Breakdown of Wo ist die Schere? Ich brauche die Schere für die Quittung.
sein
to be
ich
I
brauchen
to need
für
for
wo
where
die Quittung
the receipt
die Schere
the scissors
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Questions & Answers about Wo ist die Schere? Ich brauche die Schere für die Quittung.
Why is German using singular die Schere when English says plural scissors?
German treats a pair of scissors as a single item: die Schere (singular). If you mean multiple pairs, use the plural die Scheren. Verbs agree accordingly: Die Schere ist hier vs. Die Scheren sind hier.
Why is the article die the same in both sentences even though one is the subject and the other is the object?
Because feminine singular nouns have die in both nominative (subject) and accusative (direct object). So:
- Nominative: die Schere (in Wo ist die Schere?)
- Accusative: die Schere (in Ich brauche die Schere) You’d see a change with masculine nouns: Wo ist der Stift? Ich brauche den Stift.
Why does the verb come before die Schere in the question (Wo ist die Schere?)?
German keeps the verb in second position in wh-questions. The question word (wo) counts as the first element, so the conjugated verb (ist) comes second: Wo ist die Schere? In yes/no questions, the verb comes first: Ist die Schere da?
Can I ever say Wo sind die Scheren? When would I use the plural?
Use the plural when you’re asking about more than one pair: Wo sind die Scheren? If you’re looking for one specific pair, it’s singular: Wo ist die Schere?
Can I replace the second die Schere with a pronoun?
Yes. Because Schere is feminine, use sie:
- Ich brauche sie. If the referent is clear from context, this is natural and avoids repetition.
Which pronoun replaces die Schere—sie, er, or es? And isn’t sie also “they”?
- Schere is feminine, so use sie (she/her/it).
- Yes, sie can mean “she,” “they,” or formal “you” (Sie). Context, capitalization (for formal you), and verb forms tell them apart:
- Sie ist hier (she).
- Sie sind hier (they).
- Sind Sie hier? (formal you).
Why is it für die Quittung and not für der Quittung?
Für always takes the accusative. Quittung is feminine, and the accusative form is die, so für die Quittung is correct. You’d only see der Quittung in the dative (e.g., mit der Quittung), but not after für.
What exactly does für express here? Could I use wegen, zum, or um … zu instead?
- für expresses intended purpose or benefit: you need the scissors “for” something.
- Alternatives:
- um … zu
- infinitive (purpose as an action): Ich brauche die Schere, um die Quittung auszuschneiden.
- zum
- noun (purpose): Ich brauche die Schere zum Ausschneiden der Quittung.
- wegen gives a reason (“because of”), not a purpose, so it changes the nuance: Ich brauche die Schere wegen der Quittung ≈ “because of the receipt,” not specifically “for cutting/attaching it.”
- um … zu
Is Quittung the normal word for a store receipt? How does it differ from Rechnung, Bon, and Beleg?
- Quittung: written acknowledgment you paid; more formal/official.
- (Kassen)bon or Kassenbeleg: the till receipt you get in shops.
- Rechnung: invoice/bill you’re asked to pay.
- Beleg: generic word for a proof/receipt of a transaction. In a supermarket, you’ll usually hear Bon or Beleg; for official reimbursement, Quittung is common.
Is brauchen used like English “to need”? Do I add zu after it?
- Yes: jemand braucht etwas (no preposition): Ich brauche die Schere.
- Don’t add zu before a noun.
- With a verb, German often uses a negative with zu: Ich brauche nicht zu gehen (I don’t need to go).
- Some colloquial varieties drop the final -e (ich brauch), but standard is ich brauche.
Why not say Ich brauche Schere without an article?
Singular countable nouns in German normally require an article. Say eine Schere (any scissors) or die Schere (a specific, known pair). Ich brauche Schere sounds ungrammatical in standard German.
Could I say Wo liegt die Schere? or Wo steht die Schere? instead of Wo ist die Schere?
Yes:
- Wo liegt die Schere? (lying).
- Wo steht …? is for upright/standing objects, so less likely for scissors.
- Wo ist …? is the neutral, all-purpose question and is always fine.
How would I turn this into a subordinate clause?
- Causal: …, weil ich die Schere für die Quittung brauche. (verb at the end)
- Indirect question: Ich frage mich, wo die Schere ist. (verb at the end in the clause)
What are the plural and case forms of Schere?
- Singular: nominative/accusative die Schere; dative/genitive der Schere.
- Plural: nominative/accusative die Scheren; dative den Scheren; genitive der Scheren. Examples: mit der Schere (sg. dative), mit den Scheren (pl. dative).
How do I pronounce Schere and Quittung?
- Schere: [ˈʃeːʁə]. Tips: sch like English “sh,” long e (as in “they”), German r in the throat, final -e like a short “uh.”
- Quittung: [ˈkvɪtʊŋ]. Tips: qu = “kv,” short i as in “bit,” u like “book,” final -ng is a velar “ng.”
Does Schere have any other meanings?
Yes. Figuratively, die Schere can mean a widening “gap,” especially in economics or statistics: die Schere zwischen Arm und Reich (the gap between rich and poor). Context makes the meaning clear.