German · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 13
Was ist das?What is that?
To ask about a thing: "Was ist das?". The pointing word "das" ALWAYS stays "das" — no matter the noun's gender: Das ist eine Uhr (even though Uhr is feminine), Das ist ein Schlüssel (masculine), Das ist ein Fenster (neuter). Only in the answer does the correct gender come back: eine Uhr, ein Schlüssel, ein Fenster. Objects: die Uhr, der Regenschirm, die Kleidung, der Schuh, das Wasser, die Tür, das Fenster, der Computer, das Geld, das Papier, der Schlüssel, die Sache.
Dialogue
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Die oder das?— die or das?
- MikeLukas, was ist die?Lukas, what's that? (slip: the pointing word is always "das", never gendered "die" — say "Was ist das?")
- LukasBeim Zeigen immer „das": Was ist das?When pointing, always "das": Was ist das?
- MikeOkay. Was ist das?Okay. What is that?
- LukasDas ist ein Regenschirm. Und das ist eine Uhr.It's an umbrella. And that's a watch.
Dialogue
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In der Tasche— In the Bag
- LenaMike, was ist das?Mike, what's that?
- MikeDas ist ein Computer. Und das ist Papier.It's a computer. And this is paper.
- LenaUnd hast du Wasser?And do you have water?
- MikeJa, ich habe Wasser, Geld und einen Schlüssel.Yes, I have water, money and a key.
Vocabulary
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- die Uhr
n.f.clock, watch (f)
- der Regenschirm
n.m.umbrella (m)
- die Kleidung
n.f.clothes (f)
- der Schuh
n.m.shoe (m)
- das Wasser
n.n.water (n)
- die Tür
n.f.door (f)
- das Fenster
n.n.window (n)
- der Computer
n.m.computer (m)
- das Geld
n.n.money (n)
- das Papier
n.n.paper (n)
- der Schlüssel
n.m.key (m)
- die Sache
n.f.thing, matter (f)
Grammar
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"was" + "das" (pointing)
Explanation
"was" = "what". To ask about a thing, you say "Was ist das?". The trick: the pointing word "das" NEVER changes — even when the noun is feminine or masculine. You always say: Das ist eine Uhr (Uhr is feminine), Das ist ein Schlüssel (masculine), Das ist ein Fenster (neuter). "das" just points; the answer carries the gender. So in the answer the correct ein/eine comes back. Don't confuse the pointing "das" with the article "das" (das Buch). And "was" asks about a thing; "wie" about a form or number (chapter 10).
Examples
- Was ist das? — Das ist eine Uhr.What's that? — It's a watch.
- Was ist das? — Das ist ein Schlüssel.What's that? — It's a key.
- Das ist Wasser und das ist Papier.This is water and that is paper.
- Wie ist dein Computer? — Das ist mein Computer.What's your computer like? — That's my computer.
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