Learn Hardcore German: Die Verkäuferin erklärt mir den Preis. - The saleswoman explains the price to me.

Verkäuferin is the feminine form of Verkäufer (salesperson). The suffix -in marks a female person. As the subject (nominative feminine singular), the article is die: die Verkäuferin.

What verb form is erklärt?

It’s the 3rd person singular present of erklären. German present covers both English simple and progressive aspects, so it can mean “explains” or “is explaining.”

Does erklären always use dative + accusative?

Yes, the common pattern is: jemandem (dative, the person) etwas (accusative, the thing) erklären.

Example pattern: Sie erklärt mir den Preis.

Do I need a preposition like “to” or “for” before mir?

No. German uses the dative case instead of a preposition here. mir already means “to me.” Using zu mir or für mich would be wrong in this sentence.

Can I change the word order of the objects?

Default with a pronoun and a noun: put the pronoun first → … erklärt mir den Preis.
Both nouns: dative before accusative → … erklärt dem Kunden den Preis.
Both pronouns: accusative usually before dative → … erklärt ihn mir. Other orders are possible for emphasis, but these are the most natural.

Where would I put nicht to negate the sentence?

Typically: Die Verkäuferin erklärt mir den Preis nicht. If you want to negate specifically the direct object and contrast it: Die Verkäuferin erklärt mir nicht den Preis, sondern den Rabatt.

How would I turn this into a yes/no question or a wh-question?

Yes/no: Erklärt die Verkäuferin mir den Preis?
Wh-question: Wer erklärt dir den Preis? / Warum erklärt die Verkäuferin dir den Preis?

How do I replace the nouns with pronouns correctly?

Replace den Preis with a pronoun: ihn (accusative masculine) → Sie erklärt ihn mir.
Replace die Verkäuferin with sie (subject) → Sie erklärt mir den Preis.
Replace both objects (if context is clear): Sie erklärt ihn mir. (accusative before dative)

How would I say this in the past?

Simple past (Präteritum): Die Verkäuferin erklärte mir den Preis.
Present perfect (more common in speech): Die Verkäuferin hat mir den Preis erklärt. (Note: er- verbs form the participle without ge- → erklärt.)

What about the passive voice?

Focus on the thing: Der Preis wird mir (von der Verkäuferin) erklärt.
Dative stays dative in the passive: mir remains mir.

What’s the difference between erklären, erzählen, sagen, and zeigen?

erklären: to explain/make clear (gives understanding)
erzählen: to tell/narrate (a story, sequence, experience)
sagen: to say (utterance, statement)
zeigen: to show (demonstrate/point out, often visually) Only erklären naturally takes “person (dat) + thing (acc)” in the sense of giving an explanation.

Does Preis mean price or prize?

Both. der Preis = price (cost) or prize/award (e.g., der Nobelpreis). Context decides which meaning is intended here (with a salesperson, it’s the cost).

Why are Verkäuferin and Preis capitalized?

All German nouns are capitalized. Die at the start is capitalized because it begins the sentence.

How would I say it with a male salesperson or with an indefinite article?

Male: Der Verkäufer erklärt mir den Preis.
Indefinite: Eine Verkäuferin erklärt mir den Preis.

How do I pronounce the tricky vowels?

äu in Verkäuferin is like English “oy” in “boy.”
ei in Preis is like English “eye.”