Scene 3GrammarPremium

Ist das der Kuchen?

Asking questions and recognising the direct object

Yes/no questions

A yes/no question asks for an answer such as yes or no. Put the verb first, then the subject: becomes German does not add a word like English do.

Statements and yes/no questionsTap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Statement	Question	Meaning
		You are hungry. · Are you hungry?
You are hungry. · Are you hungry?
		You have the key. · Do you have the key?
You have the key. · Do you have the key?

Questions with who, where and how

For a question asking who, where or how, put the question word first and the verb second: , , Learn as a whole question meaning How do you know that? is a natural short question offering a choice.

Question wordsTap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Word	Question	Meaning
		who? · Who is that?
who? · Who is that?
		where? · Where is the café?
where? · Where is the café?
		how? · How is the cake?
how? · How is the cake?

The subject and the direct object

A noun’s case shows its role in the sentence. The nominative is the form used for the subject: the person or thing the sentence is about. In , is the subject. The accusative is used for the direct object of many verbs: the thing someone has, takes or likes. In , is the subject and is the object.

For the definite article, only masculine changes between these two cases: becomes . Feminine and neuter stay the same. The case is still accusative even when the article looks unchanged. Here, changing the role changes the article, not the noun.

The subject and the direct objectTap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Nominative	Accusative	Meaning
		the cake
the cake
		the cat
the cat
		the café
the café

Der Schlüssel ist hier.The key is here.
Ich habe den Schlüssel.I have the key.
Ich habe den Schlüssel.I have the key.
Das ist der Kuchen.That is the cake.
Ich mag den Kuchen.I like the cake.
Ich mag den Kuchen.I like the cake.

Identifying something with

After , a noun identifying someone or something stays nominative: . The accusative is not used for this identifying noun after . Use when the masculine noun is the direct object of a verb such as or . Learn as I like … for now.

A food phrase from the scene

This scene also uses , a slice of poppy-seed cake. Learn it as a food phrase. The full words for a/an, and , and their object forms are taught in module 2.

Practice 1/5 · Finding words

The verb moves in questions

Tap the conjugated verb in each question.

?
Where is the key?
?
Are you hungry?
?
Is that the café?
?
Who has the key?
?
How is the cake?
?
Are you hungry (polite)?

Practice 2/5 · The right form

The answer tells you what to ask

Choose the right word for the gap.

ist das? Das ist Hilde.
Who is that? That is Hilde.
ist das Café? Unten.
Where is the café? Downstairs.
ist der Kuchen? Sehr gut.
How is the cake? Very good.
hat den Schlüssel? Lotte.
Who has the key? Lotte.
ist Greta? Hier.
Where is Greta? Here.
heißt du? Ich heiße Lukas.
What is your name? My name is Lukas.
heißt du? Ich heiße Lena.
What is your name? My name is Lena.

Identify it, have it, or like it

Choose the right word for the gap.

Das ist Kuchen.
That is the cake.
Ich mag Kuchen.
I like the cake.
Katze ist hungrig.
The cat is hungry.
Lotte hat Katze.
Lotte has the cat.
Café ist unten.
The café is downstairs.
Ich mag Café.
I like the café.
Schlüssel ist hier.
The key is here.
Hast du Schlüssel?
Do you have the key?

Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps

The noun’s role changes

Fill the gaps with the words from the box.

Kuchen ist sehr gut. Ich mag Kuchen.
The cake is very good. I like the cake.
Katze ist hier. Ich mag Katze.
The cat is here. I like the cat.
Café ist unten. Ich mag Café.
The café is downstairs. I like the café.
Das ist Schlüssel. Lotte hat Schlüssel.
That is the key. Lotte has the key.

Practice 4/5 · Building sentences

Find out what you need to know

Put the words in order.

Are you hungry?
Where is the café?
Who has the key?
How is the cake?
Are you hungry (polite)?
Is that my coffee?

Practice 5/5 · In situations

In the café

Choose the right words for the situation.

Greta puts cake in front of you, although you only asked for coffee. You check whether the cake is meant for you.
You say:
Greta puts cake in front of you, although you only asked for coffee. You check whether the cake is meant for you.
You say:
You are hungry. Lotte mentioned a good café but did not explain where it is.
You say:
You are hungry. Lotte mentioned a good café but did not explain where it is.
You say:
A woman you have not met comes into the café. Greta seems to know her.
You say:
A woman you have not met comes into the café. Greta seems to know her.
You say:
You have just tasted the cake and enjoyed it. Greta waits to hear what you think.
You say:
You have just tasted the cake and enjoyed it. Greta waits to hear what you think.
You say: