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Vocab: Everyday actions — A1 (1)
Everyday actions vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
Achtung — attention!, watch out!
This interjection is used both for general attention and for an immediate danger. It is not the ordinary noun die Achtung, which means respect.
Achtung! Der Bus kommt!
Watch out! The bus is coming!
der Bus means the bus, and kommt means is coming. Achtung is an interjection, so it has no case and can stand at the beginning outside the sentence; the finite verb kommt is in position two in the following statement.
Achtung, die Treppe ist nass!
Careful, the stairs are wet!
die Treppe means the stairs, and nass means wet. Achtung is a warning word and does not change the sentence grammar; in die Treppe ist nass, the finite verb ist stays in position two.
der Alarm — alarm, warning signal
Alarm can mean an audible warning signal or a general emergency alert. It is often used with auslösen and klingeln.
Der Alarm klingelt jeden Morgen um sieben Uhr.
The alarm rings every morning at seven.
klingelt means rings, jeden Morgen means every morning, and um sieben Uhr means at seven o’clock. Der Alarm is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb klingelt stands in position two.
Ich höre den Alarm im Flur.
I hear the alarm in the hallway.
höre means hear, im Flur means in the hallway. Den Alarm is accusative because hören takes a direct object, while the finite verb höre is in position two.
Nachts wache ich wegen des Alarms auf.
At night I wake up because of the alarm.
nachts means at night, wache ... auf means wake up, and wegen means because of. Des Alarms is actually genitive, because wegen normally governs the genitive; the separable verb places auf at the end.
Die Lautstärke des Alarms ist sehr hoch.
The volume of the alarm is very high.
die Lautstärke means the volume, and sehr hoch means very high. Des Alarms is genitive because it identifies whose volume it is; the noun adds -s in the genitive singular.
Im Haus gibt es drei Alarme.
There are three alarms in the house.
im Haus means in the house, gibt es means there is or there are, and drei means three. Drei Alarme is accusative because es gibt always takes an accusative object.
anfangen — to begin, start
When it means starting an activity, anfangen can take an accusative thing, as in eine Arbeit anfangen, or it can be followed by mit plus dative.
Der Film fängt an um acht Uhr.
The film starts at eight o'clock.
der Film is the film and um acht Uhr means at eight o’clock. The finite verb fängt is in position two, while the separable prefix an goes to the end; um is used for clock times.
Wir haben gestern mit dem Unterricht angefangen.
We started the lesson yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and der Unterricht means the lesson or class. mit dem Unterricht is dative because mit always takes dative, and angefangen goes to the end with the auxiliary haben.
Der Kurs fing an im September.
The course started in September.
der Kurs is the course and im September means in September. fing is the simple past, with the prefix an at the end; im is short for in dem and marks a time period here.
Fang an jetzt!
Start now!
jetzt means now. This is the informal singular imperative; fang an has no subject pronoun and the prefix an is placed after the verb.
Ich würde heute gern mit dem neuen Kapitel anfangen.
I would like to start the new chapter today.
heute means today, gern means gladly or would like to, and das neue Kapitel is the new chapter. mit dem neuen Kapitel is dative after mit, and the infinitive anfangen goes to the end after würde.
Die Kinder werden bald mit dem Essen anfangen.
The children will soon start eating.
die Kinder are the children, bald means soon, and das Essen means the meal or eating. mit dem Essen is dative after mit, while the infinitive anfangen stands at the end after werden.
ansehen — to look at; to watch
The normal object is accusative, as in einen Film ansehen. With the meaning “look at something for oneself”, sich etwas ansehen uses a dative reflexive pronoun such as mir, dir, or uns.
Ich sehe mir den Film heute Abend an.
I’m watching the film tonight.
mir means for myself, den Film means the film, and heute Abend means tonight. Den Film is accusative because it is the object, while mir is a dative reflexive pronoun; the verb splits around the object.
Wir haben uns die Fotos angesehen.
We looked at the photos.
uns means for ourselves, and die Fotos means the photos. Die Fotos is accusative and uns is dative; the whole Partizip II angesehen goes to the end with haben.
Sie sah den Unfall an.
She looked at the accident.
sie means she, and der Unfall means the accident. The past form sah is irregular; den Unfall is accusative, and the prefix an is separated at the end.
Sieh dir dieses Bild an!
Look at this picture!
dir means for yourself, and dieses Bild means this picture. The informal imperative is sieh, not sehe; an stays at the end, and dir is dative.
Wenn du den Film sehen könntest, würdest du ihn dir ansehen.
If you could see the film, you would watch it.
könntest means could, and ihn means it, referring to the film. Würdest carries the conditional meaning, while the infinitive ansehen stays whole at the end; ihn is accusative and dir is dative.
Ich werde mir die Ausstellung morgen ansehen.
I will look at the exhibition tomorrow.
die Ausstellung means the exhibition, and morgen means tomorrow. Werde forms the future, so the infinitive ansehen remains together at the end; die Ausstellung is accusative and mir is dative.
anziehen — to put on, to get dressed; to pull, to tighten
For clothing, anziehen takes an accusative item: eine Jacke anziehen. With a person, the reflexive form sich anziehen means to get dressed; the prefix still separates in main clauses.
Ich ziehe meine Jacke an.
I am putting on my jacket.
meine Jacke means my jacket. meine Jacke is accusative because it is the clothing put on; the finite verb ziehe is in position two and an goes to the end.
Ich habe meine Jacke angezogen.
I put on my jacket.
meine Jacke means my jacket. The object is accusative, and angezogen goes to the end with habe in the perfect.
Er zog seinen Mantel an.
He put on his coat.
seinen Mantel means his coat. zog is the strong-verb preterite of anziehen, and the prefix an is separated and placed at the end.
Zieh deine Schuhe an!
Put on your shoes!
deine Schuhe means your shoes. The informal imperative omits du, takes the accusative object, and separates an from zieh.
Wenn es kalt wäre, würde ich eine Jacke anziehen.
If it were cold, I would put on a jacket.
wenn means if, kalt means cold, and eine Jacke means a jacket. The subordinate-clause verb wäre is at the end of the first clause, while the infinitive anziehen stays together after würde; the jacket is accusative.
Ich werde morgen einen warmen Pullover anziehen.
I will put on a warm jumper tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and einen warmen Pullover means a warm jumper. werde is the finite future auxiliary in position two, and the infinitive anziehen stays together at the end.
Sie zieht an der Leine an.
She pulls on the leash.
an der Leine means on the leash, and zieht ... an means pulls. The preposition an takes the dative here because this is contact with a fixed object, not movement towards it.
Der Mechaniker hat die Schraube angezogen.
The mechanic tightened the screw.
der Mechaniker means the mechanic, and die Schraube means the screw. die Schraube is accusative as the object being tightened, and angezogen goes to the end with hat.
arbeiten — to work; to function; to operate
arbeiten usually takes no direct object when it means to work. With a place or employer, use a suitable preposition, such as bei plus dative for an employer.
Ich arbeite in einem Hotel.
I work in a hotel.
in einem Hotel means in a hotel. Arbeite is the finite verb in position two; in takes the dative here because it describes a fixed workplace, so einem Hotel is dative.
Wir haben gestern lange gearbeitet.
We worked for a long time yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and lange means for a long time. The perfect uses haben in position two and gearbeitet at the end; arbeiten takes haben, not sein.
Früher arbeitete er in einer Fabrik.
He used to work in a factory.
früher means formerly or in the past, and eine Fabrik is a factory. Because Früher is first, the finite verb arbeitete is still in position two, before the subject er.
Arbeite bitte nicht so spät!
Please do not work so late!
bitte means please and so spät means so late. Arbeite is the du imperative and stands first; nicht negates the activity, and the subject du is normally omitted.
Wenn ich weniger arbeiten müsste, arbeitete ich nur vier Tage.
If I had to work less, I would work only four days.
wenn means if, weniger means less, and nur vier Tage means only four days. In the wenn clause, müsste goes to the end; in the main clause, arbeitete is the Konjunktiv II form and stands in position two.
Nächste Woche werde ich wieder arbeiten.
Next week I will work again.
nächste Woche means next week and wieder means again. Future I uses werde in position two and the infinitive arbeiten at the end; the time phrase comes first without changing this verb bracket.
Der Drucker arbeitet wieder.
The printer is working again.
der Drucker means the printer and wieder means again. Arbeitet is an ordinary finite verb in position two; here arbeiten means function, not do a job.
Das neue Programm hat nicht richtig gearbeitet.
The new program did not work properly.
das neue Programm means the new program, nicht richtig means not properly, and neu means new. The perfect uses hat in position two and gearbeitet at the end; nicht negates the adverb richtig.
auf — open; up
As an adverb, auf often describes an open state and appears in expressions such as die Tür ist auf. It is also the separable prefix in verbs such as aufmachen; after a modal verb, the whole infinitive comes at the end.
Die Tür ist auf.
The door is open.
die Tür is the door, and ist means is. Auf stands after ist as a predicative adverb and describes the open state; learners should not add an adjective ending.
Kannst du das Fenster auf machen?
Can you open the window?
kannst du means can you, and das Fenster is the window. Aufmachen means to open, and after the modal kannst its infinitive stays together at the end: aufmachen, not two separated parts.
aufdrehen — to turn up; to turn on; to unscrew
In this sense, aufdrehen normally takes a thing as an accusative object, such as die Musik or die Heizung. The prefix separates in a main clause but stays attached in aufgedreht and aufdrehen.
Er dreht die Musik auf.
He turns up the music.
die Musik means the music. Die Musik is accusative because aufdrehen takes a direct object; dreht is in position two and auf goes to the end.
Wir haben die Heizung aufgedreht.
We turned up the heating.
die Heizung means the heating system. The perfect uses haben and the one-word participle aufgedreht at the end; die Heizung is the accusative object.
Sie drehte die Musik leiserweise nicht auf.
She did not turn up the music.
leiserweise means in a way that makes things louder or quieter, but the natural everyday word is usually nicht with the intended context; die Musik means the music. The past form drehte is in position two and auf is separated at the end; die Musik is accusative.
Dreh die Musik auf!
Turn up the music!
die Musik means the music. The informal imperative is dreh without du, and the prefix auf goes to the end; the object remains accusative.
Ich würde die Musik nicht so laut aufdrehen.
I would not turn the music up so loudly.
nicht means not and so laut means so loudly; die Musik is the music. Würde expresses a hypothetical idea, and the complete infinitive aufdrehen goes to the end; the music is accusative.
Später werden wir die Musik aufdrehen.
Later we will turn up the music.
später means later, and die Musik means the music. Werden is in position two and the whole infinitive aufdrehen goes to the end; die Musik is the accusative object.
Ich drehe den Wasserhahn auf.
I turn on the tap.
der Wasserhahn is the tap. Den Wasserhahn is accusative because it is the object being turned, while drehe is in position two and auf goes to the end.
Kannst du die Flasche aufdrehen?
Can you unscrew the bottle?
kannst du means can you, and die Flasche is the bottle. After the modal kannst, the infinitive aufdrehen stays together at the end; die Flasche is accusative.
aufhören — to stop, to cease; to stop doing something
For an activity, aufhören mit takes mit plus the dative, or it can be followed by an infinitive. The prefix is separable in a main clause but stays attached in aufzuhören and aufgehört.
Der Regen hört endlich auf.
The rain is finally stopping.
der Regen means rain, and endlich means finally. There is no object here; hört is in position two and the separable prefix auf goes to the end.
Der Regen hat endlich aufgehört.
The rain has finally stopped.
der Regen means rain, and endlich means finally. Hat is the auxiliary in position two, while the Partizip II aufgehört goes to the end; do not use ist with this verb.
Der Regen hörte am Abend auf.
The rain stopped in the evening.
am Abend means in the evening. The verb is weak, so the past form is hörte; auf is separated and placed at the end.
Hör sofort auf!
Stop immediately!
sofort means immediately. The du imperative is hör, and the prefix auf must stand at the end; the subject pronoun is omitted.
Wenn der Lärm aufhörte, könnte ich schlafen.
If the noise stopped, I could sleep.
der Lärm means noise, and schlafen means to sleep. Aufhörte is the Konjunktiv II form in the subordinate clause, where the finite verb goes to the end; the main clause uses könnte for a possibility.
Der Film wird um zehn Uhr aufhören.
The film will stop at ten o’clock.
der Film means film or movie, and um zehn Uhr means at ten o’clock. Wird is in position two and the infinitive aufhören goes to the end; this future form is also used for a planned ending.
Ich höre mit dem Spielen auf.
I am stopping playing.
das Spielen means playing. Mit always takes the dative here, so dem Spielen is dative; höre is in position two and auf goes to the end.
Sie hat mit dem Lärm aufgehört.
She stopped making the noise.
der Lärm means noise. Mit dem Lärm is a dative phrase because the preposition mit requires the dative; hat comes in position two and aufgehört goes to the end.
der Aufkleber — sticker, label
Aufkleber is a regular masculine noun. Its plural is unchanged in form: der Aufkleber becomes die Aufkleber; do not confuse it with the verb aufkleben, to stick on.
Der Aufkleber klebt auf dem Laptop.
The sticker is stuck to the laptop.
kleben means to be stuck, and der Laptop is a laptop. Der Aufkleber is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Laptop is dative because auf describes a fixed location here.
Ich kaufe einen Aufkleber.
I am buying a sticker.
kaufen means to buy. Einen Aufkleber is masculine accusative because it is the object of kaufe; the masculine article changes from ein to einen.
Ich gebe meiner Schwester einen Aufkleber.
I give my sister a sticker.
geben means to give, and meine Schwester means my sister. The recipient meiner Schwester is dative, while einen Aufkleber is accusative as the thing given.
Die Farbe des Aufklebers ist blau.
The sticker’s colour is blue.
die Farbe means colour, and blau means blue. Des Aufklebers is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; masculine singular uses des and adds -s to the noun.
Die Aufkleber sind bunt.
The stickers are colourful.
bunt means colourful. Die Aufkleber is nominative plural because it is the subject; the noun does not change its ending from the singular, so the plural article die helps identify it.
aufpassen — to pay attention, to watch out; to look after, babysit
For general concentration, aufpassen can be used without an object, often with im Unterricht or another situation. To mean watch out for something, use auf plus the accusative: auf den Verkehr aufpassen.
Ich passe im Unterricht gut auf.
I pay close attention in class.
der Unterricht means the lesson or class, and gut means well. Im Unterricht is a fixed-location phrase with in plus the dative; the finite part passe is in position two and auf moves to the end.
Ich habe im Film nicht aufgepasst.
I did not pay attention during the film.
der Film means the film, and nicht means not. The perfect uses haben, and the participle aufgepasst stays together at the end; im Film means during or in the film and is a dative phrase.
Er passte im Unterricht nicht auf.
He did not pay attention in class.
er means he, der Unterricht means the lesson, and nicht means not. Passte is the regular preterite, while auf separates to the end of the main clause; im Unterricht is a dative location phrase.
Pass im Straßenverkehr gut auf!
Pay close attention in traffic!
der Straßenverkehr means road traffic, and gut means carefully or well. Pass is the informal singular command, and the prefix auf goes to the end; im Straßenverkehr is a dative phrase referring to the situation.
Ich würde besser aufpassen, wenn ich nicht so müde wäre.
I would pay better attention if I were not so tired.
besser means better, müde means tired, and wenn means if. Würde plus the infinitive expresses a hypothetical action, so aufpassen stays together; wäre goes to the end of the wenn-clause.
Du wirst bald lernen, besser aufzupassen.
You will soon learn to pay better attention.
bald means soon, lernen means to learn, and besser means better. With a separable verb, zu is inserted between the prefix and the verb stem: aufzupassen; in the subordinate clause after lernen, the infinitive stands at the end.
Kannst du heute Abend auf die Kinder aufpassen?
Can you look after the children this evening?
heute Abend means this evening, and die Kinder means the children. Auf requires the accusative in this expression, so die Kinder is accusative; after the modal verb kannst, the infinitive aufpassen goes to the end.
Meine Nachbarin passt am Wochenende auf unseren Hund auf.
My neighbour looks after our dog at the weekend.
die Nachbarin means the female neighbour, am Wochenende means at the weekend, and unser Hund means our dog. Auf unseren Hund is accusative because this sense uses aufpassen auf; passt is in position two and auf is separated to the end.
aufwachen — to wake up
aufwachen describes becoming awake, not the action of getting out of bed; that is aufstehen. It is separable in finite main clauses and takes sein in the perfect: ist aufgewacht.
Ich wache jeden Morgen um sieben Uhr auf.
I wake up at seven every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning and um sieben Uhr means at seven o’clock. wache ... auf is separable: the finite part wache stands in position two and auf goes to the end.
Ich bin heute sehr früh aufgewacht.
I woke up very early today.
heute means today and sehr früh means very early. The perfect is formed with bin and aufgewacht, because waking up describes a change of state; the Partizip II stands at the end.
Das Baby wachte dreimal in der Nacht auf.
The baby woke up three times during the night.
das Baby means the baby, dreimal means three times, and in der Nacht means during the night. wachte ... auf is the weak simple-past form, with -te in wachte and the prefix at the end.
Wach bitte sofort auf!
Please wake up immediately!
bitte means please and sofort means immediately. This is the singular du imperative, so the stem is wach and the prefix auf is placed at the end.
Wenn ich früher aufwachte, wäre ich nicht so müde.
If I woke up earlier, I would not be so tired.
früher means earlier, müde means tired, and so means so or that. In the wenn clause, the finite verb aufwachte stays at the end; this form expresses an unreal or hypothetical situation.
Am Wochenende werde ich ohne Wecker aufwachen.
At the weekend I will wake up without an alarm clock.
am Wochenende means at the weekend, ohne Wecker means without an alarm clock, and ohne takes the accusative. Future uses werde plus the complete infinitive aufwachen, which stands at the end and does not split.
ausgehen — to go out; to go off; to go off, go out; to stop working; to assume, to proceed from
For social activity, ausgehen usually means going out with someone, often expressed with mit plus dative. It takes sein in the perfect: ist ausgegangen.
Wir gehen heute Abend aus.
We are going out tonight.
heute Abend means tonight. Gehen ... aus is separable: the finite part gehen is in position two and aus goes to the end; wir is the nominative subject.
Wir sind gestern mit Freunden ausgegangen.
We went out with friends yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and mit Freunden means with friends. The perfect uses sein, not haben, because ausgehen expresses movement; mit takes the dative plural, and ausgegangen goes to the end.
Früher ging meine Schwester oft aus.
My sister often used to go out in the past.
früher means in the past and oft means often. Ging ... aus is the strong preterite form; ging is in position two and the prefix aus is separated to the end.
Geh heute Abend mit uns aus!
Go out with us tonight!
heute Abend means tonight and mit uns means with us. The du imperative is geh ... aus, and mit requires the dative form uns; the pronoun du is left out.
Ich ginge gern mit euch aus.
I would like to go out with you.
gern means gladly and euch means you in the plural. Ginge ... aus expresses a hypothetical wish; mit euch is dative after mit, and the prefix stays at the end.
Am Samstag werden wir zusammen ausgehen.
On Saturday we will go out together.
am Samstag means on Saturday and zusammen means together. In the future, werden is in position two and the whole infinitive ausgehen goes to the end, so the prefix is not split.
Plötzlich geht das Licht aus.
Suddenly the light goes off.
plötzlich means suddenly and das Licht means the light. Das Licht is the nominative subject, while geht ... aus is separable with geht in position two and aus at the end.
Der Motor ist während der Fahrt ausgegangen.
The engine cut out while we were driving.
der Motor means the engine, während der Fahrt means during the journey, and Fahrt means trip or drive. The perfect uses ist ... ausgegangen because the engine changes from running to stopped; während takes the genitive here, and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Wir gehen von einem Fehler aus.
We assume that there is an error.
der Fehler means the error. Von einem Fehler is dative because von requires the dative; gehen ... aus is separated in the main clause.
Ich gehe davon aus, dass er recht hat.
I assume that he is right.
davon means from that and recht haben means to be right. Davon ausgehen, dass ... is a fixed pattern; the main-clause verb splits, while hat goes to the end of the subordinate clause introduced by dass.
bauen — to build, to construct; to rely on, to count on
For a direct object, use bauen with the accusative, as in ein Haus bauen. With auf plus accusative, auf etwas bauen has the different meaning “to rely on something”.
Wir bauen ein Haus.
We are building a house.
ein Haus means a house. bauen takes an accusative object, so ein Haus is accusative; the finite verb bauen stands in position two.
Wir haben ein Haus gebaut.
We built a house.
ein Haus means a house. The perfect uses haben plus gebaut, and the Partizip II stands at the end; ein Haus is accusative because bauen takes a direct object.
Die Firma baute eine neue Brücke.
The company built a new bridge.
die Firma means the company and eine neue Brücke means a new bridge. eine neue Brücke is accusative as the object, while the regular past form baute stands in position two.
Bau einen Tisch!
Build a table!
einen Tisch means a table. Bau is the du imperative without a subject, and einen Tisch is accusative because it is what someone should build.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, baute ich ein kleines Haus.
If I had more time, I would build a small house.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and ein kleines Haus means a small house. In the wenn clause the verb goes to the end; baute is the Konjunktiv II form here, and the object is accusative.
Nächstes Jahr werden wir ein neues Haus bauen.
Next year we will build a new house.
nächstes Jahr means next year and ein neues Haus means a new house. Future uses werden in position two and the infinitive bauen at the end; the house is an accusative object.
Ich baue auf deine Hilfe.
I am counting on your help.
auf deine Hilfe means on your help. In this fixed expression auf takes the accusative, and the finite verb baue stands in position two.
Sie baut auf ihre Erfahrung.
She relies on her experience.
ihre Erfahrung means her experience. auf is used with the accusative in auf etwas bauen, and baut is the finite verb in position two.
beginnen — to begin, to start
Beginnen is a strong verb with begann and hat begonnen. With an activity, it commonly uses mit plus the dative, as in mit der Arbeit beginnen.
Ich beginne heute mit der Arbeit.
I am starting work today.
heute means today and die Arbeit means work. The preposition mit takes the dative, so der Arbeit is dative; the finite verb beginne is in position two.
Der Kurs hat um neun Uhr begonnen.
The course began at nine o’clock.
der Kurs is the course and um neun Uhr means at nine o’clock. The perfect uses hat plus begonnen at the end; beginnen takes haben, not sein.
Das Konzert begann sehr spät.
The concert began very late.
das Konzert means the concert and sehr spät means very late. Begann is the strong Präteritum form in position two; learners should not say begannte.
Beginn jetzt mit der Übung.
Start the exercise now.
jetzt means now and die Übung means exercise. Mit requires the dative, giving der Übung, while the imperative beginn stands first.
Ich würde gern früher beginnen.
I would like to start earlier.
gern means gladly or would like to, and früher means earlier. The polite Konjunktiv II uses würde in position two and places the infinitive beginnen at the end.
Wir werden morgen mit dem Unterricht beginnen.
We will start lessons tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and der Unterricht means lessons or teaching. Futur I uses werden in position two and places the infinitive beginnen at the end; mit takes the dative, here dem Unterricht.
bekommen — to get, to receive; to suit, to agree with
For receiving something, bekommen takes an accusative object. It is a strong verb: bekommen – bekam – hat bekommen; do not use it for English “become”, which is werden.
Ich bekomme heute eine wichtige Nachricht.
I am getting an important message today.
heute means today and eine wichtige Nachricht means an important message. eine wichtige Nachricht is accusative because bekommen takes the thing received as an accusative object; the finite verb bekomme is in position two.
Ich habe gestern ein Geschenk bekommen.
I got a present yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and ein Geschenk is a present. The perfect uses habe plus the Partizip II bekommen, which goes to the end; ein Geschenk is accusative because it is the thing received.
Sie bekam eine Antwort von ihrem Lehrer.
She got an answer from her teacher.
eine Antwort means an answer, von means from, and ihrem Lehrer means her teacher. eine Antwort is accusative as the thing received, while von requires the dative ihrem Lehrer; bekam is the strong-verb Präteritum form.
Bekomm bitte ein Glas Wasser.
Please get a glass of water.
bitte means please and ein Glas Wasser means a glass of water. The imperative places bekomm first and leaves out du; ein Glas Wasser is accusative as the thing received or fetched.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, bekäme ich einen Hund.
If I had more time, I would get a dog.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and einen Hund means a dog. bekäme is the Konjunktiv II form and expresses an unreal possibility; the verb goes to the end of the wenn-clause, while einen Hund is accusative.
Du wirst morgen ein neues Handy bekommen.
You will get a new mobile phone tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and ein neues Handy means a new mobile phone. Futur I uses wirst plus the infinitive bekommen at the end; ein neues Handy is accusative because it is what the person will get.
Das scharfe Essen bekommt mir nicht.
The spicy food does not agree with me.
das scharfe Essen means the spicy food and nicht means not. The person affected is in the dative, mir; the finite verb bekommt is in position two, and the food is the subject.
Die neue Therapie bekommt ihm gut.
The new therapy is doing him good.
die neue Therapie means the new therapy and gut means well or beneficially. ihm is dative because it names the person who benefits; the verb bekommt agrees with the singular subject Therapie.
besuchen — to visit
Besuchen takes an accusative object, not zu plus dative: jemanden besuchen means to visit someone.
Ich besuche heute meine Großeltern.
I am visiting my grandparents today.
heute means today, and meine Großeltern means my grandparents. Meine Großeltern is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object, and the finite verb besuche stands in position two.
Wir haben gestern das Museum besucht.
We visited the museum yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and das Museum is the museum. Das Museum is accusative because it is the object of besuchen; haben stands in position two and besucht goes to the end.
Sie besuchte ihre Tante am Wochenende.
She visited her aunt at the weekend.
ihre Tante means her aunt, and am Wochenende means at the weekend. The regular past form besuchte is the finite verb in position two and ihre Tante is accusative.
Besuch mich morgen!
Visit me tomorrow!
mich means me and morgen means tomorrow. The imperative besuch comes first, while mich is accusative because it is the object of besuchen.
Ich würde gern Berlin besuchen.
I would like to visit Berlin.
gern means gladly or would like to, and Berlin is the city Berlin. Würde marks a hypothetical or polite wish; the infinitive besuchen goes to the end, and Berlin is accusative.
Nächsten Sommer werde ich meine Freunde besuchen.
Next summer I will visit my friends.
nächsten Sommer means next summer, and meine Freunde means my friends. Werde is in position two and the infinitive besuchen goes to the end; meine Freunde is accusative.
bleiben — to stay, to remain
Bleiben usually describes continuing in a place or state, and its perfect uses sein: ist geblieben. It is different from wohnen, which means to live somewhere permanently.
Ich bleibe heute zu Hause.
I am staying at home today.
heute means today and zu Hause means at home. The finite verb bleibe stands in position two, and zu Hause is a fixed phrase for a location without an article.
Wir sind den ganzen Abend dort geblieben.
We stayed there all evening.
den ganzen Abend means the whole evening and dort means there. Geblieben is used with sein in the perfect, and the Partizip II goes to the end of the clause; den ganzen Abend is accusative for a duration of time.
Er blieb trotz des Regens draußen.
He stayed outside despite the rain.
trotz means despite, des Regens means of the rain, and draußen means outside. Blieb is the strong-verb preterite, while trotz traditionally takes the genitive, so the masculine noun has des and -s.
Bleib bitte hier!
Please stay here!
bitte means please and hier means here. Bleib is the informal du imperative and normally comes first; the subject pronoun du is omitted.
Wenn ich länger bliebe, würde ich den Zug verpassen.
If I stayed longer, I would miss the train.
länger means longer, der Zug is the train, and verpassen means to miss. Bliebe is the Konjunktiv II of bleiben; in the wenn clause the finite verb goes to the end, while würde begins the main clause in position two.
Sie wird noch eine Woche hier bleiben.
She will stay here for another week.
noch eine Woche means another week and hier means here. The finite verb wird is in position two and the infinitive bleiben goes to the end; eine Woche is accusative as a time duration.
brauchen — to need, to require; not to need to
brauchen takes an accusative object: etwas brauchen means to need something. In hypothetical statements, the common Konjunktiv II form is bräuchte; do not confuse the verb with der Brauch, a custom.
Ich brauche deine Hilfe.
I need your help.
deine Hilfe means your help. deine Hilfe is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object, and the finite verb brauche stands in position two.
Wir haben mehr Zeit gebraucht.
We needed more time.
mehr Zeit means more time. mehr Zeit is an accusative object, while the auxiliary haben is in position two and gebraucht goes to the end.
Sie brauchte einen neuen Pass.
She needed a new passport.
sie means she, einen neuen Pass means a new passport, and neu means new. einen neuen Pass is accusative because it is the object; brauchte is the regular weak Präteritum form.
Brauch du meine Hilfe?
Do you need my help?
du means you and meine Hilfe means my help. Brauch is the singular du imperative, although this direct form is uncommon; meine Hilfe is accusative because it is what is needed.
Wenn ich ein Auto hätte, bräuchte ich den Bus nicht.
If I had a car, I would not need the bus.
wenn means if, ein Auto means a car, and den Bus means the bus. bräuchte is the Konjunktiv II form for a hypothetical need; the finite verb goes to the end of the wenn clause, and den Bus is accusative.
Morgen werde ich deine Hilfe brauchen.
Tomorrow I will need your help.
morgen means tomorrow and deine Hilfe means your help. werde stands in position two and the infinitive brauchen goes to the end; deine Hilfe is accusative as the direct object.
Du brauchst heute nicht zu kochen.
You do not need to cook today.
heute means today and kochen means to cook. In nicht brauchen zu kochen, brauchst is the finite verb in position two and the infinitive phrase follows; learners should not omit zu in this construction.
Ihr braucht keine Tickets zu kaufen.
You do not need to buy any tickets.
ihr means you plural, keine Tickets means no tickets, and kaufen means to buy. keine Tickets is accusative as the object of kaufen, while braucht stays in position two and zu kaufen comes at the end.
bringen — to bring, to take
Bringen often has both a thing in the accusative and a recipient in the dative: jemandem etwas bringen. In the perfect it takes haben, and its mixed principal parts are bringen – brachte – hat gebracht.
Ich bringe dir morgen das Buch.
I will bring you the book tomorrow.
dir means “to you”, morgen means “tomorrow”, and das Buch means “the book”. Dir is dative for the recipient, while das Buch is accusative as the thing brought; the finite verb bringe stands in position two.
Sie hat den Kindern Kuchen gebracht.
She brought the children cake.
sie means “she”, den Kindern means “the children”, and Kuchen means “cake”. Den Kindern is dative for the recipients and Kuchen is accusative; the auxiliary hat is in position two and gebracht goes to the end.
Er brachte seine Schwester zum Bahnhof.
He took his sister to the station.
seine Schwester means “his sister”, and zum Bahnhof means “to the station”. Seine Schwester is accusative because it is the person being taken; brachte is the mixed-verb past form and stands in position two.
Bring bitte eine Jacke mit!
Please bring a jacket with you!
bitte means “please”, eine Jacke means “a jacket”, and mit means “along/with you”. Eine Jacke is accusative because it is the object; the command uses bring, while mit adds the idea of bringing something along.
Wenn ich Zeit hätte, brächte ich dir das Paket.
If I had time, I would bring you the parcel.
wenn means “if”, Zeit means “time”, and das Paket means “the parcel”. Dir is dative for the recipient and das Paket is accusative; brächte expresses an unreal or hypothetical action, and the finite verb comes at the end of the wenn clause.
Wir werden die Getränke zur Party bringen.
We will bring the drinks to the party.
die Getränke means “the drinks”, and zur Party means “to the party”. Die Getränke is accusative as the object; werden is in position two and the infinitive bringen goes to the end.
denken — to think, to believe; to think of, to remember
The mixed verb has the principal parts denken – dachte – hat gedacht. For an opinion, it commonly introduces a clause with dass; for thinking about a person or thing, use an plus the accusative.
Ich denke, dass der Film gut ist.
I think that the film is good.
der Film means the film, and gut means good. The finite verb denke stands in position two; after dass, the finite verb ist moves to the end, and dass introduces a subordinate clause.
Ich habe lange gedacht, dass du schon zu Hause bist.
I thought for a long time that you were already at home.
lange means for a long time, schon means already, and zu Hause means at home. gedacht is the Partizip II and pairs with haben; it goes to the end of the main clause, while bist goes to the end after dass.
Sie dachte, er sei krank.
She thought he was ill.
sie means she, krank means ill, and sei is the subjunctive form of sein used in reported speech. dachte is the mixed-verb preterite and stands in position two; the verb sei comes at the end of the reported clause.
Denk zuerst nach!
Think first!
zuerst means first, and nachdenken means to think something over. Denk is the singular du imperative and stands first; the particle nach belongs to the separate verb nachdenken, so learners should not treat this as the ordinary verb denken alone.
Ich dächte, du hättest eine bessere Idee.
I would think you had a better idea.
eine bessere Idee means a better idea, and hättest means would have. dächte is the Konjunktiv II of denken, used for a hypothetical or cautious opinion; the finite verb hättest goes to the end after the omitted conjunction dass.
Wir werden darüber denken, bevor wir entscheiden.
We will think about it before we decide.
darüber means about it, bevor means before, and entscheiden means decide. In the future, werden stands in position two and the infinitive denken goes to the end; entscheiden also goes to the end of the clause introduced by bevor.
Ich denke oft an meine Familie.
I often think of my family.
oft means often, and meine Familie means my family. an meine Familie is accusative because this sense of denken an takes the accusative; the finite verb denke stands in position two.
Denk bitte an den Termin morgen.
Please remember the appointment tomorrow.
bitte means please, der Termin means the appointment, and morgen means tomorrow. an den Termin is accusative because denken an requires the accusative in this meaning; the imperative Denk is understood as du and stands first.
das Ding — thing, object; matter, issue
Ding is a very general word for an object and is often used when the exact name is unknown. In informal speech, Dings or Dingsda can mean “that thing whose name I cannot remember.”
Das Ding liegt auf dem Tisch.
The thing is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying, auf means on, and der Tisch means the table. Das Ding is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Ich kaufe dieses Ding.
I am buying this thing.
ich kaufe means I am buying and dieses means this. Dieses Ding is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object, and kaufe is in position two.
Ich gebe dem Kind ein Ding.
I give the child a thing.
ich gebe means I give and das Kind means the child. Dem Kind is dative as the recipient, while ein Ding is accusative as the thing given.
Die Farbe des Dings gefällt mir nicht.
I do not like the colour of the thing.
die Farbe means the colour, gefällt means pleases, and mir means to me. Des Dings is genitive and identifies which thing has the colour; mir is dative because gefallen takes the person who likes something in the dative.
Die Dinge liegen überall herum.
The things are lying around everywhere.
liegen means are lying, überall means everywhere, and herum means around. Die Dinge is the plural subject, so liegen agrees with it and stands in position two.
Was ist das für ein Ding?
What kind of thing is that?
was means what, für ein means what kind of, and ist das means is that. In Was ist das für ein Ding?, the noun names the type of object; the question places ist directly after was.
Das ist ein kompliziertes Ding.
That is a complicated matter.
das ist means that is and kompliziert means complicated. Ein kompliziertes Ding is a noun phrase after sein, so it is not an accusative object; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir müssen die Dinge in Ruhe besprechen.
We have to discuss matters calmly.
wir müssen means we have to, in Ruhe means calmly or without pressure, and besprechen means discuss. Die Dinge is accusative because besprechen takes a direct object; the infinitive moves to the end after the modal verb müssen.
drücken — to press, push, squeeze; to hug
The physical object is accusative: etwas drücken. In everyday German, den Knopf drücken means press the button; the verb is regular and takes haben in the perfect.
Er drückt den Knopf.
He presses the button.
er means he, and der Knopf means the button. den Knopf is accusative because drücken takes a direct object, and drückt is in position two.
Er hat den Knopf gedrückt.
He pressed the button.
der Knopf means the button. The perfect uses hat plus gedrückt at the end; den Knopf remains accusative as the direct object.
Er drückte den Knopf.
He pressed the button.
er means he, and der Knopf means the button. drückte is the regular simple-past form in position two, and den Knopf is accusative after drücken.
Drück den Knopf!
Press the button!
den Knopf means the button. Drück is the du imperative and comes first; the object den Knopf is accusative.
Ich würde den Knopf nicht drücken.
I would not press the button.
ich means I, nicht means not, and der Knopf means the button. würde ... drücken expresses a hypothetical action, with the infinitive at the end; den Knopf is accusative.
Sie wird den Knopf drücken.
She will press the button.
sie means she, and der Knopf means the button. wird is in position two and the infinitive drücken goes to the end; den Knopf is the accusative object.
Die Mutter drückt ihr Kind.
The mother hugs her child.
die Mutter means the mother, and ihr Kind means her child. ihr Kind is accusative as the person being hugged, and drückt stands in position two.
Zum Abschied haben wir uns gedrückt.
We hugged goodbye.
zum Abschied means when saying goodbye, and wir means we. uns is the accusative reflexive pronoun for we, and the perfect places gedrückt at the end after haben.
duschen — to shower
duschen can be used without a reflexive pronoun, as in Ich dusche, or with sich, as in Ich dusche mich. Its perfect uses haben: hat geduscht.
Ich dusche jeden Morgen.
I shower every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning. dusche is the first-person singular present form; the finite verb stands in position two, and there is no object because the activity is being described generally.
Wir haben nach dem Training geduscht.
We showered after training.
nach dem Training means after training. The perfect uses haben plus geduscht; the auxiliary haben is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Als Kind duschte ich jeden Abend.
As a child, I showered every evening.
als Kind means as a child, and jeden Abend means every evening. duschte is the regular Präteritum form; in the opening als clause the finite verb goes to the end, while duschte stands in position two in the main clause.
Dusch dich vor dem Essen.
Take a shower before eating.
dich means yourself, and vor dem Essen means before eating. dusch is the informal singular imperative; the reflexive pronoun dich is accusative because it refers to the person being washed.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, duschte ich jeden Abend.
If I had more time, I would shower every evening.
wenn means if, and mehr Zeit means more time. hätte expresses the unreal condition, while duschte is also used for the Konjunktiv II here; the finite verb goes to the end of the wenn clause and stands in position two in the main clause.
Nach der Wanderung werde ich duschen.
I will shower after the hike.
nach der Wanderung means after the hike. Futur I uses werde in position two and the infinitive duschen at the end; unlike a separable verb, it stays as one word.
einfach — simple; easy
The adjective can mean easy, simple, or straightforward depending on the context. It has regular comparison: einfacher, am einfachsten; before a noun, remember to add the normal adjective ending.
Die Aufgabe ist einfach.
The task is easy.
die Aufgabe means the task. The adjective einfach is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist eine einfache Frage.
That is a simple question.
eine Frage means a question. Einfache stands before the feminine nominative noun Frage and takes -e after the indefinite article eine; the verb ist is in position two.
Diese Übung ist einfacher als die letzte.
This exercise is easier than the last one.
diese Übung means this exercise, and die letzte means the last one. Einfacher compares two exercises and is followed by als; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no additional ending.
Diese Erklärung ist am einfachsten.
This explanation is the easiest.
diese Erklärung means this explanation. Am einfachsten is the predicative superlative, formed with am plus -sten; do not use the attributive form der einfachste here.
Einfach anfangen und nicht zu viel nachdenken!
Just start and do not think too much!
anfangen means to start, and nachdenken means to think about something. Here einfach is used adverbially to mean just or simply; the imperative verbs come first, and the separable prefix of anfangen is not shown because the infinitive is used in this informal instruction.
Die Bedienung des Geräts ist einfach.
Operating the device is easy.
die Bedienung means operation or use, and das Gerät means the device. Des Geräts is genitive because it identifies what is being operated; einfach is predicative after ist and therefore has no adjective ending.
einfach — simply; easily; just
As an adverb, einfach does not take adjective endings: it stays einfach before a verb or in an infinitive phrase. It can mean simply, just, or easily; the exact English translation depends on the sentence.
Du kannst das einfach machen.
You can simply do that.
machen means to do or make. Einfach modifies the action and means simply; after the modal verb kannst, the infinitive machen goes to the end of the main clause.
Der Schalter ist einfach zu bedienen.
The switch is easy to operate.
der Schalter means the switch, and bedienen means to operate. Einfach zu bedienen means easy to operate; zu bedienen is an infinitive phrase after ist, and einfach modifies that phrase.
einpacken — to pack, to wrap
Einpacken can mean putting objects into luggage or wrapping a present. It is a separable verb: einpacken becomes packt ein in a main clause, but remains together as einpacken after a modal verb or at the end of a subordinate clause.
Ich packe jeden Morgen mein Mittagessen ein.
I pack my lunch every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning, and mein Mittagessen means my lunch. Mein Mittagessen is accusative because einpacken takes the thing being packed as an accusative object; the finite verb packe is in position two and ein goes to the end.
Ich habe mein Mittagessen eingepackt.
I packed my lunch.
mein Mittagessen means my lunch. Eingepackt is the Partizip II and stands at the end with the auxiliary habe; the object is accusative because it is the thing packed.
Sie packte die Bücher vorsichtig ein.
She packed the books carefully.
die Bücher means the books, and vorsichtig means carefully. Die Bücher is accusative as the object of einpacken; in the simple past, packte is in position two and ein is separated to the end.
Pack bitte die Schuhe ein!
Please pack the shoes!
bitte means please, and die Schuhe means the shoes. This is the informal singular imperative; pack starts the sentence and the separable prefix ein goes at the end, while die Schuhe is accusative.
Ich würde die Kleidung in einen Koffer einpacken.
I would pack the clothes into a suitcase.
die Kleidung means the clothes, and in einen Koffer means into a suitcase. Die Kleidung is accusative as the packed object, while einen Koffer is accusative after in because it expresses movement into something; in this Konjunktiv II sentence, the infinitive einpacken stays at the end.
Wir werden die Geschenke später einpacken.
We will wrap the presents later.
die Geschenke means the presents, and später means later. Die Geschenke is accusative because they are being wrapped; werden is in position two and the infinitive einpacken goes to the end.
einschlafen — to fall asleep
einschlafen is separable and strong: its important forms include schläft ein, schlief ein, and eingeschlafen. The perfect takes sein, not haben, because the verb describes a change of state.
Das Kind schläft schnell ein.
The child falls asleep quickly.
das Kind means the child, and schnell means quickly. The finite verb schläft is in position two, the vowel changes from a to ä, and the prefix ein goes to the end.
Ich bin im Zug eingeschlafen.
I fell asleep on the train.
im Zug means on the train. The perfect uses sein with eingeschlafen because falling asleep is a change of state; the participle stands at the end.
Er schlief auf dem Sofa ein.
He fell asleep on the sofa.
auf dem Sofa means on the sofa. The strong past form is schlief, while ein goes to the end; dem Sofa is dative because auf describes a fixed location here.
Schlaf jetzt ein!
Go to sleep now!
jetzt means now. The informal singular imperative is schlaf, and the separable prefix ein must be placed at the end.
Wenn ich früher ins Bett ginge, würde ich leichter einschlafen.
If I went to bed earlier, I would fall asleep more easily.
früher means earlier, ins Bett means to bed, and leichter means more easily. The infinitive einschlafen stays whole after würde, while ginge stands at the end of the conditional clause.
Heute Abend werde ich früh einschlafen.
Tonight I will fall asleep early.
heute Abend means this evening, and früh means early. Future uses werden plus the complete infinitive einschlafen at the end, rather than splitting the prefix.
erhalten — to receive, to get; to preserve, to maintain
In this sense, erhalten is a formal alternative to bekommen, to receive or get. It is a strong verb: erhalten – erhielt – hat erhalten, and the prefix er- is inseparable.
Er erhält einen Brief.
He receives a letter.
er means he, and einen Brief means a letter. Einen Brief is accusative because erhalten takes a direct object, and the finite verb erhält stands in position two.
Er hat einen Brief erhalten.
He received a letter.
hat means has, and einen Brief means a letter. The perfect uses hat plus erhalten with haben; the Partizip II has no ge- because er- is inseparable and goes to the end.
Er erhielt gestern einen Brief.
He received a letter yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and einen Brief means a letter. Erhielt is the strong simple-past form and stands in position two; einen Brief is accusative after erhalten.
Erhalte bitte diese Unterlagen.
Please receive these documents.
bitte means please, and diese Unterlagen means these documents. Erhalte is the singular du imperative, but this command sounds formal; the object diese Unterlagen is accusative.
Sie würde die Nachricht erhalten, wenn sie erreichbar wäre.
She would receive the message if she were reachable.
würde means would, die Nachricht means the message, and erreichbar means reachable or available. The infinitive erhalten follows würde at the end of the main clause, while wäre goes to the end of the subordinate clause.
Sie wird die Nachricht erhalten.
She will receive the message.
wird means will, and die Nachricht means the message. Future tense places wird in position two and the infinitive erhalten at the end; the message is the accusative object.
Die Stadt erhält das alte Gebäude.
The city preserves the old building.
die Stadt means the city, alt means old, and das Gebäude means the building. Das alte Gebäude is accusative because erhalten takes a direct object, and the finite verb erhält is in position two.
Wir müssen die Natur erhalten.
We must preserve nature.
müssen means must, and die Natur means nature. Die Natur is accusative as the object of erhalten; the modal verb müssen is finite in position two and the infinitive erhalten goes to the end.
fehlen — to be missing, to be absent
With a person, fehlen often means that something is missing to that person: Mir fehlt das Geld means I do not have the money. Do not translate it like English miss in every situation; Du fehlst mir means I miss you, with du as the subject and mir in the dative.
Heute fehlt ein Buch im Regal.
A book is missing from the shelf today.
heute means today, ein Buch is a book, and das Regal is the shelf or bookcase. Ein Buch is nominative because it is the thing that is missing; im Regal means in the shelf, and the finite verb fehlt is in position two.
Im Schrank hat ein Teller gefehlt.
A plate was missing from the cupboard.
der Schrank is the cupboard, ein Teller is a plate, and im Schrank means in the cupboard. The perfect uses hat plus gefehlt, with the Partizip II at the end; ein Teller is nominative, while im Schrank marks location.
Gestern fehlte meine Tasche.
Yesterday my bag was missing.
gestern means yesterday, and meine Tasche is my bag. Meine Tasche is nominative because it is the missing thing; the regular past form fehlte stands in position two.
Bitte fehl heute nicht!
Please do not be absent today!
bitte means please, heute means today, and nicht means not. The subject du is omitted in the imperative; this command sounds unusual, and a speaker would normally say that someone should not be absent.
Wenn du nicht da wärst, würde mir etwas fehlen.
If you were not here, I would be missing something.
wenn means if, nicht da means not here, and etwas means something. The person who experiences the absence is in the dative, mir; wärst goes to the end of the wenn-clause, and fehlen follows würde in the main clause.
Morgen wird uns ein wichtiges Dokument fehlen.
Tomorrow we will be missing an important document.
morgen means tomorrow, uns means to us, and wichtiges Dokument means important document. Uns is dative because fehlen presents the missing thing as missing to someone; future tense uses wird with the infinitive fehlen at the end.
geben — to give; to provide; there is; there are
The usual pattern is jemandem etwas geben: the recipient is dative and the thing given is accusative. The strong verb has the forms geben – gab – hat gegeben; es gibt is a very common fixed expression meaning “there is” or “there are”.
Ich gebe meiner Freundin ein Buch.
I am giving my friend a book.
meiner Freundin means my friend, and ein Buch means a book. Meiner Freundin is dative because it is the recipient, while ein Buch is accusative because it is what is given; the finite verb gebe stands in position two.
Wir haben dem Kind ein Geschenk gegeben.
We gave the child a present.
dem Kind means the child, and ein Geschenk means a present. The perfect uses haben plus gegeben, with the Partizip II at the end; dem Kind is dative as the recipient.
Sie gab mir gestern einen guten Rat.
She gave me good advice yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and einen guten Rat means some good advice. Mir is dative because it is the recipient, and the strong-verb past form gab stands in position two.
Gib mir bitte das Salz!
Please give me the salt!
bitte means please, and das Salz means the salt. Mir is dative for the recipient and das Salz is accusative for the thing given; the imperative gib comes first.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, gäbe ich dir mehr Hilfe.
If I had more time, I would give you more help.
mehr Zeit means more time, and mehr Hilfe means more help. Hätte and gäbe form an unreal condition; gäbe stands at the end of the wenn clause, but in the main clause it is in position two, with dir in the dative.
Morgen werde ich dir die Adresse geben.
Tomorrow I will give you the address.
morgen means tomorrow, and die Adresse means the address. Future uses werden plus the infinitive geben; werde is in position two and geben goes to the end, while dir is dative for the recipient.
Hier gibt es einen Supermarkt.
There is a supermarket here.
hier means here, and einen Supermarkt means a supermarket. In es gibt, es is the formal subject and the thing that exists is accusative; the finite verb gibt stays in position two.
In unserer Stadt gibt es viele Parks.
There are many parks in our city.
unsere Stadt means our city, and viele Parks means many parks. In unserer Stadt gives the location, while viele Parks is accusative after es gibt; do not change gibt to a plural form.
gehen — to go, to walk; to be going, to work, to be possible
gehen is a strong verb with the forms ging and ist gegangen. It normally takes sein in the perfect when it means movement; destinations are often expressed with nach, zu, or in.
Ich gehe jeden Morgen zur Arbeit.
I walk to work every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning, and zur Arbeit means to work. The finite verb gehe stands in position two; zu takes the dative in zur Arbeit, and the phrase describes a destination.
Wir sind gestern nach Berlin gegangen.
We went to Berlin yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and nach Berlin means to Berlin. The perfect uses sind plus gegangen because gehen expresses movement; the auxiliary is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Er ging schnell nach draußen.
He went outside quickly.
schnell means quickly, and nach draußen means outside. Ging is the strong-verb preterite and stands in position two; nach draußen marks movement towards the outside.
Geh bitte nach Hause!
Please go home!
bitte means please, and nach Hause means home. Geh is the informal singular imperative with du understood; the destination phrase uses nach, not zu.
Ich würde gern mit euch gehen.
I would like to go with you.
würde gern means would like to, and mit euch means with you. Würde is in position two and gehen remains an infinitive at the end; mit always takes the dative, shown by euch.
Morgen gehen wir gemeinsam ins Kino.
Tomorrow we will go to the cinema together.
morgen means tomorrow, gemeinsam means together, and ins Kino means to the cinema. The present form gehen can express a planned future with morgen; the finite verb stays in position two, unlike a future construction with werden.
Wie geht es dir?
How are you?
wie means how, es means it, and dir means to you. This is a fixed expression asking about someone’s condition; dir is dative, and the finite verb geht is in position two.
Das geht heute leider nicht.
Unfortunately, that is not possible today.
heute means today, and leider means unfortunately. Here geht means is possible rather than moves; nicht negates the possibility, and the finite verb is in position two.
gehören — to belong to; to belong to, to be part of
For ownership, gehören uses the dative for the owner: Das Buch gehört mir. Do not copy English word order and say gehört mich; the correct form is gehört mir.
Das Fahrrad gehört mir.
The bicycle belongs to me.
das Fahrrad means the bicycle, and mir means to me. mir is dative because gehören marks the owner with the dative; the finite verb gehört is in position two.
Die Tasche hat meiner Schwester gehört.
The bag belonged to my sister.
die Tasche means the bag, and meiner Schwester means my sister. meiner Schwester is dative because it is the owner; the perfect uses hat plus gehört, with the Partizip II at the end.
Früher gehörte das Haus meinem Großvater.
The house used to belong to my grandfather.
früher means formerly or in the past, and mein Großvater means my grandfather. meinem Großvater is dative because it is the owner; the simple-past form gehörte stands in position two.
Das Buch gehör jetzt mir!
The book belongs to me now!
das Buch means the book and jetzt means now. The imperative gehör is grammatically possible but unusual; mir is dative because it names the owner, and the subject is placed before the verb for emphasis.
Wenn das Auto mir gehören würde, wäre ich glücklich.
If the car belonged to me, I would be happy.
das Auto means the car and glücklich means happy. mir is dative because it is the owner; in the wenn clause the infinitive gehören goes to the end, while würde marks the hypothetical meaning.
Das neue Handy wird bald meiner Tochter gehören.
The new mobile phone will soon belong to my daughter.
das neue Handy means the new mobile phone, bald means soon, and meiner Tochter means my daughter. meiner Tochter is dative because it is the owner; wird stands in position two and gehören goes to the end.
Sie gehört zu unserer Familie.
She belongs to our family.
sie means she, and unsere Familie means our family. zu takes the dative, so unserer Familie is dative; gehört is in position two and zu is part of the fixed expression zu etwas gehören.
Dieses Kapitel gehört nicht zum Buch.
This chapter is not part of the book.
dieses Kapitel means this chapter, nicht means not, and das Buch means the book. zum Buch means zu dem Buch and is dative because zu requires the dative; the finite verb gehört stands in position two.
glauben — to believe, to think; to think, to suppose
Glauben has two important patterns: jemandem glauben means to believe someone, with a dative person, while an etwas glauben means to believe in something, with an plus accusative. Its perfect auxiliary is haben.
Ich glaube dir.
I believe you.
dir means you in the dative, and the sentence means that I accept what you say as true. Dir is dative because jemandem glauben takes a person in the dative; the finite verb glaube is in position two.
Ich habe ihm sofort geglaubt.
I believed him immediately.
ihm means him, and sofort means immediately. Ihm is dative because glauben takes the person believed in the dative; the perfect uses haben, with geglaubt at the end.
Früher glaubte sie an Gespenster.
She used to believe in ghosts.
früher means formerly or in the past, and Gespenster are ghosts. An Gespenster is an accusative prepositional phrase because belief in something uses an plus accusative; the simple past glaubte is common in written narration.
Glaub mir!
Believe me!
mir means me in the dative. Glaub is the singular du imperative, and mir stays dative because jemandem glauben takes a dative person; the subject du is omitted.
Ich würde ihm nicht glauben, wenn er keine Beweise hätte.
I would not believe him if he had no evidence.
würde means would, keine Beweise means no evidence, and hätte means had. Ihm is dative because glauben takes a person in the dative; the wenn clause sends its finite verb hätte to the end.
Du wirst mir später glauben.
You will believe me later.
später means later, and mir means me in the dative. The future uses wirst in position two and sends the infinitive glauben to the end; mir is dative because of the verb's pattern.
Ich glaube, der Bus kommt gleich.
I think the bus is coming soon.
der Bus is the bus, kommt means is coming, and gleich means soon. Ich glaube introduces an opinion; the following main clause also keeps its finite verb in position two, unlike a dass clause.
Sie glaubt, dass der Film schon angefangen hat.
She thinks that the film has already started.
der Film is the film, schon means already, and angefangen means started. After dass, the finite verb hat moves to the end of the subordinate clause; glaubt remains in position two in the main clause.
gucken — to look, to watch
gucken is colloquial and especially common in spoken German; schauen is a neutral alternative in many regions. With a direct object, etwas gucken means to watch or look at something, while aus dem Fenster gucken means to look out of the window.
Ich gucke aus dem Fenster.
I look out of the window.
aus dem Fenster means out of the window. aus always takes the dative, shown by dem, and the finite verb gucke stands in position two.
Wir haben zusammen Fernsehen geguckt.
We watched television together.
zusammen means together, and Fernsehen means television or watching TV. The perfect uses haben plus geguckt at the end; gucken is colloquial, while fernsehen is also very common for watching television.
Er guckte lange auf sein Handy.
He looked at his phone for a long time.
lange means for a long time, and sein Handy means his mobile phone. auf sein Handy means at his phone and uses accusative here because the verb describes the direction of his gaze; guckte is the regular past form in position two.
Guck mal, da ist ein Vogel!
Look, there is a bird!
mal softens the command and means just or for a moment, while da means there and ein Vogel means a bird. Guck is the informal imperative with an understood du; the following clause uses ist in position two.
Wenn ich durch das Fernglas guckte, guckte ich die Berge an.
If I looked through the binoculars, I would look at the mountains.
durch das Fernglas means through the binoculars, and die Berge means the mountains. The conditional form guckte is identical to the simple past, so wenn and the context show the meaning; angucken splits into guckte ... an in the main clause, with die Berge as accusative.
Später wird sie einen Film gucken.
Later she will watch a film.
später means later, and einen Film means a film. Future uses wird in position two and gucken at the end; einen Film is accusative because it is what she watches.
gut — well; a good, approximately
As an adverb, gut describes a verb, usually meaning well. It does not take an adjective ending: say gut schlafen, not guten schlafen.
Ich kann gut schwimmen.
I can swim well.
schwimmen means to swim, and kann means can. gut describes how the action is done; the modal verb kann is in position two and the infinitive schwimmen goes to the end.
Hast du gut geschlafen?
Did you sleep well?
geschlafen means slept. gut describes the quality of the sleep; in this yes-no question, hast comes first, while geschlafen is the Partizip II at the end.
Der Film dauert gut zwei Stunden.
The film lasts a good two hours.
der Film means the film, and dauert means lasts. gut zwei Stunden means a little more than or approximately two hours; gut is an adverb and the finite verb dauert is in position two.
Das kostet gut fünfzig Euro.
That costs a good fifty euros.
kostet means costs, and fünfzig Euro means fifty euros. Here gut makes the amount sound comfortably above or around fifty euros; the finite verb kostet stands in position two.
helfen — to help, to assist
helfen takes a dative person: jemandem helfen, not an accusative person. Its perfect uses haben, and its strong forms are half and geholfen.
Ich helfe meiner Schwester.
I am helping my sister.
ich means I and meiner Schwester means my sister. meiner Schwester is dative because helfen always takes the dative for the person who receives help; the finite verb helfe stands in position two.
Er hat mir geholfen.
He helped me.
er means he and mir means to me. mir is dative because helfen governs the dative; the auxiliary hat is in position two and geholfen goes to the end of the clause.
Die Lehrerin half dem Kind.
The teacher helped the child.
die Lehrerin means the female teacher and dem Kind means the child. dem Kind is dative because it is the person receiving help; half is the strong-verb preterite and stands in position two.
Hilf mir bitte!
Please help me!
mir means me or to me, and bitte means please. mir is dative because helfen takes a dative person; the imperative hilf comes first, and the subject du is left out.
Du würdest mir helfen, wenn du Zeit hättest.
You would help me if you had time.
würdest means would, wenn means if, Zeit means time, and hättest means had. mir is dative because of helfen; würdest helfen forms the conditional, while hättest goes to the end of the wenn clause.
Ich werde dir morgen helfen.
I will help you tomorrow.
dir means to you and morgen means tomorrow. dir is dative because helfen takes a dative person; werde stands in position two and the infinitive helfen goes to the end.
hören — to hear; to listen to; to heed, obey, listen to
For simply hearing or listening to something, hören takes a direct accusative object. Do not confuse it with zuhören, which means to listen attentively and separates in a main clause.
Ich höre Musik.
I am listening to music.
Musik means music. höre is the finite verb in position two, and Musik is an accusative object because hören takes what is heard or listened to without a preposition.
Wir haben den Wecker gehört.
We heard the alarm clock.
den Wecker means the alarm clock. The perfect uses haben in position two and gehört at the end; den Wecker is accusative because it is the direct object.
Sie hörte ein lautes Geräusch.
She heard a loud noise.
ein lautes Geräusch means a loud noise. hörte is the finite preterite in position two, and the accusative phrase ein lautes Geräusch is what she heard.
Hör bitte gut zu!
Please listen carefully!
bitte means please, gut means carefully or well, and zuhören means to listen attentively. This command uses the separable verb zuhören, so hör stands first and zu goes to the end.
Ich würde gern mehr über den Plan hören.
I would like to hear more about the plan.
gern means gladly, mehr means more, and der Plan means the plan. In this polite conditional sentence, würde carries the Konjunktiv II and the infinitive hören goes to the end; über den Plan is an accusative phrase after über here.
Morgen werden wir die Nachrichten hören.
Tomorrow we will listen to the news.
morgen means tomorrow and die Nachrichten means the news. werden is in position two and the infinitive hören goes to the end; die Nachrichten is accusative as the thing being heard.
Du solltest auf deine Eltern hören.
You should listen to your parents.
deine Eltern means your parents, and solltest means should. This sense uses fixed auf with the accusative, so auf deine Eltern is required; the infinitive hören stands at the end after the modal verb.
Er hat nicht auf den Arzt gehört.
He did not follow the doctor's advice.
nicht means not, der Arzt means the doctor, and hat ... gehört means has listened or heeded. auf den Arzt is accusative because this fixed expression uses auf with the accusative, and gehört closes the perfect-tense bracket.
klopfen — to knock, to tap
For knocking on a door, use an die Tür klopfen with the accusative because the action is directed at the door. For tapping on a surface, auf is common: auf den Tisch klopfen.
Ich klopfe an die Tür.
I knock on the door.
an die Tür means on the door. An takes the accusative here because the knocking is directed towards the door, and the finite verb klopfe is in position two.
Jemand hat an die Tür geklopft.
Someone knocked on the door.
jemand means someone, and an die Tür means on the door. The perfect uses hat plus geklopft because klopfen takes haben; the participle goes at the end.
Er klopfte dreimal an die Tür.
He knocked on the door three times.
dreimal means three times, and an die Tür means on the door. Klopfte is the regular preterite in position two; the direction expressed by an takes the accusative.
Klopf bitte an die Tür!
Please knock on the door!
bitte means please, and an die Tür means on the door. Klopf is the informal singular imperative, with the subject du left out.
Wenn ich lauter klopfte, würde man mich hören.
If I knocked more loudly, people would hear me.
lauter means more loudly, and mich hören means hear me. The finite verb klopfte goes to the end of the wenn clause, while würde introduces the hypothetical result.
Der Nachbar wird später an die Tür klopfen.
The neighbour will knock on the door later.
der Nachbar means the neighbour, and später means later. Wird is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while klopfen goes to the end; an die Tür is accusative because it marks the target.
lachen — to laugh
lachen is normally intransitive, but it often appears with über plus the accusative to say what someone laughs at. The perfect is formed with haben: hat gelacht.
Das Kind lacht laut.
The child is laughing loudly.
das Kind means the child, and laut means loudly. Das Kind is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb lacht stands in position two.
Alle haben über den Witz gelacht.
Everyone laughed at the joke.
alle means everyone, and der Witz means the joke. The perfect uses haben plus gelacht at the end; über takes the accusative here, so der Witz becomes den Witz.
Er lachte, als er die Nachricht hörte.
He laughed when he heard the news.
als means when, and die Nachricht means the news or message. The main-clause verb lachte is in position two, while hörte goes to the end of the subordinate clause introduced by als.
Lach nicht so laut!
Do not laugh so loudly!
nicht means not, and so laut means so loudly. Lach is the du imperative, and nicht comes before the final adverbial phrase; the subject du is omitted.
Wenn du den Film sehen würdest, würdest du bestimmt lachen.
If you watched the film, you would definitely laugh.
wenn means if, den Film sehen means watch the film, and bestimmt means definitely. The conditional form uses würdest in the main clause and sends lachen to the end; the subordinate-clause verb sehen also stands at the end.
Du wirst bestimmt lachen, wenn du das Video siehst.
You will definitely laugh when you see the video.
bestimmt means definitely, and das Video means the video. wirst forms the future in position two, while lachen goes to the end of the main clause; after wenn, the finite verb siehst is final.
laufen — to run; to walk
For movement, the perfect usually takes sein: ist gelaufen. For the separate meaning ‘to function’, German can use haben in some contexts, especially with an activity or event, so the auxiliary is marked both.
Er läuft jeden Morgen im Park.
He runs in the park every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning and Park means park. The finite verb läuft is in position two; im Park is a dative location phrase after in.
Wir sind gestern nach Hause gelaufen.
We walked home yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and nach Hause means home. Movement uses sein, so sind is in position two and gelaufen goes to the end; nach Hause expresses direction without an article.
Sie lief schnell zum Bus.
She ran quickly to the bus.
schnell means quickly and zum Bus means to the bus. lief is the strong-verb past form, and zum Bus is dative after zu; the finite verb is in position two.
Lauf nicht so schnell!
Don't run so fast!
nicht so schnell means not so fast. Lauf is the du imperative and comes first; the negative word nicht follows the verb.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, liefe ich jeden Tag.
If I had more time, I would run every day.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and jeden Tag means every day. liefe is the Konjunktiv II of laufen; the finite verb goes to the end after wenn, while the main clause has liefe in position two.
Morgen wird sie zehn Kilometer laufen.
Tomorrow she will run ten kilometres.
morgen means tomorrow and zehn Kilometer means ten kilometres. wird is in position two and the infinitive laufen goes to the end; the distance is an accusative measure phrase.
Die Maschine läuft wieder.
The machine is working again.
Maschine means machine and wieder means again. Here laufen means function or operate, not move on foot; the finite verb läuft is in position two.
das Leben — life, existence; life, way of life
das Leben is usually uncountable when it means life in general, but die Leben is possible when speaking about several people's lives or different lives. Do not confuse the noun das Leben with the lowercase verb leben.
Das Leben ist schön.
Life is beautiful.
schön means beautiful or nice. Das Leben is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich liebe das Leben.
I love life.
ich means I, and liebe means love. Das Leben is accusative because lieben takes a direct object; the article looks the same in nominative and accusative for a neuter noun.
Wir geben dem Leben eine neue Richtung.
We give life a new direction.
wir means we, geben means give, and eine neue Richtung means a new direction. Dem Leben is dative because it is the recipient or target of geben, while eine neue Richtung is the accusative thing given.
Die Qualität des Lebens ist wichtig.
The quality of life is important.
die Qualität means the quality, and wichtig means important. Des Lebens is genitive because it means of life; the genitive article is des, and the noun adds -s.
Viele Leben enden viel zu früh.
Many lives end far too early.
viele means many, enden means end, and viel zu früh means far too early. The plural is die Leben, with no ending on the noun; the plural subject requires the verb form enden.
In meinem Leben habe ich viele Länder besucht.
I have visited many countries in my life.
in meinem Leben means in my life, and viele Länder means many countries. In takes the dative for a time or location, while the perfect uses habe in position two and besucht at the end.
Sie möchte ihr Leben verändern.
She wants to change her life.
sie means she, möchte means would like to, and verändern means change. Ihr Leben is accusative because it is the object of verändern; after the modal verb möchte, the second infinitive goes to the end.
liefern — to deliver, to supply; to provide, to produce
Liefern usually takes an accusative object for the thing delivered: etwas liefern. A recipient can be added in the dative, as in jemandem etwas liefern; the perfect uses haben, not sein.
Die Firma liefert das Paket morgen.
The company will deliver the parcel tomorrow.
die Firma means the company, das Paket means the parcel, and morgen means tomorrow. Das Paket is accusative because liefern takes the thing delivered as a direct object, and the finite verb liefert is in position two.
Der Fahrer hat die Bestellung geliefert.
The driver delivered the order.
der Fahrer means the driver, and die Bestellung means the order. The perfect uses hat plus geliefert, with the Partizip II at the end; die Bestellung is accusative as the object.
Die Firma lieferte die Geräte am Montag.
The company delivered the equipment on Monday.
die Geräte means the equipment or devices, and am Montag means on Monday. Lieferte is the weak Präteritum form and stands in position two; die Geräte is accusative.
Liefere das Essen bitte ins Büro.
Please deliver the food to the office.
das Essen means the food, bitte means please, and ins Büro means to the office. Liefere is the command form for du and comes first; das Essen is accusative, while ins Büro expresses the destination.
Ich würde die Möbel morgen liefern.
I would deliver the furniture tomorrow.
die Möbel means the furniture, and morgen means tomorrow. Würde marks the Konjunktiv II, so liefern remains an infinitive at the end; die Möbel is accusative.
Wir werden die Bestellung am Freitag liefern.
We will deliver the order on Friday.
die Bestellung means the order, and am Freitag means on Friday. Futur I uses werden in position two and the infinitive liefern at the end; the order is accusative.
Der Bericht liefert wichtige Informationen.
The report provides important information.
der Bericht means the report, and wichtige Informationen means important information. Wichtige Informationen is accusative because it is what the report provides, and the finite verb liefert is in position two.
Sie hat eine gute Erklärung geliefert.
She provided a good explanation.
eine gute Erklärung means a good explanation. The perfect uses hat and geliefert, with geliefert at the end; eine gute Erklärung is accusative as the direct object.
liegen — to lie; to be located; to matter; to be due to
liegen describes a person or thing already being in a horizontal position or place. It is different from legen, which means to put something down and describes an action.
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
The book is lying on the table.
das Buch is the book and der Tisch is the table. auf dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location here, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Das Buch hat auf dem Tisch gelegen.
The book was lying on the table.
das Buch is the book and der Tisch is the table. hat gelegen is the perfect of liegen with haben; the auxiliary is in position two and gelegen goes to the end, while the fixed location takes dative after auf.
Früher lag hier ein kleiner See.
There used to be a small lake here.
früher means formerly, hier means here, and ein kleiner See is a small lake. lag is the Präteritum form of liegen and stands in position two; ein kleiner See is nominative because it is what was located here.
Lieg bitte still!
Please lie still!
bitte means please and still means still or quietly. lieg is the du imperative, so the subject is omitted; still describes the state requested.
Wenn ich krank wäre, läge ich im Bett.
If I were ill, I would be lying in bed.
wenn means if, krank means ill, and im Bett means in bed. läge is the Konjunktiv II of liegen and comes at the end of the wenn-clause; in the main clause, läge would usually be replaced by würde liegen in everyday speech.
Morgen liegt das Paket vor der Tür.
Tomorrow the parcel will be in front of the door.
morgen means tomorrow, das Paket is the parcel, and vor der Tür means in front of the door. German often uses the present for a future arrangement; the finite verb liegt remains in position two, while a true future would use wird ... liegen.
Du liegst mir sehr am Herzen.
You are very close to my heart.
mir means to me and sehr means very; am Herzen literally means at the heart. mir is dative because this expression says to whom something matters, and the finite verb liegst is in position two.
Daran liegt es nicht.
That is not the reason.
daran means because of that or in that, and nicht means not. The expression daran liegt es means that is the cause; liegt is in position two and es is the grammatical subject.
der Lärm — noise
Der Lärm is normally uncountable, so it has no ordinary plural. For a quiet opposite, use die Ruhe.
Der Lärm ist sehr laut.
The noise is very loud.
sehr means very and laut means loud. Der Lärm is nominative because it is the subject; ist is in position two, and laut is a predicate adjective without an ending.
Ich höre den Lärm von draußen.
I can hear the noise from outside.
hören means to hear and draußen means outside. Den Lärm is accusative because hören takes a direct object; von draußen means from outside, and höre is in position two.
Mit dem Lärm kann ich nicht schlafen.
I cannot sleep with this noise.
mit means with, können means can, and schlafen means to sleep. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Lärm is dative; the modal verb kann is in position two and schlafen goes to the end.
Wegen des Lärms öffne ich das Fenster.
Because of the noise, I open the window.
wegen means because of, öffnen means to open, and das Fenster means the window. Wegen takes the genitive in careful standard German, so des Lärms is genitive; because the opening phrase comes first, öffne still occupies position two.
machen — to do, to make
Machen is a very common weak verb with many English translations, including “do”, “make”, and “take” in expressions such as eine Pause machen. It normally takes an accusative object and forms the perfect with haben: hat gemacht.
Ich mache heute meine Hausaufgaben.
I am doing my homework today.
heute means today, and meine Hausaufgaben means my homework. Meine Hausaufgaben is accusative because machen takes the task as its object, and the finite verb mache stands in position two.
Wir haben gestern einen Kuchen gemacht.
We made a cake yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and einen Kuchen is a cake. Einen Kuchen is accusative because it is what we made; the auxiliary haben is in position two and gemacht goes to the end.
Sie machte einen guten Eindruck.
She made a good impression.
einen guten Eindruck means a good impression. Machte is the weak-verb simple past, and einen guten Eindruck is accusative because it is the result made by the subject.
Mach bitte die Tür zu!
Please close the door!
bitte means please, and die Tür is the door. Mach is the singular imperative of machen; with zumachen, the prefix zu separates and goes to the end of this command.
Ich würde gern eine Pause machen.
I would like to take a break.
würde gern means would like to, and eine Pause is a break. Eine Pause is accusative because it is the object of machen; the infinitive machen goes to the end after würde.
Wir werden morgen einen Ausflug machen.
We will take a trip tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and einen Ausflug is a trip or excursion. Einen Ausflug is accusative because it is the object of machen; werden is in position two and the infinitive goes to the end.
merken — to notice; to realize; to remember; to keep in mind
For the sense ‘to notice’, merken takes an accusative object: etwas merken. The related pattern sich etwas merken means to remember something and uses a dative reflexive pronoun.
Ich merke den Unterschied.
I notice the difference.
den Unterschied means the difference. Den Unterschied is accusative because merken takes a direct object; the finite verb merke stands in position two.
Sie hat den Fehler gemerkt.
She noticed the mistake.
der Fehler means the mistake, and hat means has. Den Fehler is accusative after merken; hat is the finite verb in position two and gemerkt goes to the end with haben.
Er merkte die Spannung im Raum.
He noticed the tension in the room.
die Spannung means the tension and im Raum means in the room. Die Spannung is accusative because it is the object of merken; the simple-past verb merkte is in position two.
Merk dir diese Nummer!
Remember this number!
dir means for yourself or to yourself, and diese Nummer means this number. Dir is dative with the fixed expression sich etwas merken; the imperative merk comes first, while the accusative object follows.
Wenn du gut aufpasst, würdest du den Fehler merken.
If you paid close attention, you would notice the mistake.
wenn means if, gut aufpasst means pays close attention, and der Fehler means the mistake. Den Fehler is accusative after merken; würdest carries the subjunctive meaning in the main clause and the infinitive merken stands at the end.
Du wirst den Unterschied bald merken.
You will soon notice the difference.
bald means soon and der Unterschied means the difference. Den Unterschied is accusative because merken takes a direct object; wirst is in position two and the infinitive merken goes to the end.
Ich merke mir die Adresse.
I’ll remember the address.
mir means to myself, and die Adresse means the address. In sich etwas merken, mir is the dative reflexive pronoun and die Adresse is accusative; the finite verb merke is in position two.
Kannst du dir das bitte merken?
Can you please remember that?
kannst du means can you, dir means for yourself, and bitte means please. Dir is dative and das is accusative in sich etwas merken; after the modal kannst, the infinitive merken goes to the end.
mitmachen — to take part, to join in
mitmachen is a separable verb: the prefix mit normally moves to the end of a main clause. It usually describes joining an activity, game, course, or group.
Ich mache beim Fußballtraining mit.
I am taking part in football training.
das Fußballtraining means football training. bei takes the dative here, so beim Fußballtraining means at or during the training; the finite verb mache is in position two and mit goes to the end.
Wir haben beim Spiel mitgemacht.
We took part in the game.
das Spiel means the game. The perfect uses haben with mitgemacht, and the Partizip II stands at the end; mitgemacht is one word in this form.
Meine Schwester machte gestern beim Wettbewerb mit.
My sister took part in the competition yesterday.
meine Schwester means my sister, gestern means yesterday, and der Wettbewerb is the competition. The weak past form is machte, while the separable prefix mit goes to the end of the main clause.
Mach bei der Übung mit!
Join in with the exercise!
die Übung means the exercise. This is the du imperative; bei requires the dative, and the prefix mit remains separate at the end.
Ich würde gern bei dem Kurs mitmachen.
I would like to take part in the course.
gern means gladly or would like to, and der Kurs is the course. würde plus the infinitive mitmachen expresses a polite or hypothetical wish; the whole infinitive stays together at the end.
Nächste Woche machen auch die Eltern beim Fest mit.
Next week the parents will also join in at the celebration.
nächste Woche means next week, auch means also, and das Fest is the celebration. In the future, werden is understood here in the present-tense construction; machen is in position two and mit closes the clause.
nehmen — to take; to pick up; to use
Nehmen is a strong verb: nehmen – nahm – hat genommen. It usually takes an accusative object, and its present forms have the vowel change e to i in du nimmst and er nimmt.
Ich nehme den Schlüssel vom Tisch.
I take the key from the table.
der Schlüssel means the key, and der Tisch means the table; vom means “from the”. Den Schlüssel is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object, while vom Tisch is a dative phrase after von; the finite verb nehme is in position two.
Wir haben den Zug genommen.
We took the train.
der Zug means the train. Den Zug is accusative because it is what we took; haben is in position two and genommen goes to the end of the clause.
Sie nahm meine Hand.
She took my hand.
meine Hand means my hand. Meine Hand is accusative because it is the direct object, and nahm is the strong-verb past form in the second position.
Nimm bitte einen Regenschirm!
Please take an umbrella!
bitte means please, and ein Regenschirm is an umbrella. Einen Regenschirm is accusative because it is the object of nehmen; the informal singular imperative is nimm, with du omitted.
Ich würde gern ein Taxi nehmen.
I would like to take a taxi.
gern means gladly or would like to, and ein Taxi means a taxi. The phrase würde ... nehmen expresses a polite or hypothetical wish; nehmen stays at the end because it is the infinitive.
Morgen werde ich den frühen Zug nehmen.
Tomorrow I will take the early train.
morgen means tomorrow, and früh means early. Den frühen Zug is accusative as the object of nehmen; werde is in position two and the infinitive nehmen goes to the end.
neu — new; recent
neu can describe something that has just been made or bought, as well as something recent. Its opposite is alt, meaning old.
Das Handy ist neu.
The mobile phone is new.
das Handy is the mobile phone. neu is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe ein neues Fahrrad.
I am buying a new bicycle.
kaufe means am buying and Fahrrad is bicycle. ein neues Fahrrad is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object, and neues has the neuter accusative ending after ein.
Mein neues Fahrrad ist neuer als mein altes.
My new bicycle is newer than my old one.
mein neues Fahrrad means my new bicycle, and altes means old one. neuer compares two things and is followed by als; it is predicative here, so it has no adjective ending.
Dieses ist am neuesten.
This one is the newest.
dieses means this one. am neuesten is the predicative superlative, formed with am and -sten; use an attributive form such as das neueste Fahrrad before a noun.