Appearance
Vocab: Sport — A2 (2)
Sport vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Seil — rope; cord
Seil can mean a rope for climbing or pulling, or a cord used for tying something. In compounds, it often identifies a rope-like object, such as Springseil (skipping rope).
Das Seil ist sehr lang.
The rope is very long.
lang means long, and sehr means very. Das Seil is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Bergsteiger nimmt das Seil.
The climber takes the rope.
der Bergsteiger means the climber, and nimmt means takes. Das Seil is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object; the finite verb nimmt is in position two.
Die Kinder spielen mit dem Seil.
The children play with the rope.
die Kinder means the children, spielen means play, and mit means with. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Seil is dative; the finite verb spielen stands in position two.
Das Ende des Seils liegt im Wasser.
The end of the rope is in the water.
das Ende means the end, liegt means lies or is located, and im Wasser means in the water. Des Seils is genitive because it identifies the rope belonging to the end; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Im Kletterpark hängen viele Seile.
Many ropes hang in the climbing park.
im Kletterpark means in the climbing park, hängen means hang, and viele means many. Seile is plural after viele; because the place phrase comes first, the finite verb hängen comes before the subject viele Seile.
der Sieg — victory, win
The usual verb with this noun is einen Sieg feiern, meaning to celebrate a victory. The opposite is die Niederlage, a defeat.
Der Sieg war völlig verdient.
The victory was completely deserved.
völlig verdient means completely deserved. Der Sieg is nominative because it is the subject, and war is the finite verb in position two.
Die Mannschaft feiert den Sieg.
The team is celebrating the victory.
die Mannschaft means the team, and feiert means is celebrating. den Sieg is accusative because feiern takes a direct object; the finite verb feiert stands in position two.
Nach dem Sieg gingen alle nach Hause.
After the victory, everyone went home.
nach Hause means home, and alle means everyone. dem Sieg is dative because the preposition nach takes the dative here; the verb gingen comes directly after the opening phrase.
Die Bedeutung des Sieges war sofort klar.
The significance of the victory was immediately clear.
die Bedeutung means the significance, and sofort klar means immediately clear. des Sieges is genitive because it identifies whose significance is meant; the noun adds -es in the genitive.
Seine größten Siege feierte er in Berlin.
He celebrated his greatest victories in Berlin.
seine größten means his greatest, and in Berlin means in Berlin. seine größten Siege is plural accusative because it is the object of feierte, while er is the subject.
siegen — to win, to be victorious
siegen is a regular weak verb and takes haben in the perfect. With an opponent, it commonly uses über plus the accusative: über jemanden siegen.
Unsere Mannschaft siegt heute.
Our team is winning today.
unsere Mannschaft means our team, and heute means today. Unsere Mannschaft is the subject in the nominative, and the finite verb siegt stands in position two.
Unsere Mannschaft hat gestern gesiegt.
Our team won yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and unsere Mannschaft means our team. The perfect uses hat plus gesiegt because siegen takes haben; the participle goes to the end of the clause.
Unsere Mannschaft siegte im Finale.
Our team won in the final.
im Finale means in the final. Unsere Mannschaft is nominative, and the regular preterite siegte stands in position two.
Sieg gegen den Favoriten!
Win against the favourite!
gegen den Favoriten means against the favourite. This short command uses the du imperative Sieg; gegen always takes the accusative, shown by den Favoriten.
Wenn sie besser trainierte, siegte sie vielleicht.
If she trained better, she might win.
wenn means if, besser means better, and vielleicht means perhaps. In this unreal condition, trainierte is Konjunktiv II, but the regular verb siegte looks the same as the preterite; the verb stands at the end of the wenn-clause.
Unsere Mannschaft wird morgen siegen.
Our team will win tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and unsere Mannschaft means our team. Future I uses wird in position two and the infinitive siegen at the end; the infinitive does not become gesiegt.
der Sieger — winner, victor
der Sieger can refer to an individual or, in some contexts, a winning team. The feminine form is die Siegerin.
Der Sieger bekommt einen Pokal.
The winner gets a trophy.
bekommt means gets, and einen Pokal is a trophy. Der Sieger is nominative because it is the subject, while einen Pokal is accusative because bekommen takes a direct object.
Wir gratulieren dem Sieger.
We congratulate the winner.
gratulieren means to congratulate, and wir means we. Although the English verb has a direct object, German gratulieren takes the dative, so the form is dem Sieger, not an accusative form.
Die Reporterin gibt dem Sieger das Mikrofon.
The reporter gives the winner the microphone.
die Reporterin means the female reporter, and das Mikrofon means the microphone. dem Sieger is dative because he receives something, while das Mikrofon is accusative.
Die Rede des Siegers war sehr kurz.
The winner's speech was very short.
die Rede means the speech, and sehr kurz means very short. des Siegers is genitive because it shows whose speech it was, and this noun adds -s in the genitive.
Die Sieger feiern gemeinsam.
The winners are celebrating together.
feiern means are celebrating, and gemeinsam means together. Die Sieger is plural nominative because it is the subject; its noun form is identical to the singular, but the article changes to die.
die Siegerin — female winner, female victor
die Siegerin is the feminine form of der Sieger. Its plural is formed with -innen, as in Siegerinnen.
Die Siegerin erhält eine Medaille.
The winner receives a medal.
erhält means receives, and eine Medaille is a medal. Die Siegerin is nominative because it is the subject, while eine Medaille is accusative as the direct object.
Der Moderator begrüßt die Siegerin.
The presenter welcomes the winner.
der Moderator means the presenter, and begrüßt means welcomes. die Siegerin is accusative because begrüßen takes a direct object; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Wir gratulieren der Siegerin.
We congratulate the winner.
wir means we, and gratulieren means congratulate. German gratulieren takes the dative, so the correct form is der Siegerin, even though English uses a direct-object construction.
Die Leistung der Siegerin war beeindruckend.
The winner's performance was impressive.
die Leistung means the performance or achievement, and beeindruckend means impressive. der Siegerin is genitive because it shows whose performance is meant; the feminine noun itself does not change.
Die Siegerinnen stehen auf dem Podium.
The female winners are standing on the podium.
stehen means are standing, and auf dem Podium means on the podium. Die Siegerinnen is plural nominative because it is the subject, while dem Podium is dative because auf describes a fixed location here.
skaten — to skate
Skaten is commonly used for skating on inline skates or skateboards; Eislaufen is normally used for ice-skating. The perfect is formed with haben, not sein.
Ich skate jeden Samstag im Park.
I skate in the park every Saturday.
jeden Samstag means every Saturday, and der Park is a park. The finite verb skate stands in position two; im Park means in the park and uses the dative after in for a location.
Wir haben gestern am See geskatet.
We skated at the lake yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, der See is the lake, and am See means at the lake. The perfect uses haben with this activity verb: haben is in position two and geskatet goes to the end.
Als Kind skatet er oft auf dem Schulhof.
As a child, he often skated in the schoolyard.
als Kind means as a child, oft means often, and der Schulhof is the schoolyard. Skatet is the regular Präteritum form here; the time phrase can stand first, but the finite verb still stays in position two.
Skate vorsichtig auf diesem Weg!
Skate carefully on this path!
vorsichtig means carefully, and der Weg is the path. Skate is the du imperative, so the subject is omitted; auf diesem Weg uses the dative because it describes a location.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, skate ich jeden Tag.
If I had more time, I would skate every day.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and jeden Tag means every day. Hätte is the Konjunktiv II of haben; in the subordinate clause the finite verb goes to the end, while skate follows the conditional clause in position two.
Morgen werde ich mit meiner Schwester skaten.
Tomorrow I will skate with my sister.
morgen means tomorrow, and meine Schwester is my sister. Futur I uses werde in position two and the infinitive skaten at the end; mit always takes the dative.
das Skilaufen — skiing
Das Skilaufen is a noun made from the activity verb laufen and is normally used only in the singular. In everyday German, Ski fahren and Skifahren are also very common ways to say skiing.
Das Skilaufen macht mir Spaß.
I enjoy skiing.
Spaß machen means be enjoyable, and mir means to me. Das Skilaufen is nominative because it is the subject, while mir is dative because the expression Spaß machen says who enjoys something.
Wir lieben das Skilaufen im Winter.
We love skiing in winter.
lieben means love, der Winter is winter, and im Winter means in winter. Das Skilaufen is accusative because lieben takes a direct object; the neuter article is identical in nominative and accusative.
Beim Skilaufen trägt sie einen Helm.
While skiing, she wears a helmet.
beim means while doing something, tragen means wear, and der Helm is the helmet. Beim Skilaufen is dative because bei is hidden in beim and governs the dative; the finite verb trägt is in position two.
Die Freude des Skilaufens ist groß.
The joy of skiing is great.
die Freude means the joy and groß means great. Des Skilaufens is genitive because it specifies what the joy is about; this activity noun has no ordinary plural.
Skilaufen ist in den Alpen sehr beliebt.
Skiing is very popular in the Alps.
beliebt means popular, and die Alpen are the Alps. Skilaufen is a mass activity noun used without a plural here; as the subject, it takes the singular verb ist.
der Skisport — ski sport
Der Skisport is a mass noun for skiing as a sport, especially when discussing competitions, training, or the sport in general. It normally has no plural; use a phrase such as Skisportarten for different skiing disciplines.
Der Skisport ist in Österreich sehr beliebt.
Ski sport is very popular in Austria.
beliebt means popular, and Österreich is Austria. Der Skisport is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Viele Menschen lieben den Skisport.
Many people love ski sport.
viele Menschen means many people, and lieben means love. Den Skisport is accusative because lieben takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Sie widmet sich dem Skisport.
She devotes herself to ski sport.
sich widmen means devote oneself to something, and sie means she. Dem Skisport is dative because sich widmen governs the dative; the reflexive pronoun sich is also part of the verb expression.
Die Geschichte des Skisports ist spannend.
The history of ski sport is exciting.
die Geschichte means the history, and spannend means exciting. Des Skisports is genitive because it identifies whose history it is; the noun adds -s in the genitive singular.
Skisport verbindet Menschen aus vielen Ländern.
Ski sport brings people from many countries together.
verbinden means bring together, Menschen means people, and viele Länder means many countries. Skisport is a mass noun and normally has no plural; it is the singular subject, so the verb is verbindet.
das Spielfeld — playing field, playing area
Spielfeld is a compound of Spiel and Feld and is used mainly for sports. With a fixed location, auf dem Spielfeld uses the dative; movement onto it uses the accusative, as in auf das Spielfeld.
Das Spielfeld ist nach dem Regen nass.
The playing field is wet after the rain.
nach dem Regen means after the rain and nass means wet. Das Spielfeld is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Kinder betreten das Spielfeld.
The children enter the playing field.
die Kinder means the children and betreten means enter. Das Spielfeld is accusative because it is the direct object of betreten; the neuter article das is unchanged in the accusative.
Die Mannschaft trainiert auf dem Spielfeld.
The team trains on the playing field.
die Mannschaft means the team and trainieren means to train. Auf dem Spielfeld is dative because auf describes a fixed location here, not movement toward it.
Die Größe des Spielfelds ist vorgeschrieben.
The size of the playing field is prescribed.
die Größe means the size and vorgeschrieben means prescribed or officially required. Des Spielfelds is genitive because it specifies whose size is meant, and the neuter noun takes -s.
Die Spielfelder der Schule sind klein.
The school's playing fields are small.
der Schule means of the school and klein means small. Spielfelder is the plural of Spielfeld, and der Schule is genitive because it expresses possession.
die Sportart — type of sport; sports discipline
Sportart refers to one specific discipline, such as football or swimming. Its plural is Sportarten, not Sportarts.
Die Sportart ist sehr beliebt.
The sport is very popular.
beliebt means popular. Die Sportart is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Viele Menschen wählen diese Sportart.
Many people choose this sport.
viele Menschen means many people, and wählen means choose. Diese Sportart is accusative because it is the object of wählen; the finite verb is in position two.
Bei dieser Sportart braucht man viel Geduld.
This sport requires a lot of patience.
bei means in or with, braucht means needs, and Geduld means patience. Bei dieser Sportart is dative because bei always takes the dative; the subject man comes after the verb in position two.
Die Regeln dieser Sportart sind kompliziert.
The rules of this sport are complicated.
die Regeln means the rules, and kompliziert means complicated. Dieser Sportart is genitive because it shows whose rules they are; the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Im Verein gibt es viele Sportarten.
The club offers many different sports.
im Verein means in the club, and es gibt means there is or there are. Viele Sportarten is plural accusative because es gibt takes an accusative object; the ending -en belongs to the plural.
sportlich — sporty, athletic
sportlich can describe both physical ability and an active lifestyle. Its opposite is unsportlich, meaning not sporty or unfair in behaviour.
Meine Schwester ist sehr sportlich.
My sister is very sporty.
meine Schwester means my sister, and sehr means very. The adjective is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; learners should not add -e after sein.
Er trägt eine sportliche Jacke.
He is wearing a sporty jacket.
trägt means is wearing, and eine Jacke is a jacket. sportliche has an adjective ending because it stands before the feminine accusative noun Jacke after eine; the finite verb trägt is in position two.
Lena ist sportlicher als ich.
Lena is sportier than I am.
als introduces the person used for comparison, and ich means I. sportlicher is the comparative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; learners should use als, not wie, for an unequal comparison.
Tom ist am sportlichsten in seiner Klasse.
Tom is the most sporty in his class.
in seiner Klasse means in his class, and seiner Klasse is dative after in for a location. am sportlichsten is the predicative superlative after ist; the finite verb remains in position two.
die Sportsendung — sports programme, sports broadcast
Sportsendung is a compound of Sport (sport) and Sendung (broadcast or programme). It can refer to a recorded programme or to a live broadcast, depending on the context.
Die Sportsendung beginnt um acht Uhr.
The sports programme starts at eight o'clock.
beginnt means starts, and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Die Sportsendung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Wir sehen die Sportsendung heute Abend.
We are watching the sports programme tonight.
heute Abend means tonight, and sehen means watch or see. die Sportsendung is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehen is in position two.
Nach der Sportsendung sprechen wir über das Spiel.
After the sports programme, we talk about the match.
nach means after, sprechen means talk, and über das Spiel means about the match. der Sportsendung is dative because nach always takes dative; the finite verb sprechen is in position two even though the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase.
Die Länge der Sportsendung war überraschend.
The length of the sports programme was surprising.
die Länge means the length, war means was, and überraschend means surprising. der Sportsendung is genitive because it identifies which programme's length is meant; the finite verb war agrees with the singular subject die Länge.
Am Wochenende laufen mehrere Sportsendungen.
Several sports programmes are on at the weekend.
am Wochenende means at the weekend, laufen means are on or are being broadcast, and mehrere means several. Sportsendungen is plural nominative because it is the subject; the plural ending is -en.
der Sportverein — sports club
A Sportverein is a club where people practise a sport, often with regular training and members.
Der Sportverein trainiert jeden Dienstag.
The sports club trains every Tuesday.
jeden Dienstag means every Tuesday, and trainiert means trains. Der Sportverein is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb trainiert is in position two.
Ich besuche den Sportverein am Samstag.
I visit the sports club on Saturday.
besuchen means to visit, and am Samstag means on Saturday. Den Sportverein is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuche is in position two.
Wir helfen dem Sportverein mit einer Spende.
We help the sports club with a donation.
helfen means to help, mit means with, and eine Spende is a donation. Dem Sportverein is dative because helfen requires the dative; the finite verb helfen is in position two.
Die Mitglieder des Sportvereins treffen sich heute.
The members of the sports club are meeting today.
die Mitglieder are the members, and treffen sich means meet each other. Des Sportvereins is genitive because it shows whose members they are; sich belongs to the reflexive verb sich treffen.
In unserer Stadt gibt es viele Sportvereine.
There are many sports clubs in our town.
unsere Stadt means our town, and viele means many. Sportvereine is plural after viele; in es gibt, the thing that exists is grammatically accusative, although the plural form has no visible case ending.
das Stadion — stadium
The plural is die Stadien, with -en rather than -s.
Das Stadion ist heute ausverkauft.
The stadium is sold out today.
ausverkauft means sold out, so no tickets are left. Das Stadion is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir besuchen das Stadion am Samstag.
We are visiting the stadium on Saturday.
besuchen means to visit and am Samstag means on Saturday. Das Stadion is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuchen is in position two.
Die Fans warten vor dem Stadion.
The fans are waiting in front of the stadium.
die Fans are the supporters, and warten means to wait. Vor takes the dative here because it describes a fixed location, so dem Stadion is dative; the verb warten is in position two.
Die Türen des Stadions öffnen um sechs Uhr.
The stadium doors open at six o'clock.
die Türen means the doors, and öffnen means open. Des Stadions is genitive because it shows whose doors they are; the noun has the genitive ending -s.
Vor den Stadien stehen viele Busse.
Many buses are standing in front of the stadiums.
vor means in front of, and viele Busse means many buses. Den Stadien is plural dative after vor for a fixed location; the plural of das Stadion is die Stadien.
Im Stadion spielt heute eine bekannte Band.
A well-known band is playing in the stadium today.
im Stadion means in the stadium, and eine bekannte Band is a well-known band. Im is in dem, so Stadion is dative for a location; the finite verb spielt is in position two.
tauchen — to dive, to go underwater; to dip, to immerse
For the intransitive movement sense, tauchen normally takes sein in the perfect: ist getaucht. It can also describe scuba diving without a destination; the main learner trap is confusing it with eintauchen, which means to dip or go into something.
Ich tauche im See.
I dive in the lake.
Ich means I, im See means in the lake, and See means lake. The finite verb tauche stands in position two; in takes the dative here because im See describes a location, not movement into it.
Wir sind gestern im Meer getaucht.
We dived in the sea yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and im Meer means in the sea. For this intransitive movement sense, the perfect uses sind plus getaucht; sind is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Er tauchte schnell unter.
He quickly dived under.
schnell means quickly and unter means under. tauchte is the regular preterite in position two; unter is an adverb here and completes the idea of going under.
Tauch nicht so tief!
Don’t dive so deep!
nicht means not and so tief means so deep. The singular imperative uses the bare stem tauch, comes first, and leaves out du; nicht follows the verb.
Wenn ich besser schwimmen könnte, würde ich tauchen.
If I could swim better, I would dive.
Wenn means if, besser means better, and schwimmen means to swim. The finite verb könnte goes to the end of the wenn clause, while würde ich tauchen forms the hypothetical main clause; the infinitive tauchen stands at the end.
Morgen werde ich tauchen.
Tomorrow I will dive.
Morgen means tomorrow. Future I uses werde in position two and the infinitive tauchen at the end; ich is the subject.
Sie taucht das Brot in die Suppe.
She dips the bread into the soup.
Sie means she, das Brot means the bread, and die Suppe means the soup. das Brot is accusative because it is the object of tauchen; in die Suppe is accusative because it shows movement into the soup, and this transitive sense takes haben in the perfect.
Er hat den Pinsel in die Farbe getaucht.
He dipped the brush into the paint.
der Pinsel means the brush and die Farbe means the paint. den Pinsel is accusative as the object, and in die Farbe is accusative because it expresses movement into the paint; here getaucht pairs with hat because the verb is transitive.
das Tennisspielen — playing tennis, the activity of playing tennis
Tennisspielen is a nominalized infinitive: it names the activity of playing tennis and is written with a capital letter. It is normally used only in the singular; do not treat it like a plural noun for individual tennis matches.
Das Tennisspielen macht ihr viel Freude.
Playing tennis gives her a lot of pleasure.
macht ihr viel Freude means gives her a lot of pleasure, and die Freude means pleasure. Das Tennisspielen is a nominalized infinitive and is therefore a neuter noun; it is nominative because it is the subject.
Er liebt das Tennisspielen am Wochenende.
He loves playing tennis at the weekend.
lieben means love, and am Wochenende means at the weekend. das Tennisspielen is accusative because it is the direct object of liebt; nominalized infinitives are written with a capital letter and take the neuter article das.
Beim Tennisspielen trage ich Sportschuhe.
When playing tennis, I wear sports shoes.
beim means while doing or at the activity, tragen means wear, and die Sportschuhe means sports shoes. beim is short for bei dem, and bei takes the dative; the activity comes first, so the finite verb trage is in position two.
Die Freude des Tennisspielens ist groß.
The pleasure of playing tennis is great.
die Freude means pleasure and groß means great or considerable. des Tennisspielens is genitive because it specifies what causes the pleasure; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Regelmäßiges Tennisspielen hält mich fit.
Playing tennis regularly keeps me fit.
regelmäßig means regularly, hält means keeps, and fit means physically healthy. Tennisspielen is a nominalized infinitive used as a singular subject, so this example shows why the noun has no plural; the finite verb hält is in position two.
der Titel — title; name of a work; title, championship; rank
Der Titel is the name of a work such as a book, film, or song. It can also mean a rank or honour, for example an academic or sports title.
Der Titel des Films ist lustig.
The title of the film is funny.
der Film means film and lustig means funny. Der Titel is nominative because it is the subject; des Films is genitive and means of the film.
Ich kenne den Titel des Liedes.
I know the title of the song.
kennen means to know someone or something, and das Lied means song. Den Titel is accusative because it is the object of kenne; des Liedes is genitive and means of the song.
Auf dem Titel steht der Name des Autors.
The author's name is written on the title page.
auf means on, stehen means stand or be written, der Name means name, and der Autor means author. Dem Titel is dative because auf describes a fixed location; steht is in position two.
Die Bedeutung des Titels ist klar.
The meaning of the title is clear.
die Bedeutung means meaning and klar means clear. Des Titels is genitive because it identifies whose meaning is meant; the masculine noun adds -s in this case.
Die Titel stehen auf der Liste.
The titles are on the list.
stehen means stand or are written, and die Liste means list. Titel is the plural of Titel with no ending; stehen shows that the subject is plural.
Die Mannschaft gewinnt den Titel.
The team wins the championship.
die Mannschaft means team and gewinnen means to win. Den Titel is accusative because it is the direct object of gewinnt; the finite verb stands in position two.
Sie ist seit Jahren Titelverteidigerin und will den Titel behalten.
She has been the defending champion for years and wants to keep the title.
seit Jahren means for years, Titelverteidigerin means defending champion, and behalten means to keep. Den Titel is accusative after behalten; after the modal verb will, the infinitive behalten goes to the end of the clause.
der Torwart — goalkeeper
Der Torwart is the player who defends the goal. The compound consists of Tor, goal, and Wart, a person who guards something; in everyday sport, Torwart is the normal word for goalkeeper.
Der Torwart hält den Ball.
The goalkeeper catches the ball.
hält means catches or stops, and der Ball means the ball. Der Torwart is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb hält is in position two.
Der Stürmer sieht den Torwart.
The striker sees the goalkeeper.
der Stürmer means the striker, and sieht means sees. Den Torwart is accusative because it is the direct object of sehen; do not mistake Torwart for a feminine noun because it ends in -wart.
Der Trainer spricht mit dem Torwart.
The coach speaks with the goalkeeper.
der Trainer means the coach, and spricht means speaks. Mit dem Torwart is dative because mit always takes dative; the finite verb spricht is in position two.
Die Handschuhe des Torwarts sind nass.
The goalkeeper's gloves are wet.
die Handschuhe means the gloves, and nass means wet. Des Torwarts is genitive because it shows whose gloves they are; Torwart takes -s in this genitive form.
Torwarte trainieren jeden Tag.
Goalkeepers train every day.
trainieren means train, and jeden Tag means every day. Torwarte is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural ending is -e, not -s.
der Trainer — coach; trainer; fitness trainer
der Trainer is usually a sports coach or a person who trains others. The plural is also Trainer, and the masculine genitive is des Trainers.
Der Trainer erklärt die Übung.
The coach explains the exercise.
erklärt means explains and die Übung means the exercise. Der Trainer is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb erklärt stands in position two.
Die Mannschaft besucht den Trainer.
The team visits the coach.
die Mannschaft means the team and besucht means visits. den Trainer is accusative because besuchen takes an accusative object; the finite verb besucht is in position two.
Die Spieler danken dem Trainer.
The players thank the coach.
die Spieler means the players and danken means thank. danken always takes a dative person, so dem Trainer is dative; the verb danken stands in position two.
Das Auto des Trainers steht vor der Halle.
The coach's car is in front of the sports hall.
das Auto means the car, steht means is standing or is located, and die Halle is the hall. des Trainers is genitive to show possession, while vor der Halle is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Die Trainer planen ein neues Training.
The coaches are planning a new training session.
planen means plan and ein neues Training means a new training session. Die Trainer is plural and nominative as the subject; the plural noun has the same form as the singular, so the article is important.
Mein Trainer zeigt mir neue Übungen.
My trainer shows me new exercises.
mein means my, zeigt means shows, and neue Übungen means new exercises. mir is dative for the person receiving something, while neue Übungen is accusative as the thing shown; the finite verb zeigt is in position two.
Der Personal-Trainer korrigiert meine Haltung.
The personal trainer corrects my posture.
Personal- means personal, korrigiert means corrects, and meine Haltung means my posture. meine Haltung is accusative because it is the object of korrigiert; in the compound Personal-Trainer, the final noun determines the masculine gender.
die Trainerin — female coach; female trainer; female fitness trainer
die Trainerin is the feminine form of der Trainer, usually a woman who coaches sports or trains people. Its plural is Trainerinnen; the genitive and dative singular are both der Trainerin, so the surrounding words show the case.
Die Trainerin erklärt die Übung.
The coach explains the exercise.
erklärt means explains and die Übung means the exercise. Die Trainerin is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb erklärt stands in position two.
Die Mannschaft besucht die Trainerin.
The team visits the coach.
die Mannschaft means the team and besucht means visits. die Trainerin is accusative because besuchen takes an accusative object; the feminine article die is the same in nominative and accusative.
Die Spieler danken der Trainerin.
The players thank the coach.
die Spieler means the players and danken means thank. danken takes a dative person, so der Trainerin is dative; the verb danken stands in position two.
Das Auto der Trainerin steht vor der Halle.
The coach's car is in front of the sports hall.
das Auto means the car, steht means is located, and die Halle is the hall. der Trainerin is genitive to show possession, while vor der Halle is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Die Trainerinnen planen ein neues Training.
The coaches are planning a new training session.
planen means plan and ein neues Training means a new training session. Die Trainerinnen is plural and nominative as the subject; the ending -innen clearly marks the feminine plural.
Meine Trainerin zeigt mir neue Übungen.
My trainer shows me new exercises.
meine means my, zeigt means shows, and neue Übungen means new exercises. mir is dative for the person receiving something, while neue Übungen is accusative as the thing shown; the finite verb zeigt is in position two.
Die Trainerin korrigiert meine Haltung.
The trainer corrects my posture.
korrigiert means corrects and meine Haltung means my posture. meine Haltung is accusative because it is the object of korrigiert; the finite verb stands in position two.
trainieren — to train, to exercise
For a person or body part, trainieren can take an accusative object, as in jemanden trainieren or die Beine trainieren. For the activity itself, it is often used without an object.
Ich trainiere dreimal pro Woche im Fitnessstudio.
I work out at the gym three times a week.
dreimal pro Woche means three times a week, and das Fitnessstudio is the gym. The finite verb trainiere is in position two; im Fitnessstudio is a location phrase with in plus dative.
Sie hat gestern zwei Stunden trainiert.
She trained for two hours yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and zwei Stunden means two hours. The perfect uses hat in position two and trainiert at the end; because trainieren ends in -ieren, its Partizip II has no ge-.
Er trainierte jeden Morgen vor der Arbeit.
He trained every morning before work.
jeden Morgen means every morning and vor der Arbeit means before work. trainierte is the regular Präteritum form in position two; vor takes the dative here because it expresses a time before something.
Trainier heute nicht zu hart!
Do not train too hard today!
heute means today and zu hart means too hard. Trainier is the informal du imperative, and the subject du is omitted; nicht negates the activity.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, trainierte ich jeden Tag.
If I had more time, I would train every day.
mehr Zeit means more time and jeden Tag means every day. The wenn clause sends its finite verb to the end; here the Präteritum form trainierte also expresses the Konjunktiv II because the verb is regular.
Nächste Woche werde ich wieder regelmäßig trainieren.
Next week I will train regularly again.
nächste Woche means next week, wieder means again, and regelmäßig means regularly. werde is in position two and the infinitive trainieren goes to the end; German often uses the present tense instead when the future time is clear.
das Training — training, workout, practice
Training can mean general physical preparation or one particular workout. It is a neuter noun: das Training, plural die Trainings.
Das Training beginnt um sechs Uhr.
Training starts at six o’clock.
beginnt means starts and um sechs Uhr means at six o’clock. Das Training is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich mache heute ein hartes Training.
I am doing a hard workout today.
heute means today and hartes means hard. ein hartes Training is accusative because machen takes an accusative object; the adjective has the neuter ending -es after ein.
Nach dem Training trinke ich viel Wasser.
After training, I drink a lot of water.
nach means after and viel Wasser means a lot of water. nach always takes the dative, so dem Training is dative; the phrase Nach dem Training occupies position one, so trinke comes next.
Die Dauer des Trainings hängt vom Wetter ab.
The duration of the training depends on the weather.
die Dauer means the duration, hängt ... ab means depends, and das Wetter is the weather. des Trainings is genitive because it identifies whose duration is meant; the separable verb abhängen places ab at the end.
Diese Woche habe ich drei Trainings.
I have three training sessions this week.
diese Woche means this week and drei means three. drei Trainings is plural and accusative because haben takes an accusative object; the plural keeps the borrowed ending -s.
turnen — to do gymnastics, to do physical exercises
This lowercase verb means to do gymnastics or exercises. It is different from the capitalized noun das Turnen, which means gymnastics as an activity.
Die Kinder turnen in der Halle.
The children are doing gymnastics in the hall.
Die Kinder means the children, and die Halle means the hall or gym. The finite verb turnen stands in position two; in der Halle is dative because it expresses a fixed location.
Wir haben gestern geturnt.
We did gymnastics yesterday.
gestern means yesterday. Geturnt is the Partizip II of the regular verb turnen and pairs with haben; the auxiliary stands in position two and the participle goes at the end.
Früher turnte er jeden Dienstag.
He used to do gymnastics every Tuesday.
früher means formerly or in the past, and jeden Dienstag means every Tuesday. Turnte is the regular preterite form; although früher comes first, the verb remains in position two.
Turn vorsichtig am Reck!
Do gymnastics carefully on the horizontal bar!
vorsichtig means carefully, and das Reck is a horizontal bar. Turn is the informal singular imperative; am Reck is dative because an expresses location here.
Ich würde gern öfter turnen.
I would like to do gymnastics more often.
gern means gladly or would like to, and öfter means more often. Würde turnen expresses a wish or hypothetical plan; the infinitive turnen goes to the end.
Nächste Woche werde ich wieder turnen.
Next week I will do gymnastics again.
nächste Woche means next week, and wieder means again. Werde is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while turnen remains an infinitive at the end.
unentschieden — undecided, drawn, unresolved
unentschieden has two closely related uses: a contest can end with no winner, or a question or person can remain undecided. In sports, unentschieden spielen means to draw; it is not the same as unentschlossen, which usually describes a person's inability to choose.
Das Spiel ist unentschieden.
The game is a draw.
das Spiel means the game or match. After ist, unentschieden is predicative and has no ending; here it describes a result with no winner.
Wir sahen ein unentschiedenes Spiel.
We watched a drawn game.
sehen means to watch or see, and ein Spiel means a game. ein unentschiedenes Spiel is accusative because it is the object of sahen, and the neuter adjective takes -es after ein.
Die Lage wirkt unentschiedener als gestern.
The situation seems less settled than yesterday.
die Lage means the situation, wirken means to seem, and gestern means yesterday. unentschiedener compares the situation now with yesterday using als; after wirkt, the adjective is predicative.
Diese Frage bleibt am unentschiedensten.
This question remains the least settled.
die Frage means the question and bleiben means to remain. am unentschiedensten is the superlative after bleibt; the am form is not used directly before a noun.
Nach neunzig Minuten stand es unentschieden.
After ninety minutes, the score was level.
nach neunzig Minuten means after ninety minutes and stand es means the score was. unentschieden describes a level score; nach takes the dative, and the finite verb stand is in position two.
Die beiden Teams spielten unentschieden.
The two teams drew.
die beiden Teams means both teams and spielen means to play. Here unentschieden is used adverbially with spielten and has no ending; die beiden Teams is the plural subject.
der Verlierer — loser
A Verlierer is someone who loses a competition or game. The opposite is der Gewinner, the winner; the plural has no visible ending: die Verlierer.
Der Verlierer gratuliert dem Gewinner.
The loser congratulates the winner.
gratulieren means to congratulate, and der Gewinner is the winner. Der Verlierer is nominative as the subject, while dem Gewinner is dative because gratulieren takes a dative person.
Die Zuschauer sehen den Verlierer.
The spectators see the loser.
die Zuschauer are the spectators, and sehen means to see. Den Verlierer is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehen is in position two.
Der Trainer hilft dem Verlierer nach dem Spiel.
The coach helps the loser after the game.
der Trainer is the coach, helfen means to help, and das Spiel is the game. Dem Verlierer is dative because helfen takes a dative person; nach dem Spiel is also dative after nach.
Die Enttäuschung des Verlierers war deutlich.
The loser's disappointment was clear.
die Enttäuschung means disappointment, and deutlich means clear or obvious. Des Verlierers is genitive to show whose disappointment it is; the masculine noun adds -s in this case.
Die Verlierer bekamen eine Medaille.
The losers received a medal.
bekommen means to receive, and die Medaille is the medal. Die Verlierer is plural but has the same noun form as the singular; the finite verb bekamen is plural and stands in position two.
verteidigen — to defend, to protect; to defend an opinion or position
For physical protection, verteidigen takes an accusative object: jemanden/etwas verteidigen. It is a regular verb and forms the perfect with haben.
Die Soldaten verteidigen die Stadt.
The soldiers are defending the city.
die Soldaten means the soldiers, and die Stadt means the city. Die Stadt is accusative because verteidigen takes the thing being protected as an accusative object; the finite verb verteidigen stands in position two.
Die Soldaten haben die Stadt verteidigt.
The soldiers defended the city.
die Soldaten means the soldiers, and die Stadt means the city. The perfect uses haben plus verteidigt; the Partizip II goes to the end, while die Stadt remains an accusative object.
Die Soldaten verteidigten die Stadt die ganze Nacht.
The soldiers defended the city all night.
die Soldaten means the soldiers, die Stadt means the city, and die ganze Nacht means all night. Die Stadt is accusative after verteidigten, and the finite verb stands in position two; verteidigten is the regular simple past.
Verteidige deine Familie!
Defend your family!
deine Familie means your family. The imperative Verteidige addresses one person informally, omits du, and takes deine Familie as an accusative object.
Ich würde meine Meinung verteidigen.
I would defend my opinion.
meine Meinung means my opinion. Würde expresses a hypothetical situation, and the infinitive verteidigen goes to the end; meine Meinung is accusative because it is what is defended.
Wir werden unser Land verteidigen.
We will defend our country.
unser Land means our country. Future tense uses werden in position two and sends the infinitive verteidigen to the end; unser Land is an accusative object.
Sie verteidigt ihre Entscheidung.
She is defending her decision.
ihre Entscheidung means her decision. The phrase is accusative because verteidigen takes the opinion or decision being defended as its object, and the finite verb verteidigt is in position two.
Der Politiker hat seine Position verteidigt.
The politician defended his position.
der Politiker means the politician, and seine Position means his position. The perfect places verteidigt at the end after hat; seine Position is accusative because it is the thing he argues for.
der Verteidiger — defender; person who protects; defender in sport
Der Verteidiger can mean a person protecting someone or something, or a defensive player in sport. The feminine form is die Verteidigerin.
Der Verteidiger steht vor dem Tor.
The defender is standing in front of the goal.
steht means is standing, vor dem Tor means in front of the goal, and das Tor is the goal in a sport. Der Verteidiger is nominative because it is the subject; vor takes the dative here because the sentence describes a location, not movement.
Ich sehe den Verteidiger.
I can see the defender.
sehe means see. Den Verteidiger is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Ich helfe dem Verteidiger.
I am helping the defender.
helfe means help. Dem Verteidiger is dative because helfen always takes a dative person; the masculine article changes to dem.
Die Aufgabe des Verteidigers ist schwierig.
The defender’s task is difficult.
die Aufgabe means the task, and schwierig means difficult. Des Verteidigers is genitive to show possession, and the masculine noun adds -s.
Die Verteidiger spielen sehr konzentriert.
The defenders are playing very attentively.
spielen means are playing, and sehr konzentriert means very attentively or with great concentration. Die Verteidiger is the plural subject; this noun has the same ending in the singular and plural, so the article and verb show the difference.
Der Verteidiger stoppt den Stürmer.
The defender stops the striker.
stoppt means stops, and der Stürmer means the striker. Der Verteidiger is nominative as the subject, while den Stürmer is accusative because stoppen takes a direct object.
Unser bester Verteidiger ist verletzt.
Our best defender is injured.
unser bester means our best, and verletzt means injured. Unser bester Verteidiger is nominative because it is the subject; the adjective ending -er follows the masculine possessive determiner.
die Verteidigerin — female defender; female defender in sport
Die Verteidigerin is the specifically female form of der Verteidiger. Its plural is die Verteidigerinnen, with -innen added to the stem.
Die Verteidigerin schützt das Kind.
The female defender protects the child.
schützt means protects, and das Kind means the child. Die Verteidigerin is nominative because it is the subject, while das Kind is accusative as the direct object.
Ich sehe die Verteidigerin.
I can see the female defender.
sehe means see. Die Verteidigerin is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, the article die looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich helfe der Verteidigerin.
I am helping the female defender.
helfe means help. Der Verteidigerin is dative because helfen requires a dative person; the feminine article changes from die to der.
Die Meinung der Verteidigerin ist überzeugend.
The female defender’s opinion is convincing.
die Meinung means the opinion, and überzeugend means convincing. Der Verteidigerin is genitive to show possession; feminine nouns use der in the genitive and do not add an ending.
Die Verteidigerinnen trainieren jeden Tag.
The female defenders train every day.
trainieren means train, and jeden Tag means every day. Die Verteidigerinnen is the plural subject, formed with -innen, and the plural verb trainieren stands in position two.
Die Verteidigerin stoppt den Angriff.
The female defender stops the attack.
stoppt means stops, and der Angriff means the attack. Die Verteidigerin is nominative as the subject, while den Angriff is accusative because stoppen takes a direct object.
Unsere beste Verteidigerin ist verletzt.
Our best female defender is injured.
unsere beste means our best, and verletzt means injured. Unsere beste Verteidigerin is nominative because it is the subject; the adjective ending -e follows the feminine possessive determiner.
der Wanderschuh — hiking shoe
A Wanderschuh is stronger and more supportive than an ordinary shoe. The plural Wanderschuhe is common because hikers normally talk about a pair.
Der Wanderschuh ist bequem.
The hiking shoe is comfortable.
bequem means comfortable. Der Wanderschuh is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe einen neuen Wanderschuh.
I am buying a new hiking shoe.
kaufen means to buy and neu means new. einen neuen Wanderschuh is accusative because kaufen takes an accusative object; the adjective has the ending -en after einen.
Mit dem Wanderschuh kann ich lange laufen.
With the hiking shoe, I can walk for a long time.
mit means with, lange means for a long time, and laufen means to walk. mit always takes the dative, so dem Wanderschuh is dative; the modal verb kann is in position two and laufen goes to the end.
Die Sohle des Wanderschuhs ist dick.
The sole of the hiking shoe is thick.
die Sohle means the sole, and dick means thick. des Wanderschuhs is genitive because it shows which shoe the sole belongs to; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Meine Wanderschuhe sind nass.
My hiking shoes are wet.
meine means my and nass means wet. Wanderschuhe is plural and is the nominative subject, so the verb is sind rather than singular ist.
der Wettbewerb — competition; contest; competition
For a contest, der Wettbewerb often refers to an organised event. In business, it can also mean competition between companies.
Der Wettbewerb beginnt morgen.
The competition starts tomorrow.
beginnt means starts, and morgen means tomorrow. Der Wettbewerb is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Wir gewinnen den Wettbewerb.
We are winning the competition.
Wir gewinnen means we are winning. den Wettbewerb is accusative because gewinnen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Sie nimmt an dem Wettbewerb teil.
She is taking part in the competition.
Sie means she, nimmt ... teil means takes part, and an means in or at here. an takes the dative with participation, so dem Wettbewerb is dative; the separable part teil goes to the end.
Die Regeln des Wettbewerbs sind streng.
The rules of the competition are strict.
Die Regeln means the rules, and streng means strict. des Wettbewerbs is genitive because it identifies whose rules they are; the genitive noun adds -s.
Die Schule organisiert jedes Jahr Wettbewerbe.
The school organises competitions every year.
Die Schule means the school, organisiert means organises, and jedes Jahr means every year. Wettbewerbe is plural and accusative because organisieren takes a direct object; the plural ending is -e.
Der Wettbewerb ist spannend.
The competition is exciting.
spannend means exciting. The noun is the subject in the nominative, and ist stands in position two after the subject.
Die Firmen stehen im Wettbewerb.
The companies are in competition.
Die Firmen means the companies, and stehen im Wettbewerb means are in competition. im is short for in dem, and this fixed expression uses the dative; the finite verb stehen is in position two.
Mehr Wettbewerb senkt die Preise.
More competition lowers prices.
Mehr means more, senkt means lowers, and die Preise means the prices. Here Wettbewerb is used without an article as an uncountable idea and is nominative as the subject.