Breakdown of Zuletzt wasche ich den Teller und die Tasse.
ich
I
und
and
der Teller
the plate
die Tasse
the cup
waschen
to wash
zuletzt
lastly
Questions & Answers about Zuletzt wasche ich den Teller und die Tasse.
Why does the verb come before "I" (wasche ich instead of ich wasche)?
Because the sentence starts with the time adverb Zuletzt. In German, the conjugated verb must always be in the second position in a standard sentence. Since Zuletzt takes the first spot, the verb wasche takes the second, pushing the subject ich to the third spot.
Could I use schließlich instead of zuletzt here?
Yes, you could! Both words can mean "finally" or "lastly" in a sequence. Zuletzt is perfect for simply listing the last step in a normal process, while schließlich sometimes adds a feeling of "eventually" or getting something done at long last.
Why is it den Teller but die Tasse?
Both items are the direct objects being washed, so they are in the accusative case. The word for plate (der Teller) is masculine, so its article changes from der to den. The word for cup (die Tasse) is feminine, and feminine articles like die do not change in the accusative case.
Is waschen the normal word to use for doing the dishes?
People will definitely understand you, but Germans usually prefer the verbs abwaschen (to wash up) or spülen (to do the dishes) for this specific chore. For example: Zuletzt spüle ich den Teller und die Tasse.
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