Grammar A1 - Nico Weg Flashcards
(40 cards)
Adjective declension (1)
Adjective usage
Adjectives are used to describe people and things. Their form does not change when they follow the noun or personal pronoun that they describe (nor when they are at the beginning of a sentence directly before the conjugated verb):
Nicos T-Shirt ist rot. (Or: Rot ist Nicos T-Shirt.)
An adjective can also come before the noun that it describes, in which case the adjective’s ending changes according to the noun following it:
Nico trägt ein rotes T-Shirt.
This change in the adjective’s form is known as adjective declension. There are three different declensions. Which of the three is used depends on the article before the noun: a definite article, indefinite article or no article.
Adjective declension after an indefinite article
The adjective is placed between the article and the noun:
Article Adjective Noun
ein rotes T-Shirt
In the nominative and the accusative cases, the adjective takes the ending of the definite article:
Diagram of the grammar problemDiagram of the grammar problem
Nominative
der Pullover:
ein roter Pullover
die Hose:
eine rote Hose
das T-Shirt:
ein rotes T-Shirt
die Turnschuhe: rote Turnschuhe
In the accusative case, the masculine article changes form, as does the adjective ending. The other forms stay the same.
Accusative
den Pullover:
einen roten Pullover
die Hose:
eine rote Hose
das T-Shirt:
ein rotes T-Shirt
die Turnschuhe: rote Turnschuhe
Nico, du brauchst einen neuen Pullover, eine neue Hose, ein neues T-Shirt und neue Turnschuhe!
Exceptions:
Adjectives that end in -el or -er usually lose the e before the adjective ending:
dunkel: Nico trägt einen dunklen Pullover.
teuer: Der teure Pullover ist schön.
A few adjectives are not declined (super, extra and some adjectives describing color):
super: Das ist ein super Film.
extra: Möchtest du einen extra Teller für den Salat?
Grammatical terms in German:
das Adjektiv: Adjectives are words used to describe people and things.
Adjective declension (1)
Adjective usage
Adjectives are used to describe people and things. Their form does not change when they follow the noun or personal pronoun that they describe (nor when they are at the beginning of a sentence directly before the conjugated verb):
Nicos T-Shirt ist rot. (Or: Rot ist Nicos T-Shirt.)
An adjective can also come before the noun that it describes, in which case the adjective’s ending changes according to the noun following it:
Nico trägt ein rotes T-Shirt.
This change in the adjective’s form is known as adjective declension. There are three different declensions. Which of the three is used depends on the article before the noun: a definite article, indefinite article or no article.
Adjective declension after an indefinite article
The adjective is placed between the article and the noun:
Article Adjective Noun
ein rotes T-Shirt
In the nominative and the accusative cases, the adjective takes the ending of the definite article:
Diagram of the grammar problemDiagram of the grammar problem
Nominative
der Pullover:
ein roter Pullover
die Hose:
eine rote Hose
das T-Shirt:
ein rotes T-Shirt
die Turnschuhe: rote Turnschuhe
In the accusative case, the masculine article changes form, as does the adjective ending. The other forms stay the same.
Accusative
den Pullover:
einen roten Pullover
die Hose:
eine rote Hose
das T-Shirt:
ein rotes T-Shirt
die Turnschuhe: rote Turnschuhe
Nico, du brauchst einen neuen Pullover, eine neue Hose, ein neues T-Shirt und neue Turnschuhe!
Exceptions:
Adjectives that end in -el or -er usually lose the e before the adjective ending:
dunkel: Nico trägt einen dunklen Pullover.
teuer: Der teure Pullover ist schön.
A few adjectives are not declined (super, extra and some adjectives describing color):
super: Das ist ein super Film.
extra: Möchtest du einen extra Teller für den Salat?
Grammatical terms in German:
das Adjektiv: Adjectives are words used to describe people and things.
Question words: welch-
Revision: the question word welch-
The question word welch- is used to ask about a particular person or thing, or to select one thing from a larger quantity.
A young woman holds up two dresses.A young woman holds up two dresses.
Welches Kleid findest du schöner?
The question word welch- comes before the noun and has the same ending as the definite article.
Nominative Accusative
Masculine (der) welcher welchen
Feminine (die) welche welche
Neuter (das) welches welches
Plural (die) welche welche
Demonstrative: dies-
A demonstrative is used to signify a particular thing or to select an item from a larger group. Sometimes we might point at the object intended.
A young woman points at something and a young man looks in the same direction.A young woman points at something and a young man looks in the same direction.
Dieses Kleid finde ich schön.
Like the question word welch-, the demonstrative dies- takes the same ending as the definite article.
Nominative Accusative
Masculine (der) dieser diesen
Feminine (die) diese diese
Neuter (das) dieses dieses
Plural (die) diese diese
Welcher Pullover ist am teuersten? – Dieser Pullover ist am teuersten.
Welchen Pullover findest du am schönsten? – Diesen Pullover finde ich am schönsten.
Welche Hose ist am billigsten? – Diese Hose ist am billigsten.
Welches Kleid möchten Sie? – Ich möchte dieses Kleid, bitte.
Welche Turnschuhe nehmen Sie? – Ich nehme diese Turnschuhe hier.
Verbs with a dative object (1)
Das Hemd passt dir nicht. Es ist zu groß.
Many German verbs need an object. The object is often in the accusative case. However, some German verbs are used with a dative object. The dative object is often at the receiving end of an action, and is therefore commonly a person. The verbs passen and stehen are examples of verbs used with a dative object.
Examples:
Das Hemd passt dem Mann nicht.
Die Hose steht der Frau nicht.
Der Pullover passt dem Kind nicht.
Die dunklen Jacken stehen den Kindern nicht.
We can use a personal pronoun as the dative object; in this case, the personal pronoun has to be in the dative case:
ich -> mir
du -> dir
Examples:
Das Hemd passt mir nicht.
Der Pullover steht dir nicht.
The dative object answers the questions who? (“Wem?”) or what? (“Was?”) (wem for people and was for objects).
Grammatical terms in German:
der Dativ: In German, there are four different forms or categories (cases) of noun, called Fälle or Kasus in German. As well as nominative and accusative, there is dative. Nouns take this case when they come after certain prepositions, for example, or are the object of a verb that takes the dative case. The articles take the following forms: dem/einem, der/einer, dem/einem, den/-. In the plural, an -n is often added to the end of the noun.
zu + adjective (2)
When we use zu + adjective, we are expressing the view that the quantity, size or intensity of something is not good, or not quite right. It means that the person using the expression finds something inappropriate or unacceptable.
Das Hemd ist zu teuer.
This can mean:
- The price of the shirt is unreasonably high.
- The price is reasonable but I do not have enough money to pay for it, or I am not prepared to pay that much for it.
In the second instance, the subjective meaning being emphasized is: for me, personally, the shirt is too expensive. To express this even more clearly, the personal pronoun in the dative case can be used:
Das Hemd ist mir zu teuer.
When we are talking about clothing, the following construction is often used:
Das Kleid ist mir zu groß.
Die Schuhe sind mir zu klein.
Die Hose ist mir zu lang.
Der Rock ist mir zu kurz.
Adjective declension (2)
An adjective can directly precede the noun it describes. In this case, the adjectival ending changes to match that of the noun it precedes. This is called adjective declension. There are three different declensions. The declension to use depends on the article that precedes the noun: the indefinite article, the definite article or no article.
Adjective declension after a definite article
Inge speaks with Nico who is wearing an old-fashioned shirt and sweater vest.Inge speaks with Nico who is wearing an old-fashioned shirt and sweater vest.
Inge schenkt Nico ein gestreiftes Hemd. – Nico findet das gestreifte Hemd nicht so schön.
If there is an indefinite article before the noun, then the adjective (in the nominative and accusative cases) takes the ending of the definite article.
But when there is a definite article before the noun, the adjective only takes the ending -e or -en.
Masculine:
der schicke Pullover (nominative)
den schicken Pullover (accusative)
Feminine:
die schicke Hose (nominative and accusative)
Neuter:
das schicke Hemd (nominative and accusative)
Plural:
die schicken Schuhe (nominative and accusative)
In the accusative case, the adjective before a masculine noun takes the ending -en.
Adjectives before plural nouns also take the ending -en.
Adjective declension after the possessive determiner or the negative article
Adjectives before a noun with a possessive determiner (i.e., mein, dein, sein …) or a negative article (kein) are declined as follows:
in the singular, the same as the adjective declension after an indefinite article.
in the plural, the same as the adjective declension after a definite article.
Masculine:
kein schicker Pullover (nominative)
keinen schicken Pullover (accusative)
Feminine:
keine schicke Hose (nominative and accusative)
Neuter:
kein schickes Hemd (nominative and accusative)
Plural:
keine schicken Schuhe (nominative and accusative)
Grammatical terms in German:
der bestimmte Artikel: The articles der, die, das are definite articles.
der unbestimmte Artikel: The articles ein, eine are indefinite articles.
Two-case prepositions
Revision: two-case prepositions
There are nine prepositions that can take either the dative or the accusative case: in, an, unter, über, auf, vor, hinter, neben and zwischen.
These prepositions take the dative in answer to the question Wo …?
Wo ist Selmas Portemonnaie? – Selmas Portemonnaie ist …
Preposition + Dative
… auf dem Stuhl.
der Tasche.
dem Bett.
den Büchern.
Some prepositions and articles are contracted when used together:
in + dem = im
an + dem = am
Prepositions: für
Ich habe ein Geschenk für dich. Hier, ein Notizbuch. Für alle neuen Wörter auf Deutsch.
The preposition für is used, for example, to describe the recipient, goal or purpose of an activity. It takes the accusative. Pronouns or nouns that follow für are in the accusative.
Personal pronouns: accusative
Personal pronouns in the accusative
Wo ist der Schlüssel von Yaras Geschäft? – Er ist bei Max und Tarek.
Haben Max und Tarek den Schlüssel von Yaras Geschäft? – Ja, sie haben ihn.
Every noun can be substituted with a pronoun. The personal pronoun can represent a person or thing. Every pronoun can take the nominative or any of the other cases. For example, when a personal pronoun comes after a preposition or a verb that takes the accusative, it will also be in the accusative.
Most personal pronouns in the accusative have a different form from the nominative, but some stay the same.
Nominative Accusative
ich mich
du dich
er ihn
sie sie
es es
wir uns
ihr euch
sie sie
Sie Sie
Prepositions: für
Ich habe ein Geschenk für dich. Hier, ein Notizbuch. Für alle neuen Wörter auf Deutsch.
The preposition für is used, for example, to describe the recipient, goal or purpose of an activity. It takes the accusative. Pronouns or nouns that follow für are in the accusative.
The possessive determiner
Revision: the possessive determiner
Ich habe meinen Bruder angerufen. Aber mein Bruder kann nicht kommen.
To express ownership or possession, we use the possessive determiner, rather than the indefinite article.
Here is an overview of the pronouns and their corresponding possessive determiners:
Pronoun Possessive
ich mein
du dein
er/es sein
sie ihr
wir unser
ihr euer
sie ihr
Sie Ihr
Revision: declension of the possessive determiner
The ending of the possessive determiner in the singular is identical to the ending of the indefinite article:
In the nominative and accusative, the possessive determiner takes the ending -e when it comes before a feminine noun or a plural noun.
In the accusative, the possessive determiner takes the ending -en when it comes before a masculine noun.
Personal pronoun: ich
Possessive determiner: mein
Nominative Accusative
mein Bruder
meine Schwester
mein Kind
meine Eltern meinen Bruder
meine Schwester
mein Kind
meine Eltern
masculine:
mein Bruder (Nominative)
meinen Bruder (Accusative)
feminine:
meine Schwester (Nominative and Accusative)
neuter:
mein Kind (Nominative and Accusative)
plural:
meine Eltern (Nominative and Accusative)
Personal pronoun: ihr
Possessive determiner: euer
Pay attention to the irregular form of euer and the ending:
Nominative Accusative
euer Bruder
eure Schwester
euer Kind
eure Eltern euren Bruder
eure Schwester
euer Kind
eure Eltern
masculine:
euer Bruder (Nominative)
euren Bruder (Accusative)
feminine:
eure Schwester (Nominative and Accusative)
neuter:
euer Kind (Nominative and Accusative)
plural:
eure Eltern (Nominative and Accusative)
Grammatical terms in German:
der Possessivartikel: The possessive determiner is an article that expresses ownership or possession.
Modal verbs: sollen (1)
You already know the modal verbs müssen, können, wollen and möchten. Next you will learn the modal verb sollen. As with the other modal verbs, it refers to a second verb, the main verb.
We use sollen to report a request or an order to do something.
Nico’s mother says: Nico, räum dein Zimmer auf!
But Nico doesn’t want to tidy his room and stays where he is. So his brother says: Nico, hast du nicht gehört? Du sollst dein Zimmer aufräumen!
Conjugation
Unlike the other modal verbs, sollen does not have a vowel change in conjugation. The first and third person are the same.
Singular:
1st person ich soll
2nd person du sollst
3rd person er/sie/es/man soll
Plural:
1st person wir sollen
2nd person ihr sollt
3rd person sie sollen
Formal: Sie sollen
Grammatical terms in German:
das Modalverb: Modal verbs are verbs that often refer to a second verb and add information. They clarify, for example, whether it is possible or necessary to do something. In a sentence in the present tense, the modal verb is conjugated and the second verb remains in the infinitive.
Sentence construction: sentence brackets
Summary: sentence brackets (Satzklammer)
If there is more than one verb or parts of verbs in a clause, the following rules apply:
A verb or part of the verb is in the second position and is conjugated.
The other verbs or parts of verbs are at the end of the sentence. Their form is not adapted to the subject but remains the same.
Examples for this sentence structure are clauses and sentences with modal verbs, sentences with separable verbs and sentences in the perfect tense.
Sentences with modal verbs:
Du sollst dein Zimmer aufräumen.
Nico soll sein Zimmer aufräumen.
Sentences with separable verbs:
Ich räume mein Zimmer auf.
Nico räumt sein Zimmer auf.
Sentences in the perfect tense:
Ich habe mein Zimmer aufgeräumt.
Nico hat sein Zimmer aufgeräumt.
Comparison (3)
Regular comparatives
Regular comparatives are formed as follows:
Positive: basic form (e.g. billig)
Comparative: adjective + -er (e.g. billiger)
Superlative: am + adjective + -sten (e.g. am billigsten)
Die Fußbälle sind billig.
Die Basketbälle sind billiger.
Die Tennisbälle sind am billigsten.
Irregular comparatives: adjectives ending in -el and -er
All adjectives that end in -el and many adjectives that end in -er lose the e before the comparative ending. The superlative construction, however, is regular.
dunkel < dunkler < am dunkelsten
teuer < teurer < am teuersten
Der Tischtennisschläger ist nicht teuer.
Der Tennisschläger ist teurer.
Der Golfschläger ist am teuersten.
Grammatical terms in German:
der Positiv: The positive is the basic form of the adjective. We use it to describe qualities of people or things.
der Komparativ: The comparative is the ranking of an adjective that compares two things to express a difference, e.g. schneller, wärmer, besser.
der Superlativ: The superlative is the highest form of an adjective comparison. It describes the greatest degree of a particular quality, e.g. am schnellsten, am wärmsten, am besten.
Time specification: Wann …?
Time is often designated in response to the question word wann:
Wann spielt ihr Fußball?
To answer with a particular hour of the day or specific time we use …
um, when we are talking about a point in time:
Das Fußballtraining beginnt um zwei Uhr.
von … bis …, when we are talking about a period of time:
Wir spielen von zwei bis vier Uhr Fußball.
With weekdays, we would answer with …
am, when speaking about a one-off event:
Am Freitag spielen wir Fußball.
With an adverb when speaking about a regular event:
Freitags spielen wir Fußball. (= Jeden Freitag spielen wir Fußball.)
von … bis …, to describe a period of time:
Ich muss von Montag bis Freitag arbeiten.
For months and seasons, we answer with …
im when we are talking about a point in time:
Im Januar fahre ich Ski.
Im Sommer gehe ich regelmäßig joggen.
von … bis …, when we are talking about a a period of time:
Von Oktober bis April hat das Schwimmbad geschlossen.
Time specification: Wie oft …?
When asking about an event or activity that is repeated, we use wie oft:
Wie oft trainiert ihr?
We often answer with …
the article jeden/jede/jedes:
Wir trainieren jeden Tag/jeden Freitag. (der Tag -> jeder Tag -> accusative: jeden Tag)
Wir trainieren jede Woche. (die Woche -> jede Woche)
Wir trainieren jedes Wochenende. (das Wochenende -> jedes Wochenende)
a reference to the frequency (einmal, zweimal, dreimal …) followed by the preposition pro:
Wir trainieren zweimal pro Woche.
Time specification: Wie lange …?
To ask about the length of time, we use wie lange:
Wie lange trainierst du?
or:
Wie lange dauert das Training?
Often, we answer with …
the length of time + lang:
Ich trainiere eine halbe Stunde lang.
(The word lang can be left out: Ich trainiere eine halbe Stunde.)
the verb dauern + the length of time:
Das Training dauert zwei Stunden.
Comparison (4)
Irregular comparatives: nah/nahe* and hoch
The adjectives nah(e) and hoch have irregular forms:
nah(e) < näher < am nächsten
hoch < höher < am höchsten
Yanis springt hoch.
Tarek springt höher.
Max springt am höchsten.
- The adjectives nah and nahe have the same meaning. They are variants of the same word.
Imperative: informal
(The informal imperative in the singular)
a) Forms without an ending
In the informal imperative, a distinction is made between the singular and the plural forms of a word. In the singular form, the verb in the second person forms the basis, with the -st ending removed. Verbs with a root that ends in -s, -ß, -z or -x only leave out the -t. In the singular, the informal imperative usually takes no ending.
(Du) mach(st) viel Sport. -> Imperativ: Mach viel Sport!
(Du) geh(st) oft spazieren. -> Imperativ: Geh oft spazieren!
(Du) putz(t) regelmäßig die Zähne. -> Imperativ: Putz regelmäßig die Zähne!
(Du) iss(t) mehr Obst. -> Imperativ: Iss mehr Obst!
Verbs with a vowel change from a to ä have no umlaut in the imperative.
(Du) fähr(st) mit dem Fahrrad zur Arbeit. -> Imperativ: Fahr mit dem Fahrrad zur Arbeit!
(Du) schläf(st) genug. -> Imperativ: Schlaf genug!
b) Special forms ending in -e
Many imperative forms can be formed with the ending -e. Often it is a matter of style whether we say:
Mach jeden Tag Sport!
or:
Mache jeden Tag Sport!
The first variant is more common in spoken language, whereas we usually find the second in written language. Some imperative forms sound old-fahioned or didactic when used with the ending -e.
When a verb ends in -est in the second person singular, in the imperative the -e remains.
(Du) arbeite(st) nicht zu viel. -> Imperativ: Arbeite nicht zu viel!
(Du) öffne(st) das Fenster. -> Imperativ: Öffne das Fenster!
When the vowel changes from e to i (i.e., essen -> Iss!) the ending -e cannot be used.
The informal imperative in the plural
When we use the imperative with more than one person, we use the plural form. This can be created using the second-person plural in the present tense. The personal pronoun is not used but the ending remains unchanged.
(Ihr) macht viel Sport. -> Imperativ: Macht viel Sport!
(Ihr) esst mehr Obst. -> Imperativ: Esst mehr Obst!
(Ihr) fahrt mit dem Fahrrad zur Arbeit. -> Imperativ: Fahrt mit dem Fahrrad zur Arbeit!
(Ihr) arbeitet nicht zu viel. -> Imperativ: Arbeitet nicht zu viel.
Overview: imperative
The regular forms of the imperative are as follows:
Informal (singular) Trink(e) viel Wasser!
Informal (plural) Trinkt viel Wasser!
Formal Trinken Sie viel Wasser!
The forms of the verb sein are irregular:
Informal (singular) Sei fair!
Informal (plural) Seid fair!
Formal Seien Sie fair!
Grammatical terms in German:
der Imperativ: The imperative is a verb form used to make a request, or give a command or instructions.
Müssen or sollen?
(Summary: the modal verbs müssen and sollen)
The modal verbs müssen and sollen are used in similar ways, but they are slightly different in meaning.
The verb müssen expresses an objective necessity and sounds more urgent: If one does not do what is necessary, there will be serious consequences.
Example:
1) Nico muss zum Arzt gehen.
Nico has injured himself and needs medical help. If he does not go to the doctor, he may be in pain for some time or even suffer long-term health problems.
2) Nico muss Deutsch lernen.
Nico would like to stay in Germany for a long time. To be able to live in Germany, he needs to speak German. Without the language, life in Germany will be hard for him.
The verb sollen is generally used to report a request or an order given by someone else. What the person at whom the order is directed thinks of it is not relevant in the sentence.
Examples:
1) Nico soll den Fuß kühlen.
Another person (e.g. Tarek or a doctor) says that Nico should cool his foot with an ice pack.
2) Nico soll studieren.
Nico’s parents want Nico to study at university. Whether Nico himself would like to do this or finds it important is not in question.
Modal verbs: dürfen
Hier darf man nicht rauchen.
In this lesson you will learn the last of the modal verbs, dürfen. You already know the others. We use dürfen to express that a person has permission or the right to do something. This permission is usually given by someone in a position of authority, like a parent, doctor, or official.
Sie dürfen Wasser oder Tee trinken.
Hier dürfen Sie zwei Stunden parken.
Similarly, the authorities can deny someone permission to do something, in which case dürfen would be used with negation.
Sie dürfen keinen Kaffee trinken.
Hier dürfen Sie nicht parken.
Conjugation:
As with most of the other modal verbs, the vowel changes in the singular form; the verb form is the same in the first- and third-person singular.
Singular:
1st person ich darf
2nd person du darfst
3rd person er/sie/es/man darf
Plural:
1st person wir dürfen
2nd person ihr dürft
3rd person sie dürfen
Formal: Sie dürfen
Revision: müssen
As a comparison, take another look at sentences that use the modal verb müssen:
The verb müssen expresses a necessity or requirement; a person is forced to do something:
Er muss arbeiten. (He has to work because he needs money in order to live.)
When the verb müssen is negated, it means there is neither pressure to do something, nor is it expressly forbidden. It means that it is not necessary for a person to do something, but they can do it if they like.
Er muss nicht arbeiten. (He is rich and has enough money to live on, but perhaps he chooses to work because he enjoys it.)
Present perfect
(Revision: present perfect)
Ich habe gestern Fußball gespielt.
In spoken language, we often use the present perfect tense to talk about something that happened in the past.
The present perfect is formed from two parts:
a) In second position in the sentence is a simple clause with the auxiliary verb haben or sein. It is conjugated as in the present tense.
b) The activity described in the sentence is expressed using the second verb at the end of the sentence. This verb is in a special form, the past participle. Most past participles start with the prefix ge-. The past participle in the present perfect tense is an infinitive form, meaning it is not conjugated.
Grammatical terms in German:
das Perfekt: The present perfect is a verb tense that expresses an event in the past. It is formed using the conjugated form of the auxiliary verb (haben or sein) and the past participle.
Present perfect: auxiliary verbs
(Revision: present perfect with haben or sein?)
Most verbs make the perfect with the auxiliary verb haben. Verbs that could take an accusative object always form the perfect tense with haben:
Max und Tarek haben mich zum Arzt gebracht.
Verbs that make the present perfect with sein are …
… verbs that express movement in a particular direction or signify a change of location, e.g. gehen, fahren, fliegen, schwimmen and reisen:
Wir sind sofort zum Arzt gefahren.
… verbs that describe a change of condition or state that cannot be controlled, e.g. einschlafen, aufwachen and passieren.
Ich bin im Krankenhaus aufgewacht.
… the verbs sein, bleiben and werden.
Ich bin drei Tage im Krankenhaus geblieben.
