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.
...
- 123k
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 ∞ ...
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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 ...
- 26.4k
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 ...
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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.
- 10.6k
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 ...
- 26.9k
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!.
...
- 123k
15
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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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?
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13
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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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13
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-...
- 60.4k
13
votes
Accepted
zero-ending attributive adjective before a language name
It's not used attributively here, langsam is an adverb in this sentence. Not his German is slow, his speaking is.
He is so tired that he can only speak German slowly.
You're completely correct that ...
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12
votes
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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
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"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 ...
- 26.4k
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
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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9
votes
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„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 »...
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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 ...
- 31.1k
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, ...
- 3,336
9
votes
Why is “deshalb” used on this sign?
The text on this sign seems quite "lawyer-ish" to me. It basically says, "It's forbidden to use the path, and if you still use it and get hurt, you can't hold us liable". The "...
- 19.2k
8
votes
Accepted
Meaning of "schon mal so richtig"
So richtig ist ein verstärkendes umgangssprachliches Wortpaar. Es drückt aus, dass man nicht nur etwas tut, sondern es richtig, ausgiebig, ausführlich tut.
Wenn man so richtig in die Berge geht, dann ...
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8
votes
Accepted
Ich habe kein Problem damit oder Ich habe da kein Problem mit?
Sie liegen falsch mit der Vermutung, dass in dafür ein Demonstrativpronomen steckt. Tatsächlich steckt in dafür das Adverb da und die Präposition für. Deshalb heißen Wörter wie dafür auch ...
- 7,718
8
votes
Accepted
Is there a rule for the correct order of two adverbs in a row?
It depends on what you want to say.
Let's pick those sentences apart and use only one adverb:
Wir streiten uns fast (we almost argue )
Wir streiten uns nie (we never argue)
If we use two adverbs in ...
- 18.4k
8
votes
Accepted
What does "noch" mean in these sentences?
I think in the first sentence it expresses the idea that falling into bed is one more thing they did after having done other things.
Not exactly. In the first sentence, the "nur noch" ...
- 19.2k
8
votes
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What is the difference between "nicht gerade," "nicht ganz," "nicht genau," "nicht wirklich," and "nicht unbedingt"?
"Not exactly" can have different implications depending on context. .
Let's go through these possible translations:
1) "nicht gerade" / "nicht genau"
I agree with your ...
- 26.9k
7
votes
Accepted
Unterschied zwischen "derzeit" und "zurzeit"
Derzeit and zurzeit are in fact synonyms. However, in South-German areas you should always use zurzeit cause the majority of people will understand it as kind of formal, mad or even snooty to use ...
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