Answers
Aug 14, 2013 - 08:01 PM
This may be the most ludicrous explanation ever, but... You know the Definitive Articles -Das, Der, Die- change when it's Dative or Accusative case, right? . But when to use the two is challenging. Think about the difference between a photo and a video. Dative Case can be stated with a single photo and the Articles change to Dem, Dem, Der. "See Dem? Dem Der in dat photo? They're on a DATE." So you see a photo of me in water. That's it, I'm there, the end. "Ich bin IN+DEM (Im) Wasser." But now I have a video of you throwing me in the water! I ACCUSE you! I have proof! The articles change to Das, Den, Die so now, "Ich bin IN+DAS (Ins) Wasser. Try to ask yourself if you can tell my actions by a single photo or not. "Where is Shanna?" vs "Where is Shanna going to?" I can go TO/be on a street but not into a Street. Not without some freaky scary movie action.
Aug 16, 2013 - 07:46 AM
Hi Rebecca, everyone gets confused about "im" and "ins", so don't worry!
To pick up on Shanna's great video vs photo idea: The issue is location (photo) vs direction/movement (video).
When you can easily have an idea (e.g.: Wir sind IM Restaurant/We are AT the restaurant) in a photograph, you use the DATIVE case.
If you need a video camera to capture the idea (i.e. direction/movement) you'll use the ACCUSATIVE: Sie gehen INS Restaurant/They are going TO the restaurant
You know: INS = IN + DAS and: IM = In + DEM
Great. Now the next very important thing when learning German (and any language that uses several cases) is to know which article is for which case. Tables are great to visualize the information:
Basic form Der Park Die Straße Das Restaurant
Accusative Den Park Die Straße Das Restaurant
Dative Dem Park Der Straße Dem Restaurant
As you go along, you can add new things when you learn them, e.g. when you learn plural nouns, you can add another column etc. For some people memorizing it like this helps, replacing the nouns as needed.
As for the use of the cases, keeping track of them in a single document can help. E.g.:
Accusative
- for direct objects
- after (German) "in" = "to"/"in" (direction/video)
Dative
- after (German) "in" = "at"/"in"/"into" (location/photo)
- after "Zu" = "to"/ "up to"
And keep adding to it as you learn more prepositions and other uses for the cases.
I hope these tips will help you come to terms with cases! It takes time and patience and it is VERY normal to be confused. It really is not a simple concept. So breathe and keep at it :) Good luck!
To pick up on Shanna's great video vs photo idea: The issue is location (photo) vs direction/movement (video).
When you can easily have an idea (e.g.: Wir sind IM Restaurant/We are AT the restaurant) in a photograph, you use the DATIVE case.
If you need a video camera to capture the idea (i.e. direction/movement) you'll use the ACCUSATIVE: Sie gehen INS Restaurant/They are going TO the restaurant
You know: INS = IN + DAS and: IM = In + DEM
Great. Now the next very important thing when learning German (and any language that uses several cases) is to know which article is for which case. Tables are great to visualize the information:
Basic form Der Park Die Straße Das Restaurant
Accusative Den Park Die Straße Das Restaurant
Dative Dem Park Der Straße Dem Restaurant
As you go along, you can add new things when you learn them, e.g. when you learn plural nouns, you can add another column etc. For some people memorizing it like this helps, replacing the nouns as needed.
As for the use of the cases, keeping track of them in a single document can help. E.g.:
Accusative
- for direct objects
- after (German) "in" = "to"/"in" (direction/video)
Dative
- after (German) "in" = "at"/"in"/"into" (location/photo)
- after "Zu" = "to"/ "up to"
And keep adding to it as you learn more prepositions and other uses for the cases.
I hope these tips will help you come to terms with cases! It takes time and patience and it is VERY normal to be confused. It really is not a simple concept. So breathe and keep at it :) Good luck!