Appearance
Vocab: Numbers & quantity — A1 (2)
Numbers & quantity vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
rund — round; about, approximately
Rund is a regular adjective: runder and am rundesten. Before a noun it takes the normal adjective ending, but after sein it has no ending.
Der Ball ist rund.
The ball is round.
der Ball means the ball. Rund is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; der Ball is nominative because it is the subject.
Das ist ein runder Tisch.
That is a round table.
ein Tisch means a table. Runder comes before the noun and has the ending -er because it follows ein in the masculine nominative.
Dieser Tisch ist runder als der alte.
This table is rounder than the old one.
dieser Tisch means this table, and der alte means the old one. The comparative adds -er and is followed by als when two things are compared.
Dieser Ball ist am rundesten.
This ball is the roundest.
dieser Ball means this ball. The predicative superlative uses am rundesten; it does not take an adjective ending after am.
Das kostet runde zehn Euro.
That costs about ten euros.
kostet means costs, and zehn Euro means ten euros. Here runde means approximately; it is an adjective before the number and has an ending because it modifies an understood amount.
Wir waren rund drei Stunden unterwegs.
We were on the road for about three hours.
unterwegs means on the way or out and about, and drei Stunden means three hours. Here rund is used adverbially before an amount and means about, not physically round.
der Satz — sentence; phrase; set or rate
In grammar, der Satz usually means a sentence. It can also mean a set or a rate in expressions such as ein Satz Reifen, a set of tyres, but the plural Sätze is used for both common meanings.
Der Satz ist sehr kurz.
The sentence is very short.
kurz means short, and sehr means very. Der Satz is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich verstehe den Satz nicht.
I do not understand the sentence.
verstehen means to understand and nicht means not. den Satz is accusative because verstehen takes a direct object; the finite verb verstehe is in position two.
Die Lehrerin erklärt den Schülern den Satz.
The teacher explains the sentence to the pupils.
die Lehrerin is the teacher, erklären means to explain, and die Schüler are the pupils. Den Satz is accusative as the thing explained, while den Schülern is dative because they receive the explanation.
Die Bedeutung des Satzes ist klar.
The meaning of the sentence is clear.
die Bedeutung means meaning and klar means clear. Des Satzes is genitive because it shows whose meaning it is; the masculine noun has -es in the genitive.
Die Sätze stehen an der Tafel.
The sentences are on the board.
stehen means stand or are written, and die Tafel is the board. Die Sätze is plural with the umlaut and -e ending; an der Tafel is dative because it describes a fixed location.
sechs — six
Ich habe sechs Bücher.
I have six books.
Bücher means books, and haben means to have. sechs is a number used before a plural noun; Bücher is accusative because haben takes an accusative object.
Der Zug kommt um sechs Uhr.
The train arrives at six o'clock.
Der Zug means the train, and kommt means arrives. um sechs Uhr gives the time; um is followed by the time expression, and the finite verb kommt stands in position two.
sechste — sixth
sechste is an ordinal number, meaning sixth. It behaves like an adjective before a noun, so its ending changes with the article, case and gender: compare der sechste Tag with am sechsten März.
Heute ist der sechste Tag der Reise.
Today is the sixth day of the trip.
Heute means today, der Tag means the day, and die Reise means the trip. sechste has an adjective ending because it comes before the masculine noun Tag with der; der Reise is genitive, meaning of the trip.
Wir treffen uns am sechsten März.
We are meeting on 6 March.
Wir treffen uns means we meet, and März is March. am is short for an dem and takes the dative, so sechste becomes sechsten; dates commonly use this dative form after am.
sechzehn — sixteen
Meine Schwester ist sechzehn Jahre alt.
My sister is sixteen years old.
Meine Schwester means my sister, and Jahre alt means years old. sechzehn stands before the plural noun Jahre; this is the normal German way to state someone’s age, rather than using haben.
Der Kurs beginnt um sechzehn Uhr.
The course starts at 4 p.m.
Der Kurs means the course, and beginnt means starts. um sechzehn Uhr gives the time in the twenty-four-hour clock; um introduces this time expression, while the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
sechzig — sixty
Mein Großvater ist sechzig Jahre alt.
My grandfather is sixty years old.
Mein Großvater means my grandfather, and Jahre alt means years old. sechzig stands before the plural noun Jahre; German states age with sein, not with haben.
Das Fahrrad kostet sechzig Euro.
The bicycle costs sixty euros.
Das Fahrrad means the bicycle, and kostet means costs. sechzig Euro is the amount, while Das Fahrrad is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb kostet stands in position two.
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.
siebzehn — seventeen
Siebzehn is the cardinal number 17. It is used for counting, ages and clock times, and it never changes form.
Ich zähle bis siebzehn.
I count up to seventeen.
zähle means count, and bis means up to. Bis siebzehn is a number phrase after the preposition bis; the subject ich comes first and the finite verb zähle is in position two.
Meine Schwester ist siebzehn Jahre alt.
My sister is seventeen years old.
meine Schwester means my sister, and Jahre alt means years old. German normally expresses age with ist ... Jahre alt; siebzehn does not take an ending because cardinal numbers are indeclinable.
Der Film beginnt um siebzehn Uhr.
The film starts at 5 p.m.
der Film means the film, and beginnt means starts. Um siebzehn Uhr gives the exact time; um takes the accusative, but the number itself has no visible case ending.
siebzig — seventy
Siebzig is the cardinal number 70. It is used for quantities, ages and prices, and it does not take an adjective ending.
In der Klasse sind siebzig Kinder.
There are seventy children in the class.
in der Klasse means in the class, and Kinder means children. In der Klasse is dative because in describes a location; siebzig stays unchanged before the plural noun Kinder.
Mein Großvater ist siebzig Jahre alt.
My grandfather is seventy years old.
mein Großvater means my grandfather, and Jahre alt means years old. German expresses age with ist ... Jahre alt; siebzig is an indeclinable cardinal number and therefore has no adjective ending.
Das kostet siebzig Euro.
That costs seventy euros.
das means that, and kostet means costs. Siebzig Euro is the amount, and the number does not change; the finite verb kostet stands in position two.
der Taschenrechner — pocket calculator
The compound joins Tasche (pocket or bag) and Rechner (calculator or computing device). Its plural is unchanged: der Taschenrechner becomes die Taschenrechner.
Der Taschenrechner liegt auf dem Tisch.
The calculator is on the table.
liegen means to lie or be located, and der Tisch is the table. Der Taschenrechner is nominative because it is the subject; liegt is the finite verb in position two.
Ich brauche den Taschenrechner.
I need the calculator.
brauchen means to need. Den Taschenrechner is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; masculine der changes to den in the accusative.
Mit dem Taschenrechner rechnet sie die Aufgabe aus.
She works out the problem with the calculator.
mit means with, rechnen means to calculate, and die Aufgabe is the exercise or problem. Mit takes the dative, so dem Taschenrechner is dative; in rechnet ... aus, the prefix aus moves to the end.
Die Batterie des Taschenrechners ist leer.
The calculator’s battery is flat.
die Batterie means the battery, and leer means empty or flat. Des Taschenrechners is genitive because it shows whose battery it is; the masculine noun adds -s in this form.
Die Taschenrechner liegen in der Schultasche.
The calculators are in the schoolbag.
liegen means are lying, and die Schultasche is the schoolbag. Die Taschenrechner is plural nominative because it is the subject; the noun has no visible plural ending, so die shows the plural.
tausend — one thousand
As a cardinal numeral, tausend normally comes directly before the noun and does not take an adjective ending. It can also be written as part of a larger number, such as zweitausend.
Im Stadion sind tausend Menschen.
There are one thousand people in the stadium.
im Stadion means “in the stadium”, and Menschen means “people”. im is short for in dem and takes the dative for a location; tausend does not take an ending before a plural noun.
Das Buch kostet tausend Euro.
The book costs one thousand euros.
das Buch means “the book”, and kostet means “costs”. tausend Euro expresses the price; after a whole number, Euro commonly stays unchanged, and the finite verb kostet stands in position two.
der Teil — part, portion, section; part, proportion, share
Der Teil means a part or portion of something larger. It is different from das Teil, which usually means a thing, item or component.
Der Teil ist sehr wichtig.
The part is very important.
sehr wichtig means very important. Der Teil is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich lese den ersten Teil des Buches.
I am reading the first part of the book.
lese means am reading, ersten means first, and das Buch is the book. Den ersten Teil is accusative because lesen takes a direct object; des Buches is genitive because it says which book the part belongs to.
Sie gibt dem Teil einen Namen.
She gives the part a name.
gibt means gives, and einen Namen means a name. Dem Teil is dative because geben takes the recipient or affected person or thing in the dative, while einen Namen is the accusative thing being given.
Die Farbe des Teils passt nicht.
The colour of the part does not match.
die Farbe is the colour, passt means matches or fits, and nicht means not. Des Teils is genitive because it identifies whose colour is meant; the finite verb passt is in position two.
Wir machen die Aufgaben in zwei Teilen.
We do the exercises in two parts.
machen means do or complete, die Aufgaben are the exercises, and in zwei Teilen means in two parts. Teilen is dative plural because in describes the arrangement or location here; dative plural adds -n to Teile.
Zum Teil verstehe ich den Text.
I understand the text partly.
zum Teil means partly, verstehe means understand, and der Text is the text. Zum is zu dem, so Teil is dative after zu; the phrase comes first, so verstehe still occupies position two.
Ein Teil der Gruppe wartet draußen.
Part of the group is waiting outside.
die Gruppe is the group, wartet means is waiting, and draußen means outside. Der Gruppe is genitive after ein Teil, showing the whole from which the share comes; the finite verb wartet agrees with singular Teil and stands in position two.
Nur ein kleiner Teil der Arbeit ist fertig.
Only a small part of the work is finished.
nur means only, kleiner means small, die Arbeit is the work, and fertig means finished. Der Arbeit is genitive because it names the whole, while ein kleiner Teil is the nominative subject; ist is in position two.
total — complete, entire; absolute; really, extremely, completely
In the meaning ‘complete’, total is normally treated as an absolute adjective, so learners usually do not compare it. It can be compared deliberately in informal or emphatic speech, but totaler and totalste are much less common than the basic form.
Der Film war total.
The film was completely boring.
der Film is the film, and langweilig means boring. Total stands after war as a predicative adjective; it is not declined here because it does not stand before a noun.
Sie hat einen totalen Fehler gemacht.
She made a complete mistake.
einen Fehler means a mistake, and gemacht means made. Totalen stands before the masculine accusative noun Fehler, so it takes the ending -en after einen; the perfect verb bracket is hat ... gemacht.
Das neue System ist totaler als das alte.
The new system is more complete than the old one.
das neue System means the new system, and das alte means the old one. Totaler is a comparative form used with als; although comparison is uncommon for this meaning, it is possible when two things are being compared.
Das ist die totalste Überraschung des Tages.
That is the most complete surprise of the day.
die Überraschung is the surprise, and des Tages means of the day. Totalste is the superlative before a feminine noun and takes -e after die; this form is uncommon and often sounds playful or emphatic.
Ich bin total müde.
I am really tired.
müde means tired. Total strengthens the adjective and means really or extremely; it does not change form because it is being used as an adverb.
Das Konzert war total schön.
The concert was really beautiful.
das Konzert is the concert, and schön means beautiful. Total comes before the adjective it strengthens; the finite verb war is in position two.
total — really, extremely, completely
As an adverb, total means ‘really’, ‘extremely’, or ‘completely’ and never takes an adjective ending. It usually comes directly before the adjective or adverb it strengthens, so do not add endings such as -e or -en to total.
Ich bin total müde.
I am really tired.
müde means tired. Total strengthens the adjective müde and does not change form; the verb bin stands in position two because this is a main clause.
Das ist total falsch.
That is completely wrong.
das means that or it, and falsch means wrong. Total comes before the adjective it strengthens; ist is the finite verb in position two.
verschieden — different, various
Verschieden usually means different or various and is often used in the plural, as in verschiedene Möglichkeiten. In the sense ‘various’, it is normally not compared; comparative forms are possible when things are explicitly contrasted.
Die beiden Kinder sind verschieden.
The two children are different.
die beiden Kinder means the two children, and verschieden means different. The adjective is predicative after sein, so it has no ending; the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Wir kaufen verschiedene Sorten Tee.
We are buying different kinds of tea.
verschiedene Sorten means different kinds, and Tee means tea. Sorten is accusative because kaufen takes an accusative object; the adjective has the plural ending -e after no article.
Diese beiden Lösungen sind verschiedener als die erste.
These two solutions are more different than the first one.
diese beiden Lösungen means these two solutions, and die erste means the first one. The comparative verschiedener is followed by als when two things are compared; sind is in position two.
Von allen Antworten ist diese am verschiedensten.
Of all the answers, this one is the most different.
von allen Antworten means of all the answers, and diese means this one. Von forces the dative, while the superlative appears as am verschiedensten after ist; there is no adjective ending after am.
viel — much, many, a lot of
Before an uncountable singular noun, viel usually has no ending, as in viel Wasser. Before a plural noun, it normally takes an ending, as in viele Bücher; its comparison is irregular: mehr, am meisten.
Hier ist viel Platz.
There is a lot of space here.
hier means here and Platz means space. Viel describes the amount of Platz; with an uncountable singular noun, it has no ending, and ist is in position two.
Sie trinkt viel Wasser.
She drinks a lot of water.
sie means she, trinkt means drinks, and Wasser is water. Viel comes before the uncountable noun Wasser without an adjective ending; Wasser is accusative because trinken takes a direct object.
Wir haben mehr Zeit als gestern.
We have more time than yesterday.
Zeit is time and gestern means yesterday. Mehr is the irregular comparative of viel; als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Dieses Jahr kommen die meisten Gäste.
Most guests are coming this year.
dieses Jahr means this year and die Gäste are the guests. Die meisten is the attributive superlative before the plural subject; the finite verb kommen is in position two.
viel — a lot, much
As an adverb, viel describes the amount or degree of an action or adjective: viel arbeiten means to work a lot. Do not confuse this use with adjectival viel, which can take endings before plural nouns.
Ich arbeite viel.
I work a lot.
ich means I and arbeite means work. Viel is an adverb modifying the verb; the finite verb arbeite stands in position two, while viel can come at the end.
Der neue Computer ist viel schneller.
The new computer is much faster.
der neue Computer is the new computer and schneller means faster. Viel strengthens the comparative schneller and means much; it does not change its ending.
vier — four
Vier is a cardinal number and does not change for gender or case. The ordinal form is vierte, as in der vierte Tag, meaning “the fourth day.”
Ich habe vier Äpfel.
I have four apples.
ich habe means I have and Äpfel are apples. Vier is a cardinal number; vier Äpfel is accusative because haben takes a direct object, but the number itself does not take an ending.
Der Zug kommt um vier Uhr.
The train arrives at four o'clock.
der Zug is the train and kommt means arrives; um vier Uhr means at four o'clock. The preposition um takes the accusative, but the numeral vier stays unchanged before Uhr.
Mein Bruder ist vier Jahre alt.
My brother is four years old.
mein Bruder means my brother, Jahre means years, and alt means old. German gives age with sein plus vier Jahre alt; vier is used before the plural noun Jahre.
Das ist Nummer vier; die Ordinalzahl heißt vierte.
That is number four; the ordinal number is “fourth.”
Nummer means number, die Ordinalzahl means ordinal number, and heißt means is called. Vier is the cardinal form, while its ordinal is vierte; do not use vier itself when you mean “fourth.”
viermal — four times
Viermal is formed from vier and mal and means four times. It is an adverb, so it does not take an ending; do not use vier Male for the ordinary meaning four times.
Ich habe den Film viermal gesehen.
I have seen the film four times.
den Film means the film and gesehen means seen. Viermal is an adverb of frequency and does not change form; the perfect uses habe plus gesehen, with the participle at the end.
Der Bus fährt viermal am Tag.
The bus runs four times a day.
der Bus means the bus and am Tag means per day. Viermal says how often something happens and usually comes after the finite verb here; fährt is in position two.
vierte — fourth
Vierte is the ordinal form of vier and means fourth. Ordinals behave like adjectives and take endings such as vierte, vierten, and viertem; they do not have comparative or superlative forms.
Heute ist der vierte Mai.
Today is the fourth of May.
Heute means today and Mai means May. In this date expression, vierte identifies the day as number four; ordinal adjectives are not normally used as true predicative adjectives, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Sie wohnt im vierten Stock.
She lives on the fourth floor.
wohnt means lives and Stock means floor. Im means in dem, so vierten Stock is dative; the attributive adjective takes -en after dem, and wohnt is in position two.
Der vierte Läufer ist schneller als der dritte.
The fourth runner is faster than the third one.
der Läufer means the runner, schneller means faster, and der dritte means the third one. The comparative is schneller, not vierte: vierte remains an ordinal adjective and only identifies the runner's position; ist is in position two.
Der vierte Platz ist am besten.
Fourth place is the best.
der Platz means the place or position, and am besten means the best. The superlative is am besten, not vierte: vierte still means number four in the sequence, and ist stands in position two.
Zum vierten Mal vergesse ich meinen Schlüssel.
I am forgetting my key for the fourth time.
zum means zu dem, Mal means time or occasion, vergesse means forget, and meinen Schlüssel means my key. Vierten is dative after zu and has the ending -en after dem; because the phrase comes first, vergesse is in position two.
das Viertel — quarter; quarter of an hour; district; district, neighborhood
Das Viertel can mean one of four equal parts, a quarter of an hour, or a city district. Its plural is die Viertel with no ending, and the genitive is des Viertels.
Ein Viertel der Pizza ist noch da.
A quarter of the pizza is still there.
der Pizza means of the pizza, noch means still, and da means there. Ein Viertel is nominative because it is the subject; der Pizza is genitive after a quantity expression, and ist is in position two.
Ich esse ein Viertel der Pizza.
I am eating a quarter of the pizza.
esse means eat and der Pizza means of the pizza. Ein Viertel is accusative because it is the object of esse; der Pizza is genitive after the quantity expression.
Mit einem Viertel bin ich zufrieden.
I am satisfied with a quarter.
zufrieden means satisfied. Einem Viertel is dative because mit always takes the dative; bin is in position two, while zufrieden comes at the end of the clause.
Die Hälfte eines Viertels ist sehr klein.
Half of a quarter is very small.
die Hälfte means half and sehr klein means very small. Eines Viertels is genitive after die Hälfte to show what the half belongs to; the neuter noun adds -s.
Wir schneiden zwei Viertel in Stücke.
We cut two quarters into pieces.
schneiden means cut and in Stücke means into pieces. Zwei Viertel is accusative because it is the object of schneiden; the plural stays Viertel, with no ending.
Wir wohnen in einem ruhigen Viertel.
We live in a quiet neighborhood.
wohnen means live and ruhig means quiet. Einem ruhigen Viertel is dative because in describes a location here; the adjective takes -en after einem.
Das Viertel hat viele kleine Cafés.
The neighborhood has many small cafés.
viele kleine Cafés means many small cafés. Das Viertel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb hat is in position two.
vierzehn — fourteen
Vierzehn is the cardinal number 14. Its ordinal is vierzehnte, and German normally gives ages with sein, as in vierzehn Jahre alt, rather than with haben.
In der Klasse sind vierzehn Kinder.
There are fourteen children in the class.
die Klasse is the class, and Kinder means children. Vierzehn is a cardinal number before the plural noun Kinder; the phrase vierzehn Kinder is the subject, so the verb sind is plural.
Meine Tochter ist vierzehn Jahre alt.
My daughter is fourteen years old.
meine Tochter means my daughter, and Jahre alt means years old. German expresses age with sein plus Jahre alt, not with haben; vierzehn stands before the plural Jahre.
Der Kurs beginnt um vierzehn Uhr.
The course starts at 2 p.m.
der Kurs is the course, beginnen means to start, and Uhr means o'clock. Um introduces a clock time, and the 24-hour time vierzehn Uhr means 2 p.m.; the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Sie wurde Vierzehnte im Rennen.
She came fourteenth in the race.
wurde means became or finished as, and das Rennen is the race. The ordinal Vierzehnte is formed from vierzehn with an ordinal ending; here it is used as a predicate after wurde and is capitalized because it refers to a person.
vierzehnte — fourteenth
Vierzehnte is an ordinal form meaning fourteenth and is built from vierzehn with an ordinal ending. It behaves like an adjective, so its ending changes with gender, case and article; do not treat vierzehnte as an invariable number.
Heute ist der vierzehnte Mai.
Today is the fourteenth of May.
heute means today, and Mai is May. In a date, the ordinal normally comes before the month; after der, the masculine nominative form is vierzehnte, with the adjective ending -e.
Das ist mein vierzehnter Geburtstag.
That is my fourteenth birthday.
mein Geburtstag means my birthday. Before the masculine noun Geburtstag, the ordinal takes the ending -er after mein; the form changes with gender and case, so vierzehnte is not used in every position.
vierzig — forty
Vierzig is the cardinal number 40. Its ordinal is vierzigste, and the spelling uses -zig, not -ßig; ages are expressed with vierzig Jahre alt.
In der Flasche sind vierzig Bonbons.
There are forty sweets in the bottle.
die Flasche is the bottle, and Bonbons means sweets or candies. Vierzig is a cardinal number before the plural noun Bonbons; the whole phrase is the subject, so sind is plural.
Mein Vater ist vierzig Jahre alt.
My father is forty years old.
mein Vater means my father, and Jahre alt means years old. German uses sein for age, not haben; vierzig stands before the plural Jahre.
Der Film dauert vierzig Minuten.
The film lasts forty minutes.
der Film is the film, dauern means to last, and Minuten means minutes. A duration after dauern is expressed as a bare time phrase; vierzig Minuten is plural because the number is greater than one.
Sie wurde Vierzigste im Wettbewerb.
She came fortieth in the competition.
wurde means became or finished as, and der Wettbewerb is the competition. The ordinal Vierzigste is formed from vierzig with an ordinal ending; it is capitalized here because it refers to a person.
die Waage — scale, weighing machine
The plural Waagen can mean several weighing machines or several scales. In the zodiac, die Waage also means Libra.
Die Waage steht im Badezimmer.
The scales are in the bathroom.
das Badezimmer means bathroom. Die Waage is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two; stehen describes a stationary position.
Ich stelle die Tasche auf die Waage.
I put the bag on the scales.
die Tasche is a bag, and stellen means to put upright; auf die Waage means onto the scales. Die Tasche is accusative because it is the object of stelle, and die Waage is accusative after auf because the sentence expresses movement towards a place.
Ich vertraue der Waage nicht.
I do not trust the scales.
vertrauen means to trust, and nicht means not. Der Waage is dative because vertrauen requires a dative object; the finite verb vertraue stands in position two.
Die Genauigkeit der Waage ist wichtig.
The accuracy of the scales is important.
die Genauigkeit means accuracy, and wichtig means important. Der Waage is genitive after die Genauigkeit to show whose accuracy it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Im Geschäft stehen mehrere Waagen.
There are several scales in the shop.
das Geschäft means shop, and mehrere means several. Waagen is the plural of die Waage; im Geschäft is dative because in describes a location, not movement.
wenig — little, few
Wenig is irregular in comparison: weniger, am wenigsten. It can describe an uncountable amount, such as wenig Geld, or a small number, such as wenige Bücher.
Die Zeit ist wenig.
There is little time.
die Zeit means the time. Wenig is used predicatively after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich habe wenig Geld.
I have little money.
Geld means money, and haben means to have. Wenig describes the uncountable noun Geld and has no ending here; Geld is accusative because haben takes an accusative object.
Heute habe ich weniger Zeit als gestern.
Today I have less time than yesterday.
heute means today, Zeit means time, and gestern means yesterday; als means than. Weniger compares two amounts, and Zeit is accusative because it is the object of habe; the verb remains in position two after the opening time expression.
Am wenigsten Geld hat Paul.
Paul has the least money.
Geld means money, and hat means has. Am wenigsten expresses the smallest amount; because it comes first, the finite verb hat must come next and the subject Paul follows it.
wenig — little, not much
As an adverb, wenig stays unchanged and modifies a verb, as in wenig schlafen. Do not confuse this use with adjective wenig, which can describe a noun and may have an ending, as in wenige Bücher.
Ich schlafe wenig.
I do not sleep much.
schlafen means to sleep, and ich means I. Wenig modifies the verb schlafe and does not take an ending; the finite verb stands in position two.
Sie spricht wenig Deutsch.
She speaks little German.
sie means she, spricht means speaks, and Deutsch means German. Wenig describes the amount of speaking and stays unchanged; the finite verb spricht is in position two.
die Zahl — number, figure; quantity, number of people or things
die Zahl is the noun for a number or figure; the verb zahlen means to pay and is a different word. For a quantity of people or things, German often uses die Zahl der plus a genitive phrase.
Die Zahl sieben ist ungerade.
The number seven is odd.
sieben means seven, and ungerade means odd. Die Zahl is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kenne die Zahl nicht.
I do not know the number.
kenne means know, and nicht means not. die Zahl is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; the feminine article remains die in accusative.
Mit dieser Zahl kann man gut rechnen.
You can calculate well with this number.
dieser means this, rechnen means calculate, and gut means well. dieser Zahl is dative because mit always takes the dative; kann is the finite modal verb and rechnen goes to the end.
Die Bedeutung der Zahl ist unklar.
The meaning of the number is unclear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning, and unklar means unclear. der Zahl is genitive because it specifies which meaning; the feminine genitive article is der.
Die Zahlen stehen an der Tafel.
The numbers are written on the board.
stehen means stand or are written, and die Tafel is the board. Zahlen is the plural of Zahl, while an der Tafel is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Die Zahl der Besucher steigt jedes Jahr.
The number of visitors rises every year.
die Besucher means the visitors, steigt means rises, and jedes Jahr means every year. der Besucher is genitive after die Zahl, and the finite verb steigt is in position two.
Eine hohe Zahl von Gästen kam zu der Feier.
A large number of guests came to the celebration.
hoch means high or large, die Gäste are the guests, kam means came, and die Feier is the celebration. von Gästen uses the dative after von; kam is the past-tense verb in position two.
zehn — ten
zehn is the cardinal number 10. It is used for counting, quantities, times and ages; the ordinal form is zehnte, meaning tenth.
Ich zähle bis zehn.
I count to ten.
zähle means count, and bis means up to. zehn is the final number in the phrase bis zehn; it is a cardinal number and does not take a noun ending.
Der Film beginnt um zehn Uhr.
The film starts at ten o'clock.
der Film is the film, beginnt means begins, and um ... Uhr gives the time. zehn comes before Uhr in a clock-time expression, and the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
der Zentimeter — centimetre
The plural of der Zentimeter is unchanged: die Zentimeter. In measurements, German often uses the noun directly after a number, and the unit can also appear with lang or breit.
Ein Zentimeter ist zehn Millimeter.
One centimetre is ten millimetres.
zehn Millimeter means ten millimetres. Ein Zentimeter is nominative because it is the subject, and the linking verb ist connects it with the measurement after it.
Der Tisch ist einen Zentimeter zu kurz.
The table is one centimetre too short.
der Tisch means the table, and zu kurz means too short. einen Zentimeter is accusative because a length or amount can be given as an accusative measure; the masculine article changes from ein to einen.
Ich messe mit einem Zentimeter.
I measure with a centimetre ruler.
messe means measure, and mit means with. einem Zentimeter is dative because mit always takes the dative; the verb messe is in position two.
Die Länge des Zentimeters ist genau definiert.
The length of a centimetre is precisely defined.
die Länge means the length, and genau definiert means precisely defined. des Zentimeters is genitive to show what the length belongs to; the masculine noun adds -s.
Zwei Zentimeter fehlen noch.
Two centimetres are still missing.
zwei means two, and fehlen noch means are still missing. Zentimeter has the same form in singular and plural, so zwei and the verb fehlen identify the plural.
zusammen — together; together, altogether, combined
Zusammen usually describes people doing something with one another. It can stand at the end of a main clause or earlier for emphasis, but its form never changes.
Wir lernen zusammen.
We study together.
wir means we and lernen means study or learn. Zusammen is an adverb and does not change its form; the finite verb lernen is in position two.
Die Kinder spielen zusammen.
The children play together.
die Kinder means the children and spielen means play. Zusammen describes how they play and stays unchanged; the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Bitte leg die Bücher zusammen.
Please put the books together.
leg means put or lay, and die Bücher means the books. Zusammen means into one group here; die Bücher is accusative as the object of legen, while the du imperative omits du.
Zusammen kostet das alles zwanzig Euro.
Altogether, it all costs twenty euros.
alles means everything and zwanzig Euro means twenty euros. Here zusammen means altogether; because it is in first position, the finite verb kostet comes immediately after it in position two.
zwanzig — twenty
As a number, zwanzig can stand before a noun or be used alone. Before a plural noun it does not take an adjective ending: zwanzig Äpfel, not zwanzige Äpfel.
Wir zählen zwanzig Äpfel.
We are counting twenty apples.
zählen means to count, and Äpfel are apples. zwanzig Äpfel is an accusative object because zählen counts something; the finite verb zählen is in position two.
Der Zug fährt um zwanzig Uhr ab.
The train leaves at twenty hundred hours.
der Zug is the train, Uhr means o'clock, and abfahren means to leave. um zwanzig Uhr gives the time; the separable verb has fährt in position two and ab at the end.
Meine Schwester ist zwanzig Jahre alt.
My sister is twenty years old.
meine Schwester means my sister, and Jahre alt means years old. German expresses age with sein and zwanzig Jahre alt, not with a verb meaning have.
Die Zahl zwanzig bildet die Ordnungszahl zwanzigste.
The number twenty forms the ordinal number twentieth.
die Zahl means the number, bilden means to form, and Ordnungszahl means ordinal number. die Ordnungszahl zwanzigste is the object of bildet; the ordinal form zwanzigste normally takes an adjective ending when it stands before a noun.
zwei — two
zwei is used for counting, quantities, time, and age. The ordinal form is zweite, not zweite with a number ending added mechanically; learn the separate form as second.
Ich habe zwei Brüder.
I have two brothers.
haben means to have, and Brüder are brothers. zwei Brüder is an accusative object because haben takes a direct object; cardinal numbers do not take an adjective ending.
Der Unterricht beginnt um zwei Uhr.
The lesson starts at two o'clock.
der Unterricht means the lesson, beginnen means to begin, and Uhr means o'clock. um zwei Uhr gives the time; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Mein Sohn ist zwei Jahre alt.
My son is two years old.
mein Sohn means my son, and Jahre alt means years old. German expresses age with sein, so the sentence uses ist, not a form of haben.
Die Zahl zwei bildet die Ordnungszahl zweite.
The number two forms the ordinal number second.
die Zahl means the number, bilden means to form, and Ordnungszahl means ordinal number. die Ordnungszahl zweite is the object of bildet; the ordinal zweite changes its ending when it stands before a noun.
zweimal — twice, two times
Zweimal is formed from zwei and -mal, meaning two times. It is an adverb, so it never takes an ending; use it for frequency or repetition, not for saying that something is second in a sequence.
Ich war schon zweimal in Berlin.
I have already been to Berlin twice.
schon means already, and in Berlin means in Berlin. Zweimal says how often something happened; the perfect uses war here because sein describes being in a place.
Bitte lies den Satz zweimal.
Please read the sentence twice.
Bitte means please, lies means read, and den Satz means the sentence. Zweimal modifies the verb and means two times; lies is the du imperative and den Satz is accusative because lesen takes an accusative object.
zweite — second
zweite is an ordinal adjective, not a normal adjective of quality, so it normally does not take comparative or superlative forms. Its ending changes according to the noun phrase, as in der zweite Bus and die zweite Prüfung.
Die zweite Prüfung ist am Montag.
The second exam is on Monday.
die Prüfung is the exam, and am Montag means on Monday. zweite is used predicatively after ist and agrees with the feminine noun Prüfung; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich lese das zweite Kapitel.
I am reading the second chapter.
lesen means to read, and das Kapitel is the chapter. zweite stands before the noun and has the weak ending -e after das; das Kapitel is accusative because lesen takes a direct object.
Der zweite Bus kommt später als der zweite.
The second bus comes later than the second one.
der Bus is the bus, and später means later. Here zweite is used as a shortened adjective referring to the second bus; it is not a comparative form, because ordinal adjectives such as zweite do not compare.
Von allen Versuchen war dieser der zweite.
Of all the attempts, this one was the second.
von allen Versuchen means of all the attempts, and dieser means this one. zweite is used substantivally after der; the form stays an ordinal and does not become a superlative, because ordinal adjectives do not have comparative or superlative forms.
zweiundzwanzig — twenty-two
zweiundzwanzig is a cardinal number and is written as one word in German. It is used for counting, quantities, ages, and times; the ordinal form is zweiundzwanzigste.
Im Kurs sind zweiundzwanzig Schüler.
There are twenty-two pupils in the class.
im Kurs means in the class, and Schüler means pupils or students. The numeral zweiundzwanzig does not change for gender or case; the plural noun Schüler is the subject of sind.
Meine Tochter ist zweiundzwanzig Jahre alt.
My daughter is twenty-two years old.
meine Tochter means my daughter, and Jahre alt means years old. German expresses age with ist ... Jahre alt; zweiundzwanzig comes before the plural noun Jahre and stays unchanged.
zweiundzwanzigste — twenty-second
zweiundzwanzigste is an ordinal numeral, formed from zweiundzwanzig with -ste. Its ending changes with the noun phrase, for example der zweiundzwanzigste Juni but die zweiundzwanzigste Seite.
Heute ist der zweiundzwanzigste Juni.
Today is the twenty-second of June.
heute means today, and Juni is June. In a date, the ordinal numeral describes the day of the month and takes the masculine ending -ste after der.
Das ist die zweiundzwanzigste Seite im Buch.
That is the twenty-second page in the book.
die Seite is the page, im Buch means in the book, and das Buch is the book. zweiundzwanzigste stands before the feminine noun Seite and has the ending -ste; the ordinal agrees with the noun phrase.
zwölf — twelve
Zwölf is used for counting, clock time, age, and measurements. It is a cardinal number; the ordinal is zwölfte, as in der zwölfte Mai, the twelfth of May.
Ich habe zwölf Äpfel gekauft.
I bought twelve apples.
Äpfel means apples and gekauft means bought. Zwölf is an invariable cardinal number before the accusative object Äpfel; the perfect verb habe gekauft puts gekauft at the end.
Der Film beginnt um zwölf Uhr.
The film starts at twelve o'clock.
der Film means the film, beginnt means begins, and um ... Uhr means at ... o'clock. Zwölf does not change form, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
zählen — to count; to count on, to rely on
Zählen usually takes an accusative object, as in etwas zählen, to count something. It is a regular weak verb, and its perfect uses haben: hat gezählt.
Ich zähle die Kinder.
I am counting the children.
die Kinder means the children. Die Kinder is accusative because it is the object of zählen, and the finite verb zähle stands in position two.
Wir haben die Münzen gezählt.
We counted the coins.
die Münzen means the coins, and haben ... gezählt means counted. Die Münzen is accusative because it is the object; the auxiliary haben is in position two and the Partizip II gezählt goes to the end.
Sie zählte langsam bis hundert.
She counted slowly to one hundred.
langsam means slowly and bis hundert means up to one hundred. Zählte is the weak-verb preterite, and the finite verb stands in position two; bis introduces the endpoint of the counting.
Zähl bitte die Teller.
Please count the plates.
bitte means please and die Teller means the plates. Zähl is the informal singular imperative, with no subject pronoun; die Teller is accusative because it is the object.
Wenn du mitzählst, zählst du richtig.
If you count along, you count correctly.
wenn means if or when, mitzählen means count along, and richtig means correctly. This sentence does not actually use a distinct Konjunktiv II form: zählst is present indicative, and the finite verb goes to the end of the wenn-clause; a true hypothetical would be Wenn du mitzählen würdest.
Morgen werde ich die Stimmen zählen.
Tomorrow I will count the votes.
morgen means tomorrow and die Stimmen means the votes. Die Stimmen is accusative because it is the object; werde is in position two and the infinitive zählen goes to the end.
Du kannst auf mich zählen.
You can count on me.
kannst means can, and auf mich means on me. In this meaning, auf is a fixed preposition after zählen and takes the accusative, so mich is accusative; the infinitive zählen goes to the end after the modal verb.
Wir zählen auf deine Unterstützung.
We are relying on your support.
deine Unterstützung means your support. In the expression auf etwas zählen, auf takes the accusative, so deine Unterstützung is accusative; the finite verb zählen stands in position two.