase meines Onkels ist rot.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

And now today’s tip brought to you by the letter R and the letter S:Words that end in –heit, –keit, and -ung are always feminine.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

masculine feminine neuter plural

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)

GesundheitFreundlichkeitHoffnungEtc.

R E S EN E S EM R M N+n

S+s R S+s R

-e

-en

masculine feminine neuter plural

adjectiveEndings

Nominative(Subject)

Accusative(Direct Object)

Dative(Indirect Object)

Genitive(Possessive)