German
Contributed by Daria Alfimova. The data were gathered in 2022.
How to cite
Alfimova, Daria. 2022. Nominal causal constructions in German. In: Say, Sergey, Natalia Logvinova, Elizaveta Zabelina, and Natalia Zaika (eds.). 2022–. NoCaCoDa: Typological database of nominal causal constructions. St. Petersburg: Institute for Linguistic Studies, RAS. (Data first published on December 1, 2022; last revised on December 1, 2022). (Available online at https://nocacoda.info. Accessed on .)
1
Status: main; causal marker: von DAT
| Das | Taschentuch | wurde | von | Träne-n | durchtränkt. |
| def . nom | handkerchief( n )[ sg . nom ] | become. pst .3 sg | by | tear( f )- pl . dat | soaked |
| The handkerchief got soaked from tears. | |||||
2
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Der | Ast | brach | wegen | des | Gewicht-es. |
| def . nom | branch( m )[ sg . nom ] | break. pst .3 sg | because_of | def . gen | weight( n )- sg . gen |
| The branch broke from the weight. | |||||
2
Status: alternate; causal marker: unter DAT
| Der | Ast | brach | unter | dem | Gewicht. |
| def . nom | branch( m )[ sg . nom ] | break. pst .3 sg | under | def . dat | weight( n )[ sg . dat ] |
| The branch broke under the weight. | |||||
3
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Die | Frau | hust-et | wegen | des | Rauch-s. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | cough- prs .3 sg | because_of | def . gen | smoke( m )- sg . gen |
| The woman is coughing because of the smoke. | |||||
3
Status: alternate; causal marker: wegen DAT
| Die | Frau | hust-et | wegen | dem | Rauch. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | cough- prs .3 sg | because_of | def . dat | smoke( m )[ sg . dat ] |
| The woman is coughing because of the smoke. | |||||
4
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Wir | könn-en | die | Küste | wegen | der | Dunkelheit | nicht | sehen. |
| we | can- prs .1 pl | def . acc | shore( f )[ sg . acc ] | because_of | def . gen | darkness( f )[ sg . gen ] | not | see. inf |
| We cant see the shore because of the darkness. | ||||||||
5
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Der | Mann | wurde | aus | Versehen | verhaftet. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | become. pst .3 sg | from | oversight( n )[ sg . dat ] | arrested. |
| The man was arrested by mistake. | |||||
6
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Der | Baum | fiel | wegen | des | Wind-es. |
| def . nom | tree( m )[ sg . nom ] | fall. pst .3 sg | because_of | def . gen | wind( m )- sg . gen |
| The tree fell due to the wind. | |||||
7
Status: main; causal marker: durch ACC
| Der | Mann | starb | durch | ein-en | Elektroschock. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | die. pst .3 sg | through | indf - acc | electric_shock( m )[ sg . acc ] |
| The man died from electric shock. | |||||
8
Status: main; causal marker: durch ACC
| Die | Frau | wach-te | durch | den | Krach | auf. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | wake- pst .3 sg | through | def . acc | noise( m )[ sg . acc ] | up |
| The woman woke up from the noise. | ||||||
9
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Der | Baum | fiel | wegen | des | Wind-es. |
| def . nom | tree( m )[ sg . nom ] | fall. pst .3 sg | because_of | def . gen | wind( m )- sg . gen |
| The tree fell due to the wind. | |||||
10
Status: main; causal marker: uber ACC
| Die | Frau | lach-te | über | den | Welp-en. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | laugh- pst .3 sg | about | def . acc | puppy( m )- sg . acc |
| The woman laughed at the puppy. | |||||
11
Status: main; causal marker: an DAT
| Der | Mann | starb | an | ein-em | vergiftet-en | Fisch. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | die. pst .3 sg | to | indf - dat | poisonous- dat | fish( m )[ sg . dat ] |
| The man died from a poisonous fish. | ||||||
12
Status: main; causal marker: mit DAT
| Das | Mädchen | ist | zufrieden | mit | ihr-er | Note. |
| def . nom | girl( n )[ sg . nom ] | be. prs .3 sg | satisfied | with | her- dat | grade( f )[ sg . dat ] |
| The girl is satisfied with her grade. | ||||||
13
Status: main; causal marker: auf ACC
| Die | Frau | war | wütend | auf | die | Worte | ihr-es | Mann-es. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | be. pst .3 sg | angry | on | def . acc | word( n )- pl . acc | her- gen | husband( m )- sg . gen |
| The wife was angry at the words of her husband. | ||||||||
14
Status: main; causal marker: von DAT
| Der | Junge | war | aufgeregt | von | der | Idee. |
| def . nom | boy( m )[ sg . nom ] | be. pst .3 sg | excited | by | def . dat | idea( f )[ sg . dat ] |
| The boy was excited by the idea. | ||||||
15
Status: main; causal marker: vor DAT
| Der | Mann | war | schwach | vor | Hunger. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | be. pst .3 sg | weak | before | hunger( m )[ sg . dat ] |
| The man was weakened by hunger. | |||||
16
Status: main; causal marker: an DAT
| Der | Mann | starb | am | Hunger. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | die. pst .3 sg | to. dat | hunger( m )[ sg . dat ] |
| The man died of starvation. | ||||
17
Status: main; causal marker: vor ACC
| Der | Mann | schrei-t | vor | Schmerz-en. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | shout- prs .3 sg | before | pain( m )- pl . acc |
| The man is screaming from the pain. | ||||
18
Status: main; causal marker: vor DAT
| Die | Frau | zitter-t | vor | Kälte. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | shiver- prs .3 sg | before | cold( f )[ sg . dat ] |
| The woman is shivering from the cold. | ||||
19
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Das | Kind | fing | aus | Angst | an | zu | weinen. |
| def . nom | child( n )[ sg . nom ] | begin. pst .3 sg | from | fear( f )[ sg . dat ] | to | to | cry. inf |
| The child began to cry out of fear. | |||||||
20
Status: main; causal marker: vor DAT
| Das | Kind | lach-t | vor | Freude. |
| def . nom | child( n )[ sg . nom ] | laugh- prs .3 sg | before | joy( f )[ sg . dat ] |
| The child laughed with joy. | ||||
21
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Das | Kind | hat | sich | aus | Angst | in | der | Scheune | versteck-t. |
| def . nom | child( n )[ sg . nom ] | have. prs .3 sg | refl | from | fear( f )[ sg . dat ] | in | def . dat | barn( f )[ sg . dat ] | hidden- ptcp . prf |
| The child hid in the barn out of fear. | |||||||||
22
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Der | Mann | schwieg | aus | Höflichkeit. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | be_silent. pst .3 sg | from | politeness( f )[ sg . dat ] |
| The man kept silent out of politeness. | ||||
23
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Die | Frau | pak-te | aus | Angst | die | Hand | ihr-es | Bruder-s. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | grab- pst .3 sg | from | fear( f )[ sg . dat ] | def . acc | hand( f )[ sg . acc ] | her- gen | brother( m )- sg . gen |
| The woman grabbed her brothers hand in fear. | ||||||||
24
Status: main; causal marker: von DAT
| Die | Frau | ist | müde | von | der | Arbeit. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | be. prs .3 sg | tired | by | def . dat | work( f )[ sg . dat ] |
| The woman is tired from work. | ||||||
25
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Die | Frau | kann | nicht | schlafen | wegen | der | Mücke-n. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | can. prs .3 sg | not | sleep. inf | because_of | def . gen | mosquito( f )- pl [ gen ] |
| The woman cant fall asleep because of the mosquitoes. | |||||||
26
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Das | Wasser | wirk-t | hell | wegen | des | Mond-es. |
| def . nom | water( n )[ sg . nom ] | look- prs .3 sg | bright | because_of | def . gen | moon( m )- sg . gen |
| The water looks bright because of the moon. | ||||||
26
Status: alternate; causal marker: wegen DAT
| Das | Wasser | wirk-t | hell | wegen | dem | Mond. |
| def . nom | water( n )[ sg . nom ] | look- prs .3 sg | bright | because_of | def . dat | moon( m )[ sg . dat ] |
| The water looks bright because of the moon. | ||||||
27
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Wegen | des | Hund-es | hat-te | der | Mann | ein-e | erfolgreich-e | Jagd. |
| because_of | def . gen | dog( m )- sg . gen | have- pst .3 sg | def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | indf - acc | successful- acc | hunt( f )[ sg . acc ] |
| Thanks to his dog, the man had a successful hunt. | ||||||||
27
Status: alternate; causal marker: wegen DAT
| Wegen | dem | Hund | hat-te | der | Mann | ein-e | erfolgreich-e | Jagd. |
| because_of | def . dat | dog( m )[ sg . dat ] | have- pst .3 sg | def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | indf - acc | successful- acc | hunt( f )[ sg . acc ] |
| Thanks to his dog, the man had a successful hunt. | ||||||||
28
Status: main; causal marker: auf ACC
| Die | Frau | war | wütend | auf | ihr-en | Ehemann. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | be. pst .3 sg | angry | on | her- acc | husband( m )[ sg . acc ] |
| The wife was angry at her husband. | ||||||
29
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Die | Frau | war | zu | spät | für | die | Arbeit | wegen | ihr-es | Mann-es. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | be. pst .3 sg | too | late | for | def . acc | work( f )[ sg . acc ] | because_of | her- gen | husband( m )- sg . gen |
| The woman was late for work because of her husband. | ||||||||||
29
Status: alternate; causal marker: wegen DAT
| Die | Frau | war | zu | spät | für | die | Arbeit | wegen | ihr-em | Mann. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | be. pst .3 sg | too | late | for | def . acc | work( f )[ sg . acc ] | because_of | her- dat | husband( m )[ sg . dat ] |
| The woman was late for work because of her husband. | ||||||||||
30
Status: main; causal marker: durch ACC
| Die | Mensch-en | starb-en | durch | das | Erdbeben. |
| def . nom | human( m )[ pl . nom ] | die. pst -3 pl | through | def . acc | earthquake( n )[ sg . acc ] |
| The people died because of the earthquake. | |||||
31
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Alles | Unglück | geschieht | wegen | der | Mensch-en. |
| all | misfortune( n )[ sg . nom ] | happen. prs .3 sg | because_of | def . gen | human( m )[ pl . gen ] |
| All misfortunes happen because of people. | |||||
31
Status: alternate; causal marker: durch ACC
| Alles | Unglück | geschieht | durch | die | Menschen. |
| all | misfortune( n )[ sg . nom ] | happen. prs .3 sg | through | def . acc | human( m )[ pl . acc ] |
| All misfortunes happen because of people. | |||||
32
Status: main; causal marker: durch ACC
| Der | Mann | kann | durch | die | Operation | jetzt | viel | besser | sehen. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | can. prs .3 sg | through | def . acc | operation( f )[ sg . acc ] | now | much | better | see. inf |
| The man can see better now thanks to the operation. | |||||||||
33
Status: main; causal marker: dank GEN
| Die | Frau | ist | dank | dies-es | Mann-es | am | Leben. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | be. prs .3 sg | thanks_to | this- gen | man( m )- sg . gen | to. dat | life( n )[ sg . dat ] |
| The woman is alive thanks to that man. | |||||||
33
Status: alternate; causal marker: n.a.
| Die | Frau | verdank-t | dem | Mann | ihr | Leben. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | owe- prs .3 sg | def . dat | man( m )[ sg . dat ] | her. acc | life( n )[ sg . acc ] |
| The woman owes her life to the man. | ||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causative meaning is expressed in the predicate. | ||||||
34
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Aus | Dummheit | erzähl-te | der | Mann | es | sein-er | Frau. |
| from | stupidity( f )[ sg . dat ] | tell- pst .3 sg | def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | it | his- dat | wife( f )[ sg . dat ] |
| The man told his wife about it out of stupidity. | |||||||
35
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Aus | Unachtsamkeit | rutsch-te | die | Frau | aus. |
| from | carelessness( f )[ sg . dat ] | slip- pst .3 sg | def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | from |
| The woman slipped because of carelessness. | |||||
36
Status: main; causal marker: auf grund GEN
| Der | Pilot | konn-te | auf | Grund | sein-er | Erfahrung | das | Flugzeug | landen. |
| def . nom | pilot( m )[ sg . nom ] | can- pst .3 sg | on | ground( m )[ sg . dat ] | poss . refl - gen | experience( f )[ sg . gen ] | def . acc | plane( n )[ sg . acc ] | land. inf |
| The pilot was able to land the plane thanks to his experience. | |||||||||
37
Status: main; causal marker: auf grund GEN
| Der | Pilot | konn-te | auf | Grund | sein-er | fehlend-en | Erfahrung | das | Flugzeug | nicht | landen. |
| def . nom | pilot( m )[ sg . nom ] | can- pst .3 sg | on | ground( m )[ sg . dat ] | poss . refl - gen | missing- gen | experience( f )[ sg . gen ] | def . acc | plane( n )[ sg . acc ] | not | land. inf |
| The pilot could not land the plane due to inexperience. | |||||||||||
38
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Im | Krieg | aß-en | Mensch-en | aus | Hunger | Gras. |
| in. dat | war( m )[ sg . dat ] | eat- pst .3 pl | human( m )- pl . nom | from | hunger( m )[ sg . dat ] | grass( n )[ sg . acc ] |
| In wartime, people ate grass out of hunger. | ||||||
39
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Die | Frau | ging | aus | Neugier | hinein. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | go. pst .3 sg | from | curiosity( f )[ sg . dat ] | inside |
| The woman went inside out of curiosity. | |||||
40
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Aus | Eifersucht | töte-te | der | Mann | die | Frau. |
| from | jealousy( f )[ sg . dat ] | kill- pst .3 sg | def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | def . acc | woman( f )[ sg . acc ] |
| Out of jealousy, he man killed his wife. | ||||||
41
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Aus | Stolz | erzähl-te | er | es | all-en. |
| from | vanity( m )[ sg . dat ] | tell- pst .3 sg | he | it | all- pl . dat |
| Out of vanity, the man told everyone about it. | |||||
42
Status: main; causal marker: aus DAT
| Aus | Wut | brach | die | Frau | das | Geschirr. |
| from | anger( f )[ sg . dat ] | break. pst .3 sg | def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | def . acc | dishes( n )[ sg . acc ] |
| Out of anger, the woman broke all the dishes. | ||||||
43
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| Weil | es | kalt | war | ging | die | Frau | mit | Kleidung | ins | Bett. |
| since | it | cold | be. pst .3 sg | go. pst .3 sg | def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | with | clothes( f )[ sg . dat ] | in. acc | bed( n )[ sg . acc ] |
| As it was cold, the woman went to sleep clothed. | ||||||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | ||||||||||
44
Status: main; causal marker: fur ACC
| Der | Lehrer | lob-te | den | Schüler | für | sein-e | Kleidung. |
| def . nom | teacher( m )[ sg . nom ] | commend- pst .3 sg | def . acc | student( m )[ sg . acc ] | for | poss . refl - acc | clothes( f )[ sg . acc ] |
| The teacher commended the student for his suit. | |||||||
45
Status: main; causal marker: auf grund GEN
| Auf | Grund | dies-er | Wort-e | töte-te | der | Mann | sein-en | Nachbar |
| on | ground | these- gen | word( n )- pl . gen | kill- pst .3 sg | def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | poss . refl - acc | neighbor( m )[ sg . acc ] |
| Due to these words, the man killed his neighbor. | ||||||||
45
Status: alternate; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Der | Mann | töte-te | sein-en | Nachbar | wegen | sein-er | Wort-e. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | kill- pst .3 sg | poss . refl - acc | neighbor( m )[ sg . acc ] | because_of | poss . refl - gen | word( n )- pl . gen |
| The man killed his neighbor because of his words. | |||||||
46
Status: main; causal marker: um ACC
| Die | Kind-er | strit-ten | um | den | Ball. |
| def . nom | child( n )- pl . nom | fight- pst .3 pl | around | def . acc | ball( m )[ sg . nom ] |
| The children fought over the ball. | |||||
47
Status: main; causal marker: uber ACC
| Der | Mann | stritt | mit | sein-em | Bruder | über | das | Erbe. |
| def . nom | man( m )[ sg . nom ] | argue. pst .3 sg | with | poss . refl - dat | brother( m )[ sg . dat ] | about | def . acc | inheritance( n )[ sg . acc ] |
| The man argued with his brother over the inheritance. | ||||||||
48
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Die | Frau | kauf-te | das | Buch | wegen | des | Bild-es |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | buy- pst .3 sg | def . acc | book( n )[ sg . acc ] | because_of | def . gen picture( n )- sg . gen | |
| The woman bought the book because of the pictures. | |||||||
48
Status: alternate; causal marker: wegen DAT
| Die | Frau | kauf-te | das | Buch | wegen | dem | Bild. |
| def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | buy- pst .3 sg | def . acc | book( n )[ sg . acc ] | because_of | def . dat | picture( n )[ sg . dat ] |
| The woman bought the book because of the pictures. | |||||||
49
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Wegen | ihr-er | schlecht-en | Laune | sag-te | die | Frau | ihr-e | Plän-e | ab. |
| because_of | her- gen | bad- sg . gen | mood( f )[ sg . gen ] | say- pst .3 sg | def . nom | woman( f )[ sg . nom ] | her- acc | plan( m )- pl . acc | off |
| The woman canceled plans with her friend because of her bad mood. | |||||||||
50
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| Der | Pfütz-en | nach | zu | urteilen, | hat | es | letzt-e | Nacht | ge-regne-t. |
| def . gen | puddle( f )- pl . gen | after | to | judge. inf | have. pst .3 sg | it | last- acc | night( f )[ sg . acc ] | ptcp . prf -rain- ptcp . prf |
| Judging by the puddles, it rained last night. | |||||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | |||||||||
51
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| Der | Blasen | nach | zu | urteilen, | koch-t | das | Wasser. |
| def . gen | bubble( f )- pl . gen | after | to | judge. inf | boil- prs .3 sg | def . nom | water( n )[ sg . nom ] |
| Judging by the bubbles, the water is boiling. | |||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | |||||||
52
Status: main; causal marker: wegen GEN
| Komm | ins | Haus | wegen | der | Kälte. |
| come. imp | in. acc | house( n )[ sg . acc ] | because_of | def . gen | cold( f )[ sg . gen ] |
| Come into the house because of the cold. | |||||
52
Status: alternate; causal marker: n.a.
| Komm | ins | Haus, | weil | es | kalt | ist. |
| come. imp | in. acc | house( n )[ sg . acc ] | since | it | cold | be. prs .3 sg |
| Come into the house because it is cold. | ||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | ||||||
52
Status: alternate; causal marker: n.a.
| Komm | rein, | es | ist | kalt. |
| come. imp | inside | it | be. prs .3 sg | cold |
| Come inside, it is cold. | ||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the expression corresponding to the causing event is not a syntactic dependent of the expression corresponding to the caused event. | ||||
53
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| Wo | ist | mein | Pullover | gegen | die | Kälte? |
| where | be. prs .3 sg | my. nom | sweater( m )[ sg . nom ] | against | def . acc | cold( f )[ sg . acc ] |
| Where is my sweater against the cold? | ||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a caused event adnominal dependent. | ||||||
54
Status: main; causal marker: zu folge DAT
| Ein-er | mathematisch-en | Regel-n | zu | Folge, | kann | dies-e | Zahl | nicht | weniger | sein | als | Eins. |
| indf - dat | mathematic- dat | rule( f )- pl . dat | to | accordance( f ) | can. prs .3 sg | this- nom | number( f )[ sg . nom ] | not | less | be. inf | than | one |
| According to mathematical laws, this number cannot be less than one. | ||||||||||||