German Grammar (9)

Karneval der Elektronen (Grammatik)

Text & Grammatik

The text Karneval der Elektronen invites us to see how a simple change from accusative to dative can transform a relationship — at least in theory.

Part I

In the first part, there are no verbs of communication and only one perspective. The 'ME' perspective is typical of all dreams: me in the desert, me in a strange city, me in a forest. In today's story, it is:

• Ich bin auf der Straße. (I am on the street.)

• Es ist Nacht. (It is night.)

• Der Himmel ist hell erleuchtet. (The sky is brightly lit.)

• Das Licht ist weiß. (The light is white.)

• Es blendet wie Schnee. (It's as dazzling as snow.)

• Es fällt mir schwer, die Augen offen zu halten. (I find it hard to keep my eyes open.)

It's an acute sense of loneliness, isn't it? The expression ‘es fällt mir schwer’ is a request for help. As we have seen, mir need the presence of other people. The protagonist looks away from the sky for a moment and glances around. Fortunately, there is a crowd of people around him, happy and excited. The illuminated sky becomes an event to be shared — a joyful celebration.

• Eine Menge Leute ist unterwegs. (There's a large crowd.)

• Sie scheinen wie aus dem Häuschen zu sein. (They seem happy and excited.)

• „So etwas hat es noch nie gegeben.“ (“There's never been anything like this before.”)

Of course, such a statement is enough to draw Ermanno's attention away from the people and back to the supernatural light in the sky.

• Ich bin fasziniert und schaue zu. (I'm fascinated and watch.)

• Mir wird klar, dass das die Elektronen sind. (It dawns on me that these are the electrons.)

• Sie waren bisher unsichtbar. (They had been invisible until now.)

Mir wird klar: With the help of the others who are witnessing this natural wonder with me, I can safely assume that these are electrons. Ermanno is no longer alone; he is part of the crowd staring up at the sky.

• Deshalb versammeln sich die Leute. (That's why people gather together.)

Part II

The grammar topic is built around an encounter: ich / er

• Zu meinem Erstaunen begegne ich meinem alten Onkel. (To my surprise, I bump into my old uncle Beppe.)

The surprise is all the greater because the uncle is supposed to be dead (which is true).

The second part of Karneval der Elektronen contains these verbs:

begegnen (D), sehen (A), erkennen (A), fragen (A), schieben (A), stechen (A)

I and He

1. Dative = Partnership

2. Accusative = Availability

German grammar can show how two people relate to each other.

The Verb with Dativ

Ich begegne ihm. (I meet him.)

Here, the dative case expresses a turning towards someone.

It suggests:

• I am not avoiding the encounter.

• I am allowing it (even though my uncle is supposedly dead).

• We stand face to face.

Dative: relationship = partnership.

Verbs with Accusative

Now compare this with verbs that take the accusative case.

• Ich bin wirklich froh, ihn zu sehen. (I'm really glad to see him.)

• Er merkt, dass ich ihn erkannt habe. (He notices that I have recognised him.)

• Dann schiebt er mich mit zwei Fingern in der dichten Menschenmenge vorwärts. (Then, in the dense crowd, he pushes me forward with two fingers.)

• Ich möchte ihn fragen: „Onkel, wo wohnst du eigentlich, jetzt, wo du tot bist?” (I want to ask him, “Uncle, where do you live now that you're dead?”)

• Doch immer wenn ich mich umdrehen und lossprechen will, sticht er mich. (But whenever I turn around and try to speak, he pokes me.)

Here we see:

• ihn (accusative)

• mich (accusative)

The action moves in one direction.

Ich sehe ihn. (I see him). Ich erkenne ihn. (I recognise him). Ich möchte ihn fragen. (I want to ask him). Er schiebt mich vorwärts. (He pushes me). Er sticht mich. (He pokes me.)

Accusative: One person acts. The other receives the action.

From Object to Partner

German grammar can show transformation.

First, someone appears as an object: Ich erkenne ihn. Ich frage ihn. Er schiebt mich.

Now imagine a positive response.

• Ich erkenne ihn. (I recognise him.)

And then:

• Er lächelt mir zu. (He smiles at me.)

⇒ Recognition becomes response.

• Ich frage ihn. (I ask him.)

And then:

• Er antwortet mir. (He answers me.)

⇒ A question becomes dialogue.

• Er schiebt mich. (He pushes me.)

And then:

• Ich widerstehe ihm nicht. (I do not resist him.)

⇒ Force becomes relation.

Here we see the movement:

Accusative first — someone is available for action.

Dative after — someone responds.

Partnership means more than equality. It means reacting positively. It means answering. It means turning toward.

However, the deceased uncle is not involved in the partnership.

Neither positively nor negatively.

The relationship between the two people involved could be negative: I ask. He doesn't give me an answer.

• Ich frage ihn. 

And then:

• Er gibt mir keine Antwort. 

EN-DE

Translate the following short sentences into German.

Here is the verb list: sehen (A), grüßen (A), danken (D), verlieren (A), entgegenkommen (D), berühren (A), ausweichen (D)

1. I see him and greet him. He does not thank me.
2. I am afraid of losing him in the crowd. He does not come towards me.
3. I want to touch him. He avoids me.

You can find the solutions here: Unit 3 - Lösungen.