"Das sind große Märkte."

Translation: These are big markets.

[Hohenems]

For those that are asking about "Das sind" and who enjoy seeing relative links:

das ist/das sind
When it is used with the verb sein, the form das can refer to singular and plural nouns of all three genders:
Wer ist das? – Das ist seine neue Freundin.
Und das sind seine Kinder.
Das ist mein Wagen."

http://canoo.net/services/OnlineGrammar/InflectionRules/FRegeln-P/Pron-der-die-das.html

Similar for "Dies sind"

http://canoo.net/services/OnlineGrammar/InflectionRules/FRegeln-P/Pron-dieser-jener3.html?MenuId=Word4241

[kosmozhuk]

That was a very nice answer. Thank you.

[Davey537348]

"THEY are big markets." Is this answer really correct?

[rwhitlock]

If you're asking whether it's correct English, then yes, it can be.

"Are you really going to those markets? They're so small!"
"No they're not! They are big markets!"

[Danamunir]

why not grossen maerkte?

[matekobalia]

i also think there should be grossen, becaus Das indicates it is weak inflection and in pl. nominative case we need en ending, don't we?

[mizinamo]

The das is not part of the noun phrase große Märkte -- in fact, it's not even the article "the", but a demonstrative pronoun "that" (well, "those" in the natural English sentence).

So there's no article at all in große Märkte and therefore strong inflection is necessary.

[Fayever]

Are we talking places to sell or shop or market demographics? (Asian Market, EU Market)

[mizinamo]

Could be either.

[GeoSchribs]

Those can be markets like the Asian Market or events like the Christmas Market (Christkindl Markt) in Nürnberg or the Fischmarkt in Hamburg.

[mvdwoord]

Why is "That are big markets" wrong?

[Levi]

"that" is used with the singular - here we have the plural.
2015.10.14

[mvdwoord]

haha, of course. Silly me. Next time no more duolingo before I had my morning coffee... :)

[Ingrid768272]

Why is "those markets are big" wrong?

[mizinamo]

Because it's not a translation of the German sentence.

Your sentence would be Die Märkte sind groß.

[VIVEK259865]

And what about "those are big markets "

[mizinamo]

That's a good translation and is also accepted.

[mikezephyr]

The male audio voice sounds distinctly Dutch in pronouncing the Rs

[PaulMiller992045]

"These are major markets" is surely correct?

[Ksenijaven.]

why "there are big markets" is wrong answer?

[GeoSchribs1]

"There are big markets" is in German: "Es gibt große Märkte."

[iainspapa]

Why is "Those are big markets" incorrect?

[terminalmage]

What about diese? Is it also used in place of das here? If so, is das used by most people?

[mizinamo]

Using diese would be like using "These ones" -- you would only do so when you have a particular noun in mind even if you are not saying it. For example, if you are talking about the sights of a city and then you might say "these ones (= these sights) are big markets".

But if you're just introducing a new item with "this/that/these/those" to "point" to something, you'd use neuter singular in German -- das or dies, e.g. Dies sind große Märkte.

[terminalmage]

I see, so dieser/diese/dieses would, for example, be used alone, as a one-word answer to a "Welche ......" question?

[mizinamo]

Yes, that's one example of their use.

Welcher Markt ist der größte? -- Dieser. "Which market is the biggest one? -- This one."

[terminalmage]

Beautiful, thanks for clearing this up.

[Pouyan74]

"They are big shops" - what's wrong with that?

[mizinamo]

A shop is not a market.

A shop is usually an individual building; a market is usually either in the open air or in a very large market hall.

[Pouyan74]

Usually, not necessarily. One of the definitions for market in Longman Dictionary is:

American English: a shop that sells food and things for the home SYN grocery store