Appearance
Vocab: Sport — A1
Sport vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Badeanzug — swimsuit, bathing suit
Badeanzug usually means a one-piece swimsuit. A two-piece swimsuit is der Bikini; the plural is die Badeanzüge.
Der Badeanzug ist blau.
The swimsuit is blue.
blau means blue. Der Badeanzug is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Sie trägt einen Badeanzug.
She is wearing a swimsuit.
trägt means wears. einen Badeanzug is accusative because tragen takes the item worn as an accusative object; the finite verb trägt is in position two.
Mit dem Badeanzug kann ich gut schwimmen.
I can swim well in the swimsuit.
mit means with or in this context, gut means well, and schwimmen means swim. dem Badeanzug is dative because mit always takes the dative; the modal verb kann is in position two and schwimmen goes to the end.
Die Farbe des Badeanzugs gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the swimsuit.
die Farbe means the colour and gefällt mir means pleases me, or I like it. des Badeanzugs is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is, while mir is dative because gefallen takes the person who likes something in the dative.
Im Geschäft hängen viele Badeanzüge.
Many swimsuits are hanging in the shop.
im Geschäft means in the shop, hängen means are hanging, and viele means many. viele Badeanzüge is the plural subject; because the sentence starts with a location phrase, hängen comes before the subject.
baden — to bathe, to take a bath; to swim
baden can mean washing in a bath or swimming for pleasure, depending on the context. It is a regular weak verb and forms the perfect with haben: hat gebadet.
Ich bade jeden Abend.
I take a bath every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening. The finite verb bade stands in position two, and jeden Abend is a time expression in the accusative; learners should not put the verb at the end in this simple main clause.
Ich habe gestern lange gebadet.
I had a long bath yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and lange means for a long time. The perfect uses habe plus gebadet with haben, and the Partizip II goes to the end of the main clause.
Als Kind badete ich oft im See.
As a child, I often bathed in the lake.
als Kind means as a child, oft means often, and der See means the lake. im See is dative after the location phrase in dem; badete is the regular simple-past form and the finite verb is in position two.
Bade nicht so spät!
Don’t take a bath so late!
nicht means not and so spät means so late. The imperative puts bade first and leaves out du; nicht negates the action.
Ich würde gern im Meer baden.
I would like to swim in the sea.
würde gern means would like to, and das Meer is the sea. The Konjunktiv II phrase würde ... baden expresses a wish, with the infinitive baden at the end; im Meer is a location phrase.
Morgen werde ich im See baden.
Tomorrow I will swim in the lake.
morgen means tomorrow and der See means the lake. werde marks the future and baden goes to the end as an infinitive; im See is a dative location phrase.
der Ball — ball; formal dance, ball
The usual meaning is a ball for play or sport. In German, the plural is irregular: der Ball becomes die Bälle with an umlaut and -e.
Der Ball rollt unter den Tisch.
The ball rolls under the table.
rollt means rolls, and unter den Tisch means under the table. Der Ball is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb rollt stands in position two.
Ich werfe den Ball.
I throw the ball.
ich means I and werfe means throw. Den Ball is accusative because werfen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Wir spielen mit dem Ball.
We are playing with the ball.
wir means we and spielen means play. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Ball is dative; the verb spielen stands in position two.
Die Farbe des Balls ist rot.
The colour of the ball is red.
die Farbe means the colour and rot means red. Des Balls is genitive because it shows whose colour is meant, and the noun normally adds -s in the genitive singular.
Die Bälle liegen im Garten.
The balls are lying in the garden.
liegen means are lying and im Garten means in the garden. Bälle is plural, with an umlaut and -e; the plural subject makes liegen plural.
Sie geht heute Abend auf einen Ball.
She is going to a formal dance this evening.
heute Abend means this evening and geht means is going. Auf einen Ball uses the accusative because gehen auf expresses movement towards an event; the finite verb geht is in position two.
Der Ball beginnt um acht Uhr.
The formal dance begins at eight o’clock.
beginnt means begins and um acht Uhr means at eight o’clock. Der Ball is nominative because it is the subject, and beginnt stands in position two.
der Basketball — basketball (ball); basketball (sport)
Der Basketball can mean the ball. When it means the sport, German also uses Basketball, but that mass-noun meaning normally has no plural.
Der Basketball liegt in der Halle.
The basketball is in the sports hall.
liegen means lie or be located, and die Halle means the sports hall. Der Basketball is nominative because it is the subject; in der Halle is dative because in describes a fixed location here.
Tom wirft den Basketball zu Anna.
Tom throws the basketball to Anna.
werfen means throw, and zu Anna means to Anna. Den Basketball is accusative because it is the direct object of werfen; Anna is the recipient after zu, which takes the dative even though the article is not visible.
Ich spiele mit dem Basketball.
I play with the basketball.
spielen means play, and mit means with. Dem Basketball is dative because mit always takes the dative; masculine der changes to dem.
Die Farbe des Basketballs ist orange.
The colour of the basketball is orange.
die Farbe means the colour, and orange means orange. Des Basketballs is genitive to show which ball the colour belongs to; the sentence subject is die Farbe, so the verb is ist.
Die Kinder nehmen zwei Basketbälle.
The children take two basketballs.
die Kinder means the children, and nehmen means take. Basketbälle is plural accusative because it is the object of nehmen; the umlaut changes a to ä.
Basketball macht mir Spaß.
I enjoy basketball.
Spaß machen means be fun, and mir means to me. Basketball is the subject without an article because it names a sport; mir is dative with the expression Spaß machen.
Meine Schwester spielt gern Basketball.
My sister likes playing basketball.
meine Schwester means my sister, and gern means gladly or with pleasure. Basketball has no article because it is the name of a sport; the finite verb spielt is in position two.
die Ecke — corner; spot, area
die Ecke is feminine and has the regular plural die Ecken. For a street corner, use an der Ecke for a location and um die Ecke for around the corner.
Die Ecke ist sehr dunkel.
The corner is very dark.
dunkel means dark, and sehr means very. Die Ecke is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich sehe die Ecke vom Fenster aus.
I can see the corner from the window.
sehen means to see, das Fenster means the window, and vom ... aus means from. Die Ecke is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; sehe stands in position two.
Wir treffen uns an der Ecke.
We are meeting at the corner.
treffen means to meet, and sich treffen means to meet one another. An takes the dative here because this is a fixed location, so der Ecke is dative; treffen is in position two.
Das Café an der Ecke ist geschlossen.
The café on the corner is closed.
das Café means the café, geschlossen means closed, and an der Ecke means on the corner. The sentence does not contain a genitive use of Ecke; der Ecke here is dative after an for a location, while ist is in position two.
An jeder Straße gibt es Ecken.
There are corners on every street.
jede Straße means every street, and es gibt means there is or there are. Ecken is plural and accusative after es gibt; an jeder Straße is dative because it describes a location.
In dieser Ecke gibt es viele kleine Läden.
There are many small shops in this area.
diese means this, viele means many, and kleine Läden means small shops. In dieser Ecke is dative because in describes a location, and es gibt takes the accusative for what exists.
Wir suchen eine ruhige Ecke zum Lesen.
We are looking for a quiet corner for reading.
suchen means to look for, ruhig means quiet, and zum Lesen means for reading. Eine ruhige Ecke is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; zum is short for zu dem and introduces the purpose.
das Eishockey — ice hockey
Eishockey is the name of a sport and is normally a singular-only mass noun, so it has no ordinary plural. For one event, use ein Eishockeyspiel, an ice-hockey game.
Das Eishockey ist in Kanada sehr beliebt.
Ice hockey is very popular in Canada.
beliebt means popular, and in Kanada means in Canada. Das Eishockey is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Viele Kinder spielen Eishockey.
Many children play ice hockey.
viele Kinder means many children, and spielen means play. Eishockey is the accusative object of spielen, although the sport name has no visible article; the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Er beginnt mit dem Eishockey.
He starts with ice hockey.
beginnen means to begin, and mit means with. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Eishockey is dative; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Die Regeln des Eishockeys sind kompliziert.
The rules of ice hockey are complicated.
die Regeln are the rules, and kompliziert means complicated. Des Eishockeys is genitive because it specifies which rules are meant; the borrowed noun takes -s in the genitive.
der Fußball — football, soccer; football; football, soccer ball
The sport is usually used without an article in expressions such as Fußball spielen. The same noun can also mean a football or soccer ball; the context tells you which meaning is intended.
Fußball ist in Deutschland sehr beliebt.
Football is very popular in Germany.
beliebt means popular, and sehr means very. Fußball is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich spiele gern Fußball.
I like playing football.
spielen means to play and gern means gladly or with pleasure. Fußball is an accusative object after spielen, although its form has no visible ending; the finite verb spiele is in position two.
Beim Fußball treffe ich viele Freunde.
I meet many friends at football.
beim means at or during the activity, and treffen means to meet; viele Freunde means many friends. Fußball is dative after the contraction bei dem, and treffe remains in position two.
Die Regeln des Fußballs sind leicht zu verstehen.
The rules of football are easy to understand.
die Regeln means the rules, and leicht zu verstehen means easy to understand. des Fußballs is genitive because it identifies whose rules they are; the finite verb sind is in position two.
Viele Fußbälle liegen in der Halle.
Many footballs are lying in the sports hall.
viele means many, liegen means are lying, and die Halle is the hall. The plural is Fußbälle, with a stem change and -e; the subject is plural, so the verb is liegen, not liegt.
Der Fußball liegt im Garten.
The football is in the garden.
liegt means is lying, and der Garten is the garden. Der Fußball is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Der Junge wirft den Fußball zu seinem Bruder.
The boy throws the football to his brother.
der Junge is the boy, wirft means throws, and zu seinem Bruder means to his brother. den Fußball is accusative because werfen takes an accusative object; zu takes the dative in seinem Bruder.
das Golf — golf
Das Golf is the name of the sport and is normally used without a plural. Do not confuse it with masculine der Golf, which means a gulf or inlet.
Golf macht mir Spaß.
I enjoy golf.
macht mir Spaß means is fun for me or I enjoy it. Golf is nominative as the subject, and mir is dative because Spaß machen says who enjoys something.
Ich spiele Golf am Wochenende.
I play golf at the weekend.
spiele means play, and am Wochenende means at the weekend. Golf is used without an article for this sport; the finite verb spiele stands in position two.
Beim Golf brauche ich Geduld.
When playing golf, I need patience.
brauche means need, and Geduld is patience. Beim Golf means “when playing golf” and contains dative bei dem; ich is the accusative-free subject.
Die Regeln des Golfs sind einfach.
The rules of golf are simple.
die Regeln means the rules, and einfach means simple. Des Golfs is genitive to show which rules are meant, and sind stands in position two.
der Golfplatz — golf course
Der Golfplatz is a compound of Golf and Platz, meaning a golf course. Its plural is die Golfplätze, with an umlaut in Plätze.
Der Golfplatz öffnet um acht Uhr.
The golf course opens at eight o’clock.
öffnet means opens, and um acht Uhr means at eight o’clock. Der Golfplatz is nominative as the subject, and the finite verb öffnet is in position two.
Wir suchen einen Golfplatz.
We are looking for a golf course.
suchen means are looking for. Einen Golfplatz is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from ein to einen.
Auf dem Golfplatz trainieren viele Spieler.
Many players practise on the golf course.
trainieren means practise, and viele Spieler means many players. Auf dem Golfplatz is dative because auf describes a fixed location; trainieren stands in position two.
Die Größe des Golfplatzes ist beeindruckend.
The size of the golf course is impressive.
die Größe means the size, and beeindruckend means impressive. Des Golfplatzes is genitive because it shows whose size is meant, and ist is in position two.
Die Golfplätze in dieser Gegend sind teuer.
The golf courses in this area are expensive.
in dieser Gegend means in this area, and teuer means expensive. Die Golfplätze is the plural subject; the plural form has an umlaut and -e.
das Hallenbad — indoor swimming pool
Hallenbad is a compound of Halle, a large indoor hall, and Bad, a swimming or bathing place. It is different from Freibad, an outdoor swimming pool.
Das Hallenbad öffnet um sieben Uhr.
The indoor swimming pool opens at seven o'clock.
öffnet means opens, and um sieben Uhr means at seven o'clock. Das Hallenbad is the nominative subject, and the finite verb öffnet stands in position two.
Wir besuchen das Hallenbad am Samstag.
We are visiting the indoor swimming pool on Saturday.
besuchen means visit, and am Samstag means on Saturday. das Hallenbad is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, nominative and accusative articles are both das.
Nach der Schule gehen wir ins Hallenbad.
After school, we go to the indoor swimming pool.
nach der Schule means after school, gehen means go, and ins means into the. in takes the dative for a destination with a movement verb here, and ins is short for in das; the finite verb gehen is in position two.
Die Umkleiden des Hallenbads sind renoviert.
The changing rooms of the indoor swimming pool have been renovated.
die Umkleiden means the changing rooms, and renoviert means renovated. des Hallenbads is genitive because it identifies which changing rooms are meant; the noun takes -s and the article is des.
Die Hallenbäder in der Stadt sind sehr beliebt.
The indoor swimming pools in the city are very popular.
in der Stadt means in the city, and beliebt means popular. Hallenbäder is the nominative plural subject, while in takes the dative for a fixed location, shown by der Stadt.
das Hockey — hockey
Hockey is normally a mass noun for the sport, so it has no ordinary plural. The same word is used for the sport played with a ball or with a puck; the context tells you which type is meant.
Hockey ist ein schneller Sport.
Hockey is a fast sport.
schnell means fast and der Sport means sport. Hockey is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir spielen Hockey im Verein.
We play hockey at the club.
spielen means play and der Verein means club or association. Hockey is an uncountable accusative object after spielen, while the finite verb spielen stands in position two.
Beim Hockey trägt man einen Helm.
In hockey, people wear a helmet.
beim means in or while playing, tragen means wear, and der Helm means helmet. beim is bei dem and forces the dative; Hockey has the same visible form in the dative.
Die Regeln des Hockeys sind klar.
The rules of hockey are clear.
die Regeln means the rules and klar means clear. des Hockeys is a genitive phrase showing what the rules belong to, and the finite verb sind is in position two.
Viele Kinder mögen Hockey.
Many children like hockey.
viele Kinder means many children and mögen means like. Hockey is an uncountable object after mögen, so it normally has no plural and no article here.
die Kugel — ball, sphere; scoop; bullet
For ice cream, eine Kugel means one scoop; for a round object, it means a ball or sphere.
Die Kugel liegt auf dem Tisch.
The ball is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die Kugel is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich nehme eine Kugel Eis.
I’ll have one scoop of ice cream.
nehme means take or have, and eine Kugel Eis means one scoop of ice cream. eine Kugel is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object; the finite verb nehme is in position two.
Das Kind spielt mit einer Kugel.
The child is playing with a ball.
das Kind is the child, spielt means plays, and mit means with. einer Kugel is dative because mit always takes the dative; the verb spielt is in position two.
Die Farbe der Kugel ist blau.
The ball’s colour is blue.
die Farbe is the colour and blau means blue. der Kugel is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; with a feminine noun, die changes to der in the genitive.
Auf dem Tisch liegen drei Kugeln.
Three balls are lying on the table.
auf dem Tisch means on the table, liegen means are lying, and drei means three. Kugeln is the plural with -n; because the plural subject comes first, the finite verb liegen follows it in position two.
Die Kugel traf die Wand.
The bullet hit the wall.
traf means hit, and die Wand is the wall. Die Kugel is nominative as the subject, while die Wand is accusative because treffen takes a direct object; traf is the finite verb in position two.
Er wurde von einer Kugel verletzt.
He was injured by a bullet.
wurde verletzt means was injured. von einer Kugel means by a bullet and is dative because von always takes the dative; the passive verb phrase is in position two.
der Pass — passport; mountain pass; mountain pass
The most common meaning of Pass is passport; it can also mean a mountain pass between mountains. The plural Pässe is the same for both meanings.
Mein Pass ist noch gültig.
My passport is still valid.
noch means still, and gültig means valid. Mein Pass is nominative because it is the subject; the adjective gültig stands after ist as a predicate, and ist is in position two.
Ich brauche meinen Pass.
I need my passport.
brauchen means to need, and meinen means my in the masculine accusative form. Meinen Pass is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the finite verb brauche is in position two.
Mit dem Pass kann man nach Kanada reisen.
With a passport, you can travel to Canada.
mit means with, nach Kanada means to Canada, and reisen means to travel. Dem Pass is dative because mit always takes dative; with the modal kann, the infinitive reisen goes to the end.
Die Nummer des Passes steht auf dem Formular.
The passport number is on the form.
die Nummer means the number, steht means is written or appears, and das Formular is the form. Des Passes is genitive because it shows what kind of number it is; auf dem Formular is dative because it describes a location.
Alle Pässe liegen auf dem Tisch.
All the passports are lying on the table.
alle means all, liegen means are lying, and der Tisch is the table. Pässe is a plural nominative subject, while auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Der Pass ist im Winter oft gesperrt.
The mountain pass is often closed in winter.
im Winter means in winter, oft means often, and gesperrt means closed to traffic. Der Pass is nominative because it is the subject, and the verb ist stands in position two.
Wir fahren morgen über den Pass.
We are driving over the mountain pass tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and über means over. Den Pass is accusative because über expresses movement across a place here; the finite verb fahren is in position two.
passen — to fit, to suit; to be appropriate, to fit a situation
For size or suitability, passen takes the person in the dative: jemandem passen. With a thing that matches another thing, use zu plus dative, as in Das passt zu dir.
Die Jacke passt mir gut.
The jacket fits me well.
die Jacke means jacket, and gut means well. mir is dative because passen says who something fits or suits; the finite verb passt is in position two.
Der Termin hat mir gestern nicht gepasst.
The appointment did not suit me yesterday.
der Termin is an appointment, and gestern means yesterday. mir is dative because it names the person the appointment suits; hat is in position two and gepasst goes to the end.
Der alte Mantel passte ihm noch.
The old coat still fitted him.
der alte Mantel means the old coat, and noch means still. ihm is dative because the coat fits him; the simple-past verb passte stands in position two.
Pass mir bitte das Salz!
Please pass me the salt!
bitte means please, and das Salz means the salt. mir is dative for the person receiving something; the imperative Pass stands first, and the object das Salz is accusative.
Das passte mir nicht, aber ich sagte nichts.
I was not happy with that, but I said nothing.
aber means but, and ich sagte nichts means I said nothing. Here passte is also the form used for the hypothetical or polite meaning “would suit”; mir remains dative.
Die neuen Schuhe werden dir bald passen.
The new shoes will fit you soon.
die neuen Schuhe means the new shoes, and bald means soon. dir is dative because it names the person the shoes will fit; werden is in position two and the infinitive passen goes to the end.
Diese Antwort passt nicht zur Frage.
This answer does not fit the question.
diese Antwort means this answer, and die Frage means the question. zur Frage is zu der Frage, with dative after zu; the finite verb passt is in position two.
Der Witz passt nicht zu der ernsten Situation.
The joke does not suit the serious situation.
der Witz means the joke, and ernst means serious. zu der ernsten Situation is dative after zu; the adjective has the ending -en after the definite article.
der Pool — swimming pool
der Pool usually means a swimming pool at a home, hotel, or leisure centre. The borrowed noun forms its plural with -s, and its genitive is des Pools.
Der Pool ist im Sommer warm.
The pool is warm in summer.
im Sommer means in summer, and warm means warm. Der Pool is the masculine subject in the nominative case; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Kinder sehen den Pool.
The children can see the pool.
Die Kinder means the children, and sehen means see. den Pool is the accusative object of sehen; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Wir sitzen neben dem Pool.
We are sitting next to the pool.
sitzen means are sitting, and neben means next to. Here neben describes a fixed location and forces the dative, so der Pool becomes dem Pool.
Die Farbe des Pools gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the pool.
Die Farbe means the colour, and gefällt mir means pleases me, or I like it. des Pools is genitive after Farbe to show possession, while mir is dative because gefallen gives the experiencer the dative.
In unserem Hotel gibt es drei Pools.
There are three pools at our hotel.
In unserem Hotel means at our hotel, and drei means three. Pools is plural and is the accusative object after es gibt; the plural is formed with -s.
der Punkt — point, dot; full stop; point, score
For a punctuation mark, der Punkt means a full stop; in an argument, it can mean a point. The plural Punkte is regular.
Der Punkt am Ende des Satzes ist wichtig.
The full stop at the end of the sentence is important.
am Ende des Satzes means “at the end of the sentence”, and wichtig means important. Der Punkt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Setz bitte einen Punkt hier.
Please put a full stop here.
setz means put or place, bitte means please, and hier means here. Einen Punkt is accusative because setzen takes a direct object; the imperative setz comes first.
Ich gebe dem Punkt eine neue Farbe.
I am giving the dot a new colour.
gebe means give, eine neue Farbe means a new colour, and neu means new. Dem Punkt is dative because it is the recipient of geben, while eine neue Farbe is accusative as the thing given.
Die Bedeutung des Punktes ist nicht klar.
The meaning of the point is not clear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning and klar means clear. Des Punktes is genitive because it identifies whose meaning is being discussed; the noun takes -es in this formal genitive phrase.
Auf der Karte sind drei Punkte.
There are three dots on the map.
auf der Karte means on the map, and drei means three. Punkte is plural after drei; auf takes the dative here because the dots are in a fixed location, not moving onto the map.
Der Punkt ist noch nicht erreicht.
The point has not yet been reached.
noch nicht means not yet, and erreicht means reached. Der Punkt is nominative as the subject of the passive sentence, and ist erreicht forms the present passive state.
Unsere Mannschaft hat einen Punkt gewonnen.
Our team won one point.
unsere Mannschaft means our team and gewonnen means won. Einen Punkt is accusative because gewinnen takes a direct object; hat gewonnen is the perfect tense.
Mit diesem Sieg bekommen wir drei Punkte.
With this victory we get three points.
mit diesem Sieg means with this victory, and bekommen means get or receive. Mit always takes the dative, while drei Punkte is accusative as the thing received.
rennen — to run; to race, to run in a competition
Rennen can describe ordinary running or running somewhere. It usually takes sein in the perfect when movement is meant, but haben is also possible when the activity itself is the focus, as in Ich habe eine Stunde gerannt in some regional usage; standard learners should usually use Ich bin eine Stunde gerannt.
Ich renne jeden Morgen im Park.
I run in the park every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning and im Park means in the park. The finite verb renne is in position two; im Park is dative because in describes a location here, not a direction.
Wir sind zum Bus gerannt.
We ran to the bus.
zum Bus means to the bus, and gerannt means run. Zum is zu dem and takes the dative; sein forms the perfect because the verb expresses movement, and gerannt goes to the end.
Das Kind rannte schnell nach draußen.
The child ran quickly outside.
das Kind means the child, schnell means quickly, and draußen means outside. Rannte is the simple past form and stands in position two; nach draußen expresses movement to the outside.
Renn nicht so schnell!
Don’t run so fast!
nicht means not and so schnell means so fast. Renn is the du imperative without a pronoun, and nicht comes after the verb here to negate the command.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, würde ich rennen.
If I had more time, I would run.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and hätte means had. The wenn clause sends its finite verb hätte to the end, while würde ich rennen expresses the hypothetical result.
Morgen werde ich rennen, wenn das Wetter gut ist.
Tomorrow I will run if the weather is good.
morgen means tomorrow, das Wetter means the weather, and gut means good. Werde is in position two and rennen goes to the end as the infinitive; the wenn clause also puts ist at the end.
Die Kinder rennen um die Wette.
The children are racing each other.
die Kinder means the children and um die Wette means in a race or against each other. Rennen is in position two, and um die Wette is a fixed expression, not a normal directional phrase.
Sie ist beim Marathon drei Stunden gerannt.
She ran for three hours in the marathon.
beim Marathon means in the marathon and drei Stunden means three hours. Gerannt is at the end with the auxiliary ist because this is a completed running activity involving movement; drei Stunden expresses duration without a preposition.
der Ring — ring; finger ring; circle; hoop; ring-shaped group
In this sense, Ring is jewellery worn on a finger. It can also mean a circular object, such as a sports ring or a ring-shaped mark.
Der Ring ist aus Gold.
The ring is made of gold.
aus Gold means made of gold. Der Ring is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Sie trägt den Ring jeden Tag.
She wears the ring every day.
sie trägt means she wears, and jeden Tag means every day. Den Ring is accusative because tragen takes a direct object; the article changes from der to den.
Ich gebe meiner Schwester dem Ring eine neue Schachtel.
I give my sister a new box for the ring.
meiner Schwester means to my sister, eine neue Schachtel is a new box, and gebe means give. Dem Ring is dative because it is the item for which the box is intended in this slightly formal construction; more naturally, German usually says eine neue Schachtel für den Ring.
Die Farbe des Ringes gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the ring.
die Farbe means colour and gefällt mir means pleases me, or I like it. Des Ringes is genitive after die Farbe to show whose colour it is; the shorter des Rings is also possible.
Im Schaufenster liegen viele Ringe.
Many rings are displayed in the shop window.
im Schaufenster means in the shop window, liegen means lie or are displayed, and viele means many. Viele Ringe is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural ending is -e.
Die Kinder stehen im Ring um den Lehrer.
The children stand in a circle around the teacher.
die Kinder are the children, stehen means stand, and um den Lehrer means around the teacher. Im Ring means in the circle; in takes the dative here because it describes a fixed location, not movement into it.
Die Turner springen durch einen Ring.
The gymnasts jump through a hoop.
die Turner are the gymnasts, springen means jump, and durch means through. Einen Ring is accusative because durch always takes the accusative; the ring here is a hoop, not jewellery.
der Rollschuh — roller skate
der Rollschuh is a skate with wheels; the plural is die Rollschuhe. The compound combines rollen and der Schuh, but it is pronounced and written as one noun.
Der Rollschuh ist neu.
The roller skate is new.
neu means new. Der Rollschuh is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe den Rollschuh.
I am buying the roller skate.
Ich kaufe means I am buying. Den Rollschuh is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Das Kind fährt mit dem Rollschuh.
The child is skating with the roller skate.
Das Kind means the child, and fährt means travels or skates. Mit dem Rollschuh is dative because mit always takes the dative.
Die Farbe des Rollschuhs ist rot.
The colour of the roller skate is red.
Die Farbe means the colour, and rot means red. Des Rollschuhs is genitive because it shows whose colour is meant; the masculine noun takes des and -s.
Die Rollschuhe stehen im Flur.
The roller skates are in the hallway.
stehen means are standing or are placed, and der Flur means the hallway. Die Rollschuhe is plural; im Flur is dative because in describes a fixed location.
das Schwimmbad — swimming pool, public pool
Schwimmbad is a compound of schwimmen (to swim) and Bad (bath or bathing place). Its plural is irregular-looking because a changes to ä and -er is added: Schwimmbäder.
Das Schwimmbad öffnet um acht Uhr.
The swimming pool opens at eight o'clock.
öffnet means opens and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Das Schwimmbad is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb öffnet stands in position two.
Wir besuchen das Schwimmbad im Sommer.
We visit the swimming pool in summer.
besuchen means visit and im Sommer means in summer. Das Schwimmbad is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the neuter article das is the same in nominative and accusative.
Nach der Schule gehe ich mit Freunden zum Schwimmbad.
After school, I go to the swimming pool with friends.
nach der Schule means after school, gehe means go, and mit Freunden means with friends. Zum Schwimmbad means zu dem Schwimmbad; zu takes the dative and shows the destination.
Die Tür des Schwimmbads ist geschlossen.
The swimming pool's door is closed.
die Tür means the door, ist means is, and geschlossen means closed. Des Schwimmbads is genitive because it shows which door is meant; the neuter noun uses des and usually -s.
Im Sommer sind die Schwimmbäder sehr voll.
In summer, the swimming pools are very crowded.
im Sommer means in summer, sind means are, and sehr voll means very crowded. Schwimmbäder is plural and nominative because it is the subject; im is short for in dem and marks a time or location here.
schwimmen — to swim
schwimmen means moving through water. It takes sein in the perfect when it describes movement, but haben is also possible with a direct object.
Ich schwimme jeden Sonntag im Hallenbad.
I swim in the indoor pool every Sunday.
jeden Sonntag means every Sunday, and das Hallenbad is an indoor swimming pool. The finite verb schwimme is in position two.
Wir sind gestern zwei Kilometer geschwommen.
We swam two kilometres yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and zwei Kilometer means two kilometres. geschwommen goes to the end and uses sein because the sentence describes movement.
Als Kind schwamm er jeden Morgen im Fluss.
As a child, he swam in the river every morning.
als Kind means as a child, jeden Morgen means every morning, and der Fluss is the river. schwamm is the strong-verb past form and the main-clause verb is in position two.
Schwimm nicht so weit hinaus!
Don't swim so far out!
nicht means not, and so weit hinaus means so far out. Schwimm is the informal command for du, whose pronoun is omitted.
Ich würde gern länger schwimmen, aber das Wasser ist kalt.
I would like to swim longer, but the water is cold.
gern means gladly or would like to, länger means longer, and kalt means cold. The würde construction uses the infinitive schwimmen at the end of its clause.
Morgen werde ich im Meer schwimmen.
Tomorrow I will swim in the sea.
morgen means tomorrow and das Meer is the sea. werde is in position two, while the infinitive schwimmen goes to the end.
der Ski — ski
Both die Skier and die Ski are accepted plurals. The fixed expression Ski fahren means to ski and uses fahren, not normally gehen.
Der Ski ist sehr leicht.
The ski is very light.
leicht means light in weight. Der Ski is nominative because it is the subject, and sehr means very; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe den Ski heute.
I am buying the ski today.
kaufen means buy, and heute means today. Den Ski is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Er fährt mit dem Ski den Berg hinunter.
He travels down the mountain on the ski.
fahren means travel or ride, der Berg is the mountain, and hinunter means downwards. Mit dem Ski is dative because mit always governs the dative; den Berg is accusative for the route or direction.
Die Kante des Skis ist kaputt.
The edge of the ski is broken.
die Kante means the edge, and kaputt means broken. Des Skis is genitive to show which ski the edge belongs to, and the noun takes -s.
Die Skier stehen vor der Tür.
The skis are standing in front of the door.
stehen means stand, vor means in front of, and die Tür is the door. Skier is a plural form; vor der Tür uses the dative because it describes a fixed location.
das Spiel — game; play
Das Spiel usually means a game or an organised activity, but it can also mean a theatre play. The verb spielen can mean to play a game, play music or act in a play, depending on the context.
Das Spiel beginnt um acht Uhr.
The game starts at eight o'clock.
beginnt means starts and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Das Spiel is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Wir spielen das Spiel im Garten.
We are playing the game in the garden.
spielen means to play, im Garten means in the garden, and Wir means we. Das Spiel is accusative because it is the object of spielen; the neuter article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Die Kinder geben dem Spiel einen Namen.
The children give the game a name.
die Kinder means the children, geben means give, and einen Namen means a name. Dem Spiel is dative because it is the recipient or target of geben, while einen Namen is the accusative thing given.
Die Regeln des Spiels sind einfach.
The rules of the game are simple.
die Regeln means the rules and einfach means simple. Des Spiels is genitive because it identifies which rules they are; the noun adds -s and the article is des.
Am Wochenende machen wir zwei Spiele.
At the weekend we play two games.
am Wochenende means at the weekend, machen means do or play here, and zwei means two. Spiele is plural and accusative because it is the object of machen; its plural ending is -e.
Die Schauspieler proben ein neues Spiel.
The actors are rehearsing a new play.
die Schauspieler are the actors, proben means rehearse, and neu means new. Here Spiel means a theatre play; it is accusative after proben, and neues has the neuter ending after ein.
spielen — to play; to play an instrument
For games and sports, spielen is usually used without an article before the activity, as in Fußball spielen. It takes haben in the perfect.
Meine Kinder spielen jeden Nachmittag im Garten.
My children play in the garden every afternoon.
jeden Nachmittag means every afternoon and der Garten means garden. Im Garten is dative because in describes a fixed location here, and the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Wir haben gestern lange gespielt.
We played for a long time yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and lange means for a long time. The perfect uses haben plus gespielt at the end of the clause; learners must not put the participle directly after haben.
Als Kind spielte ich oft draußen.
As a child, I often played outside.
als Kind means as a child and draußen means outside. The weak-verb preterite spielte is in position two, while ich is the subject.
Spiel mit deinem Bruder!
Play with your brother!
mit means with and dein Bruder means your brother. Mit always takes the dative, so deinem Bruder is dative; the informal imperative leaves out du.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, spielte ich wieder Tennis.
If I had more time, I would play tennis again.
mehr Zeit means more time, wieder means again, and Tennis is tennis. The wenn clause puts the finite verb hätte at the end, while spielte expresses an unreal or hypothetical situation.
Morgen spielen wir gegen die Nachbarschule.
Tomorrow we will play against the neighbouring school.
morgen means tomorrow, gegen means against, and die Nachbarschule means the neighbouring school. Gegen takes the accusative, and the future uses werden with spielen at the end, although the present can also express a planned future.
Sie spielt sehr gut Klavier.
She plays the piano very well.
sehr gut means very well and Klavier means piano. The instrument is used without an article in this expression, and the finite verb spielt stands in position two.
Mein Sohn hat gestern zum ersten Mal Geige gespielt.
My son played the violin for the first time yesterday.
mein Sohn means my son, gestern means yesterday, and zum ersten Mal means for the first time. The perfect is formed with hat and gespielt, with the participle at the end; Geige spielen normally has no article.
der Spieler — player
Spieler can refer to a player in a sport or game. The plural has no ending: die Spieler.
Der Spieler ist sehr schnell.
The player is very fast.
schnell means fast. Der Spieler is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe den Spieler dort.
I can see the player there.
sehen means to see and dort means there. Den Spieler is accusative because it is the direct object of sehen; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Wir helfen dem Spieler nach dem Spiel.
We help the player after the game.
helfen means to help and nach dem Spiel means after the game. Helfen takes a dative object, so dem Spieler is dative even though English uses “the player” without a special form.
Das Trikot des Spielers ist blau.
The player's jersey is blue.
das Trikot means the jersey and blau means blue. Des Spielers expresses possession in the genitive; the masculine noun adds -s and takes des.
Die Spieler warten auf den Trainer.
The players are waiting for the coach.
warten means to wait and der Trainer means coach. Die Spieler is plural and is the subject, while auf den Trainer is accusative because warten auf takes auf with the accusative.
die Spielerin — female player
Spielerin is the feminine form of Spieler. Its plural is formed with -nen, giving Spielerinnen.
Die Spielerin ist heute besonders stark.
The female player is particularly strong today.
heute means today, besonders means particularly, and stark means strong. Die Spielerin is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Der Trainer lobt die Spielerin.
The coach praises the female player.
der Trainer means the coach and loben means to praise. Die Spielerin is accusative because it is the direct object of lobt; feminine nominative and accusative articles look the same.
Ich gebe der Spielerin den Ball.
I give the female player the ball.
geben means to give and der Ball means the ball. Der Spielerin is dative because it is the recipient, while den Ball is accusative because it is the thing given.
Die Schuhe der Spielerin sind neu.
The female player's shoes are new.
die Schuhe means the shoes and neu means new. Der Spielerin is genitive and expresses possession; feminine genitive uses der without changing the noun.
Die Spielerinnen trainieren jeden Morgen.
The female players train every morning.
trainieren means to train and jeden Morgen means every morning. The plural is Spielerinnen, formed by changing -in to -innen, and the plural subject takes the verb trainieren.
der Sport — sport; physical exercise; sport as a field
Sport is usually an uncountable mass noun in German, so it normally has no plural. For a particular discipline, use die Sportart or Sportarten.
Der Sport ist gesund.
Sport is healthy.
gesund means healthy. Der Sport is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich treibe Sport jeden Tag.
I do sport every day.
jeden Tag means every day. Sport is a mass noun here and has no article; it is the accusative object of treibe, and the finite verb stands in position two.
Nach der Arbeit gehe ich zum Sport.
After work I go to sport practice.
nach der Arbeit means after work, and zum means to the. The preposition zu forces the dative, so dem Sport is contracted to zum Sport; the verb gehe is in position two.
Die Bedeutung des Sports für Kinder ist groß.
The importance of sport for children is great.
die Bedeutung means importance, für Kinder means for children, and groß means great. des Sports is genitive because it identifies what kind of importance is meant; the genitive ending -s is easy to miss.
Im Sport zählt nicht nur der Sieg.
In sport, not only winning counts.
im means in the, zählt means counts, and der Sieg means the victory. Im Sport is in dem Sport, with dative after in for a general location or area; the finite verb zählt is in position two.
Sie ist im Sport sehr erfolgreich.
She is very successful in sport.
sehr erfolgreich means very successful. Im Sport uses dative after in because it describes the area in which she is successful, while ist links the subject to the predicative adjective.
der Sportler — athlete; sportsman
Sportler can mean a competitive athlete or simply a man who regularly does sport. The feminine form is Sportlerin, and the plural Sportler can refer to men or to a mixed group.
Der Sportler trainiert jeden Morgen.
The athlete trains every morning.
trainiert means trains, and jeden Morgen means every morning. Der Sportler is nominative because he is the subject, and the finite verb trainiert stands in position two.
Der Trainer lobt den Sportler.
The coach praises the athlete.
der Trainer means the coach, and lobt means praises. Den Sportler is accusative because it is the object of lobt; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Der Trainer gibt dem Sportler einen Rat.
The coach gives the athlete some advice.
gibt means gives, einen Rat means some advice, and Trainer means coach. Dem Sportler is dative because it is the recipient, while einen Rat is accusative as the thing given.
Die Leistung des Sportlers war beeindruckend.
The athlete’s performance was impressive.
die Leistung means the performance, and beeindruckend means impressive. Des Sportlers is genitive because it shows whose performance it was; the masculine noun adds -s.
Viele Sportler reisen zu den Wettkämpfen.
Many athletes travel to the competitions.
viele means many, reisen means travel, and Wettkämpfe means competitions. Viele Sportler is plural nominative because it is the subject; zu den Wettkämpfen is dative after zu.
die Sportlerin — female athlete; sportswoman
Sportlerin is the feminine form of Sportler. Its plural is Sportlerinnen, formed with -innen; unlike the masculine plural, the feminine plural is visibly different.
Die Sportlerin trainiert jeden Tag.
The athlete trains every day.
trainiert means trains, and jeden Tag means every day. Die Sportlerin is nominative because she is the subject, and the finite verb trainiert stands in position two.
Der Reporter interviewt die Sportlerin.
The reporter interviews the athlete.
der Reporter means the reporter, and interviewt means interviews. Die Sportlerin is accusative because it is the object of interviewt; with a feminine noun, the article stays die in the accusative.
Der Verein hilft der Sportlerin bei der Reise.
The club helps the athlete with the trip.
der Verein means the club, hilft means helps, and die Reise means the trip. Helfen takes a dative person, so der Sportlerin is dative; bei der Reise also uses dative after bei.
Die Medaille der Sportlerin glänzt im Licht.
The female athlete’s medal shines in the light.
die Medaille means the medal, glänzt means shines, and im Licht means in the light. Der Sportlerin is genitive because it shows whose medal it is; im Licht is dative after in for a location.
Die Sportlerinnen feiern ihren Sieg.
The female athletes celebrate their victory.
feiern means celebrate, ihren means their, and der Sieg means the victory. Die Sportlerinnen is plural nominative because it is the subject, while ihren Sieg is accusative as the object.
der Sportplatz — sports field, sports ground
Sportplatz is a compound of Sport (sport) and Platz (place or field). It normally refers to an outdoor field, not to an indoor sports hall.
Der Sportplatz ist heute geschlossen.
The sports field is closed today.
heute means today, and geschlossen means closed. Der Sportplatz is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir suchen den Sportplatz.
We are looking for the sports field.
wir means we, and suchen means are looking for. den Sportplatz is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the finite verb suchen is in position two.
Die Kinder spielen auf dem Sportplatz.
The children are playing on the sports field.
die Kinder means the children, and spielen means are playing. auf dem Sportplatz describes a fixed location, so the two-way preposition auf takes dative; the finite verb spielen stands in position two.
Die Tore des Sportplatzes sind neu.
The sports field's goals are new.
die Tore means the goals, and neu means new. des Sportplatzes is genitive because it shows whose goals they are; the finite verb sind agrees with the nominative subject die Tore.
Im Sommer sind die Sportplätze voll.
In summer, the sports fields are full.
im Sommer means in summer, and voll means full or busy. die Sportplätze is plural nominative because it is the subject; the umlaut and -e form the plural, and sind agrees with it.
der Sportschuh — sports shoe, trainer, running shoe
Sportschuh is a general word for footwear used for sport. In British English it is often trainer, while in American English it is often sneaker.
Der Sportschuh ist sehr bequem.
The sports shoe is very comfortable.
bequem means comfortable. Der Sportschuh is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich brauche den Sportschuh für den Lauf.
I need the sports shoe for the run.
brauche means need, and für den Lauf means for the run. den Sportschuh is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; für also always takes accusative.
Mit dem Sportschuh kann man gut laufen.
You can run well in these sports shoes.
mit means with, gut means well, and laufen means run. dem Sportschuh is dative because mit always takes dative; the modal verb kann is in position two and laufen goes to the end.
Die Farbe des Sportschuhs gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the sports shoe.
die Farbe means the colour, and gefällt mir means pleases me, or I like it. des Sportschuhs is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is, while mir is dative because gefallen marks the person who likes something in the dative.
Im Laden stehen viele Sportschuhe.
There are many sports shoes in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop, stehen means are standing or are displayed, and viele means many. Sportschuhe is plural nominative because it is the subject; the plural has -e and takes die when the article is used.
der Sportunterricht — physical education, PE
Sportunterricht is normally a mass noun, so it is used without a plural when it means the school subject in general. It is a compound of Sport (sport) and Unterricht (lessons or teaching).
Der Sportunterricht beginnt um neun Uhr.
Physical education starts at nine o'clock.
beginnt means starts, and um neun Uhr means at nine o'clock. Der Sportunterricht is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich mag den Sportunterricht.
I like physical education.
mag means like, and ich means I. den Sportunterricht is accusative because mögen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Im Sportunterricht spielen wir Fußball.
In physical education, we play football.
im Sportunterricht means in physical education, and Fußball means football. im is short for in dem, so Sportunterricht is dative after in for a fixed setting; the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Die Regeln des Sportunterrichts sind einfach.
The rules of physical education are simple.
die Regeln means the rules, and einfach means simple. des Sportunterrichts is genitive because it specifies which lessons the rules belong to; sind agrees with the plural subject die Regeln.
springen — to jump
Springen usually describes a movement through the air and takes sein in the perfect: ist gesprungen. With a destination, the destination is commonly marked by in, auf, or über plus accusative.
Das Kind springt auf dem Bett.
The child is jumping on the bed.
das Kind means the child, and auf dem Bett means on the bed. Das Kind is nominative as the subject; springt is the finite verb in position two, and auf dem Bett is dative because it describes a location.
Der Hund ist über den Bach gesprungen.
The dog jumped over the stream.
der Hund means the dog, and der Bach is a stream. Über den Bach is accusative because it expresses movement across; ist is in position two and gesprungen goes to the end because springen uses sein for movement.
Die Katze sprang auf den Tisch.
The cat jumped onto the table.
die Katze means the cat, and auf den Tisch means onto the table. Auf den Tisch is accusative because it expresses movement toward a place; sprang is the strong-verb preterite in position two.
Spring nicht so hoch!
Don't jump so high!
nicht means not, and so hoch means so high. Spring is the informal singular imperative; the subject du is normally omitted, and nicht follows the verb here.
Wenn ich mutiger wäre, spränge ich ins Wasser.
If I were braver, I would jump into the water.
mutiger means braver, and ins Wasser means into the water. Spränge is Konjunktiv II for an unreal condition; the verb goes to the end of the wenn clause, while ich comes after the comma in the main clause.
Morgen springt der Sportler über die Hürde.
Tomorrow the athlete will jump over the hurdle.
morgen means tomorrow, der Sportler is the athlete, and die Hürde is the hurdle. Wird stands in position two and springen goes to the end in the future; the direction over the hurdle takes accusative.
surfen — to surf; to browse the internet; to surf waves
For online activity, surfen usually appears with im Internet or im Netz. For the water sport, it can be used without an object or with auf einer Welle.
Ich surfe jeden Abend im Internet.
I surf the internet every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening, and das Internet means the internet. The finite verb surfe is in position two, while im Internet is a dative phrase with in for a location; the phrase does not mean physical surfing.
Wir haben gestern lange im Internet gesurft.
We surfed online for a long time yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and lange means for a long time. The perfect uses haben plus gesurft at the end of the clause; im Internet is a dative location phrase with in.
Früher surfte er jeden Tag im Netz.
He used to surf online every day.
früher means formerly or in the past, and das Netz means the web here. The regular past form surfte is in position two; er is the nominative subject and jeden Tag is an accusative time expression.
Surf nicht so lange im Internet!
Don’t surf online for so long!
nicht so lange means not for so long, and das Internet means the internet. Surf is the singular informal imperative and stands first; the subject du is normally left out.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, surfte ich öfter im Internet.
If I had more time, I would surf online more often.
mehr Zeit means more time, and öfter means more often. Here surfte is the Konjunktiv II form, and hätte is at the end of the conditional subordinate clause; in the main clause, ich comes after the comma and the finite verb is in position two.
Morgen werde ich wieder im Internet surfen.
Tomorrow I will surf online again.
morgen means tomorrow, and wieder means again. The future uses werde in position two and the infinitive surfen at the end; im Internet is a dative location phrase.
Meine Schwester surft gern am Meer.
My sister likes surfing by the sea.
meine Schwester means my sister, gern means gladly or likes to, and das Meer means the sea. The finite verb surft is in position two; am Meer is a dative location phrase with an.
Die Kinder haben auf den hohen Wellen gesurft.
The children surfed on the high waves.
die Kinder means the children, hoch means high, and die Welle means wave. The perfect uses haben and places gesurft at the end; auf den hohen Wellen is dative because it describes a location, not movement onto the waves.
das Team — team
Team is an English loanword used for groups in sport, work and other activities. The usual plural is Teams, pronounced with a German plural ending even though the spelling remains English.
Das Team arbeitet heute zusammen.
The team is working together today.
arbeitet means is working, and zusammen means together. Das Team is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb arbeitet is in position two.
Der Chef lobt das Team.
The boss praises the team.
der Chef means the boss, and lobt means praises. Das Team is accusative because loben takes a direct object; the finite verb lobt is in position two.
Ich helfe dem Team bei der Arbeit.
I help the team with the work.
helfe means help, and bei der Arbeit means with the work. Dem Team is dative because helfen always takes a dative object, while helfe is in position two.
Die Leistung des Teams war sehr gut.
The team's performance was very good.
die Leistung means the performance, and sehr gut means very good. Des Teams is genitive because it shows which team the performance belongs to; the noun takes -s.
Viele Teams spielen heute.
Many teams are playing today.
viele means many, and spielen means are playing. Teams is the plural of das Team, formed with -s; the finite verb spielen is in position two.
das Tennis — tennis
Tennis is normally an uncountable sport name and therefore has no plural. Say Tennis spielen for to play tennis; the sport name usually appears without an article in this expression.
Das Tennis macht mir Spaß.
I enjoy tennis.
macht mir Spaß means is fun for me, and der Spaß means enjoyment. Das Tennis is nominative because it is the subject; mir is dative with the expression Spaß machen.
Ich spiele gern Tennis.
I like playing tennis.
spielen means play and gern means gladly or like doing something. Sports are commonly used without an article after spielen, so Tennis has no visible accusative article; the finite verb spiele is in position two.
Beim Tennis brauche ich einen Ball.
When playing tennis, I need a ball.
beim means while doing or at the activity, brauchen means need, and der Ball means ball. beim is short for bei dem, and bei takes the dative; the activity comes first, so the finite verb brauche is in position two.
Die Regeln des Tennis sind einfach.
The rules of tennis are simple.
die Regeln means the rules and einfach means simple. des Tennis is genitive because it specifies which rules are meant; the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Viele Kinder lernen Tennis.
Many children learn tennis.
viele Kinder means many children, and lernen means learn. This example shows that Tennis is normally uncountable and has no plural; the plural subject viele Kinder makes the verb lernen plural.
das Turnen — gymnastics, physical exercise
das Turnen is the activity of doing gymnastics or physical exercises. It is a mass noun, so it normally has no plural; do not use lowercase turnen, which is the related verb.
Turnen macht mir Spaß.
I enjoy gymnastics.
Spaß means fun or enjoyment, and mir means to me. Turnen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb macht is in position two; mir is dative with the expression Spaß machen.
Ich mag Turnen in der Schule.
I like gymnastics at school.
mögen means to like, and in der Schule means at school. Turnen is the accusative object of mag, while in der Schule is dative because it describes a fixed location; the finite verb mag stands in position two.
Beim Turnen trage ich bequeme Kleidung.
I wear comfortable clothes during gymnastics.
beim means during the, trage means wear, and bequeme Kleidung means comfortable clothing. beim is a contraction of bei dem and forces the dative, so Turnen is dative; the finite verb trage is in position two.
Die Regeln des Turnens sind einfach.
The rules of gymnastics are simple.
die Regeln means the rules, sind means are, and einfach means simple. des Turnens is genitive because it identifies whose rules they are, and the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Wir machen heute Turnen.
We are doing gymnastics today.
wir means we, machen means do, and heute means today. Turnen is a mass noun and normally has no plural; it is the activity after Turnen machen, while machen is in position two.
der Turner — male gymnast
der Turner means a male gymnast. The feminine form is die Turnerin, and the plural is die Turner, with no ending change.
Der Turner trainiert jeden Tag.
The gymnast trains every day.
trainiert means trains, and jeden Tag means every day. Der Turner is nominative because he is the subject, and the finite verb trainiert stands in position two.
Ich sehe den Turner.
I see the gymnast.
sehen means to see. den Turner is accusative because sehen takes an accusative object; the masculine article changes from der to den, while sehe is in position two.
Ich gratuliere dem Turner.
I congratulate the gymnast.
gratulieren means to congratulate. It takes a dative person, so dem Turner is dative; the finite verb gratuliere stands in position two.
Die Leistung des Turners war beeindruckend.
The gymnast's performance was impressive.
die Leistung means the performance, war means was, and beeindruckend means impressive. des Turners is genitive because it shows possession, and the masculine noun adds -s in the genitive singular.
Die Turner beginnen den Wettkampf.
The gymnasts begin the competition.
beginnen means begin, and der Wettkampf means the competition. Die Turner is the plural subject; its form is unchanged from the singular, and beginnen is in position two.
die Turnhalle — gymnasium, sports hall
die Turnhalle is a hall for school sport, gymnastics or similar activities. It is a compound of turnen, to do gymnastics, and die Halle, hall; its plural is die Turnhallen.
Die Turnhalle ist groß.
The gymnasium is large.
groß means large. Die Turnhalle is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir reinigen die Turnhalle.
We clean the gymnasium.
reinigen means clean. die Turnhalle is accusative because reinigen takes an accusative object; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Die Kinder spielen in der Turnhalle.
The children play in the gymnasium.
die Kinder means the children, and spielen means play. in der Turnhalle describes a fixed location, so in takes the dative; the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Das Dach der Turnhalle ist neu.
The roof of the gymnasium is new.
das Dach means the roof and neu means new. der Turnhalle is genitive because it identifies whose roof it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
In unserer Stadt gibt es zwei Turnhallen.
There are two gymnasiums in our town.
unsere Stadt means our town, gibt es means there are, and zwei means two. Turnhallen is plural after zwei; in unserer Stadt is dative because it describes location.
verlieren — to lose
This strong verb takes an accusative object. It can refer to losing a physical object, or to losing something abstract such as Zeit, Geduld or a competition.
Er verliert oft seine Schlüssel.
He often loses his keys.
oft means often, and der Schlüssel is the key. Seine Schlüssel is accusative because verlieren takes a direct object; the finite verb verliert stands in position two.
Ich habe meinen Geldbeutel verloren.
I have lost my wallet.
der Geldbeutel is the wallet, and mein means my. The perfect uses habe plus verloren at the end; meinen Geldbeutel is accusative because it is the object of verlieren.
Sie verlor ihr Handy im Zug.
She lost her mobile phone on the train.
das Handy is the mobile phone, and der Zug is the train. Verlor is the strong preterite form; ihr Handy is accusative, while im Zug means in dem Zug and shows location in the dative.
Verlier nicht deinen Ausweis!
Do not lose your identity card!
nicht means not, and der Ausweis is the identity card. The du imperative is verlier; deinen Ausweis is accusative because it is the direct object.
Ich würde meinen Platz nur ungern verlieren.
I would be reluctant to lose my place.
der Platz means place or seat, and nur ungern means reluctantly. Würde plus the infinitive expresses a hypothetical situation; meinen Platz is accusative after verlieren.
Wir werden keine Zeit verlieren.
We will not lose any time.
keine Zeit means no time. In the future, werden is in position two and the infinitive verlieren goes to the end; keine Zeit is accusative as the direct object.
der Volleyball — volleyball (the sport); volleyball (the ball)
As a sport, Volleyball is normally used without an article, as in Volleyball spielen. As a physical ball, it can be counted and has the plurals Volleyballs and Volleybälle.
Wir spielen heute Volleyball.
We are playing volleyball today.
heute means today. Volleyball is the name of the sport and is normally used without an article here; the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Ich spiele gern Volleyball.
I like playing volleyball.
gern means gladly or enjoy doing something. Volleyball is used without an article as the sport being played, and the finite verb spiele stands in position two.
Nach der Schule spielen wir Volleyball.
We play volleyball after school.
nach der Schule means after school. The preposition nach takes the dative, while Volleyball names the activity without an article; the verb spielen remains in position two.
Die Regeln des Volleyballs sind einfach.
The rules of volleyball are simple.
die Regeln means the rules and einfach means simple. des Volleyballs is genitive because it identifies whose rules they are, and the plural subject die Regeln makes sind the finite verb in position two.
Im Sommer spielen viele Kinder Volleyball.
In summer, many children play volleyball.
im Sommer means in summer, and viele Kinder means many children. The sport name Volleyball usually has no plural when it means the activity, and spielen is in position two.
Der Volleyball liegt auf dem Rasen.
The volleyball is lying on the lawn.
liegt means is lying, and der Rasen is the lawn. Der Volleyball is the nominative subject, while auf dem Rasen uses the dative because it describes a fixed location.
Bitte gib mir den Volleyball.
Please give me the volleyball.
gib means give, bitte means please, and mir means to me. den Volleyball is accusative because geben takes the thing given as an accusative object; the imperative comes first.
wandern — to hike, to go walking
Wandern usually means walking for pleasure in nature, especially in the hills or mountains. In the perfect, use sein when the verb describes movement from place to place: ist gewandert; hat gewandert is also possible when the activity itself is emphasised.
Wir wandern jeden Sonntag im Wald.
We go hiking in the forest every Sunday.
wir means we, jeden Sonntag means every Sunday, and im Wald means in the forest. The finite verb wandern is in position two; im Wald is dative because in describes a location here.
Wir sind gestern fünf Stunden gewandert.
Yesterday we hiked for five hours.
gestern means yesterday and fünf Stunden means five hours. The perfect uses sind plus gewandert because this is movement; the auxiliary is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Früher wanderte ich oft mit meinem Vater.
I often went hiking with my father in the past.
früher means in the past, oft means often, and mit meinem Vater means with my father. Wanderte is the regular preterite form; mit forces the dative, shown by meinem Vater.
Wandere nicht allein im Dunkeln!
Do not hike alone in the dark!
nicht allein means not alone, and im Dunkeln means in the dark. Wandere is the singular command form; the negative word nicht comes before the place expression, and the subject pronoun du is omitted.
Ich würde gern durch die Alpen wandern.
I would like to hike through the Alps.
ich würde gern means I would like to, durch means through, and die Alpen means the Alps. Durch takes the accusative, so die Alpen has the accusative plural form; after würde, the infinitive wandern goes to the end.
Nächstes Jahr werden wir in Norwegen wandern.
Next year we will hike in Norway.
nächstes Jahr means next year and in Norwegen means in Norway. Future tense uses werden in position two and places the infinitive wandern at the end; in Norwegen is dative because it expresses location.
die Übung — exercise; practice
Übung can mean one exercise in a book or a practice session. The verb üben means to practise, while eine Übung machen means to do an exercise.
Die Übung ist leicht.
The exercise is easy.
leicht means easy. Die Übung is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two; the adjective leicht is predicative after sein and therefore has no ending.
Ich mache die Übung jeden Abend.
I do the exercise every evening.
mache means do and jeden Abend means every evening. Die Übung is accusative because machen takes an accusative object; the finite verb mache stands in position two.
Der Lehrer hilft mir bei der Übung.
The teacher helps me with the exercise.
Lehrer means teacher and hilft means helps. Bei always takes the dative, so der Übung is feminine dative; mir is also dative because helfen requires a dative person.
Die Lösung der Übung steht an der Tafel.
The solution to the exercise is on the board.
Lösung means solution, steht means is written or stands, and Tafel means board. Der Übung is genitive because it identifies which solution is meant; steht is the finite verb in position two.
Wir machen heute drei Übungen.
We are doing three exercises today.
heute means today and drei means three. Übungen is plural and accusative because machen takes an accusative object; the plural has -en, and the finite verb machen is in position two.
üben — to practise; to rehearse
üben takes an accusative object for the skill, subject, or material being practised. Its perfect uses haben, and the verb can describe both regular training and rehearsing a performance.
Ich übe jeden Abend Klavier.
I practise the piano every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening, and Klavier means piano. The finite verb übe is in position two, and Klavier is an accusative object because üben takes the thing being practised.
Wir haben für die Prüfung geübt.
We practised for the exam.
für die Prüfung means for the exam, and Prüfung is an exam. The preposition für takes the accusative, while haben is in position two and geübt goes to the end of the clause.
Sie übte die neuen Wörter.
She practised the new words.
die neuen Wörter means the new words. The weak past form übte is in position two, and die neuen Wörter is accusative because it is what she practised.
Üb die Aussprache!
Practise the pronunciation!
die Aussprache means the pronunciation. Üb is the short du imperative and comes first; the noun is accusative because it is the object of üben, and the subject du is left out.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, übte ich jeden Tag.
If I had more time, I would practise every day.
mehr Zeit means more time, and jeden Tag means every day. In the wenn clause, the finite verb hätte goes to the end; übte expresses the unreal result and stands in position two in the main clause.
Ich werde morgen für den Test üben.
I will practise for the test tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and der Test means the test. The auxiliary werde is in position two and the infinitive üben goes to the end; für den Test is accusative after für.