NSSCO German Foreign Language 6112 flashcards

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

Final devoicing (Auslautverhärtung)

In German a voiced consonant at the end of a word or syllable is pronounced voiceless: Tag sounds like Tak, und like unt, lieb like liep. This affects listening more than spelling.

Separable verb prefix

In a main clause, prefixes of verbs like aufstehen, anrufen and einkaufen move to the end of the sentence. Listen to the whole clause, because the prefix can reverse the meaning.

Sie versus du

Sie is the formal address with the verb in the same form as sie (plural): Können Sie helfen? du is informal with its own verb form: Kannst du helfen? Mixing the two in one sentence is an error.

Verb-second rule

In a German main clause the finite verb occupies position two. If a time expression or object starts the sentence, the subject moves behind the verb: Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.

Verb-final in subordinate clauses

After conjunctions such as weil, dass, obwohl, wenn and damit, the finite verb goes to the end of the clause: Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.

False friend: aktuell

Aktuell means current or up to date, not actual. Similarly eventuell means possibly, and also means therefore. Reading tasks use these words to mislead candidates.

Compound noun gender

In a compound noun the gender is always that of the final element: das Haus gives der Hausmeister, die Haustür and das Hausdach. Check the last word, not the first.

Notice abbreviations

Aushänge use Mo–Fr, ab 8 Uhr, bis 18 Uhr, geöffnet, geschlossen, abgesagt (cancelled) and verschoben (postponed). Recognising these quickly is essential for timetable and opening-hour tasks.

Formal letter greeting

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, or Sehr geehrte Frau Müller, ends with a comma, and the next line begins with a lowercase word because it continues the same sentence.

Formal letter closing

Mit freundlichen Grüßen is the standard formal closing, followed by a signature and no comma after the formula itself. Informal letters use Liebe Grüße or Viele Grüße.

Polite request formula

Ich würde mich freuen, wenn Sie mir die Informationen schicken könnten. This construction with würde plus könnte is the safest polite request in transactional writing and speaking.

Dative prepositions

The prepositions aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu and gegenüber always take the dative: mit dem Bus, nach der Schule, bei meinen Eltern, zu Hause.

Accusative prepositions

The prepositions durch, für, gegen, ohne, um, bis and entlang always take the accusative: für den Vater, ohne mich, durch den Park, um die Ecke.

Two-way prepositions

An, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor and zwischen take the accusative for movement (Wohin?) and the dative for position (Wo?): in die Schule versus in der Schule.

Perfekt with sein

Verbs of movement and change of state form the Perfekt with sein: ich bin gefahren, er ist eingeschlafen, sie ist aufgestanden. Most other verbs use haben: ich habe gegessen.

Three German-speaking countries

German is the official language of Germany (capital Berlin), Austria (Vienna) and Switzerland (Bern as de facto capital). Liechtenstein and Luxembourg also use it officially.

Swiss written German

Swiss Standard German uses ss instead of ß: Strasse, gross, heisst. Spoken Swiss German dialects differ strongly from Standard German, but formal writing follows Standard German rules.

Tag der Deutschen Einheit

German Unity Day falls on 3 October and is Germany's national holiday. It commemorates the 1990 reunification and is a public holiday in all sixteen Bundesländer.

Listening: corrected numbers

Audio texts often mention a wrong figure first and correct it: nicht um acht, sondern um halb neun. The corrected version, usually the second mention, is the answer to record.

Modal particles

Particles such as doch, mal, ja, halt and eigentlich add tone, not facts. Komm doch mal vorbei is a friendly invitation; the particle doch softens or encourages rather than negating.

Yes/no question word order

A yes/no question begins with the finite verb: Hast du Zeit? A W-question begins with the question word and puts the verb second: Wann hast du Zeit?

Umlaut minimal pairs

Umlauts distinguish words in speech and writing: schon (already) versus schön (beautiful), Mutter versus Mütter, füllen versus fühlen. Mispronouncing them can change the meaning entirely.

Reading task keyword scan

Locate the keyword from the question in the text, then read one sentence before and after it. The answer is normally contained in that window rather than spread across the passage.

Negating prefixes

Prefixes un-, miss-, ent- and wider- reverse a word's meaning: zufrieden becomes unzufrieden, verstehen becomes missverstehen. Missing the prefix flips the answer in comprehension items.

Email Betreff line

The subject line of a German email is short and noun-based, for example Anmeldung zum Deutschkurs or Frage zur Bestellung. It is not a full sentence and needs no greeting.

Register consistency in writing

A formal text must keep Sie-forms from the first line to the last. A single du, mal or colloquial contraction breaks the register and costs marks in transactional writing.

Adjective endings after der-words

After der, die, das the adjective takes -e in the nominative singular and in the feminine and neuter accusative (der gute Wein, die gute Idee), and -en in all other positions.

Irregular comparison

Gut becomes besser and am besten, viel becomes mehr and am meisten, gern becomes lieber and am liebsten. These forms are irregular and cannot be predicted from the base adjective.

Feminine noun suffixes

Nouns ending in -ung, -heit, -keit and -schaft are feminine: die Wohnung, die Freiheit, die Möglichkeit, die Freundschaft. Agent nouns in -er are usually masculine: der Lehrer.

Austrian national day

Austria's national holiday is 26 October, commemorating the 1955 declaration of permanent neutrality. Austria has nine Bundesländer and uses the euro as its currency.

Swiss cantons and languages

Switzerland has 26 cantons and four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. National day is 1 August, and direct democracy brings frequent referendums.

Nikolaustag and Advent

Nikolaustag is 6 December, when children receive small gifts in shoes. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and an Advent calendar counts the days to 24 December.