Giving Examples with "wie"
When giving a specific example of a broader category, use wie (like / such as).
The rule here is case agreement: the specific example (the apposition) must match the grammatical case of the general category noun it modifies.
If the general category is the subject (Nominative), the example after wie is also Nominative.
| Exotic reptiles like the iguana need a terrarium. | Exotische Reptilien wie der Leguan brauchen ein Terrarium. |
If the general category is the direct object (Accusative), the example following wie is also Accusative.
| If you buy exotic animals like the parrot, you need a large habitat. | Kaufst du exotische Tiere wie den Papagei, brauchst du ein großes Habitat. |
Agreement with Prepositions
When a preposition determines the case of the category noun, the example matches that case. Notice how the dative categories (einem Habitat, Tieren) force their specific examples (dem Dschungel, der Echse) into the Dative case as well.
| In a habitat like the jungle, the humidity is high. | In einem Habitat wie dem Dschungel ist die Luftfeuchtigkeit hoch. |
| With animals like the lizard, you need a heat lamp. | Bei Tieren wie der Echse brauchst du eine Wärmelampe. |
Similarly, if an accusative preposition like für or ohne is used, the examples listed with wie also take the Accusative.
| Inside a terrarium for animals like the turtle, the humidity is important. | Innerhalb eines Terrariums für Tiere wie die Schildkröte ist die Luftfeuchtigkeit wichtig. |
| Without accessories like the heat lamp, the reptile freezes at night. | Ohne Zubehör wie die Wärmelampe friert das Reptil nachts. |
Comparing Multiple Examples
If a sentence has multiple categories, apply the agreement rule to each one. Below, both birds and reptiles are Nominative, so their examples (der Papagei, die Schildkröte) are Nominative too.
| Birds like the parrot are louder than reptiles like the turtle. | Vögel wie der Papagei sind lauter als Reptilien wie die Schildkröte. |