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1-9 Ask for directions
Entschuldigung, wo ist der Markt? Excuse me, where is the market?
Der Markt ist da drüben. The market is over there.
Entschuldigung, wo ist das Hotel? Excuse me, where is the hotel?
Das Hotel ist in der Nähe. The hotel is nearby.
Das Kino ist rechts. The movie theater is on the right.
Der Park ist links. The park is on the left.
TIP The, the, and the Remember that all nouns have a gender , and that der and ein change form depending on that gender.
gender noun masculine der Bahnhof , ein Bahnhof feminine die Bäckerei , eine Bäckerei neuter das Kino , ein Kino |
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2-1Speak formally
Guten Tag, wie heißen Sie? Good afternoon, what is your name?
Ich heiße Heidi Klum. My name is Heidi Klum.
Freut mich sehr. Very nice to meet you.
Woher kommen Sie, Herr Musil? Where are you from, Mr. Musil?
Entschuldigung, sprechen Sie Deutsch? Excuse me, do you speak German?
Ja, ich spreche Deutsch! Yes, I speak German!
TIP Who are you? German has different ways to say you, depending on who you’re talking to! You say du to friends and family. But with strangers, people older than you, and authority figures, you’ll say Sie . Using Sie indicates respect, while using du indicates friendliness. |
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2-2 Shop at a market
Wie viel kostet der Tee? How much does the tea cost?
Der Tee kostet sieben Euro! The tea costs seven euros!
Drei Kilo Tomaten, bitte! Three kilograms of tomatoes, please!
Vielen Dank! Thank you very much!
Ja, gern geschehen! Yes, you're welcome!
TIP One Euro, two Euro In English, say one Euro, two Euros. Not in German! It’s always just Euro . |
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2-3 Describe the weather Wie ist das Wetter heute? How is the weather today?
Es regnet. It is raining.
Wo ist mein Regenschirm? Where is my umbrella?
Schneit es? Is it snowing?
Es schneit stark. It is snowing hard.
TIP No matter the weather ...... verbs in a statement stay in second position. But words about when something happens can go at the beginning, the end, or right after the verb!
Heute ist es warm. It is warm today. Es ist heute kalt. It is cold today. Es ist sonnig heute. It is sunny today. |
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2-4 Use the accusative case
Hast du einen Bruder? Do you have a brother?
Ja, ich habe einen Bruder. Yes, I have a brother.
Oh, hat er einen Freund? Oh, does he have a boyfriend?
Er hat keinen Freund. He doesn't have a boyfriend.
Meine Partnerin heißt Marie. My partner's name is Marie.
TIP 1 You’re accusing me?
In English, we say He likes me, but I like him. He becomes him because of the role it plays. German does the same thing with words like ein and mein ! Ich habe einen Bruder. I have a brother.
When something is on the receiving end of an action — being loved, being seen, etc. — the word is put in the accusative case, which makes certain words change form! Ich liebe meinen Mann. I love my husband.
TIP 2 Not everything changes!
In the accusative , only masculine words change form. Others stay the same! Meine Tochter liebt meine Schwester. My daughter loves my sister.
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2-5 Talk about language
Sprechen Sie Türkisch? Do you speak Turkish?
Ich spreche Türkisch und Deutsch. I speak Turkish and German.
Ich spreche nur Deutsch! I only speak German!
Du sprichst zu schnell! You speak too quickly!
Er spricht kein Deutsch. He doesn't speak German.
TIP Nothing is perfect Put words describing how good your language skills are after the subject and verb ! Ich spreche perfekt Deutsch. I speak German perfectly. Sprichst du nur Englisch? Do you only speak English? |
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2-6 Talk about hobbies
Was machst du gern? What do you like to do?
Ich singe gern. I like to sing.
Was machst du jetzt? What are you doing now?
Ich frühstücke jetzt. I am eating breakfast now.
Surfst du jeden Tag? Do you surf every day?
Ich surfe oft, aber es regnet heute. I often surf, but it is raining today.
TIP Living in the present
In German you use the same verb form for things you do habitually and things you’re doing right now.
Ich singe oft. I often sing. Ich singe jetzt. I am singing now. |
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2-7 Use modals
Möchtest du ins Kino oder ins Museum gehen? Would you like to go to the movie theater or the museum?
Ich kann nicht, ich habe kein Geld! I can't, I have no money!
Ich möchte am Wochenende wandern gehen. I would like to go hiking on the weekend.
Hast du heute Abend Zeit? Do you have time this evening?
Ja, ich habe Zeit. Yes, I have time.
TIP Let’s kick it back! In English, we say I’d like to go to the movies. In German, that second verb goes to the end! Möchtest du ins Kino gehen? Would you like to go to the movies? Ich möchte ins Schwimmbad gehen. I would like to go to the swimming pool. |
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2-8 Describe a new apartment Magst du die Wohnung? Do you like the apartment?
Die Wohnung ist groß, aber dunkel. The apartment is big, but dark.
Hast du einen Stuhl? Do you have a chair?
Ich habe einen Stuhl und einen Tisch. I have a chair and a table.
Oh, der Tisch ist hässlich! Oh, the table is ugly!
TIP1 Say it isn’t so! In English, we say I don’t like the table. In German, nicht goes to the end! Mein Freund mag den Tisch nicht. My friend doesn’t like the table.
Use nicht before an adjective to say it isn’t so! Der Stuhl ist nicht bequem. The chair is not comfortable.
TIP2 Der or den? Der , ein , etc., change when the noun is at the receiving end of a verb . Magst du den Tisch? Do you like the table? Ich habe keinen Teppich. I don’t have a carpet.
That’s just for masculine singular nouns though! Others stay the same. Ich brauche die Lampe nicht. I don’t need the lamp. Magst du das Bücherregal? Do you like the bookcase? |
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2-9 Talk about shopping Ich brauche neue Kleidung für das Jobinterview. I need new clothes for the job interview.
Was möchtest du kaufen? What would you like to buy?
Ich muss eine Bluse kaufen. I have to buy a blouse.
Ich mag das Hemd nicht. I don't like the shirt.
Wie viel kostet das Sakko? How much does the suit jacket cost?
Das Kaufhaus ist bis sieben geöffnet. The department store is open until seven.
TIP 1 If you ins‑ist The word ins is short for in das ! Gehst du heute ins Kaufhaus? Are you going to the department store today? Nein, ich gehe ins Café. No, I am going to the coffee shop.
TIP 2 Pow! And another kick! Nouns receiving the action in the sentence get kicked to the end, including after time phrases! Ich habe am Dienstag ein Jobinterview. I have a job interview on Tuesday.
While we’re kicking things around—remember how möchte sends the second verb to the end? Well, muss does the same thing! Ich möchte ein Kleid kaufen, aber ich muss eine Bluse kaufen. I would like to buy a dress but I have to buy a blouse. |
