3 ms·
This isn't true.[0] The difference between "Ich bin Berliner" and "Ich bin ein Berliner" is that the former says that you literally are from/living in Berlin, a
by socksy 4y ago
This isn't true.[0] The difference between "Ich bin Berliner" and "Ich bin ein Berliner" is that the former says that you literally are from/living in Berlin, and the latter means you are figuratively speaking as like a Berliner. "Ich bin Clown" means that your job is to entertain people with face-paint on, whereas "Ich bin ein Clown" means that you sometimes behave clownishly.[1]
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ich_bin_ein_Berliner#%22I_am_a_doughnut%22_confusion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ich_bin_ein_Berliner#%22I_am_a...
[1] https://language.mki.wisc.edu/essays/ich-bin-ein-berliner/ https://language.mki.wisc.edu/essays/ich-bin-ein-berliner/
- hesk 4y agoThe source [1] is misleading to the point of being wrong. It is perfectly valid German to say "Ich bin ein Student" meaning that one is indeed a student. "Ich bin Clown" is not grammatical at all.
- loevborg 4y agoIt's funny how (presumably) native speakers make judgments about their own language. Of course you can say "Ich bin Clown" just as you can say "Ich bin Kaminfeger" or "Ich bin Physiotherapeut"