PSEB Class 12 German flashcards

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

Skimming

Reading quickly for main ideas by focusing on titles, first sentences, and key words before detailed reading.

Scanning

Looking through a text for specific information such as names, dates, or numbers without reading every word.

Inference question

A question that requires drawing a logical conclusion from the text, not just locating explicit information.

True/False/Not mentioned

A task type where you decide if a statement is supported, contradicted, or not addressed in the text.

Negation markers

Words like nicht, kein, nie, and sondern that change the meaning of a sentence and are crucial for comprehension.

Formal letter opening

In German: Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, or Sehr geehrte Frau … / Sehr geehrter Herr … followed by a comma and lowercase start.

Formal letter closing

Mit freundlichen Grüßen followed by a comma and your name on the next line; no period after the greeting.

Informal letter opening

Liebe/Lieber + first name, or Hallo + first name, followed by a comma and lowercase continuation.

Connectors

Words like zuerst, dann, außerdem, deshalb, trotzdem, weil that link ideas and improve text cohesion.

Erörterung

A German essay presenting arguments for and against a topic, with introduction, body, and conclusion.

Verb second rule

In German main clauses, the conjugated verb occupies the second position, even if the subject comes later.

Subordinate clause word order

In a subordinate clause introduced by weil, dass, obwohl, etc., the conjugated verb goes to the end.

Dative prepositions

Prepositions mit, nach, bei, seit, von, zu, aus always take the dative case.

Accusative prepositions

Prepositions durch, für, gegen, ohne, um always take the accusative case.

Two-way prepositions

Prepositions like in, auf, an take accusative for motion/direction and dative for location.

Perfect tense with sein

Use sein as auxiliary with verbs of motion or change of state (gehen, fahren, aufstehen) and sein, bleiben, werden.

Adjective endings

Adjectives before nouns take endings that agree in gender, number, and case; pattern depends on preceding article.

Passive voice

Formed with werden + past participle; the agent is expressed with von + dative if needed.

Konjunktiv II

Used for hypothetical situations and polite requests; often formed with würde + infinitive or special forms like hätte, wäre, könnte.

Relative clause

A clause that describes a noun; the relative pronoun agrees with the noun in gender and number, case from its function.

Infinitive with zu

Construction used after certain verbs and expressions (z.B. Ich habe vor, … zu …) with the infinitive at the end.

Text type identification

Recognizing whether a text is a report, interview, advertisement, or letter helps predict content and purpose.

Summarizing

Restating the main points of a text in your own words, avoiding copying original sentences.

False friends

Words that look similar in German and English but differ in meaning, e.g., also (so), bald (soon), bekommen (receive).

Register

The level of formality in language; German uses Sie for formal and du for informal address.

Idiomatic translation

Translating the meaning of an idiom rather than word-for-word, e.g., 'Das ist nicht mein Bier' → 'That's not my problem'.

Topic sentence

The first sentence of a paragraph that states its main idea and guides the reader.

Linking words

Words like however, therefore, moreover that connect ideas and improve flow in a composition.

Proofreading

Checking a written text for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors before submitting.

Capitalization of nouns

In German, all nouns are capitalized, regardless of position in the sentence.

Separable verbs

Verbs with prefixes like auf-, an-, mit- that separate in main clauses: Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.

Modal particles

Words like doch, mal, ja that add nuance and are common in spoken German but hard to translate directly.