The idea
The possessive depends on the owner: sein for a male owner, ihr for a female owner, and its ending depends on the noun owned: ihre Brotdose. Vermissen here means to notice something is missing. Kleben (to be stuck on) describes stickers. Adjectives after ein in the nominative masculine end in -er: ein gelber Stern. Zuletzt means last time.
Other ways to say it
“Ist bei Ihnen eine grüne Brotdose abgegeben worden?” – Polite question to the office; perfect passive with worden.
“Mein Sohn hat seine Trinkflasche verloren.” – Neutral; shows sein for a male owner.
Examples
- Meine Tochter vermisst ihre grüne Brotdose.My daughter is missing her green lunchbox.
- Hat die Dose eine besondere Markierung?Does the container have a distinctive mark?
- Auf dem Deckel klebt ein gelber Stern.There is a yellow star sticker on the lid.
- Wann hatte sie die Dose zuletzt?When did she last have the container?
- Gestern nach der Pause im Klassenraum.Yesterday after the break in the classroom.
- Dann beschreiben wir sie mit Farbe und Aufkleber.Then let us describe it by color and sticker.
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Watch out
“Meine Tochter vermisst seine grüne Brotdose.” → “Meine Tochter vermisst ihre grüne Brotdose.”: The possessive agrees with the owner, not the object. The owner is the daughter, so it is ihre; seine would mean the box belongs to a male person.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: My daughter is missing her green lunchbox.
Show answer or example answer
Meine Tochter vermisst ihre grüne Brotdose.
“Meine Tochter” is the subject, “ihre grüne Brotdose” the accusative object with the adjective ending -e.
Put the words in order: Auf / Deckel / dem / ein / gelber / klebt / Stern
Show answer or example answer
Auf dem Deckel klebt ein gelber Stern.
“Auf dem Deckel” comes first, so “klebt” follows; “ein gelber Stern” is the subject with -er after ein.
Write this sentence in German: Then let us describe it by color and sticker.
Show answer or example answer
Dann beschreiben wir sie mit Farbe und Aufkleber.
“Beschreiben wir” is a suggestion; “sie” refers to die Dose, and “mit Farbe und Aufkleber” names the features.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: My daughter is missing her green lunchbox.
Meine Tochter vermisst ihre grüne Brotdose.
Put the words in order: Auf / Deckel / dem / ein / gelber / klebt / Stern
Auf dem Deckel klebt ein gelber Stern.
Write this sentence in German: Then let us describe it by color and sticker.
Dann beschreiben wir sie mit Farbe und Aufkleber.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe a lost item belonging to someone in your family in three sentences: owner, colour and special feature, and when it was last seen.