Log inSign up

Ich bin allergisch, deshalb frage ich den Kellner nach den Zutaten.

Ich bin allergisch, deshalb frage ich den Kellner nach den Zutaten.
I am allergic, so I ask the waiter about the ingredients.
FromLesson 97inHardcore German
…

Questions & Answers about Ich bin allergisch, deshalb frage ich den Kellner nach den Zutaten.

Why is there a comma after allergisch?

Because you have two main clauses:
1) Ich bin allergisch
2) deshalb frage ich den Kellner nach den Zutaten
German often uses a comma to separate main clauses, especially when the second one starts with a linking word like deshalb.

What does deshalb do to the word order in the second part?

Deshalb is an adverb that takes the first position in the clause. In German main clauses, the finite verb must be in position 2, so you get inversion:

  • deshalb frage ich ... (verb frage is 2nd)
    not
  • deshalb ich frage ...
Could I also say Ich bin allergisch, deswegen ... or darum ...?

Yes. deshalb, deswegen, and darum are very similar (“therefore/that’s why”) and all trigger the same word order:

  • ..., deswegen frage ich ...
  • ..., darum frage ich ...
Why is it den Kellner and not der Kellner?

Because fragen here takes a direct object (the person you ask) in the accusative case.

  • Nominative: der Kellner (subject form)
  • Accusative: den Kellner (object form)
Why is it fragen ... nach ... and not just fragen ...?

German commonly uses the pattern jemanden nach etwas fragen = “to ask someone about/for something.”
So you ask the waiter (jemanden) and you ask about the ingredients (nach etwas).

What case does nach take in nach den Zutaten?
Nach takes the dative case here, so die Zutaten becomes den Zutaten (dative plural).
Why does it say den Zutaten (plural) instead of der Zutat (singular)?
Because you usually mean the full list of ingredients, not just one. Zutaten is the natural choice for “ingredients” in general. You could use singular only if you mean one specific ingredient: nach der Zutat.
Why isn’t there an extra -n added to Zutaten in the dative plural?
Dative plural often adds -n to the noun (e.g., mit den Kindern). But Zutaten already ends in -n/-en, so nothing changes: den Zutaten.
Is Ich bin allergisch the normal way to say this, or would Germans say something else?

Ich bin allergisch is completely natural. Depending on context, you might also hear:

  • Ich habe eine Allergie. (more noun-based)
  • Ich reagiere allergisch auf ... (if you name the trigger)
Does frage here mean present tense, and can it also refer to the immediate future?
Yes, it’s present tense: ich frage = “I ask / I’m asking.” In context, German present tense often covers “I’m going to ask” as well, especially when it’s the next obvious action.

More from this lesson

auchAuch im Winter trinken wir abends Tee im Wohnzimmer.allergischMeine Schwester ist auch allergisch, aber sie bleibt gelassen.häufigHäufige Pausen helfen mir, im Großraumbüro ruhig zu bleiben.das Symptomständig
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How do German cases work?”
German has four grammatical cases: nominative (subject), accusative (direct object), dative (indirect object), and genitive (possession). The case determines the form of articles and adjectives. For example, "the dog" is "der Hund" as a subject but "den Hund" as a direct object.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning German

Master German — from Ich bin allergisch, deshalb frage ich den Kellner nach den Zutaten to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning German freeBrowse the full course