Author Archives: filippo

The use of Sie and Du

This advice is not for those who know no German at all, nor for those who speak fluently. So… for those in the middle:
in general, Sie is used for everyone except close friends, relatives and children up to 16-18.
The European is not as quick to assume a close relationship as the English/American. Thus, where an American very often uses the first name with anyone he has known for a short time, the European will more rarely use the first name, and most certainly never the Du form.

Colleagues and co-workers in an office will call each other Sie for months even though they see each other very often. If you are not totally right which for to use, just ask your German friend or… use the excuse that you are Auslander!

In many occasions the Du form is used extensively, such as Fasching-parties, sport gatherings and many other forms of social entertainment.

Filippo

Trennbare Verben

One of the trickiest features of german language I’ve experienced so far is the Trennbare Verben.
German verbs can have separable prefixes. These prefixes change the meaning of the original verb, and make a new word. In the present tense, separable prefixes are separated from the verb and placed at the end of the sentence bracket. The separation rule also applies in the imperative. When used in the infinitive, however (e.g. with a modal auxiliary), separable prefix verbs are not divided. As you will shortly learn, the participle forms in the past tense are also combined.

Hans steht jeden Tag um 9.00 Uhr auf. Hans gets up every day at 9:00.
Hans, steh jetzt auf! Hans, get up now!
Hans muss jeden Tag um 9.00 Uhr aufstehen. Hans has to get up every day at 9:00.

Common separable prefixes. Remember that this list is only a rough guide to the meanings of prefixes, since their use is highly idiomatic.

ab = off, down abholen = to pick up
abnehmen = to take off
an = at, on anfangen = to start, begin
anrufen = to call, telephone
anziehen = to put on, dress
auf = up aufhören = to stop
aufräumen = to clean up
aufstehen = to get up, stand up
aus = out ausgehen = to go out
aussehen = to look, appear
ein = in, into einkaufen = to shop
einschlafen = to fall asleep
fern = far fernsehen = to watch TV
fort = away fortgehen = to leave, go away
her = ‘hither’, to here herholen = to fetch
herkommen = to come from
hin = ‘thither’, to there hinstellen = to place, put
mit = with, along mitbringen = to bring along
mitkommen = to come along
mitnehmen = to take along
nach = after nachdenken = to think, reflect
nachfragen = to inquire, ask after
um = around, at umsehen = to look around
vor = before vorhaben = to have planned
vorstellen = to introduce
vorbei = by, past vorbeikommen = to come by
weg = away weggehen = to go away, leave
wegnehmen = to take away
zu = to, closed zuhören = to listen
zumachen = to close
zurück = back zurückgeben = to give back
zurückkommen = to come back
zusammen = together zusammenkommen = to come together

filippo

More functions than a Swiss Army Knife: WERDEN!

Das Verb “werden” hat auf Deutsch viele Benutzungen .

1. Werden als Hauptverb.
Wenn allein benutzt es bedeutet “to become”.

Er wurde Arzt. He became a doctor.
Es wird kalt. It’s getting cold.
Mein Bruder wird heute 31. My brother’s turning 31 today.

2. Werden als Hilfsverb.
Es ist benutzt, um die Futur formieren. Es bedeut “will do”.

Ich werde nach Hause gehen. I will go home.
Es wird morgen schneien. It will snow tomorrow.

3. Werden als Hilfsverb für die Passiv.
es bedeutet “is done/was done”. Wenn für die Passiv benutzt, werden wird in Indikativform formiert, und das Hauptverb wird in Partizip formiert(gemacht).

Mein Auto wird repariert. My car is being repaired.
Die Suppe wurde gekocht. The soup was being cooked.

4. Endlich, werden als Hilfsverb für Conjunktiv.
Es bedeutet “would do”. Es wird in Conjunktiv II formiert (würde), und das Hauptverb wird in Infinitiv formiert.

Ich würde nach Hause gehen. I would go home.
Er würde ein Haus kaufen. He would buy a house.

filippo