Jeden Abend zünde ich eine Kerze an.

Every evening I light a candle.

Breakdown of Jeden Abend zünde ich eine Kerze an.

• ich: I
• der Abend: the evening
• jeder: every
• die Kerze: the candle
• anzünden: to light

Questions & Answers about Jeden Abend zünde ich eine Kerze an.

Why is Jeden Abend in the accusative case, and not nominative or dative?

• Abend is a masculine noun (der Abend).
• Time expressions answering “when?” often take the accusative in German (the so-called temporal accusative).
• The determiner jeder (every) changes to jeden in the masculine accusative.

Why is it jeden and not jeder?

• Jeder is the masculine nominative form (“every evening” as subject).
• Here Abend isn’t the subject but a time expression in the accusative, so jeder → jeden.

Why does an appear at the end, separated from zünde?

• anzünden is a separable-prefix verb.
• In main clauses, the prefix (an) detaches and moves to the end of the clause.
• The conjugated stem (zünde) occupies the second position.

Why is eine Kerze in the accusative case?

• Eine Kerze is the direct object of anzünden.
• Transitive verbs that act upon someone or something take a direct object in the accusative.

Could I say Ich zünde jeden Abend eine Kerze an instead?

Yes. Both orders are correct:
– Jeden Abend zünde ich eine Kerze an. (time first → verb–subject inversion)
– Ich zünde jeden Abend eine Kerze an. (standard Subject–Verb–Object order)

What’s the difference between jeden Abend, Abends, and am Abend?

• Jeden Abend = “every single evening” (stresses each individual evening).
• Abends = “in the evenings” (general, habitual).
• Am Abend = “in the evening” (refers to the evening time period, can be singular or habitual with context).

What’s the difference between zünden and anzünden?

• zünden (without prefix) can mean “to ignite,” often used for fireworks or explosives.
• anzünden (with prefix) specifically means “to light” things like candles, fires or stoves.
• For lighting a candle, anzünden is the usual choice.

Can I omit ich and say Jeden Abend zünde eine Kerze an?

• German is not a pro-drop language—you normally include the subject pronoun.
• Omitting ich would sound incomplete or poetic; in standard speech/writing, keep ich.