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Vocab: Thinking & opinion — A1
Thinking & opinion vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Beispiel — example; model; role model
The fixed expression zum Beispiel means “for example”; zum is a contraction of zu dem. Do not confuse Beispiel with beispielsweise, which is an adverb meaning “for example”.
Das Beispiel ist einfach.
The example is easy.
einfach means easy or simple. Das Beispiel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich verstehe das Beispiel.
I understand the example.
ich means I and verstehe means understand. Das Beispiel is accusative because verstehen takes a direct object, while the finite verb verstehe is in position two.
Die Lehrerin erklärt dem Beispiel eine Regel.
The teacher explains a rule using the example.
die Lehrerin is the female teacher, erklärt means explains, and eine Regel is a rule. Dem Beispiel is dative because it is the reference point for the explanation; eine Regel is accusative, and erklärt stands in position two.
Die Bedeutung des Beispiels ist klar.
The meaning of the example is clear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning and klar means clear. Des Beispiels is genitive because it tells us whose meaning it is, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Text enthält viele Beispiele.
The text contains many examples.
der Text means the text, enthält means contains, and viele means many. Viele Beispiele is plural accusative because it is the object of enthält; the finite verb enthält stands in position two.
Sie ist ein gutes Beispiel für ihre Kinder.
She is a good role model for her children.
sie means she, gut means good, and ihre Kinder means her children. Für takes the accusative, so ihre Kinder is accusative; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Er gibt den jüngeren Spielern ein Beispiel.
He sets an example for the younger players.
jüngeren Spielern means younger players and gibt means gives or sets. Den jüngeren Spielern is dative because they receive the example, while ein Beispiel is accusative; the finite verb gibt is in position two.
blöd — stupid, silly, annoying
Blöd is common and informal but not vulgar. Depending on context, it can mean “stupid”, “silly”, or simply “annoying”; Das ist blöd often means “That’s annoying.”
Der Film ist blöd.
The film is stupid.
Film means film or movie. Blöd is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist eine blöde Idee.
That is a stupid idea.
Idee means idea. Blöde stands before the feminine noun Idee after the indefinite article eine, so it takes the adjective ending -e; ist remains the finite verb in position two.
Diese Aufgabe ist blöder als die letzte.
This task is sillier than the last one.
Aufgabe means task and letzte means last. Blöder compares this task with the previous one using als; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Das war die blödste Antwort von allen.
That was the stupidest answer of all.
Antwort means answer and von allen means of all of them. Blödste comes before the feminine noun Antwort after die, so it takes -e; the superlative is not the same as the predicate form am blödesten.
dumm — stupid, silly, foolish
Dumm can describe a person, a thing, or an unwise action, but calling a person dumm can sound insulting. Its comparison is irregular in the vowel: dumm – dümmer – am dümmsten.
Die Idee ist dumm.
The idea is stupid.
Die Idee means the idea, and ist means is. Dumm is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the verb ist stands in position two.
Er hat einen dummen Fehler gemacht.
He made a stupid mistake.
Er means he, einen Fehler means a mistake, and gemacht means made. Dummen comes before the noun and has an ending because it is attributive; einen dummen Fehler is accusative, and hat gemacht forms the perfect.
Diese Antwort ist dümmer als die vorige.
This answer is sillier than the previous one.
Diese Antwort means this answer, and die vorige means the previous one. Dümmer is predicative after ist, and als introduces the thing it is compared with; do not use wie for this unequal comparison.
Das war die dümmste Entscheidung des Tages.
That was the silliest decision of the day.
Das war means that was, die Entscheidung means the decision, and des Tages means of the day. Before the noun, the superlative is dümmste with an adjective ending; des Tages is genitive to show whose day.
das Ergebnis — result, outcome
The plural Ergebnisse is used for several results, including test or calculation results. The genitive form is des Ergebnisses, with -ses at the end.
Das Ergebnis ist sehr gut.
The result is very good.
sehr gut means very good. Das Ergebnis is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kenne das Ergebnis.
I know the result.
kenne means know. Das Ergebnis is accusative because kennen takes a direct object, while the finite verb kenne is in position two.
Wir vertrauen dem Ergebnis nicht.
We do not trust the result.
vertrauen means trust, and nicht means not. Dem Ergebnis is dative because vertrauen governs the dative; the finite verb vertrauen is in position two.
Die Bedeutung des Ergebnisses ist klar.
The meaning of the result is clear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning, and klar means clear. Des Ergebnisses is genitive because it identifies whose meaning it is, and the genitive noun ends in -ses.
Die Ergebnisse sind heute da.
The results are here today.
heute means today, and da means here or available. Die Ergebnisse is plural and therefore takes sind, not ist; the plural is formed with -e.
falsch — wrong, incorrect; false; false, fake; dishonest
falsch is the opposite of richtig, “correct”. It can describe an answer, information, or a statement; after sein, it normally has no adjective ending.
Deine Antwort ist falsch.
Your answer is wrong.
deine Antwort means “your answer”. falsch says that the answer is wrong and stands after ist as a predicative adjective, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Er hat eine falsche Adresse aufgeschrieben.
He wrote down a wrong address.
aufgeschrieben means “written down”, and die Adresse is the address. eine falsche Adresse is accusative because aufschreiben takes a direct object; the adjective gets -e after eine, while the participle aufgeschrieben goes to the end.
Diese Rechnung ist falscher als die andere.
This calculation is more incorrect than the other one.
diese Rechnung means “this calculation”, and die andere means “the other one”. falscher is followed by als in a comparison; it is predicative after ist and therefore has no adjective ending.
Von allen Erklärungen war diese am falschesten.
Of all the explanations, this one was the most wrong.
von allen Erklärungen means “of all the explanations”, and diese means “this one”. von takes the dative, and am falschesten is the predicative superlative; the finite verb war is in position two.
Der Betrüger benutzte einen falschen Namen.
The fraudster used a false name.
der Betrüger is the fraudster, benutzte means “used”, and der Name is the name. einen falschen Namen is accusative because benutzen takes a direct object; the adjective has -en after einen.
Sie machte ihm falsche Versprechen.
She made him false promises.
machte means “made”, and Versprechen are promises. ihm is dative because jemandem etwas versprechen gives the person the dative and the thing the accusative; falsche Versprechen is the accusative object.
der Fehler — mistake, error
Fehler can describe a small everyday mistake or a technical error. The plural is unchanged: der Fehler, die Fehler; do not confuse it with fehlen, which is a verb meaning to be missing.
Der Fehler ist klein.
The mistake is small.
klein means small. Der Fehler is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe den Fehler.
I see the mistake.
sehen means to see. Den Fehler is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Der Lehrer erklärt mir den Fehler.
The teacher explains the mistake to me.
der Lehrer is the teacher, and erklären means to explain. Mir is dative because it is the person receiving the explanation, while den Fehler is accusative as the thing explained.
Die Ursache des Fehlers ist klar.
The cause of the mistake is clear.
die Ursache means the cause, and klar means clear. Des Fehlers is genitive because it identifies the cause of what; the masculine noun takes -s after des.
Wir machen oft kleine Fehler.
We often make small mistakes.
oft means often, klein means small, and machen means to make or do. Fehler is plural after kleine, and it is accusative because the fixed expression Fehler machen takes the mistakes as its direct object.
das Gegenteil — opposite, contrary
The pattern das Gegenteil von takes von plus the dative when you name what something is opposite to.
Das Gegenteil von „heiß“ ist „kalt“.
The opposite of “hot” is “cold”.
heiß means hot and kalt means cold. Das Gegenteil is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich meine das Gegenteil.
I mean the opposite.
meine means mean or intend. Das Gegenteil is accusative because meinen takes a direct object, and the finite verb meine is in position two.
Sie hat mir das Gegenteil gesagt.
She told me the opposite.
gesagt means told or said, and mir means to me. Mir is dative as the person receiving the information, while das Gegenteil is accusative; hat gesagt forms the perfect, with the participle at the end.
Die Wirkung war das Gegenteil des erwarteten Ergebnisses.
The effect was the opposite of the expected result.
die Wirkung is the effect and das erwartete Ergebnis is the expected result. Des erwarteten Ergebnisses is genitive because it specifies what the opposite relates to, and the noun takes -es in the genitive.
Die beiden Gegenteile treffen sich selten.
The two opposites rarely meet.
beiden means two and selten means rarely. Die beiden Gegenteile is plural nominative because it is the subject; the plural ending is -e and the verb is treffen.
die Idee — idea; thought or plan
Idee means a thought or plan, often one suggesting something to do. The plural is Ideen; do not use the English plural ending -s.
Die Idee ist gut.
The idea is good.
gut means good. Die Idee is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich habe eine Idee.
I have an idea.
haben means to have, and eine means an or one. Eine Idee is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the finite verb habe is in position two.
Wir sprechen über die Idee.
We are talking about the idea.
sprechen means to talk or speak, and über means about here. Über takes the accusative when it means about a topic, so die Idee is accusative, not dative.
Der Erfolg der Idee überrascht mich.
The success of the idea surprises me.
der Erfolg means the success, überrascht means surprises, and mich means me. Der Idee is genitive because it shows which idea the success belongs to; the finite verb überrascht is in position two.
Gute Ideen helfen oft.
Good ideas often help.
gute means good, helfen means help, and oft means often. Gute Ideen is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural noun takes -n and the adjective takes -e.
intelligent — intelligent, clever
This is the normal word for a person who learns and understands quickly. Its comparative and superlative are regular: intelligenter, am intelligentesten.
Meine Schwester ist intelligent.
My sister is intelligent.
meine Schwester means my sister. The adjective is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Das ist ein intelligentes Kind.
That is an intelligent child.
das means that and ein Kind means a child. intelligentes stands before the neuter noun Kind after ein, so it takes the ending -es.
Lena ist intelligenter als ihr Bruder.
Lena is more intelligent than her brother.
als introduces the comparison, and ihr Bruder means her brother. intelligenter is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; use als, not wie, for an unequal comparison.
Von allen Kindern ist Mia am intelligentesten.
Of all the children, Mia is the most intelligent.
von allen Kindern means of all the children. am intelligentesten is the superlative after ist; the ending -sten is part of the am-form.
kennen — to know, to be familiar with
Kennen is used for familiarity with people, places, or things; it does not normally mean knowing a fact, which is wissen. It is a mixed verb: kennen – kannte – hat gekannt, and it takes an accusative object.
Ich kenne deine Schwester.
I know your sister.
deine Schwester means your sister. The object is accusative because kennen takes an accusative object, and the finite verb kenne stands in position two.
Wir haben den neuen Lehrer gekannt.
We knew the new teacher.
den neuen Lehrer means the new teacher. Gekannt is the Partizip II and pairs with haben; the auxiliary haben is in position two and gekannt goes to the end.
Früher kannte er jedes Café hier.
He used to know every café here.
früher means formerly, jedes Café means every café, and hier means here. Kannte is the simple past of kennen; it stands in position two, while jedes Café is accusative.
Kennst du diesen Mann?
Do you know this man?
diesen Mann means this man. The question uses the form kennst rather than the bare imperative; diesen Mann is accusative because kennen takes a direct object.
Wenn ich sie besser kennte, würde ich sie einladen.
If I knew her better, I would invite her.
besser means better and einladen means invite. Kennte is Konjunktiv II for an unreal or hypothetical situation; it stands at the end of the wenn clause, and sie is accusative.
Du wirst die Gegend bald kennen.
You will soon know the area.
die Gegend means the area and bald means soon. Wirst is the finite form of werden in position two, while the infinitive kennen goes to the end; die Gegend is accusative.
klar — clearly; of course, certainly
As an adverb, klar does not take an adjective ending: say klar, not klare, when it modifies a verb or a whole sentence. At the beginning of a sentence, it often means “of course.”
Klar, ich helfe dir.
Of course, I’ll help you.
ich helfe dir means I’ll help you, with dir meaning you in the dative. At the start, klar means of course; the finite verb helfe is in position two, and dir is dative because helfen takes a dative person.
Jetzt sehe ich das Problem klar.
Now I can see the problem clearly.
jetzt means now and das Problem means the problem. Here klar is an adverb meaning clearly; das Problem is accusative because sehen takes an accusative object, and the finite verb sehe is in position two.
klug — clever, intelligent; wise
Klug describes intelligence, while in some contexts it means sensible or wise. Its comparison is irregular: klug – klüger – am klügsten.
Meine Schwester ist klug.
My sister is clever.
meine Schwester means my sister and ist means is. Klug is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist ein kluges Kind.
That is a clever child.
das means that and das Kind is the child. Kluges stands before the neuter noun Kind and takes -es after ein; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Anna ist klüger als ihr Bruder.
Anna is cleverer than her brother.
ihr Bruder means her brother. Klüger compares Anna with her brother and has an umlaut plus -er; als introduces the second part of the comparison.
Von allen Schülern ist Mia am klügsten.
Of all the pupils, Mia is the cleverest.
von allen Schülern means of all the pupils, and alle means all. Am klügsten is the predicative superlative; von takes the dative, and the finite verb ist remains in position two.
Ein kluger Arzt hört zuerst gut zu.
A clever doctor listens carefully first.
ein Arzt is a doctor, zuerst means first, and gut zuhören means listen carefully. Kluger has the masculine nominative ending -er after ein; the separable verb hört ... zu has its finite part in position two and its prefix at the end.
Du wärst klüger, wenn du vorher fragtest.
You would be wiser if you asked beforehand.
w wärst means would be, vorher means beforehand, and fragtest means asked. Klüger is a comparative adjective without an ending after wärst; in the wenn clause, the finite verb fragtest goes to the end.
der Plan — plan; intention; plan; drawing or scheme
The plural Pläne has an umlaut and -e. In the expression einen Plan haben, the plan can mean an intention, not only a written schedule.
Der Plan ist einfach.
The plan is simple.
ist einfach means is simple. Der Plan is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is the finite verb in position two.
Wir machen den Plan heute.
We are making the plan today.
machen means make and heute means today. Den Plan is accusative because machen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Nach dem Plan arbeiten wir.
We work according to the plan.
nach means according to or after, and arbeiten means work. Nach always takes the dative, so dem Plan is dative; the verb comes after the first phrase in position two.
Die Umsetzung des Plans dauert lange.
Implementing the plan takes a long time.
die Umsetzung means the implementation and dauert lange means takes a long time. Des Plans is genitive because it expresses whose implementation is meant; the masculine noun takes -s.
Wir haben viele Pläne für den Sommer.
We have many plans for the summer.
viele means many and für den Sommer means for the summer. Pläne is plural with an umlaut and -e; it is accusative because haben takes an object.
Der Architekt zeigt den Plan des Hauses.
The architect shows the plan of the house.
der Architekt is the architect and des Hauses means of the house. Den Plan is accusative because zeigen takes a direct object, while des Hauses is genitive to show what the plan is for.
Auf dem Plan sieht man die neue Straße.
You can see the new street on the plan.
sieht man means one can see and die neue Straße means the new street. Auf dem Plan describes location and therefore uses dative; the finite verb sieht is in position two.
das Problem — problem, difficulty
Das Problem can be a practical difficulty or a question that needs a solution. The common expression kein Problem means no problem and is often used to reassure someone.
Das Problem ist sehr groß.
The problem is very serious.
sehr groß means very serious or very big. Das Problem is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir müssen das Problem lösen.
We have to solve the problem.
müssen means have to, and lösen means solve. Das Problem is accusative because lösen takes a direct object; after müssen, the infinitive lösen goes to the end.
Ich helfe dir bei dem Problem.
I am helping you with the problem.
helfe dir means help you, and bei means with or concerning here. Dem Problem is dative because bei always takes the dative; the finite verb helfe is in position two.
Die Ursache des Problems ist noch unklar.
The cause of the problem is still unclear.
die Ursache means the cause, and noch unklar means still unclear. Des Problems is genitive because it identifies the problem’s cause; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir sprechen über viele Probleme.
We are talking about many problems.
viele means many, and sprechen über means talk about. Probleme is plural and accusative because über takes the accusative when it means about a topic.
richtig — correct; right; proper
Richtig can mean correct, true, or appropriate, while its opposite is falsch. Before a noun it takes a normal adjective ending, as in die richtige Antwort; after sein, it has no ending.
Die Antwort ist richtig.
The answer is correct.
die Antwort means the answer. Richtig is predicative because it comes after ist and describes the subject; predicative adjectives do not take an ending.
Sie hat die richtige Nummer gewählt.
She dialled the correct number.
die Nummer is the number, and wählen means to choose or dial. Richtige stands before the feminine accusative noun Nummer and takes -e after the definite article die.
Diese Lösung ist richtiger als die andere.
This solution is more correct than the other one.
diese Lösung means this solution, and die andere means the other one. Richtiger compares two solutions and is followed by als; after ist, it is predicative and has no adjective ending.
Das ist die richtigste Entscheidung.
That is the most correct decision.
die Entscheidung means the decision. Richtigste is the superlative before a noun and takes -e after die; do not use am richtigsten directly before a noun.
richtig — correctly; really
As an adverb, richtig does not change form. It can mean “correctly” or intensify another word, meaning “really”, as in richtig gut.
Du hast das richtig gemacht.
You did that correctly.
gemacht means done, and das means that. Richtig modifies the verb phrase hast gemacht, so it is an adverb and does not take an adjective ending; the finite verb hast is in position two and gemacht goes to the end.
Der Film war richtig spannend.
The film was really exciting.
der Film means the film, and spannend means exciting. Here richtig intensifies spannend and means really; it is not an adjective describing a noun and therefore has no ending.
der Tipp — tip, piece of advice; inside tip, hot tip
The usual meaning is a helpful suggestion or piece of advice. For a gratuity in a restaurant, German commonly uses das Trinkgeld, not der Tipp.
Das ist ein guter Tipp.
That is a good tip.
gut means good. Ein guter Tipp is the subject in the nominative case, and the verb ist stands in position two.
Ich brauche einen Tipp.
I need a tip.
brauche means need. Einen Tipp is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from ein to einen.
Kannst du mir einen Tipp geben?
Can you give me a tip?
kannst du means can you, and geben means give. Mir is dative for the receiver, while einen Tipp is accusative for the thing given.
Der Wert des Tipps ist schwer zu messen.
The value of the tip is difficult to measure.
der Wert means the value, and schwer zu messen means difficult to measure. Des Tipps is genitive because it says whose value it is; the infinitive zu messen comes at the end.
Wir sammeln Tipps für die Prüfung.
We are collecting tips for the exam.
sammeln means collect, and die Prüfung means the exam. Tipps is plural and accusative after sammeln, while für also forces the accusative.
Der junge Spieler gilt als heißer Tipp.
The young player is considered a hot tip.
der junge Spieler means the young player, and gilt als means is considered. Ein heißer Tipp is a predicate noun after als, so it stays in the nominative form.
Meine Freundin hat einen Tipp für eine günstige Wohnung.
My friend has a tip about an inexpensive flat.
meine Freundin means my female friend, günstig means inexpensive, and die Wohnung means the flat or apartment. Einen Tipp is accusative after haben, and für takes the accusative in the phrase describing the flat.
die Wahl — choice; election; election
The meaning can be a personal choice or a political election. The common expression die Wahl haben means to have a choice, while wählen is the verb to choose or vote.
Die Wahl ist schwer.
The choice is difficult.
schwer means difficult. Die Wahl is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich treffe die Wahl heute.
I am making the choice today.
treffe means make here and heute means today. Die Wahl is accusative because the fixed expression eine Wahl treffen takes a direct object.
Wir helfen ihm bei der Wahl.
We help him with the choice.
helfen means help and ihm means him. Bei always takes the dative, so der Wahl is dative; helfen also takes a dative person, ihm.
Die Gründe der Wahl sind klar.
The reasons for the choice are clear.
die Gründe are the reasons and klar means clear. Der Wahl is genitive because it identifies which choice the reasons belong to.
Bei den Wahlen gibt es viele Parteien.
There are many parties in the elections.
viele Parteien means many parties and gibt es means there are. Bei den Wahlen is dative plural because bei takes the dative; Wahlen has the plural ending -en.
Die Partei gewinnt die Wahl.
The party wins the election.
die Partei means the party and gewinnt means wins. Die Wahl is accusative because gewinnen takes the election as its direct object.
Nach der Wahl beginnt die Arbeit.
After the election, the work begins.
nach means after and beginnt die Arbeit means the work begins. Nach takes the dative, so der Wahl is dative; the verb beginnt is still in position two in the main clause.
die Wahrheit — truth
Die Wahrheit is usually used without a plural when people mean truth in general. The plural Wahrheiten means separate truths or facts.
Die Wahrheit ist wichtig.
The truth is important.
die Wahrheit means the truth, and wichtig means important. Die Wahrheit is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kenne die Wahrheit.
I know the truth.
ich means I, and kenne means know. Die Wahrheit is accusative because kennen takes an accusative object; the finite verb kenne is in position two.
Er vertraut der Wahrheit.
He trusts the truth.
er means he, and vertraut means trusts. Der Wahrheit is dative because vertrauen governs the dative; the feminine article changes from die to der.
Die Macht der Wahrheit ist groß.
The power of the truth is great.
die Macht means the power, and groß means great or strong. Der Wahrheit is genitive after Macht to express possession or association; the finite verb ist belongs to the main clause and stands in position two.
Manchmal tun Wahrheiten weh.
Sometimes truths hurt.
manchmal means sometimes, and weh tun means hurt or cause pain. Wahrheiten is the plural subject, so it takes the plural verb tun; the word order is still verb-second.
wissen — to know, to be aware
wissen is used for facts, information, and answers; use kennen for people, places, and things that you are familiar with. It often introduces a subordinate clause with dass, wer, was, or wie.
Ich weiß die Antwort.
I know the answer.
die Antwort means “the answer.” The noun phrase is accusative because wissen can take a direct object, and the finite verb weiß stands in position two.
Wir haben es schon gewusst.
We already knew it.
schon means “already,” and es means “it.” The perfect uses haben plus gewusst at the end of the clause; the pronoun es is the accusative object.
Sie wusste nichts davon.
She knew nothing about it.
nichts means “nothing,” and davon means “about it.” Wusste is the irregular simple past, and the finite verb remains in position two.
Wisse, dass ich dir helfen will.
Know that I want to help you.
dass means “that,” dir means “to you,” and helfen means “to help.” Wisse is a rare formal imperative; the verb will goes to the end of the dass clause.
Ich wüsste gern, warum er fehlt.
I would like to know why he is absent.
gern means “gladly” or “would like to,” warum means “why,” and fehlt means “is absent.” Wüsste is the Konjunktiv II form used for a polite or hypothetical statement, while fehlt stands at the end of the indirect question.
Morgen werde ich mehr wissen.
Tomorrow I will know more.
morgen means “tomorrow,” and mehr means “more.” The future uses werden in position two and the infinitive wissen at the end; do not use the participle gewusst here.