Appearance
Vocab: Free time — A1 (2)
Free time vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Spaziergang — walk, stroll
The plural is die Spaziergänge, with an umlaut and -e. The common phrase einen Spaziergang machen means “to go for a walk”; German uses the noun with machen, not usually a direct translation of “take”.
Der Spaziergang war sehr schön.
The walk was very nice.
sehr schön means “very nice”. Der Spaziergang is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb war stands in position two.
Wir machen heute einen Spaziergang.
We are going for a walk today.
heute means “today”, and machen means “make” or, in this phrase, “go for”. Einen Spaziergang is accusative because machen takes a direct object; the fixed phrase is einen Spaziergang machen.
Nach dem Spaziergang trinken wir Kaffee.
After the walk, we drink coffee.
nach means “after”, and Kaffee trinken means “drink coffee”. Dem Spaziergang is dative because nach always takes the dative; because the sentence begins with this phrase, trinken comes before wir.
Die Dauer des Spaziergangs beträgt eine Stunde.
The duration of the walk is one hour.
die Dauer means “the duration”, and beträgt means “amounts to” or “is”. Des Spaziergangs is genitive because it says which walk the duration belongs to; the masculine noun adds -s.
Lange Spaziergänge tun mir gut.
Long walks do me good.
lange means “long”, and tun mir gut means “do me good”. Spaziergänge is the plural with an umlaut and -e; mir is dative because the phrase jemandem guttun means “to do someone good”.
der Spaß — fun, enjoyment; joke, prank
In the everyday phrase Spaß haben, Spaß usually has no article. The plural Späße normally refers to separate jokes, pranks, or amusing acts, not simply to general enjoyment.
Der Spaß beginnt jetzt.
The fun starts now.
beginnt means “starts”, and jetzt means “now”. Der Spaß is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Die Kinder haben Spaß.
The children are having fun.
die Kinder means “the children”, and haben Spaß means “have fun”. Spaß has no article in this fixed expression; learners should not normally say haben den Spaß when they mean “have fun”.
Mit dem Spaß ist es vorbei.
The fun is over.
vorbei means “over”, and es ist vorbei means “it is over”. Dem Spaß is dative because mit always takes the dative; mit etwas ist es vorbei is a fixed way to say that something has ended.
Die Erinnerung des Spaßes bleibt lange.
The memory of the fun remains for a long time.
die Erinnerung is the memory, and bleibt lange means “remains for a long time”. Des Spaßes is genitive because it identifies what the memory is about; the noun takes -es in the genitive.
Die Kinder erzählen von ihren Späßen.
The children tell stories about their jokes and antics.
erzählen means “tell”, von means “about”, and ihren means “their”. Späßen is the plural dative after von; the plural is used for separate amusing acts or jokes, while general enjoyment is usually singular Spaß.
das Spiel — game; play
Das Spiel usually means a game or an organised activity, but it can also mean a theatre play. The verb spielen can mean to play a game, play music or act in a play, depending on the context.
Das Spiel beginnt um acht Uhr.
The game starts at eight o'clock.
beginnt means starts and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Das Spiel is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Wir spielen das Spiel im Garten.
We are playing the game in the garden.
spielen means to play, im Garten means in the garden, and Wir means we. Das Spiel is accusative because it is the object of spielen; the neuter article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Die Kinder geben dem Spiel einen Namen.
The children give the game a name.
die Kinder means the children, geben means give, and einen Namen means a name. Dem Spiel is dative because it is the recipient or target of geben, while einen Namen is the accusative thing given.
Die Regeln des Spiels sind einfach.
The rules of the game are simple.
die Regeln means the rules and einfach means simple. Des Spiels is genitive because it identifies which rules they are; the noun adds -s and the article is des.
Am Wochenende machen wir zwei Spiele.
At the weekend we play two games.
am Wochenende means at the weekend, machen means do or play here, and zwei means two. Spiele is plural and accusative because it is the object of machen; its plural ending is -e.
Die Schauspieler proben ein neues Spiel.
The actors are rehearsing a new play.
die Schauspieler are the actors, proben means rehearse, and neu means new. Here Spiel means a theatre play; it is accusative after proben, and neues has the neuter ending after ein.
spielen — to play; to play an instrument
For games and sports, spielen is usually used without an article before the activity, as in Fußball spielen. It takes haben in the perfect.
Meine Kinder spielen jeden Nachmittag im Garten.
My children play in the garden every afternoon.
jeden Nachmittag means every afternoon and der Garten means garden. Im Garten is dative because in describes a fixed location here, and the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Wir haben gestern lange gespielt.
We played for a long time yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and lange means for a long time. The perfect uses haben plus gespielt at the end of the clause; learners must not put the participle directly after haben.
Als Kind spielte ich oft draußen.
As a child, I often played outside.
als Kind means as a child and draußen means outside. The weak-verb preterite spielte is in position two, while ich is the subject.
Spiel mit deinem Bruder!
Play with your brother!
mit means with and dein Bruder means your brother. Mit always takes the dative, so deinem Bruder is dative; the informal imperative leaves out du.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, spielte ich wieder Tennis.
If I had more time, I would play tennis again.
mehr Zeit means more time, wieder means again, and Tennis is tennis. The wenn clause puts the finite verb hätte at the end, while spielte expresses an unreal or hypothetical situation.
Morgen spielen wir gegen die Nachbarschule.
Tomorrow we will play against the neighbouring school.
morgen means tomorrow, gegen means against, and die Nachbarschule means the neighbouring school. Gegen takes the accusative, and the future uses werden with spielen at the end, although the present can also express a planned future.
Sie spielt sehr gut Klavier.
She plays the piano very well.
sehr gut means very well and Klavier means piano. The instrument is used without an article in this expression, and the finite verb spielt stands in position two.
Mein Sohn hat gestern zum ersten Mal Geige gespielt.
My son played the violin for the first time yesterday.
mein Sohn means my son, gestern means yesterday, and zum ersten Mal means for the first time. The perfect is formed with hat and gespielt, with the participle at the end; Geige spielen normally has no article.
der Spieler — player
Spieler can refer to a player in a sport or game. The plural has no ending: die Spieler.
Der Spieler ist sehr schnell.
The player is very fast.
schnell means fast. Der Spieler is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe den Spieler dort.
I can see the player there.
sehen means to see and dort means there. Den Spieler is accusative because it is the direct object of sehen; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Wir helfen dem Spieler nach dem Spiel.
We help the player after the game.
helfen means to help and nach dem Spiel means after the game. Helfen takes a dative object, so dem Spieler is dative even though English uses “the player” without a special form.
Das Trikot des Spielers ist blau.
The player's jersey is blue.
das Trikot means the jersey and blau means blue. Des Spielers expresses possession in the genitive; the masculine noun adds -s and takes des.
Die Spieler warten auf den Trainer.
The players are waiting for the coach.
warten means to wait and der Trainer means coach. Die Spieler is plural and is the subject, while auf den Trainer is accusative because warten auf takes auf with the accusative.
die Spielerin — female player
Spielerin is the feminine form of Spieler. Its plural is formed with -nen, giving Spielerinnen.
Die Spielerin ist heute besonders stark.
The female player is particularly strong today.
heute means today, besonders means particularly, and stark means strong. Die Spielerin is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Der Trainer lobt die Spielerin.
The coach praises the female player.
der Trainer means the coach and loben means to praise. Die Spielerin is accusative because it is the direct object of lobt; feminine nominative and accusative articles look the same.
Ich gebe der Spielerin den Ball.
I give the female player the ball.
geben means to give and der Ball means the ball. Der Spielerin is dative because it is the recipient, while den Ball is accusative because it is the thing given.
Die Schuhe der Spielerin sind neu.
The female player's shoes are new.
die Schuhe means the shoes and neu means new. Der Spielerin is genitive and expresses possession; feminine genitive uses der without changing the noun.
Die Spielerinnen trainieren jeden Morgen.
The female players train every morning.
trainieren means to train and jeden Morgen means every morning. The plural is Spielerinnen, formed by changing -in to -innen, and the plural subject takes the verb trainieren.
der Spielplatz — playground
This compound combines Spiel, play or game, and Platz, place. The plural is Spielplätze, with an umlaut and -e.
Der Spielplatz ist hinter der Schule.
The playground is behind the school.
hinter der Schule means behind the school. Der Spielplatz is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Kinder besuchen den Spielplatz.
The children visit the playground.
die Kinder means the children, and besuchen means to visit. Den Spielplatz is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Die Eltern sitzen neben dem Spielplatz.
The parents are sitting next to the playground.
die Eltern means the parents, and neben means next to. Dem Spielplatz is dative because neben describes a fixed location here; the finite verb sitzen is in position two.
Die Tür des Spielplatzes ist offen.
The playground gate is open.
die Tür means the gate or door, and offen means open. Des Spielplatzes is genitive because it identifies which gate; the noun has the genitive ending -es.
In unserer Stadt gibt es drei Spielplätze.
There are three playgrounds in our town.
in unserer Stadt means in our town, and drei means three. Spielplätze is plural, with an umlaut and -e; after es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative, although the plural article is not visible.
das Spielzeug — toy; toys (as a mass noun)
Spielzeug is a mass noun, so it normally has no plural; use a phrase such as ein Stück Spielzeug for one item. The compound combines Spiel, play, and Zeug, stuff or equipment.
Das Spielzeug liegt im Kinderzimmer.
The toys are in the children's room.
liegen means to lie or be lying, and im Kinderzimmer means in the children's room. Das Spielzeug is nominative because it is the subject; German normally uses this singular mass noun even when English says toys.
Das Kind räumt das Spielzeug weg.
The child puts the toys away.
das Kind means the child, and wegräumen means to put away. Das Spielzeug is accusative because it is the object of wegräumen; in the main clause, the separable verb appears as räumt ... weg.
Die Mutter spielt mit dem Spielzeug.
The mother plays with the toys.
die Mutter means the mother, and spielen means to play. Mit always requires the dative, so the form is dem Spielzeug; the finite verb spielt stands in position two.
Die Farbe des Spielzeugs ist schön.
The colour of the toy is beautiful.
die Farbe means the colour, and schön means nice or beautiful. Des Spielzeugs is genitive because it shows which toy the colour belongs to; Spielzeug adds -s in the genitive.
der Tanz — dance
Der Tanz beginnt um acht Uhr.
The dance begins at eight o'clock.
beginnt means begins and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Der Tanz is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Wir lernen einen Tanz.
We are learning a dance.
wir lernen means we are learning. Einen Tanz is accusative because lernen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from ein to einen.
Nach dem Tanz trinken wir Wasser.
After the dance, we drink water.
nach means after and trinken means drink. Dem Tanz is dative because nach always takes dative; because the prepositional phrase comes first, trinken is still in position two and comes before wir.
Der Rhythmus des Tanzes ist schwierig.
The rhythm of the dance is difficult.
der Rhythmus means the rhythm and schwierig means difficult. Des Tanzes is genitive because it identifies which rhythm; the noun adds -es and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Tänze aus Spanien sind sehr bekannt.
The dances from Spain are very well known.
aus Spanien means from Spain and bekannt means well known. Tänze is plural and nominative because it is the subject; its vowel changes to ä and it takes -e.
tanzen — to dance
Tanzen can be used without an object, or with zu plus a kind of music or event. It takes haben in the perfect: hat getanzt.
Ich tanze gern.
I like dancing.
ich means I and gern means gladly or like doing something. The finite verb tanze is in position two; gern modifies the activity and normally follows the verb here.
Wir haben gestern auf der Party getanzt.
We danced at the party yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, auf der Party means at the party, and getanzt means danced. The perfect uses haben plus getanzt, with the Partizip II at the end; auf der Party is dative because it describes a location.
Als Kind tanzte sie jeden Samstag.
As a child, she danced every Saturday.
als Kind means as a child and jeden Samstag means every Saturday. Tanzte is the weak-verb preterite; the main-clause finite verb is in position two, while als introduces a subordinate clause in which the verb would go to the end.
Tanz mit mir!
Dance with me!
mit mir means with me. Tanz is the singular imperative of tanzen, with the subject du omitted; mit always takes dative, so mir is dative.
Wenn ich besser tanzen könnte, würde ich an dem Wettbewerb teilnehmen.
If I could dance better, I would take part in the competition.
besser means better, der Wettbewerb means the competition, and teilnehmen means take part. Könnte is Konjunktiv II for an unreal or hypothetical ability; wenn sends the finite verb to the end, while würde stands in position two in the main clause.
Morgen tanzen wir auf der Hochzeit.
Tomorrow we will dance at the wedding.
morgen means tomorrow and die Hochzeit means the wedding. Future uses werden in position two plus the infinitive tanzen at the end; auf der Hochzeit is dative because it describes the location.
der Tanzkurs — dance course, dance class
Der Tanzkurs beginnt am Montag.
The dance course begins on Monday.
beginnt means begins and am Montag means on Monday. Der Tanzkurs is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich mache einen Tanzkurs.
I am taking a dance course.
ich mache means I take or do a course. Einen Tanzkurs is accusative because machen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes to einen.
Nach dem Tanzkurs fahre ich nach Hause.
After the dance course, I go home.
nach Hause means home and fahre means go or travel. Dem Tanzkurs is dative because nach always takes dative; with the introductory phrase first, fahre remains in position two before ich.
Die Teilnehmer des Tanzkurses üben heute gemeinsam.
The participants of the dance course are practising together today.
die Teilnehmer means the participants, üben means practise, and gemeinsam means together. Des Tanzkurses is genitive because it identifies which participants; the compound's second part Kurs takes the genitive ending -es.
An unserer Schule gibt es drei Tanzkurse.
There are three dance courses at our school.
an unserer Schule means at our school, and drei means three. Tanzkurse is the plural after drei; in es gibt, the object is accusative, although the plural form has no special accusative ending.
der Tierpark — animal park, zoo
Tierpark combines Tier, animal, with Park, park. It is often smaller and more natural than a large zoo, but the meanings overlap.
Der Tierpark öffnet um neun Uhr.
The animal park opens at nine o'clock.
öffnet means opens, and um neun Uhr means at nine o'clock. Der Tierpark is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb öffnet stands in position two.
Wir besuchen den Tierpark am Sonntag.
We are visiting the animal park on Sunday.
wir means we, besuchen means visit, and am Sonntag means on Sunday. Den Tierpark is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuchen is in position two.
Die Kinder sind im Tierpark.
The children are at the animal park.
die Kinder means the children, and im means in the. Im Tierpark is dative because in describes a location here; the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Die Tiere des Tierparks brauchen viel Platz.
The animals of the animal park need lots of space.
die Tiere means the animals, brauchen means need, and viel Platz means lots of space. Des Tierparks is genitive because it shows which park the animals belong to; the noun has the ending -s.
In Berlin gibt es mehrere Tierparks.
There are several animal parks in Berlin.
in Berlin means in Berlin, gibt es means there are, and mehrere means several. Tierparks is plural with -s; after es gibt, the plural noun is accusative, although the form looks like the nominative plural.
das Treffen — meeting, get-together; encounter, meeting
This noun comes from the verb treffen, to meet, but das Treffen means a meeting or event. Do not confuse capitalized Treffen with lowercase treffen, the verb.
Das Treffen beginnt um zehn Uhr.
The meeting starts at ten o’clock.
beginnt means starts, and um zehn Uhr means at ten o’clock. Das Treffen is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Ich plane das Treffen für Montag.
I am planning the meeting for Monday.
plane means plan, and für Montag means for Monday. Das Treffen is accusative because planen takes a direct object, and für also always takes the accusative.
Wir sprechen bei dem Treffen über den neuen Plan.
We talk about the new plan at the meeting.
sprechen means talk, bei means at, and der neue Plan means the new plan. Dem Treffen is dative because bei governs the dative; über den neuen Plan is an additional phrase with über here taking the accusative.
Die Ergebnisse des Treffens sind sehr gut.
The results of the meeting are very good.
die Ergebnisse means the results, and sehr gut means very good. Des Treffens is genitive because it shows whose results they are; the noun Treffen adds -s in this case.
In diesem Jahr gibt es viele Treffen.
There are many meetings this year.
in diesem Jahr means this year, and viele means many. Treffen is the plural form, and it does not change from the singular; after es gibt, the phrase is accusative.
Wir haben morgen ein Treffen.
We have a meeting tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow. Ein Treffen is accusative because haben takes a direct object, and the finite verb haben stands in position two.
Das war ein unerwartetes Treffen.
That was an unexpected encounter.
unerwartet means unexpected, and das war means that was. Ein unerwartetes Treffen is a predicate noun phrase after sein; the adjective has the ending -es because the noun is neuter with the indefinite article.
Beim Treffen mit alten Freunden haben wir viel gelacht.
At the meeting with old friends, we laughed a lot.
beim means at the, alte Freunde means old friends, and viel gelacht means laughed a lot. Beim Treffen is dative because bei governs the dative; haben ... gelacht forms the perfect, with the participle at the end.
der Urlaub — holiday, vacation
In the common expression Urlaub machen, Urlaub is normally singular and has no article. To say you are going on holiday, use in den Urlaub fahren or in den Urlaub fliegen.
Der Urlaub beginnt am Montag.
The holiday begins on Monday.
beginnt means begins, and am Montag means on Monday. Der Urlaub is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Wir planen den Urlaub.
We are planning the holiday.
wir means we, and planen means plan. Den Urlaub is accusative because planen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub.
I am looking forward to the holiday.
sich freuen auf means look forward to, and ich freue mich means I am looking forward to something. Auf takes the accusative for the target of the anticipation, so den Urlaub is accusative; mich is the reflexive pronoun.
Die Länge des Urlaubs hängt vom Wetter ab.
The length of the holiday depends on the weather.
die Länge means the length, hängt ... ab means depends, and vom Wetter means on the weather. Des Urlaubs is genitive because it specifies the holiday's length; the separable verb puts ab at the end of the main clause.
Viele Urlaube verbringen wir am Meer.
We spend many holidays by the sea.
viele means many, verbringen means spend, and am Meer means by the sea. Urlaube is plural and accusative as the object of verbringen; it stands first for emphasis, while the finite verb remains in position two.
wandern — to hike, to go walking
Wandern usually means walking for pleasure in nature, especially in the hills or mountains. In the perfect, use sein when the verb describes movement from place to place: ist gewandert; hat gewandert is also possible when the activity itself is emphasised.
Wir wandern jeden Sonntag im Wald.
We go hiking in the forest every Sunday.
wir means we, jeden Sonntag means every Sunday, and im Wald means in the forest. The finite verb wandern is in position two; im Wald is dative because in describes a location here.
Wir sind gestern fünf Stunden gewandert.
Yesterday we hiked for five hours.
gestern means yesterday and fünf Stunden means five hours. The perfect uses sind plus gewandert because this is movement; the auxiliary is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Früher wanderte ich oft mit meinem Vater.
I often went hiking with my father in the past.
früher means in the past, oft means often, and mit meinem Vater means with my father. Wanderte is the regular preterite form; mit forces the dative, shown by meinem Vater.
Wandere nicht allein im Dunkeln!
Do not hike alone in the dark!
nicht allein means not alone, and im Dunkeln means in the dark. Wandere is the singular command form; the negative word nicht comes before the place expression, and the subject pronoun du is omitted.
Ich würde gern durch die Alpen wandern.
I would like to hike through the Alps.
ich würde gern means I would like to, durch means through, and die Alpen means the Alps. Durch takes the accusative, so die Alpen has the accusative plural form; after würde, the infinitive wandern goes to the end.
Nächstes Jahr werden wir in Norwegen wandern.
Next year we will hike in Norway.
nächstes Jahr means next year and in Norwegen means in Norway. Future tense uses werden in position two and places the infinitive wandern at the end; in Norwegen is dative because it expresses location.
das Weihnachten — Christmas
Weihnachten is usually used without an article, especially in zu Weihnachten and frohe Weihnachten. It is normally treated as a singular-only noun in this meaning.
Weihnachten ist mein Lieblingsfest.
Christmas is my favourite holiday.
mein Lieblingsfest means “my favourite holiday”. Weihnachten is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two; this noun is normally used without an article.
Wir feiern Weihnachten mit der Familie.
We celebrate Christmas with the family.
feiern means “celebrate”, mit der Familie means “with the family”, and Familie is “family”. Weihnachten is the accusative object of feiern, while the finite verb feiern stands in position two.
Zu Weihnachten besuchen wir unsere Großeltern.
At Christmas, we visit our grandparents.
zu Weihnachten means “at Christmas”, besuchen means “visit”, and unsere Großeltern means “our grandparents”. The preposition zu forces the dative, and the verb comes in position two even though the sentence begins with the time phrase.
Die Bedeutung des Weihnachten ist für viele Menschen wichtig.
The meaning of Christmas is important to many people.
die Bedeutung means “the meaning”, für viele Menschen means “for many people”, and wichtig means “important”. des Weihnachten is a genitive phrase expressing “of Christmas”; the finite verb ist remains in position two.
der Weihnachtsabend — Christmas Eve
This compound combines Weihnachten and Abend and refers specifically to the evening of 24 December. The usual time expression is am Weihnachtsabend.
Der Weihnachtsabend ist heute.
It is Christmas Eve today.
heute means “today”. Der Weihnachtsabend is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir feiern den Weihnachtsabend zu Hause.
We celebrate Christmas Eve at home.
feiern means “celebrate”, and zu Hause means “at home”. den Weihnachtsabend is accusative because feiern takes a direct object; the finite verb is in position two.
Am Weihnachtsabend essen wir gemeinsam.
On Christmas Eve, we eat together.
am means “on the” and gemeinsam means “together”. am is an dem, and an takes the dative here because this is a time, not a movement, expression; the verb essen follows the opening phrase.
Die Stimmung des Weihnachtsabends ist besonders schön.
The atmosphere of Christmas Eve is especially beautiful.
die Stimmung means “the atmosphere”, and besonders schön means “especially beautiful”. des Weihnachtsabends is genitive because it identifies whose atmosphere it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
In vielen Familien sind die Weihnachtsabende sehr ruhig.
In many families, Christmas Eves are very quiet.
in vielen Familien means “in many families”, and ruhig means “quiet”. die Weihnachtsabende is the plural subject, so the verb is sind, and the plural ending is -e.
die Wippe — seesaw
Die Wippe steht neben dem Sandkasten.
The seesaw is next to the sandbox.
der Sandkasten means sandbox, and neben means next to. Die Wippe is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Die Kinder benutzen die Wippe.
The children use the seesaw.
die Kinder means the children, and benutzen means use. Die Wippe is accusative because benutzen takes a direct object; the finite verb benutzen stands in position two.
Ich helfe dem Kind auf der Wippe.
I help the child on the seesaw.
helfen means to help, and das Kind means the child. Dem Kind is dative because helfen takes a dative object; der Wippe is also dative after auf here because it describes a location, not movement.
Die Farbe der Wippe ist blau.
The seesaw's colour is blue.
die Farbe means colour, and blau means blue. Der Wippe is genitive because it shows possession or association; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Auf dem Spielplatz stehen drei Wippen.
There are three seesaws in the playground.
der Spielplatz means playground, and drei means three. Wippen is plural after drei; auf dem Spielplatz is dative because it describes a fixed location, and the verb stehen comes in position two.
das Wochenende — weekend
The usual expression is am Wochenende, literally at the weekend. Wochenende is neuter, so use das Wochenende, not die Wochenende.
Das Wochenende beginnt am Samstag.
The weekend begins on Saturday.
beginnen means to begin, and Samstag is Saturday. Das Wochenende is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich genieße das Wochenende.
I enjoy the weekend.
genießen means to enjoy. Ich means I. Das Wochenende is accusative because it is the direct object of genieße; the neuter article das does not change in the accusative.
Am Wochenende schlafe ich lange.
At the weekend, I sleep late.
schlafen means to sleep, and lange means for a long time or late in this context. Am Wochenende means at the weekend: am is an dem, so Wochenende is dative. Because the time phrase comes first, schlafe still occupies position two before the subject ich.
Die Pläne des Wochenendes sind noch offen.
The weekend's plans are still undecided.
die Pläne means the plans, and offen means undecided or open. noch means still. Des Wochenendes is genitive to show whose plans they are; the noun adds -s and the article is des.
Wir verbringen zwei Wochenenden am Meer.
We spend two weekends by the sea.
verbringen means to spend time, and zwei means two. am Meer means by the sea. Zwei Wochenenden is plural and accusative because it is the object of verbringen; the plural ending is -n.
der Würfel — die, cube
In games, der Würfel usually means a die; in other contexts it can mean a cube. The plural is also Würfel, with no ending or vowel change.
Der Würfel liegt auf dem Tisch.
The die is on the table.
liegt means is lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Der Würfel is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich nehme den Würfel.
I take the die.
nehme means take. Den Würfel is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object, and the finite verb nehme stands in position two.
Sie gibt dem Würfel eine neue Farbe.
She gives the cube a new colour.
gibt means gives, eine neue Farbe means a new colour, and neu means new. Dem Würfel is dative as the recipient or object affected by gibt, while eine neue Farbe is accusative.
Die Kanten des Würfels sind gleich lang.
The edges of the cube are the same length.
die Kanten means the edges, and gleich lang means the same length. Des Würfels is genitive to show that the edges belong to the cube; the plural subject Kanten takes sind.
Die Kinder werfen Würfel.
The children roll dice.
die Kinder means the children, and werfen means throw or roll. Würfel is plural and also has the same spelling as the singular; here it is accusative because it is the object of werfen.
zelten — to camp, to sleep in a tent
zelten normally means spending the night in a tent outdoors. It is an intransitive verb, so it has no direct object; the place is commonly added with in, an or bei.
Wir zelten im Wald.
We are camping in the forest.
der Wald means the forest. The finite verb zelten is in position two, and im Wald is a dative location phrase because in describes where someone is, not where they are going.
Wir haben am See gezeltet.
We camped by the lake.
der See means the lake, and am See means by the lake. The perfect uses haben plus gezeltet at the end; am See is a dative location phrase after an.
Letzten Sommer zelteten wir in Österreich.
Last summer we camped in Austria.
letzten Sommer means last summer, and Österreich is Austria. The finite verb zelteten comes in position two after the time phrase; in Österreich is a location phrase.
Zelt nicht bei Regen!
Don’t camp when it rains!
bei Regen means when it rains or in the rain. Zelt is the du imperative, so the subject is omitted; bei takes the dative, shown by Regen.
Ich würde gern am Meer zelten.
I would like to camp by the sea.
gern means gladly or would like to, and das Meer is the sea. würde carries the Konjunktiv II meaning, while the infinitive zelten goes to the end; am Meer is a dative location phrase.
Nächstes Jahr werden wir in Norwegen zelten.
Next year we will camp in Norway.
nächstes Jahr means next year, and Norwegen is Norway. werden is in position two and the infinitive zelten goes to the end; in Norwegen describes the camping location.
der Zoo — zoo
The usual expression is in den Zoo gehen, meaning to go to the zoo; the preposition in takes the accusative because it expresses movement to a destination.
Der Zoo ist heute geöffnet.
The zoo is open today.
heute means today, and geöffnet means open. Der Zoo is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir besuchen den Zoo am Samstag.
We are visiting the zoo on Saturday.
besuchen means to visit, and am Samstag means on Saturday. den Zoo is accusative because besuchen takes an accusative object; the finite verb besuchen is in position two.
Die Kinder gehen mit dem Zoo-Plan durch den Park.
The children walk through the park with the zoo map.
die Kinder means the children, der Plan means the map or plan, and durch den Park means through the park. mit always takes the dative, so dem Zoo appears inside the compound Zoo-Plan; the finite verb gehen is in position two.
Der Eingang des Zoos ist neben dem Bahnhof.
The entrance to the zoo is next to the railway station.
der Eingang means the entrance, neben dem Bahnhof means next to the railway station. des Zoos is genitive because it identifies the entrance; the masculine noun takes -s, and ist stands in position two.
Viele Zoos haben auch ein Aquarium.
Many zoos also have an aquarium.
viele means many, auch means also, and das Aquarium means the aquarium. Zoos is the plural without an article after viele; haben is in position two.