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- "Das Mittagessen beginnt."
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Ok so I put "The dinner is ready" but apparently that's wrong and it's 'Lunch'?
Since I'm British (Northern) I always say 'Breakfast, Dinner, Tea' and It's the middle meal I'm referring to, is that wrong?
Frühstück (Breakfast) Mittagessen (Dinner) Abendessen (Tea) ?
I think it depends on where you're from but I've also heard these too: 'Breakfast, dinner, tea' 'Breakfast, dinner, supper' 'Breakfast, lunch, dinner' 'Breakfast, lunch, supper'
683
Regardless of how un/likely it is that one would say "That lunch begins", the German is the same: "Das Mittagessen beginnt." But you could also say "Dieses Mittagessen beginnt." (Dies being declined similar to der).
An obsolete way would be "Jenes Mittagessen beginnt."
You use the definite article "the" when the noun refers to an object. You do not use the definite article when the noun refers to an activity.
Therefore, "The lunch begins" is correct because the noun "lunch" refers to an object, not an activity.
Here is an excerpt from the University of Toronto website for writing English as a second language:
Special cases in the use of the definite article
Place/object of activity nouns:
Certain nouns refer to either a place/object or to an activity. When they refer to an activity, do not use the definite article:
activity
- I go to bed at 11 o'clock.
- She went to school for many years.
- Many families eat dinner together.
- I shower before breakfast.
- They are at church.
- She is in class.
object
- Don't jump on the bed.
- The school was too small.
- The dinner was delicious.
- The breakfast was delicious.
- The church is very old.
- The class is in Room 102.
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/english-as-a-second-language/definite-article