Ich lerne jeden Tag eine neue Sprache.

I learn a new language every day.

Breakdown of Ich lerne jeden Tag eine neue Sprache.

• neu: new
• ich: I
• lernen: to learn
• jeden Tag: every day
• die Sprache: the language
• eine: a; (feminine, accusative)

Questions & Answers about Ich lerne jeden Tag eine neue Sprache.

What does jeden Tag mean, and why is it in the accusative case?

jeden Tag literally means “every day.” In German, many time expressions use the accusative case to mark duration or frequency. Here, jeden Tag tells us how often the action occurs, so it takes the accusative.

Why is eine neue Sprache in the accusative case?

Because it’s the direct object of the verb lernen. In German, the thing you learn (a new language) must be in the accusative when it follows lernen.

Why does neue receive an -e ending instead of -en or -es?

The adjective ending depends on gender, number, case, and the article. Here we have: • Feminine (die Sprache)
• Singular
• Accusative
• After the indefinite article eine
Under the weak declension, the correct ending is -e, giving eine neue Sprache.

Can I drop the article and say Ich lerne jeden Tag neue Sprachen?

Yes. If you want to emphasize that you learn different languages in general, you can use the plural without an article: Ich lerne jeden Tag neue Sprachen. That implies “new languages” in a general sense rather than “a new language” each day.

Why is Tag capitalized in jeden Tag?

All German nouns are capitalized, regardless of their position in the sentence. Tag is a noun meaning “day,” so it must begin with a capital letter.

Can I put jeden Tag at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis?

Absolutely. German allows you to front time expressions. If you do, remember to invert the verb and subject:
Jeden Tag lerne ich eine neue Sprache.

What’s the difference between lernen and studieren?

• lernen means “to learn” in general (skills, languages, facts).
• studieren means “to study” in the sense of attending a university or doing academic research.

Since you’re picking up new languages, lernen is the correct choice.

Is Ich lerne jeden Tag eine neue Sprache the only way to say this?

No. You could also say:
• Ich lerne täglich eine neue Sprache. (using the adverb täglich instead of jeden Tag)
• Täglich lerne ich eine neue Sprache. (fronted time adverb)
All carry the same basic meaning: “I learn a new language every day.”