In this article, Vogel will introduce beid- and how to use it. It is a special type of word because it can be used both as an independent pronoun and as an adjective. We will look at both uses of beid-.

Let's get started!

1) Beid- as a pronoun replacing a noun

• beid- in the singular

Function: Used to talk about things/matters (that are completely different from each other). In this form, the verb is always conjugated in the third person singular (if beid- is the subject of the sentence)

Example: (1) Magst du lieber Kaffee oder Fanta? (Do you prefer coffee or Fanta?) Beides gefällt mir nicht. (I don't like either of them.)

→ In example (1), beid- becomes beides (subject, Nominativ) and serves as a pronoun replacing coffee and Fanta (2 different drinks)

(2) Was machst du lieber? Laufen oder schwimmen? (What do you prefer to do? Running or swimming?)

Ich mache beides gerne. (I like doing both.)

→ In example (2), beid- becomes beides (object, Akkusativ) and serves as a pronoun replacing running and swimming (2 different actions)

• beid- in the plural

Function: Used to talk about people (2 people) or things (that are similar to each other). In this form, beid- is always conjugated in the plural (if beid- is the subject of the sentence)

Example: (3) Hast du Linh und Nam gesehen? (Have you seen Linh and Nam?)

Ich habe beide im Garten gesehen. (I just saw both of them in the garden.)

→ In example (3), beid- becomes beide (object, Akkusativ) and serves as a pronoun replacing Linh and Nam (2 people)

(4) Wo sind die 2 neuen Blumenvasen? Beide stehen auf dem Tisch.

→ In example (4), beid- becomes beide (subject, Nominativ) and serves as a pronoun replacing the 2 flower vases (2 similar things)

2) Beid- as an adjective accompanied by an article

Function: Adds meaning to a plural noun

When beid- is an adjective accompanied by an article, there is no longer a distinction between nouns referring to people and those referring to things/matters. However, a distinction does appear between beid- with a definite article (similar to other types of articles) and beid- with the zero article (Nullartikel).

• beid- with the zero article (Nullartikel)

beid- emphasizes that the quantity is “2” and not “1”, “3” or any other number of people or things/matters.

Example: Beide Männer rasieren Schafe.

→ beid- as an adjective adds meaning to the plural noun Männer without an article, in the Nominativ (beid- → beide).

• beid- with the definite article (bestimmter Artikel)

beid- emphasizes the “togetherness”/“both” of 2 people or 2 things.

Example: Die beiden Männer rasieren Schafe.

→ beid- as an adjective adds meaning to the plural noun with a definite article “Die Männer” in the Nominativ (beid- → beiden)