Breakdown of Der Student macht einen Fehler in der Übung, doch der Lehrer gibt eine klare Erklärung.
in
in
machen
to make
geben
to give
einen
a
doch
but
klar
clear
der Student
the student
der Lehrer
the teacher
der Fehler
the mistake
die Übung
the exercise
die Erklärung
the explanation
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Questions & Answers about Der Student macht einen Fehler in der Übung, doch der Lehrer gibt eine klare Erklärung.
Why is Der Student used at the beginning? What case is it?
Der Student is the subject of the first clause and therefore in the nominative case. Since Student is masculine singular, the definite article is der in the nominative.
Why does the sentence have einen Fehler instead of ein Fehler?
Fehler is the direct object of macht, so it takes the accusative case. Because Fehler is masculine singular, the indefinite article ein changes to einen in the accusative: einen Fehler.
Why is it in der Übung? Why the dative case here?
The preposition in requires the dative when indicating location (where something happens). Übung (exercise) is feminine; its article die becomes der in the dative singular, giving in der Übung.
Why is there a comma before doch? I thought commas weren’t used before coordinating conjunctions like aber.
True, German normally omits the comma before coordinating conjunctions (aber, und, oder, doch). However, placing a comma before doch is allowed (and often recommended for clarity) in formal writing. It’s optional, not mandatory.
What’s the difference between using aber and doch as “but”?
Both aber and doch introduce a contrast. aber is neutral, while doch is a bit stronger or more emphatic—often signaling that the second clause corrects or strongly contrasts with what came before.
In the second clause, why does gibt stay in second position even though doch comes first?
In German main clauses, the finite verb must occupy the second position (the “V2” rule). doch here is a coordinating conjunction and does not count as an “element” that affects word order. So der Lehrer is treated as the first element and gibt remains second.
Why does the adjective in eine klare Erklärung end in “-e” (klare) instead of having no ending?
Attributive adjectives (those directly before a noun) must show agreement via an ending. Erklärung is feminine singular accusative, and eine is the indefinite article, so the correct adjective ending is -e, producing klare Erklärung.