GERMAN I1.Basic Phrases2.Pronunciation3.Alphabet4.Nouns & Cases5.Articles & Demonstratives6.Subject Pronouns7.To Be, Have, Become8.Useful Words9.Question Words10.Numbers11.Days of the Week12.Months of the Year13.Seasons14.Directions15.Colors and Shapes16.Time17.Weather18.Family19.To Know People & Facts20.Formation of Plural NounsGERMAN II21.Possessive Adjectives22.Accusative Case23.Dative Case24.Genitive Case25.To Do or Make26.Work & School27.Prepositions28.Contractions29.Countries & Nationalities30.Negative Sentences31.To & From places32.To Come & to Go33.Modal Verbs34.Conjugating Regular Verbs35.Reflexive Verbs36.Irregularities in Regular Verbs37.Verbs with Prepositions38.Separable Prefixes39.Inseparable PrefixesGerman National AnthemAustrian National AnthemSwiss National AnthemGERMAN III40.Present Perfect Tense41.Irregular Past Participles42.Sein Verbs & Participles43.Food and Meals44.Fruits, Vegetables, Meats45.Genitive Partitive46.Commands47.Subordinating Conjunctions48.Holiday Phrases49.Helfen, lassen & senses50.Places51.Transportation52.Simple Past / Imperfect Tense53.Irregulars in Simple Past54.House and Furniture55.Location vs. Direction56.Clothing57.Future Tense58.Asking Questions59.Declensions of Adjectives60.AdjectivesGERMAN IV61.Comparative and Superlative62.Sports63.Nature64.Object Pronouns65.Parts of the Body66.Relative Pronouns67.Da and Wo Compounds68.Animals69.Likes and Dislikes70.Past perfect tense71.Als, wenn and wann72.Review of Word Order73.Flavoring Particles74.Colloquial Expressions and Idioms75.Word Formation76.Adjectival Nouns77.Ordinal Numbers78.Passive Voice79.Problems with the Passive80.Avoiding the PassiveDie LoreleiGERMAN V81.Showing Purpose82.Shopping83.Post Office and Bank84.Zu with Infinitives85.Office / School Supplies86.Expressions of Time87.Travelling / Airport88.Another89.Cosmetics / Toiletries90.Subjunctive II (Conditional)91.Other Uses of the Subjunctive92.Subjunctive I (Indirect Discourse)93.Parts of a Car94.Present participle95.In the Ocean96.Als ob / Als wenn97.In Space98.Future Perfect99.Make-Believe Stuff100.Spelling Reform

1. BASIC PHRASESIf you'd like to study these phrases (and their pronunciations) individually, please go toBasic German Phrases.Guten Morgengoot-en mor-genGood MorningGuten Taggoot-en tahkHello/Good DayGuten Abendgoot-en ah-bentGood Evening

Gute Nachtgoot-eh nakhtGood NightTag / Hallo / Servustahk / hah-loh / sair-voohsHi / Hello / Hi & Bye(Southern Germany & Austria)Auf Wiedersehenowf vee-dair-zaynGoodbye

Gr dich / Gr Gott!Hello! / Greetings!(Southern Germany & Austria)Tschs / Tschautchews / chowBye!Gehen wir!geh-en veerLet's go!

Bis spterbiss shpay-terSee you laterBis baldbiss bahltSee you soonBis morgenbiss mohr-genSee you tomorrow

Bittebih-tuhPleaseDanke (schn / sehr)dahn-kuh shurn/zairThank youBitteschnbih-tuh shurnYou're welcome

Es tut mir leid.ehs toot meer liteI'm sorryEntschuldigen Sieehnt-shool-dih-gun zeeExcuse meVerzeihungPardon me

Wie geht es Ihnen?vee gayt es ee-nenHow are you? (formal)Wie geht's?vee gaytsHow are you? (informal)(Sehr) Gut / So lalazair goot / zo lahlah(Very) Good / OK

Schlecht / Nicht Gutshlekht / nisht gootBad / Not goodEs geht.ess gateI'm ok. (informal)Ja / Neinyah / nineYes / No

Wie heien Sie?vee hie-ssen zeeWhat's your name? (formal)Wie heit du?vee hiesst dooWhat's your name? (informal)Ich heie...ikh hie-ssuhMy name is... [I am called...]

Es freut mich.froyt mikhPleased to meet you.Gleichfalls.glykh-falsLikewise.Herr / Frau / Fruleinhair / frow / froi-lineMister / Misses / Miss

Woher kommenSie?vo-hair koh-men zeeWhere are you from? (formal)Woher kommst du?vo-hair kohmst dooWhere are you from? (informal)Ich komme aus...ikh koh-muh ows...I'm from...

Wo wohnen Sie?vo voh-nen zeeWhere do you live? (formal)Wo wohnst du?vo vohnst dooWhere do you live? (informal)Ich wohne in...ikh voh-nuh inI live in...

Wie alt sind Sie?vee alt zint zeeHow old are you? (formal)Wie alt bist du?vee alt bisst dooHow old are you? (informal)Ich bin ____ Jahre alt.ikh bin ____ yaa-reh altI am ____ years old.

Sprechen Sie deutsch?shpreck-en zee doytchDo you speak German? (formal)Sprichst du englisch?shprikhst doo eng-lishDo you speak English? (informal)Ich spreche (kein)...ikh shpreck-uh kineI (don't) speak...

Verstehen Sie? / Verstehst du?fehr-shtay-en zee / fehr-shtayst dooDo you understand? (formal / informal)Ich verstehe (nicht).ikh fehr-shtay-eh nikhtI (don't) understand.Ich wei (nicht).ikh vise nikhtI (don't) know.

Knnen Sie mir helfen?ker-nen zee meer hell-fenCan you help me? (formal)Kannst du mir helfen?kahnst doo meer hell-fenCan you help me? (informal)Natrlich / Gernenah-tewr-likh / gair-nuhOf course / Gladly

Kann ich Ihnen helfen?kahn ikh ee-nen hell-fenMay I help you? (formal)Kann ich dir helfen?kahn ikh deer hell-fenMay I help you? (informal)Wie bitte?vee bih-tuhWhat? Pardon me?

Wie heit ___ auf deutsch?vee heist ___ owf doytchHow do you say ___ in German?Wo ist / Wo sind... ?voh ist / voh zintWhere is / Where are... ?Es gibt...ess geeptThere is / are...

Was ist los?vahs ist lohsWhat's the matter?Das macht nichts.dass makht nikhtsIt doesn't matter.Das ist mir egal.dass ist meer eh-gahlI don't care.

Keine Angst!ky-nuh ahngstDon't worry!Ich habe es vergessen.ikh hah-buh ess fehr-geh-senI forgot.Jetzt muss ich gehen.yetz mooss ikh geh-enI must go now.

Ich habe Hunger / Durst.ikh hah-buh hoong-er / dirstI'm hungry / thirsty.Ich bin krank / mde.ikh bin krahnk moo-duhI'm sick / tired.Ich habe Langeweile.ikh hah-buh lahn-guh-vy-luhI'm bored.

Ich mchte / Ich htte gern...ikh merkh-tuh / ikh heh-tuh gairnI'd like...Das gefllt mir.dahs geh-fehlt meerI like it.Prima / Toll / Super!pree-mah / tohl / zoo-pairGreat / Fantastic!

Gesundheit!geh-soont-hytBless you!Herzlichen Glckwunsch!herts-likh-en glewk-voonshCongratulations!Sei ruhig!zy roo-hikhBe quiet! (informal)

Willkommen!vil-koh-menWelcome!Viel Glck!feel glewkGood luck!Schauen Sie mal! / Schau mal!show-en zee mal / show malLook! (formal / informal)

Bitte schn?Yes? / What would you like to order?Was darf's sein?What can I get you? / How can I help you?Sonst noch etwas?Anything else?

Bitte schn.Here you go. (handing something to someone)Zahlen bitte!The check, please!Stimmt so.Keep the change.

Ich bin satt.I'm full.Mir ist schlecht.I feel sick.Es tut mir weh.It hurts.

Ich liebe dich.ikh leeb-uh dikhI love you. (informal)Du fehlst mir.I miss you. (informal)Alles ist in Ordnung.Everything is fine.

Wie wre es mit ... ?How about...?Was fr ein...?What kind of (a)...?Nicht wahr?[general tag question]

Ichis not actually pronouncedikh, unless you are speaking a northern dialect of German.If you are speaking a southern dialect, then it is more likeish. There is no equivalent sound in English. In standard German, it is somewhere between ish and ikh. Technically, it is a voiceless palatal fricative and its voiced counterpart is the y sound in yes.

2. PRONUNCIATIONGerman VowelsEnglish Pronunciation

[i]vielmeet, eat

[y]khlee rounded / long vowel

[]Tischmitt, it

[]hbschih rounded / short vowel

[e]Teemate, wait

[]schnay rounded / long vowel

[]Bettmet, wet

[]zwlfeh rounded / short vowel

[a]Mannmop, not

[]kamah / longer vowel than [a]

[u]gutboot, suit

[]mussput, soot

[o]Sohncoat, goat

[]Stockcaught, bought

[]bittecut, what

[]Wetteruhr / also short vowel like []

Highlighted vowels do not exist in English.Notice that words spelled withandcan be pronounced with a long or short vowel, so determining the pronunciation based on the spelling is not possible. The other umlauted letter,, is generally pronounced as [e], though it can be pronounced as [] in some dialects. A general rule for pronunciation, however, states that the short vowels / / must be followed by a consonant, whereas the long vowels / i y u e o / can occur at the end of the syllable or word.German DiphthongsEnglish Pronunciation

[a]ein, meineye, buy, why

[a]auf, kaufencow, now, how

[]neu, Gebudetoy, boy, foil

German ConsonantsThere are a few German consonants that do not exist in English, and some consonant combinations that are not common in English. Notice that the pronunciation of the German r changes according to the location in the countries that speak German, i.e. [R] in northern Germany and [r] in southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland.SpellingIPASample wordsHow to pronounce:

ch (with vowels e and i)[]Chemie, mich, nichtMake yuh sound voiceless (no vibration of vocal cords)

ch (with vowels a, o, u)[x]Buch, lachen, kochenMake kuh sound a fricative (continuous airflow)

pf[pf]Apfel, Pferd, PfannePronounce together as one sound

z[ts]Zeit, Zug, TanzPronounce together as one sound

j[j]ja, Januar, Jungeyuh

qu[kv]Quote, Quiz, Quittekv

st / sp (at beginning of syllable)[t] / [p]Stadt, sprechensht / shp

sch[]schenken, schlafensh

th[t]Theater, Thront

v[f]Vater, verbotenf

w[v]Wasser, warmv

[s]Strae, gros

s (before vowel)[z]Salz, seit, Sitzz

In addition, the sounds [b], [d], and [g] lose their voicing at the end of a syllable, so they are pronounced as their voiceless counterparts [p], [t], and [k], respectively. However, the spelling does not reflect the pronunciation.StressStress generally falls on the first syllable of the word, except in words borrowed from other languages, where the stress falls on the last syllable (especially with French words.)

3. ALPHABETaahjyohtsess

bbaykkahttay

ctsayleluoo

ddaymemvfow

eaynenwvay

feffoohxeeks

ggayppayyirp-se-lon

hhahqkooztset

ieerehr

There is another letter in written German, (es-zet), pronounced like [s]. However, this letter is only used after long vowels or diphthongs, and it is not used at all in Switzerland.

4. NOUNS & CASESAll nouns have a gender in German, either masculine, feminine or neuter. There really isn't a lot of logic to which nouns are which gender, so you must memorize the gender of each noun.1. Male persons or animals, the seasons, months, and days are allmasculine, as are nouns ending in -ant, -ast, -ich, -ig, -ismus, -ling, -or and -us. 2. Female persons or animals, and numerals are allfeminine, as are nouns ending in -a, -anz, -ei, -enz, -heit, -ie, -ik, -in, -keit, -schaft, -sion, -sis, -tt, -tion, -ung and -ur.3. Young persons or animals, metals, chemical elements, letters of the alphabet, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, continents, countries and provinces are allneuter, as are nouns that end in -chen, -icht, -il, -it, -lein, -ma, -ment, -tel, -tum, and -um. Nouns referring to things that end in -al, -an, -ar, -t, -ent, -ett, -ier, -iv, -o and -on, as well as most words with the prefix ge- and most nouns ending in -nis and -sal are also neuter.All nouns in German are capitalized in writing.All nouns (as well as pronouns and adjectives)have a case depending on what function they serve in the sentence. These may seem strange, but remember that English uses cases also; however, we would say direct object instead of accusative, or indirect object instead of dative. Although these cases may make learning new words difficult, they actually help with word order because the position of words in a sentence is not as fixed in German as it is in English. And the reason for that is because words can occur in these four cases:Nominativesubject of the sentenceThe girlis reading.

Accusativedirect objectsWe seethe mountain.I boughta gift.

Dativeindirect objectsWe talktothe guide.I gavemy moma gift.

Genitiveindicates possession or relationshipThe bookofthe girl.Thedog'stail.

The nouns you look up in a dictionary will be in the nominative case.

5. ARTICLES & DEMONSTRATIVESDefinite Articles (The)

MasculineFeminineNeuterPlural

Nominativeder(dare)die(dee)das(dahs)die

Accusativeden(dane)diedasdie

Dativedem(dame)derdemden

Genitivedes(dess)derdesder

Indefinite Articles (A, An)

MasculineFeminineNeuter

Nom.ein(ine)eine(ine-uh)ein

Acc.einen(ine-en)eineein

Dat.einem(ine-em)einer(ine-er)einem

Gen.eines(ine-es)einereines

Demonstratives (This, That, These, Those)

This / TheseThat /Those

Masc.Fem.Neu.Pl.Masc.Fem.Neu.Pl.

Nom.dieserdiesediesesdiesederdiedasdie

Acc.diesendiesediesesdiesedendiedasdie

Dat.diesemdieserdiesemdiesendemderdemden

Gen.diesesdieserdiesesdieserdesderdesder

Jeneris an older word found in written German that was used to mean that or those, but today in spoken German the definite articles are used. Dortordamay accompany the definite articles for emphasis. Dasis also a universal demonstrative and therefore shows no agreement. Notice the last letter of each of the words above. They correspond to the last letters of the words for the definite articles. Words that are formed this same way are calledder-wordsbecause they follow the pattern of the der-die-das declension. Other der-words are: jeder-every, andwelcher-which. Mancher(many) andsolcher(such) are also der-words, but they are used almost always in the plural.

6. SUBJECT (NOMINATIVE) PRONOUNSSubject Pronouns

ichikhIwirveerwe

dudooyou (familiar)ihreeryou (all)

er, sie, es, manair, zee, ess, mahnhe, she, it, onesie, Siezeethey, you (formal)

Mancan be translated as one, we, they or the people in general. When referring to nouns asit, you useerfor masculine nouns,siefor feminine nouns andesfor neuter nouns. However, the definite articlesder, dieanddascan be substituted forer, sieandesto show more emphasis.

7. TO BE, TO HAVE, & TO BECOME

Present tense of sein - to be(zine)

I amich binikh binwe arewir sindveer zint

you are (familiar)du bistdoo bihstyou (plural) areihr seideer zide

he/she/it iser/sie/es istair/zee/ess isstthey/you (formal) aresie/Sie sindzee zint

Past tense of sein

I wasich warikh varwe werewir warenveer vah-ren

you were (familiar)du warstdoo varstyou (plural) wereihr warteer vart

he/she/it waser/sie/es warair/zee/es varthey/you (formal) weresie/Sie warenzee vah-ren

Present tense of haben - to have(hah-ben)

ich habehah-buhwirhabenhah-ben

du hasthahstihrhabthahbt

er/sie/es hathahtsie/Siehabenhah-ben

Past tense of haben

ich hattehah-tuhwirhattenhah-ten

du hattesthah-testihrhattethah-tet

er/sie/es hattehah-tuhsie/Siehattenhah-ten

Present tense of werden - to become(vair-den)

ich werdevair-duhwirwerdenvair-den

du wirstveerstihrwerdetvair-det

er/sie/es wirdveertsie/Siewerdenvair-den

Past tense of werden

ich wurdevoor-duhwirwurdenvoor-den

du wurdestvoor-destihrwurdetvoor-det

er/sie/es wurdevoor-duhsie/Siewurdenvoor-den

Habenis frequently used in expressions that would normally taketo bein English.Ich habe Hunger.= I am hungry.Ich hatte Durst.= I was thirsty.Ich habe Langeweile.= I am bored.Ich hatte Heimweh. = I was homesick.Ich habe Angst.= I am afraid.In everyday speech, the final -e on the ich conjugations can be dropped:ich hab'orhab' ich

8. USEFUL WORDSandundoontisn't it?nichtwahr?nikhtvahr

butaberah-bertoo badschadeshah-duh

verysehrzairgladlygerngehrn

oroderoh-derimmediatelysofortzoh-fort

herehierheresure(ly)sicher(lich)zikh-er-likh

alsoauchowkhbut, rathersondernzohn-dehrn

bothbeideby-duhfinallyschlielichshleess-likh

someetwaseht-vahssright!stimmtshtimt

onlynurnooranywayberhauptoo-ber-howpt

againwiedervee-derenoughgenugguh-nook

hopefullyhoffentlichhoh-fent-likhexact(ly)genauguh-now

betweenzwischenzvish-ensometimesmanchmalmahnch-mal

thereforedeshalbdes-halpalwaysimmerim-er

alot, manyviel(e)feel(uh)nevernienee

reallywirklichveerk-lishoftenoftohft

togetherzusammentsoo-zah-menof courseklarklahr

allalleahl-luhperhapsvielleichtfee-likht

nowjetztyetstalittleein bisschenine biss-khen

soalsoal-zohalittleein wenigine vay-nikh

anothernoch einnohkh inenot at allgar nichtgarnikht

alreadyschonshonenot a bitkein bisschenkine biss-khen

Es gibtis commonly used to meanthere is/areand it is always followed by theaccusative case.

9. QUESTION WORDSWhowervehrWhom (acc.)wenvain

WhatwasvahsWhom (dat.)wemvaim

Whywarumvah-roomHow comewiesovee-zo

WhenwannvahnWhere fromwohervo-hair

WherewovohWhere towohinvo-hin

HowwieveeWhichwelche/-r/-svelsh-uh/er/es

10. NUMBERS / DIE NUMMERN0nullnool

1einsines1sterste

2zweitsvy2ndzweite

3dreidry3rddritte

4vierfeer4thvierte

5fnffewnf5thfnfte

6sechszecks6thsechste

7siebenzee-bun7thsiebte

8achtahkht8thachte

9neunnoyn9thneunte

10zehntsayn10thzehnte

11elfelf11thelfte

12zwlftsvurlf12thzwlfte

13dreizehndry-tsayn13thdreizehnte

14vierzehnfeer-tsayn14thvierzehnte

15fnfzehnfewnf-tsayn15thfnfzehnte

16sechzehnzeck-tsayn16thsechzehnte

17siebzehnzeep-tsayn17thsiebzehnte

18achtzehnahkh-tsayn18thachtzehnte

19neunzehnnoyn-tsayn19thneunzehnte

20zwanzigtsvahn-tsikh20thzwanzigste

21einundzwanzigine-oont-tsvahn-tsikh21steinundzwanzigste

22zweiundzwanzigtsvy-oont-tsvahn-tsikh22ndzweiundzwanzigste

23dreiundzwanzigdry-oont-tsvahn-tsikh23rddreiundzwanzigste

24vierundzwanzigfeer-oont-tsvahn-tsikh24thvierundzwanzigste

30dreiigdry-sikh30thdreiigste

40vierzigfeer-tsikh40thvierzigste

50fnfzigfewnf-tsikh50thfnfzigste

60sechzigzekh-tsikh60thsechzigste

70siebzigzeep-tsikh70thsiebzigste

80achtzigahkh-tsikh80thachtzigste

90neunzignoyn-tsikh90thneunzigste

100(ein)hundertine-hoon-duhrt

1,000(ein)tausendine-tow-zuhnt

Sometimes zwo(tsvoh)is used instead of zwei to avoid confusion with drei when talking on the telephone. The use of commas and periods is switched in German, though a space is commonly used to separate thousandths, i.e. 1,000 would be 1 000. When saying telephone numbers, you can either say each number individually or group them in twos. For years, you use the hundreds: 1972 is neunzehn hundert zweiundsiebzig; or the thousands: 2005 is zwei tausend fnf.Wann sind Sie geboren?When were you born?Ich bin in 1982 geboren.I was born in 1982.

11. DAYS OF THE WEEK / DIE TAGEMondayMontagmohn-tahk

TuesdayDienstagdeens-tahk

WednesdayMittwochmit-vock

ThursdayDonnerstagdon-ers-tahk

FridayFreitagfry-tahk

Saturday(N & E Germany)SamstagSonnabendzahms-tahkzon-nah-bent

SundaySonntagzon-tahk

dayder Tag (-e)dehr tahk

morningder Morgen (-)mawr-gun

afternoonder Nachmittag (-e)nakh-mih-tahk

eveningder Abend (-e)ah-bunt

nightdie Nacht (, -e)nahkt

todayheutehoy-tuh

tomorrowmorgenmawr-gun

tonightheute Abendhoy-tuh ah-bunt

yesterdaygesterngeh-stairn

last nightgestern Abendgeh-stairn ah-bunt

weekdie Woche (-n)voh-kuh

weekenddas Wochenende (-n)voh-ken-en-duh

dailytglichteh-glikh

weeklywchentlichwer-khent-likh

To sayona certain day or the weekend, useam. Add an -s to the day to express "on Mondays, Tuesdays, etc." All days, months and seasons are masculine so they all use the same form of these words: jeden- every,nchsten- next,letzten- last (as in the last of a series),vorigen- previous. In der Wocheis the expression for "during the week" in Northern and Eastern Germany, whileunter der Wocheis used in Southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

12. MONTHS OF THE YEAR / DIE MONATEJanuaryJanuaryah-noo-ahr

(Austria)Jnneryeh-ner

FebruaryFebruarfay-broo-ahr

MarchMrzmehrts

AprilAprilah-pril

MayMaimy

JuneJuniyoo-nee

JulyJuliyoo-lee

AugustAugustow-goost

SeptemberSeptemberzehp-tehm-ber

OctoberOktoberok-toh-ber

NovemberNovemberno-vehm-ber

DecemberDezemberdeh-tsem-ber

monthder Monat (-e)moh-naht

yeardas Jahr (-e)yaar

monthlymonatlichmoh-naht-likh

yearlyjhrlichjehr-likh

To sayina certain month, useim.Wann hast du Geburtstag?When is your birthday?Mein Geburtstag ist im Mai.My birthday is in May.

13. SEASONS / DIE JAHRESZEITENWinterder Winterdehr vin-ter

Springder Frhlingdehr frew-ling

Summerder Sommerdehr zom-mer

Autumnder Herbstdehr hehrpst

To sayin the+ a season, useim.

14. DIRECTIONS / DIE RICHTUNGENrightrechts

leftlinks

straightgeradeaus

Northder Norden

Southder Sden

Eastder Osten

Westder Westen

imNorden = in the NorthnachOsten = to the EastausWesten = from the West

15. COLORS & SHAPES / DIE FARBEN & DIE FORMENorangeorangesquaredas Viereck

pinkrosacircleder Kreis

purpleviolett / lilatriangledas Dreieck

blueblaurectangledas Rechteck

yellowgelbovaldas Oval

redrotoctagondas Achteck

blackschwarzcubeder Wrfel

brownbraunspheredieKugel

graygrauconeder Kegel

whiteweicylinderderZylinder

greengrn

turquoisetrkis

beigebeige

silversilber

goldgold

Because colors are adjectives, they must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe if they are placed before the noun. However, not all adjectives agree, such as colors ending in -a or -e; nor do they agree when they are used as predicate adjectives. More aboutAdjectives in German III. To say that a color islight, puthell-before it, and to say that a color isdark, putdunkel-before it.Das Viereck ist braun.The square is brown.Das Rechteck ist hellblau.The rectange is light blue.

16. TIME / DIE ZEITWhat time is it?Wie spt ist es?vee shpayt isst ess

(It is) 2 AMEs ist zwei Uhr nachtsess ist tsvy oor nahkts

2 PMEs ist zwei Uhr nachmittagstsvy oor nahk-mih-tahks

6:20Es ist sechs Uhr zwanzigzex oor tsvahn-tsikh

half past 3Es ist halb vierhahlp feer

quarter past 4Es ist Viertelnach vierfeer-tel nahk feer

quarter to 5Es ist Viertel vor fnffeer-telfor fewnf

10 past 11Es ist zehn nach elftsyan nahk elf

20 to 7Es ist zwanzig vor siebentsvahn-tsikh for zee-bun

noonEs ist nachmittagnakh-mih-tahk

midnightEs ist mitternachtmih-ter-nahk

in the morningmorgens / frhmawr-guns / frew

in the eveningabendsaah-bunts

It's exactly...Es ist genau...ess ist guh-now

At 8.Um 8 Uhr.oom akht oor

early(ier)frh(er)frew(er)

late(r)spt(er)shpayt(er)

Official time, such as for bus and train schedules, always uses the 24 hour clock. Notice thathalb+ number meanshalf to, nothalf past, so you have to use the hour that comes next.

17. WEATHER / DAS WETTERHow's theweather today?Wie ist das Wetter heute?vie ist dahs vet-ter hoy-tuh

It's hotEs ist heiess isst hise

It's coldEs ist kaltess isst kahlt

It's beautifulEs ist schness isst shern

It's badEs ist schlechtess isst shlehkt

It's clearEs ist klaress isst klahr

It's icyEs ist eisigess isst ise-ikh

It's warmEs ist warmess isst varm

It's sunnyEs ist sonnigess isst zohn-ikh

It's windyEs ist windigess isst vin-dikh

It's cloudyEs ist bewlktess isst beh-verlkt

It's hazyEs ist dunstigess isst doons-tikh

It's muggyEs ist schwless isst schvool

It's humidEs ist feuchtess isst foikht

It's foggyEs ist nebeligess isst neh-beh-likh

It's snowingEs schneitess schnite

It's rainingEs regnetess rayg-net

It's freezingEs friertess freert

It looks like rain.Es sieht nach Regen aus.es seet nahkh ray-gen ows

The weather is clearingDas Wetter klrt sich auf.dahs vett-er klairt sikh owf

18. FAMILY / DIE FAMILIEParentsdie ElternRelativeder Verwandte (-n)

Motherdie Mutter ()Mander Mann (, -er)

Fatherder Vater ()Sir / Misterder Herr (-en)

Sonder Sohn (, -e)Woman / Ma'am / Mrs. / Ms.die Frau (-en)

Daughterdie Tochter ()Husbandder Ehemann (, -er)

Brotherder Bruder ()Wifedie Ehefrau (-en)

Sisterdie Schwester (-n)Boyder Junge (-n)

Grandparentsdie GroelternGirldas Mdchen (-)

Grandfatherder Grovater ()Grandpader Opa (-s)

Grandmotherdie Gromutter ()Grandmadie Oma (-s)

Grandchildrendie EnkelkinderDadder Vati

Grandsonder Enkel (-)Momdie Mutti

Granddaughter die Enkelin (-nen)Friend (m)der Freund (-e)

Niecedie Nichte (-n)Friend (f)die Freundin (-nen)

Nephewder Neffe (-n)Partner / Significant Other (m)der Partner (-)

Cousin (m)der Vetter (-n)Partner / Significant Other (f)die Partnerin (-nen)

Cousin (f)die Kusine (-n)Marital Statusder Familienstand

Uncleder Onkel (-)Singleledig

Auntdie Tante (-n)Marriedverheiratet

Siblingsdie GeschwisterDivorcedgeschieden

Babydas Baby (-s)Malemnnlich

Godfatherder Pate (-n)Femaleweiblich

Godmotherdie Patin (-nen)Childdas Kind (-er)

Step-der/die Stief-Toddlerdas Kleinkind (-er)

-in-lawder/die Schwieger-Teenagerder Teenager (-)

Brother-in-lawder Schwager ()Adultder Erwachsene (-n)

Sister-in-lawdie Schwgerin (-nen)Twinder Zwilling (-e)

The letters in parentheses indicate the plural form of the noun. Notice that sometimes an umlaut is placed over the main vowel of the word in the plural. For example,der Mannis singular (the man) anddie Mnneris plural (the men). For step- and -in-law relations, just addStief-orSchwieger-before the main person, except in the case of brother-in-law and sister-in-law noted above. The plurals follow the pattern for the main person, i.e.die Schwiegermutter(singular) anddie Schwiegermtter(plural)

19. TO KNOW PEOPLE & FACTS

kennen - to know peoplewissen - to know facts

ich kenneken-nuhwir kennenken-nunich weivisewir wissenvih-sun

du kennstkenstihr kenntkentdu weitvistihr wisstvihst

er/sie/es kenntkentsie/Sie kennenken-nuner/sie/es weivisesie/Sie wissenvih-sun

Kennen is a regular verb, while wissen is irregular in the present tense. Youmustuse the subject pronouns (ich, du, er...); however, I will leave them out of future conjugations.

20. FORMATION OF PLURAL NOUNSPlural nouns in German are unpredictable, so it's best to memorize the plural form with the singular. However, here are some rules that can help:1.Femininenouns usually add-nor-en. Nouns that end in-in(such as the female equivalents of masculine nouns) add-nen.eine Lampezwei Lampen

eine Trzwei Tren

eine Studentinzwei Studentinnen

eine Gabelzwei Gabeln

2.Masculineandneuternouns usually add-eor-er. Many masculine plural nouns ending in-eadd an umlaut as well, but neuter plural nouns ending in-edon't. Plurals that end in-eradd an umlaut when the stem vowel isa, o , uorau.MasculineNeuter

ein Rockzwei Rckeein Heftzwei Hefte

ein Mannzwei Mnnerein Buchzwei Bcher

3.Masculineandneutersingular nouns that end in-ereither add an umlaut or change nothing at all. Many nouns with a stem vowel ofa, o, uorauadd an umlaut.Masculineandneutersingular nouns that end in-elalso add nothing at all (with three exceptions: Pantoffel, Stachel, Muskel).MasculineNeuter

ein Bruderzwei Brderein Fensterzwei Fenster

ein Kegelzwei Kegelein Mittelzwei Mittel

4. Nouns that end in a vowel other than an unstressed -e and nouns of foreign origin add-s.ein Hobbyzwei Hobbys

ein Hotelzwei Hotels

21. POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVESMasc.Fem.Neu.Pl.

Nom.meinmeinemeinmeine

Acc.meinenmeinemeinmeine

Dat.meinemmeinermeinemmeinen

Gen.meinesmeinermeinesmeiner

Other words that are formed likemein(my) are:ein- a/an,dein-your (du form),sein-his/its,ihr-her,unser-our,euer-your (ihr form),ihr-their,Ihr-your (Sie form), andkein-no/not any.

22. ACCUSATIVE CASEThe accusative case corresponds to direct objects. Here are the accusative forms of the definite and indefinite articles. Note that only the masculine changes in this case.Definite and Indefinite Articles

Masc.Fem.NeuterPlural

Definitedendiedasdie

Indefiniteeineneineeinkeine

Some masculine nouns add an -(e)n to the accusative form, such as international nouns ending in-t(Dirigent, Komponist, Patient, Polizist, Soldat, Student, Tourist, Journalist); nouns ending in -e denoting male persons or animals (Drache, Junge, Kunde, Lwe, Neffe, Riese, Vorfahre, Zeuge); and the following nouns: Elefant, Herr, Mensch, Nachbar. Andwen(whom) is the accusative of wer (who).Personal Pronouns -Nominative & Accusative

ichImichmewirweunsus

duyoudichyouihryoueuchyou

erheihnhimsietheysiethem

sieshesieherSieyouSieyou

esitesit

German uses the case system to show the function of a word in a sentence, whereas English relies mainly on word order. Take, for example, the following sentences: Ich esse den Apfeltranslates intoI eat the apple. In German, you can switch the word order around without affecting the meaning. Den Apfel esse ichis alsoI eat the apple, but in English, if you were to change word order, you would have to saythe apple eats me. English does not accommodate for the direct object to be placed before the subject and verb like German does. Usually, word order reflects (subjective) focus: the noun having the speakers focus is usually put as much as possible towards the beginning of a sentence.

23. DATIVE CASEThe dative case corresponds to indirect objects. Usually in English, we use the wordstoorforto indicate an indirect object. But German relies on the endings of the dative case. Here are the dative forms of the definite and indefinite articles.Definite and Indefinite Articles

Masc.Fem.NeuterPlural

Definitedemderdemden

Indefiniteeinemeinereinemkeinen

Those same masculine nouns that added an -(e)n in the accusative form also add an -(e)n in the dative form. Andall plural nouns add an -(e)n in the dative plural, unless they already end in an -n or -s. Andwem(to/for whom) is the dative ofwer(who).Personal Pronouns

mirmeunsus

diryoueuchyou

ihmhimihnenthey

ihrherIhnenyou

ihmit

In sentences with both a direct and indirect object, the noun in the dative case precedes the accusative noun, unless the accusative case is a pronoun.Ich schenke meinem Bruder eine Krawatte.I give (to) my brother a tie.Ich schenke sie meinem Bruder.I give it to my brother.

24. GENITIVE CASEThe genitive case is used to show possession, more often in writing than in speech. When speaking, most people use von (of) plus the dative case to show possession. For proper nouns, German only adds an -s to the noun, whereas English would add an apostrophe and an -s.Feminine and Plural nouns do not change in the Genitive case. Masculine and Neuter nouns add an -s if the word is more than one syllable, or an -es if the word is one syllable.Except the weak masculine nouns that added -(e)n in the accusative and dative; they also add -(e)n in the genitive. There are some irregular nouns that add -s after -en in the genitive case as well, for example der Name becomes des Namens and das Herz becomes des Herzens.die Farbe des Vogels- the color of the birddie Grsse des Hauses- the size of the housedie Tasche meiner Mutter - my mother's purse [the purse of my mother]der Bleistift des Studenten - the student's pencil [the pencil of the student]Definite and Indefinite Articles

Masc.Fem.Neu.Plural

Definitedesderdesder

Indefiniteeineseinereineskeiner

25. TO DO OR MAKEmachen - todo or make

machemock-uhmachenmock-en

machstmockstmachtmockt

machtmocktmachenmock-en

26. WORK AND SCHOOLmasculinefeminine

actorSchauspielerSchauspielerin

architectArchitekt (en)Architektin

artistKnstlerKnstlerin

authorSchriftstellerSchriftstellerin

bank clerkBankangestellterBankangestellte

businessman/womanGeschftsmannGeschftsfrau

cashierKassiererKassiererin

chancellorKanzlerKanzlerin

civil servantBeamterBeamtin

conductorDirigentDirigentin

cookKoch (, e)Kchin

custodianHausmeisterHausmeisterin

dentistZahnarzt (, e)Zahnrztin

doctorArzt (e)rztin

engineerIngenieurIngenieurin

farmerLandwirtLandwirtin

flight attendantFlugbegleiterFlugbegleiterin

hairdresserFriseurFriseurin

journalistJournalistJournalistin

judgeRichterRichterin

lawyerAnwalt (, e)Anwltin

lecturerDozentDozentin

librarianBibliothekarBibliothekarin

mechanicAutomechanikerAutomechanikerin

nurseKrankenpflegerKrankenpflegerin

pensioner (retired)RentnerRentnerin

pharmacistDrogistDrogistin

photographerFotografFotografin

pilotPilot (en)Pilotin

police officerPolizist (en)Polizistin

politicianPolitikerPolitikerin

postal workerPostangestellterPostangestellte

presidentPrsident (en)Prsidentin

priestPriesterPriesterin

professorProfessorProfessorin

salespersonVerkuferVerkuferin

secretarySekretrSekretrin

studentStudentStudentin

taxi driverTaxifahrerTaxifahrerin

teacherLehrerLehrerin

TV reporterFernsehreporterFernsehreporterin

waiterKellnerKellnerin

workerArbeiterArbeiterin

writerSchriftstellerSchriftstellerin

Besides the plural forms shown above, the rest of the male professions are the same (they do not add anything) in the plural, while all the feminine add -nen in the plural. Also, German does not use articles before professions. You would only sayIch bin Kellnerif you mean I am a waiter.Was sind Sie von Beruf?What do you do for a living?Ich bin Arzt.I'm a doctor (male).

Schooldie Schule (n)Elementary Schooldie Grundschule (n)

Universitydie Universitt (en)Secondary Schooldas Gymnasium

College / Universitydie Hochschule (n)High Schooldie Oberschule (n)

Subjectdas Fach (, er)Foreign languagesFremdsprachen

LiteratureLiteraturLinguisticsLinguistik

Social StudiesSozialkundeHistoryGeschichte

BiologyBiologieNatural ScienceNaturwissenschaft

PhilosophyPhilosophiePsychologyPsychologie

Earth scienceErdkundeSociologySoziologie

MathMathematikGeographyGeographie

GeometryGeometrieComputerscienceInformatik

Mechanical EngineeringMaschinenbauEconomicsWirtschaft

ManagementBetriebswirtschaftChemistryChemie

MarketingMarketingMedia StudiesMedienwissenschaft

PhysicsPhysikPolitical SciencePolitik

MusicMusikArtKunst

DrawingZeichnenBandMusikkapelle

Testdie Prfung (en)Classdie Klasse (n)

Lunchtimedie MittagspauseLunchdas Mittagessen

Cafeteriadie MensaSchool Suppliesdie Schulsachen

Dictionarydas Wrterbuch (, er)Staplerdie Heftmaschine (n)

Scissorsdie Schere (n)Rulerdas Lineal (e)

Eraserder Radiergummi (s)Chalkdie Kreide

Bookdas Buch (, er)Notebookdas Heft (e)

Pencilder Bleistift (e)Sheet of Paperdas Blatt Papier

Schoolbagdie Schultasche (n)Calculatorder Taschenrechner (-)

Pender Kugelschreiber / der KuliHomeworkdieHausaufgaben

Girldas Mdchen (-)Boyder Junge (n)

Friend (m)der Freund (e)Friend (f)die Freundin (nen)

Pupil/Student (m)der Schler (-)Pupil/Student (f)die Schlerin (nen)

Student (m)der Student (en)Student (f)die Studentin (nen)

Teacher (m)der Lehrer (-)Teacher (f)die Lehrerin (nen)

Professor (m)der ProfessorProfessor (f)die Professorin (nen)

Gradesdie Notenhardschwer

Courseder Kurs (e)easyleicht

Semesterdas Semester (-)Vacationdie Ferien (pl.)

Scheduleder Stundenplan (,e)Assignmentdie Aufgabe (n)

In Germany, students must passdas Abiturin order to graduate from high school. In Austria, this final exam is calleddie Matura. Notice that there are two words for student:Schleris used for students in primary and secondary schools, whileStudentis only used for university students.The verbstudierenis used for university study or to state your major. The verblernenshould be used for studying in general, and especially for learning a language.Er studiert in Freiburg.He studies (goes to university) in Freiburg.Ich studiere Franzsisch.I study French (in college). / French is my major.Ich lerne Spanisch und Italienisch.I'm studying/learning Spanish and Italian.

27. PREPOSITIONSPrepositions that takethe Accusative case

durchthrough

gegenagainst

umaround / at

frfor

ohnewithout

bisuntil

Preps. that take the Dative case

ausout (of), from (country, town or place)

mitwith,by means of (transportation)

vonfrom (person, open space, or direction), by

seitsince,for

beinear, at, at home of orplaceof business

nachafter,to (cities and countries)

zuto (mostly people andspecifically namedbuildings)

gegenberacross from

auerexcept for, besides

Preps. that take the Genitive case

whrendduring

trotzin spite of

(an)stattinstead of

wegenbecause of

auerhalboutside of

innerhalbinside of

Preps. that may take Acc. or Dat. (two-way)

anat, to, on (vertical surfaces, denotes border or limitingarea)

aufonto, on (horizontal surfaces),to (some public buildings)

hinterbehind

inin, into, to (building, enclosed space, feminine or plural countries)

nebenbeside,next to

berover,above, across, about

unterunder, below, among,beneath

vorin front of, before

zwischenbetween

For the two-way prepositions:The accusative form indicates direction and movement and answers the question where to? The dative form indicates position and location and answers the question where? For example:In die Schulemeansto schooland uses the accusative form because it is a direction. In der Schulemeansin schooland uses the dative form because it is a location. But one exception is zu Hause - at home (dat.) and nach Hause - (to) home (acc.) Ich bin zu Hauseis I am at home, andIch gehenach Hauseis I am going home.Accusative: movement & directionDative: location & position

Er hngt das Bild ber das Sofa.He hangs the picture over the sofa.Das Bild hngt ber dem Sofa.The picture hangs over the sofa.

Stell es unter den Tisch.Put it under the table.Es ist unter dem Tisch.It is under the table.

Fahren Sie den Wagen hinter das Haus.Drive the car behind the house.Der Wagen steht hinter dem Haus.The car is behind the house.

Stellen Sie die Flaschen vor die Tr.Put the bottles in front of the door.Die Flaschen stehen vor der Tr.The bottles are in front of the door.

Stell es auf den Tisch.Put it on the table.Es liegt auf dem Tisch.It's lying on the table.

Schreib es an die Tafel.Write it on the board.Es steht an der Tafel.It is on the board.

Er geht in die Kche.He goes into the kitchen.Er ist in der Kche.He is in the kitchen.

Stellen Sie es neben das Haus.Put it beside the house.Es ist neben dem Haus.It is beside the house.

Stell dieLampe zwischen das Sofa und den Tisch.Put the lamp between the sofa and the table.Die Lampe steht zwischen dem Sofa und dem Tisch.The lamp is between the sofa and the table.

Stellen, legen and setzen use the accusative case, while stehen, liegen and sitzen use the dative case.

28. PREPOSITIONAL CONTRACTIONSContractions in WritingContractions in Informal Speech

an demaman denan'n

auf dasaufsauf denauf'n

fr dasfrsauf demauf'm

in dasinsaus denaus'n

zu demzumfr denfr'n

an dasansgegen dasgegen's

bei dembeimin denin'n

in demimnach demnach'm

von demvom

zu derzur

durch dasdurchs

um dasums

29. COUNTRIES AND NATIONALITIESAfricaAfrikaIrelandIrland

AfricanAfrikaner/inIrishmanIre/Irin

AlbaniaAlbanienIsraelIsrael

AlbanianAlbaner/inIsraeliIsraeli

AmericaAmerikaHebrewHebrisch

AmericanAmerikaner/inItalyItalien

ArgentinaArgentinienItalianItaliener/in

ArgentineArgentinier/inJapanJapan

AsiaAsienJapaneseJapaner/in

AsianAsiat/inLatviaLettland

AustraliaAustralienLatvianLette/Lettin

AustralianAustralier/inLithuaniaLitauen

AustriasterreichLithuanianLitauer/in

Austriansterreicher/inLuxembourgLuxemburg

BelgiumBelgienLuxembourgerLuxemburger/in

BelgianBelgier/inMacedoniaMazedonien

BosniaBosnienMacedonianMazedonier/in

BosnianBosnier/inMaltaMalta

BrazilBrasilienMalteseMalteser/in

BrazilianBrasilianer/inMexicoMexiko

BulgariaBulgarienMexicanMexikaner/in

BulgarianBulgare/BulgarinNetherlandsdie Niederlande

CanadaKanadaDutchHollnder/in

CanadianKanadier/inNew ZealandNeuseeland

ChinaChinaNew ZealanderNeuseelnder/in

ChineseChinese/ChinesinNorwayNorwegen

CroatiaKroatienNorwegianNorweger/in

CroatianKroate/KroatinPolandPolen

CyprusZypernPolishPole/Polin

CypriotZypriot/inPortugalPortugal

Czech Republicdie Tschechische RepublikPortuguesePortugiese/Portugiesin

CzechTscheche/TschechinRomaniaRumnien

DenmarkDnemarkRomanianRumne/Rumnin

DanishDne/DninRussiaRussland

EgyptgyptenRussianRusse/Russin

Egyptiangypter/inScotlandSchottland

EnglandEnglandScottishSchotte/Schottin

EnglishEnglnder/inSerbiaSerbien

EstoniaEstlandSerbianSerbe/Serbin

EstonianEste/EstinSlovakiadie Slowakei

EuropeEuropaSlovakSlowake/Slowakin

EuropeanEuroper/inSloveniaSlowenien

FinlandFinnlandSloveneSlowene/Slowenin

FinnishFinne/FinninSouth AfricaSdafrika

FranceFrankreichSouth AfricanSdafrikaner/in

FrenchFranzose/FranzsinSpainSpanien

GermanyDeutschlandSpanishSpanier/in

GermanDeutscher/DeutscheSwedenSchweden

Great BritainGrobritannienSwedishSchwede/in

BritishBrite/BritinSwitzerlanddie Schweiz

GreeceGriechenlandSwissSchweizer/in

GreekGrieche/GriechinTurkeydie Trkei

HungaryUngarnTurkTrke/Trkin

HungarianUngar/inUkrainedie Ukraine

IcelandIslandUkrainianUkrainer/in

IcelandicIslnder/inUnited KingdomVereinigtes Knigreich

IndiaIndienUnited Statesdie Vereinigten Staaten

IndianInder/inWalesWales

IndonesiaIndonesienWelshWaliser/in

IndonesianIndonesier/in

Female nationalities add -in to the masculine nationality but some need to delete the final -e before adding -in. A few nationalities are slightly irregular or have spelling changes:Deutscher(German man),Deutsche(German woman),Franzose(Frenchman),Franzsin(Frenchwoman)To form the adjective, use the masculine nationality stem and add -isch:amerikanisch, belgisch, griechisch, polnisch, schwedisch, etc. Some are slightly irregular:deutsch, englisch, franzsischThe adjectives can also refer to the language, but then the word must be capitalized, i.e.deutschis the adjective that is usually followed by a noun, whereasDeutschis the German language.

30. NEGATIVE SENTENCESNichtandkeinare forms of negation, but nicht means not and kein means no, not a, or not any. Keinis used to negate nouns that either have no articles or are preceded by the indefinite article. Kein precedes the nouns in sentences. It is declined as an ein-word. Ist das eine Katze?Is that a cat?

Nein, das istkeineKatze.No, that's not a cat.

Nichtnegates nouns preceded by a definite article or a possessive adjective; or it could negate any part (verb, noun, adjective) or all of a sentence. Nicht always follows the verb, but usually precedes the part of the sentence to be negated. It you want to negate an entire sentence, nicht comes last. Nicht also follows expressions of time.Das ist meine Frau.That's my wife.

Das istnichtmeine Frau.That's not my wife.

Heute ist es kalt.It is cold today.

Heute ist esnichtkalt.It is not cold today.

31. TO AND FROM COUNTRIES AND CITIEStonach

fromaus

inin

Inalso meanstowhen it is used before a country that has a definite article (feminine and plural countries.) Ich fliegein die Schweiz.I'm flying to Switzerland. Ich fliegenach Deutschland. I'm flying to Germany. And whenausis used with feminine or plural countries, the definite article must also be used. Ich binaus den USA. I am from the US.Ich binaus Frankreich. I am from France.

32. TO COME AND TO GOkommen - to come

kommekoh-muhkommenkoh-men

kommstkohmstkommtkohmt

kommtkohmtkommenkoh-men

gehen- to go

gehegeh-uhgehengeh-in

gehstgehstgehtgate

gehtgategehengeh-in

33. MODAL VERBSGerman has six modal verbs that you should memorize.They express an attitude about an action or condition described by the main verb. The modal auxiliary is conjugated and placed in the second position of the sentence. The main verb is in the infinitive form and placed at the end of the clause or sentence.Ichkanneine Fahrkartekaufen.(I can buy a ticket.) Kannis the conjugated auxiliary verb andkaufenis the main verb in infinitive form.knnen - to be able to, can

ich kannwir knnen

du kannstihr knnt

er/sie/es kannsie/Sie knnen

mssen - to have to, must

ich muwir mssen

du mutihr msst

er/sie/es musie/Sie mssen

drfen - to be allowed/permitted to

ich darfwir drfen

du darfstihr drft

er/sie/es darfsie/Sie drfen

Nicht mssentranslates todo not have toordo not need to. Nicht drfentranslates tomust not. Du mut es nicht machenisyou don't have to do it. Du darfst es nicht machenisyou must not (or are not allowed) to do it.sollen - to be supposed to

ich sollwir sollen

du sollstihr sollt

er/sie/es sollsie/Sie sollen

wollen - to want (to)

ich willwir wollen

du willstihr wollt

er/sie/es willsie/Sie wollen

mgen - to like

ich magwir mgen

du magstihr mgt

er/sie/es magsie/Sie mgen

Subjunctive of mgen - would like

ich mchtewir mchten

du mchtestihr mchtet

er/sie/es mchtesie/Sie mchten

This subjunctive of mgen expresseswould like toand is used more often than the indicative of mgen. Ich mchte eine Fahrkarte kaufenmeans I would like to buy a ticket.Sometimes the infinitive is not required with modal verbs, if the meaning is clear enough without them. For example, you can often omit sprechen and tun after knnen and you can omit verbs of motion if there is an adverb of place.Ich kann Spanisch.I can/know how to speak Spanish.Er will nach Hause.He wants to go home.

34. CONJUGATING REGULAR VERBS IN THE PRESENT TENSETo conjugate means to give the different forms of a verb depending on the subject. English only has two regular conjugations in the present tense, no ending and -s ending (I, you, we, they runvs.he/she/it runs). To conjugate regular verbs in German, remove the -en ending and add the following endings (* though some of these verbs require spelling changes in addition to adding these endings, as you will see in#36):-e-en

-st-t

-t-en

Regular Verbs in the Present Tenseantworten *to answermachento make

arbeitento workpassierento happen

beginnento beginrauchento smoke

bekommento getreisento travel

benutzento userennento run

besuchento visitrufento call

bezahlento pay forsagento say

bleibento remain/stayschlafento sleep

brauchento needschreibento write

dauernto lastschwimmento swim

denkento thinksehen *to see

entdeckento discoversingento sing

erfindento inventsitzen *to sit

ergnzento completesparento save (money)

erlaubento permitsteckento put

erzhlento tellstehento stand

essen *to eatstudierento study

findento findsuchento look for

fischento fishtanzento dance

fliegento flytreffen *to meet

fragento asktrennento separate

gehento gotrinkento drink

gewinnento winverdienento earn (money)

glaubento believe/thinkvergessento forget

helfen *to helpverlierento lose

kaufento buyversprechento promise

kennento know (people)verstehento understand

kommento comewartento wait

laufen *to runwaschen *to wash

lehrento teachwinkento wave

lernento learnwischento wipe

liebento lovewnschento wish/desire

liegento layziehento move

English has three ways of expressing the present tense, such as I run, I am running, I do run. All three of these tenses are translated as one tense in German (ich laufe.) However, you can addgeradeafter the verb to indicate the progressive form. Ich mache meine Hausaufgabencan be translated asI do my homework or I'm doing my homework. Ich mache gerade meine Hausaufgabenis translated asI'm doing my homework.

35. REFLEXIVE VERBSReflexive verbs express an action that reciprocates back to the subject. In other words, whoever is speaking is doing an action to himself. Examples in English would be: I wash myself, he hurts himself, we hate ourselves. Usually the -self words are a clue in English; however, there are more reflexive verbs in German than in English.Reflexive Pronouns

AccusativeDative

michunsmiruns

dicheuchdireuch

sichsichsichsich

The reflexive pronoun follows the verb and agrees with the subject. When a clause contains another object besides the reflexive pronoun, then the reflexive pronoun is in the dative case since the other object is in the accusative case. This is when you use the dative reflexive pronouns instead of the accusative ones.Accusative:Ich fhle mich nicht wohl- I don't feel well.Dative:Ich ziehe mir den Mantel aus- I'm taking off my coat.Also note that parts of the body and articles of clothing use the definite article, not a possessive.Reflexive Verbs

sich rgernto get angrysich aufregento get agitated

sich ausruhento restsich erkltento catch a cold

sich freuento be happysich (wohl) fhlento feel (well)

sich hinlegento lie downsich anziehento get dressed

sich verletzento get hurtsich ausziehentoget undressed

sich beeilento hurrysich setzentosit down

sich erholento relaxsich vorstellentoimagine

Reflexive Verbs + Accusative:

sich rgern berto get annoyed about

sich erinnern anto remember

sich freuen berto be happy about

sich freuen aufto look forward to

sich gewhnen anto get used to

sich kmmern umto take care of

sich bewerben umto apply for

sich interessieren frto be interested in

sich konzentrieren aufto concentrate on

sich vorbereiten aufto prepare for

sich entscheiden frto decide on

sich verlieben into fall in love with

Reflexive Verbs + Dative:

sich trennen vonto break up with

sich erkundigen nachtoask about

sich frchten vorto be afraid of

36. EXCEPTIONS: IRREGULARITIES IN REGULAR VERBS1) Some verbs require an umlaut over the a in the 2nd and 3rd person singular.Fahren-to travel

fahrefahren

fhrstfahrt

fhrtfahren

Examples:fallen-to fall, schlafen-to sleep, tragen-to carry, waschen-to wash, laufen-to run2) Some verbs change the e to ie in the 2nd and 3rd person singular.Sehen-to see

sehesehen

siehstseht

siehtsehen

Examples:lesen- to read, befehlen-to command, empfehlen-to recommend, geschehen-to happen, stehlen-to steal3) Some verbs change the e to an i in the 2nd and 3rd person singular.Geben-to give

gebegeben

gibstgebt

gibtgeben

Examples:brechen-to break, essen-to eat, helfen-to help, sprechen-to speak, sterben-to die, treffen-to meet, werfen-to throw*nehmenhas another irregularity: it doubles the m and drops the h*nehmenehmen

nimmstnehmt

nimmtnehmen

4) Verb stems ending -d or -t, add an e before three endings.Reden-to speak

redereden

redestredet

redetreden

5) Verb stems ending in an s or z sound, have -t for du form ending instead of -st.Sitzen-to sit

sitzesitzen

sitztsitzt

sitztsitzen

6) Infinitives ending in -n (not -en) only have -n ending for wir and sie forms. Infinitive stems ending in -el or -er can drop the e in the ich form.Tun-to do / Segeln-to sail

tuetunseglesegeln

tusttutsegelstsegelt

tuttunsegeltsegeln

37. VERBS WITH PREPOSITIONSACCUSATIVEDATIVE

denken anto think aboutarbeiten anto work on

glauben anto believe inerkennen anto recognize something by

kommen anto come tosterben anto die of

schreiben anto write toteilnehmen anto participate in

achten aufto pay attention tohelfen beito help with

ankommen aufto come down to/be a question ofanfangen mitto begin with

antworten aufto answerfahren mitto go/travel (by means of)

bse sein aufto be angry atrechnen mitto count on, expect

gespannt sein aufto be excited aboutsprechen mitto talk to

hoffen aufto hope forfragen nachto ask about

warten aufto wait forriechen nachto smell of/like

danken frto thank forabhngen vonto depend on

sorgen frto care forerzhlen vonto tell about

lachen berto laugh abouthalten vonto think/feel about

lesen berto read abouthandeln vonto deal with/be about

nachdenken bertothink aboutsprechen vonto talk about

reden berto talk abouttrumen vonto dream about

schreiben berto write aboutverstehen vonto know about/understand

sprechen berto talk aboutwissen vonto know of

bitten umto ask for/requestAngst haben vorto be afraid of

kmpfen umto fight forretten vorto save from

Fahren mitcannot be used with all forms of transportation, such as on foot or by plane.

38. SEPARABLE PREFIXESab-auf-bei-los-mit-vor-weg-zurck-

an-aus-ein-fern-nach-vorbei-zu-zusammen-

These prefixes are added to the infinitive and change the meaning of the verb. Kommenis to come, butankommenis to arrive. When conjugated, the prefix goes to the end of the sentence. Erkommtum fnf Uhranmeans "he is arriving at 5." ButErkommtum drei Uhrmeans "he is coming at 3." With modals, the infinitive goes to the end of the sentence as usual, but the prefix remains attached. Ich will jetztausgehenmeans "I want to go out now."Verbs with Separable Prefixesabholento pick upausmachento turn off

abrumento clear (the table)aussehento look like, appear

abtrocknento dry (dishes)austragento deliver

abwischento wipe cleanauswandernto emigrate

anfangento beginausziehento take off clothes

ankommento arriveeinkaufento shop

anmachento turn oneinladento invite

anrufento call upeinpackento pack up

anschauento look ateinschlafento fall asleep

ansehento look at, watcheinsteigento board

anziehento put on clothesfernsehento watch TV

anzndento light (candles)mitkommento come with

aufhrento stopmitnehmento take with

aufmachento openvorbeikommento come by

aufrumento tidy up (clothes)vorschlagento suggest

aufstehento get upvorstellento introduce

aufwachento wake upweggehento go away

aufwischento mop upwegstellento put away

ausfllento fill in (the blanks)zuhrento listen to

ausgebento spendzumachento close

ausgehento go outzurckkommento come back

ausleerento emptyzusehento observe

Ausgehencan also meanto be on good/bad terms with someone.

39. INSEPARABLE PREFIXESbe-ent-ge-ver-

emp-er-miss-zer-

These prefixesalwaysremain attached to their infinitives. The inseparable prefixes are unstressed syllables, as compared to the separable prefixes which can stand alone as different words. Some examples of verbs with inseparable prefixes arebesuchen- to visit,erzhlen- to tell,gewinnen- to win, andversprechen- to promise.Unterandbercan function as separable prefixes, but they are much more commonly used as inseparable prefixes. When prefixes are stressed, they are separable; when they are not stressed, they are inseparable. The stress on the following verbs in not on the prefix, so they are all inseparable:unterhalten- to entertain,unternehmen- to undertake,berholen- to overtake, andbersetzen- to translate.40. PRESENT PERFECT OR PAST INDEFINITE TENSEThis tense is used more often than the simple past, especially in conversation, and is equivalent toI have doneorI did.Regular verbs use a form of haben or sein and a past participle. Past participles are made by addingge-to the beginning of the verb stem and-t(or -et, if stem ends in -t or -d) to the end.Fragenis to ask, and -frag-is the stem; thereforegefragtis the past participle. Arbeitenis to work, and-arbeit-is the stem; thereforegearbeitetis the past participle.Machenis to do/make, and-mach-is the stem; thereforegemachtis the past participle.Verbs ending in-ierenonly add the-tending. Studierenis to study andstudier-is the stem, sostudiertis the past participle. The form of haben or sein is placed where the verb should be, and the past participle goes to the end of the sentence. Ex: Ich habe meinen Bruder gefragt-I asked my brother.Haben or SeinMost verbs use haben, but a few use sein, if and only if, both of these conditions are met:1. The verb expresses motion or change of condition.2. The verb is intransitive (i.e. cannot take a direct object.)Double Infinitive:Whenmodalsare used in the present perfect tense with a dependent infinitive, the past participle is not used. The infinitive of the modal acts as the past participle. Logically,I had to go homewould be translated asich habe nach Hause gehen gemut. However, it is actuallyIch habe nach Hausegehen mssen. When there is no other infinitive in the sentence, then the past participles of the modals are used.I had towould be translated asIch habe gemut. All modals, as well as reflexive verbs, use haben in the present perfect tense. The reflexive pronouns follow the auxiliary verb as inIch habe mir den Arm gebrochen. I broke my arm. With separable prefixes, theprefixcomesbeforethege-in a past participle, such asangekommenandaufgestanden. From the participle of the base verb, and then add the prefix to the beginning. But note that the prefix does change the entire meaning of the verb, and it may take a different auxiliary verb than its base verb. For example,stehentakes haben, butaufstehentakes sein. With inseparable prefixes, whether the verb is regular or irregular, there isno ge-prefix when forming the past participle, such asbesuchtandverloren. To express something that has been going on or happening for a period of time, German using the present tense (rather than the past) and the wordschon. "I have been studying German for two years" translates toIch studiere Deutsch schon zwei Jahre.

41. IRREGULAR PAST PARTICIPLESWITH HABENThese irregular past participles end with-en, and some have vowel changes in the stem. All of the following irregular past participles use haben as the auxiliary verb.anfangenbeginangefangenratenadvisegeraten

aufstehenget upaufgestandenreienteargerissen

befehlenorder, commandbefohlenriechensmellgerochen

beginnenbeginbegonnenrufencallgerufen

beienbitegebissenscheinenshinegeschienen

bekommenget, receivebekommenschiebenpushgeschoben

bewerbenapplybeworbenschlafensleepgeschlafen

bindentiegebundenschlieenshutgeschlossen

bittenaskgebetenschneidencutgeschnitten

brechenbreakgebrochenschreibenwritegeschrieben

einladeninviteeingeladenschreienyellgeschrieen

empfehlenrecommendempfohlenschweigenbe silentgeschwiegen

esseneatgegessenschwingenswinggeschwungen

findenfindgefundensehenseegesehen

fresseneat (of animals)gefressensingensinggesungen

frierenfreezegefrorensitzensitgesessen

gebengivegegebensprechenspeakgesprochen

gewinnenwingewonnenstehenstandgestanden

gieenpour, watergegossenstehlenstealgestohlen

greifenreachgegriffenstreitenquarrelgestritten

haltenholdgehaltentragenweargetragen

hngenhang, suspendgehangentreffenmeetgetroffen

hebenliftgehobentrinkendrinkgetrunken

heienbe calledgeheientundogetan

helfenhelpgeholfenverbietenforbidverboten

klingensoundgeklungenvergessenforgetvergessen

lassenlet, allowgelassenverlassenleaveverlassen

leidensuffergelittenverlierenloseverloren

leihenlendgeliehenversprechenpromiseversprochen

lesenreadgelesenverstehenunderstandverstanden

liegenreclinegelegenverzeihenforgiveverziehen

lgenlie, fibgelogenwaschenwashgewaschen

nehmentakegenommenwerfenthrowgeworfen

pfeifenwhistlegepfiffenziehenpullgezogen

Some verbs change their stems, like all irregular verbs; buttake the endings for regular verbsinstead of irregular verbs. They form their past participles like regular verbs. (Ge-stem-t)InfinitiveIrregular StemPast Participle

brennen-to burnbrann-gebrannt

bringen-to bringbrach-gebracht

denken-to thinkdach-gedacht

kennen-to know (people)kann-gekannt

nennen-to call, namenann-genannt

rennen-to runrann-gerannt

wenden-toturnwand-gewandt

wissen-to know (facts)wu-gewut

42. SEIN VERBS AND PAST PARTICIPLESThe following verbs use sein as the auxiliary verb, and many have irregular past participles.aufwachenwake upaufgewachtlaufenrungelaufen

bleibenremaingebliebenpassierenhappenpassiert

erscheinenappearerschienenreisentravelgereist

ertrinkendrownertrunkenreitenride (horseback)geritten

fahrendrive, go, travelgefahrenrennenrungerannt

fallenfallgefallenschwimmenswimgeschwommen

fliegenflygeflogenseinbegewesen

folgenfollowgefolgtsinkensinkgesunken

gebrenbe borngeborenspringenjumpgesprungen

gehengogegangensteigenclimbgestiegen

gelingensucceedgelungensterbendiegestorben

geschehenhappengeschehentretenstepgetreten

joggenjoggejoggtwachsengrowgewachsen

kletternclimbgeklettertwandernhikegewandert

kommencomegekommenwerdenbecomegeworden

kriechencreepgekrochen

43. FOOD AND MEALSbreakfastdas Frhstckbreaddas Brot (e)

lunchdas Mittagessenpepperder Pfeffer

dinnerdas Abendessensaltdas Salz

glassdas Glas (, er)icedas Eis

forkdie Gabel (n)vinegarder Essig

spoonder Lffel (-)oildas l

knifedas Messer (-)sugarder Zucker

napkindie Serviette (n)butterdie Butter

plateder Teller (-)tableder Tisch (e)

silverwaredas Besteckdishesdas Geschirr

teaderTeejuiceder Saft (, e)

steakdasSteakwaterdas Wasser

cakeder Kuchenwineder Wein

chickendas Huhnbeerdas Bier

coffeeder Kaffeesoft drinkdie Limonade

fishder Fischmilkdie Milch

hamder Schinkeneggdas Ei (er)

ice creamdas Eishoneyder Honig

jamdie Marmeladesnackder Imbiss

riceder Reischeeseder Kse

saladder Salatmustardder Senf

soupdie SuppepiedieTorte (n)

44. FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND MEATSfruitdasObstpumpkinder Krbis (e)

pineappledie Ananas(-)olivedie Olive(n)

appleder Apfel()raddishder Rettich (e)

apricotdie Aprikose (n)lettuceder Salat

bananadie Banane (n)tomatodieTomate (n)

peardie Birne (n)oniondie Zwiebel (n)

strawberrydie Erdbeere (n)green beansdie grnen Bohnen

raspberrydie Himbeere (n)cornder Mais

cherrydie Kirsche (n)meatdas Fleisch

limedie Limone (n)roastder Braten (-)

lemondie Zitrone (n)vealdas Kalbfleisch

orangedie Orange (n)lambdas Lammfleisch

peachder Pfirsisch (e)beefdas Rindfleisch

grapedie Traube (n)porkdas Schweinefleisch

vegetabledasGemsebaconder Speck

cauliflowerder Blumenkohlsausagedie Wurst(, e)

beandie Bohne (n)poultrydas Geflgel

peadie Erbse (n)duckdie Ente (n)

cucumberdie Gurke (n)goosedie Gans (, e)

carrotdie Karotte (n)chickendas Huhn (, er)

potatodie Kartoffel (n)turkeyder Truthahn (, e)

cabbageder Kohlfishder Fisch (e)

In Austria,der Karfiolis cauliflower,die Fisolenis green beans, andder Kukuruzis corn.

45. GENITIVE PARTITIVEThe genitive partitive is mostly used when talking about quantities of food. Both words are in the nominative case in German, andofis not needed.a glass of water -ein Glas Wassera piece of cake -ein Stck Kuchena slice of pizza -ein Stck Pizza

46. CommandsGehen-to go

duformconjugated form, minus -(s)tGeh!

ihrformconjugated formGeht!

wirformconjugated form with wir followingGehen wir!

Sieformconjugated form with Sie followingGehen Sie!

Verbs that take an umlaut in conjugationsleave it offin commands. Verbs that change theirstem vowelfrometoiuse the changed stemin theduform. All commands require an exclamation point. The wir forms translate as Let's + verb in English.Imperative of Sein

duformSei!

ihrformSeid!

SieformSeien Sie!

47. SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONSSubordinating conjunctions are used to connect an independent and dependent clause together, and they do affect word order. An independent (or main) clause contains a subject and verb and can stand alone as its own sentence. A dependent (or subordinate) clause also contains a subject and verb, but is introduced with a subordinating conjunction and cannot stand alone as its own sentence.There are also other conjunctions (called coordinating) that do not affect word order. The easiest way to tell the two types of conjunctions apart is to memorize the coordinating ones. Und, aber, denn- for/because,sondern- but (on the contrary) andoderare the coordinating conjunctions. The rest of the conjunctions act as subordinating, and interrogative words can also act as subordinating conjunctions. Some examples areals-when,bevor-before,bis-until,damit-so that,dass-that,wenn-if/when,ob-whether,obwohl-although,nachdem-after,da-since,whrend-while,weil-because, andwie-how.1. In clauses introduced by subordinating conjunctions, the conjugated verb is forced to the end of the clause (not sentence) and a comma is placed before the conjunction.Ich bleibe zu Hause. Ich bin krank. I'm staying home. I am sick.Ich bleibe zu Hause, weilich krankbin. I'm staying home because I am sick.(weilis the subordinating conjunction, andbinmust go to the end.)Sie kommt nach zu dir. Sie hat gegessen. She's coming to your place. She has eaten.Sie kommt nach zu dir, nachdemsie gegessenhat. She's coming to your place after she has eaten.(nachdemis the sub. conjunction, andhatmust go to the end.) However, when a double infinitive construction is involved, the conjugated verb form precedes the two infinitives. The double infinitive always goes to the end of the clause or sentence.Ich wei nicht, oberhatmitkommen wollen. I don't know if he wanted to come along.2. When a sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction, the main clause begins with the conjugated verb in keeping with the normal word order of German that states verbs are always in the second position. The subordinate clause becomes the first position, so the verb of the main clause must occupy the second position.Hans telefoniert mit Ihnen, whrend Sie in Berlin sind. Hans will call you while you're in Berlin.WhrendSie in Berlin sind,telefoniertHans mit Ihnen. While you are in Berlin, Hans will call you.(whrendis a subordinating conjunction, and the subordinating clause occupies the first position of the sentence, so the second position must be occupied by the verb of the main clause,telefoniert.)3. 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 clause, whereas normally the prefix would go to the end.Er ist immer mde, wenner frhaufsteht.He is always tired when he gets up early.4. 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 mde, wenner frhaufstehen muss.He is tired when he must get up early.

48. HOLIDAY PHRASESFrohe Weihnachten!Merry Christmas!

Frohe Ostern!Happy Easter!

Glckliches Neues Jahr!Happy New Year!

Herzlichen Glckwunsch zum Geburtstag!Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!Happy Birthday!

das SilvesterNew Year's Eve

das NeujahrNew Year's Day

der ValentinstagValentine's Day

der Fasching(S. Germany) /der Karneval(Rhineland)Mardi Gras

das OsternEaster

das WeihnachtenChristmas

der Geburtstagbirthday

die Hochzeitwedding

49. HELFEN, LASSEN AND THE SENSESHelfen, lassen and verbs indicating the senses (such as sehen and hren) function like modal auxiliaries. Like the modals, these verbs require a double infinitive construction when forming the present perfect tense if there is a dependent infinitive involved. After verbs of this type, English often uses a present participle, but German uses a dependent infinitive.Ichseheihnkommen. I see him coming.Ichhabeihnkommen hren. I heard him coming.Lassencan have different meanings depending on how it is used in the sentence. Usually, lassen means to let or allow, as inLa den Jungen spielen!Let the boy play! (Notice that lassen takes an accusative object) But it can also mean to have something done or to have someone do something.Wir lassen uns ein Haus bauen.We're having a house built./We're building a house. Ich lasse meinen Sohn die Post abholen.I'm having my son pick up the mail.

50. PLACESstreetdie Strae (n)strass-uhpharmacydie Apotheke (n)ah-poh-tek-uh

bankdie Bank (en)bahnkdrugstoredie Drogerie (n)droh-ger-ee

hoteldas Hotel (s)hoh-telfactorydie Fabrik (en)fah-breek

restaurantdas Restaurant (s)res-toh-rahnbutcher shopdie Metzgerei (en)mets-geh-rie

theaterdas Theater (-)tay-ah-terdry cleaner'sdie Reinigung (en)rien-ee-gunk

storedas Geschft / der Laden ()lah-denbookstoreder Buchladen ()booch-lah-den

museumdas Museum (Museen)moo-zay-umairportder Flughafen ()flook-hahf-en

churchdie Kirche (n)keer-kuhgaragedie Garage (n)gah-rah-zhuh

squareder Platz (, e)plahtztown halldas Rathaus ()raht-house

monumentdas Denkmal (, er)denk-mallcastledas Schloss (, er)shlohss

buildingdas Gebude (-)guh-boy-duhschooldie Schule (n)shoo-luh

housedas Haus (, er)housecitydie Stadt (, e)shtaht

grocery storedas Lebensmittel-geschft (e)lay-buns-mit-tel-geh-sheftbardie Kneipe (n)knigh-puh

librarydie Bibliothek (en)beeb-lee-oh-tekcathedralder Dom (e)dome

hospitaldas Krankenhaus (,er)krahnk-en-housevillagedas Dorf (, er)dorf

stadiumdas Stadion (Stadien)shtah-dee-oncemeteryder Friedhof (, e)freed-hoff

movie theaterdas Kino (s)kee-nohbackerydie Bckerei (en)beck-er-ie

hardware storedas Eisenwaren-geschft (e)ise-en-war-en-geh-sheftshoe storedas Schuh-geschft (e)shoo-geh-sheft

stationery storedas Schreibwaren-geschft (e)shribe-var-en-geh-scheft

In Austria and Southern Germany,die Buchhandlungis used forbookstore.

51. TRANSPORTATIONbusder Bus (se)boos

trolleybusder Obusoh-boos

subwaydie U-Bahnoo-bahn

trainder Zug (, e)tsook

airplanedas Flugzeug (e)flook-tsoyk

shipdas Schiff (e)shiff

boatdas Boot (e)boat

motorcycledas Motorrad (, er)moh-toh-raht

automobiledas Auto (s)ow-toh

streetcardie Straenbahn (en)shtrass-en-bahn

mopeddas Moped (s)mo-ped

bikedas Fahrrad (, er)fah-raht

carder Wagen (-)vah-gen

on footzu Fussfoos

Die U-Bahn is short for die Untergrundbahn and der Obus is short for der Oberleitungsbus. To saybybus, train, etc., usemit dem+ the noun for masculine and neuter nouns; andmit der+ the noun for feminine nouns.

52. SIMPLE PAST / IMPERFECT TENSEIn English, this tense corresponds to I did, you saw, he cried, etc.and is used less often in spoken German than the present perfect tense. It is used more often in writing to tell a sequence of past events. Nevertheless, even in conversational German,sein, haben, werden, wissen and the modal verbs are preferred in the simple past tense than in the present perfect tense. In addition, the simple past tense is commonly used in clauses that begin withals(when).

All regular verbs add these endings to their original stems:-te-ten

-test-tet

-te-ten

Verb stems ending in-d or -t,add an-ebefore all endings for ease of pronunciation.Simple Past of sein, haben & werden

seinhabenwerden

ichwarhattewurde

duwarsthattestwurdest

er, sie, eswarhattewurde

wirwarenhattenwurden

ihrwarthattetwurdet

siewarenhattenwurden

For the modal verbs, drop the umlaut found in the infinitive before adding the endings. Mgen changes the g to ch as well.Simple Past of Modals

knnenmssendrfensollenwollenmgen

ichkonntemutedurftesolltewolltemochte

dukonntestmutestdurftestsolltestwolltestmochtest

er, sie, eskonntemutedurftesolltewolltemochte

wirkonntenmutendurftensolltenwolltenmochten

ihrkonntetmutetdurftetsolltetwolltetmochtet

siekonntenmutendurftensolltenwolltenmochten

The following verbs are called mixed verbs because although they have an irregular stem, they still use the imperfect endings for regular verbs. These are the same stems that are used in the present perfect tense as well.Simple Past of Mixed Verbs

wissenbringendenkenkennenbrennennennenrennenwenden

ichwutebrachtedachtekanntebranntenannteranntewandte

duwutestbrachtestdachtestkanntestbranntestnanntestranntestwandtest

er, sie, eswutebrachtedachtekanntebranntenannteranntewandte

wirwutenbrachtendachtenkanntenbranntennanntenranntenwandten

ihrwutetbrachtetdachtetkanntetbranntetnanntetranntetwandtet

siewutenbrachtendachtenkanntenbranntennanntenranntenwandten

53. IRREGULAR STEMS IN SIMPLE PAST / IMPERFECT TENSEIrregular verbs have a different stem for the past tense and add different endings than those of the regular verbs. You will have to memorize these stems, as they can be unpredictable (and unlike the past participles). Remember the simple past forms given below are just the stems; you must add different irregular endings depending on the subject.InfinitiveSimple PastPast ParticipleTranslation

anfangenfing ... anangefangenbegin

aufstehenstand ... aufaufgestandenget up

befehlenbefahlbefohlenorder, command

beginnenbegannbegonnenbegin

beissenbissgebissenbite

begreifenbegriffbegriffencomprehend

bekommenbekambekommenget, receive

bewerbenbewarbbeworbenapply

bindenbandgebundentie

biegenboggebogenturn, bend

bietenbotgebotenoffer

bittenbatgebetenask

blasenbliesgeblasenblow

bleibenbliebist gebliebenremain

brechenbrachgebrochenbreak

einladenlud ... eineingeladeninvite

entscheidenentschiedentschiedendecide

empfehlenempfahlempfohlenrecommend

erscheinenerschienist erschienenappear

ertrinkenertrankist ertrunkendrown

essenagegesseneat

fahrenfuhrist gefahrendrive, go, travel

fallenfielist gefallenfall

fangenfinggefangencatch

findenfandgefundenfind

fliegenflogist geflogenfly

fressenfragefresseneat (of animals)

frierenfrorgefrorenfreeze

gebengabgegebengive

gebrengebarist geborenbe born

gehengingist gegangengo

gelingengelangist gelungensucceed

geschehengeschahist geschehenhappen

gewinnengewanngewonnenwin

gieengossgegossenpour, water

greifengriffgegriffenreach

haltenhieltgehaltenhold

hngenhinggehangenhang, suspend

hebenhobgehobenlift

heienhiegeheienbe called

helfenhalfgeholfenhelp

klingenklanggeklungensound

kommenkamist gekommencome

kriechenkrochist gekrochencreep

lassenliessgelassenlet, allow

laufenliefist gelaufenrun

leidenlittgelittensuffer

leihenliehgeliehenlend

lesenlasgelesenread

liegenlaggelegenrecline

lgenloggelogenlie, fib

nehmennahmgenommentake

pfeifenpfiffgepfiffenwhistle

ratenrietgeratenadvise

reissenrissgerissentear

reitenrittist gerittenride (horseback)

riechenrochgerochensmell

rufenriefgerufencall

scheinenschiengeschienenshine

schiebenschobgeschobenpush

schiessenschossgeschossenshoot

schlafenschliefgeschlafensleep

schlagenschluggeschlagenhit

schlieenschlossgeschlossenshut

schneidenschnittgeschnittencut

schreibenschriebgeschriebenwrite

schreienschriegeschrieencry

schweigenschwieggeschwiegenbe silent

schwimmenschwammist geschwommenswim

schwingenschwanggeschwungenswing

sehensahgesehensee

seinwarist gewesenbe

singensanggesungensing

sinkensankist gesunkensink

sitzensagesessensit

spinnenspangesponnenspin

sprechensprachgesprochenspeak

springensprangist gesprungenjump

stehenstandgestandenstand

stehlenstahlgestohlensteal

steigenstiegist gestiegenclimb

sterbenstarbist gestorbendie

streitenstrittgestrittenquarrel

tragentruggetragenwear

treffentrafgetroffenmeet

treibentriebgetriebenplay sports

tretentratist getretenstep

trinkentrankgetrunkendrink

tuntatgetando

verbietenverbotverbotenforbid

vergessenvergavergessenforget

vergleichenverglichverglichencompare

verlassenverliessverlassenleave

verlierenverlorverlorenlose

versprechenversprachversprochenpromise

verstehenverstandverstandenunderstand

verzeihenverziehverziehenforgive

vorschlagenschlug ... vorvorgeschlagensuggest

wachsenwuchsist gewachsengrow

waschenwuschgewaschenwash

werfenwarfgeworfenthrow

ziehenzoggezogenpull

Irregular Endings

--en

-st-t

--en

There are no endings for the 1st and 3rd person singular. If the verb stem ends in ans sound(such as a-), the duform ending becomes-est(du aest.)If the verb stem ends in-t or -d,the ihr form ending becomes-etwhile the du form ending sometimes becomes-est.Most verb stems do add -est in the du form, but some do not. For example,findenis conjugatedwithoutthe -e- (du fandst) whilesich befindenis conjugatedwiththe -e- (du befandest dich.) Similarly,stehenis conjugatedwithoutthe -e- (du standst) whileverstehenis conjugatedwiththe -e- (du verstandest.) The other main verbs that are conjugated without the -e- arebraten(brietst; to roast),erfinden(erfandst, to invent),laden(ludst, to invite),leiden(littst, to suffer), andschneiden(schnittst, to cut).

54. HOUSE AND FURNITURE

windowdasFenster (-)groundfloordas Erdgeschoss

curtainder Vorhang (, e)1st floor/storeyder erste Stock

clockdie Uhr (en)floor/groundder Boden ()

bookcasedas Bcherregal (e)roofdas Dach (, er)

lampdie Lampe (n)showerdie Dusche(n)

tableder Tisch (e)bathtubdie Badewanne (n)

sofadas Sofa (s)stairs/stepsdie Treppen

chairder Stuhl (, e)stoveder Herd (e)

armchairder Sessel (-)ovender Backofen ()

mirrorder Spiegel (-)refrigeratorder Khlschrank (e)

toweldas Handtuch (, er)dishwasherdie Geschirrsplmaschine (n)

toiletdie Toilette (n)faucetder Wasserhahn (, e)

wastebasketder Papierkorb (, e)pot, pander Topf (, e)

bathroom sinkdas Waschbecken (-)drawerdie Schublade (n)

(clothes)closetder (Kleider)schrank (, e)silverwaredas Besteck

picturedas Bild (er)dishesdas Geschirr

nightstandder Nachttisch (e)kitchen sinkdas Splbecken (-)

vasedie Vase (n)deskder Schreibtisch (e)

dresserdie Kommode (n)alarmclockder Wecker (-)

beddas Bett (en)shelfdas Regal(e)

rugder Teppich (e)televisionder Fernseher (-)

roomdas Zimmer (-)telephonedas Telefon(e)

bathroomdas Badezimmer (-)VCRder Videorekorder (-)

bedroomdas Schlafzimmer (-)CD Playerder CD-Spieler (-)

living roomdas Wohnzimmer (-)computerder Computer (-)

kitchendie Kche(n)radiodas Radio(s)

hallway/corridorder Flur (e)pillowdas Kopfkissen (-)

balconyder Balkon (e)cupboardder Schrank (, e)

furnituredie Mbelblanket, ceilingdie Decke (n)

walldie Wand (, e)doordie Tr (en)

lawnder Rasengarden, yardder Garten ()

Remember that in Europe, buildings always start with the ground floor, and then the next floor up is the first floor. Many Americans would refer to these floors as the first floor and second floor, respectively, and not even use ground floor.

55. LOCATION VS. DIRECTIONLocation: the prepositionsin, an, aufandbei (followed by the dative case)are used with fixed locations, whileausandvon (also followed by the dative case)are used to signify origin.inenclosed spacesIch bin in der Kirche.Wir sind in der Schule.I'm at church.We are at school.

andenotes border or limiting areaEr ist am See.Das Bild ist an der Wand.He is at the lake.The picture is on the wall.

aufon surfaces, or at public buildingsEs ist auf dem Tisch.Sie sind auf der Bank.It's on the table.They are at the bank.

beibefore name of place or businesswhere someone lives or worksIch arbeite bei McDonald's.Ich wohne bei meiner Tante.I work at McDonald's.I live at my Aunt's (house).

auscomes from enclosed or defined space,such as country, town or buildingSie kommt aus dem Zimmer.Ich komme aus den USA.She comes from the bedroom.I come from the USA.

voncomes from open space,particular direction or personDas Auto kommt von rechts.Ich wei es von ihm.The car comes from the right.I know it from him.

Direction: the prepositionsinandauf (followed by the accusative case)orzuandnach (followed by the dative case)are used.inbuilding or enclosed space; countriesand cities that have definite articles*Ich gehe in die Kirche.Ich fliege in die USA.I'm going to church.I'm flying to the USA.

aufopen spaces or public buildingsEr geht auf den Markt.He's going to the market.

zuspecifically named buildings or places,and peopleSie geht zum Strand.Sie gehen zu McDonald's.Ich gehe zur Bank.She's going to the beach.They're going to McDonald'sI'm going to the bank.

nachcountries and cities that have no articlesIch fliege nach sterreich.Ich fliege nach Paris.I'm flying to Austria.I'm flying to Paris.

Only a few countries include the articles, such asder Iran(m.),die Niederlande(pl.),die Schweiz(f.),die Trkei(f.), anddie USA(pl.), because they are not neuter.Remember the two idioms with Haus: zu Hauseis a location and means at home, whilenach Hauseis a direction and means (to) home.

56. CLOTHINGjacketdie Jacke (n)ringder Ring (e)

dressdas Kleid (er)necklacedie Halskette (n)

blousedie Bluse (n)braceletdas Armband (, er)

shirtdas Hemd (en)earringderOhrring (e)

T-shirtdas T-Shirt (s)gloveder Handschuh (e)

skirtder Rock (, e)jeansdie Jeans

sweaterder Pullover (-)watchdie Armbanduhr (en)

pulloverder Pulli (s)glassesdie Brille

tiedie Krawatte (n)man's suitder Anzug(, e)

sockdie Socke (n)woman's suitdas Kostm (e)

shoeder Schuh (e)sports jacketdas Sakko (s)

bootder Stiefel (-)bag, pocketdie Tasche (n)

sandaldie Sandale (n)underweardie Unterwsche

pursedie Handtasche (n)pantsdie Hose (n)

beltder Grtel (-)raincoatder Regenmantel ()

scarfder Schal (s)coatder Mantel ()

swimsuitder Badeanzug (, e)hatder Hut (, e)

A few words to describe patterns are:kariert- plaid,gepunktet- polka-dotted,gestreift- striped,geblmt- flowered,gemustert- patterned.A few verbs that require dative objects can be used with clothing:gefallen- to like,passen- to fit,stehen- to look (good/bad)Gefllt dir dieses Hemd?Do you like this shirt?Die Farbe steht mir nicht.The color doesn't look good on me.Gre 48 pat ihr bestimmt.Size 48 fits her well.

57. FUTURE TENSEThe future tense is simple to form in German. Just use the present tense forms ofwerdenand put the infinitive to the end of the sentence. However, German usually relies on the present tense to indicate the future (implied future) and uses time expressions, such as tonight, tomorrow, etc. so the actual future tense is not quite as common in German as it is in English. Wir gehen morgen nach Deutschlandis translated asWe are going to Germany tomorrow, and implies a future action, yet it uses the present tense, in both German and English. To express present or future probability, usewohl(probably) with the future tense.Present tense of werden

werdewerden

wirstwerdet

wirdwerden

I will fly to Germany. Ichwerdenach Deutschlandfliegen.You will help me! Duwirstmirhelfen!We will learn Latin. WirwerdenLateinlernen.My friend should be home now. Mein Freundwirdjetztwohlzu Hausesein. (Expresses probability)

58. ASKING QUESTIONS1. Simply add a question mark2. Invert the verb and subject3. Use a question word + verb + subject4. Addnicht wahr?to the end of the statement

59. DECLENSIONS OF ADJECTIVES

There are three types of declensions for adjectives: adjectives used with der words, adjectives used with ein words, and independent adjectives. Predicate adjectives (Das brot istfrisch. The bread is fresh.) arenotdeclined and usually follow a form ofsein.Adjectives used after der words (WeakEndings)

Masc.Fem.Neu.Plural

Nom.der guteWeindie guteMilchdas guteBrotdie gutenFreunde

Acc.den gutenWeindie guteMilchdas guteBrotdie gutenFreunde

Dat.dem gutenWeinder gutenMilchdem gutenBrotden gutenFreunden

Gen.des gutenWeinesder gutenMilchdes gutenBrotesder gutenFreunde

Adjectives used after ein words (Weak Endings)

Masc.Fem.Neu.Plural

Nom.kein guterWeinkeine guteMilchkein gutesBrotkeine gutenFreunde

Acc.keinen gutenWeinkeine guteMilchkein gutesBrotkeine gutenFreunde

Dat.keinem gutenWeinkeiner gutenMilchkeinem gutenBrotkeinen gutenFreunden

Gen.keines gutenWeineskeiner gutenMilchkeines gutenBroteskeiner gutenFreunde

The only difference between the adjectives used after der words and the adjectives used after ein words are the masculine and neuter nominative, and neuter accusative. The rest of the endings are the same. These types of attributive adjectives are the weak endings. The strong endings (below) are used on adjectives that have no preceding article. They are the same as the endings for the der words (with the exception of the masculine and neuter genitive.)Independent Adjectives (Strong Endings)

Masc.Fem.Neu.Plural

Nom.guterWeinguteMilchgutesBrotguteFreunde

Acc.gutenWeinguteMilchgutesBrotguteFreunde

Dat.gutemWeinguterMilchgutemBrotgutenFreunden

Gen.gutenWeinesguterMilchgutenBrotesguterFreunde

Viele (many), wenige (few), andere (other), einige (some),andmehrere (several)are all plural expressions that donotact as limiting words. Adjectives that follow them take strong endings. In the singular,mancher (many a)andsolcher (such)also use strong endings (when used with another adjective in the singular, they turn intomanch einandso ein), but in the plural they function as normal limiting words.

60. ADJECTIVESshortkurzhigh, tallhochlighthell

longlangwidebreitdarkdunkel

loudlautfat, thickdickterriblefurchtbar

quietruhigthindnnsweets

cuteniedlichnarrowengin loveverliebt

perfectperfektweakschwachseriousernsthaft

sadtraurigstrongstarkcleansauber

happyglcklichdeeptiefdirtyschmutzig

dearlieblazyfaulshyschchtern

famousberhmtcheapbillignervousnervs

differentunterschiedlichdumbdummcomfortablebequem

easyleichtearlyfrhworriedbesorgt

difficultschwierignearnahrightrichtig

prettyhbschnicenettwrongfalsch

uglyhlichinexpensivepreiswertjealouseiferschtig

smallkleinexpensiveteuerdrunkbetrunken

largegrocrazyverrcktpopularbeliebt

goodgutfarweitexcellentausgezeichnet

badschlechtbeautifulschnvaluablewertvoll

newneucuriousneugierigaloneallein

tiredmdeoldaltimportantwichtig

angrywtendyoungjungbusybeschftigt

annoyingrgerlichinterestinginteressantsickkrank

wonderfulwunderbarfantasticfantastischreadyfertig

61. COMPARATIVE & SUPERLATIVEFor comparisons of equality, use the constructionso+ adjective or adverb +wieto mean as + adjective or adverb + as. You can also addnichtin front of thesofor a comparison of inequality.Die Kche istso gross wiedas Wohnzimmer. The kitchen is as big as the living room.Eine Waschmaschine istnicht so schwer wieein Khlschrank. A washing machine is not as heavy as a refrigerator.Comparative1. For comparisons of superiority and inferiority, add-erto the adjective or adverb, followed byals(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 alsein Fernseher. A radio is cheaper than a TV.Jens luft schneller alsErnst. Jens runs faster than Ernst.Lydia ist intelligenter alsihr 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 becomesteurerinstead of teuerer, and dunkel becomesdunklerinstead of dunkeler. Some one-syllable adjectives and adverbs whose stem vowel is a, o, or u add an umlaut in the comparative, such asalt, arm, dumm, grob, gro, hart, jung, kalt, klug, krank, kurz, lang, oft, scharf, schwach, stark, warm. Adjectives thatneveradd an umlaut are flach, froh, klar, rasch, roh, schlank, stolz, toll, voll and zart.Superlative1. To form the superlative, add-(e)stto 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