GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2. Family, Acquaintances and Friends www.companyname.com © 2016 Jetfabrik Multipurpose Theme. All Rights Reserved.
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2.1 German Nouns 2.2 Cases and Articles 2.3 People 2.4 Jetzt üben wir!
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GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.1 German Nouns
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As you know already German and English are linguistically quite close. English belongs to the very large Indogermanic group of languages. Similarities between English and German vocabulary make this obvious:
• Hand (hand), Finger (finger), Fuß (foot) have a lot more in common with the English • Than French main, doigt et pied or Spanish for that matter. • Grammatical differences between English and German exist however
2.1.1 Capitalization and Gender 2.1.2 Number and Plural Formation
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GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.1.1 Capitalization and Gender www.companyname.com © 2016 Jetfabrik Multipurpose Theme. All Rights Reserved.
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All German NOUNS, whether they represent people or things are capitalized and they all have grammatical genders. One of three to be exact: • Masculine • Feminine • Neuter
The English definite article the corresponds to the German article der, die or das depending on noun gender: • masculine (m) der • feminine (f) die • neuter (n) das
The English indefinite articles a or an corresponds to (m) ein, (f) eine or (n) ein: • ein Mann (m) • eine Frau (f) • ein Kind (n)
Male beings are usually grammatically masculine and female beings feminine but for the vast majority of nouns there is no predictable pattern. My advice: it is best to always learn new German words with their grammatical gender, i.e. article.
Useful guidelines regarding German nouns MASCULINE Nouns: 1.
Male beings
Professions
Nationalities
der Mann, Sohn
der Pilot, der Arzt
der Deutsche, der Amerikaner
der Arbeiter
der Professor
der Kanadier
2. Days of the Week, months, seasons and nearly all weather elements • der Montag, der Sommer, der Regen, der Schnee
3. Nouns ending in • -ig
der Honig
• -ling der Liebling • -or
der Motor
• -us
der Faschismus
FEMININE Nouns: Female beings
Professions
Nationalities
die Frau
die Professorin
die Deutsche
die Mutter
die Arbeiterin
die Amerikanerin
2. Nouns ending in -e (Plural -n) • die Maschine • die Sprache • die Methode
3. Nouns ending in the suffixes • -anz
die Toleranz
• -enz
die Frequenz
• -ei
die Konditorei
• -ie
die Demokratie
• -ik
die Kritik
• -ion
die Religion
• -heit
die Menschheit
• -keit
die Schwierigkeit
• -schaft die Fußballmannschaft • -tät
die Nationalität
• -ung
die Bedeutung
• -ur
die Prozedur
NEUTER Nouns: 1. Continents, Cities, Counties (most of them) • das Asien • das Berlin • das Deutschland, Frankreich, England
NEUTER Nouns: 2. Nouns ending in • -tum
das Christentum
• -chen das Mädchen • -ment das Experiment
GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.1.2 Number and Plural Formation www.companyname.com © 2016 Jetfabrik Multipurpose Theme. All Rights Reserved.
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There are five basic plural endings for German nouns: der Fahrer, die Fahrer der Garten, die Gärten 1. Most nouns ending in -el, -en, -er: no plural ending or - ¨ -
• der Wagen, die Wagen
2. Many monosyllabic nouns: -e or - ¨e • das Jahr, die Jahre • die Angst, die Ängste
• der Stuhl, die Stühle
3. -er or ¨er • das Bild, die Bilder • das Buch, die Bücher
4. Almost all feminine nouns: -(e)n • die Stunde, die Stunden • die Zeitung, die Zeitungen
Nouns with feminine suffix in double the -n before the plural ending • die Autorin, die Autorinnen
5. -s for plural of foreign words • die Party, die Partys -en for borrowed words from Latin ending in -um and -us • das Museum, die Museen • das Zentrum, die Zentren
GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D
American University
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2.2 Cases and Articles
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Grammatical function in the English sentence is indicated by position: typically the sentence subject comes first, followed by a verb which is then followed by objects.
No need for cases in English. In German cases, are critical. Cases are needed for comprehension. Case in point:
Diese Sängerin kennt den Mann seit Jahren. This singer has known the man for years. Diese Sängerin kennt der Mann seit Jahren. The man has known the singer for years.
The German article declines, or changes, according to the gender, number and case of the noun it modifies. In other words, articles mark case, number and gender of nouns. If there is no article, the ending of the adjective takes the function of the verb.
You know already that German has CASES. Four to be exact: • Nominative • Accusative • Dative • Genitive
The case of a noun is determined by its unique function in the sentence. Is the noun the subject of the sentence, its direct or perhaps its indirect object? Let us read several short passages to determine which grammatical function the different sentence elements possess.
2.2.1 Nominative 2.2.2 Accusative 2.2.3 Dative 2.2.4 Genitive
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GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.2.1 Nominative
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Die Familie Die Mutter, der Vater, der Sohn und die Tochter wohnen in Berlin. Die Eltern haben zwei Kinder. Eine Tochter und einen Sohn.
A family in Berlin. The subject of a sentence is identified by asking wer or was, who or what. Who does what and who or what is that?
In this case: wer wohnt, who lives in Berlin? Die Familie wohnt in Berlin, the family is the subject in this case. In other words die Mutter, der Vater, der Sohn und die Tochter. All these nouns here are therefore in the nominative case in this passage. The family members are the subject of this particular sentence.
Now look at the same lines with the indefinite article mentioned earlier: Eine Mutter, ein Vater, ein Sohn und eine Tochter wohnen in Berlin.
The article endings remained the same -e ending in die/eine. Masculine nominative singular: ein Vater, ein Sohn
Neuter nominative singular: das Problem/ein Problem, no -s ending in the indefinite article.
Below the Declension chart for definite, indefinite and possessive articles in the nominative case: Nominative Masculin Feminin Neutral
der nette ein netter Mann Mann die nette eine nette Frau Frau das nette ein nettes Kind Kind
mein (my)
dein (your)
sein (his)
unser (our)
meine
deine
seine
unsere
mein
dein
sein
unser
As you notice, German possessive articles/ Possessivpronomen share the same endings as indefinite articles. Please review comprehensive charts found in your grammar book.
The Nominative case is for the sentence subject, be it a person or a thing of course. The third person personal pronouns we studied in Module 1 - er, sie, es - refers to persons but can also refer to things.
Er, sie, es substitute for all der die das nouns respectively and can be the equivalent of the English it. Example: Ist das dein Mantel? Is this your coat? Ja, das ist er. Yes, it is he.
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GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.2.2 Accusative
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Der Junge hat eine Freundin. Er spielt sehr gut Gitarre und hat ein Liebeslied für die Freundin komponiert. Er singt der Freundin das Lied vor.
Wer spielt Gitarre? • Der Junge (subject in the nominative) spielt Gitarre. Was hat der Junge? • eine Freundin - a girlfriend. Now we identified the first accusative direct object.
The others listed here: • Der Junge hat (accusative) eine Freundin. • Er spielt Gitarre. • Er hat (accusative) ein Liebeslied komponiert. • Er singt (accusative) das Lied.
Accusative endings change only in the masculine: • Nominative der to accusative den and ein to einen No change in the feminine and neuter.
Nouns or pronouns used to complete the action of the verb (as in what does he have?) are called objects. The accusative is also used in many standard greetings we covered in the past module: • guten Morgen • vielen Dank!
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GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.2.3 Dative
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The third case is the widely used Dative case. The person to whom or for whom something is done is called the indirect object. The indirect object is always in the dative case and usually requires an accusative object to complete its meaning.
Example: We give the child a book. What we give is in the accusative (book), the recipient who the book is given to (Kind), is the dative object. Wir geben dem Kind ein Buch.
!!! The English to is not used to indicate indirect objects in German. The dative case is used instead.
Let’s identify the dative case object in the above picture and write it down. Der Manager gratuliert einem Kollegen. The person receiving the praise is the dative object here.
Dative objects usually precede accusative nouns: • Er erklärt seinem Sohn das Problem. • Sie kauft dem Bruder einen deutschen Schäferhund. Notice that the above dative objects are nouns.
The word order reverses with pronouns. • Er erklärt seinem Sohn das Problem • Er erklärt es ihm The accusative pronoun es (das Problem) now precedes the dative ihm (seinem Sohn).
Dative and accusative objects often occur together with verbs of • giving: bringen, geben, schenken (gifting) spendieren, kaufen (to treat, buy for) • showing: erklären (explain), zeigen (show), beweisen (to prove)
• telling: beschreiben (describe), erzählen (to inform, tell), sagen • recommending: vorschlagen (to suggest), empfehlen (to recommend)
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GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.2.4 Genitive
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The fourth case, the Genitive case rounds up our case discussion. It is not used much in spoken German but omnipresent in journalism, as well as in well-written German. The genitive indicates possession.
The ’s in His father’s mom is sufficient to form the genitive in English. Not so in German.
The German genitive is expressed by a noun (the mother) followed by an article plus noun (+appropriate ending): Die Mutter (m) seines Vaters Der Schreibtisch (f) der Frau the woman’s desk Der Bruder (n) des Kindes the child’s brother
The word von + dative is often used as a genitive substitute in spoken German and always used with personal pronouns (English of ): viel von ihrem Talent (much of her talent).
Genitive Noun Phrases commonly used: Ich bin der Meinung, dass…
I am of the opinion that …
Wir waren guter Laune, weil…
We were in a good mood because…
Das Bier ist deutschen Ursprungs
The beer is of German origin
Please review the somewhat neglected genitive by doing the exercises as it is ultimately indicative of polished writing.
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GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D
American University
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2.3 People
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2.3.1 Family 2.3.2 Acquaintances and Friends
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GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.3.1 Family
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English
German Singular
German Plural (die)
Father
der Vater/Papa
Väter/Papas
Mother
die Mutter
Mütter
Son
der Sohn
Söhne
Daughter
die Tochter
Töchter
Grandfather
der Großvater/Opa
Großväter/Opas
English
German Singular
German Plural (die)
Grandmother
die Großmutter/Oma
Großmütter/Omas
Grandson
der Enkel
Enkel
Granddaughter
die Enkelin
Enkelinnen
Sister
die Schwester
Schwestern
Brother
der Bruder
Brüder
English
German Singular
German Plural (die)
Stepsister
die Halbschwester
Halbschwestern
Stepbrother
der Halbbruder
Halbbrüder
Siblings
die Geschwister
(kein Singular)
Stepsiblings
die Halbgeschwister
(kein Singular)
Wife
die Ehefrau, Gattin
Ehefrauen, Gattinnen
English
German Singular
German Plural (die)
Husband
der Ehemann, Gatte
Männer, Gatten
Father-in-law
der Schwiegervater
Schwiegerväter
Mother-in-law
die Schwiegermutter
Schwiegermütter
Sister-in-law
die Schwägerin
Schwägerinnen
Brother-in-law
der Schwager
Schwäger
English
German Singular
German Plural (die)
Son-in-law
der Schwiegersohn
Schwiegersöhne
Daughter-in-law
die Schwiegertochter
Schwiegertöchter
Aunt
die Tante
Tanten
Uncle
der Onkel
Onkel
Useful vocabulary and related phrases They wish to marry soon. • Sie möchten bald heiraten.
Engagement • Die Verlobung
She got engaged to Peter. • Sie hat sich mit Peter verlobt. They are engaged now. • Sie sind jetzt verlobt. (with the verb sein)
You are invited to our wedding • Sie sind/du bist zu unserer Hochzeit eingeladen. He marries Monika • Er heiratet Monika
They marry • Sie heiraten
He is married to Monika. • Er ist mit Monika verheiratet. They marry • Sie heiraten Marriage proposal • der Heiratsantrag
Wedding bells • die Heiratsglocken A divorce • eine Scheidung To divorce • sich scheiden lassen
They are divorcing. • Sie lassen sich scheiden. They divorced. • Sie sind geschieden.
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GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.3.2 Acquaintances and Friends www.companyname.com © 2016 Jetfabrik Multipurpose Theme. All Rights Reserved.
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English
German Singular
German Plural (die)
male friend
der Freund
Freunde
female friend
die Freundin
Freundinnen
buddy
der Kumpel
Kumpel
male neighbor
der Nachbar
Nachbarn
female neighbor
die Nachbarin
Nachbarinnen
English
German Singular
German Plural (die)
male foreigner
der Ausländer
Ausländer
female foreigner
die Ausländerin
Ausländerinnen
male student
der Student
Studenten
female student
die Studentin
Studentinnen
male grocer
der Lebensmittelhändler Lebensmittelhändler
English female grocer
German Singular
German Plural (die)
der Lebensmittelhändlerinnen Lebensmittelhändlerin
baker
der Bäcker/-in
Bäcker
cabbie
der Taxifahrer/-in
Taxifahrer
bus driver
der Busfahrer
Busfahrer
male police officer
der Polizist
Polizisten
English
German Singular
German Plural (die)
female police officer
die Polizistin
Polizistinnen
male maire
der Bürgermeister
Bürgermeister
female maire
die Bürgermeisterin
Bürgermeisterinnen
male tourist, visitor
der Tourist, Besucher
Touristen, Besucher
female tourist, visitor
die Touristin, Besucherin
Touristinnen, Besucherinnen
GERMAN
LANGUAGE
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Tania Hinderberger-Burton, Ph.D.
American University
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2.4 Jetzt üben wir!
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Bestimmter Artikel - setze Artikel und Nomen im Akkusativ richtig ein. 1. Ich kenne (der Film) ____________ schon. 2. Suchst du (die Lehrerin) _______________?
3. Wer hat (das Wasser) _____________ getrunken? 4. Ich verstehe (der Satz) ______________________ nicht. 5. Der Mann lernt (die Vokabel) _________________.
Unbestimmter Artikel - setze Artikel und Nomen im Akkusativ ein. 1. Ich kaufe ein _____ Blume. 2. Wir haben ein _____ Hund gesehen. 3. Sie hat ein _____ Freundin im Café getroffen.
Welches Nomen steht im Akkusativ? 1. Der Student kauft einen Hut. a. der Student b. einen Hut
2. Die Rechnung hat der Mann bezahlt. a. die Rechnung b. der Mann 3. Die Kellnerin bringt das Essen. a. die Kellnerin b. das Essen
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