08/07/2015 FRIDAY 09:20 | WEB-GLOBUS
GERMAN FOR BEGINNERS. LEVEL A1
German sentences have a number of features that are unique to this language. They are always two-part, that is, they necessarily contain both main members - the subject and the predicate. Let us consider below the design features of German sentences.
1. German predicates are always expressed verb forms; in nominal predicates there must be a linking verb, including the present tense:
Karl ist Soziologe. - Karl is a sociologist.
2. In German sentences more than one negation can never be used:
Nina ist nie in Düsseldorf gewesen. - Nina has never been to Dusseldorf.
3. The German subject is always used in Nominativ and can be expressed either by a noun or by any other part of speech that is used in the meaning of a name:
Die Reisenden entdeckten einen schönen Bergsee. - The travelers came across a beautiful mountain lake (participle).
Sie hat Lilien gewählt. — She chose lilies (pronoun).
Vier mal vier ist sechzehn. - Four times four is sixteen (numerals).
Vom Kai zu tauchen ist verboten. - Jumping into the water from the embankment is prohibited (infinitive phrase).
4. Predicates in German sentences can be verbal (simple and compound) and nominal (always compound). Simple predicates consist of single verbs in finite forms, tenses and voices corresponding to the subject. Thus, simple verbal predicates can consist of a single verb (simple form) or the same verb paired with an auxiliary (complex form). Compound verbal predicates include two verbs, each of which has an independent meaning:
Der graue Kater sprang auf. - The gray cat jumped up (simple verb predicate in simple form).
Der graue Kater ist aufgesprungen. - The gray cat jumped up (simple verbal predicate in complex form).
Kann dein Kater auf den Kühlschrank aufspringen? - Can your cat jump on the refrigerator (compound verb predicate)?
Mein Kater ist ein sehr ruhiges Tier. - My cat is a very calm animal (compound noun predicate).
In addition to the main members, German sentences may contain secondary ones.
5. German objects can be case or prepositional. Non-prepositional objects in Akkusativ are called direct objects and are governed by transitive verbs. Other objects are called indirect and are controlled by intransitive verbs:
Diese Geschichte wurde dem alten Märchenbuch entnommen. - This story was taken from an old book of fairy tales (non-prepositional indirect object in Dativ).
Meine Verwandten gehen auf ein Verbrechen nicht ein. - My relatives will not commit a crime (prepositional indirect object in Akkusativ).
Helga näht ein Kleid für meine Schwester. - Helga is sewing a dress for my sister (direct object).
6. German circumstances can be of many different types: time, mode of action, place, purpose, cause, effect. They can be expressed by adverbs or nouns without prepositions or with prepositions:
In dieser Gegend gibt es viele Brunnen. - There are many sources in this area (adverbial location, noun with preposition).
Deshalb wurde sie mit Recht so genannt. - That’s why she was rightfully called that (two circumstances of the reason).
Diese Badeschuhe hat er zum Schwimmen im Meer gekauft. - He purchased these bathing slippers for bathing (swimming) in the sea (purpose circumstance).
7. German definitions according to their type are divided into coordinated and inconsistent (meaning those members of the sentence to which they are adjacent). The only obligatory condition is that this member of the sentence is always expressed by a noun. Agreed definitions are such insofar as they agree with nouns in case, gender and number. They occupy a place before the name and can be participles, adjectives, pronouns (interrogative, possessive, demonstrative):
Meine gelbe Tasche hat sie irritiert. - My yellow bag annoyed her (two agreed upon definitions: possessive pronoun and adjective).
Welchen Blumenstrauss möchten Sie bestellen? - What bouquet of flowers would you like to order (agreed definition: interrogative pronoun)?
Seine dritte Wahl hat sie erfreut. - His third choice pleased her (agreed definition: ordinal number).
Das Auto unserer Nachbarn steht immer in ihrer Garage. - Our neighbors' car is always in their garage (inconsistent definition: noun in Genitiv).
In German, any predicate necessarily includes a verb: cf. Russian sentence "I'm glad" and German "Ich binfroh". The second feature German predicate is the constant place of the predicate and its parts in various types of sentences. The predicate with additions and circumstances forms a group predicate.
Available the following types predicate:
1) verbal predicate;
2) predicate, expressed by a stable verb phrase;
3) nominal predicate.
Verb predicate.
Simple verb predicate consists of one verb in any form of tense, voice and mood: Ich lese. - I am reading.Ichlas. - I read.Ichwerdelesen. - I will read.Ich habe gelesen. - Iread. Dieses Buch wild viel gelesen. - Thisbooka lot ofread.
There are two types of compound verb predicate:
a) A complex verbal predicate consists of a verb with a specific meaning (expressing the beginning, end, repetition of an action) and the infinitive of a significant verb used with zu : Erbegannzusprechen. - He spoke. He started talking.Erpflegtfrühaufzustehen. - He tends to get up early.Eshörteaufzuregnen. - The rain is over.
b) A compound verb predicate consists of a modal verb ( kö nnen, du rfen, mu ssen etc.) or a modal verb ( scheinen, brauchen etc.) and the infinitive of the significant verb; with modal verbs the infinitive is used without a particle zu , with modal verbs with a particle zu : Ermußarbeiten.- It should work.Erbrauchtheutenothingzucommen. - He doesn’t have to come today.
c) A complex verbal predicate consists of verbs haben And sein and the infinitive of the significant verb used with zu- : IchhabeIhnenvielzusagen. - I have a lot to tell you.DerTextistzu übersetzen. - The text can (needs) be translated.
The use of modal verbs to express the meaning of possibility, necessity, desire). Verb kö nnen means an opportunity available due to certain conditions: Esregnetnothingmehr,erkannnachHousegehen. - There is no more rain, he can (he can) go home.Es regnet, er kann nicht nach Hause gehen. - Comingrain, HeNotMaybegohome. Es regnet nicht mehr, man kann nach Hause gehen. - RainpainsheNo, Cangohome. Es regnet, man kann nicht nach Hause gehen. - Comingrain, it is forbiddengohome. Kö nnen also means “to be able to”: IchkannSchachspielen. - I can play chess.
Verb durfen means a possibility that exists due to someone's permission. For example, in sentences containing permission, prohibition, order: Siedurfenhiernothingbleiben! - You shouldn't stay here! You can't stay here. You are not allowed to stay here.Mandarfhiernothingrauchen! - You can't smoke here. Smoking is not allowed here!
Dü rfen often used in interrogative sentences that ask for permission to do something: DarfichnachHousegehen? -Can I go home? Can I go home? Can I go home?Darfmanhierrauchen? - Is it possible to smoke here? Is smoking allowed here?
Verb mu ssen has the meaning “should” (due to objective necessity or belief): Esistspat,ermußnachHousegehen. - It's late, he has to go home. It's late, he needs (he needs, he needs) to go home.Es ist spät, man muß nach Hause gehen. - Late, need to(Notbypassed) gohome.
With denial mussen almost never used; instead of mussen a verb with a modal meaning is used brauchen - need to: Sie brauchen morgen nicht zu kommen. -To youno needTomorrowcome. Wed:Siemussenmorgencommen. - You need to come tomorrow.
Verb sollen has the meaning “must” (by virtue of someone’s order, instruction, etc.): Ersollbleiben.- He must stay. Let him stay.Ersollnothingbleiben. - He shouldn't stay. Sollen often used in interrogative sentences that ask about the need to do something: Sollenwirhierbleiben? - Should we stay here? Should we stay here? Should we stay here?Sollmanbleiben? Need to stay? Stay?
Please note that Russian one-part sentences with “can”, “cannot”, “need”, etc. + infinitive in German always correspond to two-part sentences (i.e. sentences with a subject and predicate): Can I go? -Darfichgehen? To meneed togo. - Ich muß gehen. It is forbiddenleave! - Man darf nicht gehen.
Also, Russian one-part sentences with an infinitive in German correspond to two-part sentences: Transfer? -Sollich übersetzen?Sollen wir übersetzen? Soll man übersetzen? To meread? - Soll ich lesen? They don't understand this. -Daskönnensienothingverstehen.
Verb wollen means desire or intention: Erwilldaswissen.- He wants to know.AmAbendwollenwirinsTheatergehen. - In the evening we are going (want, intend) to go to the theater . Wollen WollenwirnachHousegehen! Let's go home! Let's go home!(Cf. the use of the 1st person plural imperative. GehenwirnachHause! - Let's go home! Let's go home).
Verb wollen may have a weakened modal meaning; in this case the combination wollen with the infinitive close in meaning to futurum: Ichwill allestun,wasichkann. - I will do everything, What Can.
Verb mö gen has two main meanings:
a) mögen means “let, must; Maybe": Ermagmorgencommen. - Let him come tomorrow. (He should come tomorrow.)(Wed: also use mö gen in this meaning in subordinate clauses containing indirect speech).
6) mö gen means “to want, to desire”, in this meaning mö gen used in the preterite conjunctiva: IchmöchteSieetwasfragen. - I would like to ask you something. I want to ask you something. I want to ask you something.
Verb lassen - ließ - gelassen used as a modal verb in two ways:
a) lassen vt has the meaning of “command, ask, force”: DerDekanläßtSiemorgenkommen.- The dean tells you (asks you) to come tomorrow.DerLecturerläßtunsviellesen. - The teacher makes us read a lot.
Pay attention to compliance lassen Russian "let": LassenSieihnsprechen. - Let him speak. In this case, the following option is also used in Russian:LassenSieihnsprechen. - Let him talk.LassenSiemichsprechen. - Let me tell you.
Besides this verb lassen is part of the following expressions: sich (Dat.)etw.nähenlassen - sew something for yourself.(or: giveto myself What -l . sew): Ich lasse mir ein neues Kleid nähen.- II sewto myselfnewdress. Igave it awaysewto myselfnewdress. etw. reparieren fassen - to give awayVrepair: Er ließ seine Uhr reparieren. - HegavetheirwatchVrepair, sich (Akk.) rasieren lassen - shave(Vhairdresser): Er läßt sich immer hier rasieren. - HeshavesAlwaysHere.
Lassen also used in incentive sentences: Laß(t)unsnachHousegehen! - Let's go home, (cf.: the use of the modal verb in the same meaning wollen ).
b) lassen sich - has the meaning of opportunity (i.e. is a synonym kö nnen ): Dasläßtsichmachen.- It can be done.Das läßt sich nicht machen. - Thisit is forbiddendo. Dieser Text läßt sich leicht übersetzen. - Thistexteasilyrelead.
Verb combination lassen with another verb when translated into Russian is often indecomposable, i.e. its meaning is not derived from the sum of the meanings of these two semantic verbs (for example: Erlaß t unsviellesen.- He forces us a lot read ), but has another Russian equivalent, in which the meaning lassen not directly reflected, for example: mitsichredenlassen - to be accommodating,sich (Dat.)etwasgefallenlassen - endure, endure something. In the dictionary, the translation of such combinations into Russian should be found in the dictionary entry for lassen . Lassen can also form a complex verb with other verbs: fallenlassen - to drop.
Modal verbs are more often used in simple tense forms than in complex ones; this is how the preterite is used more often , than perfect. Modal verbs kö nnen, mö gen, du rfen (the latter in the form of preterite conjunctiva du rfte ), mu ssen, sollen And wollen in combination with infinitive II, less often with infinitive I, can be used to express various types assumptions; In this meaning, modal verbs are translated into Russian as follows:
A) kö nnen, mö gen in combination with infinitive II, less often with infinitive I, are translated into Russian with the words “perhaps, maybe, perhaps, it seems” and the personal form of the verb: Erkann (mag)nachHousegegangensein. - Perhaps (maybe, perhaps, it seems) he went home.Erkann (mag)kranksein. - Perhaps (maybe, perhaps, it seems) he is sick.
However, when translating an interrogative sentence, “perhaps, maybe”, etc. are usually omitted: Wannkann (mag)ernachHousegegangensein? - When did he go home? (When could he go home?).
b) du rfen in the preterite conjunctiva (i.e. in the form du rfte ) in combination with infinitive II, less often with infinitive I, is translated into Russian with the words “apparently, apparently, perhaps, it seems” and the personal form of the verb: ErdurfteschonnachHousegegangensein. - He apparently (apparently, perhaps, it seems) has already gone home.Erdurftekranksein. - He is apparently (apparently, perhaps, it seems) sick.
(If there is a negation, a translation option with the words “hardly” is also possible: Dasdurftenothingrichtigsein. - This is hardly correct.)
However, when translating an interrogative sentence “apparently, apparently”, etc. usually omitted: Dü rfte es richtig sein? -It's right? Dü rfte er sich geirrt haben? - Was he wrong?
V) mu ssen in combination with infinitive II, less often with infinitive I, is translated into Russian with the words “it must be, probably, very likely, obviously” and the personal form of the verb: ErmußnachHousegegangensein. - He must have (probably, very likely, obviously) gone home.Ermußkranksein. - He must be (probably, very likely, obviously) sick.
G) sollen in combination with infinitive II, less often with infinitive I, is translated into Russian with the words “they say, report”, etc. and the following subordinate clause: ErsollnachHousegegangensein. - They say he went home.Ersollkranksein. - They say he is sick.Die Delegation soll Moskau schon verlassen haben. - Report, WhatdelegationalreadyleftfromMoscow.
The specified combination can also be translated into Russian with the words “according to information, according to reports,” etc. and the personal form of the verb. DieDelegationsollMoscowschonverlassenhaben.- According to available information, the delegation has already left Moscow.Sollen in the above meaning can be used in a sentence in which it is already clear from the context that someone else’s words are being conveyed: EswildGemeldet,dieDelegationsollnachKiewgefahrensein. - They report that the delegation has left for Kyiv.
d) wollen in combination with infinitive II, less often with infinitive I, is translated into Russian with the words “he claims”, “he says” and a subsequent subordinate clause, which may contain the word “supposedly”: Er(sie)willselbstdabeigewesensein. - He (she) claims that he (allegedly) was present at the same time.
Verbs haben And sein can also be used in a modal meaning in special phrases:
1) haben + zu + The infinitive, as a rule, has the meaning of obligation, necessity: Ichhabenightzuarbeiten. - I have to (I need) to work more.Wir haben noch eine Stunde zu fahren. - Us(need to) drivemorehour. Ichhattenightzuarbeiten. - I had (I needed) to work more.
Synonym of combination haben + zu + infinitive are modal verbs mu ssen And sollen with infinitive: Ichhabenightzuarbeiten.= Ich muß (soll) noch arbeiten.
Less often haben + zu + the infinitive has the meaning of possibility: Er hat nichts zu sagen.-He can't say anything. He has nothing to say.Erhatvielzuberichten. - He can tell you a lot. He has something to report.
2) sein + zu + The infinitive expresses, depending on the context: a) the meaning of obligation, necessity, b) the meaning of possibility; combination sein + zu + the infinitive has a passive meaning.
A) Die Rechnung ist gleich zu bezahlen.- The bill must be paid immediately. Checkneed toimmediatelysamepay. Die Rechnung war gleich zu bezahlen. - Checkneed towasimmediatelysamepay. Die Versammlung ist von allen zu besuchen. - OnmeetingoweuscomeAll.
b) Das ist leicht zu tun. -This(Can) easilydo. Diese alte Maschine ist nicht mehr zu benutzen. - ThisoldcarNotMaybebemoreused. Daswarleichtzutun. - It (could) be easy to do.
Synonyms for sein + zu + infinitive are modal verbs mu ssen, solen, kö nnen with the passive infinitive: DieRechnungistgleichzubezahlen.= Die Rechnung muß (soll) gleich bezahlt werden. - Checknecessaryimmediatelysamepay. Das ist leicht zu tun. = Das kann leicht getan werden.-It (can be) easily done.
Translation into Russian of verbs with modal meaning: glauben, scheinen, suchen, verstehen, wissen . These verbs are called modal verbs because... Unlike modal verbs, their main meaning is not modal. So, for example, the main meaning suchen "to seek" and its modal meaning is "to try".
With the infinitive of another verb, they acquire a modal meaning and are translated as follows:
1) glauben – seem (+ object in dat. case): IchglaubeSiezuKennen. - It seems to me that I know you.ErglaubtediesenMannzuKennen. - It seemed to him that he knew this man.Erglaubtallesverstandenzuhaben. - He thought he understood everything.
2) scheinen - seem: ErscheintdiesenMannzuKennen. - He seems to know this man.Erschien diesenMannzuKennen. - It seemed (that) he knew this man.Erscheint,allesvergessenzuhaben. - It seems (that) he forgot everything.Erscheintklug(zusein). - He seems smart.
3) suchen - try, try: Ersuchtunszuhelfen. - He is trying (trying) to help us.Er suchte uns zu überzeugen. - Hetried(had tried) usubebaby.
4) verstehen - be able to: Er versteht zu überzeugen. -Hecanconvince.
5) wissen - be able to, be able to: Er weiß zu schweigen. -Hecankeep silent. Er weiß zu überzeugen. - Hecanconvince. Ich weiß Ihnen nicht zu helfen. - INotCanto youhelp.
A predicate expressed by a stable verb phrase.
Stable verbal phrases consist of a verb and a noun or adjective (less often an adverb); stable verb phrases are equivalent in meaning to the verb, for example: Platznehmen =sichsetzen (to sit down),zumAusdruckbringen =ausdrucken (to express).
The arrangement of the parts of the predicate, expressed by a stable phrase, is the same as that of separable verbs: Wirnehmen immerdortPlatz. - We always sit there. Comp.: Die Versammlung findet in diesem Horsaal stat.- Meetingwill take placeVthisaudience.
Understanding sentences with a predicate expressed by a stable verb phrase often causes difficulties, since sometimes not the entire stable phrase, but only the verb, is taken as the predicate. Compare, for example, the following sentence: Der Autor brachte diese Idee in folgenden Worten zum Ausdruck. Even if you know each word of this sentence separately, but do not take into account the fact that the predicate is expressed in a stable phrase, translation is impossible. Only by defining the predicate can you correctly translate this sentence: DerAuthorbrachte dieseIdeainfolgendenWortenzum Ausdruck. (derAuthor – subject,brachtezumAusdruck - predicate) (zumAusdruckbringen - to express). - Author expressed this idea in the following words .
The predicate, expressed by a stable verb phrase, occurs very often. The most common types stable phrases, acting as a predicate, are the following:
1) verb + noun ( for the most part with preposition): jmdn.inEmpfangnehmen - to meet, accept someone;zumAusdruckkommen - express yourself in something, find expression in something;zuEndebringen - to bring to the end;jmdm.EtwaszurKentnisbringen - to bring something to someone's attention;einenEindruckmachen - to make an impression;Abschiednehmenvon (Dat.)- saying goodbye;keinEndenehmen - not to stop etc.
2) verb+ adjective: etwasrückgängigmachen - to cancel something;esweitbringen - to achieve a lot;jmdn.aufetwasaufmerksammachen - to draw someone's attention to something;sichbemerkbarmachen - to attract attention; make yourself known etc.
3) verb+ adverb (which is a fusion of a preposition with a noun): zutagetreten - to appear, to appear, to manifest;zugrundelegen - to put something at the basis of something;zugrundegehen - to perish;zustandekommen - to be carried out.
Other subgroups of this type are less numerous, but the principle of analysis and translation of combinations is the same. Such phrases, as can be seen from the examples, can be translated into Russian by a verb or a phrase of a similar form in the Russian language.
The range of verbs that form the above phrases is small: bringen, commen, liegen, legen, machen, nehmen, setzen, trten and some others; as part of a phrase, these verbs lose their original lexical meaning and become lexically incomplete. The main lexical meaning is carried by a noun, adjective, adverb. In the dictionary, the translation of these phrases should be looked for in the entry of the corresponding noun, adjective, adverb (although in most dictionaries, combinations of this kind are also placed in the entry of the corresponding verb, i.e. twice).
Nominal predicate
The nominal predicate consists of a linking verb and a nominal part, which in German grammar called a predicate.
The linking verbs are sein, werden, bleiben, heißen : Die Vorlesung ist interessant. -Lectureinteresting. Er wird Lehrer.- He will be a teacher.WirbleibenFreunde. - We will remain (remain) friends.ErheißtOlegPetrow. - His name is Oleg Petrov.
The predicatives most often are nouns, adjectives, participles II of transitive verbs, less often - pronouns, numerals and adverbs.
1) The predicate expressed by a noun is in the nominative (answers the question wer? was? ): DasisteinLehrbuch. - This is a textbook.Das ist ein Student. - Thisstudent. Er ist Student. - Hestudent.
The predicate usually has an indefinite or zero article, but: DasistderStudentPetrow. - This is student Petrov.
Please note that in Russian a predicative noun can appear in instrumental case: “He was a student,” and in German only in the nominative: ErwarStudent.
A noun with a preposition can also act as a predicate: DieserBriefistfurdenDekan. - This letter is for the dean.DasModellistausMetall. - Metal model.
2) A predicate expressed by an adjective always stands in immutable form(answers the question wie? ): IchbinschonGesund. - I'm already healthy.Sie ist schon gesund. - Shealreadyhealthy. Sie sind schon gesund. - Theyalreadyhealthy.
3) The predicate, expressed by participle II of transitive verbs, also stands in an unchangeable form: DerTextistinsRussian übersetzt. - The text has been translated into Russian.Die Texte sind ins Russische übersetzt. - TextstranslatedonRussianlanguage.
In some grammars the combination sein + participle II from transitive verbs is called passive state, or cabinet.
4) The predicate can be expressed by a pronoun in the nominative: Dasbinich.- It's me; numeral: Wirsindvier. - We are a party of four; adverb: Jetztistallesanders. - Now everything is different.
5) In any sentence, except for a subordinate clause, if the linking verb is used in the present or preterite, the predicative is at the end of the sentence: EristjetztStudent. - He's a student now.Früher war er Arbeiter. - EarlierHewasworkers. Sie ist schon alt. - Shealreadyold.
If the linking verb is in a complex tense form, then the predicate comes before the participle or infinitive: ErwildIngenieursein. - He will be an engineer.EristjetztIngenieurgeworden.- He has now become an engineer.Er ist vor kurzem krank gewesen. - RecentlyHewasis ill.
A special case represents the location of phrases with wie And als when comparing: Eristebensoaltwieich.- He is as old as me.Er ist älter als ich. - Heolder, howI. Diese Arbeit wird schwieriger sein als die erste. - ThisJobwillmore difficultfirst.
6) A nominal predicate may contain a modal verb: Erwillstarksein. - He wants to be strong.ErkannLehrerwerden. - He can become a teacher.
§ 165. A nominal predicate differs from a verbal one in that it includes, in addition to the verbal part, a nominal part - most often a noun or an adjective (in short form). Linking verbs (118) sein (to be, to appear), werden (to become), haben (to have) in their dictionary meaning regularly act as the verbal part of the nominal predicate.
The tense of the nominal predicate is determined by the tense of the linking verb:
Zur Bestimmung der Rentabilität ist der Gewinn zur wichtigsten Größe geworden (Perfekt from werden + noun, more precisely: noun group) . Die menschlichen Bedürfnisse waren unendlich groß (Präteritum from sein + adjective in short form) . Aber die Mittel zu ihrer Befriedigung (das heisst die Güter) wurden immer knapper (Präteritum from werden + adjective in short form in comparative degree) .
Notes:
1) Unlike the Russian language, in which the nominal predicate is simple and compound (cf.: He is a manager - He was a manager), the German nominal predicate is always compound, because The linking verb sein is also used in the form Präsens: Er ist / war Manager.
2) When translating the verb sein in a nominal predicate, it should be taken into account that in Russian, unlike German, the linking verb to be in the present tense is omitted: Er ist/war unser wichtigste ausländische Partner.
3) If the nominal part of the predicate is expressed by an adjective in the superlative degree (34), then such an adjective is declined and supplied with the corresponding article: Diese Frage ist die wichtigste; Dieses Problem ist das wichtigste; Dieser Nachweis ist der wichtigste.
§ 166. A participle can also act as a nominal part of a nominal predicate.
1. Form Partizip II transitive verb forms in combination with the verb sein (in Präsens/Präteritum) the so-called
“effective passive” (132).
The assignment of the form sein + Partizip II vt to a nominal predicate is based on the fact that the verb sein behaves here as a linking verb and is translated in the independent meaning of being, being. The tense of a nominal predicate of this type is determined, as in any other nominal predicate, by the tense of the verb sein.
If sein has the form Präsens, then the predicate fixes in
the present result of a previously committed action: Der Vertrag ist notariell beurkundet.
If the verb sein is in the form Präteritum, then the predicate denotes in the past the result of an action committed at an even earlier period, i.e. records a new state in the past: Der Vertrag war notariell beurkundet.
Note: Each of the interpretations in grammars of the form sein + Partizip II of the transitive verb has its own reasons:
As a nominal predicate - due to the similarity of the participle and the adjective, cf.: Die Rentabilität war erhöht
. – Die rentabilität war hoch
As a resultative passive / passive state - due to the similarity of the passive meanings conveyed by the combinations sein + Partizip II and werden + Partizip II, cf.: Die Rentabilität ist (durch Einsatz von neuen Verfahren) erhöht
. – Die Rentabilität wird (durch Einsatz von neuen Verfahren) erhöht .
2. Short form Partizip I, forming a combination with the verbs sein or werden, behaves similarly short adjective as part of a nominal predicate:
Wer eine neue Konsumware will, muss die alte "abschaffen". Denn nur
dann ist/wird die Anschaffung lohnend
a new consumer product must get rid of the old one.
Because only then does the acquisition justify itself (lit.:
is/becomes self-justifying)>.
The convergence in the use of short forms of participle I and adjective as a nominal part is evident from a comparison of similar contexts:
Die Anschaffung war lohnend
justified/justified>. – Die Anschaffung war günstig
In order to clearly and concisely express your thoughts orally or in writing, it is not enough to master such grammatical norms as verb conjugation, case inflection of nouns and adjectives, etc. A German sentence has a clearly organized structure, which at the initial stage of learning may not be clear to non-German speakers.
Before proceeding with the grammatically correct construction of any sentence, it is necessary to determine what the speaker wants to say, that is what sentence will be according to the purpose of the statement:
Narrative– conveys available information to the interlocutor;
Interrogative– the sentence asks a question in order to obtain some information;
Incentive– contains a call from the interlocutor to perform an action.
To clearly understand the structure German offer, the residents of Germany themselves compare it to an orchestra in which conductor is predicate verb. He “sets the tone” for each instrument in the orchestra - a member of the sentence.
In a declarative simple sentence
predicate verb always worth in 2nd position.
But what comes before it is not at all important. This there doesn't have to be a subject, expressed by a noun or pronoun. To 1st place can be supplied and minor members.
For example:
If used in a sentence compound predicate, then to 2nd place must be placed its changeable part, and its unchangeable part heading off In the end.
There are such variants of the compound predicate:
1. So to speak Modal predicate (this means >> modal verb + semantic).
Eg,
- Wir können heute arbeiten. - We can work today.
! können, can - modal verb./ arbeiten, to work is a semantic verb. !
2. Temporary form(auxiliary verb + semantic).
Eg,
- Ich habe zwei Jahre Deutsch gelern. — I studied German for 2 years.
! haben- auxiliary verb / lernen- semantic verb. !
3. Infinitive construction (verb + verb/infinitive with particle zu or otherwise compound infinitive).
Eg,
- Frau Horst beginnt zu sprechen. Mrs. Horst begins to speak.
! beginnen- verb / zu sprechen- infinitive with particle zu!
- Ich verpreche zu kommen. I promise to come.
! verpreche - verb /zu commen- infinitive with particle zu!
4. Verb phrases(established bundles of words, where there is a verb and a part related to it).
Eg,
Ich Weiß Bescheid. - I am aware of the matter/informed.
! Bescheid wissen- verb phrase!
Frauen legen mehr Wert auf Vertrauen und Loyalität als Männer. — Women place more importance on trust and loyalty than men. / Women value trust and loyalty more than men.
! Wert legen- verb phrase!
5. Verb with a separable prefix.
Eg,
Dominic mast die Augen zu. — Dominic closes his eyes.
! zu machen - to close- verb with a separate attachment!
It is worth mentioning separately about those parts of speech that are located between the components of a complex predicate.
This part of the sentence in German sounds like Mittelfeld. The words in this segment cannot be arranged in any way; they also obey certain rules:
Pronouns are always placed before nouns, no matter what case they are in.
For example:
- Linda hat ihm mein Auto geliehen! — Linda lent him my car!
- Helga hat mir diese Uhr geschenkt. — Helga gave me this watch.
Several nouns following one after another are arranged according to cases - Nominativ, Dativ, Akkusativ, Genetiv.
For example:
- Heute hat meine Mutter (Nom.) mir (Dat.) etwas besonderes (A) gekauft. — Today my mother bought me something special.
Several pronouns in a row are also arranged according to cases: Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ.
For example:
- Heute hat sie(N) es(A) mir (D) gekauft. — Today she bought this for me.
Such a part of a sentence as a circumstance in the German text is located according to the rule TEKAMOLO. What does it mean? TE (or temporal) means time, KA (or kausal) is the cause, MO (or modal) means the manner of action, LO (or lokal) is the place. In other words, first the circumstances will be named that answer the questions “how long/when/how often?”, then – for what reason?/why?, the next place – how?/how?, and the final position – where?/where? /from where?.
For example:
- Wir fahren morgen ( temporal) mit dem Zug ( modal) nach Frankreich ( local). — Tomorrow we will go by train to France.
- Sven wurde gestern ( T.E.) wegen einer Infektion ( K.A.) schnell ( M.O.) ins Krankenhaus ( L.O.) gebracht. — Yesterday Sven was quickly rushed to the hospital due to an infection.
Nouns used with definite articles, are placed in a simple declarative sentence before nouns with articles ein, eine.
For example:
- Ich habe dem Sohn meiner Tante ein Hemd gekauft. — I bought a shirt for my aunt’s son.
- Kimmi hat den Eltern ein neues Café empfohlen. — Kimmy recommended a new cafe to her parents.
An indirect object, consisting of an object and a preposition, is placed before a direct object, requiring Dativ and Akkusativ.
For example:
- Die Mutter hat ihrer Tochter (D) ein neues Kleid (A) aus Baumwolle (Präposition/preposition + D) genäht. — Mom sewed a cotton dress for her daughter.
Circumstances, if any, are usually placed between the additions.
For example:
Du musst dir unbedingt diese serie anschauen! - You should definitely watch this series!
Ich danke Ihnen herzlich für Ihre Glückwünsche, juhuuu! - I sincerely thank you for your congratulations, yuuuu!
When studying the question of the structure of a German sentence, one cannot help but touch upon the construction of a complex sentence.
Complex sentence and its structure
A sentence consisting of two or more stems (subject + predicate) is called complex. In German, as in Russian, such sentences are divided into two types:
Compounds, in which simple sentences are connected by conjunctions aber and und. The arrangement of words in them is traditional;
For example:
Ich fliege nach Spanien und meine Kinder bleiben zu Hause (natürlich mit Oma haha). — I'm flying to Spain, and my children are staying at home (with their grandmother, of course, haha).
Ich habe Magdalena eingeladen, aber sie ist nicht gekommen. — I invited Magdalena, but she didn’t come.
Complex subordinates - consisting of 2 parts: main - Hauptsatz, and subordinate - Nebensatz. In the main part, the arrangement of words should be straight. As for the subordinate part, it has reverse order words - the verb is placed at the end.
For example:
Markuss ist nicht zu meiner Geburtstagsparty gekommen, obwohl ich ihn eingeladen habe (verb at the end).— Marcus didn’t come to my birthday, even though I invited him.
2. Interrogative sentence
Question sentences in German speech are divided into two categories:
Are common— imply a specific “yes/no” answer;
Special , in the structure of which there must be a question word.
IN general issue
The inflected part of the predicate verb should be in the 1st position, the subject in the 2nd position, then the remaining members of the sentence. If the predicate is complex, its unchangeable part is placed at the end of the question.
For example:
Kommt Helena Morgen? — Will Helena come tomorrow?
Magst Du Heine nicht? -You don't like Heine?
Hat Erik dir mein Buch gegeben? — Eric gave you my book?
Special interrogative sentences start with question words. The second position in the structure is occupied by the predicate, designated by the verb, followed by the subject (noun or pronoun) and all remaining minor members.
For example:
Wann hat Erik dir mein Buch gegeben? — When Eric gave you my book?
Wem gehört diese Kaffeetasse? — Whose belongs to this coffee cup?
Warum commst du so früh? — Why are you coming so early?
3. Incentive offer
The purpose of uttering an incentive sentence is a call to perform some action. As a rule, in German, incentive sentences are formulated in the Imperativ mood. A peculiarity of the structure is the fact that the predicate-verb is placed in the 1st position, and an exclamation mark is placed at the end instead of a period. When pronounced, the exclamation is highlighted by voice. There may be no subject in this type of sentence. If it exists, it is placed after the predicate.
For example:
Komm! - Come!
Schließ bitte die Tür! - Please close the door!
Zeig mir bitte das Foto! - Show me the photo, please!
That's all for now 😉
When learning German, it is very important to learn how to write sentences correctly. Unlike Russian, sentence construction in German obeys strict rules, non-compliance with which leads to loss or distortion of meaning. Thus, in a simple declarative sentence, the predicate always comes in second place. If you move it to the beginning, the sentence is transformed into an interrogative or imperative.
For example:
Sie commen. They are coming.
Kommen Sie? Will you come?
Kommen Sie! Come!
Wir gehen nach Hause. We are going home.
Gehen wir nach Hause? We are going home?
Gehen wir nach Hause! Let's go home!
Note!
Incentive sentences (2l.singular and 2l.pl.) have other differences from narrative sentences. Interrogative sentences can* differ only in the location of the verb.
2l. units
Du fährst nach Deutschland. You are going to Germany. (in a declarative sentence the predicate comes second)
Fährst du nach Deutschland? Are you going to Germany? (it differs from a declarative sentence only in the word order - the predicate is placed in 1st place)
Fahr nach Deutschland! Go to Germany! (subject is missing, verb form does not match).
2l. plural
Ihr fahrt nach Deutschland. You are traveling to Germany. (predicate - second)
Fahrt ihr nach Deutschland? Are you traveling to Germany? (differs from a declarative sentence only in word order - the predicate comes first)
Fahrt nach Deutschland! Go to Germany! (no subject)
* In terms of syntax, interrogative sentences in German can be of two types:
- No question word when the predicate is put in first place, and the subject is in second (we looked at examples of just such sentences above);
- With a question word, when the question word is in first place, followed by the predicate, and in third place is the subject.
Leben Sie in Dresden? Do you live in Dresden?
Wo leben Sie? Where do you live? (wo? - question word)
Read more about simple declarative, interrogative and incentive sentences in the article “German Grammar”.
Types of sentences in German
There are several types of sentences in German. Let's look at the diagram:
Offer
- Simple
- Undistributed
without minor members (Ich lese. I read.) - Common
with minor members (Ich lese dieses Buch. I am reading this book.) - Complex
- Compound
1. Meine Freunde gehen ins Kino, aber ich
bleibe zu Hause. My friends are going to
cinema, but I stay at home.
_____ ____ , aber _____ _____ .2. Es ist sehr kalt, darum gehe ich heute nicht
spazieren. It's very cold, so I'm not going
go for a walk today (I’m not going for a walk today).
_____ _____ ,darum ______ _____. - Complex
Nachdem ich gegessen habe, trinke ich
immer Kaffee. After eating I always drink
coffee.Morgen gehen wir spazieren, wenn
wir frei sind. Tomorrow we'll go
go for a walk if we are free.
Complex are called sentences consisting of several independent simple sentences united by a common meaning. Such sentences are connected by a comma or a coordinating conjunction/conjunctive word ( und- And, aber- But, oder- or, denn- because). In most cases, conjunctions do not affect the word order in a sentence (see example 1 in the diagram). However, there are conjunctions/conjunctive words that affect the word order in a complex sentence. These include: darum- That's why, deshalb- That's why, trotztdem- Despite this, also- hence others (example 2 in the diagram).
Complex sentences in German- these are complex sentences consisting of two or more simple ones, one of which is the main one, and the rest are subordinate clauses. Main and subordinate clauses can be combined subordinating conjunctions (wenn- If, weil- because, als- like others), as well as adverbs and pronouns ( welcher- Which, warum- Why, wohin- Where, dass- that, etc.)
Teilen Sie bitte mit, wohin Sie gehen. Please tell me where you are going.
Ich hoffe, dass du commst. I hope you come.
Wenn das Wetter gut ist, be sucht er seine Oma. If the weather is good, he will visit his grandmother.
When learning German, you need to pay close attention to subordinate clauses and the order of words in them. This will help you better understand native speakers, whose speech for the most part consists of complex sentences. And if everything is quite simple with complex sentences, complex sentences often cause difficulties in learning.
Consider the word order in subordinate clause For example:
Nachdemdie Mutter gegessen hat, trinkt sie germen Tee. After eating, mom willingly drinks tea.
Nachdem die Mutter gegessen hat - subordinate clause.
- The union or allied word always comes first. IN in this case- nachdem.
- At the end of the subordinate clause, the modified part of the predicate is placed (here - hat).
- The unchangeable part of the predicate is always in the penultimate place (gegessen).
In addition, you need to remember the following features:
- If there is a negation nicht in a subordinate clause, it always comes before the predicate.
Wenn die Mutter zu Mittag nicht gegessen hat, trinkt sie Tee. If mom hasn't had lunch, she drinks tea.
- Reflexive pronoun stands in a subordinate clause before the subject-noun, but after the subject if it is expressed by a pronoun.
Ich möchte wissen, wofür du dich interessirt. I want to know what you are interested in.
Ich möchte wissen, wofür sich mein Freund interessiert. I want to know what my friend is interested in.
Word order in subordinate clauses. Table
Rule |
|
|
1. A subordinate clause can come before the main clause, after it, and can also be inserted into the main clause. |
Wenn ich frei bin, besuche ich dich. |
|
2. Conjunctions/conjunctive words always come first in subordinate clauses. |
Ich weiß, dass niemand kommt. |
|
3. In some cases, a preposition can appear before a conjunctive word. |
Er weiß nicht, mit
we'll come back. |
|
4. The modified part of the predicate is at the very end of the subordinate clause. |
Die Zeit zeigt, ob er Recht hat
. |
|
5. The unchangeable part of the predicate comes penultimate (before the changeable part of the predicate) |
Sie geht dorthin, whoa sie gehen muss. |
|
6. The negation nicht always comes before the predicate. |
Der Lehrer hat verstanden, dass ich diesels Buch noch nothing gelesen habe. |
|
7. The reflexive pronoun comes before the subject, if it is expressed as a noun, and after the subject-pronoun. |
Sagen Sie mir bitte, wofür Sie sich interesting? |