Q:Denn, schon, usw. How, what, why? How do I use these intensifying terms and identify when they are used for emphasis?
This is probably one of the biggest problems for people who want to learn German. Those terms (called modal particles btw) are used depending on what they want to emphasize (disagreement, surprise, etc.)
I already talked a little bit about this topic here. I’m sorry that I can’t really explain modal particles myself… Using them is so much based on feeling - probably more than anything else in the German language, so I have trouble to come up with general rules.
For those who don’t have problems to understand German texts: The Wikipedia overview is quite okay.
And here are some great English articles on that topic:
To quote the last part: “The translation of expressions with particles is often subject to various interpretations. It involves a bit of Sprachgefühl, or a feeling for the language that comes with experience.”
So being rational about their usage is incredibly difficult. I think using modal particles the right way and getting a feeling for them is one of those things most German learners don’t manage before they are on a very high level and before they actually communicate a lot with Germans.
Q:I have my German AS exam tomorrow and I'm a little worried about dual prepositions. I know the classic 'accusative for motion' and 'dative for position' but what about sentences that don't have these? (being scared of something, thinking about something, etc) Are there any extra rules that I should know about?
Anonymous
Good luck for your exam!
Q:Hi! I'm looking for a good, reputable German grammar book, which is concise and easy to carry around. I have Hammer's German Grammar and Usage, and I have Dreyer/Schmitt's Lehr- Und Ubungsbuch Der Deutschen Grammatik. Both of them are excellent grammar books, but I need something that I can put in my bag which will not weigh me down! Any suggestions? Or even any suggestions as to where I could find out what could be good? Danke im Voraus! :)
I don’t know any German grammar books myself, but I’ve heard that this one by Pons gives a good overview… I tried to find more recommendations, but I only found some for “normal” grammar books. Sorry!
You could maybe ask fuckyeahdeutsch. She is a native speaker of English living in Germany and knows a lot when it comes to learning material.
Orrrr can anyone here recommend something??? Thanks.
Q:i thought according to the meaning it should be "ich habe keinen Kommentar" and "ich habe" is left out.. if it's nominative then i can understand :)
Anonymous
Ah yes, I see!
It seems like it is not an elliptical sentence. I had to realize that myself first - I have no idea why it is that way though.
Actually, a lot of Germans are confused by “kein Kommentar” - they seem to see it as an elliptical sentence as well, I guess. The consequence is that they think it is “das Kommentar” and so you will often hear people using the wrong article.
Q:"no comment" in german is "kein Kommentar"? why not "keinen Kommentar"? thanks :)
Anonymous
(source)
It’s a matter of cases. I guess you are confused because “Kommentar” is masculine (der Kommentar). However, “kein” + a masculine noun stays “kein” if you use the nominative case: kein Kommentar, kein Mensch, kein Stuhl, etc.
I hope this made sense…?
Hey there!
Dessen and deren can only be used when referring to the possession of a object (not subject) and, like you’ve mentioned, is usually used to make the “possessor” of something less ambiguous.
Here’s a short explanation with examples:
dessen/sein und deren/ihr
Die rückweisenden Genitivformen dessen und deren können wie sein und ihr vor einem Nomen stehen:
Sie begrüßte ihren Bruder und dessen/seine Freundin.
Wir sind mit der Kommission und deren/ihrer Arbeit zufrieden.Dabei können dessen und deren sich nicht auf das Subjekt des Satzes beziehen:
Maria traf zusammen mit deren Freund ein.
Es muss sich hier um den Freund einer anderen, vorher genannten weiblichen Person handeln. Da Maria das Subjekt ist, kann nur ihr sich auf sie beziehen:
Maria traf zusammen mit ihrem Freund ein.
Deshalb können dessen und deren verwendet werden, um gewisse mehrdeutige Sätze eindeutig zu formulieren:
Herr Müller geht mit Anton und seiner Schwester weg.
Herr Müller geht mit Anton und dessen Schwester weg.Im ersten Satz kann es sich um die Schwester von Herrn Müller oder die Schwester von Anton handeln.
Im zweiten Satz handelt es sich eindeutig um Antons Schwester, weil dessen sich nicht auf das Subjekt des Satzes, Herr Müller, beziehen kann.Source: canoo.net
If used as mentioned above (i.e. only when referring to a object of the sentence), it is grammatically correct and I’m not sure why your German friends would correct you. Perhaps they were confused about who the “possessor” is and not you :)
Handout: Deklination der Substantive
All credits to amaranthine-ephemerality, who was kind enough to send me the PDF file for this document ages ago.
It took me eons to figure out how to upload a PDF file on tumblr, so I’ve given up and decided to upload a JPG version instead.
Conjunctions: ob/wenn/als/wann
When do you use which?
ob:
- English equivalent:
whether, if- German examples:
Er sagt mir bald Bescheid, ob er morgen kommt (oder nicht).
He’ll let me know soon whether he’s coming tomorrow (or not).
Ich habe ihn gefragt, ob er morgen kommt.
I asked him if he’s coming tomorrow.- Tip: ”ob” is used in indirect speech for yes-no questions.
E.g.
Ich habe ihn gefragt: „Kommst du morgen?”
Ich habe ihn gefragt, ob er morgen kommt.wenn:
- English equivalent:
1. as soon as, when
2. if (+ conditional clause)
3. (even) though- German examples:
1. Wenn die Sonne scheint, gehe ich joggen.
As soon as the sun shines, I’ll go jogging.
When the sun shines, I’ll go jogging.
2. Wenn ich viel Geld hätte, würde ich viele Autos kaufen.
If I had a lot of money, I would buy many cars.
2. Wenn er mich nicht anruft, rufe ich ihn an.
If he doesn’t call me, I’ll call him.
3. (Auch) Wenn sie Recht hatte, interessierte sich niemand dafür.
(Even) Though she was in the right, no one cared.als:
- English equivalents:
1. while, as (at the same time as the event in the main clause)
2. by the time, when (before the event in the main clause)
3. as, once, when (after the event in the main clause)- German examples:
1. Als der Lehrer die Fragen auf der Tafel hinschrieb, schrieb Leo die Lösungen von seinem Sitznachbarn ab.
While the teacher was writing the questions on the board, Leo copied the answers from his desk partner.
2. Als er nach Hause kam, war das Abendessen schon fertig.
Dinner was ready by the time he came home.
3. Die Idee ist ihm erst eingefallen, als er die Büro verlassen hat.
The idea occurred to him just as he left the office.wann:
- English equivalents:
when (as a Fragewort, i.e. at what time, how soon, in what circumstances)- German examples:
Wann hast du frei?
When will you be free?
Bis wann darf man abends in Deutschland anrufen?
What is the latest time at night to call someone in Germany?
(Literally: Till when can you call someone at night in Germany?)
Er wollte wissen, wann er sie wiedersieht.
He wanted to know when he will see her again.
Q:Could you write a post about the usage of "man"? I understand it refers to "one", as in a hypothetical individual person, but beyond that I'm a bit unclear. Danke!
- Like you already said, most of the time it means “one” or “you”.
- It’s always 3rd person singular.
- You can only use it for persons.*
*This sentence is actually a perfect example. In German, you would use “man” instead of “you” here because it’s a general rule that applies to everyone. So that is number…
1. general rules or manners; “man” is used for “someone” (unknown) who follows these rules: “Man schlägt keine Frauen.” = literally: “One doesn’t beat women.” / “Man wirft nicht mit Sand.” = literally: “One doesn’t throw with sand.”
You can often hear parents tell their children what to do using “man”: Man schmatzt nicht beim Essen. Man sagt danke. Man unterbricht niemanden beim Reden. Man zieht niemanden an den Haaren. So etwas tut man nicht. Etc.
2. “man” for the people or the public: “Man ist heute viel toleranter.” = “Today one is a lot more tolerant.” / “Man trägt dieses Jahr viel Rot.” = “This year, one wears a lot of red (clothes).”
3. “man” for situations that are the same for everyone: “Man sitzt hier sehr bequem.” ~ “Sitting here is very comfortable.” / “Man hat hier eine wunderbare Aussicht.” ~ “The view here is wonderful.”
4. “man” instead of passive constructions: “Man hat den Mörder gefasst.” instead of “Der Mörder wurde gefasst.” (The murderer has been caught.)
5. using “man” if you want to include yourself, especially if there is a hidden request: “Man kann dich nicht hören.” (One cannot hear you.) instead of “Ich höre dich nicht.” (I cannot hear you.) / “Wenn man sich das alles noch einmal überlegt…” = “If you consider all of this once more…” instead of “We should consider this once more…” or “Consider this once more…!”
It’s hard to explain this point for me. I’d say “man” is often used for indirect requests. Depending on the situation it’s more polite and less obvious if you ask for something in this way.
6. “man” instead of du/Ihr/Sie/er/sie: “Hat man eine schöne Zeit dort gehabt?”= literally “Did one have a beautiful time there?”
In this way you can avoid addressing someone directly; it creates distance. But it isn’t very common.
(My explanations and examples are based on this.)
N-Deklination
Inspired by one of germannn’s asks, I decided to write a post on the N-Deklination.
The N-Deklination is something that puzzles many non-native German speakers. What’s that, you ask? Well, here are some examples:
(Check out this related post for “Frieden vs. Friede”!)
The reason behind these endings in singular, we may never know. What we do know, however, is that this is called the N-Deklination and that it applies to schwache Nomen, i.e. masculine nouns that have the plural ending -n or -en, which mostly include humans and animals.
There are three kinds of N-Deklination:
- Word + -n
These are generally nouns that end with -e and have the plural ending -n.
Examples: der Chinese/Schotte/Pole (and other nationalities ending with -e), r Experte, r Kollege, r Kunde, r Zeuge, r Hase, r Löwe- Word + -en
These are generally nouns that end with -and/-ant/-ent/-oge/-ad/-at/-ist and have the plural ending -(e)n.
Examples: r Doktorand, r Demonstrant, r Agent, r Assistent, r Student, r Biologe, r Soziologe, r Kamerad, r Automat, r Diplomat, r Kandidat, r Christ, r Journalist, r Tourist- Word + -ns
These are the “exceptions” because the genitive ending differs from the accusative and dative ones. These nouns end with -e.
Examples: r Buchstabe, r Gedanke, r Glaube, r Same, r WilleAlas, words without context confuse us. So using the example for der Junge:
- Nominativ:
Der Junge ist 16 Jahre alt.- Akkusativ:
Sie hat den Jungen auf eine Party kennengelernt.- Dativ:
Der Rucksack gehört dem Jungen.- Genitiv:
Das ist der Rucksack des Jungen.… and, just for good measure, the example for der Student:
- Nominativ:
Der Student hat ein Museum besucht.- Akkusativ:
Die Ausstellung hat den Studenten sehr beeindruckt.- Dativ:
Ein Fragebogen wurde von dem Studenten ausgefüllt.- Genitiv:
Das ist das Kursbuch des Studenten.And in both examples above you know that we’re referring to only one person because of the definite articles (the singular der/den/dem/des vs. the plural die/die/den/der).
I know I’ve been preaching that this is only applicable to masculine nouns; however, there is one non-masculine noun that is subjected to the N-Deklination and it’s das Herz …
- Nominativ:
Das Herz ist ein sehr wichtiges Organ.- Akkusativ:
Man sollte besonders gut auf das Herz achten.- Dativ:
Neben der Pumpfunktion wird dem Herzen auch eine Aufgabe bei der Blutdruckregulation zugeschrieben.- Genitiv:
Die Lehre von Struktur, Funktion und Erkrankungen des Herzens heißt Kardiologie.I hope that was helpful, please feel free to ask if something’s unclear! :)
Source: mein-deutschbuch.de, Deutschkurse für Ausländer bei der Universität München
Wow, thank you so much for explaining this! Bless you and the ground you walk upon. Seriously, your post is amazing!
About me: female, 20+, German.
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