Breakdown of Der Experte kauft ein Gefäß Gift.
ein
a, an (eine)
kaufen
to buy
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
der Experte
the expert
das Gefäß
the vessel
das Gift
the poison
Questions & Answers about Der Experte kauft ein Gefäß Gift.
Why is there no word for "of" between ein Gefäß and Gift?
In English, we say "a vessel OF poison", but German usually expresses quantities and containers using a partitive apposition. This means the container (ein Gefäß) and the material inside (Gift) are simply placed next to each other without a preposition or a change in case.
Could we use the genitive case here and say ein Gefäß Giftes?
No, you shouldn't use the partitive genitive here. When a material is a single, unmodified noun without an article or adjective (like Gift), German requires the apposition. Using the genitive Giftes here would sound archaic or grammatically incorrect.
What if we add an adjective, like "deadly poison"? Does that change the rule?
Yes! If you add an adjective, you can choose between two correct options. You can keep the apposition and make the case match the container (accusative): ein Gefäß tödliches Gift. Alternatively, because the material is now modified, you can use the partitive genitive: ein Gefäß tödlichen Giftes. The apposition is more common in spoken German.
Experte is an N-declension (weak) noun. Why doesn't it have an -n ending in this sentence?
Weak nouns only take their -n or -en endings in cases other than the nominative singular. Since der Experte is the subject of the sentence (the one doing the buying), it is in the nominative singular. If it were the direct object, it would take the ending, as in: Wir sehen den Experten.
Learn Der Experte kauft ein Gefäß Gift 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