Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching German grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Marias Konto zeigt umgehend eine neue Buchung.
Why is there no apostrophe in Marias?
German forms the genitive of most personal names by simply adding -s without an apostrophe: Marias Konto. An apostrophe is used only when the name already ends in an s-like sound (s, ss, ß, z, x): Chris' Fahrrad, Max' Konto, Hans' Auto.
What grammatical case is Marias, and what construction is this?
Marias is genitive singular, used as a pre-nominal genitive to mark possession. It’s equivalent in meaning to das Konto von Maria, but the genitive (Marias Konto) is more compact and slightly more formal/written.
Why is there no article before Konto? Can I say das Konto von Maria or das Konto Marias?
With a pre-nominal genitive possessor, an article is typically omitted: Marias Konto. Alternatives:
- das Konto von Maria (very common and neutral, especially in speech)
- das Konto Marias (post-nominal genitive; correct but sounds formal/literary)
Is the verb really in second position here? Could I front umgehend?
Yes. Marias Konto is one constituent in first position, so zeigt is in second position (German V2 rule). You can front the adverb:
- Umgehend zeigt Marias Konto eine neue Buchung.
What does umgehend mean, and how does it differ from sofort, gleich, or unverzüglich?
- umgehend = promptly, immediately; slightly formal/office-like.
- sofort = immediately; neutral and very common.
- gleich = right away/soon (regional and context-dependent; can mean “in a moment”).
- unverzüglich = without delay; legalistic/formal. All four can fit here, but umgehend and sofort are the most natural.
Where does umgehend go in the sentence?
Typical placements:
- Midfield before the object: Marias Konto zeigt umgehend eine neue Buchung. (most idiomatic)
- Sentence-initial for emphasis: Umgehend zeigt Marias Konto eine neue Buchung. Placing it after the object (… zeigt eine neue Buchung umgehend) is possible but sounds less natural.
Is zeigt the best verb here? What about anzeigen, erscheinen, or verzeichnen?
zeigen is fine: the account “shows/indicates” something. Alternatives vary by nuance:
- anzeigen (separable: zeigt … an): often used for devices/apps/displays, e.g., Die App zeigt eine neue Buchung an.
- erscheinen with a preposition: Auf Marias Konto erscheint eine neue Buchung.
- verzeichnen/aufweisen: more formal/technical, e.g., Das Konto verzeichnet eine neue Buchung.
- On statements: Der Kontoauszug weist eine neue Buchung aus.
Does Buchung mean a hotel “booking”? Is this a false friend?
Yes, it can be a false friend. Buchung means:
- In banking/accounting: a posting/entry/transaction.
- In travel: a reservation/booking. Here, it clearly means a bank posting. Other banking words you’ll see are Umsatz (line-item transaction), Transaktion, Gutschrift (credit), Abbuchung/Lastschrift (debit).
Why is it eine neue Buchung (and not einen neuen Buchung or eine neu Buchung)?
- Buchung is feminine (die Buchung).
- As a direct object, it’s in the accusative; feminine accusative is still eine.
- Attributive adjectives must be declined: neu → neue. So: eine neue Buchung. Forms like einen neuen Buchung (masculine) or eine neu Buchung (adjective not declined) are incorrect here.
Which case is eine neue Buchung, and why?
Accusative singular feminine. zeigen is a transitive verb that takes a direct object in the accusative: the account shows what? — eine neue Buchung.
Could I rephrase this with a preposition, like using auf?
Yes, common alternatives include:
- Auf Marias Konto erscheint umgehend eine neue Buchung.
- Auf Marias Konto wird umgehend eine neue Buchung verbucht.
- For credits specifically: Auf Marias Konto geht umgehend eine Gutschrift ein.
What’s the plural of Konto? And what about its genitive?
- Plural: Konten (standard). Kontos is also accepted in general language. Konti is used in Swiss usage and some banking contexts.
- Genitive singular: des Kontos (e.g., der Stand des Kontos).
Is ihr Konto the same as Marias Konto?
Not necessarily. ihr Konto can mean:
- her account,
- their account,
- your account (formal: Ihr Konto). Because of this ambiguity, Marias Konto is clearer when you specifically mean Maria’s account.