Meine Tante zahlt die Tickets ausschließlich online.
My aunt pays for the tickets exclusively online.
Breakdown of Meine Tante zahlt die Tickets ausschließlich online.
mein
my
die Tante
the aunt
das Ticket
the ticket
zahlen
to pay
Questions & Answers about Meine Tante zahlt die Tickets ausschließlich online.
What case is die Tickets, and why is the article die?
It’s accusative plural. The verb pays takes a direct object, so Tickets is in the accusative. The plural definite article is die for both nominative and accusative. Singular would be das Ticket (accusative: das Ticket); plural is die Tickets (accusative: die Tickets). The dative plural would be den Tickets (e.g., mit den Tickets).
Why is it die Tickets when Ticket is neuter?
Because in the plural, all genders use die in the nominative and accusative. Neuter only shows as das in the singular.
Is zahlt die Tickets idiomatic, or should I use bezahlt?
Both are acceptable. Nuance:
- bezahlen + direct object is always safe: Meine Tante bezahlt die Tickets.
- zahlen is commonly used with an amount or a bill: den Preis/Rechnung/Miete/Steuern zahlen; and with für + accusative: für die Tickets zahlen.
- Many speakers also say die Tickets zahlen; others prefer die Tickets bezahlen. You won’t be misunderstood either way.
Could I say Meine Tante zahlt für die Tickets ausschließlich online?
Yes. That’s perfectly natural with zahlen + für + Akkusativ. Meaning and emphasis stay essentially the same.
What is the function and placement of ausschließlich online?
It’s an adverbial of manner/medium (how/where digitally she pays). Neutral word order puts it after the direct object: … zahlt die Tickets ausschließlich online. You can also front it for emphasis: Ausschließlich online zahlt meine Tante die Tickets.