Why "in den Zeiten", like in the translation of the title "Die Liebe in den Zeiten der Cholera "? Why not "in der Zeiten"?
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2What case do you think "der Zeiten" is?– phipsgablerCommented Apr 2, 2020 at 10:36
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@phipsgabler: Dativ?– Quora FeansCommented Apr 2, 2020 at 10:38
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I see, that explains why you're asking... it's genitive (plural).– phipsgablerCommented Apr 2, 2020 at 10:39
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@phipsgabler Why do you ask the OP about his opinion on the option that (you know) is wrong instead of the right one? This is confusing.– c.p.Commented Apr 2, 2020 at 19:32
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1With a little stretch, we could construct some poetry where der would be grammatical: "In der Zeiten stetem Lauf / Tritt Liebe und auch Chol'ra auf" (ouch, sorry).– dlatikayCommented Apr 2, 2020 at 20:55
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1 Answer
In, in the nondirectional (temporal) sense of in den Zeiten "in the times", takes the dative case. The datives of die Zeit are der Zeit (Sg) and den Zeiten (Pl).
Der Zeiten could be a correct genitive plural form, but that doesn't work in this phrase, unless you have a very poetic construction like in der Zeiten Lauf "in the run of times", where the phrase der Zeiten is just a possesive apposition in a funny embedded place.
In can also be used in a directional sense, like in die Schule "to school". In that case, it takes the accusative case: in die neuen Zeiten "towards the new times".
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I am confused. In the comment above you said "genitive" and here you say "dative".– Sassa NFCommented Apr 2, 2020 at 10:50
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1I always said der Zeiten is genitive. It's just not correct with in, which is why I explained the dative as well. Commented Apr 2, 2020 at 10:53
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2@mic de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Liebe_in_den_Zeiten_der_Cholera Commented Apr 2, 2020 at 12:15
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