Breakdown of Die Kerze duftet nach Vanille, deshalb sitze ich lange im Sessel und lese.
und
and
in
in
ich
I
lange
long
lesen
to read
deshalb
therefore
sitzen
to sit
der Sessel
the armchair
die Kerze
the candle
duften nach
to smell of
die Vanille
the vanilla
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Questions & Answers about Die Kerze duftet nach Vanille, deshalb sitze ich lange im Sessel und lese.
Why is Vanille not preceded by an article in duftet nach Vanille?
After duften nach German often names a scent in a general sense without an article—just like English “smells of vanilla,” not “smells of the vanilla.” If you wanted to point to one specific vanilla (rare in this context), you could say nach der Vanille, but here it’s a generic fragrance.
Which case does nach govern in duftet nach Vanille, and how would the noun look if there were an article?
The preposition nach always takes the dative case in the meaning “to” (directions) or “smell of.” With a definite article Vanille (feminine), you would see the dative form der Vanille, i.e. duftet nach der Vanille.
Why is it im Sessel and what case is that?
Im is a contraction of in dem. The preposition in with a stationary location (you’re sitting, not moving into the chair) uses the dative case. Hence in dem Sessel → im Sessel (“in the armchair”).
What kind of word is deshalb, and why does it affect the word order in the second clause?
Deshalb is a conjunctive adverb (“therefore”). In a main clause any element in first position forces the finite verb into second position. By starting with deshalb, the verb sitze comes immediately after it, and the subject ich follows: Deshalb sitze ich ….
How would the sentence change if you used weil instead of deshalb?
Weil is a subordinating conjunction, so it sends the finite verb(s) to the end of its clause. You’d get:
…, weil ich lange im Sessel sitze und lese.
Notice sitze and lese move to the very end.
Why are there two verbs sitze and lese in the second clause, and why isn’t ich repeated?
They form a compound predicate under one subject ich. German lets you coordinate two finite verbs with und without repeating the subject: sitze … und lese shares the same ich.
Why is lange placed before im Sessel?
German adverbial order prefers time – manner – place. Here lange (duration/time) comes before im Sessel (place).
What’s the difference between duften and riechen in German?
Duften implies giving off a pleasant scent (“to smell nice”), whereas riechen is neutral and can be good or bad (“to smell” something). So die Kerze duftet nach Vanille highlights a pleasant vanilla aroma.