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Der Trainer motiviert uns jeden Morgen.

Der Trainer motiviert uns jeden Morgen.
The coach motivates us every morning.
FromLesson 48inHardcore German
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Questions & Answers about Der Trainer motiviert uns jeden Morgen.

What case is uns and why not wir?

Uns is the accusative (direct object). The verb motivieren takes a direct object: Wen/Was motiviert der Trainer? → uns.
Wir is nominative and can only be the subject. For 1st person plural: nominative wir, accusative/dative uns.

Why der Trainer and not den Trainer?

Because der Trainer is the subject (nominative masculine singular → der).
If it were the object, you’d use accusative: Ich sehe den Trainer.

What tense and person is motiviert?

Present tense (Präsens), 3rd person singular of motivieren.
Mini pattern: ich motiviere – du motivierst – er/sie/es motiviert – wir motivieren – ihr motiviert – sie motivieren.

Is motivieren separable or irregular? And why is the participle without ge-?
  • motivieren is a regular verb ending in -ieren.
  • Verbs in -ieren form their participle without ge-: hat motiviert, not hat gemotiviert.
  • It is not separable.
Why jeden Morgen and not jeder Morgen?

It’s a time expression using a masculine noun (der Morgen) in the accusative: masculine accusative of jeder is jeden.
Masculine forms of jeder: nominative jeder, accusative jeden, dative jedem, genitive jedes.

Why is Morgen capitalized? Is it the same as morgen?
  • Morgen (capitalized) = the noun “morning” (der Morgen).
  • morgen (lowercase) = the adverb “tomorrow.”
    Examples:
  • Der Trainer motiviert uns jeden Morgen.
  • Der Trainer motiviert uns morgen.
Where can jeden Morgen go in the sentence?

German allows flexible word order, but the finite verb stays in 2nd position. Common and natural options:

  • Der Trainer motiviert uns jeden Morgen. (neutral)
  • Jeden Morgen motiviert uns der Trainer. (fronted time for emphasis)

“Der Trainer motiviert jeden Morgen uns” is grammatical but sounds marked; short pronouns like uns prefer to appear right after the verb.

Can I say am jeden Morgen?

No. Use either:

  • jeden Morgen (most common), or
  • an jedem Morgen (with preposition, more formal/emphatic).

Note: am Morgen = “in the morning” (on a given day), but am jeden Morgen mixes patterns and is incorrect.

What’s the difference between jeden Morgen and morgens?
  • jeden Morgen = every single morning (stronger, more explicit).
  • morgens = in the mornings, generally/habitually (softer, more generic).
    Both often translate to “every morning,” but jeden Morgen stresses regularity a bit more.
Why is the verb in second position?

German main clauses are verb-second (V2). One element (subject, time phrase, etc.) can come first, and the finite verb must be second:

  • Der Trainer | motiviert uns jeden Morgen.
  • Jeden Morgen | motiviert uns der Trainer.
How would I turn it into a subordinate clause?

In subordinate clauses the finite verb goes to the end:

  • Ich glaube, dass der Trainer uns jeden Morgen motiviert.
  • Wir kommen pünktlich, weil der Trainer uns jeden Morgen motiviert.
How do I put it in the past?
  • Spoken German (Perfekt): Der Trainer hat uns jeden Morgen motiviert.
  • Written/narrative (Präteritum): Der Trainer motivierte uns jeden Morgen.
How do I make it passive?

Action passive (Vorgangspassiv): Wir werden jeden Morgen vom Trainer motiviert.
Note: State passive (Zustandspassiv) would be: Wir sind jeden Morgen motiviert (we are in a motivated state), which describes a result/state, not the action.

How would the sentence look with a female coach?
Die Trainerin motiviert uns jeden Morgen.
How does it change with plural coaches?
Subject and verb agree in plural: Die Trainer motivieren uns jeden Morgen.
Can I omit the article and say “Trainer motiviert uns …”?
Generally no. With specific people, German uses articles: Der Trainer. Dropping it sounds like a headline or a note, not normal prose.
How can I check the case of uns quickly?

Use the question test: Wen/Was motiviert der Trainer? → uns (accusative).
Compare with a dative verb: Der Trainer hilft uns (Wem hilft der Trainer? → uns).

Can motivieren be reflexive?

Yes, when the subject motivates itself: Der Trainer motiviert sich jeden Morgen.
That means “The coach motivates himself …” (not “us”).

How do I pronounce motiviert?

Stress on the last syllable: mo-ti-VIERT.
The v is pronounced like English “v” (not “f”), and ie is a long “ee” sound. Approx. IPA: [moːtiˈviːɐ̯t].

Is “Der Trainer motiviert jeden Morgen” (without an object) okay?
Not really. motivieren is normally transitive and sounds incomplete without an object. Use an object like uns, die Mannschaft, etc.

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