61. Comparative & Superlative
For comparisons of equality, use the construction so +
adjective or adverb + wie to mean as + adjective or adverb + as.
You can also add nicht in front of the so for a comparison
of inequality.
Die Küche ist so gross wie das Wohnzimmer. The
kitchen is as big as the living room.
Eine Waschmaschine ist nicht so schwer wie ein Kühlschrank. A washing machine is not as heavy as a refrigerator.
Eine Waschmaschine ist nicht so schwer wie ein Kühlschrank. A washing machine is not as heavy as a refrigerator.
Comparative
1. For comparisons of superiority and inferiority, add
-er to the adjective or adverb, followed by als (than).
German always uses the -er ending, although English sometimes uses the
word more before the adjective instead of the ending.
Ein radio is billiger als ein Fernseher. A
radio is cheaper than a TV.
Jens läuft schneller als Ernst. Jens runs faster than Ernst.
Lydia ist intelligenter als ihr Bruder. Lydia is more intelligent than her brother.
Jens läuft schneller als Ernst. Jens runs faster than Ernst.
Lydia ist intelligenter als ihr Bruder. Lydia is more intelligent than her brother.
2. Adjectives that end in -el, -en or -er, drop the -e
in the comparative form. Teuer becomes teurer instead of teuerer,
and dunkel becomes dunkler instead of dunkeler. Some one-syllable
adjectives and adverbs whose stem vowel is a, o, or u add an umlaut in the
comparative, such as alt, arm, dumm, grob, groß, hart, jung, kalt, klug,
krank, kurz, lang, oft, scharf, schwach, stark, warm. Adjectives that
never add an umlaut are flach, froh, klar, rasch, roh, schlank, stolz,
toll, voll and zart.
Superlative
1. To form the superlative, add -(e)st to the
adjective. The ending -est is used when the word ends in -d, -t, or an s
sound. The adjectives that end in -el, -en, or -er retain the -s in the
superlative form. The same adjectives that took an umlaut in the
comparative take an umlaut in the superlative as well.
2. The superlative also has an alternative form:
am + adjective or adverb + sten. When the adjective
or adverb ends in a d, t or s sound, an e is inserted between the stem
and ending (am grössten is an exception.) This is the only form of the
superlative of adverbs, but either forms of the superlative can be used for
adjectives.
Hans is am jüngsten. Hans is the
youngest.
Sie ist am intelligentesten. She is the most intelligent.
Sie ist am intelligentesten. She is the most intelligent.
Irregular Forms
Adj. / Adv.
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
gern
|
lieber
|
am liebsten
|
gut
|
besser
|
am besten
|
hoch
|
höher
|
am höchsten
|
nah
|
näher
|
am nächsten
|
viel
|
mehr
|
am meisten
|
Common forms of the comparative
Je mehr, desto besser. The more, the
better.
Je mehr Geld er hat, desto glücklicher ist er. The more money he has, the happier he is.
Die preise werden immer höher. The prices are getting higher and higher.
Julia wird immer hübscher. Julia is getting prettier and prettier.
Je mehr Geld er hat, desto glücklicher ist er. The more money he has, the happier he is.
Die preise werden immer höher. The prices are getting higher and higher.
Julia wird immer hübscher. Julia is getting prettier and prettier.
Keep in mind that the comparative and superlative forms take
normal adjective endings when they precede a noun. And the adjective form
of the superlative must always take an adjective ending because it is preceded
by the definite article.
Haben Sie billigere Anzüge? Do you have
less expensive suits?
Diese Anzüge sind die billigsten. These suits are the least expensive.
Diese Anzüge sind die billigsten. These suits are the least expensive.
to do sports
|
Sport treiben
|
hang-gliding
|
Drachen fliegen
|
golf
|
Golf spielen
|
windsurfing
|
Windsurfing gehen
|
soccer
|
Fußball spielen
|
water-skiing
|
Wasserski fahren
|
volleyball
|
Volleyball spielen
|
fishing
|
angeln
|
football
|
Football spielen
|
aerobics
|
Aerobic machen
|
basketball
|
Basketball spielen
|
bungee-jumping
|
Bungee-jumping gehen
|
baseball
|
Baseball spielen
|
gymnastics
|
turnen
|
hockey
|
Eishockey spielen
|
mountaineering
|
bergsteigen gehen
|
tennis
|
Tennis spielen
|
climbing
|
klettern
|
table tennis
|
Tischtennis spielen
|
judo
|
Judo machen
|
bowling
|
kegeln
|
weight training
|
Body-building machen
|
sailing
|
segeln
|
wrestling
|
ringen
|
horseback riding
|
reiten
|
diving
|
tauchen
|
boxing
|
boxen
|
to tinker, build things
|
basteln
|
roller-skating
|
Rollschuh laufen
|
to listen to music
|
Musik hören
|
ice-skating
|
Schlittschuh laufen
|
to play cards
|
Karten spielen
|
skiing
|
Ski fahren
|
to collect coins/stamps
|
Münzen/Briefmarken sammeln
|
bicycling
|
Radfahren
|
to play video games
|
Videospiele spielen
|
swimming
|
Schwimmen gehen
|
photography
|
fotografieren
|
jogging
|
joggen
|
to do ceramics
|
töpfern
|
hiking
|
wandern
|
to draw
|
zeichnen
|
camping
|
Camping gehen
|
to play chess
|
Schach spielen
|
gardening
|
im Garten arbeiten
|
to knit
|
stricken
|
go out with friends
|
mit Freunden ausgehen
|
to watch TV
|
fernsehen
|
to lie around, be lazy
|
faulenzen
|
go to the movies
|
ins Kino gehen
|
A lot of sports/hobbies exist as nouns and as verbs, so just
as in English, you can say either I like to fish or I like to go
fishing. If it's capitalized, it's a noun and if it's not capitalized, it's
a verb.
kegeln - to bowl
das Kegeln - bowling
das Kegeln - bowling
barn
|
die Scheune (n)
|
stream
|
der Bach (ä, e)
|
bridge
|
die Brücke (n)
|
sky
|
der Himmel
|
hill
|
der Hügel (-)
|
island
|
der Insel (n)
|
mountain
|
der Berg (e)
|
air
|
die Luft
|
beach
|
der Strand (ä, e)
|
meadow
|
die Wiese (n)
|
lake
|
der See (n)
|
desert
|
die Wüste (n)
|
river
|
die Fluss (ü, e)
|
pond
|
der Teich (e)
|
street
|
die Straße (n)
|
grass
|
das Gras
|
farm
|
der Bauernhof (ö, e)
|
leaf
|
das Blatt (ä, er)
|
field
|
das Feld (er)
|
flower
|
die Blume (n)
|
forest
|
der Wald (ä, er)
|
ocean
|
der Ozean (e)
|
plant
|
die Pflanze (n)
|
tree
|
der Baum (ä, e)
|
city
|
die Stadt (ä, e)
|
country
|
das Land (ä, er)
|
sea
|
die See / das Meer (e)
|
valley
|
das Tal (ä, er)
|
bay
|
die Bucht (en)
|
coast
|
die Küste (n)
|
mountain range
|
das Gebirge
|
jungle
|
der Dschungel (-)
|
Subject (Nom.)
|
Direct Objects (Acc.)
|
Indirect Objects (Dat.)
|
|||
ich
|
I
|
mich
|
me
|
mir
|
(to) me
|
du
|
you (fam.)
|
dich
|
you
|
dir
|
(to) you
|
er
|
he
|
ihn
|
him
|
ihm
|
(to) him
|
sie
|
she
|
sie
|
her
|
ihr
|
(to) her
|
es
|
it
|
es
|
it
|
ihm
|
(to) it
|
wir
|
we
|
uns
|
us
|
uns
|
(to) us
|
ihr
|
you (pl.)
|
euch
|
you
|
euch
|
(to) you
|
sie
|
they
|
sie
|
them
|
ihnen
|
(to) them
|
Sie
|
you (pol.)
|
Sie
|
you
|
Ihnen
|
(to) you
|
If there are two nouns in a sentence, one accusative and one
dative, then the dative noun will be first. However, if there are two pronouns,
one accusative and one dative, then the accusative pronoun will be first. In
sentences with one noun and one pronoun (regardless of which is accusative or
dative), the pronoun will be first.
Some verbs always take indirect objects, even if they take
direct objects in English. For verbs that can take two objects, the direct
object will usually be a thing, and the indirect object will usually refer to a
person.
antworten
|
to answer (a person)
|
The following four need an
object as a subject:
|
|
schenken
|
to give
|
schaden
|
to be harmful to
|
bringen
|
to bring
|
schmecken
|
to taste good to
|
danken
|
to thank
|
stehen
|
to suit
|
zuhören
|
to listen to
|
passen
|
to fit
|
gehören
|
to belong to
|
The following two need the subject and object
inverted from the original English construction: |
|
glauben
|
to believe
|
||
helfen
|
to help
|
||
gratulieren
|
to congratulate
|
fehlen
|
to be missing to
|
begegnen
|
to meet
|
gefallen
|
to be pleasing to
|
vertrauen
|
to trust
|
||
empfehlen
|
to recommend
|
||
geben
|
to give
|
||
kaufen
|
to buy
|
||
leihen
|
to lend, borrow
|
||
sagen
|
to tell, say
|
||
schicken
|
to give as a gift
|
||
schreiben
|
to write
|
||
wünschen
|
to wish
|
||
zeigen
|
to show
|
||
body
|
der Körper (-)
|
chin
|
das Kinn (e)
|
arm
|
der Arm (e)
|
knee
|
das Knie (-)
|
eye
|
das Auge (n)
|
bone
|
der Knochen (-)
|
cheek
|
die Backe (n)
|
head
|
der Kopf (ö, e)
|
belly
|
der Bauch (ä, e)
|
lip
|
die Lippe (n)
|
leg
|
das Bein (e)
|
stomach
|
der Magen (ä)
|
chest
|
die Brust (ü, e)
|
nail
|
der Nagel (ä)
|
finger
|
der Finger
|
mouth
|
der Mund (ü, er)
|
foot
|
der Fuss (ü, e)
|
nose
|
die Nase (n)
|
ankle
|
das Fussgelenk (e)
|
ear
|
das Ohr (en)
|
brain
|
das Gehirn
|
back
|
der Rücken (-)
|
hair
|
das Haar (e)
|
shoulder
|
die Schulter (n)
|
neck
|
der Hals (ä, e)
|
forehead
|
die Stirn (en)
|
hand
|
die Hand (ä, e)
|
tooth
|
der Zahn (ä, e)
|
wrist
|
das Handgelenk (e)
|
toe
|
die Zehe (n)
|
skin
|
die Haut (ä, e)
|
tongue
|
die Zunge (n)
|
heart
|
das Herz (en)
|
face
|
das Gesicht (er)
|
jaw
|
der Kiefer (-)
|
cheek
|
die Wange (n)
|
Ich fühle mich nicht wohl. I don't feel well.
Mir ist schlecht. I feel sick.
Mir ist kalt/warm. I'm cold/hot.
Was fehlt dir? What's the matter?
Der Hals tut mir weh. My throat hurts.
Mir ist schlecht. I feel sick.
Mir ist kalt/warm. I'm cold/hot.
Was fehlt dir? What's the matter?
Der Hals tut mir weh. My throat hurts.
The separable verb wehtun is used to say that
something hurts. Remember when the noun is plural, the verb needs to be plural
as well and that parts of the body do not use possessive articles.
Die Füße tun ihm weh. His feet hurt. (The feet are
hurting to him.)
Other health expressions:
Ich habe Kopfschmerzen.
|
I have a headache.
|
Ich habe Halsschmerzen.
|
I have a sore throat.
|
Ich habe Rückenschmerzen.
|
I have a backache.
|
Ich habe Bauchschmerzen.
|
I have a stomachache.
|
Ich habe eine Erkältung.
|
I have a cold.
|
Ich habe Fieber.
|
I have a fever.
|
Ich habe die Grippe.
|
I have the flu.
|
Ich habe Husten.
|
I have a cough.
|
Ich habe Schnupfen.
|
I have a head cold.
|
Ich habe zu viel gegessen.
|
I ate too much.
|
Gute Besserung!
|
Get well soon!
|
Relative clauses begin with relative pronouns - words that
correspond to who, whom, that and which in English. These may be omitted
in English, but must be included in German. A comma always precedes the
relative pronoun, which is put into the correct gender depending on the noun it
refers to, and the correct case depending on its function in the clause.
(In the following example, the relative pronoun is in the masculine
accusative case because Mantel is masculine, and is a direct object of the verb
"to buy", therefore, it is accusative.) The conjugated verb
goes to the end of the sentence as well.
That's the coat (that) I bought yesterday.
Das is der Mantel, den ich gestern gekauft habe.
Das is der Mantel, den ich gestern gekauft habe.
Relative pronouns have the same gender and number as the nouns they refer to, and the forms closely resemble those of the definite articles:
Masc.
|
Fem.
|
Neu.
|
Plural
|
|
Nom.
|
der
|
die
|
das
|
die
|
Acc.
|
den
|
die
|
das
|
die
|
Dat.
|
dem
|
der
|
dem
|
denen
|
Gen.
|
dessen
|
deren
|
dessen
|
deren
|
Examples
|
||
Nominative
|
Der Fluss, der durch Wien fliesst, heißt Donau.
|
|
The river, that through Vienna flows, is called the
Danube.
|
||
The river that flows through Vienna is called the Danube.
|
||
Accusative
|
Der Hund, den ich letzte Woche gesehen habe, war
Julias.
|
|
The dog, that I last week seen have, was Julia's.
|
||
The dog that I saw last week was Julia's.
|
||
Dative
|
Mein Vater ist der einzige Mensch, dem ich nichts davon
erzählt habe.
|
|
My father is the only person, to whom I nothing about
it told have.
|
||
My father is the only person (to) whom I have told nothing
about it.
|
||
When a relative pronoun follows a preposition, the
preposition determines the case, while the gender and number are determined by
the noun. The preposition and pronoun always stay together as one unit as
well.
Wer war die Frau, mit der ich dich gesehen habe?
Who was the woman, with whom I you seen have?
Who was the woman (whom) I saw you with?
Who was the woman, with whom I you seen have?
Who was the woman (whom) I saw you with?
Personal pronouns are used after prepositions when referring
to people. However, when you need to refer to a thing, a compound using da-
(or dar- if the preposition begins with a vowel) plus the
preposition is used.
auf dem Tisch (on the table) becomes darauf (on
it)
in der Tasche (in the pocket) becomes darin
(in it)
vor der Schule (in front of the school) becomes davor
(in front of it)
hinter den Häusern (behind the houses) becomes dahinter
(behind them)
zwischen dem Haus und der Schule (between the house
and the school) becomes dazwischen (between them)
Da(r) Compounds
|
|||||
daraus
|
out of it/them
|
dagegen
|
against it/them
|
darüber
|
over it/them
|
damit
|
with it/them
|
darin
|
in it/them
|
darunter
|
underneath it/them
|
davon
|
from it/them
|
daran
|
in it/them
|
daneben
|
next to it/them
|
dazu
|
to it/them
|
darauf
|
on top of it/them
|
dazwischen
|
between it/them
|
dadurch
|
through it/them
|
dahinter
|
behind it/them
|
dabei
|
on me/you
|
dafür
|
for it/them
|
davor
|
in front of it/them
|
darum
|
that's why
|
Dahin is commonly used with verbs of motion to show
location, regardless of the preposition used. The English translation is
usually there. Dahin can be shortened to hin in everyday
speech, and sometimes da is placed at the beginning of the sentence and hin
is placed at the end.
Ich muß heute zur Bank. I have to go to the bank.
Ich muß auch dahin. I have to go there too.
Ich muß auch dahin. I have to go there too.
Dabei and darum are idioms. Hast du Geld dabei?
Do you have any money on you? Darum hast du kein Glück.
That's why you have no luck.
Not all prepositions + pronouns can be replaced by the da(r) compounds. Ohne, ausser, and seit can never form a da(r) compound, and here are others that cannot:
Not all prepositions + pronouns can be replaced by the da(r) compounds. Ohne, ausser, and seit can never form a da(r) compound, and here are others that cannot:
ohnedies
|
without it
|
stattdessen
|
instead
|
bis dahin
|
until then
|
trotzdem
|
nevertheless
|
ausserdem
|
besides
|
währenddessen
|
in the meanwhile
|
seit dem
|
since
|
deswegen
|
for that reason
|
There are also corresponding questions word that use wo(r)- as the prefix. Wo(r) can be substituted in all of the above da(r) compounds. When asking about people, use a preposition and wen/wem, and use a preposition and the corresponding personal pronoun to answer.
Worüber sprechen Sie?
|
Ich spreche darüber.
|
What are you talking about?
|
I'm talking about it.
|
Woran denkst du?
|
Ich denke daran.
|
What are you thinking about?
|
I'm thinking about it.
|
Mit wem gehst du ins Theater?
|
Mit ihr!
|
Who are you going to the Theater with?
|
With her!
|
Wo- compounds can also be used as shortcuts for the relative
pronouns because you do not need to the know the gender or case to form the
relative pronoun. This shortcut can only be used with things and not
people.
Die Uhr, mit der er reist, hat viel gekostet. = Die
Uhr, womit er reist, hat viel gekostet.
The watch, with which he travels, cost a lot.
The watch, with which he travels, cost a lot.
Die Stadt, in der wir wohnen, hat ein großes
Konzerthaus. = Die Stadt, worin wir wohnen, hat ein großes Konzerthaus.
The city, in which we live, has a large concert hall.
The city, in which we live, has a large concert hall.
animal
|
das Tier (e)
|
bull
|
der Stier (e)
|
bear
|
der Bär (en)
|
wolf
|
der Wolf (ö, e)
|
squirrel
|
das Eichhörnchen (-)
|
worm
|
der Wurm (ü, er)
|
fox
|
der Fuchs (ü, e)
|
bird
|
der Vogel (ö)
|
hare
|
die Hase (n)
|
rooster
|
der Hahn (ä, e)
|
dog
|
der Hund (e)
|
hen
|
die Henne (n)
|
calf
|
das Kalb (ä, er)
|
eagle
|
der Adler (-)
|
rabbit
|
das Kaninchen (-)
|
chick
|
das Küken (-)
|
cat
|
die Katze (n)
|
ant
|
die Ameise (n)
|
kitten
|
das Kätzchen (-)
|
bee
|
die Biene (n)
|
cow
|
die Kuh (ü, e)
|
fly
|
die Fliege (n)
|
lion
|
der Löwe (n)
|
grasshopper
|
die Heuschrecke (n)
|
mouse
|
die Maus (ä, e)
|
moth
|
die Motte(n)
|
horse
|
das Pferd (e)
|
mosquito
|
die Mücke (n)
|
rat
|
die Ratte (n)
|
butterfly
|
der Schmetterling (e)
|
turtle
|
die Schildkröte (n)
|
spider
|
die Spinne (n)
|
snake
|
die Schlange (n)
|
chicken
|
das Huhn
|
Use the words gern, nicht gern, lieber, and am
liebsten after a verb to express preferences.
Ich spiele gern Fussball.
|
I like to play soccer.
|
Ich spiele lieber Hockey
|
I prefer to play hockey.
|
Ich spiele am liebsten Tennis.
|
I like to play tennis most of all.
|
Ich spiele nicht gern Basketball.
|
I don't like to play Basketball.
|
Or just use haben with any of the four phrases for
general likes/dislikes.
Ich habe Fussball gern.
|
I like soccer.
|
Ich habe Julia am liebsten.
|
I like Julia most of all.
|
Ich habe das Restaurant nicht gern.
|
I don't like the restaurant.
|
Gefallen is another verb used for expressing likes.
It literally means to please. To use it correctly, you must switch
the object in English with the subject in German. Das Zimmer is the
object in English, but it becomes the subject in German. And the object
in German (mir) would become the subject in English (I). It is always in
the dative case in German.
German sentence
|
Literally
|
Translated
|
Das Zimmer gefällt mir.
|
The room pleases me.
|
I like the room.
|
You could always just use the verb mögen to express
likes and dislikes, but another common way of saying that you like (doing)
something is macht spaß.
Was macht dir spaß? What do you like (to do)?
Fußball macht mir spaß. I like soccer.
Fußball macht mir spaß. I like soccer.
The Past Perfect Tense or Pluperfect corresponds to the
English had + past participle and refers to something that had already happened
when something else happened. It consists of the imperfect of haben or sein and
a past participle and is comparable to the present perfect tense.
Present perfect: Ich habe in Wiesbaden gewohnt.
I (have) lived in Wiesbaden.
Past perfect: Ich hatte in Wiesbaden gewohnt. I had lived in Wiesbaden.
Past perfect: Ich hatte in Wiesbaden gewohnt. I had lived in Wiesbaden.
Present perfect: Was ist passiert? What (has)
happened?
Past perfect: Was war passiert? What had happened?
Past perfect: Was war passiert? What had happened?
All three words correspond to when and act as
subordinating conjunctions (therefore, the conjugated verb goes to the end of
the sentence.) Als is used in past time contexts for a single
event, wenn is used to mean whenever or if, as well as in
future time, and wann is an adverb of time or a question word and can be
used in declarative sentences.
Als ich ihn fand...
|
When I found him.. (followed by simple past tense)
|
Wenn er kommt...
|
Whenever he comes...
If he comes... When he comes... (followed by future tense) |
Ich weiß nicht, wann er kommt.
|
I don't know when (or at what time) he's coming.
|
1. In most sentences, the order is subject - verb - time -
manner - place.
Ich gehe morgen mit dem Bus in die Schule. I'm
going to school tomorrow by bus.
2. Sometimes another element begins a sentence instead of a
subject. Then the verb is still in the second position, but the
subject follows it.
Morgen gehe ich mit dem Bus in die Schule. Tomorrow
I'm going to school by bus.
3. In sentences with more than one verb or with past
participles, the conjugated verb remains in the normal position and the infinitive
or past participle goes to the end of the sentence.
Ich will nach Hause gehen. I want to go home.
Ich habe dir geglaubt. I believed you.
Ich habe dir geglaubt. I believed you.
4. When asking questions, you can usually just invert the
subject and verb.
Kann ich jetzt gehen? Can I go now?
5. In sentences with dependent clauses (phrases that have a
subject and verb but cannot stand alone as sentences), the verb in the
dependent clause is last. Dependent clauses are introduced with a comma
and certain conjunctions, such as als-when, bevor-before, bis-until,
damit-so that, dass-that, wenn-if/when, ob-whether,
obwohl-although, nachdem-after, da-since, während-while,
weil-because, and wie-how. However, these conjunctions use
normal word order: und-and, oder-or, aber-but, denn-for/because.
Ich bleibe im Bett, wenn ich krank bin. I stay
in bed when I am sick.
6. If there is a separable prefix verb in a dependent
clause, the prefix remains attached to the verb, and the entire verb goes to
the end of the sentence, whereas normally the prefix would go to the end.
Er ist immer müde, wenn er früh aufsteht. He is
always tired when he gets up early.
7. When there are two verbs in a dependent clause
(such as a modal and an infinitive), the modal goes last, following the
infinitive.
Er ist müde, wenn er früh aufstehen muss. He is
tired when he must get up early.
8. And when a dependent clause begins a sentence, it
acts as an element, therefore the subject and verb in the following clause are
inverted.
Wenn ich krank bin, bleibe ich im Bett. When I
am sick, I stay in bed.
9. If you have both direct and indirect pronouns in
your sentence, remember that if the direct object is a noun it is placed
after the indirect object. If the direct object is a pronoun,
it goes before the indirect object. So basically the only time the
accusative is placed before the dative is when the accusative is a pronoun.
Ich schenke meinem Bruder eine Krawatte. I give
my brother a tie.
Ich schenke sie meinem Bruder. I give it to my brother.
Ich schenke sie meinem Bruder. I give it to my brother.
German has many words that cannot be translated literally
into English. These words are mostly for emphasis.
doch
|
yes, of course
|
counteracts negative statement, used for persuasion, or
implies something is obvious
|
ja
|
really
|
emphasis
|
aber
|
is it ever
|
emphasis
|
denn
|
well then
|
indicates impatience, or adds emphasis to question
|
gerade
|
right now
|
immediacy
|
nur, bloß
|
only, just
|
|
mal
|
sometime, someday
|
used in suggestions, or softens commands
|
In informal speech and writing, es is commonly
contracted with the preceding word by 's. Geht es = geht's
Es is also used as an impersonal pronoun (es regnet,
it's raining), but it can also be used as an introductory word for emphasis or
stylistic reasons. Es begins the sentence, and the true subject follows
the verb.
Es ist niemand zu Hause. No one is at home.
Es kommen heute drei Kinder. Three children are coming today.
Es kommen heute drei Kinder. Three children are coming today.
Es can also be used to anticipate a dependent clause
or infinitive phrase. This is almost like in English when we say I
hate it when that happens instead of I hate when that happens.
"It" has no real meaning in the first sentence, but it is not
incorrect to say it.
Ich kann es nicht glauben, daß er sich vor nichts
fürchtet. I can't believe that he's not afraid of anything.
Er haßt es, nichts davon zu wissen. He hates not knowing anything about it.
Er haßt es, nichts davon zu wissen. He hates not knowing anything about it.
Other idioms:
Sie ist mit ihrem Urteil immer sehr schnell bei der Hand.
She makes her judgments rather quickly. (Literally: She is quick at hand
with her judgments.)
Alles ist in Butter. Everything is fine.
(Literally: Everything is in butter.)
Er geht mit dem Kopf durch die Wand. He does as
he pleases. (Literally: He goes with his head through the wall.)
Noun compounds
German uses compounds more often than English and they are formed by simply putting the two words together (sometimes adding an -n or -s in between), and using the gender of the last word. Die Woche (week) + der Tag (day) = der Wochentag (Days of the week)
German uses compounds more often than English and they are formed by simply putting the two words together (sometimes adding an -n or -s in between), and using the gender of the last word. Die Woche (week) + der Tag (day) = der Wochentag (Days of the week)
The prefix un-
As in English, the prefix un- gives a word a negative or opposite meaning. klar (clear) - unklar (unclear)
As in English, the prefix un- gives a word a negative or opposite meaning. klar (clear) - unklar (unclear)
The suffix -los
This suffix is often the equivalent of the English suffix -less, and is used to form adjectives and adverbs from nouns. das Ende (the end) - endlos (endless)
This suffix is often the equivalent of the English suffix -less, and is used to form adjectives and adverbs from nouns. das Ende (the end) - endlos (endless)
The suffix -haft
The suffix -haft is used to form adjectives from nouns so as to designate related qualities. das Kind (the child) - kindhaft (childlike)
The suffix -haft is used to form adjectives from nouns so as to designate related qualities. das Kind (the child) - kindhaft (childlike)
The suffix -ung
This suffix may be added to the stem of a verb to form a noun. All nouns ending in -ung are feminine. wandern (to hike) - die Wanderung (the hike)
This suffix may be added to the stem of a verb to form a noun. All nouns ending in -ung are feminine. wandern (to hike) - die Wanderung (the hike)
The suffix -er
This suffix designates a person is from a certain place. Frankfurt (a city) - Frankfurter (a person from Frankfurt)
This suffix designates a person is from a certain place. Frankfurt (a city) - Frankfurter (a person from Frankfurt)
The suffix -in
This suffix designates a female person and is added to the male counterpart. Architekt (male architect) - Architektin (female architect)
This suffix designates a female person and is added to the male counterpart. Architekt (male architect) - Architektin (female architect)
When referring to people, adjectives can sometimes be used
as nouns. The definite article precedes the adjective, which is now
capitalized because it is functioning as a noun. The adjectival nouns
take the regular adjective endings for adjectives preceded by a der word as
well.
der Alte - the old man
die Alte - the old woman
das Alte - everything that is old
die Alten - the old people
die Alte - the old woman
das Alte - everything that is old
die Alten - the old people
To form the ordinal numbers, just add -te to the cardinal
numbers for 1-19, and -ste for 20 and up. The exceptions are erste,
dritte, siebte, and achte.
first
|
erste
|
eleventh
|
elfte
|
second
|
zweite
|
twelfth
|
zwölfte
|
third
|
dritte
|
thirteenth
|
dreizehnte
|
fourth
|
vierte
|
fourteenth
|
vierzehnte
|
fifth
|
fünfte
|
fifteenth
|
fünfzehnte
|
sixth
|
sechste
|
sixteenth
|
sechzehnte
|
seventh
|
siebte
|
seventeenth
|
siebzehnte
|
eighth
|
achte
|
eighteenth
|
achtzehnte
|
ninth
|
neunte
|
nineteenth
|
neunzehnte
|
tenth
|
zehnte
|
twentieth
|
zwanzigste
|
In writing dates, German uses the number followed by a
period. On February 2nd would be am 2. Februar. However, when
saying this out loud, you would say am zweiten Februar. You must use the
construction am + -en to answer a question beginning with Wann?
But you use the construction der + -e to answer the question Welches
Datum?
Wann sind Sie geboren? When were you born?
Am achzehnten Mai. On May 18th.
Am achzehnten Mai. On May 18th.
Welches Datum is heute? What is today's date?
Heute ist der neunte Oktober. Today is October ninth.
Heute ist der neunte Oktober. Today is October ninth.
To change a sentence from the active to the passive, change
three things:
1. accusative object of active sentence to nominative
subject of passive sentence
2. active verb to a tense of werden (same tense!) plus the past participle of verb in active sentence
3. subject to von + dative object in the passive sentence, if agent is mentioned
2. active verb to a tense of werden (same tense!) plus the past participle of verb in active sentence
3. subject to von + dative object in the passive sentence, if agent is mentioned
Present Tense
Viele Studenten lesen diesen Roman. = Dieser Roman wird von vielen Studenten gelesen.
Many students read this novel. = This novel is read by many students.
Viele Studenten lesen diesen Roman. = Dieser Roman wird von vielen Studenten gelesen.
Many students read this novel. = This novel is read by many students.
Imperfect Tense
Viele Studenten lasen diesen Roman. = Dieser Roman wurde von vielen Studenten gelesen.
Many students read this novel. = This novel was read by many students.
Viele Studenten lasen diesen Roman. = Dieser Roman wurde von vielen Studenten gelesen.
Many students read this novel. = This novel was read by many students.
Future Tense
Viele Studenten werden diesen Roman lesen. = Dieser Roman wird von vielen Studenten gelesen werden.
Many students will read this novel. = This novel will be read by many students.
Viele Studenten werden diesen Roman lesen. = Dieser Roman wird von vielen Studenten gelesen werden.
Many students will read this novel. = This novel will be read by many students.
Present Perfect Tense
Viele Studenten haben diesen Roman gelesen. = Dieser Roman ist von vielen Studenten gelesen worden.
Many students have read this novel. = This novel has been read by many students.
Viele Studenten haben diesen Roman gelesen. = Dieser Roman ist von vielen Studenten gelesen worden.
Many students have read this novel. = This novel has been read by many students.
Past Perfect Tense
Viele Studenten hatten diesen Roman gelesen. = Dieser Roman war von vielen Studenten gelesen worden.
Many students had read this novel. = This novel had been read by many students.
Viele Studenten hatten diesen Roman gelesen. = Dieser Roman war von vielen Studenten gelesen worden.
Many students had read this novel. = This novel had been read by many students.
*Notice that in the passive voice, the past participle of werden
is worden and not geworden.
Durch can replace von when the agent is an
impersonal force (fire, wind, etc.); but it cannot be used if preceded by a
limiting word (such as an article or adjective.)
Passive with modals
Shifts in tense will only affect the modal part of the sentence. The infinitive forms of the past participles are used with modals in the passive voice as well. And where you might expect something like Das Haus hat werden müssen verkauft, the actual construction is Das Haus hat verkauft werden müssen because of the double infinitive construction. Double infinitives always go to the end of the sentence, but you only need to worry about these in the present perfect and past perfect tenses.
Shifts in tense will only affect the modal part of the sentence. The infinitive forms of the past participles are used with modals in the passive voice as well. And where you might expect something like Das Haus hat werden müssen verkauft, the actual construction is Das Haus hat verkauft werden müssen because of the double infinitive construction. Double infinitives always go to the end of the sentence, but you only need to worry about these in the present perfect and past perfect tenses.
Passive Infinitives
To be + past participle in English is translated as the past participle + werden in German. With a passive infinitive, usually only the present or simple past of modals is used.
To be + past participle in English is translated as the past participle + werden in German. With a passive infinitive, usually only the present or simple past of modals is used.
Die Tiere konnten gerettet werden. The animals were
able to be saved.
False Passive
Grammatically, the false passive is the same as sein + an adjective. This construction describes a condition rather than an action. Das Haus ist verkauft is the false passive, while das Haus wird verkauft is the true passive. The false passive sentence indicates that the house is already sold (condition), while the true passive indicates the house is in the process of being sold (action).
Grammatically, the false passive is the same as sein + an adjective. This construction describes a condition rather than an action. Das Haus ist verkauft is the false passive, while das Haus wird verkauft is the true passive. The false passive sentence indicates that the house is already sold (condition), while the true passive indicates the house is in the process of being sold (action).
Passive with Absentee Subjects
Passive forms may have a definite or indefinite subject, or no apparent subject at all. The accusative object of an active sentence becomes the nominative subject of the passive sentence. But sometimes there is no accusative object. Since a verb cannot be in the first position of sentence without turning the sentence into a question, es is used as the subject.
Passive forms may have a definite or indefinite subject, or no apparent subject at all. The accusative object of an active sentence becomes the nominative subject of the passive sentence. But sometimes there is no accusative object. Since a verb cannot be in the first position of sentence without turning the sentence into a question, es is used as the subject.
Man antwortet ihnen nicht is an active sentence, but
if it were turned into the passive, there would be no accusative object.
The passive would have to be es wird ihnen nicht geantwortet.
(Here werden agrees with the apparent subject, es.)
But if another element, such as a dative object or time
expression, can be put in the first position, then es is omitted. Ihnen
wird nicht geantwortet can also be used as the passive. There is no
apparent subject, only an implied es, so the form of werden remains wird
to agree with es.
1. The construction man + an active verb can be used
instead of the passive voice. Man translates to one, you, we, they,
people and constitutes the subject.
Diese Bluse wird gereinigt. This blouse is being
dry-cleaned
Man reinigt diese Bluse. They are dry-cleaning this blouse.
Man reinigt diese Bluse. They are dry-cleaning this blouse.
Der Dieb wurde gefunden. The thief was caught
Man fand den Dieb. They caught the thief.
Man fand den Dieb. They caught the thief.
2. Man + modal + an infinitive is frequently used with
müssen or können.
Der Flecken kann nicht entfernt werden. The stain
cannot be removed.
Den Flecken kann man nicht entfernen. We can't remove the stain.
Den Flecken kann man nicht entfernen. We can't remove the stain.
3. Sein + zu + an infinitive can be used with können
or müssen to express the possibility or necessity of an action.
Das kann schnell gemacht werden. That can be done
quickly.
Das ist schnell zu machen. That is quickly done.
Das ist schnell zu machen. That is quickly done.
4. Sich lassen + an infinitive can replace können and
a passive infinitive.
Das kann gemacht werden. That can be done.
Das läßt sich machen. That can be done.
Das läßt sich machen. That can be done.
Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten
|
I know not, what it is portending
|
Daß ich so traurig bin;
|
that I am so depressed;
|
Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten
|
a legend from olden days past
|
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.
|
will not leave my mind alone.
|
Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,
|
The breeze is cool and it darkens,
|
Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;
|
and peaceful flows the Rhine;
|
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt
|
the peak of the mountain sparkles
|
Im Abendsonnenschein.
|
with evening's setting sun.
|
Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet
|
The fairest maiden sits perched
|
Dort oben wunderbar,
|
right up there wondrously,
|
Ihr gold'nes Geschmeide blitzet
|
her golden jewelry flashes
|
Sie kämmt ihr gold'nes Haar.
|
she combs her golden hair.
|
Sie kämmt es mit gold'nem Kamme
|
She combs with a comb all golden
|
Und singt ein Lied dabei;
|
and thus she sings a song;
|
Das hat eine wundersame
|
that has a mysteriously
|
Gewaltige Melodei.
|
tyrannical melody.
|
Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe
|
The sailor in tiny vessel
|
ergreift es mit wildem Weh,
|
is seized with a savage woe,
|
Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
|
he sees not the rocky reef edge,
|
Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'.
|
he looks only up toward the height.
|
Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen
|
I think that the waves have devoured
|
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn;
|
at last the sailor and boat;
|
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen
|
and that's the deed, by her singing
|
Die Lorelei getan.
|
the Lorelei has done.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment