53
votes
Accepted
Is German a VO language or an OV language?
English is a SVO language.
SVO means: Subject, Verb, Object(s) in exactly this order.
But English is the only Germanic language with this word order. German and all other Germanic languages (Dutch, ...
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42
votes
Accepted
How would you say, "I speak a little bit German"?
There exist three ways of how to use the adjective wenig in German:
As an attribute of a noun: A small amount of something
In diesem Glas ist wenig Wasser.
In this glass is little water.
...
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39
votes
How would you say, "I speak a little bit German"?
Your proposal is absolutely correct and hard to improve.
Alternatives:
Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch.
Ich spreche etwas Deutsch.
Or with self-criticism:
Mein Deutsch ist nicht ...
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18
votes
Why "Integrieren bis Unendlich" but not "bis Unendlichkeit"?
Unendlich is used as a "number word" in mathematics like five or ninetynine
You also say Die Zahlen von eins bis fünf, so you can also say Die Summe von fünf bis unendlich.
The mathematical symbol ∞ ...
- 15.8k
18
votes
Accepted
Hatte die Deutsche Sprache einst Adverbien wie im Englischen?
Wie fast immer ist es irreführend, vom Englischen auszugehen; außerdem ist die Darstellung der Situation im Englischen zu sehr vereinfacht. Das Phänomen, daß im heutigen Englisch die meisten Adverbien ...
- 24.5k
17
votes
When to use the word "mal"? How does it change the meaning?
The addition of the word 'mal' does not directly change the meaning in this context. It does, however, change the underlying tone of the statement.
A sentence like
Frag mal dort nach.
makes your ...
- 359
17
votes
weird usage of "dran"
The phrase spät dran sein means to be running late. It is a fixed word combination.
Update:
As Arsak comments, spät dran sein has früh dran sein as a counterpart.
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16
votes
Is German a VO language or an OV language?
In main clauses, German uses V2 (the verb is on second position), and that means VO most of the time.
German (V2 -> VO): Julia ruft den Hund.
English (VO): Julia calls the dog.
Latin (OV): Iulia ...
- 23.5k
15
votes
Accepted
Translate "by" in German
Your assumption is wrong. You can't interchange the words "by, with, via, through" in English
The mailbox is with via through by the bus stop.
Be back with via through by ten o'clock!.
...
- 118k
14
votes
How would you say, "I speak a little bit German"?
Colloquially, it is also widespread to "can" a language:
"Ich kann ein bisschen Deutsch" or "Ich kann ein wenig Deutsch". "I can a little German" (let the boy out of the Weck jar, now!).
This is not ...
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14
votes
"mittlerweile" = now / nowadays?
I would translate it as "by now" in this context.
Has Germany become completely americanized by now?
- 23.5k
14
votes
Accepted
"mittlerweile" = now / nowadays?
Mittlerweile has two meanings:
Referring to the end of something that has occurred over time.
Possible translations: by now, gradually, since then
Example: "Sie sollten mittlerweile Zuhause (...
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13
votes
Confused by "lange" as adverb
Lang is an adjective. It is used for both, time and distance. As usual, its corresponding adverb is lang, but there is also the related adverb lange.
The adverb lange is used only temporal: “Das ...
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13
votes
Accepted
What is the meaning of “noch nicht” when applied to the present tense?
The phrase “A ist noch nicht B” can mean that A does not necessarily imply B, that it is not enough to have A for to also have B.
Looking at the context, the journalist apparently wanted to say that ...
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13
votes
What is the meaning of “noch nicht” when applied to the present tense?
noch nicht = not yet
in all cases applicable.
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13
votes
Why "Integrieren bis Unendlich" but not "bis Unendlichkeit"?
Actually I see no reason for a substantive there. The word unendlich is the appropriate number word on the same level as zero, one, pi and four (which are no substantives either). In German ...
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13
votes
Accepted
Why is “deshalb” used on this sign?
But wouldn't the text of the sign also allow for the interpretation that one is always forbidden from using the path?
Yes. It doesn't just allow for that interpretation. That's actually exactly what'...
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12
votes
Accepted
Word order for "los" in "Was ist denn hier los?"
los is a regular adjective meaning off (in the sense of unleashed or detached). The basic idiomatic expression using los is the following sentence:
Etwas ist los.
Something is unleashed/moving (...
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12
votes
Accepted
Ist »promptlich« das Adverb zu »prompt«?
Nein.
Adjektive und Adverbien unterscheiden sich im Deutschen rein äußerlich nicht. Etwas wie die englische Endsilbe »-ly«, die man an ein Adjektiv anhängen kann um es zu einem Adverb zu machen, gibt ...
- 118k
12
votes
Accepted
Meaning of "danach" in the following context
I'm pretty sure your confusion stems from the opposition of vorher and danach. This is a trick question.
That danach is not in opposition to vorher in this example. Rather than that, it's the da-...
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11
votes
What is the particle “irgend” used for, or what concept/sentiment does it convey?
Irgend is used to reinforce uncertainty similar to some/any.
Examples
Hat irgendwer meine Tasche gesehen?
Has anyone seen my bag?
Kannst du es irgendwo sehen?
Can you see it anywhere?
Sie suchen ...
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11
votes
Accepted
Why is it “gut” not “gutes” in “Ich spreche sehr gut Englisch”?
Gut is an adjective, but it's also an adverb. Adverbs are not declined, adjectives are. The difference lies in gutes Englisch sprechen (~to have a good command of English) and Englisch gut sprechen (...
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11
votes
Accepted
"nach unwiederbringlich Verlorenem"
Das hängt von der Bedeutung ab.
1) ein stark Schwitzender ~ eine Person, die stark schwitzt
2) ein starker Schwitzender ~ eine starke Person, die schwitzt
Die Umschreibungen geben den ...
- 24.5k
11
votes
Accepted
weird usage of "dran"
"dran" or "daran" usually references some subject, state or location which was mentioned in a previous sentence. For example:
"Michael hat seinen Termin verpasst. Daran bin ...
- 275
10
votes
Accepted
Position of “etwas” in “Kann ich in Berlin etwas kaufen?”
Both word orders are correct and only slightly differ in emphasis: Whatever you put first in this case, is slightly more focussed by the question (at least that’s my impression, even native speakers ...
- 21.7k
10
votes
What is the particle “irgend” used for, or what concept/sentiment does it convey?
Most of the time, irgend- corresponds to no matter who/which/where/how/...
or I don't know the details.
E. g.,
irgendjemand, irgendwer -> some/any person (I don't know or don't care who)
irgendwo -> ...
- 10.4k
9
votes
Accepted
„Zusammen geführt“ oder „zusammengeführt“?
Die amtlichen deutschen Rechtschreibregeln behandeln zusammengesetzte Verben in den §§ 33 mit 35. Da es sich auf keinen Fall um eine untrennbare Zusammensetzung handelt (»Er führt zusammen« und nicht »...
- 38.4k
9
votes
Bedeutung von »maximal« in Ausdrücken wie »nach maximal 72 Stunden«
Ohne dass man den Kontext kennt oder einen Link dorthin hat, besteht natürlich die Gefahr des Irrtums, doch ich meine, die meisten Kommentatoren oben haben sich verrannt. Das Auswärtige Amt leidet ...
9
votes
Adjective, adverb or something else?
Is it because it is used as an adverb and not an adjective?
Yes. It is used to describe “wirbelnde” which is the Partizip I of “wirbeln”. Adverbs are used elaborate on actions described by verbs, ...
- 3,328
9
votes
gefallen v. mögen - what do I use?
Your teacher isn't wrong per se, but this distinction isn't followed that strictly in everday life. The two words have a slightly different focus. You might say, "mögen" puts the focus more ...
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