Breakdown of Ich trinke Wasser aus dem Glas.
dem
the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
trinken
to drink
das Wasser
the water
ich
I
Questions & Answers about Ich trinke Wasser aus dem Glas.
Why is the article for “Glas” “dem” instead of “das” in this sentence?
The preposition aus always requires the dative case. Since Glas is a neuter noun and its nominative form is das Glas, its dative form becomes dem Glas. This is why the sentence uses aus dem Glas.
What does the preposition aus mean in this sentence?
In this context, aus translates to “from” or “out of” in English. It indicates the origin of the water—that is, the water is being taken from (or is contained in) the glass.
Why is there no article before Wasser? Would it be correct to say das Wasser instead?
In German, many mass nouns like Wasser are used without an article when referring to the substance in general. Saying Ich trinke Wasser means “I drink water” in a general sense. If you use das Wasser, you are referring to a specific quantity or instance of water that both you and the listener are aware of.
How does the word order in this sentence compare to English, and can it be changed for emphasis?