Posts in June 2009

Plural Forms

Posted by Yohann

The plural endings for masculine nouns can take on various endings in the plural form. (s) = singular. (p) = plural. (d) = definition.

Some nouns end in -e : der Arm (s) = die Arme (p). (d) = arm/arms

Some end in -en : der Junge (s) = die Jungen (p). (d) = boy/boys

Some end in an umlaut + e in the plural form : der Ball (s) = die Bälle (p). (d) = ball/balls

Umlaut + -er ending : der Mann (s) = die Männer (p). (d) = man/men

Some end in only an umlaut : der Vater (s) = die Väter (p). (d) = father/fathers

Some have no change in the ending : der Spiegel (s) = die Spiegel (p). (d) = mirror/mirrors

And now the plural ending for feminine nouns:

Can end in -en : die Zeitung (s) = die Zeitungen (p). (d) = newspaper/newspapers

Can end in -nen in the plural (especially for nouns ending in -in) : die Amerikanerin (s) = die Amerikanerinnen (p). (d) = American (woman)/Americans (women)

Can end in umlaut + -e : die Nacht (s) = die Nächte (p). (d) = night/nights

Can end in just an umalut in the plural : die Mutter (s) = die Mütter. (d) = mother/mothers

 

 

When to use Articles

Posted by Yohann

German and English use the articles in similar ways, however there are some exceptions. Just because you see a noun doesn’t mean you should always attach an article in front of it.

In German, it’s common to see articles used after a preposition (die Präposition) : in der Nacht (at night)

With parts of the body : die Augen (eye)

With  an institution (die Anstalt) or organization (die Organisation) : die Schule (school)

With clothing (die Bekleidung) : das Hemd (shirt)

Measurements : das Kilo (kilo)

Name of a country (die Heimat) : die USA (USA)

Month (der Monat) : der Juni (June)

Seasons : der Sommer (summer)

Famous people or historical figures : die dietrich ([Marlene] Dietrich)

Streets : die Beethovenallee (Beethovan Street)

General/vague/abstract nouns : das Leben (life)

Fixed expressions : in der Tat (in fact)

*Articles in German are not used with instruments : Er spielt Piano (he plays piano)

Also not used with professions and nationalities after the verbs sein, werden and bleibenEr ist Doktor (he’s a doctor)

 

O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst

Posted by Yohann

Today will be a German literature and music post.

O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst is a poem written by the German poet Ferdinand Freiligrath. The composer Franz Liszt was inspired by this poem. The famous Liebesträume (Dreams of Love) No. 3 is the result of reading Ferdinand’s poem. I have a Youtube video so that you can listen to this famous song. I’ll provide the German words to a part of the poem and the English translation. I think some you may even be able to understand this poem without the English translations.

O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst!

O love, so long as you can!

O lieb, so lang du lieben magst!

O love, so long as you may!

Die Stunde kommt, die Stunde kommt,

The hour is coming, the hour is coming

wo du an Gräbern stehst und klagst 

Where you will stand by graves and weep

 

Answers to Word Search

Posted by Yohann

1) Means “to lose” in German (verlieren). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-01-2009

2) “to pay attention” in German (achten). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-02-2009

3) “to order” (bestellen). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-03-2009

4) “to be annoyed” (sich ärgern). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-04-2009

5) “answer” (die Antwort). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-05-2009

6) “pharmacy” (die Apotheke). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-06-2009

7) “to explain” (erklären). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-07-2009

8) The adverb, “against it” in German (dagegen). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-08-2009

9) The adjective, “useful” in German (brauchbar). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-09-2009

10) “to entertain” (unterhalten). Link: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/german.htm?date=05-10-2009

 

Vocab Practice

Posted by Yohann

Hopefully you’ll find this a fun activity. I have a word search puzzle! I’ll give you clues to what the word might be and you’ll have to find this word amongst the letters that are scrambled. The die/das/der applies, in case the word is a noun. All the words are based on Transparent’s “The Word of the Day”. I’ll provide the links to each “Word of the Day” in a separate post so that you can hear the words being spoken. For now, try to see how many of them you can do on your own.

Clues:

1) Means “to lose” in German

2) “to pay attention” in German

3) “to order”

4) “to be annoyed”

5) “answer”

6) “pharmacy”

7) “to explain”

8) The adverb, “against it” in German

9) The adjective, “useful” in German

10) “to entertain”

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