- In this video, we're going to be answering
a very common question that many German learners have.
Let's go!
(upbeat music)
Hello and welcome to Coffee Break German!
I'm Mark.
And I'm Andrea.
I'm the learner here and Andrea
is our German language expert.
So, today's question comes from
listener Daniela Santini.
Daniela wants to know what the difference is
between "das" with one 's' and "dass" with two 's's.
Andrea, what's going on here?
- Yes, I'm really glad for this question,
because this is something, when we
German native speakers grow up, struggle with a lot,
because they sound practically the same.
So, maybe let's look at them.
There are actually two "das" with one 's'.
- Oh right, okay.
- And one "dass" with two 's'.
So let's have a wee look at the first "das" with one 's'.
For example, "das Mädchen isst einen Apfel".
- Okay, so,
"das Mädchen isst einen Apfel".
so "the girl is eating an apple".
Yeah, exactly.
- And there we have "das" as an article for "Mädchen".
We know Mädchen because it ends in "-chen",
it's neuter, yes, and that's why we use "das"
as the article.
- Okay. So it's the article, it's the definite article:
"the girl".
Exactly, that's right.
- Okay.
And then, let's look at that with a relative pronoun
- Okay.
- For example: "Das Pferd, das im Stall steht
heißt Daisy."
- Oh, right, okay.
"Das Pferd,
das im Stall steht...
So "the horse, which is standing in the stall"
or the stable,
then you said "heißt Daisy".
Exactly, yes.
- And I think this is where a lot of native speakers,
when they grow up, struggle because...
"Das Pferd, das im Stall steht..."
And there, we would think maybe also
that it's a double 's', but it isn't, okay?
Because the "das", the second "das"
goes back to the first "das", yes?
Because it's a relative pronoun
and it stands in the nominative.
- Okay, so it's pointing back to that.
The horse, which, or that, in the stable is standing
is called Daisy.
So that's a relative in there, okay, good.
So those are two different forms of "das",
just spelled d-a-s.
Exactly, that's right, yes.
- And now let's look at "dass" with the double 's'.
For example: "Peters Mutter...
will, dass er sein Zimmer aufräumt".
So, okay... "Peters Mutter will..."
dass", and this time it's two 's's
- Mhm.
"...er sein Zimmer..."
- And you said
"aufräumt", yeah?
Exactly, yes.
"aufräumt."
So "Peter's mother wants that he his room tidies".
Exactly, so,
- "das" with two 's' is a connector
and it starts a subordinate clause.
Yeah, we have this with many other verbs
For example: "ich denke, dass du nett bist".
- Okay yeah, "I think that you are nice".
- Yeah, think that you are nice.
"Ich hoffe, dass die Sonne scheint".
"I hope that the sun is shining", yeah?
So it's beginning a subordinate clause and it's a connector.
- Okay, so that one there has got the two 's's
and that's when it's beginning a subordinate clause.
And so far we've had the definite article
and then the relative pronoun.
So our definite article up here
and then our relative pronoun here
and now we've got this connector.
Can we see all of these words,
could they all happen in the one sentence?
- Yes, absolutely, yeah.
- Can you give us an example?
For example: "Karl denkt, dass das Fahrrad,
das dort steht schön ist."
- Okay so.
"Karl denkt,...": Karl's thinking.
"dass das Fahrrad,"
"that the bicycle"...
Yes, comma, "das dort steht,..."
"das dort steht,..."
"that's standing there".
Exactly. Comma, "schön ist".
Wow. "schön ist".
"Is pretty, is beautiful".
Exactly, correct.
So, there we've got all three in the one sentence.
This "dass" is our connector, so, similar to that one,
and then that "das" there is the definite article
for "Fahrrad", same as that one up there,
and that is the relative pronoun,
so that's the one that says "the bike,
which, or that, is standing there is beautiful".
Exactly, that's right. Very good.
Wow, well we hope that this has answered
your question, Daniela.
If you have a question like Daniela
then make sure you send your questions to us.
By going to coffeebreakquestions.com
We'd love to see your questions
and hopefully answer one of them in a future episode.
If you have enjoyed this video, if you've found it useful,
then make sure you let us know in the comments.
In fact, why not try to use some of these "das(s)" words
in the comments,
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That's it for this episode.
We hope you've enjoyed it.
Thank you very much and see you next time!
See you soon!
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