Breakdown of Was für ein WLAN gibt es hier?
hier
here
es gibt
there is / there are
was für ein
what kind of
das WLAN
the Wi-Fi
Questions & Answers about Was für ein WLAN gibt es hier?
Why do we use ein here instead of einen?
The phrase was für ein changes its ending depending on the gender and case of the noun. The phrase es gibt (there is) always requires the accusative case. Since WLAN is a neuter noun (das WLAN), its accusative form is just ein.
Doesn't the word für always force the next word to be in the accusative case?
Usually, yes! But was für ein (what kind of) is a special fixed phrase. Inside this phrase, für loses its normal rule-making power. The case of ein is decided strictly by its role in the sentence, not by the word für. Here, it only happens to be accusative because of the verb phrase es gibt.
Why is the word order gibt es instead of es gibt?
In German questions, the conjugated verb must take the second position. The entire question phrase Was für ein WLAN acts as a single block occupying the first position. Therefore, the verb gibt must come right after it, pushing the subject es to the third position.
What gender is WLAN and how do Germans pronounce it?
It is a neuter noun, so you say das WLAN. Even though it comes from the English abbreviation for Wireless LAN, Germans pronounce it with German letter sounds: veh-lahn.
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