Breakdown of Am Ende des Tages schreibe ich alle Regeln in mein Notizbuch.
Questions & Answers about Am Ende des Tages schreibe ich alle Regeln in mein Notizbuch.
German is a verb-second language. When you start a sentence with a time expression like “Am Ende des Tages,” that whole phrase occupies position 1. The finite verb must then occupy position 2, forcing the subject “ich” into position 3. Hence:
Position 1: Am Ende des Tages
Position 2: schreibe
Position 3: ich
The preposition “in” in German can take either dative or accusative. You use the accusative when there is movement or direction into something. Writing into a notebook implies direction (you are putting your rules onto the pages), so you need the accusative:
in + das Notizbuch → in mein Notizbuch
German loves compound nouns: two or more words join to make a new noun. “Notiz” (note) + “Buch” (book) = Notizbuch (notebook). Compounds are always capitalized as one word.
Since Notizbuch is neuter (das Notizbuch), the possessive adjective “mein” also stays in the neuter form:
“Nominative/Accusative neuter” = mein Notizbuch.