Sign inSign up

Unser Verein spendet Wasser für die Familie nebenan.

Unser Verein spendet Wasser für die Familie nebenan.
Our association donates water for the family next door.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching German grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning German now

Questions & Answers about Unser Verein spendet Wasser für die Familie nebenan.

What does Verein mean exactly, and how is it different from Club/Klub?
  • Verein = association/society, typically a formally registered organization (often with the suffix e.V. = registered association). Common for sports, cultural, or charitable groups.
  • Club/Klub can be a looser group or a social club; it doesn’t necessarily imply formal registration.
  • In many contexts, English “club” translates to Verein if it’s an organized association.
Why is it Unser Verein and not Unserer Verein or Unseren Verein?
  • Verein is masculine singular and the subject (nominative case), so the possessive determiner unser takes no ending: unser Verein.
  • Quick guide for nominative:
    • Masculine: unser Verein
    • Feminine: unsere Familie
    • Neuter: unser Kind
    • Plural: unsere Freunde
  • Other cases change the ending, e.g. accusative masculine: unseren Verein, dative masculine: unserem Verein.
Why spendet and not spenden?
  • Verein is singular, so the verb is 3rd person singular: spendet.
  • Present tense of spenden:
    • ich spende
    • du spendest
    • er/sie/es spendet
    • wir spenden
    • ihr spendet
    • sie/Sie spenden
Why use für die Familie here? Could/should I say der Familie instead?
  • spenden für + Akk. = donate for the benefit of (often a cause or target group). Unser Verein spendet Wasser für die Familie … emphasizes the water is intended for them.
  • Using a dative recipient focuses on giving to someone directly: Unser Verein spendet der Familie nebenan Wasser. (donates the water to the family).
  • Both are acceptable. With a concrete recipient like a family, the dative is very idiomatic; für is also common and slightly more “for-their-benefit” in feel.
  • You may also see an + Akk. for recipients, especially institutions: Wasser an die Familie spenden; for people, the dative is often preferred.
What case does für take, and how do I know die is accusative here?
  • für always takes the accusative.
  • Feminine die looks the same in nominative and accusative, so the form doesn’t change: die Familie.
  • Dative would be der Familie (e.g., der Familie Wasser spenden).
What does nebenan mean, and how is it different from neben or von nebenan?
  • nebenan is an adverb meaning “next door/nearby.” die Familie nebenan = “the family next door.”
  • von nebenan is a common variant: die Familie von nebenan = “the family from next door.”
  • neben is a preposition meaning “next to/beside” and needs a case: neben dem Haus (dative) = “next to the house.”
Why is nebenan placed after Familie? Can I put it before, like die nebenane Familie?
  • nebenan is an adverb, not an adjective, so it can’t be used attributively before a noun.
  • Correct options:
    • die Familie nebenan
    • die Familie von nebenan
    • If you want a before-the-noun form, use a participial phrase: die nebenan wohnende Familie.
Why is there no article before Wasser?
  • Wasser is a mass/uncountable noun; German typically omits the article when speaking about an indefinite amount.
  • Use an article when the water is specific or previously known: das Wasser.
  • To specify quantity, use words like etwas, viel, ein wenig: Unser Verein spendet etwas Wasser ….
Can I change the word order, for example start with Für die Familie nebenan?

Yes. German main clauses are verb-second. Acceptable variants (with different emphasis):

  • Für die Familie nebenan spendet unser Verein Wasser.
  • Wasser spendet unser Verein für die Familie nebenan.
  • Unser Verein spendet für die Familie nebenan Wasser. The finite verb (spendet) stays in second position; the rest moves for focus/emphasis.
How do I pronounce key words like Verein, spendet, and nebenan?
  • Verein: initial V sounds like English “f”; ei like “eye” → roughly “fe-RINE.”
  • spendet: initial sp is pronounced like “shp” → “SHPEN-det.”
  • nebenan: stress is on the last part → “nay-ben-AHN.”
Is die Familie singular or plural here? How would I say “families next door”?
  • die Familie is singular.
  • Plural: die Familien.
  • With für (accusative): für die Familien nebenan = “for the families next door.”
  • With dative recipient: den Familien nebenan (e.g., spendet den Familien nebenan Wasser).
What tense is this, and how do I say it in the past or future?
  • It’s present tense (Präsens).
  • Simple past (Präteritum): Unser Verein spendete Wasser …
  • Present perfect (Perfekt): Unser Verein hat Wasser gespendet …
  • Future (Futur I): Unser Verein wird Wasser spenden …
Could I say Unser Verein spendet das Wasser? What difference does the article make?
  • Wasser (no article) = some water, non-specific.
  • das Wasser = specific, identifiable water (e.g., the water we collected earlier). Use it only when the context makes a particular batch clear.
Is spenden the only verb I can use here? What are alternatives and nuances?
  • spenden emphasizes a charitable donation.
  • Alternatives by nuance:
    • geben (to give; neutral, broad)
    • bereitstellen (to provide/make available; organizational, logistical)
    • liefern (to deliver; focuses on transport)
    • stiften (to endow/donate; a bit formal) Choose based on whether you stress charity, logistics, or delivery.
I’ve seen Feuchtigkeit spenden in cosmetics. Does spenden always mean “donate”?
  • In ads/technical language, spenden can mean “to provide/afford” a beneficial quality: Die Creme spendet Feuchtigkeit (“The cream provides moisture”).
  • In your sentence, spenden is the philanthropic “donate” meaning.
Any capitalization or spelling points I should notice?
  • Nouns are capitalized: Verein, Wasser, Familie.
  • nebenan is one word and lowercase (it’s an adverb).
  • unser is lowercase unless it starts the sentence (as here). No commas are needed in this sentence.