in mein Handgepäck

RobertD50

RobertD50

In the Lesson 9.4 sentence "Ich packe deshalb immer ein paar wichtige Dinge in mein Handgepäck," why is it "in MEIN Handgepäck" instead of "in MEINEM Handgepäck"?  It looks like to me that would be dative, not accusative.  Is the act of packing considered "movement toward"?  Or is there some other rule we haven't come to yet, or that I've overlooked?  Thanks.

sfpugh

sfpugh

You are right, the act of packing is considered movement towards, the important things are not already in the suitcase.

I think if you changed packe to habe then it would be dative.

It's like the difference to “I put the plate on the table” and "the plate is on the table"

Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor

Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor

Hallo RobertD50 und sfpugh!

 

The preposition in can either indicate the accusative or dative case depending on if there is movement involved or a fixed location. 

You are quite right, sfpugh, the important things are ‘moving’ into the hand luggage, there is a direction from A to B, which is why we have to use the accusative case here. If they were already packed you could say:

“Ich habe deshalb immer ein paar wichtige Dinge in meinem Handgepäck (dative).” - “I therefore always have a few important things in my hand luggage."

 

Grüße,

Julia

 

Ask a question or post a response

If you want to ask a question or post a response you need to be a member.

If you are already a member login here.
If you are not a member you can become one by taking the free Rocket German trial here.