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Vocab: Numbers & quantity — A2 (2)
Numbers & quantity vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die PIN — PIN, personal identification number
PIN is an abbreviation of Persönliche Identifikationsnummer, personal identification number. It is feminine because the full word ends in Nummer; German normally uses die PIN, not the English masculine article.
Die PIN steht auf einem sicheren Zettel.
The PIN is written on a secure note.
steht means is written or is located, sicher means safe or secure, and der Zettel means note or piece of paper. Die PIN is nominative because it is the subject, and auf einem sicheren Zettel is dative because auf describes a location here.
Bitte geben Sie die PIN ein.
Please enter the PIN.
Bitte means please and eingeben means enter; geben Sie ... ein is its formal imperative form. Die PIN is accusative because eingeben takes a direct object, and the separable prefix ein moves to the end of the clause.
Ich helfe meiner Mutter mit der PIN.
I help my mother with the PIN.
helfen means help and meine Mutter means my mother. Meiner Mutter is dative because helfen takes a dative person, and mit der PIN is also dative because mit requires the dative.
Die Eingabe der PIN dauert nur wenige Sekunden.
Entering the PIN takes only a few seconds.
die Eingabe means entry or entering, dauert means takes, and wenige Sekunden means a few seconds. Der PIN is genitive because it specifies which entry is meant; with a feminine noun or abbreviation, the genitive article is der.
Viele PINs bestehen aus vier Ziffern.
Many PINs consist of four digits.
viele means many, bestehen aus means consist of, and vier Ziffern means four digits. Viele PINs is plural and takes -s; aus vier Ziffern is dative because aus always takes the dative.
das Plus — plus; advantage, benefit
As a mathematical noun, das Plus means the plus sign or addition. In everyday language, ein Plus means an advantage; the opposite is das Minus.
Das Plus ist größer als das Minus.
The plus is greater than the minus.
größer als means greater than, and das Minus means the minus or negative sign. Das Plus is nominative because it is the subject; the comparison uses größer als, not größer wie.
Ich sehe ein Plus in diesem Angebot.
I see an advantage in this offer.
sehe means see, diesem Angebot means this offer, and an Angebot is an offer. Ein Plus is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; in diesem Angebot is dative because it describes where the advantage lies.
Mit dem Plus rechnen wir schneller.
With the plus, we calculate faster.
mit means with, rechnen means calculate, and schneller means faster. Mit dem Plus is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb rechnen is in position two after the introductory phrase.
Die Bedeutung des Pluses ist klar.
The meaning of the plus is clear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning, and klar means clear. Des Pluses is genitive because it identifies which meaning is meant; the spelling Pluses with -es is also used, although the form entry is commonly written des Plus.
Die beiden Plus ergeben zehn.
The two plus signs add up to ten.
die beiden means the two, and ergeben means add up to or result in. Die Plus is plural here even though it looks like the singular; the plural subject takes ergeben, not singular ergibt.
die Postleitzahl — postal code; ZIP code
Die Postleitzahl identifies a postal area and is often written before the town name in a German address. Its plural is die Postleitzahlen.
Die Postleitzahl steht vor dem Ort.
The postal code comes before the town.
steht means comes or is written, and vor dem Ort means before the town. Die Postleitzahl is nominative as the subject; dem Ort is dative because vor describes a position.
Bitte schreiben Sie die Postleitzahl auf den Umschlag.
Please write the postal code on the envelope.
Bitte means please, schreiben Sie means write, and der Umschlag means the envelope. Die Postleitzahl is accusative because it is the object; auf den Umschlag is accusative because it expresses direction onto the envelope.
Ich gebe dem Mitarbeiter die Postleitzahl.
I give the employee the postal code.
gebe means give, and dem Mitarbeiter means to the employee. The recipient is dative, while die Postleitzahl is accusative as the thing given.
Die Länge der Postleitzahl ist je nach Land verschieden.
The length of the postal code varies from country to country.
die Länge means the length, je nach Land means depending on the country, and verschieden means different. Der Postleitzahl is genitive to specify whose length is meant.
Diese Postleitzahlen gehören zu verschiedenen Städten.
These postal codes belong to different cities.
diese means these, gehören means belong, and verschiedene Städte means different cities. Postleitzahlen is plural, while zu verschiedenen Städten is dative because zu always takes the dative.
die Privatnummer — private telephone number
die Privatnummer is a compound of privat and die Nummer, and it normally means a personal or unlisted telephone number. The plural is Privatnummern, following the plural of die Nummer.
Die Privatnummer steht nicht im Telefonbuch.
The private number is not in the telephone directory.
steht means is listed or stands, nicht means not, and das Telefonbuch is the telephone directory. Die Privatnummer is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Bitte notieren Sie die Privatnummer.
Please write down the private number.
bitte means please and notieren means write down. Die Privatnummer is accusative because notieren takes a direct object; Sie is the formal imperative subject.
Ich füge der Privatnummer einen Namen hinzu.
I add a name to the private number.
ich füge ... hinzu means I add, and einen Namen is a name. Der Privatnummer is dative because hinzufügen takes the thing being added to in the dative; the separable prefix hinzu goes to the end of the main clause.
Die Änderung der Privatnummer dauert nur eine Minute.
Changing the private number takes only one minute.
die Änderung means the change, dauert means takes or lasts, and nur eine Minute means only one minute. Der Privatnummer is genitive and specifies which number is being changed.
Im Handy sind drei Privatnummern gespeichert.
There are three private numbers saved in the mobile phone.
im Handy means in the mobile phone, drei means three, and gespeichert means saved. Privatnummern is plural with -n; the phrase sind gespeichert describes the numbers' saved state.
das Prozent — percent, percentage
After a number, German normally uses Prozent without a plural ending: drei Prozent. Prozente is possible when separate percentages are being discussed as countable figures.
Ein Prozent der Bevölkerung ist arbeitslos.
One percent of the population is unemployed.
die Bevölkerung means the population, and arbeitslos means unemployed. Ein Prozent is the subject in the nominative; der Bevölkerung is genitive because it means of the population.
Die Firma zahlt fünf Prozent.
The company pays five percent.
die Firma means the company and zahlt means pays. Fünf Prozent is the accusative object of zahlt; after a number, Prozent normally stays unchanged rather than taking -e.
Wir geben dem Projekt zehn Prozent.
We give the project ten percent.
geben means give and das Projekt means the project. Dem Projekt is dative because it is the recipient, while zehn Prozent is the amount given and functions as the accusative object.
Die Höhe des Prozents ist gesetzlich festgelegt.
The level of the percentage is fixed by law.
die Höhe means the level or amount, and gesetzlich festgelegt means fixed by law. Des Prozents is genitive because it specifies the level of what; the adjective phrase festgelegt describes the noun.
Die Prozente auf dem Etikett sind schwer zu lesen.
The percentages on the label are difficult to read.
das Etikett is the label, and schwer zu lesen means difficult to read. Prozente is the countable plural used for separate percentages; auf dem Etikett is dative because it gives a fixed location.
die Rate — instalment; rate
The most common meaning is a regular payment, especially in in Raten zahlen. In technical or financial contexts, Rate can also mean a rate or proportion.
Die Rate ist jeden Monat gleich.
The instalment is the same every month.
jeden Monat means every month, and gleich means the same. Die Rate is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Ich zahle die monatliche Rate.
I pay the monthly instalment.
zahlen means pay and monatlich means monthly. Die monatliche Rate is accusative because zahlen takes a direct object; the adjective has the feminine accusative ending -e after die.
Mit der Rate kann ich leben.
I can live with the instalment.
mit means with, and kann ich leben means I can live with it. Der Rate is dative because mit always takes the dative; the modal verb kann is in position two and leben goes to the end.
Die Höhe der Rate überrascht mich.
The amount of the instalment surprises me.
die Höhe means the amount, überrascht means surprises, and mich means me. Der Rate is genitive and means of the instalment; mich is accusative because it is the object of überraschen.
Die Raten sind leider zu hoch.
Unfortunately, the instalments are too high.
leider means unfortunately and zu hoch means too high. Raten is the plural subject, so the verb is sind; do not confuse this noun plural with the verb form raten.
reichen — to hand, to pass; to hold out; to be enough, to suffice
For the meaning “to hand,” reichen usually has a dative person and an accusative thing: jemandem etwas reichen. The perfect uses haben, not sein.
Ich reiche dir das Salz.
I’ll pass you the salt.
das Salz means salt, and dir means to you. dir is dative because the person receiving something is an indirect object, while das Salz is accusative because it is the thing handed over; the finite verb reiche is in position two.
Ich habe ihr den Schlüssel gereicht.
I handed her the key.
ihr means to her, and der Schlüssel is the key. ihr is dative for the recipient and den Schlüssel is accusative for the thing handed over; habe is in position two and gereicht goes to the end.
Er reichte mir seine Jacke.
He handed me his jacket.
mir means to me, and seine Jacke means his jacket. mir is dative for the recipient and seine Jacke is accusative for the object; the simple-past verb reichte stands in position two.
Reich mir bitte das Brot.
Please pass me the bread.
mir means to me, bitte means please, and das Brot is the bread. The imperative reich comes first, mir is dative for the recipient, and das Brot is accusative for the thing passed.
Ich reichte ihm die Hand, wenn ich ihn begrüßte.
I would hold out my hand to him when I greeted him.
ihm means to him, die Hand is the hand, and begrüßte means greeted. The past form reichte can express a repeated hypothetical or polite situation here; ihm is dative and die Hand is accusative.
Ich werde dir später die Unterlagen reichen.
I will hand you the documents later.
später means later, and die Unterlagen means the documents or papers. dir is dative for the recipient and die Unterlagen is accusative; werde is in position two and the infinitive reichen goes to the end.
Das Geld reicht für den ganzen Monat.
The money is enough for the whole month.
das Geld means the money, and der ganze Monat means the whole month. The verb reicht means “is enough”; für takes the accusative, so den ganzen Monat is accusative, and the finite verb is in position two.
Eine Flasche Wasser hat gereicht.
One bottle of water was enough.
eine Flasche Wasser means one bottle of water. It is the nominative subject, while hat is the perfect auxiliary and gereicht goes to the end; do not translate this use as physically reaching.
die Reihe — line; row; turn
die Reihe can mean a physical line or row, a sequence, or a person's turn in the fixed expression an der Reihe sein. The plural is die Reihen.
Die Reihe beginnt hier.
The line starts here.
beginnt hier means starts here. Die Reihe is nominative because it is the subject of beginnt; the finite verb stands in position two.
Ich sehe die Reihe.
I see the line.
ich sehe means I see. die Reihe is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the feminine article remains die in both nominative and accusative.
Wir stehen in der Reihe.
We are standing in the line.
wir stehen means we are standing. der Reihe is dative because in describes a fixed location here; with no movement, this two-way preposition takes the dative.
Das Ende der Reihe ist dort.
The end of the line is over there.
das Ende means the end, and dort means there. der Reihe is genitive and identifies which end is meant; ist is in position two.
Die Reihen sind lang.
The lines are long.
lang means long. Die Reihen is plural, formed with -n, so the verb is sind, not ist; the adjective after sein is predicative and has no ending.
Jetzt bist du an der Reihe.
Now it is your turn.
jetzt means now, and du bist means you are. The fixed expression an der Reihe sein means to be someone's turn; der Reihe is dative after an in this expression.
sechzehnte — sixteenth
sechzehnte is an ordinal number, meaning sixteenth. Like an adjective, it changes its ending: der sechzehnte Platz has one ending, while the dative date am sechzehnten Mai has another.
Am sechzehnten Mai hat er Geburtstag.
His birthday is on 16 May.
Mai means May, and Geburtstag means birthday. am is short for an dem and takes the dative, so sechzehnte becomes sechzehnten; hat er Geburtstag is a common German way to say that he has his birthday.
Der sechzehnte Platz ist noch frei.
The sixteenth seat is still free.
Platz means seat or place, noch means still, and frei means free. sechzehnte has an adjective ending before the masculine noun Platz with der; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
sechzigste — sixtieth
Ordinal numerals are built from the cardinal number with -ste; after an article, the ending changes, for example sechzigste but sechzigsten. Do not use the cardinal sechzig when you mean position in a series.
Heute ist der sechzigste Geburtstag meiner Mutter.
Today is my mother's sixtieth birthday.
heute means today, der Geburtstag means birthday, and meiner Mutter means my mother. The ordinal adjective sechzigste has an adjective ending after der and stands before the noun; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Sie kam auf den sechzigsten Platz.
She came in sixtieth place.
sie kam means she came, and der Platz means place; auf den Platz means into or at the place in this result expression. Sechzigsten has -en because den Platz is accusative, and the finite verb kam stands in position two.
siebente — seventh
Siebente is an ordinal numeral, so it behaves like an adjective and takes endings before a noun. Siebte is also a very common spelling; the two forms usually have the same meaning.
Heute ist der siebente Mai.
Today is the seventh of May.
heute means today, and der Mai is May. Der siebente Mai is a date phrase; the ordinal has an adjective ending because it stands before the masculine noun Mai, while the finite verb ist is in position two.
Der siebente Läufer bekommt eine Medaille.
The seventh runner gets a medal.
der Läufer means the runner, and bekommt means gets or receives; eine Medaille is a medal. Der siebente Läufer is nominative because it is the subject, and eine Medaille is accusative because bekommen takes the thing received as its object.
siebzehnte — seventeenth
Siebzehnte is an ordinal numeral and behaves like an adjective, so its ending changes with the noun and case. In dates, German usually uses an ending such as siebzehnten after am, even though the basic form is siebzehnte.
Heute ist der siebzehnte Juni.
Today is the seventeenth of June.
heute means today, and der Juni is June. Der siebzehnte Juni is a date phrase; the ordinal has a masculine nominative ending because it stands before Juni, and ist is the finite verb in position two.
Die siebzehnte Seite fehlt im Buch.
The seventeenth page is missing from the book.
die Seite means the page, fehlt means is missing, and das Buch means the book. Die siebzehnte Seite is nominative because it is the subject, while im Buch means in the book and uses the dative after in for a fixed location.
siebzigste — seventieth
Siebzigste is an ordinal numeral and behaves like an adjective, so its ending changes with the noun and case. For example, siebzigsten appears after an accusative masculine determiner such as ihren.
Heute feiert sie ihren siebzigsten Geburtstag.
Today she is celebrating her seventieth birthday.
heute means today, feiert means celebrates, and ihr Geburtstag means her birthday. Ihren siebzigsten Geburtstag is accusative because feiern takes an accusative object; the ending changes from siebzigste to siebzigsten after the possessive determiner ihren.
Der siebzigste Platz ist noch frei.
The seventieth place is still free.
der Platz means the place or seat, noch means still, and frei means free. Der siebzigste Platz is nominative because it is the subject, so the ordinal has the masculine ending -e; ist is in position two.
das Stück — piece, portion, item; piece of music, play
das Stück is used for a portion, as in ein Stück Kuchen, and for an individual item, as in drei Stück Seife. In measurements, the material after Stück often has no article.
Das Stück Kuchen ist sehr groß.
The piece of cake is very large.
Kuchen means cake, and sehr groß means very large. Das Stück is nominative because it is the subject; Kuchen names what the piece consists of and has no article in this measure expression.
Ich nehme ein Stück Brot.
I will have a piece of bread.
nehmen means take or have, and Brot is bread. ein Stück is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object; the neuter indefinite article ein looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Kannst du mir ein Stück geben?
Can you give me a piece?
kannst du means can you, and geben means give. mir is dative because it is the recipient, while ein Stück is accusative as the thing given.
Die Farbe des Stücks passt nicht zum Rahmen.
The colour of the piece does not match the frame.
die Farbe means the colour, passt nicht means does not match, and der Rahmen is the frame. des Stücks is genitive after die Farbe to show which piece's colour; zum Rahmen is short for zu dem Rahmen and takes dative.
Wir schneiden den Kuchen in vier Stücke.
We cut the cake into four pieces.
schneiden means cut, der Kuchen is the cake, and vier means four. Stücke is plural; in vier Stücke uses accusative because the cutting changes the cake into four pieces.
Das Orchester spielt ein Stück von Mozart.
The orchestra is playing a piece by Mozart.
das Orchester means the orchestra, spielt means is playing, and von Mozart means by Mozart. ein Stück is accusative after spielen; von Mozart uses dative after von.
Wir sehen heute Abend zwei Stücke im Theater.
We are seeing two plays at the theatre tonight.
heute Abend means tonight, and im Theater means at the theatre. zwei Stücke is the plural direct object of sehen, while im Theater is short for in dem Theater and marks location.
die Summe — sum, total amount; sum, result of an addition
For money, die Summe usually means a particular amount or total. In arithmetic, it can also mean the result of adding numbers.
Die Summe steht auf der Rechnung.
The total is shown on the bill.
die Rechnung is the bill or invoice, and steht auf means is shown on. Die Summe is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich bezahle die Summe morgen.
I will pay the amount tomorrow.
bezahlen means to pay, and morgen means tomorrow. Die Summe is accusative because bezahlen takes a direct object; the finite verb bezahle stands in position two.
Mit der Summe können wir die Reise bezahlen.
With that amount, we can pay for the trip.
mit means with, können means can, and die Reise is the trip. Der Summe is dative because mit always takes the dative; können is in position two and bezahlen goes to the end.
Die Höhe der Summe überrascht mich.
The size of the amount surprises me.
die Höhe is the size or amount, and überrascht means surprises. Der Summe is genitive because it identifies whose size is meant; the finite verb überrascht is in position two.
Die beiden Summen sind gleich.
The two totals are equal.
beide means both, and gleich means equal or the same. Summen is plural and has -n; the finite verb sind agrees with the plural subject and stands in position two.
Die Summe aus drei und fünf ist acht.
The sum of three and five is eight.
aus means of or from here, and drei, fünf and acht are the numbers three, five and eight. Die Summe is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir schreiben die Summe an die Tafel.
We write the sum on the board.
schreiben means write, and die Tafel is the board. Die Summe is accusative as the object of schreiben, while an die Tafel is accusative because it expresses movement toward the board.
die Tabelle — table, chart
A Tabelle normally organises information in rows and columns. For a piece of furniture, German usually uses Tisch, not Tabelle.
Die Tabelle ist übersichtlich.
The table is easy to read.
übersichtlich means clearly arranged or easy to read. Die Tabelle is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Ich öffne die Tabelle.
I open the table.
öffnen means to open. Die Tabelle is accusative because it is the direct object, and öffne stands in position two.
Ich arbeite mit der Tabelle.
I am working with the table.
arbeiten means to work, and mit means with. Mit always takes the dative, so the feminine phrase is der Tabelle.
Die Überschrift der Tabelle ist zu klein.
The table’s heading is too small.
die Überschrift means the heading, and zu klein means too small. Der Tabelle is genitive because it identifies the table belonging to the heading.
Die Tabellen zeigen die Ergebnisse.
The tables show the results.
zeigen means show, and die Ergebnisse means the results. Tabellen is plural with -n and is nominative because it is the subject.
die Tonne — barrel, bin; metric ton
Tonne has two common meanings: a large container such as a rubbish bin, and a metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms. The context normally makes the meaning clear.
Die Tonne ist voll.
The bin is full.
voll means full. Die Tonne is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Hausmeister leert die Tonne.
The caretaker is emptying the bin.
der Hausmeister is the caretaker, and leert means empties. Die Tonne is accusative because leeren takes a direct object; the finite verb leert is in position two.
Ich nähere mich der Tonne.
I am approaching the bin.
nähere mich means approach, and sich nähern is a reflexive verb. Der Tonne is dative because sich nähern requires a dative object; do not use accusative die here.
Der Deckel der Tonne ist kaputt.
The lid of the bin is broken.
der Deckel means the lid, and kaputt means broken. Der Tonne is genitive because it shows which bin the lid belongs to; the feminine genitive article is der.
Die Tonnen stehen hinter dem Haus.
The bins are behind the house.
stehen means stand or are standing, and hinter means behind. Tonnen is the plural with -n; dem Haus is dative because hinter describes a fixed location here.
Eine Tonne wiegt tausend Kilogramm.
One metric ton weighs one thousand kilograms.
wiegt means weighs, and tausend Kilogramm means one thousand kilograms. Here Tonne means a metric ton, not a container; it is nominative because it is the subject.
ungefähr — approximate; approximately
ungefähr can be a predicative adjective meaning approximate or an adverb meaning approximately. Before a number, it normally stays unchanged: ungefähr zehn Minuten means approximately ten minutes; its comparative and superlative are uncommon.
Die Zahl ist ungefähr.
The number is approximate.
die Zahl means the number, and ist means is. ungefähr stands after ist as a predicative adjective and therefore has no ending.
Wir warten eine ungefähre Stunde.
We are waiting for about an hour.
wir warten means we are waiting, and eine Stunde is one hour. ungefähre comes before the feminine accusative noun Stunde and takes -e after eine; the accusative expresses the length of time.
Diese Schätzung ist ungefährer als die vorige.
This estimate is more approximate than the previous one.
diese Schätzung means this estimate, and die vorige means the previous one. ungefährer is the comparative with -er and follows ist as a predicative adjective; als introduces the comparison.
Von allen Ergebnissen ist dieses am ungefährsten.
Of all the results, this one is the most approximate.
von allen Ergebnissen means of all the results, and dieses means this one. von takes the dative plural Ergebnissen; am ungefährsten is the predicative superlative after ist, although this wording is uncommon.
viertens — fourthly, fourth
Viertens is used to mark the fourth item in a list, often after erstens, zweitens and drittens. It can stand at the beginning of a sentence, which causes the finite verb to come immediately after it.
Viertens müssen wir die Kosten prüfen.
Fourthly, we have to check the costs.
die Kosten means the costs, and prüfen means to check or examine. Viertens is an ordering adverb; the finite verb müssen stays in position two, while prüfen goes to the end because it is the infinitive.
Viertens fehlt uns noch die Unterschrift.
Fourthly, we are still missing the signature.
fehlen means to be missing, uns means to us, and die Unterschrift is the signature. With fehlen, the missing thing is the subject and the person affected is in the dative; viertens takes the first position, so the finite verb fehlt follows it.
vierzigste — fortieth
As an ordinal, vierzigste is normally used with an adjective ending, such as vierzigster, vierzigste or vierzigsten. Do not use the bare form before a noun unless the ending is supplied by another determiner or context.
Heute ist mein vierzigster Geburtstag.
Today is my fortieth birthday.
mein Geburtstag means my birthday, and heute means today. The ordinal has an adjective ending because it comes before the masculine noun Geburtstag; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Der Zug fährt am vierzigsten Gleis ab.
The train leaves from platform forty.
der Zug is the train, das Gleis is the track or platform, and abfahren means to leave. am means an dem and takes the dative, so the ordinal becomes vierzigsten; the separable verb places ab at the end.
wenigstens — at least
Wenigstens is an adverb meaning at least and is often used to emphasize a minimum or one good point. It does not change form and can stand in several positions, often before the part it emphasizes.
Wenigstens bist du pünktlich.
At least you are on time.
pünktlich means on time, and bist means are. Wenigstens comments on the whole sentence and occupies position one; the finite verb bist therefore comes in position two.
Wir haben wenigstens eine Stunde gewartet.
We waited for at least an hour.
eine Stunde means one hour, and gewartet means waited; warten is to wait. Wenigstens emphasizes the minimum amount, while haben stands in position two and gewartet goes to the end in the perfect.
wiegen — to weigh
In this sense, wiegen is a strong verb: wiegen - wog - hat gewogen. Do not confuse it with the weak verb meaning “to rock gently”, whose past forms are wiegt - wiegte - hat gewiegt.
Die Tasche wiegt fünf Kilo.
The bag weighs five kilos.
die Tasche means the bag, and fünf Kilo means five kilos. The finite verb wiegt stands in position two; fünf Kilo is a measurement expression, not a normal accusative object.
Wir haben den Koffer gewogen.
We weighed the suitcase.
wir means we and der Koffer means the suitcase. den Koffer is accusative because wiegen takes a direct object; the perfect uses haben, with haben in position two and gewogen at the end.
Die Waage wog genau zwei Kilo.
The scale weighed exactly two kilos.
die Waage means the scale and genau means exactly. wog is the strong preterite of wiegen and stands in position two; zwei Kilo is a measurement expression.
Wieg den Brief vor dem Versand!
Weigh the letter before sending it!
der Brief means the letter and vor dem Versand means before sending it. Wieg is the du imperative, so there is no subject pronoun; den Brief is accusative because it is the direct object.
Wenn die Waage genauer wäre, wöge sie das Paket besser.
If the scale were more accurate, it would weigh the parcel better.
genauer means more accurate, das Paket means the parcel, and besser means better. wöge is the Konjunktiv II of the strong verb; it comes at the end of the wenn clause, while wöge in the main clause returns to position two.
Morgen wird die Mitarbeiterin das Gepäck wiegen.
Tomorrow the employee will weigh the luggage.
morgen means tomorrow, die Mitarbeiterin means the female employee, and das Gepäck means the luggage. das Gepäck is accusative because it is the direct object; wird is in position two and the infinitive wiegen goes to the end.
zehnte — tenth
zehnte is an ordinal number meaning tenth. Like an adjective, it takes endings such as zehnter, zehnte or zehnten according to the article, case and gender.
Heute ist mein zehnter Geburtstag.
Today is my tenth birthday.
heute means today, and Geburtstag means birthday. The ordinal zehnte has the adjective ending -r after masculine mein in the nominative: zehnter Geburtstag; the ending belongs to the ordinal, not to Geburtstag.
Sie wohnt im zehnten Stock.
She lives on the tenth floor.
wohnt means lives, and Stock means floor or storey. im is short for in dem, which requires the dative for location, so zehnte becomes zehnten; the ordinal stands before the noun.
zunehmen — to increase; to rise; to gain weight; to become stronger, to intensify
Zunehmen is separable: in a main clause, zu moves to the end, as in Die Preise nehmen zu. Its perfect uses haben: hat zugenommen; for gaining body weight, the noun Gewicht is commonly used.
Die Kosten nehmen jedes Jahr zu.
The costs increase every year.
die Kosten means the costs, and jedes Jahr means every year. In a main clause, the finite part nehmen is in position two and the separable prefix zu goes to the end; the plural subject requires nehmen.
Die Kosten haben stark zugenommen.
The costs have increased sharply.
stark means sharply or greatly. Zugenommen is the Partizip II and combines with haben because this use describes an increase rather than a change of location; it stands at the end of the clause.
Im Winter nahm der Verkehr deutlich zu.
In winter, traffic increased noticeably.
im Winter means in winter, der Verkehr means traffic, and deutlich means noticeably. Nahm is the preterite in position two, while zu is separated and placed at the end of the main clause.
Nimm bitte etwas Rücksicht zu.
Please show a little consideration.
bitte means please, etwas means a little, and Rücksicht means consideration. In the imperative of a separable verb, nimm comes first and zu goes to the end; this expression is understood as asking someone not to inconvenience others.
Wenn die Nachfrage stiege, würden die Preise zunehmen.
If demand rose, prices would increase.
wenn means if, die Nachfrage means demand, and stiege means rose. Würden introduces the conditional result, while the infinitive zunehmen stays whole at the end of its clause rather than separating.
Die Zahl der Besucher wird im Sommer zunehmen.
The number of visitors will increase in summer.
die Zahl means the number, der Besucher means of visitors, and im Sommer means in summer. Wird is the finite future auxiliary in position two, and the whole infinitive zunehmen goes to the end; it does not split in this construction.
Das Kind nimmt schnell zu.
The child is gaining weight quickly.
das Kind means the child, and schnell means quickly. Nimmt is in position two and zu is separated to the end of the main clause; here the verb means gaining weight, not simply increasing.
Sie hat nach der Krankheit wieder zugenommen.
She has gained weight again after the illness.
nach der Krankheit means after the illness, and wieder means again. Zugenommen is the Partizip II with hat, and it stands at the end of the perfect clause; nach takes the dative here.
Am Abend nehmen die Schmerzen zu.
In the evening, the pain gets worse.
am Abend means in the evening, and die Schmerzen means the pain or pains. Nehmen agrees with the plural subject Schmerzen, while the prefix zu is separated and placed at the end.
Wenn der Schmerz zunimmt, rufen Sie den Arzt an.
If the pain gets worse, call the doctor.
wenn means if, der Schmerz means the pain, and rufen Sie den Arzt an means call the doctor. In the subordinate clause, zunimmt stays together and goes to the end; this is different from the split form in a main clause.
zwanzigste — twentieth
zwanzigste is an ordinal number, meaning twentieth. It behaves like an adjective and therefore changes its ending: compare der zwanzigste Tag with am zwanzigsten Tag.
Heute ist der zwanzigste Mai.
Today is 20 May.
heute means today, and Mai is May. zwanzigste has the ending -ste and stands before Mai with the masculine nominative article der; the date is expressed with an ordinal number.
Sie wurde am zwanzigsten Geburtstag überrascht.
She was surprised on her twentieth birthday.
wurde überrascht means was surprised, and Geburtstag means birthday. am is an dem and requires the dative, so zwanzigste becomes zwanzigsten; learners often forget this ending after am.
zweitens — secondly; in the second place
zweitens is used to organise ideas, especially in explanations, presentations, and arguments. It is often paired with erstens, and it is not the same as the ordinal adjective zweite.
Erstens ist der Preis zu hoch, zweitens dauert die Fahrt zu lange.
Firstly, the price is too high; secondly, the journey takes too long.
erstens means firstly, der Preis is the price, zu hoch means too high, and die Fahrt is the journey. zweitens is an ordering adverb and does not change the verb position: dauert remains in position two in its clause.
Zweitens möchte ich noch eine Frage stellen.
Secondly, I would like to ask one more question.
möchte means would like, noch eine Frage means one more question, and stellen means to ask or put. Because zweitens occupies the first position, the finite verb möchte comes next, before the subject ich.
zwölfte — twelfth, 12th
Zwölfte is the ordinal form of zwölf. Like an adjective, it takes endings: der zwölfte, die zwölfte, das zwölfte, but am zwölften after the dative form am.
Heute ist der zwölfte Mai.
Today is the twelfth of May.
heute means today and der Mai means May. Zwölfte is an ordinal number and takes the adjective ending -e after the masculine nominative article der; ist stands in position two.
Sie kommt am zwölften Juni zurück.
She is coming back on the twelfth of June.
kommt ... zurück means comes back, and Juni means June. Am is short for an dem and takes the dative, so the ordinal has the ending -en in am zwölften; the separable verb places zurück at the end.
übrig — left over, remaining; remaining, other
Übrig is commonly used predicatively with sein, as in etwas ist übrig, meaning that something remains. It also appears unchanged in the phrase übrig geblieben, while the following adjective geblieben carries the ending.
Der Kuchen ist noch übrig.
There is still some cake left.
der Kuchen means cake, and noch means still. Übrig is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das übrig gebliebene Essen steht im Kühlschrank.
The leftover food is in the refrigerator.
das Essen means food, geblieben means remained, and der Kühlschrank means refrigerator. In übrig geblieben, übrig describes what remains and stays unchanged before the participle; the whole phrase das übrig gebliebene Essen is the nominative subject.
Nach dem kleinen Fest ist noch übriger Kuchen da als nach dem großen.
After the small party, more cake is left than after the big one.
das Fest means party or celebration, klein means small, groß means big, and da sein means to be present or available. Übriger is a comparative and is followed by als; because it is predicative after ist, it has no adjective ending.
Nach dem kleinsten Fest ist am meisten Kuchen übrig.
After the smallest party, the most cake is left.
kleinsten means smallest, am meisten means the most, and Kuchen means cake. The superlative of übrig is possible, but am meisten übrig is more natural here; übrig is predicative after ist and therefore has no ending.
Die übrigen Gäste warten draußen.
The other guests are waiting outside.
die Gäste means the guests, and draußen means outside. Übrigen has the plural adjective ending -en after the definite article die; the finite verb warten is in position two.
Ich nehme die übrigen Äpfel mit.
I’ll take the remaining apples with me.
nehmen means to take, die Äpfel means the apples, and mit means along or with me. Die übrigen Äpfel is an accusative object because nehmen takes a direct object; mitnehmen is separable, so mit moves to the end.