Foreign Language German - Basic flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

halb drei

German clock time meaning 2:30, not 3:30. 'Halb' points to the half hour before the named hour, so 'halb acht' is 7:30.

Viertel vor / nach

'Viertel nach drei' is 3:15; 'Viertel vor drei' is 2:45. The preposition names the reference hour, unlike English 'quarter to'.

Separable verb in main clause

Prefixes like an-, auf-, mit-, weg- detach and move to the clause end: 'Ich stehe um sechs Uhr auf.' The finite verb stays in position two.

Negation with kaum

'Kaum' means hardly or barely and makes a statement effectively negative. In listening items it usually rules out the affirmative option.

zwar … aber

A concessive pair: 'zwar' grants a point, 'aber' introduces the contrast. The main information for comprehension questions sits after 'aber'.

weder … noch

Means neither … nor and negates both elements: 'Ich habe weder Zeit noch Geld.' The verb is not additionally negated with 'nicht'.

Relative pronoun case

The case of 'der, die, das' in a relative clause depends on its function inside that clause, not on the noun it refers to.

Nominal style in formal texts

Nouns replace verbs in official German: 'nach Durchführung der Prüfung' equals 'nachdem die Prüfung durchgeführt wurde'. Reading comprehension items often test this paraphrase.

Verb-second rule

In a German main clause the finite verb occupies position two. If an adverb or object is fronted, the subject moves behind the verb.

Subordinate clause verb position

After conjunctions such as weil, dass, obwohl, wenn and als, the finite verb moves to the final position: 'weil ich keine Zeit habe'.

Perfect with sein

Verbs of motion or state change and the verbs sein, bleiben and werden form the perfect with sein: 'ich bin gefahren', 'er ist geblieben'.

Accusative prepositions

The fixed accusative prepositions are durch, für, gegen, ohne, um, bis and entlang. They never take dative case.

Dative prepositions

The fixed dative prepositions are aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu and gegenüber. 'Mit' and 'nach' are the most frequent in everyday speech.

Two-way prepositions

An, auf, in, über, unter, vor, hinter and neben take accusative for direction and dative for position: 'ins Kino' versus 'im Kino'.

Adjective ending after ein-words

After ein, eine, kein and possessives, the adjective shows gender when the article does not: 'ein neues Auto', 'eine neue Idee', 'ein neuer Plan'.

Modal verb without zu

With können, müssen, dürfen, sollen, wollen and mögen the infinitive follows without 'zu': 'Ich muss heute arbeiten.' Only 'brauchen' requires 'zu'.

bekommen versus werden

'Bekommen' means to receive; 'werden' means to become. 'Ich bekomme ein Kind' is not the same as 'Ich werde ein Kind'.

False friend Gift

German 'Gift' means poison, not present. The English 'gift' is 'Geschenk' in German. Similar traps include 'bald' (soon) and 'Handy' (mobile phone).

eine Entscheidung treffen

Fixed collocation meaning to make a decision. German uses 'treffen' with Entscheidung, while 'machen' is wrong here.

seit versus vor

'Seit' plus dative marks an ongoing period: 'seit zwei Jahren'. 'Vor' plus dative marks a point in the past: 'vor zwei Jahren'.

anfangen versus aufhören

'Anfangen' means to begin, 'aufhören' means to stop. Both are separable: 'Ich fange um acht an', 'Wir hören jetzt auf'.

Sie versus du

'Sie', always capitalized, is formal address for adults and strangers. 'Du' is used with family, friends and children, and increasingly in flat workplaces.

Punctuality in Germany

Arriving on time means arriving at the agreed hour, not later. For private invitations, ten to fifteen minutes late is tolerated, but longer requires a message.

Feierabend

The everyday word for the end of the working day. 'Feierabend machen' means to finish work and switch off for the evening.

Bundesländer count

Germany has sixteen federal states, called Bundesländer. Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen are city-states; Bavaria and Saxony are the largest by area.

Mahlzeit

A short greeting used mainly at lunchtime in German workplaces and canteens. It functions like 'enjoy your meal' and is not used at dinner.

Formal letter closing

'Mit freundlichen Grüßen' is the standard formal closing, followed by a comma-free line with the name. No comma goes after the formula itself.

Informal email opening

'Hallo Anna,' or 'Liebe Anna,' starts a private email. The body then begins on a new line, usually with a lowercase word unless it is a noun.

Connector in position one

Words such as außerdem, dennoch, folglich and zum Schluss occupy position one, so the finite verb comes immediately after them.

Complaint formula

A written complaint opens with 'Ich möchte mich über … beschweren', gives the reason, states a request with 'Ich bitte Sie, …', and names a deadline.

Register raising with wegen

'Wegen' plus genitive replaces wordy 'aufgrund der Tatsache, dass' and shortens formal writing. In spoken German, dative after 'wegen' is common.

RSVP in German invitations

A written invitation often asks for a 'Zu- oder Absage', meaning a definite yes or no by a stated date. Ignoring it is considered impolite.