German Phrase
Gibt's viele Wolken?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether there are many clouds in the sky. It is a casual way to inquire about the current weather, especially when deciding on outdoor plans.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal conversation when you want a quick weather check, for example before a hike, a picnic, or when you notice the sky looks overcast.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Gibt'svieleWolken?
Contraction (Gibt's)
In spoken German "Gibt es" is often contracted to "Gibt's"; the apostrophe replaces the missing "e".
Impersonal verb geben
"geben" is used impersonally to express existence, always with the dummy subject "es" (even if omitted in the contraction).
Verb‑first in yes/no questions
German yes/no questions place the finite verb at the beginning of the clause.
Quantifier without article
Quantifiers like "viele" can directly modify a plural noun without an article.
Plural noun ending
"Wolken" is the plural of "Wolke"; the -n ending is retained in the plural form.
🗨In Conversation
Gibt's viele Wolken?
Are there many clouds?
Ja, es sieht ziemlich bewölkt aus.
Yes, it looks quite cloudy.
✕Common Mistakes
Gibt viele Wolken?
The dummy subject "es" is required; the correct form is "Gibt es …" or the contracted "Gibt's …".
Gibt's vielen Wolken?
After "viele" the noun stays in the nominative/accusative plural; "vielen" would be dative.
Gibt's viele Wolkens?
German plurals do not add an extra -s; the correct plural of "Wolke" is "Wolken".
↔Alternatives
Sind viele Wolken am Himmel?
Are there many clouds in the sky?
Ist es bewölkt?
Is it cloudy?
Gibt es viele Wolken heute?
Are there many clouds today?
Cultural Tip
The contraction "Gibt's" is typical of everyday spoken German and is perfectly fine in casual settings, but avoid it in formal writing or presentations. Remember that the dummy subject "es" is still grammatically present, even if you don't hear it.