Breakdown of Der Chef plant eine Besprechung.
planen
to plan
der Chef
the boss
die Besprechung
the meeting
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Questions & Answers about Der Chef plant eine Besprechung.
Why is der used before Chef?
Der is the masculine singular definite article in the nominative case. Since Chef is a masculine noun and functions as the subject of the sentence, it takes der.
What does Chef mean in this sentence? Does it mean chef as in a cook?
In German, Chef means boss or manager, not a cook. A cook is Koch (m) or Köchin (f).
Why is eine used before Besprechung?
Besprechung is a feminine noun, and eine is the indefinite article for feminine nouns in the accusative case. Here, Besprechung is the direct object of plant, so it’s in the accusative.
How do I know that eine Besprechung is in the accusative case?
Because it answers what is being planned—the meeting. The verb planen takes a direct object (accusative). For feminine nouns, the nominative and accusative indefinite article both look like eine, so you identify the case by its role as the object.
Why is the verb plant placed immediately after the subject? Can it go elsewhere?
In a German main clause, the finite verb occupies the second position (S‑V‑O order). You can move other elements (time, manner, place) to the first position, but the verb stays second: Example: Morgen plant der Chef eine Besprechung.
Could I use an English word instead of Besprechung, like Meeting?
Yes. In modern business German, the loanword Meeting (neuter: das Meeting) is very common. So you might also hear Der Chef plant ein Meeting.
Is besprechen related to Besprechung?
Yes. besprechen (a separable verb) means to discuss, and Besprechung is the noun form meaning discussion or meeting. However, here the verb is planen (“to plan”), not besprechen.
How would I say The boss planned a meeting in German?
Use the simple past of planen:
Der Chef plante eine Besprechung.
Or the present perfect (common in speech):
Der Chef hat eine Besprechung geplant.