Questions & Answers about Was für ein Buch liest er?
Why does this sentence use ein Buch instead of einen Buch if it is the direct object?
The verb lesen takes a direct object, which means we need the accusative case. However, Buch is a neuter noun (das Buch). In the accusative case, only masculine nouns change their indefinite article to einen. Neuter nouns stay as ein, exactly like their subject form.
Does was für ein literally mean 'what for a'?
Yes, word-for-word it translates to 'what for a', but in German it is a fixed expression used to ask 'what kind of' or 'what sort of'. The ein part will change depending on the gender and case of the noun that follows it.
Why is the verb spelled liest? Shouldn't the 'he' form of lesen be lest?
The verb lesen (to read) is irregular. When used with er, sie, or es (he, she, it), the vowel in the stem changes from e to ie. So, it becomes er liest. The form lest is used for ihr (you all).
Why is the verb liest not at the very beginning or end of the sentence?
In German open questions, the conjugated verb must be in the second position. The entire question phrase Was für ein Buch acts as one big block taking up the first position. Therefore, the verb liest takes position two, followed directly by the subject er.
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