Level 1 - Basics
Copyright © 2013 by Vanessa Waltemate Let’s speak German 1. Auflage 2013
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Level 1 - Basics Prolog
Hallo zusammen! ~ Hello everyone!
Since approx. 2 years I’m studying Korean with talktomeinkorean.com, a website from a group of Koreans for people who are interested in the Korean language and the culture of this beautiful country. They’re doing a great job with podcasts, youtube videos, work books, vocabulary books, work sheets and so on. I was really impressed by them and their hard work. In times of internet it’s pretty easy to meet people from other countries and I met some persons who are studying German on their own. Well, I think German might be kind of hard to study for foreigners all alone. That’s why I thought about doing something similar to talktomeinkorean.com. Sure there are much websites and stuff to help you learn German. But maybe my way of explaining things might be different from others and hopefully are able to help you. I’m starting with basic information in this pdf-file. So if you want me to prepare more stuff for learning German feel free to tell me. Additionally I hope to get wishes about topics you want to know something about.
Hope you enjoy my work and…
Let’s speak German Yours
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Level 1 - Basics Inhaltsverzeichnis Level 1 Contents Level 1 Lektion 1, Das deutsche Alphabet The German alphabet ..................................... 5 Lektion 2, Höflichkeitsformen und Grüße Honorifics and greetings ..................... 7 Lektion 3, Danke, Bitte und Entschuldigung Gratitude, favor and apology ......... 10 Lektion 4, Ja | Nein Yes | No ............................................................................... 12 Lektion 5, Zahlen Numbers .................................................................................. 13 Lektion 6, Satzbau Sentence structure ................................................................ 14 Lektion 7, Überblick der Wortarten Overview of part of speech ........................ 15 Lektion 8, Überblick der Zeitformen Overview of tenses .................................... 19 Übungen Exercises ............................................................................................... 20 Lösungen Solutions .............................................................................................. 23 Vokabeln vocabularies ......................................................................................... 26 vocabularies Vokabeln ......................................................................................... 30
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 1: Das deutsche Alphabet The German alphabet is similar to the English one but we have some letters which may be new for foreigners. In our language we have 30 letters which can be written in capital or in small letters. They are divided into 3 groups: 5 Vowels 3 Umlauts 22 Consonants Vokale = vowels A|a
E|e
I|i
O|o
U|u
F|f N|n V|v
G|g P|p W|w
Umlaute = umlauts Ä|ä
Ö|ö
Ü|ü
Umlauts are rarely used.
Konsonanten = consonants B|b K|k S|s Z|z
C|c L|l ß|ß
D|d M|m T|t
H|h Q|q X|x
J|j R|r Y|y
The ß|ß (Esszett, [ɛs't͡sɛt]) is very rarely used. The letters Q|q (Qu, [kuː]), X|x (Ix, [iks]) and Y|y (Ypsilon, ['ʏpsilɔn]) aren’t used often.
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Level 1 - Basics The order of our alphabet is like this: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z. Ä, Ö, Ü and ß usually aren’t used in the alphabetical order but if they are it looks like this: A, Ä, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, Ö, P, Q, R, S, ß, T, U, Ü, V, W, X, Y, Z.
Vocabularies: das deutsches Alphabet der Buchstabe der Großbuchstabe groß der Kleinbuchstabe klein der Vokal der Umlaut der Konsonant
the German alphabet the letter the capital letter tall, big the small letter small, little the vowel the umlaut the consonant
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 2: Höflichkeitsformen und Grüße Höflichkeitsformen The German language basically uses two honorifics: Sie-From Du-Form
When you don’t know the person you are talking to or the person is someone in a higher position you use the SieSie-Form, Form e.g. Haben Sie gut geschlafen? Did you sleep well? When you use the Sie-Form in written language you use a capital letter for Sie because it’s a honorific. It has special possessive pronouns as well but we learn about that later. In combination with the Sie-Form you use the polite form of address. Then you usually don’t use the first name while talking to another person. When you need to address him or her you use Herr or Frau. Some older people still use the word Fräulein while addressing someone but it’s actually not used anymore.
Change from Sie-Form to Du-Form: das Du anbieten If persons know each other well and want to stop talking polite with the SieForm they can offer the Du-Form. But be careful: If the other person is older than you it’s impolite to offer the Du-Form. Just be patient and wait until he or she offers it. If either persons are the same age or you are older just offer it if you want to.
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Level 1 - Basics You are using the DuDu-Form like this e.g.
Du and Sie are the same words in English!
Hast du gut geschlafen? Did you sleep well?
While talking in Du-Form you are using the first names to address the other person. It’s used very often when you’re talking to a person who is approx. in your age. This form is also used when you talk to children.
Grüße polite greetings Guten Morgen.
Guten Abend. Gute Nacht. Auf Wiedersehen.
Good morning. Hello. Good day. Good afternoon. Good evening. Good night. Goodbye.
informal greetings Hallo! Hi! Tschüss!
Hello! Hi! Bye!
Guten Tag.
There isn’t much difference between the polite and the normal greeting. You can use both regardless of the used honorifics, e.g. Frau Schmidt:
Hallo Herr Müller. Hello Mr. Müller.
Herr Müller:
Guten Tag Frau Schmidt. Wie war Ihr Wochenende? Good afternoon Mrs. Schmidt. How was you weekend?
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Level 1 - Basics Frau Schmidt:
Sehr entspannend. Und Ihres? Very relaxing. And yours?
Herr Müller:
Meins war sehr anstrengend. Mine was exhausting.
Vocabularies: der Gruß die Höflichkeitsform Sie-Form siezen Du-Form duzen (der) Herr (die) Frau (das) Fräulein
the greeting the honorific formal speech verb of using formal speech informal speech verb of using informal speech Mr., Mister (the man) Mrs., Misses (the woman) Ms., Miss (the girl)
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 3: Danke, Bitte und Entschuldigung Dank The German word for a thank-you is Dankeschön. If you say “thank you” you can use Danke. There are some variations of it: Danke. Danke sehr. Sehr can be translated as very, much, very much or a lot. Danke schön. Schön can be translated as beautiful, pretty, nice, good or lovely. Herzlichen Dank. Herzlich can be translated as cordially, warmly or hearty (Herz = heart). Vielen Dank. Viel can be translated as much, many, a lot or plenty. So basically every variation can be translated as “thank you very much” or “thank you a lot”.
Bitte If you asking for a favor it’s called Bitte and is used like the English word “please”, e.g. Bitte geben Sie mir ein Eis. Please give me some ice cream.
Können Sie mir bitte helfen? Can you help me please?
The word bitte is also used when you received a thank-you. There are some variations of bitte too: Bitte. Bitte sehr. Bitte schön. These variations can be translated with “here you go”.
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Level 1 - Basics Some other words can express “here you go” as well: Gerne. It can be translated with “gladly” or “with pleasure”. Kein Problem. The translation of kein Problem is “no problem”. Schon in Ordnung. “It’s okay” would be the best translation here. Dafür nicht. Dafür means “for this” or “for that” and nicht is the German translation of not. So this phrase means literally “not for that”.
Entschuldigung If you did something wrong or need to disturb someone you’re saying “sorry” or “excuse me”. In German it’s the same: Entschuldigung. ‘Tschuldigung. It’s a short form of Entschuldigung. Usually it’s used between friends. Verzeihung. Verzeihen Sie bitte. Tut mir leid.
Vocabularies: der Dank die Bitte die Entschuldigung
the gratitude the favor the apology
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 4: Ja | Nein In this lesson you learn about the usage of Ja and Nein in German. Ja.
Yes.
Nein.
No.
If you answer to a question it’s like this: Du liest gerade kein Buch? You aren’t reading a book?
Nein, ich lese gerade kein Buch. No, I’m not reading a book.
Magst du den Sommer? Do you like the summer?
Ja, ich mag den Sommer. Nein, ich mag den Sommer nicht. Yes, I like the summer. No, I don’t like the summer.
Ja and Nein have a lot of variations. Some of them are e.g. Ja Jepp Jopp Japp Jawohl / Jawoll
Nein Nee Nö Nä
If you want to express your approval in a conversation you can say e.g. Das ist richtig. Okay.
That’s right.
If you don’t agree you can say e.g. Das sehe ich nicht so./Ich denke nicht so. I don’t think like that. Das ist nicht richtig. That’s not right. Das ist falsch. This is wrong.
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 5: Zahlen Okay, in this lesson we are concentrating on numbers. As you know there are many of them so let’s have a look at the German ones. 0 Null 1 Eins 11 Elf 21 Einundzwanzig 31 Einunddreißig 2 Zwei 12 Zwölf 22 Zweiundzwanzig … 3 Drei 13 Dreizehn 23 Dreiundzwanzig 40 Vierzig 4 Vier 14 Vierzehn 24 Vierundzwanzig 50 Fünfzig 5 Fünf 15 Fünfzehn 25 Fünfundzwanzig 60 Sechzig 6 Sechs 16 Sechzehn 26 Sechsundzwanzig 70 Siebzig 7 Sieben 17 Siebzehn 27 Siebenundzwanzig 80 Achtzig 8 Acht 18 Achtzehn 28 Achtundzwanzig 90 Neunzig 9 Neun 19 Neunzehn 29 Neunundzwanzig 100 Hundert/Einhundert 10 Zehn 20 Zwanzig 30 Dreißig 1.000 Tausend/Eintausend The numbers from 0 to 12 and 30 are irregular. You just need to learn them by heart. 13 to 19 are built like this:
13:
3 + 10
Drei + Zehn = Dreizehn
15:
5 + 10
Fünf + Zehn = Fünfzehn
The others are built like this: number + und (and) + tens number 22:
Zwei + und + Zwanzig = Zweiundzwanzig
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Drei + und + Fünfzig = Dreiundfünfzig
number of hundreds + number + und (and) + tens number 348:
300 + 8 + und + 40 = Drei + Hundert + Acht + und + Vierzig = Dreihundertachtundvierzig
4.000:
4 + 1.000 = Vier + Tausend = Viertausend
8.092:
8 + 1.000 + 2 + 90 = Acht + Tausend + Zwei + und (and) + Neunzig = Achttausendzweiundneunzig
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 6: Satzbau Let’s have a look at the Satzbau. It’s easy for people who already speak English because it’s the same. Du liest die Zeitung. Subjekt Prädikat Objekt
You read the newspaper. subject predicate object
Some sentences as examples: Ich bin Sängerin. I am a singer. Wir schreiben eine Geschichte. We write a story. Er zeichnet einen Baum. He draws a tree.
Vocabularies: der Satzbau
sentence sturcture
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 7: Überblick der Wortarten In German there are 9 Wortarten. Most of them exist in English as well so I’m not going to explain their definition. This is just a short overview about all 9. Further explanations are going to come in future lessons. Nomen or Substantive or Hauptwörter = nouns are always written with capital letters have grammatical genders: männlich [m] male German has a neutral gender! weiblich [w] female sächlich [s] neutral examples for Nomen: das Haus [s], der Baum [m], die Frau [w], der Mann [m], das Kind [s], die Sonne [w] the house, the tree, the woman, the man, the child, the sun
Verben or Prädikate or Tätigkeitswörter = verbs examples for Verben: gehen, sehen, kaufen, singen, lachen, weinen to go, to see, to buy, to sing, to laugh, to cry
Adjektive or Eigenschaftswörter = adjectives examples for Adjektive: groß, klein, sauber, lustig, gemein, friedlich big/tall, little/small, clean, funny, mean, peaceful
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Level 1 - Basics Pronomen or Fürwörter = pronoun
1. Person Singular 2. Person Singular 3. Person Singular [m] 3. Person Singular [w] 3. Person Singular [s] 1. Person Plural 2. Person Plural 3. Person Plural
PersonalPersonalpronomen personal pronoun ich I du you er he sie she es it wir we ihr you sie they
1. Person Singular 2. Person Singular 3. Person Singular [m] 3. Person Singular [w] 3. Person Singular [s] 1. Person Plural 2. Person Plural 3. Person Plural
Possesivartikel possesive determiner männlich weiblich + sächlich + plural mein meine my my dein deine your your sein seine his his ihr ihre her her sein seine its its unser unsere ours ours euer eure your your ihr ihre their their
Possessivpronomen prossessive pronoun männlich weiblich
sächlich
meiner mine deiner yours seiner his ihrer hers seiner (its) unserer ours eurer yours ihrer theirs
mein(e)s mine dein(e)s yours sein(e)s his ihres hers sein(e)s (its) unseres ours eures yours ihres theirs
meine mine deine yours seine his ihre hers seine (its) unsere ours eure yours ihre theirs
Reflexivpronomen reflexive pronouns mich myself dich yourself himself sich sich herself sich itself uns ourselves euch yourselves themselves
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Level 1 - Basics Artikel = articles bestimmte Artikel: unbestimmte Artikel:
der [m], die [w], das [s] ein [m], eine [w], ein [s]
Adverbien or Umstandswort = adverbs example for Adverbien: Sie haben dort gelebt. Dies ist ein besonders hübsches Foto. They lived there. This is an especially nice photo.
Präposition or Verhältniswöter = prepositions examples for Präpositionen: auf, unter, neben, vor, hinter, über on, under, beside, infront, behind, above
Konjunktionen or Bindewörter = conjunctions examples for Konjunktionen: und, oder, weil, bevor, nachdem, wenn and, or, because, before, after, when
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Level 1 - Basics
Vocabularies: der Überblick die Wortart das Wort männlich weiblich sächlich das Nomen / das Substantiv/ das Hauptwort das Verb / das Prädikat / das Tätigkeitswort das Adjektiv / das Eigenshaftswort das Pronomen / das Fürwort der Artikel der unbestimmte Artikel der bestimmte Artikel das Adverb / das Umstandswort die Präposition / das Verhältniswort die Konjunktion / das Bindewort
the overview the part of speach the word male female neutral the noun the verb the adjective the pronoun the article the indefinite article the definite article the adverb the preposition the conjunction
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 8: Überblick der Zeitformen Now we want to have a quick look at the different tenses in German. In English there are 17 tenses when I didn’t count wrong. In German we only have 6 Zeitformen and 3 Konditionalsätze. Zeitformen Latin name Präsens Perfekt
Common name Gegenwart vollendete Gegenwart
Tense in English Simple Present Present Perfect Simple
Präteritum Plusquamperfekt Futur 1 Futur 2
Vergangenheit Vorvergangenheit Zukunft vollendte Zukunft
Simple past Past Perfect Simple Future 1 Simple Future 2 Simple
You won’t use Plusquamperfekt and Futur 2 often so I will explain it sometime in the future. Konditionalsätze reale Bedingung irreale Bedingung (Gegenwart) irreale Bedingung (Vergangenheit)
real condition unreal condition (Present) unreal condition (Past)
Vocabularies: die Zeitform der Konditionalsatz sehen die Bedingung
the tense the conditional sentence to see condition
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Level 1 - Basics
Übungen
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 2: Höflichkeitsformen und Grüße Übung 1) Write down the German expression of the English greetings. English expression Good afternoon. Good night. Hi! Bye! Goodbye.
German expression
Übung 2) Write down the English expressions of the German greetings. German expression Tschüss! Guten Tag. Hallo! Guten Abend. Auf Wiedersehen.
English expression
Lektion 3: Danke, Bitte und Entschuldigung Übung 3) Assign the German expressions to the categories. gratitude
favor
apology
Gerne, Danke schön, ‘Tschuldigung, Verzeihung, Bitte sehr, Herzlichen Dank, Danke sehr, Tut mir leid, Dafür nicht
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 5: Zahlen Übung 4) Write down the full name of the numbers. 367 45 7 3.560 782 Übung 5) Connect the full name with the number. 62
Tausenddreiundsiebzig
259
Vierundvierzig
1.073
Zweiundsechzig
44
Neunhundertneunundneunzig
999
Zweihundertneunundfünfzig
Lektion 5: Satzbau Übung 6) Underline the predicate in the sentence. Sie trinkt Wasser. She drinks water. Wir spielen Fußball. We play soccer. Du malst ein Bild. You paint a picture.
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Level 1 - Basics
Lösungen
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 2: Höflichkeitsformen und Grüße Übung 1) Write down the German expression of the English greetings. English expression Good afternoon. Good night. Hi! Bye! Goodbye.
German expression Guten Tag. Gute Nacht. Hi! Tschüß! Auf Wiedersehen.
Übung 2) Write down the English expressions of the German greetings. German expression Tschüss! Guten Tag. Hallo! Guten Abend. Auf Wiedersehen.
English expression Bye! Good afternoon./Good day./Hello. Hello! Good evening. Good bye.
Lektion 3: Danke, Bitte und Entschuldigung Übung 3) Assign the German expressions to the categories. gratitude favor apology ‘Tschuldigung Danke schön Gerne Herzlichen Dank Bitte sehr Verzeihung Danke sehr Dafür nicht Tut mir leid Gerne, Danke schön, ‘Tschuldigung, Verzeihung, Bitte sehr, Herzlichen Dank, Danke sehr, Tut mir leid, Dafür nicht
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Level 1 - Basics Lektion 5: Zahlen Übung 4) Write down the full name of the numbers. 367 45 7 3.560 782
Dreihundertsiebenundsechzig Fünfundvierzig Sieben Dreitausendfünfhundertsechzig Siebenhundertzweiundachtzig
Übung 5) Connect the full name with the number. 62
Tausenddreiundsiebzig
259
Vierundvierzig
1.073
Zweiundsechzig
44
Neunhundertneunundneunzig
999
Zweihundertneunundfünfzig
Lektion 5: Satzbau Übung 6) Underline the predicate in the sentence. Sie trinkt Wasser. She drinks water. Wir spielen Fußball. We play soccer. Du malst ein Bild. You paint a picture.
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Level 1 - Basics Vokabeln German A Abend [m] Adjektiv [s] Adverb [s] Alphabet [s] anstrengen Art [w] Artikel [m] auf B Baum [m] Bedingung [w] besonders bestimmt bestimmte Artikel [m] bevor Bindewort [s] Bitte [w] Buchstabe [m] D dafür Dank [m] denken deutsch Deutsch [s] Du-Form duzen E Eigenschaftswort [s] Eis [s] Ende [s] Entschuldigung [w] entspannen F falsch sein Form [w]
English evening adjective adverb alphabet to strain kind article on tree condition special definitely definite article before conjunction favor letter for that thank-you to think German German language informal speech verb of using informal speech adjective ice cream end apology to relax to be wrong formal speech
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Level 1 - Basics Foto [s] Frau [w] Fräulein [s] friedlich G geben gehen gemein sein gerade Geschichte [w] groß Großbuchstabe [m] Gruß [m] gut H haben haupt Hauptwort [s] Haus [s] helfen Herr [m] herzlich hinter Höflichkeitsform [w] hübsch sein I irreal J jemandem etwas anbieten jemanden entschuldigen K kaufen kein Kind [s] klein Kleinbuchstabe [m] Konditionalsatz [m] Konjunktion [w]
picture Mrs., Misses, woman Ms., Miss, young woman (not really used anymore) peaceful to give to go to be mean just story, sometimes means history tall, big capital letter greeting good to have main noun house to help Mr., Mister, man cordially behind honorific to be pretty unreal to offer something to somebody to apologize someone to buy not any child small, little small letter contidional sentence conjunction
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Level 1 - Basics Konsonant [m] L lachen leben leid tun lesen lustig M Mann [m] männlich mögen Morgen [m] N nachdem neben nicht Nomen [s] O oder Ordnung P Prädikat [s] Präposition [w] Problem [s] R real richtig sein S sächlich Sänger [m] Sängerin [w] Satz [m] Satzbau [m] sauber sein schlafen schon schön sein schreiben sehen
consonant to laugh to live to be sorry to read funny man manly, male to like morning after next to not noun or order predicate preposition problem real to be right neutral singer singer sentence sentence structure to be clean to sleep already, yet to be pretty tp write to see
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Level 1 - Basics sehr sein sich für etwas entschuldigen Sie-Form siezen Sommer Sonne [w] Substantiv [s] T Tag [m] Tätigkeit [w] Tätigkeitswort [s] tun U Umlaut [m] Umstand [m] Umstandswort [s] unbestimmt unbestimmte Artikel [m] und unter über Überblick [m] V Verb [s] Verhältnis [s] Verhältniswort [s] verzeihen viel Vokal [m] vor W weiblich weil weinen wenn wieder wiedersehen Wiedersehen [s]
very to be to apologize for something formal speech verb of using formal speech summer sun noun day activity, work, occupation verb, predicate to do umlaut circumstance adverb indefinite indefinite article and under over overview verb relationship preposition to forgive much vocal infront female, feminine because to cry if, when, once back, again to see again reunion
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Level 1 - Basics Woche [w] Wochenende [s] Wort [s] Wortart [w] Z Zahl [w] zeichnen Zeit [w] Zeitform [w] Zeitung [w]
week weekend word part of speech number to draw time tense newspaper
vocabularies A activity adjective adverb after again alphabet already and apology article B back because before behind big C capital letter child circumstance condition conjunction
Tätigkeit [w] Adjektiv [s], Eigenschaftswort [s] Adverb [s], Umstandswort [s] nachdem wieder Alphabet [s] schon und Entschuldigung [w] Artikel [m] wieder weil bevor hinter groß Großbuchstabe [m] Kind [s] Umstand [m] Bedingung [w] Konjunktion [w], Bindewort [s]
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Level 1 - Basics consonant contidional sentence cordially D day definite article definitely E end evening F favor female feminine for that formal speech formal speech funny G German German language good greeting H history honorific house I ice cream if indefinite indefinite article informal speech infront J just
Konsonant [m] Konditionalsatz [m] herzlich Tag [m] bestimmte Artikel [m] bestimmt Ende [s] Abend [m] Bitte [w] weiblich weiblich dafür Form [w] Sie-Form lustig deutsch Deutsch [s] gut Gruß [m] Geschichte [w] Höflichkeitsform [w] Haus [s] Eis [s] wenn unbestimmt unbestimmte Artikel [m] Du-Form vor gerade
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Level 1 - Basics K kind L letter little M main male man manly morning Mr., Mister Mrs., Misses Ms., Miss much N neutral newspaper next to not not any noun number O occupation on once or order over overview P part of speech peaceful picture
Art [w] Buchstabe [m] klein haupt männlich Herr [m], Mann [m] männlich Morgen [m] Herr [m] Frau [w] Fräulein [s] viel sächlich Zeitung [w] neben nicht kein Nomen [s], Substantiv [s], Hauptwort [s] Zahl [w] Tätigkeit [w] auf wenn oder Ordnung über Überblick [m] Wortart [w] friedlich Foto [s]
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Level 1 - Basics predicate preposition problem R real relationship reunion S sentence sentence structure singer small small letter special story summer sun T tall tense thank-you time to apologize for something to apologize someone to be to be clean to be mean to be pretty to be right to be sorry to be wrong to buy to cry to do to draw to forgive
Prädikat [s] Präposition [w], Verhältniswort [s] Problem [s] real Verhältnis [s] Wiedersehen [s] Satz [m] Satzbau [m] Sänger [m], Sängerin [w] klein Kleinbuchstabe [m] besonders Geschichte [w] Sommer Sonne [w] groß Zeitform [w] Dank [m] Zeit [w] sich für etwas entschuldigen jemanden entschuldigen sein sauber sein gemein sein hübsch sein, schön sein richtig sein leid tun falsch sein kaufen weinen tun zeichnen verzeihen
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Level 1 - Basics to give to go to have to help to laugh to like to live to offer something to somebody to read to relax to see to see again to sleep to strain to think tp write tree U umlaut under unreal V verb
geben gehen haben helfen lachen mögen leben jemandem etwas anbieten lesen entspannen sehen wiedersehen schlafen anstrengen denken schreiben Baum [m]
verb of using formal speech
siezen
verb of using informal speech
duzen
very vocal W week weekend when woman word work
sehr Vokal [m]
Umlaut [m] unter irreal Verb [s], Tätigkeitswort [s]
Woche [w] Wochenende [s] wenn Frau [w] Wort [s] Tätigkeit [w]
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Level 1 - Basics Y yet young woman
schon Fräulein [s] (not really used anymore)
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Level 1 - Basics
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