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If I want to say in German: "Summer is the warmest season, and winter is the coldest," do I need to include the definite article before each season, or can the definite articles be omitted?

  1. Sommer ist die wärmste Jahreszeit und Winter ist die kälteste.

Or,

  1. Der Sommer ist die wärmste Jahreszeit und der Winter ist die kälteste.

As I am just beginning to learn German, any other corrections or suggestions would be appreciated.

Pollitzer
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Greg
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1 Answers1

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Both are correct, but (1) is unusual, we don't say it like this. However, (2) can be stylistically improved by two omissions:

Der Sommer ist die wärmste Jahreszeit, der Winter die kälteste.

Omission of clause parts: Ellipse

Pollitzer
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    As a native speaker from the South, I think I'd say (1). – Noiralef Oct 19 '18 at 11:18
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    If I use the phrase just as an statement out of nowhere, I'd use (2), otherwise probably (1) if there is any context to it. //(Also native speaker)\ But a mixture goes as well ("Der Sommer ist die wärmste, und Winter die kälteste Jahreszeit.") First named gets the definite article, second doesn't – D.Schaller Oct 19 '18 at 14:17
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    Both options sound perfectly correct, although I would prefer (1). (Native speaker from Central/Southern Germany living in the North.) – Frank from Frankfurt Oct 19 '18 at 15:03
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    Native speaker from the North, also preferring the first option.. The version without article feels more like using the name of the season rather than a description. – Chieron Oct 19 '18 at 15:14
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    This feels incomplete and your assertion about (1) makes me sing this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSyWrudKkfE –– Why is (1) unusual? Or where? – LаngLаngС Oct 19 '18 at 16:48
  • @LangLangC: Mit »feels incomplete« lieferst du die Antwort schon mit. Nach dem, was ich in den letzten Jahrzehnten aus dem deutschen Sprachraum gehört habe (nicht zuletzt über die Medien hört man ja zahlreiche Regionen), erscheint mir die Artikel-Aussparung in diesem Fall eher unnatürlich. – Pollitzer Oct 19 '18 at 19:12