The Nominative Case

Posted by Yohann

Today’s post is on the dreaded cases. For the German newbies, a case is a term used to describe the role a noun plays in a sentence.

There are four cases:

1) der Nominativ (the nominative) : is where the noun is the subject of the sentence. Let’s look at the nominative forms for the definite article in German.

1a) the nominative Männlich (masculine): der.

1b) the nominative Weiblich (feminine): die.

1c) the nominative Sächlich (neuter): das.

1d) the nominative Mehrzahl (plural): die.

2) The nominative indefinite articles have their endings as well:

2a) mas : ein

2b) fem : eine

2c) neu : ein

2d) plur : - (there is no plural in the indefinite form because ‘a/an’ by its very nature refers to singular things. That being said, you could use keine, which is the negative of eine to indicate the plural. An example of this is the sentence, He has no cars (Er hat keine Autos).

 

National German Anthem

Posted by Yohann

The German anthem, sung at international soccer events and other public events, is actually three stanzas long. However, only the third stanza is sung, so that is the version I’m displaying today. The title of the song is: Das Lied der Deutschen or the Song of the Germans

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit

Unity, and law (justice) and freedom

Für das deutsche Vaterland

For the German fatherland

Danach lasst uns alle streben

Let us strive for that

Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand

Brotherly, with heart and hand

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit

Unity and law and freedom

Sind des Glückes Unterpfand

Are the pledge of fortune

Blüh’ im Glanze dieses Glückes

Bloom in this fortune’s blessing

Blühe, deutsches Vaterland

Bloom, German fatherland

 

Die Onomatopöie

Posted by Yohann

See how many of these look familar to you

plitsch, platsch

summ summ

bumm!

trörö

tatütata

mäh

hatschi!

wuff wuff

peng

piep piep

klingling

miau

muh

kuckuck

 

German Proverbs Translated

Posted by Yohann

1) Basically saying that a blind man should not be a judge of colors. In other words, a person should not talk about things he knows not.

2) Be a friend to one and an enemy to none. This is a good general motto to follow, isn’t it?

3) Confession of a fault is half the amends, or admitting guilt is the first step.

4) Deeds are fruits, words are but leaves. Said in a different way, actions speak louder than words.

5) Every man is the maker of his own fortune.

6) Every man thinks his own geese swans. It’s like saying every father thinks his children are the best looking or more generally, every man thinks his ___ is the best.

7) He that has a wolf for his companion, must carry a dog under his cloak. If you hang out with a bad crowd, you have to watch your back (ex: carry a gun/dog for self-defense).

8) He that pries into every bush will hardly get into the wood. If you over analyze the details, you’ll never get the big picture.

9) He that dispraises a thing wants it for himself. When someone wants something he’ll try to put it down out of envy.

10) He who goes borrowing goes sorrowing. If you borrow money you’ll grow to regret it later.

11) He who judges between two friends, loses one or both. Taking sides will affect your friendships.

12) He who served well need not be afraid to ask for his wages. If you’ve worked hard and did all you were told to do, you won’t feel guilty when you ask what you are due.

13) Hunger is the best sauce. When you’re hungry everthing tates good.

14) Impatience gathers unripe fruit. Hasty decisions cause hasty results.

15) Liars should have good memories.

 

German Proverbs

Posted by Yohann

Here are some of my favorite German proverbs. Let’s see if you can understand some of them.

1) Er spricht davon, wie der Blinde von der Farbe.

2) Eines Freund, keines Feind

3) Bekannt, ist halb gebüsst

4) Worte sind gut, wenn Werke folgen

5) Jeder ist seines Glücks Schmidt

6) Jedem dünkt seine Eule ein Falk

7) Wer bei’m Wolf zu Gevatter stehen will, muss einen Hund unter’m Mantel haben

8) Wer sich alle Büsche besieht, kommt selten zu Holze

9) Wer verachtet, der will kaufen

10) Borgen macht Sorgen

11) Wer zwischen zweien Freunden Richter ist, verliert den einen

12) Ein Dienst ist des andern werth

13) Hunger ist der beste Koch

14) Wenn Du die Angel ziehst zu früh, so fängst Du nie

15) Lügner muss ein gut Gedächtniss haben