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Vocab: Plants — A2
Plants vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Ast — branch
Der Ast ist sehr dick.
The branch is very thick.
ist means is, and sehr dick means very thick. Der Ast is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das Kind sammelt einen Ast im Wald.
The child collects a branch in the forest.
das Kind means the child, sammelt means collects, and im Wald means in the forest. Einen Ast is accusative because sammeln takes a direct object, and im is in dem, which marks location with the dative.
Der Vogel sitzt auf dem Ast.
The bird is sitting on the branch.
der Vogel means the bird, sitzt means is sitting, and auf means on. Dem Ast is dative because auf describes a fixed location here; a direction towards the branch would require the accusative.
Die Farbe des Astes ist dunkel.
The colour of the branch is dark.
die Farbe means the colour and dunkel means dark. Des Astes is genitive because it shows whose colour is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Im Herbst fallen viele Äste herunter.
In autumn, many branches fall down.
im Herbst means in autumn, viele means many, and herunterfallen means to fall down. Äste is the plural of Ast; because the sentence starts with a time expression, the finite verb fallen remains in position two.
die Aubergine — aubergine, eggplant
The word refers to the vegetable; in British English it is aubergine, while American English usually says eggplant. It is commonly used in recipes and shopping contexts.
Die Aubergine liegt in der Küche.
The aubergine is in the kitchen.
liegt means is lying or is located, and die Küche is the kitchen. Die Aubergine is nominative because it is the subject; in der Küche is dative because it describes a fixed location, not movement.
Ich schneide die Aubergine in kleine Stücke.
I cut the aubergine into small pieces.
schneide means cut, klein means small, and Stücke means pieces. Die Aubergine is accusative because schneiden takes a direct object; the finite verb schneide stands in position two.
Ich gebe der Aubergine etwas Salz.
I add some salt to the aubergine.
gebe means give or add, etwas means some, and Salz is salt. Der Aubergine is dative because it receives the salt, while etwas Salz is the accusative thing being added.
Der Geschmack der Aubergine ist mild.
The taste of the aubergine is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild or not strong. Der Aubergine is genitive because it says which vegetable the taste belongs to; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Auf dem Markt gibt es frische Auberginen.
There are fresh aubergines at the market.
auf dem Markt means at the market, and frische means fresh. Auberginen is plural after es gibt, which always takes the accusative; auf dem Markt is dative because it describes a location.
blühen — to bloom, to blossom
Blühen is an intransitive weak verb, so it takes haben in the perfect: hat geblüht. It can describe a plant coming into flower or being in flower; the thing that blooms is the subject, not an accusative object.
Die Rose blüht im Garten.
The rose is blooming in the garden.
Rose means rose and Garten means garden. Die Rose is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb blüht is in position two, and im Garten gives the location.
Die Rose hat den ganzen Sommer geblüht.
The rose bloomed all summer.
den ganzen Sommer means all summer. Geblüht is the Partizip II of blühen and pairs with hat because this verb uses haben; the auxiliary is in position two and geblüht goes to the end.
Im Mai blühte der Apfelbaum.
The apple tree blossomed in May.
im Mai means in May and Apfelbaum means apple tree. Blühte is the regular simple-past form and stands in position two, even though the sentence begins with the time phrase.
Blüh schön, kleine Blume!
Bloom beautifully, little flower!
schön means beautifully or nicely, kleine means little, and Blume means flower. Blüh is the du imperative with the subject omitted; the comma separates the person or thing addressed from the command.
Wenn es wärmer wäre, blühte die Rose schon.
If it were warmer, the rose would already be blooming.
wärmer means warmer and schon means already. Blühte is also the Konjunktiv II form here, understood from the unreal condition; in the wenn clause the finite verb wäre goes to the end, while blühte is in position two in the main clause.
Im nächsten Jahr wird der Baum wieder blühen.
Next year the tree will bloom again.
im nächsten Jahr means next year and wieder means again. The infinitive blühen goes to the end, while wird is the finite verb in position two; together they form the future sentence bracket.
die Blüte — blossom, flower; heyday, flourishing period
In a figurative sense, die Blüte can also mean a period when something is flourishing.
Die Blüte ist gelb.
The blossom is yellow.
gelb means yellow. Die Blüte is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Ich sehe die Blüte.
I can see the blossom.
sehen means to see. Die Blüte is accusative because it is the direct object of sehe.
Ich gebe der Blüte Wasser.
I give the blossom water.
geben means to give, and Wasser means water. Der Blüte is dative because it is the recipient, while Wasser is the accusative thing given.
Die Farbe der Blüte ist kräftig.
The colour of the blossom is vivid.
die Farbe means the colour, and kräftig means vivid. Der Blüte is genitive because it shows whose colour it is.
Im Garten wachsen viele Blüten.
Many blossoms grow in the garden.
im Garten means in the garden, and wachsen means grow. Blüten is the plural of die Blüte; im is short for in dem and marks a location.
Die Stadt stand im Mittelalter in voller Blüte.
The city was at its height in the Middle Ages.
die Stadt means the city, im Mittelalter means in the Middle Ages, and in voller Blüte stehen means to be at its height. The fixed phrase describes a state, so in is used with the dative.
In dieser Zeit erlebte die Kunst ihre Blüte.
During this period, art experienced its heyday.
in dieser Zeit means during this period, die Kunst means art, and erleben means experience. Ihre Blüte is accusative because it is the object of erlebte.
die Ernte — harvest
die Ernte can mean the process of harvesting or the crops collected. In everyday English, singular harvest often covers both meanings.
Die Ernte beginnt im September.
The harvest begins in September.
beginnt means begins, and im September means in September. Die Ernte is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Wir bringen die Ernte nach Hause.
We bring the harvest home.
bringen means bring, and nach Hause means home. die Ernte is accusative because bringen takes the thing being moved as its direct object.
Die Bauern helfen der Ernte nicht.
The farmers do not help the harvest.
die Bauern means the farmers, and helfen means help. der Ernte is dative because helfen governs the dative, although this sentence is less common than helping people or animals.
Der Beginn der Ernte ist spät.
The beginning of the harvest is late.
der Beginn means the beginning, and spät means late. der Ernte is genitive because it identifies whose beginning is meant; the feminine genitive article is der.
In manchen Regionen dauern die Ernten länger.
In some regions, the harvests last longer.
manchen Regionen means some regions, and länger means longer. die Ernten is the plural subject, so the finite verb dauern is plural; the plural is formed with -n.
die Frucht — fruit; result, benefit
die Frucht usually means a fruit, especially one growing on a plant. Its plural is die Früchte, with an umlaut; the word can also be used figuratively for a result.
Die Frucht ist reif.
The fruit is ripe.
reif means ripe. Die Frucht is nominative because it is the subject of ist; reif is predicative after sein and therefore has no adjective ending.
Ich esse die Frucht.
I am eating the fruit.
essen means to eat. Die Frucht is accusative because it is the direct object of esse; feminine nouns have the same article die in nominative and accusative.
Das Kind gibt der Frucht etwas Zucker.
The child adds some sugar to the fruit.
das Kind means the child, and Zucker means sugar. Der Frucht is dative because it is the recipient or target of gibt, while etwas Zucker is the accusative thing given.
Die Farbe der Frucht ist dunkelrot.
The colour of the fruit is dark red.
die Farbe means the colour, and dunkelrot means dark red. Der Frucht is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; with a feminine noun, the genitive article is der.
Auf dem Markt kaufe ich Früchte.
I buy fruit at the market.
auf dem Markt means at the market, and kaufen means to buy. Früchte is the plural accusative object of kaufe; auf dem Markt is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Die Frucht seiner Arbeit ist ein erfolgreicher Roman.
The fruit of his work is a successful novel.
seiner Arbeit means of his work, and ein erfolgreicher Roman means a successful novel. Seiner Arbeit is genitive because it expresses possession, while Die Frucht is the nominative subject and ist stands in position two.
Nach vielen Jahren trägt die Arbeit Frucht.
After many years, the work bears fruit.
nach vielen Jahren means after many years, and tragen means to bear or produce. Frucht tragen is a fixed expression meaning to produce results; Frucht has no article here because it is used idiomatically.
gießen — to pour, to water
Gießen takes an accusative object for the thing being poured or watered, as in die Blumen gießen. Its perfect uses haben, not sein: hat gegossen.
Ich gieße jeden Morgen die Blumen.
I water the flowers every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning, and die Blumen means the flowers. Die Blumen is accusative because gießen takes the thing being watered as a direct object; the finite verb gieße is in position two.
Wir haben die Pflanzen gegossen.
We watered the plants.
wir means we, and die Pflanzen means the plants. The perfect uses haben plus gegossen, with the Partizip II at the end; die Pflanzen is accusative because it is the direct object.
Er goss den Tee vorsichtig in die Tasse.
He carefully poured the tea into the cup.
vorsichtig means carefully, der Tee is the tea, and die Tasse is the cup. Den Tee is accusative as the liquid being poured, and in die Tasse is accusative because it expresses movement into the cup.
Gieß bitte etwas Wasser auf die Erde.
Please pour some water onto the soil.
bitte means please, etwas Wasser means some water, and die Erde means the soil or earth. Gieß is the du imperative; auf die Erde is accusative because the water is moved onto the soil.
Ich würde die Blumen gießen, wenn ich zu Hause wäre.
I would water the flowers if I were at home.
würde means would, wenn means if, and zu Hause means at home. The infinitive gießen follows würde at the end of the main clause, while wäre goes to the end of the wenn-clause; die Blumen is accusative.
Morgen wird sie die Pflanzen gießen.
Tomorrow she will water the plants.
morgen means tomorrow, and die Pflanzen means the plants. Future uses wird plus the infinitive gießen at the end; die Pflanzen is accusative as the direct object.
der Hafer — oats; oat grain
Hafer usually refers to the grain as a mass, not to separate individual grains. It is normally used without a plural; Haferflocken means oat flakes.
Der Hafer wächst auf den Feldern.
The oats are growing in the fields.
wächst means is growing, and die Felder are fields. Der Hafer is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb wächst is in position two.
Für das Müsli kaufe ich den Hafer.
I buy the oats for the muesli.
für means for, and das Müsli is muesli. Den Hafer is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object, and für also requires the accusative.
Ich gebe dem Pferd den Hafer.
I give the oats to the horse.
geben means to give, and das Pferd is a horse. Den Hafer is accusative because it is the thing given, while dem Pferd is dative because it is the recipient.
Der Geschmack des Hafers ist mild.
The taste of the oats is mild.
der Geschmack means the taste, and mild means mild. Des Hafers is genitive and shows whose taste it is; the masculine noun adds -s.
Morgens esse ich Hafer.
I eat oats in the morning.
morgens means in the morning, and esse means eat. Hafer is a mass noun with no normal plural; here it is the accusative object of esse, although its form does not change.
das Heu — hay
Heu is a mass noun, so it normally has no plural and is used without an article when speaking generally. Its genitive form is des Heus, although the genitive is less common in everyday speech.
Das Heu ist trocken.
The hay is dry.
trocken means dry. Das Heu is a mass noun and the nominative subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Pferde fressen Heu.
The horses eat hay.
die Pferde are the horses, and fressen means eat when animals eat. Heu is an uncountable accusative object with no article; fressen is in position two.
Die Kinder spielen im Heu.
The children play in the hay.
die Kinder are the children, and spielen means play. Im Heu means in the hay; in takes dative here because it describes a fixed location, not movement into it.
Der Geruch des Heus erinnert mich an den Bauernhof.
The smell of the hay reminds me of the farm.
der Geruch means the smell, erinnert means reminds, and der Bauernhof is the farm. Des Heus is genitive because it says whose smell it is; erinnert takes mich as an accusative object.
die Hülsenfrucht — legume, pulse
The word is a compound of Hülse, pod or shell, and Frucht, fruit. The plural Hülsenfrüchte commonly refers to beans, peas, lentils, and similar foods collectively.
Die Hülsenfrucht ist sehr gesund.
The legume is very healthy.
gesund means healthy and sehr means very. Die Hülsenfrucht is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich koche eine Hülsenfrucht zum Abendessen.
I cook a legume for dinner.
koche means cook and Abendessen means dinner. Eine Hülsenfrucht is accusative because kochen takes a direct object; the finite verb koche is in position two.
Die Suppe wird mit einer Hülsenfrucht gekocht.
The soup is cooked with a legume.
Suppe means soup and gekocht means cooked. Einer Hülsenfrucht is dative because mit always takes the dative; wird gekocht is a passive construction with the participle at the end.
Der Geschmack der Hülsenfrucht ist mild.
The flavour of the legume is mild.
Geschmack means flavour and mild means mild. Der Hülsenfrucht is genitive because it identifies whose flavour is meant; the feminine genitive article is der.
Hülsenfrüchte liefern viel Eiweiß.
Pulses provide a lot of protein.
liefern means provide and Eiweiß means protein. Hülsenfrüchte is the plural of Hülsenfrucht and is the nominative subject; viel Eiweiß is an uncountable accusative object.
die Kichererbse — chickpea
Kichererbse is the ordinary word for a chickpea, and its plural is Kichererbsen. The word is also used in the common food Hummus.
Die Kichererbse ist eine Hülsenfrucht.
The chickpea is a legume.
eine Hülsenfrucht means a legume or pulse. Die Kichererbse is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich esse eine Kichererbse.
I am eating a chickpea.
esse means eat. Eine Kichererbse is accusative because essen takes a direct object, and the finite verb esse stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Kind eine Kichererbse.
I give the child a chickpea.
gebe means give, and dem Kind means to the child. Dem Kind is dative because it receives the chickpea, while eine Kichererbse is accusative as the thing given.
Die Schale der Kichererbse ist dünn.
The skin of the chickpea is thin.
die Schale means the skin or shell, and dünn means thin. Der Kichererbse is genitive because it shows which chickpea the skin belongs to; the feminine genitive article is der.
Im Salat liegen viele Kichererbsen.
There are many chickpeas in the salad.
im Salat means in the salad, and liegen means are lying or are present. Kichererbsen is the plural with -n; im Salat is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Für die Suppe püriere ich Kichererbsen mit Wasser.
For the soup, I purée chickpeas with water.
für die Suppe means for the soup, püriere means purée or blend, and mit Wasser means with water. Kichererbsen is an unmarked plural accusative object; für forces the accusative, while mit forces the dative.
das Kleeblatt — clover; four-leaf clover
Kleeblatt literally combines Klee, clover, and Blatt, leaf. A four-leaf Kleeblatt is a common symbol of good luck, but the word can also simply mean a clover plant or leaf.
Das Kleeblatt wächst auf der Wiese.
The clover grows in the meadow.
wächst means grows, auf der Wiese means in the meadow, and die Wiese means meadow. Das Kleeblatt is nominative because it is the subject; auf der Wiese is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Das Kind findet das Kleeblatt.
The child finds the clover.
das Kind means the child and findet means finds. Das Kleeblatt is accusative because finden takes a direct object, while findet stands in position two.
Mit dem Kleeblatt wünscht sie sich Glück.
With the clover, she wishes for good luck.
mit means with, sich etwas wünschen means to wish for something, and Glück means luck. Mit dem Kleeblatt is dative because mit always takes the dative; the reflexive phrase sich Glück wünschen expresses the wish.
Die Blätter des Kleeblatts sind klein.
The leaves of the clover are small.
die Blätter means the leaves and klein means small. Des Kleeblatts is genitive because it identifies whose leaves they are, and the finite verb sind is in position two.
Auf der Wiese wachsen viele Kleeblätter.
Many clover plants grow in the meadow.
auf der Wiese means in the meadow, viele means many, and wachsen means grow. Kleeblätter is the plural of das Kleeblatt and is nominative because it is the subject; the verb agrees in the plural.
der Kohl — cabbage; money, cash
Kohl means cabbage and is often used as a mass noun without an article. The plural Kohlen is used for separate kinds or pieces; in colloquial language, Kohle can also mean money.
Kohl wächst gut in diesem Garten.
Cabbage grows well in this garden.
wächst means grows, gut means well, and diesem Garten means this garden. Kohl is the nominative subject and is often used without an article as a food or plant substance; wächst stands in position two.
Wir essen Kohl im Winter.
We eat cabbage in winter.
wir means we, essen means eat, and im Winter means in winter. Kohl is an uncountable accusative object after essen, so it normally has no article; the finite verb essen is in position two.
Sie gibt dem Kohl etwas Salz.
She adds some salt to the cabbage.
sie means she, gibt means gives or adds, and etwas Salz means some salt. dem Kohl is dative as the recipient or target after geben, while etwas Salz is accusative; gibt is in position two.
Der Geschmack des Kohles ist kräftig.
The taste of the cabbage is strong.
der Geschmack means the taste, and kräftig means strong or rich. des Kohles is genitive and identifies which taste; the masculine noun takes -es here, and ist stands in position two.
Auf dem Markt liegen verschiedene Kohlen.
Different cabbages are lying at the market.
auf dem Markt means at the market, liegen means are lying, and verschiedene means different. Kohlen is a plural for separate kinds or heads of cabbage; auf dem Markt is dative because it describes a location.
Ich habe keine Kohle.
I have no money.
keine means no, and haben means have. Kohle means money here and is a colloquial mass noun used without a plural; it is the accusative object of habe, which stands in position two.
Für das Konzert brauche ich mehr Kohle.
I need more money for the concert.
für das Konzert means for the concert, and brauche means need. Kohle is an accusative object after brauchen, while für also always takes the accusative; the finite verb brauche is in position two.
der Paradeiser — tomato (Austrian German)
This is the usual Austrian word for die Tomate. In Germany and much of Switzerland, learners normally hear Tomate instead.
Der Paradeiser ist reif.
The tomato is ripe.
reif means ripe. Der Paradeiser is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe den Paradeiser am Markt.
I am buying the tomato at the market.
kaufe means am buying, and am Markt means at the market. Den Paradeiser is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; kaufe is in position two.
Ich gebe dem Paradeiser etwas Salz.
I add some salt to the tomato.
gebe means give or add, and etwas Salz means some salt. Dem Paradeiser is dative because geben uses a dative recipient, while etwas Salz is the accusative thing being added.
Die Farbe des Paradeisers ist kräftig rot.
The tomato’s colour is bright red.
die Farbe means the colour, and kräftig rot means bright red. Des Paradeisers is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the masculine genitive ending is -s.
Die Paradeiser liegen in der Schüssel.
The tomatoes are in the bowl.
liegen means are lying, and die Schüssel means the bowl. Die Paradeiser is plural, with no ending change from the singular; in der Schüssel is dative because it describes a fixed location.
pflanzen — to plant
pflanzen normally takes the plant or seed as an accusative object. It is a weak verb: pflanzen – pflanzte – hat gepflanzt.
Wir pflanzen heute einen Baum.
We are planting a tree today.
heute means today and einen Baum means a tree. einen Baum is accusative because pflanzen takes the thing being planted as a direct object, and the finite verb pflanzen stands in position two.
Wir haben gestern einen Baum gepflanzt.
We planted a tree yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and einen Baum means a tree. The perfect uses haben plus gepflanzt at the end; einen Baum is accusative because it is the direct object.
Sie pflanzte im Frühling Tomaten.
She planted tomatoes in spring.
im Frühling means in spring and Tomaten means tomatoes. pflanzte is the weak-verb simple past, and Tomaten is accusative as the direct object.
Pflanz die Blumen vorsichtig!
Plant the flowers carefully!
die Blumen means the flowers and vorsichtig means carefully. Pflanz is a direct singular command; the subject du is normally left out, while die Blumen is accusative.
Wenn ich einen Garten hätte, pflanzte ich viele Obstbäume.
If I had a garden, I would plant many fruit trees.
wenn means if, einen Garten means a garden, and Obstbäume means fruit trees. pflanzte is also the Konjunktiv II form here; the verb goes to the end of the wenn-clause, while viele Obstbäume is accusative.
Im Herbst werden wir neue Bäume pflanzen.
In autumn we will plant new trees.
im Herbst means in autumn and neue Bäume means new trees. Future I uses werden in position two and the infinitive pflanzen at the end; neue Bäume is accusative.
pflücken — to pick, to pluck
Pflücken is used for fruit, flowers, and similar parts of plants. Do not use it for buying or collecting things that have already been detached; sammeln means to collect.
Die Kinder pflücken Äpfel im Garten.
The children are picking apples in the garden.
die Kinder means the children, Äpfel means apples, and im Garten means in the garden. Äpfel is accusative because pflücken takes a direct object, and the finite verb pflücken stands in position two.
Wir haben gestern Erdbeeren gepflückt.
We picked strawberries yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and Erdbeeren means strawberries. The perfect uses haben plus gepflückt at the end; Erdbeeren is accusative as the fruit being picked.
Sie pflückte eine rote Rose.
She picked a red rose.
eine rote Rose means a red rose. Pflückte is the regular simple past in position two, and eine rote Rose is accusative because it is the direct object.
Pflück keine Blumen!
Don't pick any flowers!
keine Blumen means no flowers. The imperative omits du; keine Blumen is accusative after pflücken, and keine makes the command negative.
Ich pflückte die Kirschen, wenn sie reif wären.
I would pick the cherries if they were ripe.
die Kirschen means the cherries, wenn means if, and reif means ripe. Here pflückte has the same form as the simple past but is understood as conditional because of wären; the cherries are accusative.
Morgen wird er die ersten Tomaten pflücken.
Tomorrow he will pick the first tomatoes.
morgen means tomorrow, die ersten Tomaten means the first tomatoes, and ersten means first. In the future, wird stands in position two and pflücken goes to the end; the tomatoes are accusative.
der Spaten — spade
The plural of der Spaten is die Spaten, with no change to the noun. It is a tool for digging, not a small shovel; die Schaufel is the more general word for a shovel.
Der Spaten steht im Schuppen.
The spade is in the shed.
steht means “is standing”, and der Schuppen is the shed. Der Spaten is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich nehme den Spaten aus dem Schuppen.
I take the spade out of the shed.
nehme ... aus means “take ... out”, and aus dem Schuppen means “out of the shed”. Den Spaten is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object; aus takes the dative here because it expresses movement out of a place.
Ich grabe mit dem Spaten ein Loch.
I dig a hole with the spade.
grabe means “dig”, and ein Loch is a hole. Dem Spaten is dative because the preposition mit always takes the dative; the finite verb grabe stands in position two.
Der Griff des Spatens ist aus Holz.
The handle of the spade is made of wood.
der Griff is the handle, and aus Holz means “made of wood”. Des Spatens is genitive because it identifies whose handle it is; the masculine noun adds -s in the genitive.
Im Garten liegen drei Spaten.
There are three spades lying in the garden.
im Garten means “in the garden”, and liegen means “are lying”. Spaten is plural after drei, and im is short for in dem, which takes the dative for a location.
der Stiel — handle; stem
For a tool, der Stiel is its handle; for a plant or flower, it is the stem. Do not confuse it with das Stil, which is not the standard noun: der Stil means style.
Der Stiel ist zu kurz.
The handle is too short.
zu kurz means too short. Der Stiel is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Ich brauche einen langen Stiel.
I need a long handle.
brauchen means to need and lang means long. Einen langen Stiel is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the adjective gets -en after einen.
Sie hält die Blume am Stiel.
She holds the flower by the stem.
hält means holds and die Blume is the flower. Am Stiel is dative because an means by or at here, while die Blume is accusative after halten.
Die Farbe des Stiels ist grün.
The colour of the stem is green.
die Farbe means the colour and grün means green. Des Stiels is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Die Stiele der Blumen sind sehr dünn.
The stems of the flowers are very thin.
der Blumen means of the flowers and dünn means thin. Stiele is the plural subject, so the verb is sind, not ist.
der Stock — stick, cane; storey, floor
In the stick sense, the plural is Stöcke with an umlaut. A Stock can also mean a storey or floor; that sense has the separate plural Stockwerke.
Der Stock liegt neben der Tür.
The stick is lying next to the door.
liegt means is lying, neben means next to, and die Tür means the door. Der Stock is nominative because it is the subject; der Tür is dative because neben describes a fixed location here.
Der Mann nimmt den Stock.
The man takes the stick.
der Mann means the man, and nimmt means takes. Den Stock is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Er geht mit dem Stock.
He walks with the stick.
geht means walks or goes, and mit means with. Dem Stock is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb geht stands in position two.
Die Spitze des Stocks ist scharf.
The tip of the stick is sharp.
die Spitze means the tip, and scharf means sharp. Des Stocks is genitive because it identifies which tip is meant; the masculine genitive article is des, and the noun adds -s.
Im Wald liegen viele Stöcke.
There are many sticks lying in the forest.
im Wald means in the forest, liegen means lie, and viele means many. Stöcke is the plural with an umlaut and -e; im Wald is dative because in describes a location.
Mein Großvater geht mit einem Stock.
My grandfather walks with a stick.
mein Großvater means my grandfather, geht means walks, and mit means with. Einem Stock is dative because mit always takes the dative, and the finite verb geht is in position two.
Wir wohnen im dritten Stock.
We live on the third floor.
wir wohnen means we live, and im dritten Stock means on the third floor. Im is in dem, and the dative is used because in describes a fixed location; dritten has the dative ending -en.
Der Aufzug fährt in den fünften Stock.
The lift goes to the fifth floor.
der Aufzug means the lift or elevator, fährt means goes, and fünften means fifth. In den fünften Stock is accusative because in expresses movement towards a destination; location uses the dative, as in im dritten Stock.
das Veilchen — violet
Veilchen is a small violet flower. The ending -chen makes the noun neuter and leaves the plural unchanged: das Veilchen, die Veilchen.
Das Veilchen blüht im Frühling.
The violet blooms in spring.
blühen means to bloom, and der Frühling is spring. Das Veilchen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb blüht stands in position two.
Ich pflücke das Veilchen vorsichtig.
I pick the violet carefully.
pflücken means to pick, and vorsichtig means carefully. Das Veilchen is accusative because pflücken takes a direct object; the neuter article stays das in both nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Veilchen Wasser.
I give the violet water.
geben means to give, and das Wasser is water. Dem Veilchen is dative because it is the recipient, while Wasser is the accusative thing given.
Der Duft des Veilchens ist sehr süß.
The scent of the violet is very sweet.
der Duft means the scent, and süß means sweet. Des Veilchens is genitive because it identifies whose scent it is; the neuter noun adds -s in the genitive.
Im Garten wachsen viele Veilchen.
Many violets grow in the garden.
im Garten means in the garden, and wachsen means to grow. Viele Veilchen is the plural subject; because the sentence begins with Im Garten, the finite verb wachsen still comes in position two, before the subject.
die Wurzel — root; root cause
The usual plural is Wurzeln, with -n. Die Wurzel can also mean the root of a mathematical number, for example die Quadratwurzel means square root.
Die Wurzel ist sehr lang.
The root is very long.
lang means long. Die Wurzel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Gärtner schneidet die Wurzel.
The gardener cuts the root.
der Gärtner means gardener and schneidet means cuts. die Wurzel is accusative because schneiden takes a direct object.
Die Pflanze braucht Wasser an der Wurzel.
The plant needs water at the root.
die Pflanze means plant and Wasser means water. an der Wurzel is dative because an describes a fixed location here, not movement toward it.
Die Farbe der Wurzel ist dunkel.
The colour of the root is dark.
die Farbe means colour and dunkel means dark. der Wurzel is genitive because it identifies which root the colour belongs to.
Die Wurzeln sind tief im Boden.
The roots are deep in the ground.
tief means deep and der Boden means ground or soil. Wurzeln is the plural of Wurzel; im Boden is short for in dem Boden and gives the location.
Wir müssen die Wurzel des Problems finden.
We have to find the root of the problem.
müssen means have to, finden means find, and das Problem means problem. die Wurzel is accusative after finden, while des Problems is genitive because it means “of the problem”.
Sie spricht über die Wurzel des Konflikts.
She is talking about the root of the conflict.
sprechen über means talk about, and der Konflikt means conflict. über takes the accusative here, so die Wurzel is accusative; des Konflikts is genitive.
der Zweig — branch, twig; branch, field, sector
The plural is die Zweige. In the genitive singular, both des Zweigs and the somewhat more formal des Zweiges occur.
Der Zweig ist sehr dünn.
The branch is very thin.
dünn means thin, and sehr means very. Der Zweig is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich schneide den Zweig ab.
I cut off the branch.
schneide ... ab means cut off. Den Zweig is accusative because schneiden takes an accusative object; ab belongs to the separable verb abschneiden and moves to the end of a main clause.
Auf dem Zweig sitzt ein Vogel.
A bird is sitting on the branch.
auf dem Zweig means on the branch, sitzt means is sitting, and ein Vogel means a bird. Auf takes the dative for a fixed location, so dem Zweig is dative; the verb sitzt is in position two.
Die Farbe des Zweigs ist dunkelbraun.
The colour of the branch is dark brown.
die Farbe means the colour, and dunkelbraun means dark brown. Des Zweigs is genitive because it identifies whose colour is meant; the verb ist stands in position two.
Die Zweige bewegen sich im Wind.
The branches move in the wind.
bewegen sich means move, and im Wind means in the wind. Die Zweige is the plural subject, so the verb is bewegen; sich is the reflexive pronoun belonging to the verb.
Der kleine Zweig brach im Sturm ab.
The small branch broke off in the storm.
kleine means small, brach ... ab means broke off, and Sturm means storm. The separable verb abbrechen splits in the main clause, with brach in position two and ab at the end.
Dieser Zweig der Forschung ist besonders wichtig.
This field of research is especially important.
Dieser means this, Forschung means research, and besonders wichtig means especially important. Dieser Zweig is nominative as the subject; der Forschung identifies the field, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Viele Zweige der Wirtschaft leiden unter der Krise.
Many sectors of the economy are suffering because of the crisis.
Viele means many, Wirtschaft means economy, leiden means suffer, and Krise means crisis. Viele Zweige is the plural subject; unter takes the dative here, so der Krise is dative.