Learn Hardcore German: Die Fabrik stellt Glas her. - The factory manufactures glass.

herstellen is a separable-prefix verb. In main clauses the prefix (her) detaches and moves to the end, while the conjugated stem (stellt) stays in second position. Together they mean “to manufacture/produce.”

Why is there no article before Glas?

Here Glas is a mass noun referring to the material in general. German often omits articles with uncountable nouns when speaking about substances broadly. If you meant a specific piece, you’d say das Glas.

What case is Glas in, and how can I tell?

It’s in the accusative case as the direct object of herstellen. Since Glas has no article here, it looks the same in nominative and accusative (neuter nouns). You identify it by asking “What is the factory producing?”—glass.

What gender is Fabrik, and why is it preceded by die?

Fabrik is a feminine noun. In the nominative singular, all feminine nouns take the definite article die, so die Fabrik means “the factory.”

Why use die Fabrik (definite article) for a general statement instead of eine Fabrik?

German uses the definite article for generic or habitual claims about an entire class (here, factories as a whole). Eine Fabrik would refer to one unspecified factory, not factories in general.

What is the word order rule in Die Fabrik stellt Glas her?

German main clauses follow the V2 rule:

First position: any element (here, the subject Die Fabrik).
Second position: finite verb (stellt).
Remaining elements: objects (Glas) and then the separated prefix (her) at the end.

How do I form the perfect tense of herstellen?

Use haben + past participle hergestellt.
Example: Die Fabrik hat Glas hergestellt.

Can I replace herstellen with produzieren, and what changes?

Yes. produzieren (“to produce”) is inseparable, so it stays intact. You’d say Die Fabrik produziert Glas. There’s no prefix to detach.

How can I specify the raw material, e.g., “The factory produces glass from sand”?

Use aus + dative for “from” with materials:
Die Fabrik stellt Glas aus Sand her.
Here Sand is in the dative case (no article needed when speaking generally).