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Vocab: Society, politics & law — A1
Society, politics & law vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Angriff — attack
Der Angriff is the noun made from angreifen. With the meaning of an attack on someone or something, use ein Angriff auf plus the accusative.
Der Angriff beginnt am Morgen.
The attack begins in the morning.
beginnt means begins, and am Morgen means in the morning. Der Angriff is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Die Polizei untersucht den Angriff.
The police are investigating the attack.
die Polizei means the police, and untersucht means investigates. den Angriff is accusative because untersuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb untersucht is in position two.
Nach dem Angriff blieb die Straße leer.
After the attack, the street remained empty.
nach means after, blieb means remained, and leer means empty. dem Angriff is dative because nach always takes the dative; the verb blieb is in position two even though the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase.
Die Folgen des Angriffs waren schwer.
The consequences of the attack were serious.
die Folgen means the consequences, and schwer means serious or severe. des Angriffs is genitive because it identifies whose consequences they are; the verb waren is in position two.
In den Nachrichten hört man von mehreren Angriffen.
On the news, people hear about several attacks.
in den Nachrichten means on the news, hört man means people hear, and mehreren means several. Angriffen is plural after von, which takes the dative, so the plural ending -en appears on the noun.
der Ausweis — identity document; ID card; pass; pass; identification card
For an identity document, der Ausweis is often used with zeigen or vorlegen. It can also mean a pass for a place or service, depending on context.
Der Ausweis liegt auf dem Tisch.
The identity document is on the table.
liegt means is lying, and der Tisch is the table. Der Ausweis is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich brauche den Ausweis.
I need the identity document.
brauche means need. den Ausweis is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object, and the finite verb brauche stands in position two.
Die Polizistin zeigt mir den Ausweis.
The policewoman shows me the identity document.
die Polizistin is the policewoman, zeigt means shows, and mir means to me. Den Ausweis is accusative as the thing shown; mir is dative because it is the recipient.
Die Nummer des Ausweises steht auf dem Formular.
The number of the identity document is on the form.
die Nummer is the number, steht means is written or stands, and das Formular is the form. Des Ausweises is genitive because it expresses whose number it is; auf dem Formular is dative because it describes location.
Die Ausweise liegen an der Rezeption.
The identity documents are at reception.
liegen means are lying, and die Rezeption is the reception desk. Die Ausweise is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural has -e.
Mit meinem Ausweis bekomme ich Rabatt.
I get a discount with my ID card.
mein Ausweis means my ID card, bekomme means get, and Rabatt means a discount. Mit always takes the dative, so meinem Ausweis has a dative ending.
Ohne Ausweis kommst du nicht hinein.
You cannot get in without a pass.
ohne means without, kommst ... hinein means get in, and nicht means not. Ohne takes the accusative; the separable verb hineinkommen splits in the main clause.
beten — to pray
Beten commonly appears with zu plus dative for the person or deity addressed and with für plus accusative for the person or thing prayed for.
Meine Großmutter betet jeden Abend.
My grandmother prays every evening.
meine Großmutter means my grandmother, and jeden Abend means every evening. Meine Großmutter is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb betet stands in position two.
Wir haben in der Kirche gebetet.
We prayed in the church.
in der Kirche means in the church. Haben stands in position two and gebetet goes to the end; the location phrase uses dative after in because it describes a fixed place, not movement.
Der Mönch betete vor dem Essen.
The monk prayed before the meal.
der Mönch means the monk, and vor dem Essen means before the meal. The regular past form betete is in position two; vor dem Essen uses dative after the preposition vor.
Bete für deine Familie!
Pray for your family!
für deine Familie means for your family. The imperative bete comes first, and für always takes the accusative, so deine Familie is accusative.
Ich würde für Frieden beten.
I would pray for peace.
Frieden means peace, and für means for. Würde expresses a hypothetical wish, while the infinitive beten goes to the end; für Frieden is accusative after für.
Morgen werde ich für die Kranken beten.
Tomorrow I will pray for the sick.
morgen means tomorrow, and die Kranken means sick people. Werde is in position two and beten goes to the end; für die Kranken is accusative because für always governs the accusative.
die Bibel — Bible
The feminine noun die Bibel has the plural die Bibeln. It is usually used without a personal possessive when speaking about the Christian Bible in general.
Die Bibel liegt auf dem Tisch.
The Bible is lying on the table.
liegt means “is lying”, and auf dem Tisch means “on the table”. Die Bibel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich lese die Bibel jeden Abend.
I read the Bible every evening.
lese means “read”, and jeden Abend means “every evening”. Die Bibel is accusative because lesen takes a direct object; the finite verb lese stands in position two.
Meine Mutter gibt mir die Bibel.
My mother gives me the Bible.
Meine Mutter means “my mother”, gibt means “gives”, and mir means “to me”. Mir is dative as the recipient, while die Bibel is accusative as the thing given.
Das Cover der Bibel ist blau.
The cover of the Bible is blue.
Das Cover means “the cover”, and blau means “blue”. Der Bibel is genitive because it shows whose cover it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
In der Kirche liegen mehrere Bibeln.
Several Bibles are lying in the church.
In der Kirche means “in the church”, and mehrere means “several”. Bibeln is the plural of Bibel, and in takes the dative here because this describes a location, not movement.
der Dieb — thief
Der Dieb is the person who steals; the related verb is stehlen, to steal. In the dative and accusative singular, the masculine article changes to dem and den, but the noun itself does not take a weak-noun ending.
Der Dieb läuft schnell weg.
The thief runs away quickly.
läuft means runs, schnell means quickly, and weglaufen means to run away. Der Dieb is nominative because it is the subject; the separable verb läuft ... weg puts its finite part in position two and its prefix at the end.
Die Polizei sucht den Dieb.
The police are looking for the thief.
die Polizei means the police, and suchen means to look for or search for. Den Dieb is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den, while the finite verb sucht stands in position two.
Die Zeugin hilft dem Dieb nicht.
The witness does not help the thief.
die Zeugin means the female witness, helfen means to help, and nicht means not. Dem Dieb is dative because helfen always takes a dative object; the masculine article is dem, and the finite verb hilft is in position two.
Das Fahrrad des Diebes steht vor dem Haus.
The thief’s bicycle is in front of the house.
das Fahrrad means the bicycle, stehen means to stand or be located, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Des Diebes is genitive because it shows possession, meaning “of the thief”; vor takes the dative here because it describes a fixed location.
Im Laden arbeiten zwei Diebe.
Two thieves work in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop, arbeiten means work, and zwei means two. Diebe is plural and is the subject, while im Laden is dative because in describes a location; the finite verb arbeiten is in position two.
die Fahne — flag, banner; proof sheet, galley proof
Die Fahne is the usual word for a flag or banner. In informal speech, die Flagge is also common, especially for a national flag.
Die Fahne hängt vor dem Gebäude.
The flag is hanging in front of the building.
hängt means is hanging, and das Gebäude is the building. Die Fahne is nominative because it is the subject; vor dem Gebäude is dative because vor describes a fixed location.
Wir kaufen die Fahne für den Garten.
We are buying the flag for the garden.
kaufen means buy, and der Garten is the garden. Die Fahne is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, accusative die looks the same as nominative die.
Er winkt mit der Fahne.
He waves with the flag.
winkt means waves, and mit means with. Der Fahne is dative because mit always takes dative; the finite verb winkt stands in position two.
Die Farben der Fahne sind rot und weiß.
The colours of the flag are red and white.
die Farben means the colours, and rot und weiß mean red and white. Der Fahne is genitive because it identifies whose colours they are; Farben is the plural subject, so the verb is sind.
Auf dem Platz wehen viele Fahnen.
Many flags are waving in the square.
der Platz is the square, wehen means are waving, and viele means many. Fahnen is the regular plural with -n; auf dem Platz is dative because it describes the location.
Die Lektorin liest die Fahne vor dem Druck.
The editor is reading the proof before printing.
die Lektorin is the female editor, liest means reads, and der Druck means printing or the print run. Die Fahne is accusative because lesen takes a direct object; vor dem Druck is dative after vor when it means before a time.
Der Verlag hat die erste Fahne korrigiert.
The publisher corrected the first proof.
der Verlag is the publishing house, erste means first, and korrigiert means corrected. Die erste Fahne is accusative because korrigieren takes a direct object; the perfect uses hat plus korrigiert, placed at the end.
frei — freely, without restriction
As an adverb, frei describes an action done without control or limitation. Do not confuse this use with the adjective in Der Platz ist frei, meaning that the place is available.
Die Vögel fliegen frei herum.
The birds fly freely around.
die Vögel means the birds, fliegen means fly, and herum means around. frei is an adverb modifying the movement; the finite verb fliegen stands in position two.
Sie spricht frei über ihre Gefühle.
She speaks freely about her feelings.
sie spricht means she speaks, and ihre Gefühle means her feelings. The preposition über takes the accusative here, while frei describes how she speaks.
der Frieden — peace
der Frieden is the usual everyday noun for peace. der Friede is a related, somewhat more formal variant; both have the genitive des Friedens and the plural die Frieden, although the plural is uncommon.
Der Frieden ist uns sehr wichtig.
Peace is very important to us.
wichtig means important, and sehr means very. Der Frieden is the nominative subject, while uns is dative because wichtig sein can identify the people for whom something is important.
Alle Menschen wünschen sich den Frieden.
All people wish for peace.
alle Menschen means all people, and sich wünschen means to wish for or want. den Frieden is accusative because sich wünschen takes an accusative thing wished for; sich refers back to alle Menschen.
Wir danken Gott für den Frieden.
We thank God for peace.
wir danken Gott means we thank God, and für means for. Gott is dative because danken takes a dative person, but für den Frieden is accusative because für always takes the accusative.
Die Bedeutung des Friedens wird oft unterschätzt.
The importance of peace is often underestimated.
die Bedeutung means the importance, and unterschätzt means underestimated. des Friedens is genitive because it specifies the importance of what; wird ... unterschätzt is a passive construction with the participle at the end.
Die Frieden zwischen den Staaten waren nur von kurzer Dauer.
The periods of peace between the states lasted only a short time.
zwischen den Staaten means between the states, and von kurzer Dauer means of short duration. Frieden is plural because it has the plural article die and the verb waren; zwischen takes the dative here because it describes a relationship.
das Gefängnis — prison, jail
das Gefängnis can mean the prison as a building or the institution. In everyday expressions, im Gefängnis means in prison and ins Gefängnis means to prison; the preposition in uses the dative for location and the accusative for direction.
Er sitzt im Gefängnis.
He is in prison.
er means he and sitzt means sits or is staying. im Gefängnis means in prison; in takes the dative here because the sentence describes a fixed location, and sitzt is in position two.
Die Polizei bringt den Mann ins Gefängnis.
The police take the man to prison.
die Polizei means the police, bringt means takes, and den Mann means the man. ins Gefängnis means into prison and uses the accusative because it expresses direction; den Mann is also accusative as the object of bringt.
Sie hilft ihrem Bruder im Gefängnis.
She helps her brother in prison.
sie means she, hilft means helps, and ihrem Bruder means her brother. helfen takes a dative object, and im Gefängnis is also dative because in describes a location here.
Die Mauern des Gefängnisses sind sehr hoch.
The walls of the prison are very high.
die Mauern means the walls and sehr hoch means very high. des Gefängnisses is genitive to show whose walls they are; sind agrees with the plural subject die Mauern.
In dieser Stadt gibt es zwei Gefängnisse.
There are two prisons in this city.
in dieser Stadt means in this city and zwei means two. Gefängnisse is plural after zwei; after the fixed expression es gibt, the noun is accusative, although the plural form looks the same as nominative.
der Gott — God; god, deity; god, deity
With a capital letter, Gott often means the one God of a monotheistic religion. The plural Götter normally means several gods or deities in polytheistic religions; the expression Gott sei Dank means thank God.
Gott hört unsere Gebete.
God hears our prayers.
hört means hears, and unsere Gebete means our prayers. Gott is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb hört stands in position two.
Viele Menschen suchen Gott.
Many people seek God.
Viele Menschen means many people, and suchen means seek or look for. Gott is accusative because it is the direct object of suchen; the finite verb is in position two.
Sie dankt Gott für ihre Familie.
She thanks God for her family.
dankt means thanks, and ihre Familie means her family. Gott is dative because danken always takes a dative person, while für ihre Familie uses accusative after für.
Die Liebe Gottes gibt ihr Hoffnung.
God’s love gives her hope.
die Liebe means love, and Hoffnung means hope. Gottes is genitive to show possession, while ihr is dative because it is the person receiving hope.
In vielen Religionen gibt es mehrere Götter.
In many religions there are several gods.
vielen Religionen means many religions, and mehrere means several. Götter is the plural meaning gods or deities; after es gibt, the noun is accusative, although the plural article is not visible here.
Zeus ist ein griechischer Gott.
Zeus is a Greek god.
Zeus is the name of a Greek god, and griechisch means Greek. Ein griechischer Gott is a nominative predicate after ist; the adjective has the masculine nominative ending -er.
Die alten Griechen verehrten viele Götter.
The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods.
Die alten Griechen means the ancient Greeks, and verehrten means worshipped or revered. Viele Götter is accusative because it is the direct object of verehrten.
der Krieg — war
Krieg usually refers to organised armed conflict, while Kampf can mean a fight or struggle more generally. The common expression im Krieg sein uses in dem contracted to im.
Der Krieg ist vorbei.
The war is over.
vorbei means over or finished. Der Krieg is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Viele Menschen fürchten den Krieg.
Many people fear war.
viele Menschen means many people and fürchten means fear. den Krieg is accusative because fürchten takes a direct object; the finite verb fürchten is in position two.
Die Familie lebt seit Jahren im Krieg.
The family has lived in war for years.
die Familie means the family and seit Jahren means for years. im Krieg is in dem Krieg; in takes the dative for a fixed situation or location.
Die Folgen des Krieges sind noch sichtbar.
The consequences of the war are still visible.
die Folgen means the consequences, noch means still, and sichtbar means visible. des Krieges means “of the war” and is genitive; the plural subject die Folgen controls sind.
In der Geschichte gab es viele Kriege.
There have been many wars in history.
in der Geschichte means in history and viele means many. Kriege is the plural of Krieg with an umlaut and -e; the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase, so gab comes before the subject.
die Königin — queen; queen in chess
The plural is Königinnen, not Könige; the latter means kings. In historical contexts, Königin can mean a reigning female monarch or a king’s wife.
Die Königin begrüßt die Gäste.
The queen welcomes the guests.
begrüßt means welcomes, and die Gäste means the guests. Die Königin is nominative because she is the subject; the finite verb begrüßt stands in position two.
Ich sehe die Königin im Fernsehen.
I see the queen on television.
sehe means see, im Fernsehen means on television, and Ich means I. die Königin is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehe is in position two.
Die Kinder winken der Königin zu.
The children wave to the queen.
die Kinder are the children and winken ... zu means wave to. der Königin is dative because zuwinken takes the person waved to in the dative; the separable prefix zu goes to the end of the main clause.
Das Auto der Königin steht vor dem Palast.
The queen’s car is standing in front of the palace.
das Auto means car, steht means is standing, and vor dem Palast means in front of the palace. der Königin is genitive because it shows possession; the feminine noun does not add an ending.
Viele Königinnen besuchen das Museum.
Many queens visit the museum.
Viele means many, besuchen means visit, and das Museum means the museum. Königinnen is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural ending is -nen.
Die Königin steht neben dem König.
The queen is next to the king.
steht means is standing, neben means next to, and der König means the king. Die Königin is nominative as the subject, while dem König is dative because neben describes a location here.
Im Schach schützt die Königin den König.
In chess, the queen protects the king.
Im Schach means in chess, schützt means protects, and den König means the king. die Königin is nominative as the subject, while den König is accusative because schützen takes a direct object.
das Mitglied — member
Das Mitglied is neuter and has the regular plural die Mitglieder. It can mean a member of a club, organisation, political party, or other group.
Das Mitglied nimmt an der Sitzung teil.
The member takes part in the meeting.
Nimmt an ... teil means takes part in, and die Sitzung is the meeting. Das Mitglied is nominative because it is the subject; the separable verb teilnehmen appears as nimmt ... teil.
Der Verein begrüßt das Mitglied.
The club welcomes the member.
Der Verein means the club or association, and begrüßt means welcomes. Das Mitglied is accusative because it is the direct object of begrüßen; for this neuter noun, nominative and accusative look the same.
Wir helfen dem Mitglied bei der Anmeldung.
We help the member with the registration.
Helfen means to help, bei der Anmeldung means with the registration, and die Anmeldung is registration. Dem Mitglied is dative because helfen governs the dative; bei also requires the dative.
Die Meinung des Mitglieds ist wichtig.
The member's opinion is important.
Die Meinung means the opinion, and wichtig means important. Des Mitglieds is genitive to show possession, with des and the ending -s; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Mitglieder treffen sich jeden Montag.
The members meet every Monday.
Treffen sich means meet one another, and jeden Montag means every Monday. Die Mitglieder is the plural subject in the nominative; the noun changes from Mitglied to Mitglieder, and sich marks the reciprocal action.
die Polizistin — female police officer
Polizistin is the feminine form of Polizist. Its plural is formed with -innen, as in many feminine job titles.
Die Polizistin arbeitet heute.
The female police officer is working today.
arbeiten means to work, and heute means today. Die Polizistin is nominative because she is the subject; the finite verb arbeitet is in position two.
Ich sehe die Polizistin.
I see the female police officer.
sehen means to see. Die Polizistin is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the feminine article die does not change between nominative and accusative.
Wir helfen der Polizistin.
We help the female police officer.
helfen means to help, and wir means we. Der Polizistin is dative because helfen takes a dative object; the feminine article changes from die to der.
Das Auto der Polizistin ist blau.
The female police officer’s car is blue.
das Auto is the car, and blau means blue. Der Polizistin is genitive because it shows possession; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Polizistinnen stehen vor dem Gebäude.
The female police officers are standing in front of the building.
stehen means to stand, vor dem Gebäude means in front of the building, and das Gebäude is the building. Die Polizistinnen is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural ending is -innen.
die Prinzessin — princess
The plural is Prinzessinnen, with -nen. Like many feminine nouns ending in -in, it forms the plural by changing -in to -innen.
Die Prinzessin wohnt in einem großen Schloss.
The princess lives in a large castle.
wohnt means lives, groß means large, and das Schloss is a castle. Die Prinzessin is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb wohnt is in position two.
Der König sieht die Prinzessin.
The king sees the princess.
der König is the king and sieht means sees. Die Prinzessin is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the feminine article stays die in both nominative and accusative.
Der Prinz gibt der Prinzessin eine Blume.
The prince gives the princess a flower.
der Prinz is the prince, gibt means gives, and eine Blume is a flower. Der Prinzessin is dative because she is the recipient of the gift, while eine Blume is the accusative thing being given.
Das Kleid der Prinzessin ist sehr teuer.
The princess's dress is very expensive.
das Kleid is the dress, sehr means very, and teuer means expensive. Der Prinzessin is genitive and shows possession: the dress belongs to the princess.
Im Märchen leben drei Prinzessinnen.
Three princesses live in the fairy tale.
im Märchen means in the fairy tale, leben means live, and drei means three. Prinzessinnen is plural, so it is used with drei and has the plural ending -nen.
die Regel — rule, principle; usual pattern, general rule
Die Regel can be a concrete instruction, as in school or traffic, or a general principle. The phrase in der Regel means “usually” and is a very common fixed expression.
Diese Regel ist sehr wichtig.
This rule is very important.
diese means this, and sehr wichtig means very important. Diese Regel is nominative because it is the subject; ist links it to the adjective phrase, and the adjective does not take a noun ending here.
Bitte beachte die Regel.
Please follow the rule.
bitte means please, and beachte means follow or observe. die Regel is accusative because beachten takes an accusative object; the imperative beachte stands first and the subject du is omitted.
Der Lehrer erklärt den Schülern die Regel.
The teacher explains the rule to the pupils.
der Lehrer means the teacher, erklärt means explains, and den Schülern means to the pupils. den Schülern is dative as the people receiving the explanation, while die Regel is accusative as the thing explained.
Die Bedeutung der Regel ist klar.
The meaning of the rule is clear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning, and klar means clear. der Regel is genitive after Bedeutung to show which rule is meant; the phrase Die Bedeutung der Regel is the nominative subject.
In dieser Klasse gelten andere Regeln.
Different rules apply in this class.
in dieser Klasse means in this class, gelten means apply, and andere means different. Regeln is plural nominative because it is the subject; dieser Klasse is dative because in describes a fixed location.
In der Regel fahre ich mit dem Bus.
I usually travel by bus.
in der Regel means usually, fahre means travel or go, and mit dem Bus means by bus. In this fixed expression, der Regel is dative after in; because the whole phrase comes first, the finite verb fahre remains in position two.
Als Regel gilt: Wer zu spät kommt, muss warten.
The general rule is: whoever arrives late has to wait.
gilt means applies or is considered valid, zu spät means late, and warten means wait. Here als Regel means as a general rule; in the wer clause, the finite verb kommt is at the end, while muss warten forms a modal-verb bracket.
die Religion — religion, faith; faith, religious belief
Die Religion can mean an organized religion or a person’s religious faith. It is countable when you mean different religions, so the plural is Religionen.
Die Religion spielt für viele Menschen eine wichtige Rolle.
Religion plays an important role for many people.
viele Menschen means many people, eine wichtige Rolle spielen means to play an important role, and für means for. Die Religion is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb spielt is in position two.
Viele Menschen respektieren die Religion ihrer Nachbarn.
Many people respect their neighbours’ religion.
viele Menschen means many people, respektieren means respect, and Nachbarn means neighbours. Die Religion is accusative because respektieren takes a direct object, while the finite verb respektieren stands in position two.
In der Schule sprechen wir über der Religion?
At school, do we talk about religion?
in der Schule means at school, sprechen means talk, and über means about. This sentence is intentionally a question: über normally takes accusative, so the natural form is über die Religion, not über der Religion; the finite verb sprechen is in position two.
Die Geschichte der Religion ist sehr lang.
The history of religion is very long.
die Geschichte means the history and sehr lang means very long. Der Religion is genitive because it identifies whose history it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
In der Welt gibt es viele verschiedene Religionen.
There are many different religions in the world.
in der Welt means in the world, gibt es means there are, and verschiedene means different. Religionen is plural and accusative after es gibt, while the finite verb gibt is in position two.
Ihre Religion ist ein wichtiger Teil ihres Lebens.
Her religion is an important part of her life.
ihre means her, ein wichtiger Teil means an important part, and ihr Leben means her life. Religion is nominative as the subject, while ihres Lebens is genitive after Teil to show what the part belongs to.
Er spricht offen über seine Religion.
He speaks openly about his religion.
er means he, offen means openly, and sprechen means speak. Über takes the accusative here, so seine Religion is accusative; the finite verb spricht is in position two.
die Waffe — weapon
Die Waffe is a general word for a weapon, including firearms, knives, and other objects used to injure or defend. In legal and official language, Waffe can also refer to an object whose possession or use is regulated.
Die Waffe liegt auf dem Tisch.
The weapon is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying, and der Tisch means table. Die Waffe is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Die Polizei findet eine Waffe.
The police find a weapon.
die Polizei means the police, and findet means finds. Eine Waffe is accusative because finden takes a direct object; the finite verb findet stands in position two.
Der Polizist nähert sich der Waffe.
The police officer approaches the weapon.
der Polizist means police officer, and sich nähern means to approach. Der Waffe is dative because sich nähern requires a dative object; sich is the reflexive pronoun, and the finite verb nähert is in position two.
Die Farbe der Waffe ist schwarz.
The colour of the weapon is black.
die Farbe means colour, and schwarz means black. Der Waffe is genitive after die Farbe to show possession or association; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Im Museum sieht man alte Waffen.
You can see old weapons in the museum.
das Museum means museum, sieht man means one sees or you can see, and alte means old. Alte Waffen is the accusative object of sieht; im Museum is dative because it gives the location, and Waffen is the plural of die Waffe.
die Wahl — choice; election; election
The meaning can be a personal choice or a political election. The common expression die Wahl haben means to have a choice, while wählen is the verb to choose or vote.
Die Wahl ist schwer.
The choice is difficult.
schwer means difficult. Die Wahl is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich treffe die Wahl heute.
I am making the choice today.
treffe means make here and heute means today. Die Wahl is accusative because the fixed expression eine Wahl treffen takes a direct object.
Wir helfen ihm bei der Wahl.
We help him with the choice.
helfen means help and ihm means him. Bei always takes the dative, so der Wahl is dative; helfen also takes a dative person, ihm.
Die Gründe der Wahl sind klar.
The reasons for the choice are clear.
die Gründe are the reasons and klar means clear. Der Wahl is genitive because it identifies which choice the reasons belong to.
Bei den Wahlen gibt es viele Parteien.
There are many parties in the elections.
viele Parteien means many parties and gibt es means there are. Bei den Wahlen is dative plural because bei takes the dative; Wahlen has the plural ending -en.
Die Partei gewinnt die Wahl.
The party wins the election.
die Partei means the party and gewinnt means wins. Die Wahl is accusative because gewinnen takes the election as its direct object.
Nach der Wahl beginnt die Arbeit.
After the election, the work begins.
nach means after and beginnt die Arbeit means the work begins. Nach takes the dative, so der Wahl is dative; the verb beginnt is still in position two in the main clause.