Notes
Notes
GERMANGURU Pathshala
A1 Kurs
GERMAN ALPHABETS
Alphabet Pronunciation German Word (With translation)
A Ah Apfel (Apple)
E Eh Elephnet (Elefant)
I Ih Idee (idea)
O Oh Ozean (ocean)
U Uh Uhr (clock)
• Es ist fünf vor halb zehn (It’s five minutes before half past nine)
• Es ist fünf nach halb elf (It’s five minutes after half past ten)
• Es ist fünf nach halb zwölf (It’s five minutes after half past eleven)
ORDINAL NUMBERS
The ordinal numbers are in most cases created by simply adding a suffix to a cardinal number. Numbers from 1 to 19
add -te, and numbers 20 and above add -ste. Exceptions are 1 (erste) and 3 (dritte) whose ordinals are based on a
changed root, 7 (siebte), which drops the -en before adding the ordinal suffix -te and 8 (achte) which adds only an -
e because the number already ends in -t.
The -e ending on each ordinal number is in fact an adjective ending. The ending could change based on the case in which
it appears and on the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Possible suffixes are: -e, -en, -er, -es, and less
commonly -em.
Ordinal numbers may also be expressed in writing by including a period after a number. However, these must still be
spoken with the correct ordinal suffix and the correct adjective endings. Therefore, the sentences below would be read
aloud exactly as the ones above:
Die W-Frage beginnt immer mit Fragewörtern. In der deutschen Sprache beginnen alle Fragewörter mit „W“.
Auf Position 1. legt man das Fragewort immer. Danach kommt das Verb auf Position 2. und das Subjekt auf Position 3.
Zum Beispiel:
W-Frage: Was macht er gerade?
• Position 1 / Fragewort: was
• Position 2 / Verb: macht
• Satzende: er gerade?
•
Antwortsatz: Er liest ein Buch.
JA/NEIN FRAGE
Wenn man auch eine Entscheidungsfrage stellt, möchte man in diesem Fall von seinem Gesprächspartner auf eine
Zustimmung oder eine Ablehnung antwortet.
Zum Beispiel:
Ja/Nein – Frage: Kommen Sie aus Deutschland?
Antwortsatz:
• (Ja, ich komme aus Deutschland.)
• (Nein, ich komme nicht aus Deutschland.)
• (Oder: Nein, ich komme aus Österreich.)
ARTICLES
German definite articles chart: suffixes that indicate gender
Masculine:
• times of day, time of the year, months and days of the week (Morgen, Mittag, Abend,
Frühling, Sommer, Januar, Februar, Montag, Dienstag…); Exceptions: DIE Nacht
(night), DIE Mitternacht (midnight)
• directions: Süden (south), Norden (north), Osten (east), Westen (west), Südwesten (southwest)…
• weather-related words: Hurrikan (hurricane), Monsun (monsoon), Regen (rain), Schnee (snow),
Wind (wind); Exceptions: DAS Eis (ice), DIE Kälte (the cold), DIE Hitze (heat), DIE Wolke (cloud)
[But then, for Kälte, Hitze and Wolke you already know that they’re feminine, because they end
in –e, right? ☺]
• alcoholic beverages: Cognac, Rum, Wein (wine); Exception: DAS Bier (beer)
• car brands: Audi, Fiat, Ford…
Feminine:
In German we have 3 different words for “ocean” or “sea” and each of them has its own
gender: der Ozean (m), das Meer (f), die See (n).
DEUTSCH ENGLISCH
Montag (Mo) Monday
(Mond-Tag) "moon day"
Dienstag (Di) Tuesday
(Zies-Tag)
Mittwoch (Mi) Wednesday
(mid-week) (Wodan's day)
Donnerstag (Do) Thursday
"thunder-day" (Thor's day)
Freitag (Fr) Friday
(Freya-Tag) (Freya's day)
Samstag (Sa) Saturday
Sonnabend (Sa) (Saturn's day)
(used in No. Germany)
Sonntag (So) Sunday
(Sonne-Tag) "sun day"
The seven days of the week are masculine (der) since they usually end in -tag (der Tag). The two exceptions, Mittwoch and Sonnabend, are also
masculine. Note that there are two words for Saturday. Samstag is used in most of Germany, in Austria, and German
Switzerland. Sonnabend ("Sunday eve") is used in eastern Germany
Englisch Deutsch
on Monday am Montag
(on Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.) (am Dienstag, Mittwoch, usw.)
(on) Mondays montags
(on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, etc.) (dienstags, mittwochs, usw.)
every Monday, Mondays jeden Montag
(every Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.) (jeden Dienstag, Mittwoch, usw.)
this Tuesday (am) kommenden Dienstag
last Wednesday letzten Mittwoch
the Thursday after next übernächsten Donnerstag
every other Friday jeden zweiten Freitag
Today is Tuesday. Heute ist Dienstag.
Tomorrow is Wednesday. Morgen ist Mittwoch.
Yesterday was Monday. Gestern war Montag.
DEUTSCH ENGLISCH
Januar January
YAHN-oo-ahr
Februar February
März March
MEHRZ
April April
Mai May
MYE
Juni June
YOO-nee
Juli July
YOO-lee
August August
ow-GOOST
September September
Oktober October
November November
Dezember December
Jahreszeit Monate
der Frühling März, April, Mai
das Frühjahr im Frühling - in the spring
(Adj.) frühlingshaft
der Sommer Juni, Juli, August
(Adj.) sommerlich im Sommer - in the summer
der Herbst Sept., Okt., Nov.
(Adj.) herbstlich im Herbst - in the fall/autumn
der Winter Dez., Jan., Feb.
(Adj.) winterlich im Winter - in the winter
Adverbs
Some important temporal adverbs are, for example:
German English
Bald soon
Bereits already
Bisher until now
Danach thereafter
Davor beforehand
Einst once
Endlich eventually/finally
Freitags on Fridays
Gestern yesterday
Immer always
inzwischen meanwhile
Neulich recently/lately
Nie never
Oft often
regelmäßig regularly
Sofort immediately
Stets constantly
Täglich daily
Vorhin earlier
Zurzeit at the time
Locative Adverbs
Locative adverbs can be the answer to the questions “Where/Where … to/Where … from
Example:
Als wir ankamen, standen unsere Freunde ganz vorn an der Bühne.
Aber dort drängten sich die Fans, darum blieben Rolf und ich hinten stehen.
German English
Aufwärts upwards
Außen outside
Da here/there
Dort there/over there
Drinnen inside
Fort away
Hier here
Hierhin up to here
Hinein into
Hinten behind
Irgendwo somewhere
Links left (of)
Nebenan near
Oberhalb above
Überall everywhere
Unten below
Vorn in front
entlang along
für for
gegen against
ohne without
bei at
gegenüber opposite, across from
mit with
von from, of
zu to
• Ich arbeite seit drei Jahren. (I have been working for three years.)
• Nach der Schule spielen wir Tennis. (After school we play tennis.)
• Ich reise mit meinem Vater. (I am traveling with my father.)
• Die Universität ist der Kirche gegenüber. / Die Universität ist gegenüber der Kirche. (The university is opposite to
the church.) The preposition “gegenüber” either precedes or follows the noun.
• Ich sitze dir gegenüber. (I am sitting opposite to you.) However, if a pronoun is used in a sentence, then the
preposition always goes after the pronoun.
The nouns and pronouns following these prepositions will either be in the accusative case or the dative case. How will you
know which case to use? The answer is simple.
When any motion is involved, the preposition is in the accusative. In this case, we ask the question “wohin?” (where to?).
When no motion is involved, the preposition is in the dative. In this case, we ask the question “wo?” (where?).
Here’s a list of two-way prepositions for you to memorize:-
an at, on
auf on
hinter behind
in in, into
zwischen between
• Ich lege das Buch auf den Schrank. (I put the book on the cupboard.) Here, a movement is involved. The book was not
on the cupboard before, I am putting it there. Hence, ‘auf’ is accusative.
• Das Buch liegt auf dem Schrank. (The book is on the cupboard.) This sentence states the position of the book. It was
already on the cupboard, there is no movement. Hence, ‘auf’ is dative.
Prepositional Contractions
Native German speakers normally combine the preposition and the following article together to form one word. It’s like
English “can’t” and “don’t”. We rarely say “cannot” and “do not”.
Similarly, in German, we can combine in and das to form ins. Here’s a list of commonly used contractions:-
• an + dem = am
• an + das = ans
• auf + das = aufs
• in + dem = im
• in + das = ins
• bei + dem = beim
• von + dem = vom
• zu + dem = zum
• zu + der = zur
• für + das = furs
Cases
Akkusative case
“Him” here is referred to as the direct object. I am talking directly about him. The other objects are additional. I can as well
say:
Ich sehe ihn. – I see him.
So we know now: The accusative case describes the direct object of a sentence. It answers to the
question “Wen?” or “whom?”.
masculine feminine neuter plural
the den die das die
a einen eine ein –
As you can see here, compared to the nominative case, only the article in the masculine gender changes.
For example:
Sie trifft den Mann. – She meets the man. “She” is the subject. “Den Mann” describes the direct object in accusative case.
Die Frau isst die Schokolade. – The woman eats the chocolate. “Die Frau” is the subject in nominative case. “Die
Schokolade” describes the direct object in accusative case.
Das Kind sieht das Auto. – The child sees the car. “Das Kind” is the subject in nominative case. “Das Auto” is the direct
object in the accusative case.
Dative Case
There are certain verbs that demand the dative case.
For example
helfen – Ich helfe dem Mann. – I help the man.
schmecken – Der Kuchen schmeckt dem Kind. – The cake tastes good to the child, the child likes the cake.
passen – Die Jacke passt der Frau. – The jacket fits the woman.
gehören – Das Buch gehört dem Mädchen. – The book belongs to the girl.
gratulieren – Ich gratuliere dem Vater. – I congratulate the father.
glauben – Ich glaube der Freundin. – I believe the friend (female).
danken – Ich danke der Mutter. – I thank the mother.
Gefallen like) – Berlin gefällt der Frau. – Berlin suits the woman, she likes it (Berlin).
There are certain verbs that demand the dative and the accusative case. For example:
geben – Der Mann gibt der Frau das Auto. – The man gives the woman the car
schreiben – Ich schreibe dir einen Brief. – I write you a letter.
bringen – Sie bringt dem Mann die Blumen. – She brings the man the flowers. .
schicken – Ich schicke meinem Freund ein Paket. – I send my friend a package.
zeigen – Er zeigt ihr die Stadt. – He shows her the city.
wünschen – Ich wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende. – I wish you a nice weekend.
schenken – Das Kind schenkt dem Vater ein Bild. – The child gifts the father a picture.
Ich (subject) schenke dem Mann (indirect object) ein Auto (direct object). – I am gifting him a car.
As you can see here, I am doing something to the man.
Das Kind (subject) gibt der Mutter (indirect object) einen Kuss (direct object). – The child gives the mother a kiss.
The child is doing something to the mother. The mother receives an action from the child.
Du (subject) schreibst dem Mädchen (indirect object) einen Brief (direct object). – You are writing a letter to the girl.
The girl is receiving something from you. The action is taken towards her. The action itself is writing the letter, which
shows the accusative case.
If you are unsure, if the noun is assigned to the dative case as indirect object, you can ask: Wem gibt das Kind einen
Kuss? – Der Mutter.
To whom gives the child a kiss? – To the mother.
It’s important is in this way of questioning, that you include the subject and if given also the direct object
Trennbaren Verben
absagen
to call off; cancel
abschliessen
to lock; conclude; end
anbieten
to offer
ankreuzen
to mark with an x; cross out
anmachen
to turn on
anrufen
to call
ansehen
to look at; to watch
aufhören
to stop (doing something)
aufmachen
to open
aufräumen
to tidy up; to clean up
aufstehen
to get up; to stand up
auftauchen
to appear; emerge; surface
aufwachen
to wake up
ausfüllen
to fill out
ausmachen
to turn off
ausschalten
to switch off; disconnect; eliminate
eintauchen
to immerse; dive in
fernsehen
to watch television
mitbringen
to bring with/along
mitkommen
to come with/along
vorlesen
to read out loud
vorspielen
to play; audition
vorstellen
to introduce; suggest; present
weiterarbeiten
to continue working
weiterlernen
to continue learning
weiterlesen
to continue reading
weitermalen
to continue painting
zusammenpassen
to go together; to fit together
zumachen
to close
Nicht
• To negate Verbs.
Zum Beispeil- Ich trinke nicht.
• To negate adverbs
Zum Beispeil- Ich wohne nicht hier.
• To negate adjectives
Zum Beispiel- Wir sind nicht alt.
Note: Nicht can be used for proper nouns like sein or hiesen.
Kein/keine
You will always find a lot of jokes and play on words with these and other German negation words. Consider the following over-the-top use of
negation: Wenn niemand niemals nirgendswo hingeht, dann kann keiner niemanden treffen, nicht wahr? Keine Sorgen! Dies wird nie
geschehen. Translation: If nobody never goes anywhere, then no one could meet anybody, is that not so? No worries! This will never happen.
No worries really, if feeling a little dazed after reading that, because the good news is that these other negation words follow the same rules as oth
of their grammatical type, with hardly any exceptions.
These adverbs can stand alone, be placed before a verb, or be placed at the end of a phrase. Here are some examples:
The word order of this negated sentence allows for a contrasting negation with sondern: Er hat mich nie angerufen, sondern immer besucht. (He
called me, he always visited me.) Otherwise, these negation words are often placed at or near the end of the sentence:
To emphasize the negation, the negation adverb can be placed at the front of the sentence:
Modal Verbs
to be allowed to (to have the Wir dürfen heute nicht ins Kino gehen.
dürfen permission to) We are not allowed to go to the cinema today.
Personal pronouns
du (you) (s., inf.) dich (you) (s., inf.) dir (you) (s., inf.)
ihr (you) (pl., inf.) euch (you) (pl., inf.) euch (you) (pl., inf.)
Sie (you) (s. or pl., form.) Sie (you) (s. or pl., form.) Ihnen (you) (s. or pl., form.)