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Questions & Answers about Auf dem Kalender steht ein Zitat: „Geduld ist das Herz des Erfolgs“.
Why is it Auf dem Kalender and not Im Kalender?
Because auf vs. in changes the meaning: auf refers to a surface (“on the calendar”), whereas in means “inside.” The calendar is a flat surface, so you say something is printed on it. Also, since auf here indicates a static location, it requires the dative case—hence dem Kalender (the dative of der Kalender).
Why is the verb steht used here? Couldn’t we say liegt or hängt?
In German, printed text or inscriptions are usually described with stehen (“to stand”). You say „Der Text steht auf dem Schild“ even if the sign is hanging. Liegen implies lying loose or flat without permanence, and hängen applies to objects physically hung. For text on a surface, stehen is idiomatic.
Why is there no article before Geduld in the quote?
Geduld is an abstract, uncountable noun used in a general sense (“Patience is…”), so no article is needed. Just like in English we say “Patience is the key,” German drops the article for abstract concepts used generically.
What case is des Erfolgs? What does the “-s” on Erfolg indicate?
Des Erfolgs is in the genitive case, indicating possession or relationship. Masculine and neuter nouns typically add -s (or -es) in the genitive singular. So das Herz des Erfolgs literally means “the heart of success.”
Why is das Herz in the nominative? Isn’t it the object of the sentence?
With the linking verb ist (“to be”), both subject and predicate are in the nominative case. Here, Geduld is the subject, and das Herz is the predicate nominative (“what patience is”).
Why is the word order Auf dem Kalender steht ein Zitat instead of Ein Zitat steht auf dem Kalender?
German main clauses follow the “verb-second” (V2) rule. You can put any element in the first position (subject, object, or adverbial phrase), then the finite verb comes in second place. Starting with Auf dem Kalender emphasizes the location; starting with Ein Zitat would emphasize the quote itself. Both are grammatically correct.
What’s the difference between Zitat, Spruch, and Slogan?
- Zitat: A direct quotation, usually attributed to a specific person.
- Spruch: A saying or proverb, often more general or anonymous.
- Slogan: A catchy marketing or political phrase.
In this calendar context, you could also call it a Spruch, but Zitat suggests it’s someone’s exact words.
Why is there a colon before the quote and why are quotation marks used?
In German, a colon often introduces direct quotations, lists, or explanations. After the noun Zitat, the colon signals that the actual quoted text follows. The text itself is enclosed in quotation marks (German style is „…“, though here English-style “…” is used). Together, they clearly mark the beginning and end of the quoted material.
Do I need to capitalize Herz and Erfolgs inside the quote?
Yes. German nouns are always capitalized, no matter where they appear in a sentence. So both Herz (heart) and the noun within des Erfolgs remain capitalized.
How would you pronounce Geduld and Erfolgs?
- Geduld: [ɡəˈdʊlt] (guh-DULT)
- Erfolgs: [ɛɐ̯ˈfɔlks] (air-FOLKS)
The final -s in Erfolgs is an unvoiced /s/ sound, not /z/.