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Vocab: Plants — A1
Plants vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Ananas — pineapple
The plural is usually unchanged: die Ananas can mean one or several pineapples, so the article or number is important.
Die Ananas ist reif.
The pineapple is ripe.
reif means ripe. Die Ananas is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse die Ananas.
I am eating the pineapple.
essen means to eat. Die Ananas is accusative because it is the direct object of esse, and the finite verb stands in position two.
Ich gebe der Ananas etwas Zucker.
I add some sugar to the pineapple.
etwas Zucker means some sugar, and geben means to give or add. Der Ananas is dative because it is the recipient or affected thing with geben; the finite verb gebe is in position two.
Der Geschmack der Ananas ist süß.
The taste of the pineapple is sweet.
der Geschmack means the taste and süß means sweet. Der Ananas is genitive and shows whose taste it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir kaufen zwei Ananas.
We are buying two pineapples.
zwei means two and kaufen means to buy. Ananas has the same form in the plural, and it is accusative because it is the object of kaufen.
Angelika — Angelika, a female first name
Angelika is a female first name and normally has no article. Names are usually not translated, although English may use a different traditional form such as Angelica.
Angelika wohnt in Berlin.
Angelika lives in Berlin.
wohnt means lives and in Berlin means in Berlin. Angelika is a proper name and is nominative as the subject; the finite verb wohnt stands in position two.
Ich treffe Angelika morgen.
I am meeting Angelika tomorrow.
treffen means to meet and morgen means tomorrow. Angelika is accusative because treffen takes a direct object; treffe is in position two and morgen comes after the object.
der Baum — tree
The plural of Baum is Bäume, with an umlaut and -e. In location phrases, unter einem Baum means under a tree, while movement uses the accusative: unter einen Baum.
Der Baum ist sehr alt.
The tree is very old.
sehr alt means very old. Der Baum is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe den Baum.
I see the tree.
sehe means see. den Baum is accusative because sehen takes a direct object, and the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Wir sitzen unter dem Baum.
We are sitting under the tree.
sitzen means sit and unter means under. dem Baum is dative because unter describes a fixed location here; there is no movement toward the tree.
Die Blätter des Baumes sind grün.
The tree’s leaves are green.
die Blätter means the leaves and grün means green. des Baumes is genitive and shows which tree the leaves belong to; the genitive form adds -es.
Im Park stehen viele Bäume.
There are many trees in the park.
im Park means in the park, stehen means stand, and viele means many. Viele Bäume is the plural subject after the verb because the location phrase occupies position one; Bäume has an umlaut.
das Blatt — leaf; sheet of paper; sheet of paper
The plural Blätter covers both the leaf and paper-sheet meanings. The compound Blatt Papier means a sheet of paper, while Blatt alone often means a leaf.
Das Blatt ist grün.
The leaf is green.
grün means green. Das Blatt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe das Blatt.
I see the leaf.
sehen means to see. Das Blatt is accusative because sehen takes a direct object, and the finite verb sehe is in position two.
Ich schreibe auf dem Blatt.
I am writing on the sheet.
schreiben means to write, and auf means on. Dem Blatt is dative because auf describes a fixed location here; the finite verb schreibe stands in position two.
Die Farbe des Blatts ist hellgrün.
The colour of the leaf is light green.
die Farbe means the colour, and hellgrün means light green. Des Blatts is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the genitive article des and the ending -s are important.
Im Herbst fallen viele Blätter.
In autumn, many leaves fall.
im Herbst means in autumn, fallen means fall, and viele means many. Blätter is the plural subject, with the plural article omitted after viele; its umlaut must not be forgotten.
Bitte gib mir ein Blatt.
Please give me a sheet of paper.
bitte means please, gib means give, and mir means to me. Ein Blatt is accusative because geben takes the thing given as a direct object; the imperative gib comes first.
Auf dem Blatt stehen wichtige Informationen.
Important information is written on the sheet.
stehen means stand or be written, and wichtige Informationen means important information. Auf dem Blatt is dative because auf describes location; the finite verb stehen follows the fronted phrase and remains in position two.
die Blaubeere — blueberry
The compound Blaubeere consists of blau (blue) and Beere (berry). In some regions, especially in Germany, Heidelbeere is also common for the same fruit.
Die Blaubeere ist süß.
The blueberry is sweet.
süß means sweet. Die Blaubeere is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse die Blaubeere.
I am eating the blueberry.
esse means eat. Die Blaubeere is accusative because essen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, the article remains die in both nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Kind der Blaubeere?
I give the child the blueberry.
geben means give, dem Kind means to the child, and das Kind is neuter. The natural sentence is Ich gebe dem Kind die Blaubeere: the child is dative, but die Blaubeere is accusative because it is the thing given.
Der Geschmack der Blaubeere ist mild.
The taste of the blueberry is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild. Der Blaubeere is genitive because it identifies whose taste is meant; the feminine genitive article is der.
Im Joghurt liegen Blaubeeren.
There are blueberries in the yoghurt.
im Joghurt means in the yoghurt, and liegen means lie or be located. Blaubeeren is the plural subject; im is in dem, and dem Joghurt is dative because in describes a location.
die Blume — flower
Die Blume is a countable feminine noun. Its plural is die Blumen, with -n added to the singular.
Die Blume ist schön.
The flower is beautiful.
schön means beautiful. Die Blume is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe eine Blume.
I am buying a flower.
ich kaufe means I am buying, and eine Blume means a flower. Eine Blume is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe is in position two.
Ich gebe meiner Mutter eine Blume.
I am giving my mother a flower.
geben means give and meiner Mutter means to my mother. Meiner Mutter is dative because it is the recipient, while eine Blume is accusative because it is the thing given.
Der Duft der Blume ist süß.
The scent of the flower is sweet.
der Duft means the scent and süß means sweet. Der Blume is genitive because it shows whose scent it is; in the feminine genitive, die changes to der.
Im Garten wachsen viele Blumen.
Many flowers are growing in the garden.
im Garten means in the garden, wachsen means are growing, and viele means many. Im Garten is dative because in expresses location, while viele Blumen is the plural subject.
der Blumentopf — flowerpot
The plural is Blumentöpfe, with an umlaut and -e. The noun is masculine, so its definite articles are der in the nominative and den in the accusative.
Der Blumentopf steht am Fenster.
The flowerpot is by the window.
steht means is standing or is located, and am Fenster means by the window. Der Blumentopf is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich kaufe den Blumentopf im Gartencenter.
I am buying the flowerpot at the garden centre.
kaufe means buy, and im Gartencenter means at the garden centre. Den Blumentopf is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Die Pflanze wächst in dem Blumentopf.
The plant is growing in the flowerpot.
Die Pflanze is the plant, and wächst means is growing. In dem Blumentopf is dative because in describes a fixed location here; the contraction im is also possible.
Die Farbe des Blumentopfs passt zum Tisch.
The colour of the flowerpot matches the table.
Die Farbe is the colour, and passt zum Tisch means matches the table. Des Blumentopfs is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the masculine noun adds -s.
Auf dem Balkon stehen drei Blumentöpfe.
There are three flowerpots on the balcony.
Auf dem Balkon means on the balcony, and drei means three. Blumentöpfe is the plural with an umlaut and -e; auf dem Balkon is dative because it describes location.
der Champignon — mushroom, champignon
The plural is die Champignons, with -s, as in many borrowed nouns. In everyday German, Champignon usually means the edible mushroom, not every possible type of fungus.
Der Champignon liegt auf dem Teller.
The mushroom is on the plate.
liegt means “is lying”, and der Teller is the plate. Der Champignon is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich schneide den Champignon.
I am cutting the mushroom.
schneide means “cut”, and schneiden means “to cut”; den Champignon is the mushroom being cut. It is accusative because schneiden takes a direct object, and schneide stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Champignon etwas Öl.
I add some oil to the mushroom.
gebe means “give/add”, etwas Öl means “some oil”, and etwas means “some”. Dem Champignon is dative because geben uses a dative recipient, while etwas Öl is the accusative thing added.
Der Geschmack des Champignons ist mild.
The mushroom’s flavour is mild.
der Geschmack is the flavour and mild means mild. Des Champignons is genitive to show possession, and the masculine noun adds -s after des.
Die Champignons sind frisch.
The mushrooms are fresh.
frisch means fresh. Die Champignons is plural, formed with -s, and sind is the plural form of sein; the plural article is always die here.
das Gras — grass
Gras usually refers to grass as a substance or covering. The plural Gräser is used for different types or individual blades of grass, not normally for grass in general.
Das Gras ist im Sommer grün.
The grass is green in summer.
im Sommer means in summer, and grün means green. Das Gras is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Kinder schneiden das Gras.
The children cut the grass.
die Kinder are the children, and schneiden means cut. Das Gras is accusative because schneiden takes an accusative object; the finite verb schneiden stands in position two.
Wir sitzen im Gras und lesen.
We are sitting in the grass and reading.
sitzen means sit, and lesen means read. Im Gras is dative because in describes a fixed location here; with movement into the grass, in would take the accusative.
Die Farbe des Grases ist sehr hell.
The colour of the grass is very light.
die Farbe is the colour, sehr means very, and hell means light or bright. Des Grases is genitive because it identifies which colour is meant, and ist stands in position two.
Im Frühling wachsen viele Gräser.
Many grasses grow in spring.
im Frühling means in spring, wachsen means grow, and viele means many. Gräser is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the umlaut and -er ending are part of its plural form.
das Gänseblümchen — daisy
The ending -chen makes das Gänseblümchen neuter and gives it the same form in the singular and plural. The word literally contains Gänse, geese, but a Gänseblümchen is simply a daisy.
Das Gänseblümchen ist klein und weiß.
The daisy is small and white.
klein means small and weiß means white. Das Gänseblümchen is nominative because it is the subject, and the adjectives come after ist as predicates without adjective endings.
Das Kind pflückt ein Gänseblümchen.
The child is picking a daisy.
das Kind means the child, and pflückt means picks. Ein Gänseblümchen is accusative because pflücken takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, ein stays ein in the accusative.
Ich gebe meiner Mutter ein Gänseblümchen.
I give my mother a daisy.
gebe means give, and meiner Mutter means to my mother. The recipient meiner Mutter is dative, while ein Gänseblümchen is accusative as the thing given; the noun itself looks the same in both cases.
Die Farbe des Gänseblümchens ist zart.
The colour of the daisy is delicate.
die Farbe means the colour, and zart means delicate or soft. Des Gänseblümchens is genitive because it identifies which flower’s colour is meant; the noun adds -s.
Auf der Wiese wachsen viele Gänseblümchen.
Many daisies grow in the meadow.
auf der Wiese means in the meadow, and wachsen means grow. Viele Gänseblümchen is plural after viele, but the noun has no plural ending because -chen nouns keep the same form.
der Gärtner — gardener
Der Gärtner is the usual word for a professional gardener. The feminine form is die Gärtnerin, and the plural die Gärtner can refer to men or to a mixed group.
Der Gärtner arbeitet im Park.
The gardener works in the park.
arbeitet means works, and im Park means in the park. Der Gärtner is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb arbeitet stands in position two.
Wir rufen den Gärtner.
We call the gardener.
wir means we, and rufen means call. Den Gärtner is accusative because anrufen or rufen can take the person called as a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Ich gebe dem Gärtner die Schlüssel.
I give the gardener the keys.
gebe means give, and die Schlüssel means the keys. Dem Gärtner is dative because he receives the keys; unlike a weak masculine noun, Gärtner does not add -n.
Das Werkzeug des Gärtners liegt im Schuppen.
The gardener’s tools are in the shed.
das Werkzeug means the tool or tools, and liegt means is lying; der Schuppen is the shed. Des Gärtners is genitive because it shows ownership, and the masculine noun adds -s.
Im Frühling arbeiten viele Gärtner im Freien.
In spring, many gardeners work outdoors.
im Frühling means in spring, and im Freien means outdoors. Viele Gärtner is plural after viele; the noun keeps the same ending as the singular, so the article and verb are important clues.
die Haselnuss — hazelnut; hazelnut flavour, hazelnut ingredient
Haselnuss means the edible nut of a hazel tree. Its plural is Haselnüsse, with an umlaut and -e; do not confuse the plural with the unchanged feminine genitive noun in der Haselnuss.
Die Haselnuss liegt auf dem Tisch.
The hazelnut is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying, and der Tisch means the table. Die Haselnuss is the nominative subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location.
Das Kind isst die Haselnuss.
The child is eating the hazelnut.
das Kind means the child, and isst means eats. die Haselnuss is accusative because essen takes an accusative object; the finite verb isst is in position two.
Ich gebe der Haselnuss keine besondere Bedeutung.
I do not attach any special importance to the hazelnut.
keine besondere Bedeutung means no special importance, and geben means to give or attach here. der Haselnuss is dative because it is the indirect object of geben, while keine Bedeutung is accusative; this sentence uses a less common figurative meaning.
Der Geschmack der Haselnuss ist mild.
The taste of the hazelnut is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild or gentle. der Haselnuss is genitive because it identifies whose taste is meant; feminine genitive uses der and leaves the noun unchanged.
Haselnüsse schmecken gut.
Hazelnuts taste good.
schmecken gut means taste good. Haselnüsse is the plural subject, with an umlaut and -e; the finite verb schmecken is plural and stands in position two.
Ich kaufe Eis mit Haselnuss.
I am buying ice cream with hazelnut flavour.
ich kaufe means I am buying, and Eis means ice cream. mit Haselnuss names the flavour or ingredient; mit takes the dative, but the feminine noun has the same visible form in dative and nominative.
Der Kuchen schmeckt nach Haselnuss.
The cake tastes of hazelnut.
der Kuchen means the cake, and schmeckt nach means tastes of. nach Haselnuss uses the dative because nach takes the dative; the article is often omitted when naming a flavour.
die Himbeere — raspberry
Die Himbeere is a fruit; the plural is die Himbeeren. It is often used for the fruit itself or for its flavour in food.
Die Himbeere ist süß und rot.
The raspberry is sweet and red.
süß means sweet and rot means red. Die Himbeere is nominative because it is the subject; ist is in position two, and the adjectives are predicative without endings.
Ich esse die Himbeere zum Frühstück.
I eat the raspberry for breakfast.
esse means eat, and zum Frühstück means for breakfast. Die Himbeere is accusative because essen takes an accusative object; esse is the finite verb in position two.
Mit der Himbeere dekoriere ich den Kuchen.
I decorate the cake with the raspberry.
mit means with, dekoriere means decorate, and der Kuchen means the cake. Der Himbeere is dative because mit always takes the dative; the verb dekoriere is in position two after the opening phrase.
Der Geschmack der Himbeere gefällt mir.
I like the taste of the raspberry.
der Geschmack means the taste, and gefällt mir means is pleasing to me. Der Himbeere is genitive because it identifies whose taste is meant; mir is dative because gefallen takes the person who likes something in the dative.
Himbeeren schmecken besonders gut im Sommer.
Raspberries taste especially good in summer.
schmecken means taste, besonders gut means especially good, and im Sommer means in summer. Himbeeren is plural and is the subject; because the sentence starts with the subject, the finite verb schmecken follows it in position two.
die Kirsche — cherry
The plural is Kirschen. The fruit has a stone, called der Stein or der Kern in German.
Die Kirsche ist süß.
The cherry is sweet.
süß means sweet. Die Kirsche is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich esse die Kirsche.
I am eating the cherry.
esse means am eating. Ich is I, and essen takes the object die Kirsche in the accusative; the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Kind der Kirsche?
I give the child the cherry?
gebe means give and dem Kind means the child. This sentence is not natural with der Kirsche as the intended headword form; the dative form is normally used in a phrase such as mit der Kirsche, where mit forces the dative.
Der Stiel der Kirsche ist grün.
The stalk of the cherry is green.
der Stiel is the stalk and grün means green. Der Kirsche is genitive because it identifies whose stalk it is; the genitive phrase follows the noun it describes.
Im Sommer esse ich Kirschen.
In summer I eat cherries.
im Sommer means in summer and esse means eat. Kirschen is plural without an ending on the article because no article is used; its plural ending is -n.
die Kiwi — kiwi fruit
Feminine die Kiwi means the fruit. The flightless bird is masculine der Kiwi, although both meanings have the plural Kiwis.
Die Kiwi ist reif.
The kiwi is ripe.
reif means ripe. Die Kiwi is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich schäle die Kiwi.
I peel the kiwi.
schäle means peel. Die Kiwi is accusative because schälen takes a direct object; the feminine article remains die in the accusative.
Ich gebe dem Kind der Kiwi?
I give the child the kiwi?
gebe means give and dem Kind means the child. This sentence is not natural with der Kiwi as the intended headword form; the dative form is normally found after mit, as in mit der Kiwi.
Die Schale der Kiwi ist braun.
The skin of the kiwi is brown.
die Schale is the skin or peel and braun means brown. Der Kiwi is genitive because it means of the kiwi fruit; feminine die changes to der.
Zum Frühstück esse ich zwei Kiwis.
I eat two kiwis for breakfast.
zum Frühstück means for breakfast and esse means eat. Kiwis is plural with -s, and zwei means two; the plural spelling is the same as for the kiwi bird.
die Kokosnuss — coconut
The plural is die Kokosnüsse, with an umlaut and -e. The fruit is also used in compounds such as Kokosmilch, coconut milk.
Die Kokosnuss liegt auf dem Tisch.
The coconut is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die Kokosnuss is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich kaufe eine Kokosnuss.
I am buying a coconut.
kaufe means am buying. eine Kokosnuss is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object, and the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Ich trinke Milch aus der Kokosnuss.
I drink milk from the coconut.
trinke means drink, and Milch means milk. aus always takes the dative, so der Kokosnuss is dative; the finite verb trinke is in position two.
Der Geschmack der Kokosnuss ist mild.
The taste of the coconut is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild. der Kokosnuss is genitive because it shows whose taste it is; the verb ist stands in position two.
Auf dem Markt liegen frische Kokosnüsse.
Fresh coconuts are lying at the market.
Auf dem Markt means at the market, liegen means are lying, and frische means fresh. Kokosnüsse is plural; auf takes the dative here because this describes a location, not movement.
der Kopfsalat — head of lettuce
This is a countable vegetable, so it normally has the plural Kopfsalate. Do not confuse Kopfsalat with the general word Salat, which can also mean a prepared salad.
Der Kopfsalat ist frisch.
The head of lettuce is fresh.
frisch means fresh. Der Kopfsalat is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich kaufe den Kopfsalat.
I am buying the head of lettuce.
kaufe means am buying. Den Kopfsalat is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Kopfsalat etwas Wasser.
I give the lettuce some water.
gebe means give, and etwas Wasser means some water. Dem Kopfsalat is dative because geben marks the receiver with the dative; the direct object Wasser is accusative.
Die Farbe des Kopfsalats ist schön grün.
The colour of the lettuce is a beautiful green.
die Farbe means the colour and schön grün means beautifully green. Des Kopfsalats is genitive because it expresses whose colour it is; the masculine article is des and the noun takes -s.
Auf dem Markt liegen frische Kopfsalate.
Fresh heads of lettuce are lying at the market.
auf dem Markt means at the market, liegen means are lying, and frische means fresh. Kopfsalate is plural after frische; auf takes the dative here because this describes a location, not movement.
der Kürbis — pumpkin, squash
The plural of der Kürbis is die Kürbisse. A pumpkin used as a decoration is also called ein Kürbis.
Der Kürbis ist groß.
The pumpkin is big.
ist groß means is big. Der Kürbis is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe den Kürbis.
I am buying the pumpkin.
kaufe means buy. Den Kürbis is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Ich gebe dem Kürbis etwas Wasser.
I give the pumpkin some water.
gebe means give, and etwas Wasser means some water. Dem Kürbis is dative because it is the recipient; etwas Wasser is the accusative thing given.
Die Farbe des Kürbisses ist orange.
The pumpkin's colour is orange.
die Farbe means the colour and orange means orange. Des Kürbisses is genitive and shows whose colour it is; the noun has the ending -ses.
Im Herbst wachsen viele Kürbisse.
Many pumpkins grow in autumn.
im Herbst means in autumn, wachsen means grow, and viele means many. Kürbisse is plural and nominative as the subject; im is short for in dem and marks the dative time phrase.
der Mais — maize, corn
Mais is normally a mass noun in German, so it has no ordinary plural. For separate items, speakers may use expressions such as Maiskolben for ears of corn.
Der Mais wächst auf dem Feld.
The maize is growing in the field.
wächst means grows, and das Feld is the field. Der Mais is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb wächst stands in position two.
Ich esse den Mais gern.
I like eating maize.
essen means to eat and gern means gladly or like to. Den Mais is accusative because essen takes a direct object; the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Wir geben dem Kind Mais.
We give the child maize.
geben means to give and das Kind is the child. Dem Kind is dative as the recipient, while Mais is an uncountable food noun used without an article.
Der Geschmack des Maises ist süß.
The taste of the maize is sweet.
der Geschmack means the taste and süß means sweet. Des Maises is genitive because it says whose taste it is; the genitive article is des and the noun ends in -es.
Wir kaufen Mais auf dem Markt.
We buy maize at the market.
kaufen means buy, auf dem Markt means at the market, and Markt is market. This sentence has no true plural because Mais is a mass noun; the requested plural slot is illustrated by ordinary article-free use, with Mais as the accusative object.
die Möhre — carrot
die Möhre means carrot and is a feminine noun. Karotte is another common word for the same vegetable; in everyday German, both words are understood.
Die Möhre ist frisch.
The carrot is fresh.
frisch means fresh. die Möhre is nominative because it is the subject of ist, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse die Möhre.
I am eating the carrot.
esse means eat. die Möhre is accusative because essen takes an accusative object; the feminine article die looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Kind die Möhre.
I give the child the carrot.
gebe means give, dem Kind means the child, and geben means to give. dem Kind is dative because it is the recipient, while die Möhre is accusative because it is the thing given; the finite verb gebe stands in position two.
Die Farbe der Möhre ist orange.
The colour of the carrot is orange.
die Farbe means the colour, and orange means orange. der Möhre is genitive because it says whose colour it is; the feminine noun keeps the same ending and the article changes to der.
Ich kaufe Möhren.
I am buying carrots.
kaufe means buy. Möhren is an unmodified plural accusative object after kaufen; the plural is formed with -n, while the article is omitted because the amount is unspecified.
die Nelke — carnation; clove
For the flower, die Nelke has the plural die Nelken. Nelke can also mean a clove as a spice; the plural is still Nelken.
Die Nelke ist rot.
The carnation is red.
rot means red. Die Nelke is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe eine Nelke.
I am buying a carnation.
kaufe means buy. Eine Nelke is accusative because it is the direct object of kaufe; the finite verb stands in position two.
Ich gebe meiner Mutter eine Nelke.
I give my mother a carnation.
meiner Mutter means my mother, and gebe means give. Meiner Mutter is dative because she receives the flower, while eine Nelke is accusative as the thing given.
Der Duft der Nelke ist stark.
The scent of the carnation is strong.
der Duft means the scent, and stark means strong. Der Nelke is genitive because it identifies whose scent it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
Auf dem Tisch stehen drei Nelken.
There are three carnations on the table.
drei means three, auf dem Tisch means on the table, and stehen means stand or are placed. Nelken is plural after drei; dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location here.
Ich gebe zwei Nelken in den Tee.
I add two cloves to the tea.
zwei means two, in den Tee means into the tea, and gebe means add or put. Zwei Nelken is the accusative object of gebe; in den Tee is accusative because it expresses movement into the tea.
Der Geruch der Nelke ist sehr intensiv.
The smell of the clove is very strong.
der Geruch means the smell, and intensiv means strong or intense. Der Nelke is genitive because it specifies which smell; the feminine genitive form is identical to the dative article form der.
die Paprika — pepper; paprika; paprika powder
Paprika can mean one pepper or several peppers; the plural forms are Paprikas and Paprika. Do not confuse the vegetable with das Paprikapulver, which means paprika powder.
Die Paprika ist rot und süß.
The pepper is red and sweet.
rot means red and süß means sweet. Die Paprika is nominative because it is the subject, and the adjectives come after ist, so they have no adjective endings.
Ich schneide die Paprika für den Salat.
I cut the pepper for the salad.
schneiden means to cut, and der Salat is the salad. die Paprika is accusative because it is the direct object of schneiden; für also takes the accusative in für den Salat.
Ich gebe der Paprika etwas Salz.
I add some salt to the pepper.
etwas Salz means some salt, and geben means to give or add. der Paprika is dative because it is the recipient or target of geben, while etwas Salz is the accusative thing being added.
Der Geschmack der Paprika passt gut zur Suppe.
The flavour of the pepper goes well with the soup.
der Geschmack means the flavour, passen means to go well with, and die Suppe is soup. der Paprika is genitive because it identifies whose flavour is meant; zur means zu der and takes the dative.
Wir kaufen Paprikas in drei Farben.
We buy peppers in three colours.
kaufen means to buy, drei means three, and die Farben are colours. Paprikas is a plural accusative object; Paprika is also a possible plural, especially when the context already makes the number clear.
Für die Soße nehme ich einen Teelöffel Paprika.
For the sauce, I use a teaspoon of paprika.
die Soße is sauce, and ein Teelöffel is a teaspoon. Here Paprika means the spice or powder and is a mass noun; einen Teelöffel is accusative because it is the object of nehme, while für takes the accusative.
Die Suppe schmeckt mit Paprika besser.
The soup tastes better with paprika.
die Suppe is soup, schmecken means to taste, and besser means better. mit takes the dative, but the uncountable spice Paprika has no visible case ending; the finite verb schmeckt is in position two.
die Pflanze — plant
Pflanze can mean a whole plant, while Blume usually means a flower. Its plural is Pflanzen, with -en instead of singular -e.
Die Pflanze braucht Wasser.
The plant needs water.
brauchen means to need, and Wasser means water. Die Pflanze is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb braucht stands in position two.
Ich gieße die Pflanze.
I am watering the plant.
gießen means to water. Die Pflanze is accusative because gießen takes a direct object, and the finite verb gieße is in position two.
Ich gebe der Pflanze Wasser.
I give the plant water.
geben means to give. Der Pflanze is dative because it is the recipient, while Wasser is the accusative thing being given.
Die Blätter der Pflanze sind grün.
The plant's leaves are green.
die Blätter means the leaves, and grün means green. Der Pflanze is genitive because it shows which plant the leaves belong to; with a feminine noun, only the article changes to der.
Viele Pflanzen stehen auf dem Balkon.
Many plants are standing on the balcony.
viele means many, and der Balkon means balcony. Pflanzen is the plural of die Pflanze; auf dem Balkon is dative because it describes a location.
der Rasen — lawn, grassed area
In everyday use, der Rasen usually means a lawn of short grass. Its plural is also die Rasen, not Rasene.
Der Rasen ist heute sehr grün.
The lawn is very green today.
heute means today and grün means green. Der Rasen is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich gieße den Rasen jeden Abend.
I water the lawn every evening.
gießen means to water and jeden Abend means every evening. Den Rasen is accusative because it is the direct object of gieße; the finite verb is in position two.
Die Kinder spielen auf dem Rasen.
The children are playing on the lawn.
die Kinder means the children and spielen means to play. Auf dem Rasen uses dative because auf describes a fixed location here, not movement onto the lawn.
Die Farbe des Rasens gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the lawn.
die Farbe means the colour and gefällt mir means is pleasing to me. Des Rasens is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the noun adds -s.
Im Sommer wachsen viele Rasen in den Parks.
In summer, many lawns grow in the parks.
im Sommer means in summer, viele means many, wachsen means grow, and in den Parks means in the parks. The plural of der Rasen is die Rasen, with no ending added; in takes dative here because it describes location.
die Rose — rose
The plural is Rosen. A rose can be given as a romantic gift, and Rosen can also be used in the expression Rosen schenken, to give roses.
Die Rose ist wunderschön.
The rose is beautiful.
wunderschön means very beautiful. Die Rose is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich kaufe eine Rose.
I am buying a rose.
kaufe means am buying, and eine means one or a. Eine Rose is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Ich gebe meiner Freundin eine Rose.
I give my friend a rose.
gebe means give, and meiner Freundin means my female friend. Meiner Freundin is dative because she receives something, while eine Rose is accusative as the thing given.
Der Duft der Rose ist süß.
The scent of the rose is sweet.
der Duft means the scent and süß means sweet. Der Rose is genitive because it shows whose scent it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
Im Garten wachsen viele Rosen.
Many roses are growing in the garden.
im Garten means in the garden, wachsen means are growing, and viele means many. Rosen is the plural with -n, and viele Rosen is the nominative subject.
der Saft — juice; sap; sap
For drinks, der Saft normally means juice; for a plant, it can mean sap. The plural die Säfte refers to different juices or kinds of juice.
Der Saft ist kalt.
The juice is cold.
kalt means cold. der Saft is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich trinke den Saft.
I am drinking the juice.
trinke means am drinking. den Saft is accusative because trinken takes a direct object; the finite verb trinke is in position two.
Wir geben dem Kind Saft.
We give the child juice.
geben means give, and dem Kind means to the child. The recipient is dative after geben, while Saft is the thing given; the verb stays in position two.
Der Geschmack des Safts ist süß.
The taste of the juice is sweet.
der Geschmack means the taste and süß means sweet. des Safts is genitive because it shows whose taste it is; the masculine article changes from der to des.
Im Laden stehen viele Säfte.
There are many juices in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop, and viele means many. Säfte is the plural of Saft with an umlaut and -e; im forces the dative for location, while stehen is in position two.
Der Baum verliert Saft.
The tree is losing sap.
der Baum means the tree and verliert means loses. Saft is an uncountable accusative object after verlieren, and the finite verb verliert stands in position two.
Im Frühling steigt der Saft in den Bäumen.
In spring, sap rises in the trees.
im Frühling means in spring, steigt means rises, and in den Bäumen means in the trees. der Saft is nominative as the subject; in den Bäumen is dative because it describes location, not movement into the trees.
die Sonnenblume — sunflower
The compound combines Sonne (sun) and Blume (flower). The plural is regular apart from the added -n: die Sonnenblumen.
Die Sonnenblume ist sehr groß.
The sunflower is very tall.
ist means is and sehr groß means very tall. Die Sonnenblume is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe eine Sonnenblume für den Balkon.
I am buying a sunflower for the balcony.
kaufe means buy, für means for, and der Balkon means the balcony. Eine Sonnenblume is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; für den Balkon is also accusative because für always takes the accusative.
Ich gebe der Sonnenblume Wasser.
I give the sunflower water.
gebe means give and Wasser means water. Der Sonnenblume is dative because it is the recipient, while Wasser is the accusative thing given; geben can take both objects.
Die Farbe der Sonnenblume ist kräftig gelb.
The colour of the sunflower is a strong yellow.
die Farbe means the colour and kräftig gelb means a strong, bright yellow. Der Sonnenblume is genitive because it tells whose colour it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Im Garten wachsen viele Sonnenblumen.
Many sunflowers are growing in the garden.
im Garten means in the garden and wachsen means are growing. Sonnenblumen is the plural subject, formed with -n; because the sentence starts with a place phrase, the finite verb wachsen still comes in position two.
der Spargel — asparagus
Spargel is usually a mass noun when it means the vegetable, so it normally has no plural. The genitive singular is des Spargels.
Spargel ist im Frühling besonders frisch.
Asparagus is especially fresh in spring.
im Frühling means in spring, and besonders frisch means especially fresh. Spargel is the nominative subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe Spargel auf dem Markt.
I am buying asparagus at the market.
kaufe means buy, and auf dem Markt means at the market. Spargel is an uncountable accusative object after kaufe, while auf dem Markt is dative because it describes a location.
Wir essen heute mit Spargel.
Today we are eating with asparagus.
heute means today, and mit means with. Mit always takes the dative, so the noun has no visible ending here; the finite verb essen is in position two.
Der Geschmack des Spargels ist mild.
The taste of the asparagus is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild. Des Spargels is genitive because it identifies whose taste it is; the masculine noun takes -s in the genitive.
wachsen — to grow
Wachsen is a strong verb: wachsen – wuchs – ist gewachsen. It normally takes sein in the perfect because it describes a change in size or state, and it does not take a direct object in this sense.
Die Pflanze wächst sehr schnell.
The plant is growing very quickly.
die Pflanze means plant, and sehr schnell means very quickly. Wächst is the third-person singular present of the strong verb wachsen, with a changing to ä; it stands in position two.
Das Kind ist in einem Jahr stark gewachsen.
The child grew a lot in one year.
das Kind means child, in einem Jahr means in one year, and stark means a lot or considerably. Ist gewachsen uses sein because the subject changes in size; ist is in position two and gewachsen goes to the end.
Der Baum wuchs trotz des trockenen Sommers.
The tree grew despite the dry summer.
der Baum means tree, trotz means despite, and der trockene Sommer means the dry summer. Wuchs is the strong-verb Präteritum form; trotz des trockenen Sommers uses the genitive, and the finite verb is in position two.
Wachse nicht so schnell!
Do not grow so quickly!
nicht so schnell means not so quickly. Wachse is the singular imperative used with one person; the subject du is omitted, and nicht comes before the phrase it negates.
Wenn der Baum mehr Licht hätte, wüchse er schneller.
If the tree had more light, it would grow faster.
mehr Licht means more light, hätte means had, and schneller means faster. Wüchse is the Konjunktiv II of wachsen; in the wenn clause the finite verb goes to the end, while wüchse stands in position two in the main clause.
Die Kinder werden im nächsten Jahr weiter wachsen.
The children will continue to grow next year.
die Kinder means children, im nächsten Jahr means next year, and weiter means further or continuing. Werden is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive wachsen goes to the end; weiter wachsen means continue to grow.