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Vocab: Everyday actions — A2 (4) ​
Everyday actions vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
wechseln — to change, to switch; to exchange money ​
For changing from one means of transport to another, German often uses den Zug wechseln or den Bus wechseln, with the transport noun in the accusative. The perfect is formed with haben, not sein, even when the change involves travel.
Ich wechsle morgen den Arbeitsplatz.
I am changing jobs tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and der Arbeitsplatz means job or workplace. Den Arbeitsplatz is accusative because wechseln takes a direct object; the present tense can refer to a planned future, and wechsle stands in position two.
Ich habe den Arbeitsplatz gewechselt.
I have changed jobs.
der Arbeitsplatz means job or workplace. Den Arbeitsplatz is accusative as the object of wechseln; the perfect uses habe plus gewechselt, which goes to the end.
Sie wechselte nach Berlin.
She moved to a different situation in Berlin.
nach Berlin means to Berlin, and sie means she. Nach Berlin expresses direction to a city; the simple-past verb wechselte stands in position two.
Wechsle bitte den Zug!
Please change trains!
bitte means please, and der Zug means train. Den Zug is accusative because it is the object of wechseln; the imperative wechsle comes first.
Wenn der Bus zu voll wäre, würde ich den Zug wechseln.
If the bus were too full, I would change trains.
der Bus is the bus, zu voll means too full, and würde means would. Den Zug is accusative as the object; in the würde construction, würde is in position two and the infinitive wechseln goes to the end.
Nächste Woche werde ich den Zug wechseln.
Next week I will change trains.
nächste Woche means next week, and der Zug means train. Den Zug is accusative because it is the object; werde is in position two and the infinitive wechseln goes to the end.
Ich möchte am Flughafen Geld wechseln.
I would like to exchange money at the airport.
möchte means would like, der Flughafen is the airport, and Geld means money. Geld is accusative as the object of wechseln; after möchte, the infinitive wechseln goes to the end.
Kannst du mir diesen Schein wechseln?
Can you change this banknote for me?
können means can, mir means for me, and der Schein is a banknote. Mir is dative for the person benefiting, while diesen Schein is accusative as the thing being exchanged; after kannst, the infinitive wechseln goes to the end.
wegnehmen — to take away, to remove ​
Wegnehmen normally has an accusative thing that is removed and can also have a dative person affected, as in jemandem etwas wegnehmen. It is a strong separable verb and takes haben in the perfect.
Der Kellner nimmt die leeren Teller weg.
The waiter takes the empty plates away.
der Kellner is the waiter, and die leeren Teller means the empty plates. Die leeren Teller is accusative because wegnehmen takes a direct object; nimmt is in position two and weg is at the end.
Sie hat das Spielzeug weggenommen.
She took the toy away.
das Spielzeug is the toy. It is accusative because it is the direct object of wegnehmen, while weggenommen pairs with haben and stands at the end.
Er nahm mir den Schlüssel weg.
He took the key away from me.
mir means from me or to me, and der Schlüssel is the key. Mir is dative for the affected person, while den Schlüssel is accusative as the thing taken; weg separates to the end.
Nimm das Messer weg!
Take the knife away!
das Messer is the knife. It is accusative because it is the object of the command, and the irregular du imperative nimm is followed by the separated prefix weg.
Ich würde ihm das Handy nicht wegnehmen.
I wouldn’t take his phone away from him.
ihm means from him or to him, and das Handy is the mobile phone. Ihm is dative for the person affected, das Handy is accusative as the object, and wegnehmen stays whole at the end after würde.
Die Lehrerin wird den Ball wegnehmen.
The teacher will take the ball away.
die Lehrerin is the teacher, and der Ball is the ball. Den Ball is accusative because it is the direct object; wird is in position two and the infinitive wegnehmen goes to the end.
werden — to become; to get; will; to be going to; to be (passive auxiliary) ​
As a full verb, werden means become and takes a predicative adjective or noun, not an accusative object. It is also used as an auxiliary for the future and the passive.
Im Winter werde ich schnell müde.
In winter I quickly get tired.
im Winter means in winter, schnell means quickly, and müde means tired. werde is in position two, and müde is a predicative adjective after werden, not an accusative object.
Sie ist Ärztin geworden.
She became a doctor.
Ärztin means female doctor, and geworden means become. The perfect uses ist because werden takes sein here, while geworden goes to the end.
Er wurde plötzlich sehr nervös.
He suddenly became very nervous.
plötzlich means suddenly and sehr nervös means very nervous. wurde is the irregular Präteritum in position two; nervös describes the subject after werden.
Werde nicht traurig!
Do not become sad!
nicht means not and traurig means sad. Werde is the du-imperative and comes first; the unstated subject is du.
Ich würde gern länger bleiben.
I would gladly stay longer.
gern means gladly or would like to, and länger bleiben means stay longer. würde is the Konjunktiv II of werden in position two; bleiben goes to the end.
Du wirst bald gesund werden.
You will soon get better.
bald means soon and gesund means healthy or better. wirst is the future auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive werden goes to the end; only the conjugated form is marked here.
Wir werden morgen früh starten.
We will set off early tomorrow.
morgen früh means tomorrow morning or early tomorrow, and starten means set off. werden is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while starten goes to the end.
Wirst du heute Abend anrufen?
Will you call this evening?
heute Abend means this evening and anrufen means call by telephone. In a yes-no question, wirst comes first and anrufen goes to the end.
Die Straße wird heute repariert.
The road is being repaired today.
die Straße means the road, heute means today, and repariert means repaired. wird forms the passive with repariert; the Partizip II goes to the end.
Das Paket wurde gestern geliefert.
The package was delivered yesterday.
das Paket means the package, gestern means yesterday, and geliefert means delivered. wurde is the Präteritum passive auxiliary in position two, while geliefert goes to the end.
wählen — to choose; to vote; to select ​
wählen is a regular weak verb: wählen – wählte – hat gewählt. It takes an accusative object when you choose a person or thing; in elections, jemanden oder eine Partei wählen means to vote for someone or a party.
Viele Bürger wählen heute.
Many citizens are voting today.
viele Bürger means many citizens and heute means today. Viele Bürger is nominative as the subject, and the finite verb wählen stands in position two.
Wir haben eine neue Regierung gewählt.
We elected a new government.
eine neue Regierung means a new government. It is accusative because wählen takes a direct object; the auxiliary haben is in position two and gewählt goes to the end.
Die Bürger wählten den Bürgermeister im Mai.
The citizens elected the mayor in May.
die Bürger means citizens, der Bürgermeister means mayor, and im Mai means in May. den Bürgermeister is accusative as the object; the regular past form wählten is in position two.
Wähl eine Partei!
Choose a political party!
eine Partei means a political party. Wähl is the informal singular imperative and has no subject pronoun; the accusative object follows it.
Wenn ich könnte, wählte ich einen anderen Kandidaten.
If I could, I would choose another candidate.
wenn ich könnte means if I could, einen anderen Kandidaten means another candidate. This is a hypothetical situation; in the subordinate clause the finite verb könnte goes to the end, while wählte is the hypothetical form in the main clause.
Morgen wählen wir einen neuen Vorsitzenden.
Tomorrow we will choose a new chairperson.
morgen means tomorrow, neu means new, and der Vorsitzende means chairperson. The auxiliary werden is understood in the future construction here? No: wählen in this sentence is present tense used for a planned future event, with the time word morgen; the accusative object is einen neuen Vorsitzenden.
Du kannst zwischen Tee und Kaffee wählen.
You can choose between tea and coffee.
können means can, zwischen means between, Tee means tea, and Kaffee means coffee. zwischen takes the dative here because it describes a choice among fixed options; the infinitive wählen goes to the end after the modal verb kannst.
Die Gäste wählen ihr Lieblingsessen aus.
The guests choose their favourite food.
die Gäste means guests, ihr Lieblingsessen means their favourite food, and aus means out or from. ihr Lieblingsessen is accusative as the object; wählen ... aus is a separable verb combination meaning select, so the prefix stands at the end.
zerbrechen — to break, to break into pieces ​
For a direct object, zerbrechen takes haben, as in ein Glas zerbrechen. Without an object, it can describe a change of state and use sein, as in Das Glas ist zerbrochen.
Das Glas zerbricht auf dem Boden.
The glass breaks on the floor.
das Glas is the glass and der Boden is the floor. Auf dem Boden is dative because it describes a location, and the finite verb zerbricht stands in position two.
Die Vase ist zerbrochen.
The vase has broken.
die Vase is the vase. Zerbrochen is the Partizip II and pairs with ist here because the vase has changed state; the participle goes to the end of the clause.
Der Teller zerbrach beim Frühstück.
The plate broke at breakfast.
der Teller is the plate and beim Frühstück means at breakfast. Zerbrach is the strong preterite form, and the finite verb is in position two.
Zerbrich bitte das dünne Eis nicht!
Please do not break the thin ice!
bitte means please, dünn means thin, and das Eis is the ice. Das Eis is accusative because it is the object, and the imperative zerbrich comes first.
Wenn du die Schale fallen ließest, zerbräche sie.
If you dropped the bowl, it would break.
die Schale is the bowl and fallen lassen means drop or let fall. Zerbräche expresses an unreal possibility; the finite verb goes to the end of the wenn clause, while zerbräche is in position two in the main clause.
Die Flasche wird beim Transport zerbrechen.
The bottle will break during transport.
die Flasche is the bottle and der Transport is transport. Beim Transport means during transport, and the auxiliary wird is in position two while the infinitive zerbrechen goes to the end.
zerdrücken — to crush, to squash ​
zerdrücken is a regular weak verb and takes haben in the perfect. It describes pressing something until it loses its shape, not simply breaking it.
Er zerdrückt die reife Tomate.
He is squashing the ripe tomato.
er means he, reif means ripe, and die Tomate is the tomato. Die reife Tomate is accusative because zerdrücken takes a direct object, and the finite verb is in position two.
Sie hat die Banane zerdrückt.
She squashed the banana.
sie means she and die Banane is the banana. The perfect uses hat with this transitive verb, while the Partizip II zerdrückt goes to the end.
Der Junge zerdrückte das Brot.
The boy squashed the bread.
der Junge is the boy and das Brot is the bread. Das Brot is accusative as the direct object, and zerdrückte is the regular preterite form.
Zerdrück die Kartoffeln mit der Gabel!
Squash the potatoes with the fork!
die Kartoffeln are the potatoes, mit means with, and die Gabel is the fork. The object is accusative, while mit der Gabel is dative after mit; the imperative stands first.
Wenn du die Beeren zu stark drücktest, zerdrücktest du sie.
If you pressed the berries too hard, you would squash them.
die Beeren are the berries and zu stark means too hard. The wenn clause puts its finite verb at the end, and zerdrücktest is the Konjunktiv II form in the main clause.
Die Maschine wird die Früchte zerdrücken.
The machine will crush the fruit.
die Maschine is the machine and die Früchte are the fruit. Die Früchte is accusative as the object; wird stands in position two and zerdrücken goes to the end.
zerreißen — to tear, to rip apart ​
With a direct object, zerreißen takes haben: Sie hat den Brief zerrissen. When something tears by itself, sein is also possible: Das Papier ist zerrissen.
Der Wind zerreißt das alte Plakat.
The wind is tearing the old poster apart.
der Wind is the wind, alt means old, and das Plakat is the poster. Das alte Plakat is accusative because it is the direct object, and the finite verb is in position two.
Sie hat den Brief zerrissen.
She tore up the letter.
sie means she and der Brief is the letter. The perfect uses hat because zerreißen has a direct object here, and zerrissen goes to the end.
Das Papier zerriss an der Falte.
The paper tore along the fold.
das Papier is the paper, die Falte is the fold, and an der Falte means along the fold. Zerriss is the strong preterite, while an der Falte is dative because it gives the location of the tear.
Zerreiß den Zettel nicht!
Don’t tear up the note!
der Zettel is the note or scrap of paper, and nicht means not. Den Zettel is accusative as the object, and the negative imperative begins with zerreiß.
Wenn du das Foto hättest, zerrissest du es nicht.
If you had the photo, you would not tear it up.
das Foto is the photo and hättest means had in this unreal condition. The wenn clause places hättest at the end, while zerrissest is the formal Konjunktiv II form; in everyday speech, würdest es zerreißen is often preferred.
Der Hund wird den Stoff zerreißen.
The dog will tear the fabric apart.
der Hund is the dog and der Stoff is the fabric or material. Den Stoff is accusative as the object; wird is in position two and the infinitive goes to the end.
zerstören — to destroy ​
zerstören is a weak verb with haben in the perfect: zerstören – zerstörte – hat zerstört. It normally takes an accusative object, as in etwas zerstören; do not use the dative for the thing that is destroyed.
Der Sturm zerstört mehrere Häuser.
The storm is destroying several houses.
der Sturm means the storm and mehrere Häuser means several houses. mehrere Häuser is accusative because zerstören takes a direct object, and the finite verb zerstört stands in position two.
Der Sturm hat mehrere Häuser zerstört.
The storm has destroyed several houses.
der Sturm is the storm and mehrere Häuser means several houses. The perfect uses hat plus zerstört because zerstören takes haben; the auxiliary is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Der Sturm zerstörte mehrere Häuser.
The storm destroyed several houses.
der Sturm means the storm and mehrere Häuser means several houses. mehrere Häuser is accusative as the object of zerstören, and the weak-verb Präteritum form zerstörte is the finite verb in position two.
Zerstör nicht meine Arbeit!
Don’t destroy my work!
meine Arbeit means my work. The imperative has no subject and starts the sentence; meine Arbeit is accusative because it is the direct object of zerstör.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, würde ich den alten Schuppen zerstören.
If I had more time, I would destroy the old shed.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, alt means old, and der Schuppen is the shed. den alten Schuppen is accusative after zerstören; in the würde construction, zerstören remains an infinitive at the end of the clause.
Der Brand wird das ganze Dach zerstören.
The fire will destroy the entire roof.
der Brand means the fire and das ganze Dach means the entire roof. das ganze Dach is accusative as the object, while wird stands in position two and the infinitive zerstören goes to the end.
zurückgeben — to give back, to return ​
The recipient is usually in the dative, while the thing returned is in the accusative: jemandem etwas zurückgeben.
Er gibt das Buch morgen zurück.
He is giving the book back tomorrow.
das Buch means the book, and morgen means tomorrow. das Buch is accusative because zurückgeben takes the thing being returned as an accusative object; the finite verb gibt is in position two and zurück goes to the end.
Sie hat mir den Schlüssel zurückgegeben.
She gave me the key back.
mir means to me, and der Schlüssel means the key. mir is dative for the recipient, while den Schlüssel is accusative as the thing returned; hat is the auxiliary and zurückgegeben stands at the end.
Der Laden gab ihm sein Geld zurück.
The shop gave him his money back.
der Laden is the shop, ihm means to him, and sein Geld means his money. ihm is dative for the recipient and sein Geld is accusative; the past-tense verb gab is in position two and zurück closes the main clause.
Gib mir bitte den Stift zurück.
Please give me the pen back.
mir means to me, bitte means please, and der Stift is the pen. mir is dative for the recipient and den Stift is accusative; in the imperative the subject du is omitted and zurück stays at the end.
Ich würde dir das Geld sofort zurückgeben.
I would give you the money back immediately.
dir means to you, das Geld means the money, and sofort means immediately. dir is dative for the recipient and das Geld is accusative; würde carries the conditional meaning and the complete infinitive zurückgeben stands at the end.
Wir werden die Bücher nächste Woche zurückgeben.
We will return the books next week.
die Bücher means the books, and nächste Woche means next week. die Bücher is accusative because it is the thing being returned; werden is in position two and the complete infinitive zurückgeben goes to the end.
die Änderung — change, amendment; modification, change ​
Änderung is formed from ändern, to change, with the ending -ung; nouns ending in -ung are feminine. It often refers to a deliberate modification rather than a general difference.
Die Änderung ist wichtig.
The change is important.
wichtig means important. Die Änderung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir brauchen eine Änderung.
We need a change.
wir means we and brauchen means need. Eine Änderung is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the finite verb brauchen is in position two.
Ich stimme der Änderung zu.
I agree to the change.
zustimmen means to agree to something. Der Änderung is dative because zustimmen governs the dative; the separable verb appears as stimme ... zu, with zu at the end.
Der Grund der Änderung ist klar.
The reason for the change is clear.
der Grund means the reason and klar means clear. Der Änderung is genitive because it identifies the change connected with the reason; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Änderungen treten morgen in Kraft.
The changes come into force tomorrow.
treten ... in Kraft means come into force, and morgen means tomorrow. Änderungen is plural, and the phrase in Kraft treten has a fixed ending part in Kraft after the finite verb.
Es gibt eine Änderung im Fahrplan.
There is a change to the timetable.
es gibt means there is or there are, and der Fahrplan is the timetable. Eine Änderung is accusative because es gibt takes an accusative object; im means in dem and marks a location or area.
Bitte beachten Sie die Änderungen am Termin.
Please note the changes to the appointment.
bitte means please, beachten means take note of, and der Termin is the appointment. Die Änderungen is accusative because beachten takes a direct object; Sie is the formal imperative subject.
ändern — to change; to alter ​
Ändern is usually transitive and takes an accusative object: etwas ändern. It can also be reflexive, as in sich ändern, meaning to change or develop differently; its perfect uses haben.
Ich ändere den Termin.
I am changing the appointment.
Termin means appointment. Den Termin is accusative because ändern takes an accusative object, and the finite verb ändere stands in position two.
Wir haben den Plan geändert.
We changed the plan.
Plan means plan. Den Plan is accusative because ändern takes an accusative object; haben is in position two and the Partizip II geändert goes to the end.
Sie änderte ihre Meinung.
She changed her mind.
ihre Meinung means her opinion or her mind. Ihre Meinung is accusative as the object of ändern; änderte is the regular weak-verb preterite in position two.
Ändere bitte deine Adresse.
Please change your address.
bitte means please and Adresse means address. Deine Adresse is accusative because ändern takes an accusative object; the imperative omits du and places ändere first.
Ich würde den Termin ändern, wenn es möglich wäre.
I would change the appointment if it were possible.
wenn means if and möglich means possible. Den Termin is accusative, and the infinitive ändern goes to the end after würde; the subordinate clause also sends finite wäre to its end.
Morgen werde ich meine Pläne ändern.
Tomorrow I will change my plans.
morgen means tomorrow and Pläne means plans. Meine Pläne is accusative because ändern takes an accusative object; werde is in position two and the infinitive ändern goes to the end.
übertreiben — to exaggerate, to overdo ​
übertreiben can be used without an object or with etwas übertreiben. The expression es mit etwas übertreiben means to overdo something.
Er übertreibt oft seine Geschichten.
He often exaggerates his stories.
oft means often and die Geschichten means stories. seine Geschichten is accusative because it is the object, and übertreibt is in position two.
Du hast bei der Schilderung stark übertrieben.
You exaggerated greatly in your description.
bei der Schilderung means in the description and stark means greatly. hast is in position two and übertrieben goes to the end.
Sie übertrieb die Gefahr absichtlich.
She deliberately exaggerated the danger.
die Gefahr means danger and absichtlich means deliberately. die Gefahr is accusative, and the Präteritum verb is in position two.
Ãœbertreib nicht!
Don’t exaggerate!
nicht means not. The imperative comes first, with du omitted.
Ich würde nicht so übertreiben.
I would not exaggerate so much.
nicht means not and so means so much. würde plus the infinitive expresses a hypothetical or softened statement.
Er wird die Geschichte morgen wieder übertreiben.
He will exaggerate the story again tomorrow.
die Geschichte means story, morgen means tomorrow, and wieder means again. die Geschichte is accusative; wird is in position two and the infinitive goes to the end.
üblich — usual, customary, common ​
üblich describes something that is normal or customary in a situation. The fixed expression wie üblich means as usual; do not confuse it with gewöhnlich, which can also mean ordinary or usually.
Das ist hier üblich.
That is usual here.
hier means here. üblich follows ist in a predicative position and therefore has no adjective ending.
Wir benutzen die übliche Methode.
We use the usual method.
benutzen means use, and die Methode means the method. übliche stands before the feminine accusative object Methode and takes -e after die.
Diese Lösung ist üblicher als die andere.
This solution is more usual than the other one.
diese Lösung means this solution, and die andere means the other one. The comparative üblicher follows sein predicatively and is compared with als, so it has no adjective ending.
Am üblichsten ist die Zahlung per Karte.
Paying by card is the most usual option.
die Zahlung means the payment, and per Karte means by card. am üblichsten is the predicative superlative at the start of the sentence; the finite verb ist remains in position two.