German Phrase
Was hast du in deinem Federmäppchen?
Meaning
The sentence asks someone to name the items they are currently holding inside their pencil case. It is a straightforward, informal question used in everyday conversation, especially among schoolchildren or colleagues sharing a desk.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are curious about what a friend, classmate, or coworker keeps in their pencil case—perhaps before borrowing a pen, checking for a missing eraser, or simply making small talk in a classroom setting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WashastduindeinemFedermäppchen?
Interrogative Pronoun 'Was'
'Was' is used to ask about things or objects. It functions as the subject of the question.
Verb 'haben' (2nd person singular)
'hast' is the present tense form of 'haben' for 'du'. It means 'you have'.
Personal Pronoun 'du'
'du' is the informal singular 'you'. In questions it often follows the verb.
Prepositional Phrase 'in deinem ...'
'in' takes the dative case when indicating location. 'deinem' is the dative masculine/neuter form of 'dein'.
Noun 'Federmäppchen'
'Federmäppchen' is a neuter noun (das Federmäppchen) meaning 'pencil case'. In the dative it stays unchanged.
Question Mark
German yes‑no questions invert verb and subject; for wh‑questions the word order stays verb‑subject after the interrogative.
🗨In Conversation
Was hast du in deinem Federmäppchen?
What do you have in your pencil case?
Ich habe einen Bleistift, einen Radiergummi und ein Lineal.
I have a pencil, an eraser, and a ruler.
✕Common Mistakes
Was hast du in deine Federmäppchen?
After the preposition 'in' indicating location, the noun takes dative, so the possessive must be dative 'deinem', not accusative 'deine'.
Was du hast in deinem Federmäppchen?
In a wh‑question the verb stays before the subject; swapping them to 'Du hast' would turn it into a statement.
Was hast du in deinem Federmächer?
The correct noun is 'Federmäppchen' (neuter). 'Federmächer' is a misspelling.
↔Alternatives
Was steckt in deinem Federmäppchen?
What is inside your pencil case?
Was hast du alles im Federmäppchen?
What do you have in the pencil case (including everything)?
Was befindet sich in deinem Federmäppchen?
What is located in your pencil case?
Cultural Tip
In German schools, the 'Federmäppchen' is a staple of every student's desk. While the term is neutral, younger children often call it a 'Mäppchen' or 'Stifteköcher'. When speaking to teachers or adults, you might use the more formal 'Was haben Sie in Ihrem Federmäppchen?' to show respect.