Breakdown of Die Farbe der Blüte ist verschieden, je nachdem, wo der Strauch wächst.
sein
to be
wo
where
die Farbe
the color
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
wachsen
to grow
verschieden
different
je nachdem
depending on
die Blüte
the blossom
der Strauch
the bush
Questions & Answers about Die Farbe der Blüte ist verschieden, je nachdem, wo der Strauch wächst.
How does je nachdem work in this sentence, and why is there a comma after it?
Je nachdem translates to "depending on." It frequently sets up a dependent clause that starts with a question word like wo (where), wie (how), or ob (whether). The comma is required before wo because it introduces a new subordinate clause, separating it from the rest of the sentence.
Is der Blüte in the dative or genitive case here?
It is in the genitive case, showing possession to mean "the color of the blossom." Because die Blüte (the blossom) is a feminine noun, its definite article changes to der in the genitive. It looks exactly like the feminine dative, but its position directly following another noun (Die Farbe) is the classic structure for a genitive attribute.
Could I use unterschiedlich instead of verschieden here?
Yes, in this context they mean exactly the same thing. Both translate to "different" or "varying." Verschieden is slightly more traditional when talking about distinct types or variations of something, but unterschiedlich would sound perfectly natural to a native speaker here.
Why does the verb wächst get pushed to the very end of the sentence?
The word wo (where) initiates a subordinate clause, which in this case acts as an indirect question about the location. In German, subordinate clauses always push the conjugated verb to the very end of that clause.
Learn Die Farbe der Blüte ist verschieden, je nachdem, wo der Strauch wächst and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free