Answers
Feb 21, 2015 - 05:11 PM
Hello again-
The program is again correct when they put the answer as "Wo gibt es ein Taxi?" It should not be "Wo gibt es einen taxi?" and here is the explanation. The use of "ein" is indeed used when trying to say "a...(noun)" when the noun is Masculine or Neuter. You would use "eine" when the noun is feminine. Now in German when the noun is in the accusative case (direct object) then the word "ein" takes a different form.
So for example: You would say "Ein Taxi" or "Ein Kaffee" to say "A taxi" and "A coffee" because the word taxi is neuter and coffee is masculine. Das Taxi, der Kaffee.
However if you wanted to say: "I want a coffee" you would say this: "Ich möchte einen Kaffee." You would change the "ein" to "einen" because the noun is masculine and the DIRECT OBJECT. You want what?.... A coffee. So Kaffee is the direct object. You ONLY CHANGE THE EIN WHEN THE NOUN IS MASCULINE AND A DIRECT OBJECT.
So in the sentence "Where is there a Taxi?" You would not change the ein to einen because Taxi is not masculine. It is neuter. "Wo gibt es ein taxi?"
The presence of "es gibt" does not automatically require the translation to "einen" from "ein". It is only in certain situations. It must be a masculine noun and a direct object.
Google translate is a horrible resource, as many times the correct translation is not given. If you get stuck or confused with something on the program, I would go back and review that section in Fluenz. I have almost completed all levels in Fluenz German and have not caught any major errors in the program. So if your get confused I would respectfully advise you to further investigate the examples through review because it probably isn't an error. Or if you can't find an explanation, there are many wonderful people that help people out on these forums.
prost
The program is again correct when they put the answer as "Wo gibt es ein Taxi?" It should not be "Wo gibt es einen taxi?" and here is the explanation. The use of "ein" is indeed used when trying to say "a...(noun)" when the noun is Masculine or Neuter. You would use "eine" when the noun is feminine. Now in German when the noun is in the accusative case (direct object) then the word "ein" takes a different form.
So for example: You would say "Ein Taxi" or "Ein Kaffee" to say "A taxi" and "A coffee" because the word taxi is neuter and coffee is masculine. Das Taxi, der Kaffee.
However if you wanted to say: "I want a coffee" you would say this: "Ich möchte einen Kaffee." You would change the "ein" to "einen" because the noun is masculine and the DIRECT OBJECT. You want what?.... A coffee. So Kaffee is the direct object. You ONLY CHANGE THE EIN WHEN THE NOUN IS MASCULINE AND A DIRECT OBJECT.
So in the sentence "Where is there a Taxi?" You would not change the ein to einen because Taxi is not masculine. It is neuter. "Wo gibt es ein taxi?"
The presence of "es gibt" does not automatically require the translation to "einen" from "ein". It is only in certain situations. It must be a masculine noun and a direct object.
Google translate is a horrible resource, as many times the correct translation is not given. If you get stuck or confused with something on the program, I would go back and review that section in Fluenz. I have almost completed all levels in Fluenz German and have not caught any major errors in the program. So if your get confused I would respectfully advise you to further investigate the examples through review because it probably isn't an error. Or if you can't find an explanation, there are many wonderful people that help people out on these forums.
prost
Feb 22, 2015 - 07:35 AM
Thanks again!
Feb 24, 2015 - 02:08 PM
I have reviewed the tutorial video for Session 25. I guess what got me confused is that, when "in" is used before a noun, the em ending applies to BOTH neuter and masculine nouns. "In dieSEM Hotel" "in eiNEM Taxi. If the noun does not have "in" or "zu" before it, then EM only applies to masculine nouns. Unfortunately, this gets very confusing, but I have it now.
Mar 04, 2015 - 07:44 AM
Great explanation Michael! Danke for helping out here. So yes, the structure "es gibt" (there is/are) is followed by a direct object so we need to change the ending for masculine nouns only. We give you a list of examples in session 9. So it would be:
Es gibt einen Flughafen - There’s an airport
"Der/Ein Flughafen" is masculine, so we change "ein" to "einen".
Es gibt eine Stadt - There is a city
"Die/Eine Stadt" is feminine, so we use "eine".
Es gibt ein Ticket - There is a ticket
"Das/Ein Ticket" is neuter just like "das Taxi", so use "ein".
This structure is very different from the structure we need with "in" and "zu" which you reviewed in session 25.
Es gibt einen Flughafen - There’s an airport
"Der/Ein Flughafen" is masculine, so we change "ein" to "einen".
Es gibt eine Stadt - There is a city
"Die/Eine Stadt" is feminine, so we use "eine".
Es gibt ein Ticket - There is a ticket
"Das/Ein Ticket" is neuter just like "das Taxi", so use "ein".
This structure is very different from the structure we need with "in" and "zu" which you reviewed in session 25.