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Questions & Answers about Heute mähen wir nur den vorderen Rasen; der hintere ist lediglich nass.
What case is in den vorderen Rasen, and why is it used?
It’s accusative masculine singular. The verb mähen (to mow) takes a direct object, so the object Rasen appears in the accusative: den (not nominative der). Compare:
- Nominative (subject): Der vordere Rasen ist trocken.
- Accusative (object): Wir mähen den vorderen Rasen.
Why does the adjective end in -en in vorderen?
After a definite article (der/die/das), adjectives take the weak endings. For masculine singular:
- Nominative: der vorder-e Rasen
- Accusative: den vorder-en Rasen
- Dative: dem vorder-en Rasen
- Genitive: des vorder-en Rasens Hence vorderen after den.
Why is it der hintere and not der hinterer?
Because after the definite article der (masculine nominative), the adjective takes the weak ending -e: der hintere (Rasen). You would see hinterer only with no article (strong ending): hinterer Rasen.
Should der hintere be capitalized (der Hintere)?
In this sentence it’s an adjective with an omitted noun (ellipsis): der hintere (Rasen). In such elliptical repeats, lowercase is standard. Capitalization (der Hintere) is used when the adjective is fully substantivized—standing as a noun in its own right (often referring to people or types). Here, lowercase fits best.
Why does the verb come right after Heute (verb-second order)?
German main clauses follow the V2 rule: one constituent occupies the first position (here, the temporal adverb Heute), the finite verb is second (mähen), and the subject wir follows: Heute mähen wir …
Do I have to start with Heute? Where else can it go?
No. Common neutral options:
- Wir mähen heute nur den vorderen Rasen.
- Heute mähen wir nur den vorderen Rasen. Putting heute at the very end (… den vorderen Rasen heute) is possible but less neutral; German prefers time elements earlier.
Why is nur placed before den vorderen Rasen, and how would moving it change the meaning?
The focus particle nur typically precedes the element it restricts.
- Wir mähen nur den vorderen Rasen = Only the front lawn (not the back one, etc.).
- Nur heute mähen wir den vorderen Rasen = Only today (not on other days).
- Wir mähen den vorderen Rasen nur sounds like an afterthought and is uncommon in neutral style.
What’s the difference between nur and lediglich?
Both can mean “only/merely.” Nur is the default, neutral particle in everyday German. Lediglich is a bit more formal/literary and often emphasizes “nothing more than.” In the second clause, lediglich nass = “merely wet (not, say, overgrown).”
Can I also use nur in the second clause?
Yes: …; der hintere ist nur nass. That’s entirely idiomatic and slightly less formal than lediglich.
Is the semicolon correct here? Could I use a comma or a period instead?
Yes, the semicolon is fine; it separates two closely related main clauses. Alternatives:
- Comma: … , der hintere ist lediglich nass. (accepted in German for parataxis, though some prefer clearer punctuation)
- Period: … . Der hintere ist lediglich nass. (stronger separation)
Why is it der/den Rasen and not feminine die Rasen?
Rasen (lawn) is masculine: der Rasen (sg.), die Rasen (pl.). If you said Rasenfläche (lawn area), that’s feminine: die Rasenfläche, e.g., die vordere Rasenfläche.
Can I drop the noun and just say Wir mähen nur den vorderen; der hintere ist lediglich nass?
Yes. That’s a common ellipsis when the noun is obvious from context. As above, in this kind of ellipsis you keep the adjective lowercase: der vordere / der hintere.
Is mähen a regular verb? What are its key forms?
Yes, it’s regular.
- Present: ich mähe, du mähst, er/sie/es mäht, wir mähen, ihr mäht, sie/Sie mähen
- Simple past: ich mähte
- Perfect: ich habe … gemäht
How do I pronounce the tricky parts: mähen, heute, Rasen, nass, lediglich?
- mähen: [ˈmɛːən] (the h marks a long ä)
- heute: [ˈhɔʏtə] (eu/äu = “oy”)
- Rasen: [ˈʁaːzn̩]
- nass: [nas] (ss = unvoiced [s]; modern spelling is nass, not naß)
- lediglich: [ˈleːdɪklɪç] or [leˈdiːklɪç]
What’s the difference between vorder-/hinter- and vorn(e)/hinten?
- vorder-/hinter- are adjective stems used attributively: der vordere/hintere Rasen.
- vorn(e)/hinten are adverbs: der Rasen vorn(e), der Rasen hinten. Both are fine; the attributive form is tighter in style.
Does nur ever mean “first/only later,” like erst?
No. Nur = only/merely. Erst expresses “not until/only as early as” (time or order). Compare:
- Wir mähen nur den vorderen Rasen. (only that lawn)
- Wir mähen erst den vorderen Rasen. (we’ll mow the front lawn first / not before some time)
What’s the nuance difference between ist nass and ist nass geworden?
- ist nass describes a current state: “is wet.”
- ist nass geworden highlights the change: “has become/got wet.” Use it if the getting-wet process is in focus.