Questions tagged [verbs]
Verben – Questions on the grammar and usage of verbs IN GENERAL. Do not use this for questions on the meaning, etymology, translation or similar of specific verbs.
0
votes
1answer
70 views
Unterschied zwischen rufen und anrufen?
Was ist der Unterschied zwischen rufen und anrufen?
Both rufen and anrufen mean to call, so what is the difference between the two apart from anrufen being a trennbar verb?
5
votes
2answers
115 views
dürfen vs sich dürfen
I am now watching a movie series by DW called Nicos Weg. Here at 1:44:01 there is a line:
Sie darf sich nicht mit mir treffen.
Then I looked it up in the dictionary and found that for most of the ...
2
votes
3answers
70 views
Sein versus werden
Feen können nur von Kindern gesehen werden.
Why is werden used here instead of sein as in
Feen können nur von Kindern gesehen sein.
16
votes
1answer
2k views
Verb “geeitet” in an old scientific text
I am looking for the modern version of this verb and its root "geeitet" from a text written in 1863.
This came up while searching for an etymology of the name of an acid by a chemist called Adolf ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Verb personal endings in present tense where stem ends in m or n
Most grammar references that I have seen state that if a verb stem ends with m or n, and is not preceded with the consonants l or r, then in the Present Tense the 2nd person singular ending becomes -...
3
votes
3answers
118 views
Examples of mediopassive verb constructions
If you wanted to say "the clothes are drying" and the "the meat cooking," would you say "die Wäsche trocknet sich" and "das Fleisch kocht [sic] sich" respectively?
I was reading a blog on ...
1
vote
0answers
23 views
Is “sein” the only verb where the infinitive is different from the 3rd person plural? [duplicate]
Is sein the only verb where the infinitive is different from the 3rd person plural conjugation? (obviously excluding separable and reflexive verbs)
1
vote
5answers
294 views
Forming a German sentence with/without the verb at the end
I am new to German and this site.
I am trying to learn to utter my first phrases in German, and I have learned that the verb is actually placed at the end.
Currently, being a beginner the way I am ...
0
votes
3answers
99 views
Structure of sentence and position of verb in the end. How to train?
Now, I learn Deutsch intensive last 8 month. I have a problem with the right structure of sentence. I know that is very important. It's very difficult to place the verb in the end of the sentence. I ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
Apart from “berlinern”, do any other German dialects have a corresponding verb?
Das Verb berlinern heißt:
Deutsch mit berlinischem Akzent oder in Berliner Dialekt sprechen
Gibt es andere Dialekte, wobei es in Standardhochdeutsch einen Verb gibt, das bedeutet, diesen Dialekt ...
-1
votes
3answers
134 views
German verb classification
I tried to understand the classification of German verbs into accusative, dative, transitive, and intransitive ones, however, not I am not getting a clarity in their analogy.
My question is: What is ...
4
votes
2answers
174 views
Was ist Unterschied zwischen sehen, ansehen, gucken und schauen?
Ich möchte wissen, was das Unterschied zwischen sehen, ansehen, gucken und schauen ist.
Sind all diese Verben equivalent?
Kann man das irgendwann und in jeder Situation benutzen?
Geben Sie mir bitte ...
4
votes
2answers
49 views
Kongruenz im Numerus bei “Prädikat Subjekt Prädikativ und Subjekt Prädikativ …”
Betrachten wir den Satz
Sind a eine ganze Zahl und y ein Vektor, so bezeichnen wir mit ay das Produkt von a und y, das ebenso ein Vektor ist.
Ein Korrektor ersetzte Sind durch Ist. Laut http://www....
1
vote
2answers
134 views
Two non-modal verbs in a single sentence
Abends gehen wir alle spazieren.
or
Abends spazieren wir alle.
Which one is correct? I think second one is correct because in the first sentence gehen, is used like a modal verb due to which the ...
1
vote
3answers
156 views
What verbs should I know for A2 exam degree?
Is there Any page or list or link, etc. where there are all the German verbs for A2/A1 exam?
-4
votes
3answers
96 views
Understanding the placement of the verbs [closed]
Hunde schwimmen wirklich gerne.
Why does the verb "schwimmen" come before "wirklich gerne"?
I've written this sentence in google translate with the verb at the end of the sentence, but it translates ...
2
votes
2answers
92 views
Warum ist in diesem Satz “Es” von einem Prädikat in Plural (hervor-rufen) gefolgt?
Ich brauche eine grammatische Erklärung. In einem Satz aus dem Roman "Pfaueninsel" von Thomas Hettche nutzt der Autor das Pronomen "Es" als Subjekt, gefolgt vom Verb "(hervor)rufen" in Plural.
"Es ...
7
votes
3answers
87 views
verb “zugehen” in sentence definition
I was reading a news article about Sandro Wagner, a German footballer:
Bei Wagners neuem Klub geht es ganz schön zu.
I can roughly translate this as:
At Wagner's new club, things are going ...
8
votes
1answer
112 views
Use of the verb “sich auseinandersetzen”
Is the sentence correct?
Es wurde empfohlen, dass sich frühzeitig mit dem Thema auseinandergesetzt wird.
Is "sich auseinandergesetzt wird" a correct usage of the verb? I would rather use
Es ...
4
votes
2answers
672 views
Under which circumstances can »werden« stand at the end of a sentence?
My listening understanding is poor, but I frequently and clearly hear the word werden used at the end of sentences.
What grammatical structure allows this and what is its function in this position?
5
votes
2answers
153 views
3 verbs in one sentence - correct order
Es habe eine Zeit gedauert, bis sie selbst ihr Glück habe fassen
können.
Why is this not
Es habe eine Zeit gedauert, bis sie selbst ihr Glück fassen können
habe.
1
vote
0answers
49 views
Why the Duden Mentor grammar proofing tool doesn't highlight verb forms mistakes? [closed]
Recently I've encountered an interesting tool by Duden. This thing helps you with grammar and fixes lots of mistakes with articles and endings of the words. However, sometimes it ignores incorrect (in ...
1
vote
2answers
61 views
“wegnehmen” Conjugation
I was watching the movie X-Men first class and I was watching the scene where Fassbender's character was in Argentina. Here is the script that I was able to extract from youtube slow play and ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
purpose of “wird” from “werden” in the present tense for “teuer”
I know that werden is needed to form the future tense, and in the present tense, it means roughly "to become."
However, in the following sentence:
Herr Maier möchte eine Weltreise machen, obwohl ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
The departing: Gerunds and more
How would I translate "the Departing" in German?
As in "You all, the Departing, give up all hope!"
I doubt "Departing" in this context is a gerund, so how would I translate this verb-turned-into-a-...
6
votes
3answers
133 views
Gebrauch von »worden« statt »geworden«
Ich unterrichte Deutsch als Fremdsprache für Philosophen und bin kein Deutschmuttersprachler. Ich bin neuerlich auf einen Gebrauch von worden gestoßen, den ich mehrmals gelesen habe aber worüber ich ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
3rd person plural for “geschehen”?
A book of mine says that geschehen is only used in the 3rd person singular, thus es geschieht, es geschah or es ist geschehen.
But, since this verb translates as "to happen" or "to occur", can't it ...
2
votes
3answers
93 views
bessern vs verbessern
What's the difference between bessern and verbessern?
Is the earlier used mainly for health improvements (judging by the expression Gute Besserung!) and the latter for skill improvements (judging by ...
2
votes
2answers
47 views
Nuance of “behelligen”
I am trying to grasp the nuances of behelligen, which I understand to mean something along the lines of "bother".
For example, when trying to express
I am very sorry to bother you once more with ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
When to use 'angeboten' and when to use 'bot'?
When the following sentence (in English) is translated to German:
The man offered the actor the car.
It becomes:
Der Mann bot dem Schauspieler das Auto an.
"Offered" in German is "angeboten". ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Why is the verb “haben” placed before the subject in the first clause and in the second is not?
Jetzt haben wir hier keinen Computer, aber wir hatten ein letztes Jahr.
16
votes
4answers
300 views
Is there an explanation why the verb “aufhören” is derived from the verb “hören”?
Is there an explanation why the verb "aufhören" which means "to stop" is derived from the verb "hören" (to hear)? Or, is it just a pure coincidence?
4
votes
2answers
140 views
“Der Wissenschaftler erläuterte genau, wie er bei dem Experiment vorgegangen ist.” – why indicative?
Der Wissenschaftler erläuterte genau, wie er bei dem Experiment vorgegangen ist.
Should not ist in this sentence be sei (the Konjunktiv I)?
The basic question is: in the indirect speech, when to use ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
What does “auf” mean in “aufsperren”?
"Sperren" means "lock". "Aufsperren" means "unlock". The "auf" here means to negate or "open" or something?
Sorry, I am not sure if this is an appropriate question to ask. Because the answer could ...
2
votes
2answers
111 views
Flektierte Formen von Verben, die auf einem Kürzel bauen
Wie schreibt man die verschiedenen flektierten Formen von Verben, die aus einem (nominalen) Kürzel ausgehen? Die möglichen Varianten unten sehen alle holprig aus, die Sätze zu sagen scheint mir aber ...
1
vote
3answers
148 views
'helfen' - always governs the dative?
To the best of my understanding 'helfen' always governs the dative case.
So when I saw 'die Umwelt zu helfen' in a sentence I guessed immediately it must be wrong.
Is this true? Or is it an ...
2
votes
2answers
176 views
Zwinkern vs Blinzeln
In English, we have blink and wink where wink is a voluntary action. In German, which one is the voluntary one and which one is not? When should I use one over another? Or are both of them is a ...
-2
votes
2answers
137 views
Specific Verbs for Eyes [closed]
Good day everyone!
I wanted to find verbs related to the eyes but, I couldn't find some of the specific English verbs in German. To see is sehen, look is aussehen and to watch is ansehen. However, I ...
3
votes
2answers
239 views
“Willst du mit zu mir kommen?”
I don't understand what the preposition "mit" usage in the example above.
If I was writing the sentence, I'd simply omit it.
3
votes
1answer
175 views
(etwas) wird (an jmdn.) übergeben oder übergegeben? Warum?
Das Verb »geben« macht mich ein bisschen verrückt. In der Vergangenheitsform sagt man:
Ich habe ihm etwas gegeben
Die Versuche haben wir endlich aufgegeben.
Aber was ist mit »übergeben«?
Warum ...
0
votes
2answers
90 views
A, B oder C + Verb im Singular / Plural
Wenn Subjektteile im Singular mit "oder" aufgelistet werden, sollte dann das Verb auch im Singular stehen oder ist der Plural auch in Ordnung? Konkret geht es um die Definition von ...
0
votes
1answer
141 views
lassen / hinterlassen / überlassen / zurücklassen usw [closed]
Die Frage entstand aus der Situation, dass meine Schwester mich darum gebeten hatte, ihr einen Zug von meinem Getränk zu lassen (?). Und dann haben wir nachgedacht, welches Wort für diese Situation ...
3
votes
1answer
74 views
„etwas beschäftigt jmdn.“ vs. „sich mit etwas beschäftigen“
I was wondering if there is a difference in meaning between these two structures:
Ich beschäftige mich mit diesem Problem.
Dieses Problem beschäftigt mich.
Is there a difference in ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
verb tense sequence and “nachdem”? [closed]
well, canoo.net explains verb tense sequence here:
http://www.canoo.net/services/OnlineGrammar/Wort/Verb/Tempora/Zeitfolge.html?lang=en
It did not mention anything specific for nachdem , but I ...
0
votes
1answer
675 views
A list of verbs that take only accusative objects
Does anybody have a full list of german verbs that take akkusativ object?
I have found a list fot dative but couldn't found for akkusativ.
0
votes
1answer
94 views
»sein« als Verb der Bewegung?
»Normale« Verben der Bewegung sind
gehen, fahren, laufen, schwimmen, fliegen, robben,
usw.
Aber auch »müssen« und »mögen« werden manchmal als Verb der Bewegung verwendet:
Da vorne musst du ...
1
vote
2answers
112 views
Person vs Thing for determining case?
In German, some verbs use the dative case for the object (e.g. Ich folge dir). In lists about these, I've seen mention of jemand and etwas. Does the case change depending on whether the object is a ...
1
vote
3answers
73 views
Authority for verbs that take dative direct objects
Does anyone know of an (online) authority that will indicate if a given verb takes dative direct objects?
I've seen lists, but they don't seem to be exhaustive. If I learn a new (rare) verb, where ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Are there (many) weak verbs with ei or ie in the stem?
I have seen lists of stem-changing verbs, and a large group of those are verbs with ei or ie in the stem.
Is the presence of those two-letter combinations an automatic indicator that the verb is stem-...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
Difference between an, ab aus and ein (schrauben, schalten, etc)
The mixed usage of these prefixes confuses me.
For example, I tipically hear einschrauben to mean the opposite of abschrauben (say when screwin/unscrewing a nut). However the true opposite should be ...
