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.
717
questions
0
votes
0answers
16 views
sich bewerben darum, dass / sich bewerben darum + Inf-K
I am reading a grammar; sich bewerben asks for the preposition um plus Akkusativ. "Er bewirbt sich um ein Stipendium." It is written that "sich bewerben um" can be constructed with ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
Who “erwirtschaftet” what?
Erdöl erwirtschaftet den größten Teil der gesamten Wirtschaft von Aserbaidschan.
Given that erwirtschaften means to obtain by careful management, this sentence makes no sense, because it would appear ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
A land characterized by many contrasts
Afghanistan ist ein Land, das viele Gegensätze bestimmt. Auf dem Land und vor allem in den abgelegenen Gegenden der Gebirge gibt es noch sehr viele traditionelle Vorstellungen und die Menschen leben ...
0
votes
2answers
100 views
wählen gehen, but it is with sein [duplicate]
I came across the following sentence:
87 Prozent der unter 25-Jährigen waren nicht wählen - ein historischer Negativrekord.
What does waren nicht wählen mean? Does wählen sein exist as a phrasal ...
19
votes
4answers
6k views
Is German a VO language or an OV language?
While learning German, I came across something that really boggles the mind—my mind. While practising German on the Duolingo app, I noticed that German sentence structure is similar to that of English,...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Can Prädikat be in an infinitive form?
I was not able to find whether or not Infinitivkonstruktionen are considered to be a Prädikat.
For example:
Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland studieren zu können.
I suppose this sentence has only ...
4
votes
1answer
365 views
What is the verb tense when writing about talking to oneself? [closed]
How does one write something like this in German:
I said to myself, Don’t give too much for the whistle.
where one is addressing oneself, with an imperative voice?
4
votes
2answers
257 views
Was ist der Unterschied zwischen saugen und lutschen?
From: Daumenlutschen - Wikipedia
Daumenlutschen ist eine Angewohnheit von Menschen und anderen Primaten, den Daumen in den Mund zu stecken und daran zu saugen oder zu lutschen.
What is the difference ...
3
votes
1answer
515 views
3 verbs in one sentence - how is that?
Kann ich mir die im Laufe der Woche ausleihen holen kommen?
A friend of mine wrote this sentence. I have never come across 3 verbs in a single sentence like this.
One more thing: Why and when to use ...
-1
votes
3answers
90 views
Clarification regarding usage of verbs
The translation of "I went there" is "Ich bin dort hingegangen." There is only one verb in "I went there". So why are there two in the translation (bin and hingegangen)? ...
0
votes
2answers
98 views
Do we add 'sind' in “are you…” type questions?
While learning German, I have noticed that in the example questions ("Are you" type), we do not use the word sind
Q: Are you going?
A: fährst du
Instead of
Sind fährst du (# I hope this ...
0
votes
1answer
67 views
Combine multiple nebensatz in one long sentence? [closed]
I'm learning German myself, so I cannot ask anyone else, except this portal, please tell me which sentence is correct in terms of grammar (or if both are not correct, then please add your sentence).
...
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Does german differentiate from 'is eating' and eats? [duplicate]
I was reading this https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/3088733/When-does-Ihr-go-from-her-to-your-or-their and found the Dog example:
Mein Hund isst ihr Brot
And people translate it as is eating instead ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the verb in this sentence?
Ein Held, der sich heute bei euch die Ehre gibt
It's a line from song "Prinz Ali" ,and when I translated it I got
A hero who pays his respects to you today
The dictionary tells me that ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Kann man das Präfix eines trennbaren Verbes als Adjektiv sehen?
Ich möchte erklären was ich meine:
Zum Beispiel, bei dem Satz:
Ich schätze sie hoch.
Wenn man das jetzt noch mehr hervorheben möchte, kann man ein "sehr" vor dem "hoch" stellen, ...
2
votes
1answer
96 views
When did it become necessary to place verbs at the end of a subordinate clause?
In Middle High German, the position of verbs after conjunctions did not follow the present rules. In which historical period were these laid down?
1
vote
2answers
127 views
What is the difference between “hinzufügen” and “dazugeben”
I have looked at various sources, both verbs have the general meaning of "to add to something" but they do not seem to be used in the same context. "dazugeben" seems to be used ...
3
votes
3answers
263 views
Can you say “Ich wurde (etwas) gegeben”?
I wrote a quick email to my doctor yesterday and hastily wrote the sentence below.
"Nach der Untersuchung wurde ich eine CD mit den Befunden gegeben"
Then I was wondering, When you use ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Bedeutung des Satzes: Richten Sie sich doch nur selbst aus dem Parlament
I am an advanced german speaker but i cannot understand a phrase uttered from Herbert Wehner to Josef Strauß: Which is (in german):
Wenn Sie das Theater so weiter führen, richten Sie sich doch nur ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
What's the difference with these 2 sentences in dative and accusative? [duplicate]
I'm kinda confused which one to choose or in what situation or question you can answer this question. My teacher told us that if you use motion verbs then you need to use accusative case, but what ...
1
vote
2answers
49 views
Using a preposition with the verb “passen”
What is the difference between using "in" and "zu" with the verb "passen". For example:
Es kommt mir vor, als würde ich nicht in dieses Team passen.
Es kommt mir vor, ...
2
votes
3answers
228 views
“Wir wären bereit, die Küche zu übernehmen / überzunehmen.”
Wir wären bereit, die Küche zu übernehmen.
Wir wären bereit, die Küche überzunehmen.
My head tells me it should be the first version, but is the second correct?
2
votes
3answers
91 views
Suchbegriffe zum Verständnis der Verwendungsregeln möchten
Ich lerne Deutsch und ich weiß nur wenig.
Ich verstehe die Bedeutung von
"Ich möchte einen Kaffee" und "Ich möchte wandern gehen"
aber wonach kann ich suchen, um die Regeln für den ...
1
vote
3answers
219 views
“ich” and “mich” in same sentence
I am new to German and came across the phrase:
"Darauf würde ich mich nicht verlassen"
I wouldn't count on that!
I don't understand why "mich" is used instead of just:
"...
3
votes
2answers
213 views
What is the difference between “wird” und “ist”? [duplicate]
What is the difference between "wird" and "ist"?
I have read some articles and according to it, I use "ist" in the below sentence:
"The keyboard is used for typing&...
6
votes
4answers
117 views
sich verbunden sein
I have come across the sentence
Sie waren sich eng verbunden.
where the word verbinden is used in combination with sich. The sentence describes a relation between two brothers.
I know the most common ...
2
votes
4answers
200 views
Are there any defective verbs in German? Are there any that lack an infinitive?
German is my work language. I was trying to think today of any verbs that lack an infinitive, like "can", "shall" ... and other modal verbs in English. "zu können" is ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
What's the difference between 'war' and 'wars'?
I know 'war' is the Präteritum tense of 'sein', but what's happening when an 's' is added here?
Ich wars
It was me
Over
Ich war
It was
This is in the Oxford - German dictionary.
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Construction of kriegen + etwas + Partizip II
For the various use cases of kriegen, DWDS shows a specific usage and construction of kriegen + Noun + Partizip II (Bedeutung 1.g). For example:
Wir haben Geld ausgezahlt gekriegt.
Wir haben ein ...
0
votes
1answer
109 views
Parallel als Nomen oder Adjektiv
ich wollte einen Satz schreiben, aber kam ein Problem. Normalerweise schreibt man „die Widerstände sind in Reihe" aber „die Widerstände sind in parallel"
Reihe ist ein Nomen, weil parallel ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
The Konjunktiv II as a replacement with regular verbs
The Konjunktiv I is being created by using the stem of the present tense (adding e), while the Konjunktiv II is being created using the stem of the past tense (adding t).
In the course of that, that ...
0
votes
1answer
102 views
Why do they use Präteritum as translation for English simple past? [duplicate]
In my book they give some German sentences with the respective English translations, this is to explain the use of als and wenn, but that is not what is bothering me. I am not sure why they are using ...
2
votes
2answers
83 views
dauert oder dauern? [closed]
I'm having trouble translating this English sentence: "The train ride can last between two and three hours"
Die Bahnfahrt kann zwei bis drei Studen dauern
Die Bahnfahrt kann zwei bis drei ...
2
votes
2answers
81 views
Add verb to the noun and create a new noun
Can we in German add the infinitive of a verb to the end of any noun and create new noun?
I searched in a dictionary for examples. Some of the words I checked do exist, but some of them do not. I want ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Why is the word order in this sentence other than expected?
Why is the word order in this sentence is this way:
Wir bringen den Stuhl zur Schwester.
I was learning on duolingo and I came across this sentence which has a word order different than all the ...
3
votes
3answers
220 views
Difference between hingehen and herkommen
I have heard the following line in the German TV series "How to Sell Online Drugs (Fast)":
Immerhin sind wir hier ungestört. Keiner geht hier hin.
Doesn't "hingehen" mean "...
4
votes
2answers
378 views
Importance of “gerade” to express “just about to”
To express the aspect of “just about to” in German, I have come across two possibilities:
(gerade) wollen + infinitive
Ich wollte dich gerade anrufen.a
Er ist gekommen, als wir gehen wollten.a
(...
0
votes
2answers
73 views
Wenn das Produkt Schuhe (sind/ist),
Sagt man,
Wenn das Produkt Schuhe sind, ...
oder
Wenn das Produkt Schuhe ist, ...
?
Für mich klingt es logisch, wenn ich sage Wenn das Produkt Schuhe sind aber ich denke, dass sich das Verb auf ...
1
vote
1answer
101 views
difference between sie and ihr [duplicate]
I am a total beginner in German language, sorry about that. I noticed "sie sagen" AND "ihr sagt" both mean "you say". May I ask what is the actual difference between them?...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Is beeilen always a reflexive verb?
Sich beeilen = to hurry up
Is it always a refliexive verb?
I have come across this sentence too:
Sie eilten herbei. (They hurried up.)
Here eilten can also be used for "to hurry" and it ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
What to use “sein” or “haben” for heilen in Perfekt? [duplicate]
Guten Tag.
I faced a new word - "heilen". Nice one and it looks really familiar (to heal). Usually I look for simple sentences with the word to add them into my memory-program. But with this ...
1
vote
1answer
138 views
Das hat er dir geglaubt?
I have heard the following sentence in the TV series "How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)":
Das hat er dir geglaubt?
Does that mean "Did he believe that (which you said)?" / "...
0
votes
4answers
150 views
When to use “kaufen” vs “ankaufen”
I'm confused as to when you should use the word "ankaufen" in the context of buying something. Can someone explain the distinction?
2
votes
2answers
144 views
A universal verb, just like “get” in English
Is there such a universal verb in German as in English - "Get"?
If during a conversation with an English-speaking person I do not know the required verb, then I can replace it with "Get&...
21
votes
3answers
3k views
New German irregular verbs. Are there any?
New verbs in English are invariably regular. Sneak, an old verb in English dating from the 16th century, is one of the very few that have, at least in some parts of the world, become irregular (with ...
4
votes
3answers
190 views
Wie formuliert man die Besessenheit von einem Geist aktiv?
Folgendes sollte ein gramatikalisch korrekter Satz sein:
Ich bin von Antons Geist besessen.
Wie kann man das aktiv ausdrücken? Also etwas wie
Antons Geist _____ mich.
besetzt? besitzt? besesst?
...
3
votes
2answers
367 views
How can these apparent grave grammar mistakes in one of the most known German military marches be explained?
I'm an undergraduate student learning German as the third foreign language. Yesterday I came across Fridericus-Rex-Grenadiermarsch, which contains the following lines:
Die Kais’rin hat sich mit dem ...
5
votes
4answers
183 views
messen vs ausmessen
Is there any difference in meaning or usage between "ausmessen" and "messen" when they mean "to measure"? I can't see none from DWDS's definition of "ausmessen" ...
4
votes
2answers
208 views
„Es besteht _kein_ Zweifel“ / „Es gibt _keinen_ Zweifel“ - why Nom. with bestehen?
I'm trying to work out why Nom. is used in „Es besteht kein Zweifel“ but Akk. is used in „Es gibt keinen Zweifel“?
I would have expected things to be identical for geben and bestehen, i.e. keinen ...
3
votes
1answer
238 views
Difference between 'Partikelverb' and 'trennbares Verb'
According to this answer the closest thing that German has to a phrasal verb is a Partikelverb. But it also mentions separable verbs/trennbare Verben without explaining the difference between a ...
