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Vocab: Grammar & language — B2
Grammar & language vocabulary at B2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
adverbial — adverbial
adverbial is mainly a grammar term for something that functions like an adverb. It is often used before nouns as adverbiale Bestimmung; after a verb such as sein, it has no adjective ending.
Das Wort steht hier adverbial.
The word is used adverbially here.
das Wort means the word, steht hier means is placed here, and verwendet is used. Adverbial is predicative, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Die adverbiale Bestimmung erklärt die Zeit.
The adverbial modifier explains the time.
die Bestimmung means the modifier, and erklärt die Zeit means explains the time. Adverbiale has the feminine nominative ending -e after die; the whole noun phrase is the subject and erklärt stands in position two.
Dieser Ausdruck ist adverbialer als der andere.
This expression is more adverbial than the other one.
dieser Ausdruck means this expression, and der andere means the other one. Adverbialer is predicative after ist, so it has no case ending; als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Diese Funktion ist am adverbialsten.
This function is the most adverbial.
diese Funktion means this function. Am adverbialsten is the predicative superlative, formed with am and -sten, and it follows the finite verb ist rather than standing before a noun.
die Anredeform — form of address, mode of address
Anredeform is more specific than Anrede: it refers to a particular choice such as du, Sie, or a title. It is a compound of Anrede and Form.
Die Anredeform „Sie“ ist im Büro üblich.
The form of address “Sie” is usual in the office.
üblich means usual, im Büro means in the office, and Sie is the formal form of you. Die Anredeform is nominative because it is the subject; im Büro uses the dative for location.
Viele Menschen wählen die Anredeform „du“.
Many people choose the form of address “du”.
viele Menschen means many people and wählen means choose. Die Anredeform is accusative because wählen takes a direct object; the finite verb wählen stands in position two.
Mit der Anredeform „du“ wirkt der Text persönlicher.
With the form of address “du”, the text seems more personal.
mit means with, wirkt means seems, and persönlicher means more personal. Mit always takes the dative, so der Anredeform is dative; the finite verb wirkt stands in position two.
Die Wahl der Anredeform hängt vom Verhältnis ab.
The choice of the form of address depends on the relationship.
die Wahl means the choice, hängt ... ab means depends, and das Verhältnis means the relationship. Der Anredeform is genitive because it specifies the choice; the prefix ab moves to the end of the main clause.
Zwei Anredeformen sind in Deutschland besonders wichtig.
Two forms of address are particularly important in Germany.
zwei means two, besonders wichtig means particularly important, and Deutschland means Germany. Anredeformen is a plural subject, so it takes sind; the plural ending -en is added to Anredeform.
In Deutschland benutzt man oft die Anredeform „Sie“.
In Germany, people often use the form of address “Sie”.
benutzt means uses, oft means often, and in Deutschland means in Germany. Die Anredeform is accusative because benutzen takes a direct object; man is an impersonal subject.
Die richtige Anredeform hängt von der Situation ab.
The correct form of address depends on the situation.
richtig means correct, hängt ... ab means depends, and die Situation means the situation. Von takes the dative, so der Situation is dative; the prefix ab goes to the end.
der Fachwortschatz — technical vocabulary, specialist vocabulary
Fachwortschatz is a mass noun and is normally used only in the singular. It refers to the vocabulary of a subject, not to one individual technical term; that is das Fachwort.
Ein großer Fachwortschatz hilft beim Lesen wissenschaftlicher Texte.
A large technical vocabulary helps when reading academic texts.
groß means large, hilft means helps, and wissenschaftliche Texte are academic texts. Ein großer Fachwortschatz is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb hilft stands in position two.
Sie erweitert ihren Fachwortschatz durch tägliches Lesen.
She expands her technical vocabulary through daily reading.
erweitert means expands, ihren means her, and tägliches Lesen means daily reading. Ihren Fachwortschatz is accusative because erweitern takes a direct object; durch also forces accusative.
Mit einem guten Fachwortschatz kann man präziser schreiben.
With a good technical vocabulary, one can write more precisely.
mit means with, gut means good, and präziser means more precisely. Mit einem guten Fachwortschatz is dative because mit always takes dative; the modal verb kann is in position two and schreiben goes to the end.
Die Erweiterung des Fachwortschatzes braucht Zeit.
Expanding one's technical vocabulary takes time.
die Erweiterung means the expansion, and braucht Zeit means takes time. Des Fachwortschatzes is genitive because it specifies what is being expanded; the noun takes the ending -es in the genitive.
Beim Übersetzen braucht man einen umfangreichen Fachwortschatz.
When translating, you need an extensive technical vocabulary.
beim Übersetzen means when translating, and umfangreich means extensive. This sentence shows that Fachwortschatz is a mass noun with no normal plural; einen umfangreichen Fachwortschatz is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object.
das Genus — grammatical gender; genus; genus, group of related species
In grammar, das Genus means grammatical gender. In biology, it can also mean a genus, a group of closely related species; the plural is die Genera.
Das Genus von „Mädchen“ ist Neutrum.
The grammatical gender of “girl” is neuter.
Mädchen means girl and Neutrum means neuter gender. Das Genus is nominative because it is the subject, and von Mädchen is a dative phrase because von always takes the dative; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir bestimmen das Genus eines neuen Wortes.
We determine the grammatical gender of a new word.
bestimmen means determine, and eines neuen Wortes means of a new word. Das Genus is accusative because bestimmen takes a direct object, while eines neuen Wortes is genitive and gives more information about it.
Bei diesem Wort hilft uns, dem Genus nachzugehen.
With this word, it helps us to investigate the grammatical gender.
bei diesem Wort means with this word, and nachzugehen means to investigate or follow up. Bei takes the dative, and dem Genus is also dative because nachgehen takes a dative object; the infinitive with zu stands at the end.
Die Endung des Wortes zeigt die Form des Genus.
The ending of the word shows the form of the grammatical gender.
die Endung means the ending, des Wortes means of the word, and zeigt means shows. Des Genus is genitive because it identifies whose form is meant; the finite verb zeigt stands in position two.
In der Tabelle stehen drei Genera.
There are three grammatical genders in the table.
in der Tabelle means in the table, stehen means stand or are listed, and drei means three. Genera is the plural of Genus; in takes the dative here because the sentence describes a location, not movement.
Biologen vergleichen die Genera verschiedener Tiere.
Biologists compare the genera of different animals.
Biologen means biologists, vergleichen means compare, and verschiedener Tiere means of different animals. Genera is accusative because vergleichen takes a direct object; verschiedener Tiere is a genitive phrase describing the genera.
Der Löwe gehört zum Genus Panthera.
The lion belongs to the genus Panthera.
Der Löwe means the lion, gehört means belongs, and Panthera is a scientific name. Zum Genus is dative because zu always takes the dative; the finite verb gehört is in position two.
Forscher untersuchen verschiedene Genera von Pflanzen.
Researchers study different genera of plants.
Forscher means researchers, untersuchen means study or investigate, and verschiedene Pflanzen means different plants. Genera is accusative as the object of untersuchen, while von Pflanzen is a phrase meaning of plants.
die Germanistik — German studies; German language and literature as an academic subject
Germanistik is the name of an academic subject, not simply the German language. It is normally used as a singular-only noun, so learners should not add a plural ending.
Germanistik ist ein beliebtes Studienfach.
German studies is a popular subject at university.
beliebt means popular, and Studienfach means university subject. Germanistik is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two; ein beliebtes Studienfach is a predicative noun phrase after sein.
Viele Studierende wählen Germanistik als Hauptfach.
Many students choose German studies as their main subject.
Viele Studierende means many students, wählen means choose, and Hauptfach means main subject. Germanistik is accusative because it is the object of wählen, while the finite verb wählen stands in position two.
An der Universität lernt sie mit Germanistik ihren zukünftigen Beruf kennen.
At university, she gets to know her future profession through German studies.
Universität means university, zukünftig means future, and Beruf means profession. Germanistik is dative after mit, and the finite verb lernt is in position two even though the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase.
Die Geschichte der Germanistik reicht bis ins 19. Jahrhundert zurück.
The history of German studies goes back to the nineteenth century.
Geschichte means history, reicht ... zurück means goes back, and Jahrhundert means century. Germanistik is genitive after Geschichte to show what kind of history it is; the separable verb zurückreichen places reicht in position two and zurück at the end.
An deutschen Universitäten gibt es viele Angebote für Germanistik.
German universities offer many opportunities for German studies.
deutsch means German, Universitäten means universities, Angebote means opportunities or courses, and gibt es means there are. Germanistik remains singular because it is a field of study and normally has no plural; für takes the accusative here.
die Komparation — comparison of adjectives or adverbs
In grammar, die Komparation means the comparison of adjectives or adverbs, not a general comparison between people or things. The usual stages are Positiv, Komparativ and Superlativ.
Komparation ist ein wichtiges Thema in der Grammatik.
Comparison is an important topic in grammar.
wichtig means important, das Thema means topic, and die Grammatik means grammar. Komparation is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir lernen heute die Komparation.
Today we are learning comparison.
lernen means to learn, and heute means today. die Komparation is accusative because lernen takes the thing being learned as a direct object; the finite verb lernen is in position two.
Die Lehrerin erklärt uns die Komparation.
The teacher explains comparison to us.
die Lehrerin means female teacher, erklären means to explain, and uns means to us. uns is dative as the recipient, while die Komparation is accusative as the thing explained; the verb erklärt is in position two.
Die Regeln der Komparation sind nicht schwer.
The rules of comparison are not difficult.
die Regeln means the rules, sein means to be, and schwer means difficult. der Komparation is genitive because it specifies whose rules they are, while die Regeln is the nominative subject.
Die Komparationen stehen in der Tabelle.
The comparisons are in the table.
stehen means are or stand, and die Tabelle means table. Komparationen is plural and nominative as the subject; in der Tabelle is dative because it describes a fixed location.
der Numerus — grammatical number; number; singular or plural category
This is a technical grammar word, used mainly when talking about singular and plural. Numerus is masculine in German, and its plural is the irregular-looking scholarly form Numeri.
Der Numerus zeigt, ob ein Wort im Singular oder im Plural steht.
Grammatical number shows whether a word is singular or plural.
zeigt means shows, ob means whether, ein Wort means a word, and steht means stands or is used. Der Numerus is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb zeigt is in position two; im Singular and im Plural are short forms of in dem plus the dative.
Die Lehrerin erklärt den Numerus mit einfachen Beispielen.
The teacher explains grammatical number with simple examples.
die Lehrerin is the teacher, erklärt means explains, einfache Beispiele means simple examples, and mit means with. Den Numerus is accusative because erklären takes the thing being explained as an accusative object; the preposition mit forces the dative in einfachen Beispielen.
Bei diesem Numerus enden viele Wörter anders.
With this grammatical number, many words end differently.
bei means with or in the case of, diesem means this, enden means end, viele Wörter means many words, and anders means differently. Diesem Numerus is dative because bei always takes the dative; the finite verb enden is in position two.
Die Endung des Numerus ist in diesem Satz wichtig.
The ending of the grammatical number is important in this sentence.
die Endung is the ending, diesem Satz means this sentence, and wichtig means important. Des Numerus is genitive because it identifies whose ending is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Numeri der deutschen Sprache sind Singular und Plural.
The grammatical numbers of German are singular and plural.
der deutschen Sprache means of the German language, and Singular und Plural mean singular and plural. Die Numeri is the plural subject, while der deutschen Sprache is genitive after the noun to show whose numbers they are; the verb sind agrees with the plural subject.
Im Deutschen gibt es zwei Numeri.
In German, there are two grammatical numbers.
im Deutschen means in German, gibt es means there are, and zwei means two. Zwei Numeri is accusative because the expression es gibt takes an accusative object; the finite verb gibt is in position two.
An der Verbform erkennt man den Numerus.
You can recognise the number from the verb form.
an means from or by, die Verbform is the verb form, and erkennt means recognises. Der Verbform is dative because an is used here for a means or clue, while den Numerus is accusative after erkennen.
Der Numerus muss zum Subjekt passen.
The grammatical number must match the subject.
muss means must, zum Subjekt means with the subject, and passen means match or fit. Der Numerus is the nominative subject; zum is zu dem, and zu takes the dative, while the modal verb muss sends passen to the end.
prädikativ — predicative
This is a grammar term for an adjective used after a linking verb such as sein. Do not confuse prädikativ with an adjective placed directly before a noun, which is attributive and normally has an ending.
Das Adjektiv steht hier prädikativ.
The adjective is used predicatively here.
hier means here, and steht means stands or occurs. The adjective is prädikativ because it comes after the linking verb stehen and describes its grammatical position; it does not have an ending.
Wir verwenden „müde“ prädikativ: „Der Mann ist müde.“
We use “tired” predicatively: “The man is tired.”
verwenden means use, müde means tired, and der Mann means the man. Prädikativ describes an adjective after sein; unlike an attributive adjective before a noun, it has no adjective ending.
Diese Funktion ist prädikativer als die andere.
This function is more predicative than the other one.
diese Funktion means this function and die andere means the other one. Prädikativer is comparative and stands after sein in a predicative position; als introduces the second thing being compared.
In diesem Satz wird das Adjektiv am prädikativsten gebraucht.
In this sentence, the adjective is used in the most predicative way.
in diesem Satz means in this sentence, das Adjektiv means the adjective, and gebraucht means used. Am prädikativsten is the superlative am-form and modifies the passive phrase wird ... gebraucht; the participle gebraucht goes to the end.
das Tempus — tense, grammatical tense
Tempus is mainly a technical grammar word. Its plural is the irregular-looking Latin form Tempora, not normally Tempusse.
Das Tempus zeigt die Zeit einer Handlung.
The tense shows the time of an action.
zeigt means shows, die Zeit means time, and die Handlung means action. Das Tempus is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb zeigt is in position two.
Wir wiederholen das Tempus vor der Prüfung.
We are reviewing the tense before the exam.
wiederholen means review, and vor der Prüfung means before the exam. das Tempus is accusative because it is the direct object of wiederholen; the finite verb stays in position two.
Mit dem Tempus kann man die Zeit genauer ausdrücken.
With the tense, one can express time more precisely.
mit means with, genauer means more precisely, and ausdrücken means express. mit always takes the dative, so the article is dem; the modal verb kann is in position two and ausdrücken goes to the end.
Die Funktion des Tempus ist wichtig.
The function of the tense is important.
die Funktion means function and wichtig means important. des Tempus is genitive because it identifies whose function is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die deutschen Verben haben mehrere Tempora.
German verbs have several tenses.
die deutschen Verben means the German verbs, and mehrere means several. Tempora is plural and accusative because it is the direct object of haben; the plural article is die.
die Wortbildung — word formation
Die Wortbildung is a technical term from linguistics for how words are created, for example with prefixes, suffixes, or compounds. It is a feminine noun with the regular plural Wortbildungen.
Die Wortbildung ist ein wichtiges Thema in der Sprachwissenschaft.
Word formation is an important topic in linguistics.
wichtig means important, das Thema means topic, and die Sprachwissenschaft means linguistics. Die Wortbildung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir untersuchen die Wortbildung im Deutschen.
We are examining word formation in German.
untersuchen means to examine, im Deutschen means in German, and deutsch means German. Die Wortbildung is accusative because untersuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb untersuchen is in position two.
In der Wortbildung spielen Präfixe eine große Rolle.
Prefixes play an important role in word formation.
das Präfix means prefix, eine große Rolle spielen means to play an important role, and groß means big or important. In der Wortbildung is dative because in describes the area or context here, not a movement into it; the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Die Regeln der Wortbildung sind nicht immer einfach.
The rules of word formation are not always simple.
die Regeln means the rules, nicht immer means not always, and einfach means simple. Der Wortbildung is genitive because it identifies which rules; with a feminine noun, genitive uses der and the noun has no special ending.
Es gibt verschiedene Wortbildungen mit dem Präfix „un-“ .
There are various word formations with the prefix “un-”.
verschiedene means various, mit means with, and das Präfix means prefix. Wortbildungen is plural after verschiedene; in es gibt, the noun is accusative, while mit dem Präfix is dative after mit.