Breakdown of Ohne Zubehör wie die Wärmelampe friert das Reptil nachts.
ohne
without
wie
as (in comparisons)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
frieren
to freeze
nachts
at night
das Zubehör
the accessories
das Reptil
the reptile
die Wärmelampe
the heat lamp
Questions & Answers about Ohne Zubehör wie die Wärmelampe friert das Reptil nachts.
Why is it die Wärmelampe after wie? What case is this?
It is in the accusative case. The word wie connects die Wärmelampe to Zubehör as a comparative apposition, meaning it adds describing information. Because Zubehör is in the accusative case, triggered by the preposition ohne, die Wärmelampe must match that case. For a feminine noun like Wärmelampe, the accusative form is identical to the nominative.
Why does the verb friert come right after Wärmelampe? Shouldn't the subject das Reptil come first?
German requires the conjugated verb to be in the second position of a main clause. The entire phrase Ohne Zubehör wie die Wärmelampe acts as a single cohesive block occupying position one. Therefore, the verb friert must immediately follow it in position two, which pushes the subject das Reptil to position three.
The English translation says 'accessories' (plural), but Zubehör has no plural ending here. Why?
In German, Zubehör (das Zubehör) is a collective neuter noun that translates to 'accessories' or 'equipment.' Even when referring to multiple items, it is almost always used in the singular form, much like the English word 'luggage.'
Why does the word for night have an 's' at the end to make nachts?
The word nachts is an adverb meaning 'at night.' It comes from the historical use of the genitive case to indicate a recurring time, known as the adverbial genitive. Even though die Nacht is a feminine noun and normally would not take an 's' in the genitive, the 's' was added over time to match masculine and neuter time words like morgens and abends.
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