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Vocab: Everyday actions — A1 (2)
Everyday actions vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
nochmal — again, one more time
nochmal is the common spoken form of noch einmal, meaning again. In formal writing, noch einmal or nochmals may be preferred.
Kannst du das bitte nochmal sagen?
Can you please say that again?
bitte means please, and sagen means say. nochmal means again; with the modal verb kannst, the infinitive sagen goes to the end of the question.
Ich versuche es nochmal.
I will try it again.
versuche means try, and es means it. nochmal means again; es is an accusative object after versuchen, and the finite verb versuche is in position two.
normal — normal, ordinary, usual
Normal describes something usual or expected. Its comparison is regular: normaler, am normalsten; in everyday speech, the comparative is less common than the positive form.
Das ist normal.
That is normal.
Das means that, and ist means is. Normal is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Sie hat einen normalen Arbeitstag.
She has an ordinary working day.
Sie means she, haben means to have, and der Arbeitstag means working day. Einen normalen Arbeitstag is accusative because haben takes a direct object, and the adjective takes -en after einen.
Heute fühlt er sich normaler als gestern.
Today he feels more normal than yesterday.
heute means today, sich fühlen means to feel, and gestern means yesterday. Normaler als compares two situations; the reflexive pronoun sich belongs to sich fühlen, and the finite verb fühlt is in position two.
Von den drei Antworten klingt diese am normalsten.
Of the three answers, this one sounds the most normal.
von den drei Antworten means of the three answers, and klingen means to sound. Am normalsten is the predicative superlative; von takes the dative, and the finite verb klingt is in position two.
offen — open; open-minded, frank
Offen describes something that is not closed and, with people, can mean frank or receptive. Before a noun it takes an adjective ending, but after sein it does not.
Die Tür ist offen.
The door is open.
die Tür means the door. Offen follows the verb ist and is therefore predicative, so it has no adjective ending; die Tür is nominative because it is the subject.
Bitte lassen Sie das offene Fenster zu.
Please close the open window.
bitte means please, lassen means leave or let, das Fenster means the window, and zu means closed in this context. Offene stands before the accusative object Fenster and takes -e after das; the polite imperative uses lassen Sie.
Dieses Fenster ist offener als das andere.
This window is more open than the other one.
dieses Fenster means this window and das andere means the other one. Offener compares two windows and is followed by als; because it comes after ist, it is predicative and has no ending.
Von allen Fenstern ist dieses am offensten.
Of all the windows, this one is the most open.
von allen Fenstern means of all the windows, and dieses means this one. Am offensten is the predicative superlative after ist; von takes the dative, which is why Fenstern has -n.
ordnen — to sort, arrange, organise
ordnen is a regular weak verb and normally takes an accusative object: etwas ordnen. For arranging something in a particular order, German often adds nach plus dative, as in nach dem Datum.
Ich ordne die Bücher.
I am organising the books.
ich means I and die Bücher means the books. die Bücher is accusative because ordnen takes an accusative object, and the finite verb ordne stands in position two.
Wir haben die Akten geordnet.
We organised the files.
wir means we and die Akten means the files. die Akten is accusative after ordnen; the perfect uses haben, with haben in position two and geordnet at the end.
Sie ordnete die Rechnungen nach dem Datum.
She sorted the bills by date.
sie means she, die Rechnungen are the bills, and das Datum is the date. die Rechnungen is accusative because it is the object of ordnete; nach dem Datum means by date and nach takes the dative.
Ordne bitte deinen Schreibtisch!
Please organise your desk!
bitte means please and dein Schreibtisch is your desk. The imperative ordne gives a direct instruction, and deinen Schreibtisch is accusative because ordnen takes an accusative object.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, ordnete ich alles neu.
If I had more time, I would reorganise everything.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and neu means anew. In the wenn-clause, the finite verb hätte goes to the end; the form ordnete here is also the Konjunktiv II form, expressing an unreal or imagined situation.
Morgen ordne ich den Keller.
Tomorrow I will organise the cellar.
morgen means tomorrow and der Keller means the cellar or basement. den Keller is accusative after ordnen; German often uses the present for the future, but with werden, the infinitive ordnen would go to the end.
packen — to pack; to grab; to seize
Packen normally takes an accusative object: etwas packen means to pack something. It is a weak verb with packen – packte – hat gepackt and uses haben in the perfect.
Ich packe meinen Koffer.
I am packing my suitcase.
ich packe means I am packing, meinen means my, and Koffer means suitcase. Meinen Koffer is accusative because packen takes a direct object, and the finite verb packe stands in position two.
Ich habe meinen Koffer gepackt.
I have packed my suitcase.
ich habe means I have, meinen Koffer means my suitcase, and gepackt means packed. The perfect uses haben with gepackt at the end; meinen Koffer remains accusative as the direct object.
Sie packte ihre Sachen in eine Kiste.
She packed her things into a box.
sie packte means she packed, ihre Sachen means her things, and eine Kiste means a box. Ihre Sachen is accusative because it is the object, and the weak preterite adds -te to make packte.
Pack bitte deine Kleidung ein.
Please pack your clothes.
bitte means please, deine Kleidung means your clothes, and ein means in or away into the container. Pack is the du imperative without -en; deine Kleidung is accusative because it is what is packed.
Ich würde morgen meinen Rucksack packen.
I would pack my rucksack tomorrow.
ich würde means I would, morgen means tomorrow, and Rucksack means rucksack or backpack. The modal-style form würde packen expresses a hypothetical idea; meinen Rucksack is accusative, and the infinitive packen stands at the end.
Wir werden heute Abend unsere Koffer packen.
We will pack our suitcases this evening.
heute Abend means this evening, unsere Koffer means our suitcases, and werden means will. Future tense uses werden in position two and the infinitive packen at the end; the object is accusative.
Der Polizist packte den Mann am Arm.
The police officer grabbed the man by the arm.
der Polizist means the police officer, den Mann means the man, and am Arm means by the arm. Den Mann is accusative because he is the person grabbed, while am is short for dative an dem in the body-part expression.
Die Angst packt ihn plötzlich.
Fear suddenly grips him.
die Angst means fear, ihn means him, and plötzlich means suddenly. Ihn is accusative because packen has him as its direct object; the finite verb packt stands in position two.
passen — to fit, to suit; to be appropriate, to fit a situation
For size or suitability, passen takes the person in the dative: jemandem passen. With a thing that matches another thing, use zu plus dative, as in Das passt zu dir.
Die Jacke passt mir gut.
The jacket fits me well.
die Jacke means jacket, and gut means well. mir is dative because passen says who something fits or suits; the finite verb passt is in position two.
Der Termin hat mir gestern nicht gepasst.
The appointment did not suit me yesterday.
der Termin is an appointment, and gestern means yesterday. mir is dative because it names the person the appointment suits; hat is in position two and gepasst goes to the end.
Der alte Mantel passte ihm noch.
The old coat still fitted him.
der alte Mantel means the old coat, and noch means still. ihm is dative because the coat fits him; the simple-past verb passte stands in position two.
Pass mir bitte das Salz!
Please pass me the salt!
bitte means please, and das Salz means the salt. mir is dative for the person receiving something; the imperative Pass stands first, and the object das Salz is accusative.
Das passte mir nicht, aber ich sagte nichts.
I was not happy with that, but I said nothing.
aber means but, and ich sagte nichts means I said nothing. Here passte is also the form used for the hypothetical or polite meaning “would suit”; mir remains dative.
Die neuen Schuhe werden dir bald passen.
The new shoes will fit you soon.
die neuen Schuhe means the new shoes, and bald means soon. dir is dative because it names the person the shoes will fit; werden is in position two and the infinitive passen goes to the end.
Diese Antwort passt nicht zur Frage.
This answer does not fit the question.
diese Antwort means this answer, and die Frage means the question. zur Frage is zu der Frage, with dative after zu; the finite verb passt is in position two.
Der Witz passt nicht zu der ernsten Situation.
The joke does not suit the serious situation.
der Witz means the joke, and ernst means serious. zu der ernsten Situation is dative after zu; the adjective has the ending -en after the definite article.
passieren — to happen, to occur; to pass, to cross
passieren takes sein in the perfect: ist passiert. It normally has no direct object; for “What happened?”, use Was ist passiert?, not a literal translation with machen.
Was passiert hier?
What is happening here?
was means what, and hier means here. This is a question, so the finite verb passiert stands directly after the question word; passieren has no direct object here.
Zum Glück ist nichts passiert.
Luckily, nothing happened.
zum Glück means luckily, and nichts means nothing. ist is the auxiliary because passieren takes sein in the perfect; passiert goes to the end, and nichts is the subject in the nominative.
Gestern passierte ein Unfall.
An accident happened yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and ein Unfall means an accident. Because the time expression occupies position one, the finite verb passierte comes next and the subject follows it.
Passier bitte vorsichtig die Straße!
Please cross the street carefully!
bitte means please, vorsichtig means carefully, and die Straße means the street. Here passieren means cross or go through; die Straße is accusative as its object, and the imperative stands first.
Es passierte, als niemand hinsah.
It happened when nobody was looking.
als means when, niemand means nobody, and hinsah means was looking. The subordinate clause puts its finite verb hinsah at the end; the requested hypothetical form is identical in appearance to the simple past here, so context supplies the meaning.
Morgen wird bestimmt nichts passieren.
Nothing will happen tomorrow, for sure.
morgen means tomorrow, and bestimmt means certainly or for sure. wird is in position two and the infinitive passieren goes to the end; nichts is the nominative subject.
Die Fußgänger passieren die Grenze.
The pedestrians cross the border.
die Fußgänger are the pedestrians, and die Grenze is the border. die Grenze is accusative because this sense of passieren takes a direct object; the finite verb passieren is in position two.
Der Zug passiert den Bahnhof ohne Halt.
The train passes the station without stopping.
der Zug means the train, der Bahnhof means the station, and ohne Halt means without stopping. den Bahnhof is accusative because it is the object passed by the train; ohne also takes accusative here.
planen — to plan; to organize; to schedule
Planen normally takes an accusative object, such as eine Reise planen. Its perfect is hat geplant with haben, and it is a regular weak verb.
Ich plane eine Reise nach Berlin.
I am planning a trip to Berlin.
eine Reise is a trip and nach Berlin means to Berlin. Eine Reise is accusative because planen takes a direct object, and the finite verb plane stands in position two.
Wir haben den Urlaub gut geplant.
We planned the holiday well.
den Urlaub means the holiday and gut means well. Den Urlaub is accusative because planen takes an object; the perfect uses haben, with geplant at the end of the clause.
Sie plante alles sehr genau.
She planned everything very carefully.
alles means everything and sehr genau means very carefully. Alles is accusative as the object, and the regular past form plante is the finite verb in position two.
Plan den nächsten Schritt sorgfältig.
Plan the next step carefully.
den nächsten Schritt means the next step and sorgfältig means carefully. Plan is the informal singular imperative, with the subject du omitted; the object is accusative after planen.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, würde ich alles besser planen.
If I had more time, I would plan everything better.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and besser means better. The conditional form uses würde plus the infinitive planen; hätte goes to the end of the wenn-clause, while würde and planen form a bracket in the main clause.
Morgen werde ich den ganzen Tag planen.
Tomorrow I will plan all day.
morgen means tomorrow and den ganzen Tag means all day. Future uses werden with the infinitive planen at the end; den ganzen Tag is an accusative time expression.
Das Team plant eine große Veranstaltung.
The team is organizing a large event.
das Team means the team and eine große Veranstaltung means a large event. Eine große Veranstaltung is accusative because it is the object of plant; the adjective has the ending -e after the feminine article eine.
Die Schule hat einen Ausflug geplant.
The school has organized a day trip.
die Schule means the school and einen Ausflug means a day trip. Einen Ausflug is accusative after planen, while hat ... geplant puts the auxiliary in position two and the Partizip II at the end.
probieren — to try, to taste; to try on
Probieren is a weak verb and takes haben in the perfect: hat probiert. It normally takes an accusative object, as in etwas probieren; it can mean either trying an activity or tasting food.
Ich probiere die neue Suppe.
I am trying the new soup.
die neue Suppe means the new soup. Die neue Suppe is accusative because probieren takes the thing tried as a direct object; the finite verb probiere is in position two.
Wir haben den Kuchen probiert.
We tried the cake.
der Kuchen is cake. Den Kuchen is accusative because probieren takes a direct object; haben is in position two and the Partizip II probiert goes to the end.
Sie probierte eine neue Methode.
She tried a new method.
eine neue Methode means a new method. The object is accusative because probieren takes a direct object, and the weak-verb preterite probierte is the finite verb in position two.
Probier diesen Käse!
Try this cheese!
dieser Käse means this cheese. Diesen Käse is accusative because it is the object of probieren; the imperative probier comes first and the subject du is left out.
Ich würde das neue Restaurant probieren, wenn es nicht so weit wäre.
I would try the new restaurant if it were not so far away.
das neue Restaurant means the new restaurant, and so weit means so far away. Das neue Restaurant is accusative after probieren; in the würde construction, probieren stays at the end of the main clause.
Morgen werde ich den neuen Tee probieren.
Tomorrow I will try the new tea.
morgen means tomorrow, and der neue Tee is the new tea. Den neuen Tee is accusative because probieren takes a direct object; werde is in position two and probieren goes to the end.
Kann ich diese Jacke probieren?
Can I try on this jacket?
diese Jacke means this jacket. Diese Jacke is accusative because probieren takes the item tried on as its direct object; after the modal kann, the infinitive probieren goes to the end.
Sie probiert die Schuhe im Laden.
She is trying on the shoes in the shop.
die Schuhe means the shoes, and im Laden means in the shop. Die Schuhe is accusative because probieren takes a direct object; the finite verb probiert is in position two.
rauchen — to smoke
rauchen usually means smoking tobacco, especially in eine Zigarette rauchen. It can also describe producing smoke, but that use is often expressed with rauchen without an object, as in Der Schornstein raucht.
Mein Vater raucht jeden Abend eine Zigarre.
My father smokes a cigar every evening.
mein Vater means my father, jeden Abend means every evening, and eine Zigarre is a cigar. eine Zigarre is accusative because it is the object of rauchen; the finite verb raucht stands in position two.
Sie hat gestern keine Zigarette geraucht.
She did not smoke a cigarette yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and keine Zigarette means no cigarette. The auxiliary hat is in position two and geraucht goes to the end; keine Zigarette is accusative as the object.
Früher rauchte er jeden Tag.
He used to smoke every day.
früher means in the past or formerly, and jeden Tag means every day. The weak-verb past form rauchte is in position two; jeden Tag is a time expression, not an object.
Rauch bitte draußen!
Please smoke outside!
bitte means please, and draußen means outside. Rauch is the du imperative, so du is omitted; draußen gives the place of the action.
Wenn er weniger rauchen würde, wäre er gesünder.
If he smoked less, he would be healthier.
wenn means if, weniger means less, and gesünder means healthier. In the wenn clause, the infinitive rauchen comes before würde at the end; the conditional meaning is expressed with würde plus the infinitive.
Ich werde morgen nicht rauchen.
I will not smoke tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and nicht means not. werde is in position two and the infinitive rauchen goes to the end; nicht normally comes before the final infinitive here.
reservieren — to reserve, to book
reservieren is used for arranging something in advance, especially a table, room, or seat. It normally takes an accusative object, as in einen Tisch reservieren, and forms the perfect with haben.
Ich reserviere einen Tisch für heute Abend.
I am reserving a table for this evening.
einen Tisch means “a table”, and heute Abend means “this evening”. reservieren takes an accusative object, so einen Tisch is accusative; the finite verb reserviere stands in position two.
Wir haben ein Zimmer im Hotel reserviert.
We have reserved a room at the hotel.
ein Zimmer is “a room”, and im Hotel means “at the hotel”. The perfect uses haben plus reserviert at the end of the clause; ein Zimmer is accusative because it is the object of reservieren.
Sie reservierte zwei Plätze im Zug.
She reserved two seats on the train.
zwei Plätze means “two seats”, and im Zug means “on the train”. reservierte is the regular Präteritum form and stands in position two; zwei Plätze is accusative as the object.
Reserviere bitte einen Tisch für vier Personen.
Please reserve a table for four people.
bitte means “please”, and für vier Personen means “for four people”. The imperative reserviere comes first, and einen Tisch is accusative because reservieren takes an accusative object.
Ich reservierte früher online, wenn ich verreisen wollte.
I used to book online when I wanted to travel.
früher means “in the past”, online means “online”, and verreisen means “to travel away”. The sentence describes a repeated past situation rather than a true present conditional; in the wenn-clause, wollte stands at the end.
Morgen reservieren wir ein Zimmer am See.
Tomorrow we will reserve a room by the lake.
morgen means “tomorrow”, and am See means “by the lake”. Future tense uses werden plus the infinitive reservieren at the end; ein Zimmer is accusative.
schauen — to look, watch; to check on, examine
Schauen can mean looking generally or watching a film or programme. With a direction, auf usually takes the accusative for the target; with a location, a two-way preposition can take the dative.
Ich schaue aus dem Fenster.
I am looking out of the window.
aus dem Fenster means out of the window. Dem Fenster is dative because aus always takes the dative, and the finite verb schaue stands in position two.
Wir haben gestern einen Film geschaut.
We watched a film yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and einen Film means a film. Einen Film is accusative because schauen can take the thing watched as a direct object; haben is in position two and geschaut goes to the end.
Früher schaute er jeden Abend fern.
He used to watch television every evening.
früher means formerly or in the past, jeden Abend means every evening, and fernsehen means watch television. Schaute is the weak past form, and the finite verb is in position two even though Früher comes first.
Schau bitte auf die Straße!
Please look at the street!
bitte means please and die Straße means the street. Auf die Straße is accusative because this request directs the eyes toward a target; the imperative schau comes first and the subject du is left out.
Ich schaute gern mehr Filme, wenn ich Zeit hätte.
I would gladly watch more films if I had time.
gern means gladly, mehr Filme means more films, and wenn ich Zeit hätte means if I had time. Schaute is the Konjunktiv II form here, and mehr Filme is accusative as the object; the verb hätte goes to the end of the conditional clause.
Heute Abend wird sie einen neuen Film schauen.
This evening she will watch a new film.
heute Abend means this evening and einen neuen Film means a new film. Einen neuen Film is accusative because it is watched; wird is in position two and the infinitive schauen stands at the end.
Kannst du bitte nach den Kindern schauen?
Can you please check on the children?
kannst du means can you, bitte means please, and nach den Kindern means after or on the children. Den Kindern is dative because nach takes the dative in this expression, and the infinitive schauen goes to the end after kannst.
Der Arzt schaut sich die Wunde genau an.
The doctor examines the wound carefully.
der Arzt means the doctor, die Wunde means the wound, and genau means carefully or closely. This use has the reflexive object sich and the accusative object die Wunde; the separable verb anschauen splits, so schaut is in position two and an goes to the end.
schenken — to give as a present
schenken normally uses a dative person and an accusative thing: jemandem etwas schenken. It is different from geben, which can simply mean to give without the idea of a present.
Ich schenke meiner Schwester ein Buch.
I am giving my sister a book as a present.
meiner Schwester means my sister, and ein Buch means a book. meiner Schwester is dative because the recipient is the person receiving the gift, while ein Buch is accusative because it is the thing given; the finite verb schenke is in position two.
Wir haben dem Lehrer Blumen geschenkt.
We gave the teacher flowers.
dem Lehrer means the teacher, and Blumen means flowers. dem Lehrer is dative for the recipient, while Blumen is accusative; haben is in position two and geschenkt goes to the end.
Sie schenkte ihrem Freund eine Uhr.
She gave her friend a watch as a present.
ihrem Freund means her friend, and eine Uhr means a watch. The recipient ihrem Freund is dative and the gift eine Uhr is accusative; the regular past form schenkte stands in position two.
Schenk mir bitte den Stift!
Please give me the pen!
mir means to me, bitte means please, and den Stift means the pen. mir is dative because it is the recipient, while den Stift is accusative; the imperative schenk comes first and the du pronoun is omitted.
Ich schenkte ihm das Bild, wenn er Geburtstag hätte.
I would give him the picture if it were his birthday.
ihm means to him, das Bild means the picture, and Geburtstag means birthday. In the conditional clause, hätte is Konjunktiv II and the verb goes to the end; ihm is dative and das Bild is accusative.
Morgen werde ich meiner Mutter Pralinen schenken.
Tomorrow I will give my mother chocolates as a present.
morgen means tomorrow, meiner Mutter means my mother, and Pralinen means chocolates. In the future, werde is in position two and the infinitive schenken goes to the end; meiner Mutter is dative as the recipient.
schicken — to send
Schicken normally has a thing as an accusative object and often a recipient in the dative: jemandem etwas schicken. In the perfect it takes haben: hat geschickt.
Ich schicke meiner Schwester eine Nachricht.
I am sending my sister a message.
meiner Schwester means “my sister,” and eine Nachricht means “a message.” The recipient is dative after schicken, while the thing sent is accusative; the finite verb schicke stands in position two.
Wir haben das Paket gestern geschickt.
We sent the parcel yesterday.
das Paket means “the parcel,” and gestern means “yesterday.” The perfect uses haben plus geschickt, with the Partizip II at the end; das Paket is accusative because it is the thing sent.
Er schickte den Brief am Montag.
He sent the letter on Monday.
er means “he,” den Brief means “the letter,” and am Montag means “on Monday.” Schickte is the regular preterite, and den Brief is accusative as the object of schicken.
Schick mir bitte die Adresse!
Please send me the address!
mir means “to me,” bitte means “please,” and die Adresse means “the address.” Schick is the du imperative; mir is dative for the recipient and die Adresse is accusative for the thing sent.
Ich würde dir die Fotos schicken, wenn ich sie hätte.
I would send you the photos if I had them.
dir means “to you,” die Fotos means “the photos,” and wenn ich sie hätte means “if I had them.” Würde ... schicken expresses an unreal or hypothetical action; the infinitive schicken goes to the end of the main clause.
Morgen werde ich dir den Link schicken.
Tomorrow I will send you the link.
morgen means “tomorrow,” dir means “to you,” and der Link means “the link.” Future uses werden in position two and the infinitive schicken at the end; dir is dative and den Link is accusative.
schlafen — to sleep
schlafen normally uses haben in the perfect: hat geschlafen. The related verb einschlafen means to fall asleep and uses sein: ist eingeschlafen.
Das Baby schläft schon.
The baby is already asleep.
das Baby means the baby and schon means already. Das Baby is nominative because it is the subject, and schläft is the irregular third-person singular form in position two.
Ich habe gut geschlafen.
I slept well.
gut means well. The perfect uses habe with geschlafen; habe stands in position two and the Partizip II geschlafen goes to the end.
Als Kind schlief ich bei meiner Großmutter.
When I was a child, I slept at my grandmother's house.
als Kind means when I was a child, bei means at the home of, and meiner Großmutter means my grandmother. In the subordinate clause introduced by als, the verb schlief goes to the end; bei governs the dative, so meiner Großmutter is dative.
Schlaf gut!
Sleep well!
gut means well. Schlaf is the informal singular du imperative, and the subject du is normally left unstated.
Ich würde gern länger schlafen.
I would like to sleep longer.
gern means gladly or would like to, and länger means longer. The infinitive schlafen stands at the end after würde; Ich is the nominative subject.
Wir werden morgen länger schlafen.
We will sleep longer tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and länger means longer. The finite auxiliary werden is in position two, while the infinitive schlafen goes to the end of the future construction.
schließen — to close, to shut, to lock; to conclude, to make
For closing a physical object, schließen takes an accusative object and uses haben in the perfect: die Tür schließen – hat die Tür geschlossen. With a door or window, zumachen is a common more informal alternative.
Sie schließt die Tür.
She closes the door.
die Tür means the door. Die Tür is accusative because schließen takes a direct object; the finite verb schließt stands in position two.
Sie hat die Tür geschlossen.
She closed the door.
die Tür means the door. The perfect uses hat, and geschlossen goes to the end; die Tür has the same article in nominative and accusative, so its case is shown by its role as the object.
Er schloss das Fenster wegen des Regens.
He closed the window because of the rain.
das Fenster means the window, and wegen des Regens means because of the rain. Schloss is the strong simple-past form; das Fenster is accusative as the direct object, while wegen takes the genitive here.
Schließ bitte die Tür!
Please close the door!
bitte means please, and die Tür means the door. This is the du imperative; the direct object die Tür is accusative, and the command form has no pronoun.
Wenn er zu Hause wäre, schlösse er das Fenster.
If he were at home, he would close the window.
zu Hause means at home, and das Fenster means the window. The wenn clause sends wäre to the end; schlösse is the Konjunktiv II form, and the window is the accusative object.
Ich werde die Tür nach dem Essen schließen.
I will close the door after the meal.
nach dem Essen means after the meal, and die Tür means the door. Future uses werde in position two and sends schließen to the end; die Tür is accusative as the object.
Die beiden Firmen schließen einen Vertrag.
The two companies are concluding a contract.
die beiden Firmen means the two companies, and einen Vertrag means a contract. Einen Vertrag is accusative because it is the direct object; the finite verb schließen is in position two.
Nach langen Gesprächen haben sie Frieden geschlossen.
After long discussions, they made peace.
nach langen Gesprächen means after long discussions, and Frieden means peace. The perfect uses haben, with geschlossen at the end; Frieden is an accusative object in the fixed expression Frieden schließen.
schneiden — to cut
Schneiden is a strong verb: schneiden - schnitt - hat geschnitten. It normally takes an accusative object, and the perfect uses haben, not sein.
Ich schneide das Brot.
I am cutting the bread.
das Brot means the bread. Das Brot is accusative because schneiden takes a direct object, and the finite verb schneide stands in position two.
Sie hat das Gemüse geschnitten.
She cut the vegetables.
sie means she, and das Gemüse means the vegetables. The perfect uses hat plus geschnitten because schneiden takes haben; the participle goes to the end of the clause.
Er schnitt das Papier mit einer Schere.
He cut the paper with scissors.
das Papier means the paper, mit means with, and einer Schere means scissors. Das Papier is accusative as the object, while mit forces the dative; schnitt is the strong simple-past form.
Schneid die Tomaten vorsichtig!
Cut the tomatoes carefully!
die Tomaten means the tomatoes, and vorsichtig means carefully. Schneid is a direct du command, so the subject is normally omitted; die Tomaten is accusative because it is the object.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, schnitte ich das Gemüse selbst.
If I had more time, I would cut the vegetables myself.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and selbst means myself. Hätte and schnitte express an unreal situation; schnitte is at the end of the wenn-clause because subordinate clauses put the finite verb last.
Ich werde den Kuchen später schneiden.
I will cut the cake later.
der Kuchen means the cake, and später means later. Werde is the finite verb in position two and schneiden is the infinitive at the end; den Kuchen is accusative because it is the object.
sehen — to see, to watch; to understand, to realize
Sehen takes an accusative object: jemanden or etwas sehen. Do not confuse it with schauen, which is often used with auf when directing your gaze at something.
Ich sehe einen schönen Film.
I am watching a good film.
einen schönen Film means a good film. Einen Film is accusative because it is the direct object of sehen, and the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Wir haben den neuen Film gesehen.
We watched the new film.
den neuen Film means the new film. Gesehen pairs with haben because sehen takes a direct object; the Partizip II goes to the end, while den Film is accusative.
Gestern sah ich einen alten Freund.
Yesterday I saw an old friend.
gestern means yesterday, and ein alter Freund means an old friend. Sah is the irregular simple past of sehen and stands in position two; einen alten Freund is accusative as the object.
Sieh den Vogel dort!
Look at the bird there!
der Vogel means the bird, and dort means there. Sieh is the irregular du imperative, so the pronoun is omitted; den Vogel is accusative because it is what the person should look at.
Ich würde sehen, ob er zu Hause ist.
I would see whether he is at home.
ob means whether, and zu Hause means at home. Würde sehen expresses a hypothetical action; sehen goes to the end after würde, while ist goes to the end of the ob-clause.
Morgen werde ich meine Schwester sehen.
Tomorrow I will see my sister.
morgen means tomorrow, and meine Schwester means my sister. Werde is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive sehen goes to the end; meine Schwester is accusative as the direct object.
Ah, jetzt sehe ich das Problem.
Ah, now I understand the problem.
jetzt means now, and das Problem means the problem. Here sehe means understand; das Problem is accusative as the object, and the finite verb is in position two.
Ich sehe, warum du traurig bist.
I understand why you are sad.
warum means why, and traurig means sad. Sehe means understand here; the warum-clause is its content, and bist goes to the end of that subordinate clause.
sieben — seven
Sieben is the cardinal number 7. For an ordinal meaning “seventh”, German uses siebte, as in der siebte Tag; do not use sieben as an adjective meaning “seventh”.
Ich habe sieben Bücher.
I have seven books.
Bücher means “books”, and habe means “have”. Sieben does not take an ending before the plural noun here; sieben Bücher is accusative because it is the object of haben.
Der Kurs beginnt um sieben Uhr.
The course starts at seven o’clock.
der Kurs means “the course”, and beginnt means “starts”. Um sieben Uhr gives the time; Uhr is used after a clock time, and the number stays sieben, not an ordinal form.
sitzen — to sit; to be sitting; to be stuck or remain somewhere
Sitzen describes a position, not the action of putting something or someone somewhere. It normally takes haben in the perfect: hat gesessen.
Ich sitze auf dem Sofa.
I am sitting on the sofa.
das Sofa is the sofa. Auf dem Sofa is dative because auf describes a fixed location here, and the finite verb sitze is in position two.
Wir haben lange gesessen.
We sat for a long time.
lange means for a long time. The perfect uses haben plus gesessen; the finite verb haben is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Er saß neben seiner Schwester.
He sat next to his sister.
neben means next to and seine Schwester means his sister. Seiner Schwester is dative after neben for location, and saß is the irregular preterite form.
Sitz bitte hier!
Please sit here!
bitte means please and hier means here. Sitz is the informal singular imperative, so the subject du is left out and the verb comes first.
Wenn ich müde wäre, säße ich im Garten.
If I were tired, I would sit in the garden.
müde means tired and der Garten means garden. Säße is the Konjunktiv II form; in the wenn clause the verb goes to the end, while ich and im Garten form the main clause after the comma.
Morgen werde ich im Zug sitzen.
Tomorrow I will be sitting on the train.
morgen means tomorrow and der Zug means train. Future I uses werden in position two and the infinitive sitzen at the end; im Zug is a location.
Er sitzt seit zwei Jahren im Gefängnis.
He has been in prison for two years.
seit zwei Jahren means for two years and das Gefängnis means prison. Im Gefängnis is dative because it describes location, and the present tense is used for an action that began in the past and continues now.
Wir sitzen wegen des Regens im Café.
We are sitting in the café because of the rain.
wegen means because of, der Regen means rain, and das Café is café. Des Regens is genitive after wegen, while im Café is dative for a fixed location.
stellen — to put, to place; to ask, to pose
For a destination, stellen is used for upright objects; compare legen for laying something flat. It takes an accusative object, and a two-way preposition such as auf or in takes the accusative when there is movement to a destination.
Ich stelle die Vase auf den Tisch.
I put the vase on the table.
die Vase is a vase, and der Tisch is the table. die Vase is accusative because stellen takes the thing being placed as an accusative object; auf den Tisch is accusative because it expresses movement to a destination, and the finite verb stelle is in position two.
Wir haben die Stühle in den Garten gestellt.
We put the chairs in the garden.
die Stühle means the chairs, and der Garten means the garden. die Stühle is accusative because it is the object of stellen, while in den Garten is accusative because the chairs are moved into it; haben is in position two and gestellt goes to the end.
Er stellte die Kiste vor die Tür.
He put the box in front of the door.
die Kiste is the box, and die Tür is the door. die Kiste is accusative as the object of stellen, and vor die Tür is accusative because it shows movement to a place; the regular past form stellte stands in position two.
Stell die Tasche neben den Stuhl!
Put the bag next to the chair!
die Tasche means the bag, and der Stuhl means the chair. The command uses the singular imperative stell without a subject; die Tasche is accusative, and neben den Stuhl is accusative because it gives the destination.
Ich würde die Lampe auf den Schreibtisch stellen.
I would put the lamp on the desk.
die Lampe is the lamp, and der Schreibtisch is the desk. die Lampe is accusative because it is being placed, and auf den Schreibtisch is accusative because it expresses movement; würde carries the Konjunktiv II and the infinitive stellen goes to the end.
Morgen werden wir die Möbel ins neue Büro stellen.
Tomorrow we will put the furniture in the new office.
morgen means tomorrow, die Möbel means the furniture, and das neue Büro means the new office. die Möbel is accusative as the object, and ins neue Büro is accusative because it shows movement; werden is in position two and stellen closes the future-tense bracket.
Sie stellt eine wichtige Frage.
She asks an important question.
eine wichtige Frage means an important question. The question is accusative because stellen takes it as its direct object, and the finite verb stellt stands in position two.
Der Journalist stellte dem Minister drei Fragen.
The journalist asked the minister three questions.
der Journalist is the journalist, der Minister is the minister, and drei Fragen means three questions. dem Minister is dative for the person receiving the questions, while drei Fragen is accusative as the direct object; stellte is the regular Präteritum form in position two.
suchen — to look for, to search
suchen takes an accusative object: etwas suchen means to look for something. With a person or thing being sought, German also often uses nach plus dative, as in nach einer Wohnung suchen; the perfect auxiliary is haben.
Ich suche meinen Schlüssel.
I am looking for my key.
ich means I and meinen Schlüssel is my key. meinen Schlüssel is accusative because suchen takes a direct object, and the finite verb suche is in position two.
Wir haben lange nach einer Wohnung gesucht.
We looked for an apartment for a long time.
lange means for a long time and eine Wohnung is an apartment. nach takes the dative, so einer Wohnung is dative; haben is in position two and gesucht goes to the end.
Sie suchte ihre Brille im Bad.
She looked for her glasses in the bathroom.
ihre Brille means her glasses and im Bad means in the bathroom. ihre Brille is accusative as the object of suchte, while im Bad is a location phrase with dative; the finite verb is in position two.
Such bitte deinen Pass!
Please look for your passport!
bitte means please and deinen Pass is your passport. The imperative such comes first, and deinen Pass is accusative because it is the object of suchen.
Ich würde eine neue Arbeit suchen.
I would look for a new job.
eine neue Arbeit means a new job. eine neue Arbeit is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; würde is in position two and the infinitive suchen goes to the end.
Er wird morgen einen Arzt suchen.
He will look for a doctor tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and einen Arzt means a doctor. The object is accusative after suchen; wird stands in position two and suchen goes to the end.
teilen — to divide; to share
With a person who receives something, teilen can take a dative person: jemandem etwas teilen is possible, but etwas mit jemandem teilen is more usual. Do not confuse teilen with teilnehmen, which means to participate.
Wir teilen die Pizza.
We are sharing the pizza.
die Pizza means the pizza. It is accusative because teilen takes the thing being divided or shared as an accusative object, and the finite verb teilen stands in position two.
Wir haben die Pizza geteilt.
We shared the pizza.
die Pizza means the pizza. The perfect uses haben plus geteilt; the auxiliary is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end, while die Pizza remains accusative as the object of teilen.
Früher teilte ich mein Zimmer mit meinem Bruder.
I used to share my room with my brother.
früher means in the past, mein Zimmer means my room, and mein Bruder means my brother. mein Zimmer is accusative because it is the object of teilen, while mit always takes the dative, so meinem Bruder is dative; the finite verb teilte is in position two.
Teil das Brot mit mir!
Share the bread with me!
das Brot means the bread and mit mir means with me. The imperative addresses du, which is omitted; das Brot is accusative after teilen, and mit forces the dative mir.
Ich würde die Kosten gern teilen.
I would be happy to share the costs.
die Kosten means the costs and gern means gladly or would like to. The conditional uses würde in position two and the infinitive teilen at the end; die Kosten is accusative because it is the object.
Wir werden die Aufgaben gerecht teilen.
We will divide the tasks fairly.
die Aufgaben means the tasks and gerecht means fairly. Future werden stands in position two and the infinitive teilen goes to the end; die Aufgaben is accusative because teilen takes an accusative object.
die To-do-Liste — to-do list
This is a compound made from To-do and Liste. In ordinary German, the plural is To-do-Listen, not an English plural ending.
Die To-do-Liste liegt auf dem Tisch.
The to-do list is on the table.
liegt means is lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die To-do-Liste is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich schreibe die To-do-Liste heute.
I am writing the to-do list today.
schreibe means write and heute means today. Die To-do-Liste is accusative because schreiben takes a direct object; the finite verb schreibe stands in position two.
Ich arbeite mit der To-do-Liste.
I work with the to-do list.
arbeite means work and mit means with. Der To-do-Liste is dative because the preposition mit always requires the dative; the article changes from die to der.
Die Farbe der To-do-Liste ist blau.
The colour of the to-do list is blue.
die Farbe means the colour and blau means blue. Der To-do-Liste is genitive because it identifies whose colour is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich habe drei To-do-Listen.
I have three to-do lists.
habe means have and drei means three. To-do-Listen is plural with -n; it is accusative because haben takes a direct object, although the plural article is not visible here.
treffen — to meet; to get together with; to hit; to affect
For meeting someone, use jemanden treffen with an accusative object. The reciprocal form sich treffen means to meet each other, while sich mit jemandem treffen uses mit plus the dative for the other person.
Ich treffe meine Freundin am Bahnhof.
I am meeting my friend at the train station.
meine Freundin means my friend, and am Bahnhof means at the train station. Meine Freundin is accusative because treffen takes an accusative person; the finite verb treffe is in position two.
Wir haben uns gestern getroffen.
We met yesterday.
uns means each other, gestern means yesterday, and getroffen means met. The reflexive object uns is accusative, while haben is the auxiliary and getroffen goes to the end of the perfect clause.
Er traf seine alte Lehrerin im Supermarkt.
He met his former teacher in the supermarket.
seine alte Lehrerin means his former teacher, and im Supermarkt means in the supermarket. Seine alte Lehrerin is accusative because traf takes an accusative object; traf is the strong-verb preterite, not a form with -te.
Triff mich um sechs vor dem Kino.
Meet me at six in front of the cinema.
mich means me, um sechs means at six, and vor dem Kino means in front of the cinema. Triff is the informal singular command and takes mich in the accusative; the subject du is left out.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, träfe ich meine Freunde öfter.
If I had more time, I would meet my friends more often.
Wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and öfter means more often. Träfe is the Konjunktiv II of treffen; it stands at the end of the wenn clause, while ich träfe has the finite verb in position two in the main clause.
Morgen werde ich meine Kollegin im Café treffen.
Tomorrow I will meet my colleague in the café.
Morgen means tomorrow, meine Kollegin means my colleague, and im Café means in the café. Treffen is the infinitive at the end of the future sentence, while werde is the finite auxiliary in position two; meine Kollegin is accusative because it is the object.
Der Spieler trifft den Ball genau.
The player hits the ball exactly.
Der Spieler means the player, den Ball means the ball, and genau means exactly. Den Ball is accusative because trifft takes an accusative object; the finite verb is in position two.
Die Nachricht hat sie tief getroffen.
The news affected her deeply.
Die Nachricht means the news, sie means her, and tief means deeply. Sie is accusative because the news affects her, while hat and getroffen form the perfect and place the Partizip II at the end.
tun — to do, to carry out
Tun is a very common general verb, often used when the exact action is not named. It is irregular: tun – tat – hat getan, and it takes haben in the perfect.
Ich tue heute viel.
I am doing a lot today.
heute means today, and viel means a lot. The finite verb tue stands in position two; viel is an unspecific object, so no article is needed.
Wir haben alles getan.
We have done everything.
alles means everything. Getan is the Partizip II of tun and pairs with haben; the auxiliary is in position two and the participle goes to the end.
Er tat das Richtige.
He did the right thing.
das Richtige means the right thing. Das Richtige is accusative because tat takes a direct object, and irregular tat is the simple past of tun.
Tu bitte die Tür zu!
Please close the door!
bitte means please, and die Tür means the door. Tu is the informal singular imperative; zumachen splits into tu ... zu, so the prefix goes to the end.
Ich würde mehr tun, wenn ich Zeit hätte.
I would do more if I had time.
mehr means more, and Zeit means time. Würde tun expresses an unreal or hypothetical action; hätte goes to the end of the wenn clause.
Morgen werde ich etwas Neues tun.
Tomorrow I will do something new.
morgen means tomorrow, and etwas Neues means something new. Werde is the finite auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive tun goes to the end.
verlieren — to lose
This strong verb takes an accusative object. It can refer to losing a physical object, or to losing something abstract such as Zeit, Geduld or a competition.
Er verliert oft seine Schlüssel.
He often loses his keys.
oft means often, and der Schlüssel is the key. Seine Schlüssel is accusative because verlieren takes a direct object; the finite verb verliert stands in position two.
Ich habe meinen Geldbeutel verloren.
I have lost my wallet.
der Geldbeutel is the wallet, and mein means my. The perfect uses habe plus verloren at the end; meinen Geldbeutel is accusative because it is the object of verlieren.
Sie verlor ihr Handy im Zug.
She lost her mobile phone on the train.
das Handy is the mobile phone, and der Zug is the train. Verlor is the strong preterite form; ihr Handy is accusative, while im Zug means in dem Zug and shows location in the dative.
Verlier nicht deinen Ausweis!
Do not lose your identity card!
nicht means not, and der Ausweis is the identity card. The du imperative is verlier; deinen Ausweis is accusative because it is the direct object.
Ich würde meinen Platz nur ungern verlieren.
I would be reluctant to lose my place.
der Platz means place or seat, and nur ungern means reluctantly. Würde plus the infinitive expresses a hypothetical situation; meinen Platz is accusative after verlieren.
Wir werden keine Zeit verlieren.
We will not lose any time.
keine Zeit means no time. In the future, werden is in position two and the infinitive verlieren goes to the end; keine Zeit is accusative as the direct object.
verschlafen — to oversleep, to sleep through
Verschlafen is a strong verb with schläft - verschlief - hat verschlafen. Its ver- prefix is inseparable, and it can take an accusative object for what was missed, as in den Bus verschlafen.
Ich verschlafe oft am Montag.
I often oversleep on Mondays.
oft means often, and am Montag means on Monday. Ich is the nominative subject, and the finite verb verschlafe stands in position two; am is a contraction of an dem for a time expression.
Ich habe heute verschlafen.
I overslept today.
heute means today. The perfect uses habe plus the Partizip II verschlafen; the auxiliary is in position two and the unchanged Partizip II goes to the end.
Er verschlief den Unterricht.
He overslept and missed the lesson.
er means he, and den Unterricht means the lesson or class. Den Unterricht is accusative because it is the thing missed; the strong preterite verschlief stands in position two.
Verschlaf nicht wieder!
Don’t oversleep again!
nicht wieder means not again. Verschlaf is the du imperative and stands first; the subject du is normally omitted.
Wenn ich nicht so müde wäre, verschliefe ich nicht.
If I were not so tired, I would not oversleep.
wenn means if, and müde means tired. The Konjunktiv II form verschliefe expresses an unreal situation; in the subordinate clause the finite verb goes to the end.
Morgen werde ich bestimmt nicht verschlafen.
Tomorrow I definitely will not oversleep.
morgen means tomorrow, and bestimmt means definitely. Future uses werde in position two and the infinitive verschlafen at the end; nicht negates the action.
warten — to wait; to await, to wait for
The most common pattern is auf jemanden oder etwas warten, with auf plus the accusative. The perfect uses haben, not sein, because warten describes staying or delaying rather than movement.
Ich warte auf den Bus.
I am waiting for the bus.
der Bus means the bus. auf den Bus is accusative because warten auf is a fixed verb-preposition combination, and the finite verb warte is in position two.
Wir haben lange auf den Zug gewartet.
We waited a long time for the train.
lange means for a long time and der Zug means the train. auf den Zug is accusative after fixed auf with warten; haben is in position two and gewartet goes to the end.
Sie wartete vor dem Kino.
She waited in front of the cinema.
sie means she and das Kino means the cinema. vor dem Kino is dative because vor describes a fixed location, and the regular past form wartete stands in position two.
Warte bitte hier!
Please wait here!
bitte means please and hier means here. Warte is the informal singular imperative and comes first; the subject pronoun du is normally omitted.
Ich würde noch zehn Minuten warten.
I would wait another ten minutes.
noch zehn Minuten means another ten minutes. The infinitive warten goes to the end after würde, and the time expression is an accusative-looking duration, not a direct object.
Wir werden draußen warten.
We will wait outside.
draußen means outside. werden is in position two and the infinitive warten goes to the end; no preposition is needed with this adverb of place.
Sie wartet noch auf eine Antwort.
She is still waiting for an answer.
noch means still and eine Antwort means an answer. auf eine Antwort is accusative after warten auf, and the finite verb wartet is in position two.
Die Kunden haben auf ihre Bestellung gewartet.
The customers waited for their order.
die Kunden means the customers and ihre Bestellung means their order. auf ihre Bestellung is accusative after warten auf; haben comes in position two and gewartet closes the perfect-tense clause.
wecken — to wake someone up
wecken takes an accusative person or thing: jemanden wecken means “to wake someone up”. It is different from the intransitive aufwachen, “to wake up”, which has no direct object.
Ich wecke meinen Sohn jeden Morgen um sieben Uhr.
I wake my son up at seven every morning.
meinen Sohn means “my son”, jeden Morgen means “every morning”, and um sieben Uhr means “at seven o’clock”. meinen Sohn is accusative because wecken takes the person who is woken as a direct object, and the finite verb wecke stands in position two.
Der Lärm hat mich in der Nacht geweckt.
The noise woke me up during the night.
der Lärm is noise, mich means “me”, and in der Nacht means “during the night”. mich is accusative because it is the direct object of wecken; hat is the finite auxiliary in position two, while geweckt goes to the end.
Der Hund weckte das ganze Haus.
The dog woke the whole house.
der Hund is the dog and das ganze Haus means “the whole house”. das ganze Haus is accusative because it is the object of weckte, and the weak past form weckte stands in position two.
Weck mich bitte um sechs Uhr!
Please wake me up at six!
mich means “me”, bitte means “please”, and um sechs Uhr means “at six o’clock”. The imperative weck addresses du, which is left out; mich is accusative because it is the person being woken.
Wenn ich früher schlafen würde, würde ich dich nicht so früh wecken.
If I went to sleep earlier, I would not wake you so early.
früher means “earlier”, schlafen means “sleep”, and so früh means “so early”. The conditional form uses würde plus the infinitive wecken; the infinitive stands at the end of the subordinate clause, and dich is accusative.
Morgen werde ich dich um acht Uhr wecken.
Tomorrow I will wake you up at eight.
morgen means “tomorrow” and um acht Uhr means “at eight o’clock”. In the future, werde is the finite verb in position two and wecken goes to the end; dich is accusative as the direct object.
wiederholen — to repeat, to review; to revise, to review
wiederholen takes an accusative object: etwas wiederholen means to repeat something. Its perfect uses haben, and this verb is normally non-separable: wiederholen, not holen wieder.
Ich wiederhole die Frage.
I repeat the question.
die Frage means the question, and wiederhole means repeat. die Frage is accusative because wiederholen takes an accusative object; the finite verb wiederhole stands in position two.
Wir haben den Satz wiederholt.
We repeated the sentence.
den Satz means the sentence, and haben means have. den Satz is accusative because it is the object; haben is in position two and wiederholt goes to the end.
Sie wiederholte die Antwort.
She repeated the answer.
die Antwort means the answer, and sie means she. die Antwort is accusative because wiederholen takes an accusative object; the weak preterite wiederholte is the finite verb in position two.
Wiederhole bitte den Namen!
Please repeat the name!
bitte means please, and der Name means the name. The imperative wiederhole addresses one person informally; den Namen is accusative because it is the object.
Ich würde die Erklärung wiederholen, wenn du sie nicht verstanden hättest.
I would repeat the explanation if you had not understood it.
die Erklärung means the explanation, wenn means if, and verstanden means understood. In the main clause, würde is in position two and the infinitive wiederholen is at the end; die Erklärung is accusative.
Der Lehrer wird die Regel morgen wiederholen.
The teacher will repeat the rule tomorrow.
der Lehrer means the teacher, die Regel means the rule, and morgen means tomorrow. wird is in position two and the infinitive wiederholen goes to the end; die Regel is accusative as the object.
Vor der Prüfung wiederhole ich den Stoff.
Before the exam, I revise the material.
vor der Prüfung means before the exam, and der Stoff means the material to be studied. vor takes the dative for a time reference, so der Prüfung is dative; den Stoff is accusative, and the finite verb follows the fronted phrase in position two.
Sie hat die Vokabeln am Abend wiederholt.
She revised the vocabulary in the evening.
die Vokabeln means the vocabulary words, and am Abend means in the evening. die Vokabeln is accusative because it is the object; hat is in position two and wiederholt closes the perfect-tense sentence.
zeigen — to show; to point out; to point; to indicate
The usual pattern is jemandem etwas zeigen: the person is dative and the thing shown is accusative. The perfect takes haben: hat gezeigt.
Ich zeige dir mein neues Fahrrad.
I am showing you my new bicycle.
dir means to you, mein neues Fahrrad means my new bicycle, and neu means new. dir is dative because it is the person shown something, while mein neues Fahrrad is accusative; zeige is in position two.
Sie hat mir den Bahnhof gezeigt.
She showed me the station.
mir means to me, and der Bahnhof means the station. The perfect uses hat and puts gezeigt at the end; mir is dative and den Bahnhof is accusative.
Der Reiseführer zeigte uns den Weg.
The guide showed us the way.
der Reiseführer means the guide, uns means us, and der Weg means the way. zeigte is the weak-verb Präteritum in position two; uns is dative and den Weg is accusative.
Zeig mir bitte dein Ticket!
Please show me your ticket!
mir means to me, bitte means please, and dein Ticket means your ticket. Zeig is the informal singular imperative; mir is dative and dein Ticket is accusative.
Wenn du mir den Fehler zeigen könntest, wäre ich dankbar.
If you could show me the mistake, I would be grateful.
der Fehler means the mistake, and dankbar means grateful. In the subordinate clause, könntest sends the infinitive zeigen to the end; mir is dative and den Fehler is accusative.
Ich werde dir später die Fotos zeigen.
I will show you the photos later.
später means later, and die Fotos means the photos. The future uses werde in position two and puts zeigen at the end; dir is dative and die Fotos is accusative.
Er zeigt auf die Karte.
He points at the map.
die Karte means the map. The fixed phrase auf etwas zeigen uses auf with the accusative here, and zeigt is in position two.
Die Ampel zeigt Rot.
The traffic light shows red.
die Ampel means the traffic light, and Rot means red. zeigt is the finite verb in position two; Rot is a colour indication rather than a normal accusative object.
zumachen — to close, to shut
Zumachen is separable: in a main clause, zu moves to the end, as in Ich mache die Tür zu. In the perfect and after another verb, the form stays together as zugemacht or zumachen.
Ich mache jeden Abend das Fenster zu.
I close the window every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening, and das Fenster is the window. Das Fenster is accusative because zumachen takes a direct object; the finite part mache is in position two and the prefix zu goes to the end.
Ich habe die Tür zugemacht.
I closed the door.
die Tür is the door, and zugemacht means closed or shut. Die Tür is accusative because it is the object; the perfect uses habe, and the combined participle zugemacht stands at the end.
Sie machte leise die Schublade zu.
She quietly closed the drawer.
leise means quietly, and die Schublade is the drawer. Die Schublade is accusative because it is the object; in the simple past, machte is in position two and zu is separated to the end.
Mach bitte die Tür zu.
Please close the door.
bitte means please, and die Tür is the door. This is the informal singular imperative: mach comes first and the separable prefix zu goes to the end; die Tür is accusative as the object.
Ich würde das Fenster zumachen, wenn es draußen kalt wäre.
I would close the window if it were cold outside.
das Fenster is the window, wenn means if, draußen means outside, and kalt means cold. The infinitive zumachen stays together after würde; in the wenn clause, the finite verb wäre goes to the end.
Ich werde nach dem Essen das Fenster zumachen.
I will close the window after the meal.
nach dem Essen means after the meal, and das Fenster is the window. The future uses werde in position two and the whole infinitive zumachen at the end; unlike a present main clause, it is not split here.
öffnen — to open
öffnen takes an accusative object: etwas öffnen means to open something. Its perfect uses haben, not sein, and its Partizip II is geöffnet.
Ich öffne das Fenster.
I open the window.
das Fenster means the window. It is accusative because öffnen takes an accusative object, and the finite verb öffne stands in position two; do not add a reflexive pronoun here.
Wir haben die Tür geöffnet.
We opened the door.
die Tür means the door. The perfect uses haben plus geöffnet, and the Partizip II goes to the end of the clause; die Tür is accusative because it is the object of öffnen.
Sie öffnete vorsichtig die Schublade.
She carefully opened the drawer.
vorsichtig means carefully, and die Schublade means the drawer. The weak-verb preterite öffnete is the finite verb in position two, while die Schublade is accusative as the object.
Öffne bitte die Tür!
Please open the door!
bitte means please, and die Tür means the door. Öffne is the singular du imperative, with du omitted; the object is accusative because öffnen takes an accusative object.
Wenn du die Schachtel öffnen würdest, könntest du nachsehen.
If you opened the box, you could look inside.
wenn means if, die Schachtel means the box, and nachsehen means to look inside or check. In the wenn-clause, the infinitive öffnen goes to the end; würdest marks the Konjunktiv II, and die Schachtel is accusative.
Morgen werde ich das Geschenk öffnen.
Tomorrow I will open the present.
morgen means tomorrow, and das Geschenk means the present or gift. Futur I uses werde plus the infinitive öffnen at the end; das Geschenk is accusative because it is the object.
überprüfen — to check, to examine
überprüfen takes a direct accusative object. It is an inseparable verb, so the present form stays together and the perfect is hat überprüft, not a form with a separate prefix.
Der Lehrer überprüft die Hausaufgaben.
The teacher checks the homework.
der Lehrer means the teacher and die Hausaufgaben means the homework. die Hausaufgaben is accusative because überprüfen takes a direct object, and the finite verb überprüft stands in position two.
Die Technikerin hat den Motor überprüft.
The technician checked the engine.
die Technikerin means the female technician and der Motor means the engine. The perfect uses hat plus überprüft at the end; den Motor is accusative because it is the object being checked.
Der Arzt überprüfte meinen Blutdruck.
The doctor checked my blood pressure.
der Arzt means the doctor and mein Blutdruck means my blood pressure. The regular past form überprüfte is in position two, and meinen Blutdruck is accusative as the direct object.
Überprüfe bitte die Adresse.
Please check the address.
bitte means please and die Adresse means the address. The imperative omits du and starts with überprüfe; die Adresse is accusative because it is being checked.
Ich würde den Vertrag vor der Unterschrift überprüfen.
I would check the contract before signing.
der Vertrag means the contract, vor der Unterschrift means before signing, and die Unterschrift means the signature. würde ... überprüfen expresses a recommendation or hypothetical action, while den Vertrag is accusative.
Wir werden die Ergebnisse morgen überprüfen.
We will check the results tomorrow.
die Ergebnisse means the results and morgen means tomorrow. In the future, werden is in position two and überprüfen goes to the end; die Ergebnisse is accusative.