Accusative Absolute - German

German

In German, a noun phrase can be put in the accusative to indicate that the subject of the sentence has the property described. For example:

Neben ihm saß der dünnhaarige Pianist, den Kopf im Nacken, und lauschte.
next to him sat the thin-haired pianist the-masc.acc.sg head in the neck and listened
"The thin-haired pianist, his head hanging (lit. his head in his neck), sat next to him and listened."

Read more about this topic:  Accusative Absolute

Famous quotes containing the word german:

    If my theory of relativity is proven correct, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.
    Albert Einstein (1879–1955)

    The German language “speaks Being,” while all the others merely “speak of Being.”
    Martin Heidegger (1889–1976)

    Boys hide in lunging cubes
    Crouching to explode,
    Beyond the Atlantic skies,
    With cheerful cries
    Their barking tubes
    Upon the German toad.
    Allen Tate (1899–1979)