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FTCE German K-12 study materials
FTCE German K-12 study resources

FTCE German K-12 practice questions

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Question 1Language and Linguistics

In German phonology, which pair of words demonstrates a minimal contrast based on vowel rounding?

  1. Biene / Bühne Correct answer.
  2. Beet / Bett
  3. Kirche / Kirsche
  4. Haut / Haut

Explanation

A minimal pair differs in exactly one phonological feature. In Biene versus Bühne the only difference is the rounding of the high front vowel ([iː] unrounded versus [yː] rounded), so rounding is the contrastive feature.

Question 2Language and Linguistics

Which German phoneme is a voiceless palatal fricative that appears in the word 'ich'?

  1. [j]
  2. [ʃ]
  3. [x]
  4. [ç] Correct answer.

Explanation

The sound spelled ch after front vowels and consonants in words like ich and Milch is the voiceless palatal fricative [ç]. The ach-Laut [x] occurs after back vowels such as in Bach.

Question 3Language and Linguistics

German nouns carry grammatical gender. Which set correctly gives the genders of 'der Tisch', 'die Wand', 'das Fenster'?

  1. masculine, feminine, neuter Correct answer.
  2. masculine, neuter, feminine
  3. neuter, feminine, masculine
  4. feminine, masculine, neuter

Explanation

German has three grammatical genders, and each noun has a fixed lexical gender shown by its article. Tisch is masculine (der), Wand is feminine (die), and Fenster is neuter (das).

Question 4Language and Linguistics

Which sentence uses the correct case after the preposition 'mit'?

  1. Ich fahre mit den Bus.
  2. Ich fahre mit dem Bus. Correct answer.
  3. Ich fahre mit der Bus.
  4. Ich fahre mit des Bus.

Explanation

The preposition mit always governs the dative case. Bus is masculine, and the masculine dative definite article is dem, giving 'mit dem Bus'.

Question 5Language and Linguistics

In German, the finite verb in a main declarative clause occupies which position?

  1. second position Correct answer.
  2. final position
  3. immediately after the subject
  4. first position

Explanation

German main clauses follow the verb-second (V2) rule: the finite verb stands in the second position, and one constituent occupies the first slot, which need not be the subject.

Question 6Language and Linguistics

Which plural form of the noun is correct in standard German?

  1. die Hause
  2. die Hausen
  3. die Häuser Correct answer.
  4. die Häusern

Explanation

The noun Haus forms its plural with an umlaut and the suffix -er, giving Häuser. This umlaut-plus-er pattern is typical of many neuter monosyllables.

Question 7Language and Linguistics

Which word contains a diphthong in standard German pronunciation?

  1. Hof
  2. Hand
  3. Hut
  4. Haus Correct answer.

Explanation

A diphthong is a vowel sound that glides from one quality to another within a single syllable. Haus contains the diphthong [aʊ], whereas the other words contain single monophthong vowels.

Question 8Language and Linguistics

Which pronoun correctly completes 'Ich sehe ___' when referring to a female person already mentioned?

  1. ihn
  2. sie Correct answer.
  3. ihr
  4. es

Explanation

The direct object of sehen takes the accusative case. For a female person the accusative personal pronoun is sie, which is identical in form to the nominative sie.

Question 9Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly forms the present perfect (Perfekt) of an intransitive verb of motion?

  1. Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren. Correct answer.
  2. Ich habe nach Berlin gefahren.
  3. Ich habe nach Berlin fahren.
  4. Ich bin nach Berlin gefahrt.

Explanation

Intransitive verbs of motion such as fahren form the Perfekt with the auxiliary sein plus the past participle. The participle of fahren is gefahren, giving 'Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren'.

Question 10Language and Linguistics

Which sentence places the separable prefix correctly in a main clause?

  1. Ich aufstehe um sieben Uhr.
  2. Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf. Correct answer.
  3. Ich stehe auf um sieben Uhr.
  4. Ich um sieben Uhr aufstehe.

Explanation

Separable-prefix verbs split in main clauses: the finite verb stem stands in second position and the prefix moves to the end of the clause. Thus aufstehen yields 'Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf'.

Question 11Language and Linguistics

Which form correctly completes 'Wenn ich Zeit ___, lese ich ein Buch'?

  1. hatte
  2. habe Correct answer.
  3. hätte
  4. haben

Explanation

This conditional sentence expresses a real, present possibility, so the subordinate clause uses the present indicative. With ich the present form of haben is habe, giving 'Wenn ich Zeit habe'.

Question 12Language and Linguistics

Which article correctly completes the dative sentence 'Ich helfe ___ Mann'?

  1. dem Correct answer.
  2. des
  3. der
  4. den

Explanation

The verb helfen governs the dative case. Mann is masculine, and the masculine dative definite article is dem, giving 'Ich helfe dem Mann'.

Question 13Language and Linguistics

Which sentence uses the correct comparative form of 'gut'?

  1. Dieses Buch ist mehr gut als jenes.
  2. Dieses Buch ist besser als jenes. Correct answer.
  3. Dieses Buch ist am besten als jenes.
  4. Dieses Buch ist guter als jenes.

Explanation

The adjective gut has an irregular comparative, besser, rather than the regular -er suffix added to the positive. Comparisons use besser plus als.

Question 14Language and Linguistics

In German, which prepositional phrase correctly expresses a destination with the accusative?

  1. in dem Stadt
  2. in die Stadt Correct answer.
  3. in des Stadt
  4. in der Stadt

Explanation

Two-way prepositions such as in take the accusative when they express motion toward a destination. Stadt is feminine, and the feminine accusative article is die, giving 'in die Stadt'.

Question 15Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses a modal verb in the present tense?

  1. Ich kann gut schwimmen. Correct answer.
  2. Ich gut kann schwimmen.
  3. Ich schwimmen kann gut.
  4. Ich kann gut schwimme.

Explanation

With a modal verb in a main clause, the modal is finite and stands in second position, while the dependent infinitive goes to the end of the clause. Thus 'Ich kann gut schwimmen'.

Question 16Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses the genitive case to show possession?

  1. Das ist das Auto meines Bruders. Correct answer.
  2. Das ist das Auto von meines Bruders.
  3. Das ist das Auto meinem Bruder.
  4. Das ist das Auto mein Bruder.

Explanation

The genitive attributes possession directly before the noun without a preposition. For a masculine noun such as Bruder the genitive form is meines Bruders.

Question 17Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses a relative pronoun in the accusative?

  1. Der Mann, der ich sehe, ist mein Lehrer.
  2. Der Mann, dessen ich sehe, ist mein Lehrer.
  3. Der Mann, den ich sehe, ist mein Lehrer. Correct answer.
  4. Der Mann, dem ich sehe, ist mein Lehrer.

Explanation

The relative pronoun takes its case from its function inside the relative clause. Here the man is the direct object of sehe, so the masculine accusative relative pronoun den is required.

Question 18Language and Linguistics

Which pair of words is a true cognate pair between German and English, sharing a common Germanic root?

  1. Haus / host
  2. Haus / house Correct answer.
  3. Haus / hose
  4. Haus / horse

Explanation

Cognates descend from the same ancestral word and typically show regular sound correspondences. German Haus and English house both derive from the same Germanic root and correspond in meaning and form.

Question 19Language and Linguistics

Which statement correctly describes the difference between strong and weak verbs in German?

  1. Strong verbs are always irregular in the present tense, while weak verbs are always regular.
  2. Strong verbs form the past tense with a stem-vowel change, while weak verbs add a dental suffix. Correct answer.
  3. Strong verbs take no participle prefix, while weak verbs always do.
  4. Strong verbs add -te, while weak verbs change the stem vowel.

Explanation

German strong verbs mark tense by changing the stem vowel (singen, sang, gesungen), whereas weak verbs add the dental suffix -te (machen, machte, gemacht). This distinction parallels the English strong/weak verb split.

Question 20Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses the subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) to express an unreal condition?

  1. Wenn ich reich bin, würde ich reisen.
  2. Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich reisen. Correct answer.
  3. Wenn ich reich werde, würde ich reisen.
  4. Wenn ich reich war, würde ich reisen.

Explanation

Unreal conditions in the present use Konjunktiv II in both clauses. Wäre is the Konjunktiv II of sein, and the main clause uses würde plus infinitive.

Question 21Language and Linguistics

Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the passive voice (Vorgangspassiv) in the present tense?

  1. Das Haus wird gebaut. Correct answer.
  2. Das Haus baut.
  3. Das Haus ist gebaut.
  4. Das Haus hat gebaut.

Explanation

The Vorgangspassiv describes an ongoing process and is formed with werden plus the past participle. 'Das Haus wird gebaut' means the house is being built.

Question 22Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly observes the word-order rule for a subordinate clause introduced by 'weil'?

  1. Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil bin ich krank.
  2. Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin. Correct answer.
  3. Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich bin krank.
  4. Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil krank ich bin.

Explanation

In a subordinate clause the finite verb moves to the final position. With weil, the conjugated verb bin therefore stands last, giving 'weil ich krank bin'.

Question 23Language and Linguistics

Which option correctly identifies the grammatical function of 'ihm' in 'Ich gebe ihm das Buch'?

  1. indirect object in the dative Correct answer.
  2. subject in the nominative
  3. direct object in the accusative
  4. possessor in the genitive

Explanation

The verb geben takes a dative recipient and an accusative thing. Ihm is the third-person masculine dative pronoun marking the indirect object, while das Buch is the accusative direct object.

Question 24Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses a da-compound to refer to an inanimate object?

  1. Ich denke an ihn jeden Tag.
  2. Ich denke daran jeden Tag. Correct answer.
  3. Ich denke an dem jeden Tag.
  4. Ich denke an es jeden Tag.

Explanation

When a preposition's object is an inanimate thing, German uses a da-compound (da + preposition) rather than a pronoun. For an + accusative the compound is daran.

Question 25Language and Linguistics

Which statement about German adjective endings after a definite article is accurate?

  1. After a definite article the adjective takes a weak ending, such as -e or -en. Correct answer.
  2. Adjectives after a definite article never take an ending.
  3. After a definite article the adjective takes a strong ending carrying the case marker.
  4. Adjectives after a definite article take only the ending -er.

Explanation

German adjective declension has three patterns. After a definite article the adjective takes weak endings (-e in the nominative singular of all genders, -en elsewhere), because the article already marks case and gender.

Question 26Language and Linguistics

Which statement accurately describes the German vowel system in contrast to English with respect to tense/lax pairs?

  1. German has no tense/lax distinction and relies on consonant length to distinguish minimal pairs.
  2. German distinguishes tense and lax vowels mainly by quality and length together, so /iː/ versus /ɪ/ differs in both duration and tongue position. Correct answer.
  3. German tense vowels are always diphthongized in stressed syllables, so 'Boot' is pronounced with a glide.
  4. German lax vowels are always longer than tense vowels, which is why 'Stadt' has a longer vowel than 'Staat'.

Explanation

In German, vowel length and quality co-vary: tense vowels such as /iː/ are longer and more peripheral, while lax vowels such as /ɪ/ are shorter and centralized. Minimal pairs like 'Stadt' [ʃtat] and 'Staat' [ʃtaːt] depend on this contrast, not on consonant length or diphthongization.

Question 27Language and Linguistics

Which description of the German consonant written as <ch> is linguistically accurate?

  1. It has two main allophones: [ç] after front vowels and [x] after back vowels, as in 'ich' versus 'Buch'. Correct answer.
  2. It is always a velar fricative [x] regardless of the preceding vowel.
  3. It is a voiced palatal stop [ɟ] in standard pronunciation.
  4. It is pronounced as an affricate [tʃ] in all native German words.

Explanation

The grapheme <ch> represents the ach-Laut [x] after back vowels like /u, o, a/ and the ich-Laut [ç] after front vowels and consonants. This is a classic example of complementary distribution conditioned by the preceding sound.

Question 28Language and Linguistics

In German, what is the function of the particle 'zu' in an infinitival construction such as 'Ich versuche, das Problem zu lösen'?

  1. It marks the infinitive as a complement of the matrix verb and appears before the infinitive in final position. Correct answer.
  2. It functions as a separable prefix that moves to the front of the clause.
  3. It introduces a subordinate clause with its own finite verb.
  4. It is a preposition governing the accusative object of the sentence.

Explanation

The infinitival marker 'zu' precedes the infinitive, which stays in final position in the subordinate infinitive phrase. It signals that the infinitive is embedded as a complement of a verb such as 'versuchen'.

Question 29Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly demonstrates the 'TeKaMoLo' ordering principle for adverbials in the German middle field?

  1. Ich fahre mit dem Zug morgen nach Berlin wegen der Prüfung.
  2. Ich fahre nach Berlin morgen mit dem Zug wegen der Prüfung.
  3. Ich fahre morgen mit dem Zug wegen der Prüfung nach Berlin. Correct answer.
  4. Ich fahre wegen der Prüfung mit dem Zug morgen nach Berlin.

Explanation

The default order of adverbials in the German middle field follows temporal, causal, modal, then local sequencing, abbreviated TeKaMoLo. Placing 'morgen' first, then the modal 'mit dem Zug', then the causal 'wegen der Prüfung', then the local 'nach Berlin' respects this tendency.

Question 30Language and Linguistics

Which statement correctly describes the German grammatical category of 'Aktionsart' versus 'Aspekt'?

  1. German marks aspect through a dedicated suffix on every verb.
  2. German has a fully grammaticalized progressive aspect marked by a prefix.
  3. German expresses aspect only through word order in subordinate clauses.
  4. German lacks a grammatical aspect system but expresses lexical aspect through verb meaning and particles such as 'auf-' in 'aufessen'. Correct answer.

Explanation

German does not grammaticalize aspect the way Slavic or English does; instead, lexical aspect (Aktionsart) is conveyed by verb semantics and prefixes like 'auf-' marking completion. The English progressive typically corresponds to adverbs like 'gerade' rather than a dedicated verb form.

Question 31Language and Linguistics

Which option correctly identifies the morphological process illustrated by the German diminutive 'Mädchen'?

  1. Compounding of two free morphemes.
  2. Derivation by suffixation with '-chen', which also fixes the neuter gender. Correct answer.
  3. Inflection by adding a plural ending.
  4. Conversion without any affix.

Explanation

The suffix '-chen' is a derivational diminutive morpheme that creates a new noun and assigns neuter gender, which is why 'Mädchen' takes 'das' despite referring to a female. This illustrates how derivational morphology can override semantic gender.

Question 32Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses the German 'werden'-passive with a modal verb in the present tense?

  1. Das Haus muss werden renoviert.
  2. Das Haus muss renoviert worden.
  3. Das Haus muss renovieren.
  4. Das Haus muss renoviert werden. Correct answer.

Explanation

With a modal in the passive, the structure is modal + past participle + 'werden' in the infinitive at the end of the clause. 'Renoviert werden' is the passive infinitive required after 'muss'.

Question 33Language and Linguistics

Which statement accurately describes the German 'Ersatzinfinitiv' construction?

  1. Modal verbs in the perfect tense take an infinitive instead of a past participle when another infinitive is present, as in 'Ich habe kommen müssen'. Correct answer.
  2. All German verbs form the perfect with an infinitive rather than a participle.
  3. The Ersatzinfinitiv replaces the auxiliary 'haben' with 'sein' in all perfect tenses.
  4. It is a construction limited to subordinate clauses introduced by 'dass'.

Explanation

When a modal verb is used in the perfect with a dependent infinitive, the modal appears as an infinitive ('müssen') rather than a participle ('gemusst'). This replacement infinitive is the Ersatzinfinitiv and occurs in main and subordinate clauses alike.

Question 34Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly places the finite verb in a German subordinate clause introduced by 'obwohl'?

  1. Obwohl regnet es, gehen wir spazieren.
  2. Obwohl es regnet, wir gehen spazieren.
  3. Obwohl es regnet, gehen wir spazieren. Correct answer.
  4. Obwohl es regnet, gehen spazieren wir.

Explanation

In a subordinate clause the finite verb moves to final position, so 'regnet' closes the 'obwohl' clause. The main clause that follows keeps its own verb-second order, giving 'gehen wir spazieren'.

Question 35Language and Linguistics

Which statement about German noun gender assignment is linguistically accurate?

  1. Gender is largely lexical and must be learned, though certain suffixes and semantic classes show tendencies. Correct answer.
  2. All nouns ending in '-e' are masculine.
  3. Gender is fully predictable from the noun's meaning in all cases.
  4. Gender is determined by the number of syllables in the noun.

Explanation

German gender is stored in the lexicon and generally must be memorized with each noun. Nonetheless, tendencies exist, such as feminine gender for nouns in '-ung' or '-heit' and neuter for diminutives in '-chen'.

Question 36Language and Linguistics

Which option correctly describes the German 'Präteritopräsentia' group, such as 'können' and 'wissen'?

  1. They are verbs borrowed from Latin that retain Latin inflection.
  2. They are verbs whose present tense derives historically from a past-tense form, explaining irregular endings like '-t' in 'ihr könnt'. Correct answer.
  3. They are verbs that occur only in the preterite and have no present tense.
  4. They are regular weak verbs that take '-te' in the preterite.

Explanation

Modal verbs and 'wissen' historically formed their present tense from old preterite forms, which is why the third-person singular lacks '-t' ('er kann') and the plural shows forms like 'könnt'. This historical pattern explains their irregular present-tense paradigms.

Question 37Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses the German dative case with a two-way preposition to express location rather than direction?

  1. Die Katze läuft in den Korb.
  2. Die Katze schläft in dem Korb. Correct answer.
  3. Die Katze springt in den Korb.
  4. Die Katze legt sich in den Korb.

Explanation

Two-way prepositions take the dative to express position or location and the accusative to express direction or change of location. 'Schlafen' denotes a state, so 'in dem Korb' (dative) is correct.

Question 38Language and Linguistics

Which statement correctly describes the German 'n-Deklination' (weak masculine) noun class?

  1. It includes masculine nouns like 'der Student' that take '-en' in the accusative, dative, and genitive singular. Correct answer.
  2. It applies only to neuter nouns in the plural.
  3. It includes all feminine nouns ending in '-n'.
  4. It is a class of nouns that drop their ending in the nominative plural.

Explanation

Weak masculine nouns such as 'Student', 'Junge', and 'Herr' add '-en' or '-n' outside the nominative singular, e.g. 'den Studenten', 'dem Studenten', 'des Studenten'. This declension class is a distinct lexical group learners must recognize.

Question 39Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses the German genitive attribute placed before the noun it modifies?

  1. Das Auto von dem Vater steht in der Garage.
  2. Der Vater sein Auto steht in der Garage.
  3. Das Auto des Vaters steht in der Garage.
  4. Des Vaters Auto steht in der Garage. Correct answer.

Explanation

In formal German the genitive attribute can precede the head noun, as in 'des Vaters Auto', which is stylistically marked but grammatical. Postposed genitives ('das Auto des Vaters') are more neutral, but the preposed form is the structure tested here.

Question 40Language and Linguistics

Which statement accurately describes the German 'Konjunktiv I' in indirect speech?

  1. It is identical in form to the simple past for all verbs.
  2. It replaces the imperative in direct commands.
  3. It is used only for unreal conditions in the past.
  4. It is used to report speech without asserting the truth of the statement, as in 'Er sagt, er sei krank'. Correct answer.

Explanation

Konjunktiv I marks reported speech and signals that the speaker is not vouching for the content, as in 'Er sagt, er sei krank'. When its form is identical to the indicative, speakers often substitute Konjunktiv II for clarity.

Question 41Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses the German 'lassen' as a causative verb with a reflexive construction?

  1. Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden. Correct answer.
  2. Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden lassen.
  3. Ich lasse die Haare mir schneiden.
  4. Ich lasse mich die Haare schneiden.

Explanation

The causative 'sich etwas machen lassen' uses a reflexive dative to indicate the person for whom the action is done, as in 'Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden'. The past participle 'schneiden' stays in the infinitive after 'lassen'.

Question 42Language and Linguistics

Which option correctly identifies the function of the German word 'es' in 'Es wird heute viel gearbeitet'?

  1. It is a personal pronoun referring to a specific masculine noun.
  2. It is an accusative object of the passive verb.
  3. It is a placeholder subject ('Expletivum') that fills the first position but is not a semantic argument. Correct answer.
  4. It is a reflexive pronoun required by 'arbeiten'.

Explanation

In passive clauses without a logical subject, 'es' occupies the prefield as a formal placeholder and disappears if another element takes first position ('Heute wird viel gearbeitet'). It carries no referential meaning.

Question 43Language and Linguistics

Which statement correctly describes the German prefix 'ge-' in the past participle of strong verbs?

  1. It is added to all past participles, including those with 'be-'.
  2. It appears only in weak verbs and never in strong verbs.
  3. It is added to the verb stem in participles like 'gesungen', but is omitted when an unstressed prefix such as 'be-' precedes the stem. Correct answer.
  4. It marks the infinitive rather than the participle.

Explanation

The participial prefix 'ge-' appears in forms like 'gesungen' and 'gemacht', but verbs with an unstressed first syllable, such as 'besuchen' or 'verstehen', omit it: 'besucht', 'verstanden'. Stress placement determines whether 'ge-' surfaces.

Question 44Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses the German preposition 'seit' with the dative to express duration?

  1. Ich wohne seit drei Jahre in München.
  2. Ich wohne für drei Jahren in München.
  3. Ich wohne seit drei Jahren in München. Correct answer.
  4. Ich wohne vor drei Jahren in München.

Explanation

'Seit' expresses an ongoing duration extending to the present and governs the dative, so 'seit drei Jahren' is required. The present tense in German corresponds to the English present perfect in this context.

Question 45Language and Linguistics

Which statement accurately describes the German 'trennbare' versus 'untrennbare' verb prefixes?

  1. Inseparable prefixes move to the end of the clause in the present tense.
  2. Separable prefixes are stressed and remain attached in main clauses.
  3. All prefixes are separable in main clauses.
  4. Stress falls on separable prefixes like 'auf-', while inseparable prefixes like 'ver-' are unstressed and remain attached. Correct answer.

Explanation

Separable prefixes such as 'auf-', 'an-', and 'mit-' carry primary stress and detach to the end of a main clause ('Ich mache die Tür auf'). Inseparable prefixes like 'be-', 'ver-', and 'er-' are unstressed and stay attached to the stem.

Question 46Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses the German comparative construction with 'als' to compare two unequal items?

  1. Mein Bruder ist größer von ich.
  2. Mein Bruder ist so groß als ich.
  3. Mein Bruder ist größer wie ich.
  4. Mein Bruder ist größer als ich. Correct answer.

Explanation

Unequal comparison uses the comparative plus 'als', as in 'größer als ich'. The equative construction uses 'so ... wie', and 'wie' after a comparative is a common colloquial error.

Question 47Language and Linguistics

Which option correctly identifies the syntactic role of the German 'es' in 'Ich halte es für wichtig, dass wir üben'?

  1. It is a demonstrative pronoun referring to a prior noun.
  2. It is a reflexive pronoun required by 'halten'.
  3. It is an expletive with no syntactic link to the clause.
  4. It is a correlative placeholder ('Korrelat') anticipating the following 'dass'-clause. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Es' here functions as a correlative that anticipates the extraposed 'dass'-clause, which supplies the actual content. Such placeholders are common with verbs and adjectives that take clausal complements.

Question 48Language and Linguistics

Which statement about the German imperative forms is accurate?

  1. The polite imperative uses the inverted verb plus 'Sie', as in 'Kommen Sie bitte herein'. Correct answer.
  2. The imperative has a distinct plural form ending in '-en' for 'wir'.
  3. The polite imperative uses the infinitive alone.
  4. The informal singular imperative always adds '-e' and never drops it.

Explanation

The polite imperative is formed with the finite verb followed by 'Sie', as in 'Kommen Sie herein'. The informal singular often drops the '-e' ('Komm!'), and there is no 'wir' imperative.

Question 49Language and Linguistics

Which sentence correctly uses the German 'da'-compound to refer to the inanimate object in 'Ich denke oft an meinen Urlaub'?

  1. Ich denke oft an es.
  2. Ich denke oft daran. Correct answer.
  3. Ich denke oft an ihm.
  4. Ich denke oft darauf.

Explanation

For inanimate referents, 'an' plus a pronoun is replaced by the da-compound 'daran'. The preposition determines the compound: 'an' yields 'daran', and 'auf' would yield 'darauf' only with 'auf'.

Question 50Language and Linguistics

Which statement correctly describes the German use of 'werden' plus infinitive to express future?

  1. It is used only in subordinate clauses.
  2. It always expresses an assumption rather than future time.
  3. It is the only grammatical way to express future time in German.
  4. It expresses future time, but the present tense with a time adverb is often preferred when the future meaning is clear. Correct answer.

Explanation

The 'werden' + infinitive construction marks future, but German commonly uses the present tense with a temporal adverb ('Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin') when futurity is already clear. 'Werden' can also signal assumption, but future is a core function.