Wir packen die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier ein.

We wrap the cookies in pretty wrapping paper.

Breakdown of Wir packen die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier ein.

• in: in
• wir: we
• das Plätzchen: the cookie
• das Geschenkpapier: the wrapping paper
• einpacken: to wrap
• schön: pretty

Questions & Answers about Wir packen die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier ein.

Why is einpacken split into packen ... ein in this sentence?

Einpacken is a separable verb (trennbares Verb).
In a main clause in German, separable verbs split:

• the conjugated part (here: packen, conjugated as packen → wir packen) goes in second position
• the prefix (here: ein) goes to the very end of the clause

So we get:

• Wir (1st position)
• packen (2nd position – the verb)
• …rest of the sentence…
• ein (separable prefix at the end)

Wir packen die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier ein. ✅
Wir einpacken die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier. ❌ (wrong in a main clause)

Why does ein come right at the very end of the sentence, after Geschenkpapier?

The separable prefix ein must come after everything else in a main clause.

The usual order is:

1. Subject: Wir
2. Finite verb: packen
3. Objects / prepositional phrases: die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier
4. Separable prefix: ein

You cannot put anything after the prefix in a normal main clause. So you must say:

• Wir packen die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier ein. ✅
  not:
• Wir packen die Plätzchen ein in schönes Geschenkpapier. ❌

What case is used with in schönes Geschenkpapier, and why?

The preposition in can take dative or accusative, depending on meaning:

• Dative = location (where something is)
• Accusative = direction / movement (where something is going)

Here we are putting the cookies into the wrapping paper (movement into something), so we need accusative.

Geschenkpapier is neuter (das Geschenkpapier), so in the accusative without an article, the adjective ending is -es:

• in schönes Geschenkpapier = in
  • accusative neuter, no article.

Why is it schönes Geschenkpapier and not schönen or just schön Geschenkpapier?

The ending -es on schönes comes from adjective declension:

• Preposition in → accusative here (movement into)
• Noun Geschenkpapier → neuter
• No article before the adjective (no das, ein, etc.)

Pattern: no article + neuter + accusative → adjective ending -es

So:

• schönes Geschenkpapier ✅ (correct ending)
• schönen Geschenkpapier ❌ (would be dative masculine/neuter with an article, not the case here)
• schön Geschenkpapier ❌ (missing the adjective ending in standard German)

Why is there no article before Geschenkpapier? Could you also say in das schöne Geschenkpapier?

Yes, you could say in das schöne Geschenkpapier, but it slightly changes the nuance.

• in schönes Geschenkpapier

  • no article
  • more general / indefinite: into nice gift wrap (in general)

• in das schöne Geschenkpapier

  • das = definite article (accusative of das Geschenkpapier)
  • more specific: into the nice wrapping paper (that we’re talking about / can see)

Both are grammatically correct. The original sentence sounds more general and typical for describing an activity.

Why is Geschenkpapier neuter? Is there a rule?

Geschenkpapier is a compound noun:

• das Geschenk (the present, gift)
• das Papier (the paper)

In German, a compound noun takes the gender of the last part (the head of the compound).

The last part is Papier, which is neuter (das Papier), so:

• das Geschenkpapier

There is no extra rule beyond that; you just need to know that Papier is neuter, and then the whole compound is neuter.

What case is die Plätzchen, and why?

Die Plätzchen here is in the accusative plural as the direct object of the verb einpacken.

• Who is doing something? → Wir (subject, nominative)
• What are we packing? → die Plätzchen (direct object, accusative)

For plural nouns with the definite article, die is used for both nominative and accusative:

• Nominative plural: die Plätzchen
• Accusative plural: die Plätzchen

So it looks the same, but its function in the sentence (what is being packed) makes it accusative.

Is Plätzchen singular or plural here? How do I know?

Plätzchen can be both singular and plural:

• Singular: das Plätzchen (one cookie)
• Plural: die Plätzchen (several cookies)

In this sentence we have die Plätzchen, which can only be plural, because:

• das Plätzchen (singular) would take das in the accusative
• die Plätzchen clearly signals plural (accusative plural)

So here it means several cookies.

What is the difference between Plätzchen and Kekse?

Both can mean cookies, but there are nuances:

• Plätzchen

  • often small, typically Christmas-style cookies (especially in southern/central Germany)
  • has a slightly more cozy / homemade / seasonal feel

• Kekse

  • more general word for biscuits / cookies
  • used for store-bought cookies, everyday cookies, etc.

In a Christmas context, Plätzchen is very common. In everyday contexts, Kekse is often more neutral.

What is the difference between packen and einpacken?

• packen on its own means things like

  • to pack (a suitcase) → einen Koffer packen
  • to grab / seize → jemanden packen (to grab someone emotionally or physically)

• einpacken means

  • to pack something *into something / to wrap*
  • e.g. Wir packen die Plätzchen ein. → We wrap/pack the cookies (in something).

In the context of wrapping gifts, you normally need einpacken, not just packen.

Could I also say Wir verpacken die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier? Is that different from einpacken?

Yes, you can:

• Wir verpacken die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier. ✅

Verpacken and einpacken are very close in meaning, but:

• einpacken sounds a bit more everyday / colloquial, used all the time for wrapping presents.
• verpacken can sound a bit more formal / technical (like packaging goods, shipping, industry), but is also used for presents.

In this context (wrapping cookies in gift wrap), both are fine; einpacken is slightly more colloquial and typical in spoken German.

How does the word order change with einpacken in a subordinate clause or infinitive clause?

In subordinate clauses and infinitive constructions, the verb is not split; the separable prefix stays attached.

1. Subordinate clause (with a conjunction like weil):

• Wir freuen uns, weil wir die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier einpacken.
  → Here the conjugated verb goes to the end of the clause in one piece: einpacken.

2. Infinitive construction (with zu):

• Wir versuchen, die Plätzchen in schönes Geschenkpapier einzupacken.
  → The zu goes between the prefix and the stem: ein
  • zu
    • packen → einzupacken.

Main clause: Wir packen ... ein.
Subordinate/infinitive: ... einpacken / einzupacken.

How do you pronounce Plätzchen, and what does the ending -chen mean?

Pronunciation (simplified):

• Plätzchen ≈ [PLETS-khen]
  
  • ä like the e in “bed”
  • tz like ts in “cats”
  • ch here is the soft German ch (like in “ich”), not like English k

The ending -chen is a diminutive suffix in German:

• It makes nouns smaller / cuter / more affectionate.
• It always makes the noun neuter.

Examples:

• der Hund → das Hündchen (little dog)
• das Brot → das Brötchen (bread roll, “little bread”)
• der Platz → das Plätzchen (literally “little place/spot”, but in this context: a little cookie)

So Plätzchen historically meant a “little piece” or “little spot”, and now commonly means a small cookie.