3

Das ist eine Art ehrenamtliches Engagement.

This is translated to English as:

That is a kind of volunteer work.

That is why I think that eine Art ehrenamtliches Engagement is genitive. But why doesn't it take genitive article as:

Das ist eine Art des ehrenamtliches Engagement.

1
  • Your last sentence should be: "Das ist eine Art des ehrenamtlichen Engagements" Dec 14, 2019 at 7:46

3 Answers 3

3

There are two kinds of phrasing for the intended meaning:

Das ist eine Art (des) ehrenamtlichen Engagements.

This one would be used in writing and shows the genitive you expect.

The other, more informal:

Das ist eine Art Ehrenamt/ehrenamtliches Engagement.

In this case you have two nominatives, since Engagement serves as a collective specification (see canoonet).

3
  • So even in writing des is not necessary, because you put it in parentheses?
    – Sasan
    Dec 13, 2019 at 15:42
  • 1
    @Sasan: Yes, in this case the article is optional (and one could also use the indefinite article), but this is a pecularity of Art.
    – guidot
    Dec 13, 2019 at 15:50
  • 1
    Art works nearly the same as Glas. Ein Glas Bier, bitte.Kölsch ist eine Art Bier.
    – Janka
    Dec 14, 2019 at 3:29
2

Das ist eine Art ehrenamtliches Engagement. - That's normal nominative. You can even remove eine Art and get the same sentence structure: Das ist ehrenamtliches Engagement. That you can translate it using genitive does not imply that it is genitive in German, too.

Das ist ein Art des ehrenamtlichen Engagements. - That, however, is genitive. But it's a different structure, anyway.

1
  • Two nominative in a row without a comma? When does such structure happen?
    – Sasan
    Dec 13, 2019 at 15:44
1

"Das" is not only an article here. It refers to something not mentioned here. It can be substituted by "dies" or "welches". Isn´t it possible to substitute "that" in the English translation? The linguists amongs us can explain it better. I´m just nativ German.

The 's' is not genitiv, it is for neutral nouns.

"Ein schönes Haus." "Gutes Essen" ..."ehrenamtliches Engagement"

Das Beispiel mit Genitiv ist nicht korrekt. Es muss heißen:

Das ist eine Art des ehrenamtlichen Engagements.

This sentence would change the meaning a little. While the fist sentence makes the action to volunteer work, the second version explains volunteer work and makes the action part of it.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.