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Vocab: School & study — A2 (2)
School & study vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Seminar — seminar, discussion class
A Seminar is usually a university or professional class with discussion and active participation. It is more specific than a general Kurs, which can also mean a course or class.
Das Seminar beginnt um neun Uhr.
The seminar begins at nine o’clock.
beginnt means begins, and um neun Uhr means at nine o’clock. Das Seminar is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Wir besuchen das Seminar jeden Dienstag.
We attend the seminar every Tuesday.
besuchen means attend or visit, and jeden Dienstag means every Tuesday. das Seminar is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuchen stands in position two.
In dem Seminar sprechen wir über Klimawandel.
In the seminar we talk about climate change.
sprechen means talk, and über Klimawandel means about climate change. dem Seminar is dative after the location preposition in; the prepositional phrase is in position one, so sprechen comes in position two.
Das Thema des Seminars ist sehr interessant.
The topic of the seminar is very interesting.
das Thema means the topic, and sehr interessant means very interesting. des Seminars is genitive because it identifies which topic; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Seminare sind oft praktisch.
The seminars are often practical.
sind means are, and oft praktisch means often practical. Seminare is plural and therefore takes die when a definite article is needed; the plural subject goes with sind.
die Studie — study; research study
A Studie is usually a formal research project or its written report. Do not confuse it with das Studium, which means a course of university study.
Die Studie zeigt interessante Ergebnisse.
The study shows interesting results.
zeigt means shows, and interessante Ergebnisse means interesting results. Die Studie is nominative because it is the subject, and zeigt stands in position two.
Forscher veröffentlichen die Studie im Sommer.
Researchers publish the study in summer.
Forscher means researchers, veröffentlichen means publish, and im Sommer means in summer. Die Studie is accusative because veröffentlichen takes a direct object; the verb is in position two.
Die Ärztin vertraut der Studie.
The doctor trusts the study.
die Ärztin means the female doctor, and vertraut means trusts. Der Studie is dative because vertrauen takes a dative object, even when the object is a thing.
Die Ergebnisse der Studie sind überzeugend.
The results of the study are convincing.
die Ergebnisse means the results, and überzeugend means convincing. Der Studie is genitive because it identifies which study the results belong to; the subject is die Ergebnisse, so the verb is plural: sind.
Neue Studien bestätigen diese Theorie.
New studies confirm this theory.
neue means new, bestätigen means confirm, and diese Theorie means this theory. Neue Studien is the plural subject, and bestätigen stands in position two.
das Studium — university studies; course of study; study; academic investigation
Studium usually means university or college study as a whole, not one individual class; one class is der Kurs or die Lehrveranstaltung. The plural Studien can also mean studies or investigations in academic and scientific contexts.
Das Studium beginnt im Oktober.
The course of study begins in October.
beginnt means begins, and im Oktober means in October. Das Studium is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich beginne ein Studium in Berlin.
I am beginning a course of study in Berlin.
beginne means begin, and in Berlin gives the place. Ein Studium is accusative because beginnen takes a direct object; the finite verb beginne is in position two.
Sie widmet sich dem Studium.
She devotes herself to her studies.
widmet sich means devotes herself to, and sich refers back to the subject. Dem Studium is dative because sich widmen governs the dative; the reflexive pronoun is also dative here.
Die Dauer des Studiums beträgt drei Jahre.
The course of study lasts three years.
die Dauer means the duration, and beträgt means amounts to or lasts. Des Studiums is genitive because it specifies the duration of what, and the neuter noun takes -s in the genitive.
Viele Studien dauern drei Jahre.
Many courses of study last three years.
viele means many, and dauern means last. Studien is the plural subject; it is different from the singular Studium, so do not add only -s.
Neue Studien zeigen ein anderes Ergebnis.
New studies show a different result.
neu means new, zeigen means show, and ein anderes Ergebnis is a different result. Studien is the plural subject, so the finite verb zeigen is plural and stands in position two.
Die Ergebnisse des Studiums sind für die Forschung wichtig.
The results of the study are important for research.
die Ergebnisse are the results, Forschung is research, and wichtig means important. Des Studiums is genitive to identify which study, while sind is in position two.
ungenügend — insufficient, inadequate
For school results, ungenügend can mean a failing or insufficient grade. It is stronger than merely saying that something is not perfect.
Die Note ist ungenügend.
The grade is insufficient.
die Note means grade or mark. The adjective is predicative after ist, so it has no ending and describes die Note.
Die Prüfung war wegen der ungenügenden Vorbereitung schwierig.
The exam was difficult because of the insufficient preparation.
die Prüfung is an exam, wegen means because of, die Vorbereitung is preparation, and schwierig means difficult. ungenügenden stands before die Vorbereitung and takes an adjective ending; wegen traditionally governs the genitive, shown here by der Vorbereitung.
Die zweite Antwort ist ungenügender als die erste.
The second answer is more inadequate than the first.
die zweite Antwort means the second answer and die erste means the first one. ungenügender follows ist as a predicative comparative, and als introduces the thing it is compared with.
Von allen Antworten ist diese am ungenügendsten.
Of all the answers, this one is the most inadequate.
von allen Antworten means of all the answers, and diese means this one. The predicative superlative uses am ungenügendsten; von takes the dative here, shown by allen Antworten.
unterrichten — to teach, to instruct; to inform, to notify
Unterrichten takes the person taught in the accusative: jemanden unterrichten. It is a weak, inseparable verb; its perfect is hat unterrichtet, not a form with a separated prefix.
Sie unterrichtet eine Klasse in Englisch.
She teaches a class in English.
eine Klasse is a class and Englisch is English. The person or group taught is accusative, so eine Klasse is accusative; the finite verb unterrichtet is in position two.
Herr Weber hat uns gestern unterrichtet.
Mr Weber taught us yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and uns means us. Uns is accusative because it is the person taught; the perfect uses haben plus unterrichtet, which goes to the end.
Früher unterrichtete er an einer Berufsschule.
He used to teach at a vocational school.
früher means formerly or in the past, and Berufsschule means vocational school. The weak past form unterrichtete is the finite verb in position two; an einer Berufsschule uses the dative for a location.
Unterrichte die Kinder geduldig.
Teach the children patiently.
die Kinder means the children, and geduldig means patiently. Unterrichte is the du imperative; the children are accusative because they are the direct object, and the subject du is omitted.
Ich unterrichtete gern, wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte.
I would like teaching if I had more time.
gern means gladly or enjoyably, and mehr Zeit means more time. Here unterrichtete is the Konjunktiv II form expressing an unreal wish; hätte is at the end because wenn introduces a subordinate clause.
Nächstes Jahr wird sie an der Universität unterrichten.
Next year she will teach at the university.
nächstes Jahr means next year, and Universität means university. The future uses wird in position two and the infinitive unterrichten at the end; an der Universität is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Bitte unterrichten Sie mich über die Änderung.
Please inform me about the change.
bitte means please and die Änderung is the change. Mich is accusative because it is the person informed, while über takes the accusative for the information; the formal imperative uses unterrichten Sie.
Der Arzt unterrichtete die Familie über den Unfall.
The doctor informed the family about the accident.
der Arzt is the doctor, die Familie is the family, and der Unfall is the accident. Die Familie is accusative as the person informed, and über den Unfall gives the information; the finite verb unterrichtete stands in position two.
die Unterrichtsstunde — lesson, class period; individual lesson; timetable period
Unterrichtsstunde is a compound of Unterricht and Stunde and means one individual class period. Its plural is Unterrichtsstunden; do not confuse it with the uncountable noun Unterricht.
Die Unterrichtsstunde beginnt um neun Uhr.
The lesson begins at nine o'clock.
beginnen means to begin and um neun Uhr means at nine o'clock. Die Unterrichtsstunde is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Der Lehrer plant die Unterrichtsstunde.
The teacher plans the lesson.
der Lehrer is the teacher and planen means to plan. Die Unterrichtsstunde is accusative because planen takes a direct object; the finite verb plant stands in position two.
Nach der Unterrichtsstunde gehen die Schüler nach Hause.
After the lesson, the pupils go home.
nach means after here, die Schüler are the pupils, and nach Hause gehen means to go home. Nach takes the dative when it means after, so the form is der Unterrichtsstunde; gehen is in position two.
Das Ende der Unterrichtsstunde ist um zehn Uhr.
The end of the lesson is at ten o'clock.
das Ende is the end, and um zehn Uhr means at ten o'clock. Der Unterrichtsstunde is genitive because it identifies which period has ended; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Heute haben wir fünf Unterrichtsstunden.
Today we have five lessons.
heute means today and fünf means five. Unterrichtsstunden is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the plural ending -n is added to Unterrichtsstunde.
Die erste Unterrichtsstunde fällt heute aus.
The first lesson is cancelled today.
erste means first and ausfallen means to be cancelled or not take place. Die erste Unterrichtsstunde is nominative, with the adjective ending -e after die; in the main clause, fällt is in position two and aus goes to the end.
Wir haben morgen eine zusätzliche Unterrichtsstunde.
We have an extra lesson tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and zusätzlich means extra or additional. Eine zusätzliche Unterrichtsstunde is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the adjective ending -e follows eine.
der Vokabeltest — vocabulary test
This compound combines die Vokabel (vocabulary word) and der Test (test). It is masculine because the final part, Test, determines the gender; the usual plural is Vokabeltests.
Der Vokabeltest ist heute.
The vocabulary test is today.
heute means today. Der Vokabeltest is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir schreiben morgen den Vokabeltest.
We are taking the vocabulary test tomorrow.
wir means we, schreiben means write or take in the context of a test, and morgen means tomorrow. Den Vokabeltest is accusative because schreiben takes the test as its object; the finite verb schreiben is in position two.
Die Lehrerin gibt uns vor dem Vokabeltest Tipps.
The teacher gives us tips before the vocabulary test.
die Lehrerin is the female teacher, uns means us, vor means before, and Tipps means tips. Dem Vokabeltest is dative because the time preposition vor takes the dative here; gibt is in position two.
Die Ergebnisse des Vokabeltests sind gut.
The results of the vocabulary test are good.
die Ergebnisse means the results and gut means good. Des Vokabeltests is genitive because it shows which test the results belong to; sind is in position two.
In diesem Monat schreiben wir drei Vokabeltests.
This month we are taking three vocabulary tests.
in diesem Monat means this month, drei means three, and schreiben means take in the context of a test. Vokabeltests is plural after drei, and the finite verb schreiben stands in position two.
vorlesen — to read aloud
Vorlesen usually has the pattern jemandem etwas vorlesen: the listener is dative and the text is accusative. It is separable in main clauses, but vorlesen stays together as an infinitive and vorgelesen stays together as the participle.
Papa liest den Kindern eine Geschichte vor.
Dad is reading the children a story aloud.
Papa is dad, den Kindern means the children, and eine Geschichte means a story. The listeners are dative and the story is accusative; liest is in position two and vor goes to the end.
Die Lehrerin hat uns den Text vorgelesen.
The teacher read the text aloud to us.
die Lehrerin means the teacher, uns means to us, and den Text means the text. Uns is dative for the listeners and den Text is accusative; the perfect uses hat and ends with vorgelesen.
Oma las uns jeden Abend ein Märchen vor.
Grandma read us a fairy tale every evening.
Oma is grandma, jeden Abend means every evening, and ein Märchen means a fairy tale. Uns is dative and ein Märchen is accusative; the strong preterite form las is in position two and vor is separated.
Lies mir bitte diese Nachricht vor.
Please read this message aloud to me.
mir means to me, bitte means please, diese Nachricht means this message. The listener is dative and the message is accusative; the imperative separates lies from vor.
Ich läse dir das Gedicht gerne vor.
I would be happy to read the poem aloud to you.
dir means to you, das Gedicht means the poem, and gerne means gladly. The person is dative and the poem is accusative; läse is the Konjunktiv II form and vor remains at the end.
Morgen wird die Schauspielerin den Kindern ein Märchen vorlesen.
Tomorrow the actress will read the children a fairy tale aloud.
morgen means tomorrow, die Schauspielerin means the actress, and ein Märchen means a fairy tale. Den Kindern is dative and ein Märchen is accusative; wird is in position two and the infinitive vorlesen goes to the end.
die Vorlesung — lecture
A Vorlesung is usually a university lecture, often with one lecturer speaking to many students. Unlike Unterricht, it is commonly a formal academic event rather than a general lesson.
Die Vorlesung beginnt um neun Uhr.
The lecture starts at nine o’clock.
beginnt means starts and um neun Uhr means at nine o’clock. Die Vorlesung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich besuche die Vorlesung jeden Dienstag.
I attend the lecture every Tuesday.
besuche means attend, and jeden Dienstag means every Tuesday. Die Vorlesung is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuche is in position two.
Nach der Vorlesung trinken wir einen Kaffee.
After the lecture, we drink a coffee.
nach means after, trinken means drink, and einen Kaffee means a coffee. Nach always takes the dative, so der Vorlesung is dative; the verb trinken is in position two after the introductory phrase.
Der Inhalt der Vorlesung war sehr interessant.
The content of the lecture was very interesting.
der Inhalt means the content, war means was, and sehr interessant means very interesting. Der Vorlesung is genitive because it identifies whose content is meant; the feminine genitive article is der.
In diesem Semester habe ich vier Vorlesungen.
This semester, I have four lectures.
in diesem Semester means this semester, and vier means four. Vorlesungen is plural and accusative because it is the object of habe; the plural ending is -en.
der Vortrag — talk, lecture, presentation
The most common collocation is einen Vortrag halten, literally “to hold a talk”, meaning to give a talk. A Vortrag is usually more formal and prepared than an ordinary Gespräch, or conversation.
Der Vortrag beginnt um zehn Uhr.
The talk starts at ten o’clock.
beginnen means to start and um zehn Uhr means at ten o’clock. Der Vortrag is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Die Studentin hält einen Vortrag über erneuerbare Energie.
The student is giving a talk about renewable energy.
Studentin means female student, halten means to give in this expression, and erneuerbare Energie means renewable energy. Einen Vortrag is accusative because the fixed expression einen Vortrag halten contains an accusative object.
Nach dem Vortrag stelle ich dem Referenten eine Frage.
After the talk, I ask the speaker a question.
Referent means speaker or presenter, and eine Frage stellen means to ask a question. Dem Vortrag is dative after nach, and dem Referenten is also dative because it is the person receiving the question.
Die Länge des Vortrags war für alle überraschend.
The length of the talk was surprising for everyone.
Länge means length, für alle means for everyone, and überraschend means surprising. Des Vortrags is genitive because it specifies the talk’s length; war is the finite verb in position two.
Bei der Konferenz gibt es drei Vorträge.
There are three talks at the conference.
Konferenz means conference and drei means three. Vorträge is accusative plural after es gibt, because es gibt always takes an accusative object; bei der Konferenz is dative after bei.
das Whiteboard — whiteboard
Das Whiteboard hängt vorne im Klassenzimmer.
The whiteboard is hanging at the front of the classroom.
hängt means is hanging, vorne means at the front, and das Klassenzimmer means the classroom. Das Whiteboard is nominative because it is the subject; im Klassenzimmer is dative after the location preposition in.
Die Lehrerin putzt das Whiteboard.
The teacher cleans the whiteboard.
die Lehrerin means the female teacher, and putzt means cleans. Das Whiteboard is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; the neuter article stays das in both nominative and accusative.
Wir schreiben auf dem Whiteboard.
We write on the whiteboard.
schreiben means write. Dem Whiteboard is dative because auf describes a fixed location here, not movement; auf takes the accusative for movement onto something but the dative for location.
Die Farbe des Whiteboards ist nicht mehr sauber.
The surface of the whiteboard is no longer clean.
die Farbe means the colour or surface, and nicht mehr sauber means no longer clean. Des Whiteboards is genitive to show which whiteboard the surface belongs to; the neuter genitive uses des and -s.
In den Räumen stehen neue Whiteboards.
There are new whiteboards in the rooms.
in den Räumen means in the rooms, and neue means new. Whiteboards is plural with the ending -s; den Räumen is dative plural because in expresses location.
die Wiederholung — repetition, revision; repeat, rerun
die Wiederholung can mean repeating something or a revision session, especially in education. It is a feminine noun with plural die Wiederholungen; the related verb is wiederholen.
Die Wiederholung hilft mir.
The repetition helps me.
hilft means helps, and mir means to me. Die Wiederholung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb hilft stands in position two, and mir is dative because helfen takes a dative person.
Ich höre die Wiederholung.
I am listening to the repetition.
höre means listen to or hear. die Wiederholung is accusative because hören takes an accusative object; the finite verb höre is in position two.
Bei der Wiederholung mache ich Notizen.
During the revision, I take notes.
bei means during or at, mache ich Notizen means I take notes, and Notizen means notes. bei always takes the dative, so der Wiederholung is dative; the finite verb mache is in position two.
Der Inhalt der Wiederholung ist klar.
The content of the repetition is clear.
der Inhalt means the content, and klar means clear. der Wiederholung is genitive because it identifies whose content it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Wiederholungen dauern nur zehn Minuten.
The revision sessions last only ten minutes.
dauern means last, nur means only, and zehn Minuten means ten minutes. Wiederholungen is plural and is the nominative subject, so it takes die when the article is included; the finite verb dauern is in position two.
Heute Abend läuft die Wiederholung der Serie.
The repeat of the series is on this evening.
heute Abend means this evening, läuft means is on or is being broadcast, and die Serie means the series. der Serie is genitive after die Wiederholung to show which programme is repeated; the finite verb läuft is in position two.
Wir sehen uns die Wiederholung morgen an.
We’ll watch the repeat tomorrow.
sehen uns ... an means watch, and morgen means tomorrow. die Wiederholung is accusative because sich etwas ansehen takes an accusative object; the separable verb places sehen in position two and an at the end.
das Zeugnis — certificate; school report; testimony; testimony
The most common everyday meaning is a school or work report. In formal or legal contexts, ein Zeugnis can also be official testimony; the context tells you which meaning is intended.
Das Zeugnis liegt auf dem Tisch.
The report is on the table.
liegt means is lying and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Das Zeugnis is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich brauche das Zeugnis für die Bewerbung.
I need the certificate for the application.
brauche means need, für means for, and die Bewerbung is the application. Das Zeugnis is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; für die Bewerbung is also accusative because für always takes the accusative.
Sie gibt dem Zeugnis eine Kopie bei.
She encloses a copy with the certificate.
gibt ... bei means encloses or adds, and eine Kopie is a copy. Dem Zeugnis is dative because it is the thing to which the copy is added; the separable verb beilegen puts bei at the end.
Die Note des Zeugnisses ist sehr gut.
The grade on the report is very good.
Die Note means the grade and sehr gut means very good. Des Zeugnisses is genitive because it means “of the report”; neuter genitive nouns commonly have the article des and an ending such as -ses.
Die Zeugnisse liegen im Sekretariat.
The reports are in the school office.
liegen means are lying and das Sekretariat is the school office. Die Zeugnisse is plural and nominative because it is the subject; im Sekretariat means in dem Sekretariat, with dative for location.
Er gibt vor Gericht Zeugnis.
He gives testimony in court.
vor Gericht means in court, and gibt ... Zeugnis is a formal expression meaning gives testimony. Here Zeugnis is used without an article in a fixed expression, while vor takes the dative for a location.
Die Frau legte Zeugnis über den Unfall ab.
The woman testified about the accident.
die Frau means the woman, der Unfall is the accident, and über means about here. Zeugnis ablegen is a fixed expression; the separable verb ablegen puts ab at the end, and über den Unfall is accusative.