Breakdown of Die Wahl des neuen Präsidenten gefällt dem Herrn nicht.
nicht
not
neu
new
gefallen
to please
der Herr
the gentleman / Mr.
der Präsident
the president
die Wahl
the election
Questions & Answers about Die Wahl des neuen Präsidenten gefällt dem Herrn nicht.
Why does the adjective neu take the ending -en in des neuen Präsidenten?
This is exactly what we are practicing in this lesson! The phrase is in the genitive case to show possession (of the new president). After a definite article in the genitive case, like des, the following adjective always takes an -en ending.
Wait, doesn't the masculine genitive usually add an -s or -es to the noun? Why is it Präsidenten?
Normally, yes! However, Präsident belongs to a special group of masculine nouns called n-declension (or weak) nouns. These nouns add an -n or -en ending in every case except the nominative singular. So instead of adding an -s in the genitive, it takes an -en.
Speaking of extra endings, why does Herr become Herrn in dem Herrn?
Just like Präsident, the word Herr is also an n-declension noun. Because the verb gefallen always requires a dative object, the gentleman is in the dative case here. Therefore, Herr gets its required -n ending to become Herrn.
Why does the sentence use the dative case (dem Herrn) for the person who doesn't like the election?
In German, you often do not actively like something using a direct translation of the English verb. Instead, you use the verb gefallen, which means to be pleasing to. The thing being liked (Die Wahl) is the subject in the nominative case, and the person it pleases—or in this case, doesn't please—must be in the dative case (dem Herrn).
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