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WORD GRAMMAR
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Verb
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SENTENCE GRAMMAR
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The indefinite pronoun man
HA23
man
Meaning: it refers to one or more non-specific persons. Its meaning can be described with the words "irgendjemand", "irgendwelche Leute / die Leute".
Function: It can only be used as a pronoun in the place of a noun.
The pronoun man can only function as a subject. It only has a nominative case. The sentence verb is in the third person singular. In the dative and the accusative case the corresponding types of the indefinite pronoun einer are used.
|
singular
|
|
| nominative |
man
|
| genitive |
---
|
| dative |
einem
|
| accusative |
einen
|
| Examples |
description
|
| Man schlug die Tür zu. |
irgendjemand
|
| Man denkt heute anders darüber. |
die Leute
|
| Wie spricht man das Wort aus? | |
| Man verlangte sein Geld zurück. |
Notes :
1. When man is the subject of a sentence and the sentences that follow refer to the same person or persons, then man must be used again as a subject and not the personal pronoun er.
| Examples | |
| Man muss sich gut vorbereiten. Nur dann hat man gute Chancen. |
RIGHT
|
| Man muss sich gut vorbereiten. Nur dann hat er gute Chancen. |
FALSE
|
The possessive pronoun that refers to man, is sein.
| Examples |
| Man hat keine Zeit für seine Kinder. |
2. The pronoun man may refer to the first or second person singular or plural.
| Examples |
person
|
description |
| Darf man hier rauchen? |
ich / wir
|
Darf ich / dürfen wir hier rauchen? |
| Man sieht, das hat alles nichts genützt. |
du / ihr
|
Du siehst / ihr seht, das hat alles nichts genützt. |