Chapter 1: Guten Tag! 1.1 Saying hello

Vocabulary 1: Saying Hello Formally

"Guten Morgen!" ("Good Morning!")

"Guten Tag!" ("Hello!" (literally "Good day!"))

"Guten Abend!" ("Good evening!")

1. German speakers say "Hello!" in a number of ways. This partly depends on the time of day:

• "Guten Morgen!" is said until about 10 a.m. • "Guten Tag!" is said from about 10 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m.

(There is no equivalent phrase for "Good afternoon!" in German.) • "Guten Abend!" is said after 5 p.m.

All of these greetings are used in formal situations when we might say "How do you do" in English, or when meeting people we don't know particularly well. When you expect or are hoping for service, it could be interpreted as impolite not to say "Guten Tag!" as an opener. 2. In informal situations however - amongst family, friends or young people -, the above greetings are often shortened or other greetings are used:

Vocabulary 2: Saying Hello Informally

"Hallo!" ("Hello!")

"Hallihallo!" ("Hello!")

"Hi!" ("Hi!")

"Morgen!" ("Morning!")

"Tag!" ("Hello!")

" 'n Abend!" ("Evening!")

3. Your greeting will also depend on your geographical location. In South Germany and Austria, you'll often hear "Grüß Gott!" or "Servus!" in daylight hours, whilst in Switzerland you'll hear "Grüezi":

Vocabulary 3: Saying Hello Regionally

"Grüß Gott!" ("Hello!" ("May God greet you!"))

"Grüß dich!" ("Hello!" (informal: "I greet you!"))

"Servus!" ("Hello!")

"Grüezi!" ("Greetings!")

Remember to shake hands! When Germans meet, their greetings can appear quite formal. Even if they see each other every day at work they will usually shake hands. If you enter a room full of people, a general greeting to all of them is usually sufficient, although you will probably shake hands with some of them at least. Strictly speaking, the older person should hold out their hand first. Close acquaintances and friends however frequently greet each other in Southern European style not with a handshake but with a kiss on the left cheek and a kiss on the right.

1.2 Saying goodbye

Vocabulary 4: Saying Goodbye Formally

"Auf Wiedersehen!" ("Goodbye!")

"Auf Wiederschauen!" (= South Germany and Austria)

"Auf Wiederhören!" ("Goodbye!" (telephone))

"Gute Nacht!" ("Good night!")

1. When saying goodbye, it is also necessary to distinguish between formal and informal registers:

• The standard form for saying goodbye in German is "auf Wiedersehen!". It means "Until we see each other again", as does the South German and Austrian variant "auf Wiederschauen".

• As you obviously can't "see" people on telephones however, you use the phrase "auf Wiederhören" - "until we hear from each other again" - when you put down the receiver.

• When you are saying goodbye at night, you would say "gute Nacht!".

Vocabulary 5: Saying Goodbye Informally

"Tschüs!"("Bye!")

"Bis später!" ("See you later!")

"Ciao!" ("Ciao!")

"Servus!" (S. Germany & Austria)

2. When you are saying farewell to friends and young people the above expressions can also be used. Be aware that:

• The word "tschüs" (sometimes spelled "tschüss") is the most common farewell phrase amongst friends, having the sense of "See you!" or "Bye!". It originally comes, like the Spanish "adiós" and the French "adieu", from the Latin "ad deum", and means literally "God be with you".

• You might occasionally find "ciao" Germanized as "tschau". • One should really only use "bis später" to meaning "See you later the same day". • The word "servus" can either mean "hello" or "goodbye" according to context. You will

hear it primarily in Southern Germany and Austria.

German nouns As you will have noticed, all German nouns - such as "Morgen", "Tag", "Abend" and "Nacht" - are always written with a capital letter. This has the advantage for the learner of making them much easier to spot! On the other hand, adjectives - such as "guten" in "guten Abend" - are not capitalized unless they occur at the beginning of a sentence.

1.3 "Sie" or "du?"

1. The German language has different ways of translating the English pronoun "you":

Grammar 1: "du" and "Sie"

du

The familiar or informal form "du" is used when talking to relatives, close friends and children.

It does not start with a capital letter.

The plural of "du" is "ihr".

Sie

The formal form "Sie" is used when you need to be more polite.

It is the usual form of address when talking to an adult whom you don't know well or at all.

A child would always say "Sie" to an adult outside his or her own family.

"Sie" always starts with a capital letter.

The plural form of "Sie" is also "Sie".

2. Whether to use "Sie" or "du" can be a terrible dilemma for native and non-native speakers alike. It is quite possible for two neighbours to live next door to each other for decades and still call each other "Herr X" or "Frau Y" and refer to each other using "Sie"!

It is equally possible for two colleagues to work in the same office all their life and still call each other "Sie" and not be on first name terms. As the "Sie" form carries with it great respect, it thus remains the norm amongst employees, although there is a growing trend towards work colleagues being on first name terms with each other and as a consequence using the "du" form. When meeting someone in a work environment, you should always use "Sie". The inappropriate use of "du" to someone in a position of authority in a German-speaking country can appear disrespectful and cause a great deal of offence. When getting to know new friends and colleagues, it is advisable to wait for the German speaker to ask you to address them with "du", which should then be interpreted as an offer of friendship. 3. In other areas of social interaction however, you will be expected to use "du", and may be seen as being cold and aloof if you do not. University students invariably call each other "du" even when they're meeting for the first time, as do members of certain other groups which place a high value on solidarity (e.g. blue-collar workers, soldiers, sportsmen).

How are you? The choice between "du" and "Sie" is not just one of social niceties. It also affects the grammar of a sentence - and verb endings in particular. Even an apparently simple construction like "How are you" needs to be remembered in three ways:

Grammar 2: Wie geht es...?

Pronoun How are you?

Sie (formal)

"Wie geht es Ihnen?"

du (informal)

"Wie geht es dir?"

ihr (informal plural)

"Wie geht es euch?"

1. You will discover in subsequent chapters that "Ihnen", "dir" and "euch" are the dative forms of "Sie", "du" and "ihr". "Wie geht es Ihnen / dir?" literally means: "How goes it for you?" 2. In all three of the above contexts, you might also use "Wie geht's?" ("How are things?"). This phrase neatly sidesteps the issue of whether you should refer to the person to whom you are talking as "du" or "Sie", although it is a quite informal greeting.

1.4 Conversations: Greetings!

In the office Here are two conversations which practise the difference between formal and informal greetings. Pay particular attention to the different greetings which are used

in the different contexts. In our first conversation, Frau Müller meets her boss Doctor Schmidt as he comes in for work in the morning. Even though they have worked together for some time, they still use the formal "Sie" to address each other.

Conversation 1: Im Büro

Herr Dr. Schmidt

Guten Morgen, Frau Müller.

Frau Müller Guten Morgen, Herr Doktor Schmidt. Wie geht es Ihnen?

Herr Dr. Schmidt

Sehr gut, danke. Und Ihnen?

Frau Müller Leider nicht sehr gut.

Herr Dr. Schmidt

Oh, das tut mir Leid.

Frau Müller Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Doktor Schmidt.

Herr Dr. Schmidt

Auf Wiedersehen.

Glossary

das Büro The office

im Büro In the office

Herr Mister

Frau "Frau" is the title used for both maried and single women and approximates to the English Ms., Mrs. or Miss.

Wie geht es Ihnen?

"How are you?" As this is an office environment, the formal version is used.

Sehr gut, danke.

"Very well, thank you". This is short for "Mir geht es sehr gut, danke" ("I'm very well, thank you"), which you could also say at this point.

Und Ihnen? "And you?" This is short for: "Und wie geht es Ihnen?", which you could also say in full if you wished.

Leider nicht sehr gut.

"Not so good." The word "leider" on its own means "unfortunately".

Oh, das tut mir Leid.

"Oh, I'm sorry." As in English, this can mean that you are sorry to hear something or sorry because of something that you have done.

1. In German, people greet each other by name more often than we do in English-speaking countries. If someone is a doctor of any kind, this title immediately follows "Herr" or "Frau" - e.g. "Herr Doktor Schmidt", or "Frau Professor Meyer". As a general rule, you should avoid using first names in formal circumstances, unless you

are speaking to a child. 2. The formal use of Fräulein to translate "Miss" is outdated and should be avoided, not least because the literal translation of Fräulein is "little woman"! You should instead use Frau. 3. Asking how someone is is normally a mere conversational formality, and the correct response is some form of "Fine thanks!" (see above). Compared to Anglo-Saxon countries however, asking about somebody's health is a comparatively private question in Germany, and on a bad day the person asked may give you a detailed run-down on his or her precise state of health!

At the station In our second conversation, schoolfriends Michael and Franz bump into each at the station and briefly exchange greetings. They naturally use the informal "du" to address each other.

Conversation 2: Am Bahnhof

Michael Tag, Franz.

Franz Hallo, Michael. Wie geht es dir?

Michael Gut, danke. Und dir?

Franz Prima, danke.

Michael Tschüs.

Franz Tschüs. Bis später.

Glossary

der Bahnhof

The station

am Bahnhof

At the station

Wie geht es dir?

"How are you?" As these are two young friends who are meeting, they use the informal "du" form.

Gut, danke Well, thank you

Prima, danke

"Great, thank you". The word "prima" should really only be used in informal contexts. Again, you could also say "Mir geht es prima, danke" at this point.

1.5 Introducing yourself and others

1. When you are introducing yourself to other people, you would use your first name in informal circumstances i.e. when you would use "du". Otherwise, you should refer to yourself as "Herr X" or "Frau Y":

Vocabulary 6: Introducing yourself

I am... "Ich bin..."

I am Mister Schmidt "Ich bin Herr Schmidt"

I am Ms. Braun "Ich bin Frau Braun"

I am Thomas "Ich bin Thomas"

I am Ute "Ich bin Ute"

2. When you are introducing other people, you can indicate your relationship to them either before their name or after it. In both cases you would start with the words "Und das ist...":

Vocabulary 7: Introducing other people

And this is... "Und das ist..."

...my husband Johann

"...Johann, mein Mann"

...my wife Sandra "...meine Frau Sandra"

...my son, Markus "...mein Sohn Markus"

...my daughter Britta "...Britta, meine Tochter"

You will notice that the German possessive "my" is spelled "mein" when it refers to a male person, but "meine" when it refers to a female. This will be explained in subsequent chapters.

What's your name? There are two main ways of asking someone their name and telling them your own. Each of these constructions has two different forms, depending on whether you are in a formal or informal context:

Vocabulary 8: What's your name?

What's your name? My name is...

Wie heißen Sie? Wie heißt du?

ich heiße...

(Literally: "How are you called?")

Wie ist Ihr Name? Wie ist dein Name?

mein Name ist...

(Literally: "How is your name?")

There are thus two versions of the German possessive adjective "your", just as there are two words for the pronoun "you":

• "Sie" has the pronoun "Ihr". Note the capital letters! • "du" has the pronoun "dein".

As the word for name (der Name) is masculine, the possessive "dein" has the same ending as "mein" when it referred to a male person earlier in this section. We will discuss pronouns and possessive adjectives in more detail in the next section.

1.6 Pronouns, possessive adjectives and verbs

1. We have already met some of the German pronouns and possessive adjectives in this chapter. The table below lists them in full:

Grammar 3: Singular pronouns and possessives

Pronoun Possessive

1st Person ich "I" mein "my"

2nd Person du Sie

"you" dein Ihr

"your"

3rd Person er sie es

"he" "she" "it"

sein ihr sein

"his" "her" "its"

Grammar 4: Plural pronouns and possessives

Pronoun Possessive

1st Person wir "we" unser "our"

2nd Person ihr Sie

"you" euer Ihr

"your"

3rd Person sie "they" ihr "their"

The following points should be noted:

• The German pronoun "ich" does not start with a capital letter, unlike its English equivalent "I".

• Note that the pronoun "sie" can either mean "she" or "they" depending on context. And when it begins with a capital letter "Sie" is the formal form of "you"! Be very careful how you use this pronoun.

• The word "ihr" can also pose difficulties. When used as a pronoun, it is the informal plural pronoun of "you". When used as a possessive adjective, it either means "her" or "their". And when it begins with a capital letter "Ihr" is the formal form of "your"!

• The third person pronouns "er", "sie" and "es" can refer to persons. However they also substitute for all masculine, feminine and neuter nouns respectively, regardless of whether they are persons or things. The gender of German nouns will be explained fully in the next chapter.

Present tense of German verbs The present tense of the vast majority of German verbs is formed from the infinitive of the verb - the part of speech which equates to the English "to do", "to speak" etc. In German, the infinitive almost always ends in "-en". To construct the individual forms, remove the "-en" from the infinitive and add personal endings to the remaining stem as follows:

Grammar 5: The verb "heißen" (= to be called)

Singular

ich heiße I am called

du heißt Sie heißen

You are called (informal/formal)

er/sie/es heißt He/she/it is called

Plural

wir heißen We are called

ihr heißt Sie heißen

You are called (informal/formal)

sie heißen They are called

The verb "heißen" is an example of a "weak" or "regular" verb in that it takes the regular personal endings for a verb in the present tense. The only distinction is that the verb endings for the "du" person is usually "-st" and not "-t" as here. The reason why it is "du heißt" and not "du heißst" is a logical one - if that were the case, you would have three "s"'s in a row!

The verb "sein" (= to be) Unfortunately, by no means all verbs are regular. The other verb which we have encountered so far - and also the most commonly used German verb! - is irregular:

Grammar 6: The verb "sein" (= to be)

Singular

ich bin I am

du bist Sie sind

You are (informal/formal)

er/sie/es ist He/she/it is

Plural

wir sind We are

ihr seid Sie sind

You are (informal/formal)

sie sind They are

1.7 Conversations: Introductions (1)

Anna Müller, whom we saw earlier in the office, meets her new neighbour Margarete Schäfer for the first time. Listen out for the different ways in which Anna talks first to Frau Schäfer and then to her two children.

Conversation 3: Frau Schäfer

Anna Müller Guten Tag. Ich heiße Frau Müller. Und wie heißen Sie?

Margarete Schäfer

Guten Tag, Frau Müller. Freut mich. Mein Name ist Frau Schäfer und das ist Natascha, meine Tochter.

Anna Müller Hallo Natascha!

Natascha Schäfer

Hallo!

Anna Müller (looking at Frau Schäfer's pram) Und wie heißt du?

Margarete Schäfer

Das ist mein Sohn Winfried. Darf ich mich verabschieden, Frau Müller? Auf Wiedersehen! Schönen Tag noch.

Anna Müller Danke. Ihnen auch. Tschüs, Natascha!

Natascha Schäfer

Tschüs!

Glossary

Freut mich Pleased to meet you!

Darf ich mich verabschieden?

"May I say goodbye?" Used in formal contexts only.

Schönen Tag noch Have a nice day!

Ihnen auch "The same to you!" This is of course the formal version of the pronoun

The student Sophie Gerland introduces herself to Professor Robert Jaspert on her first day at the Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin).

Conversation 4: An der Universität

Sophie Gerland

Guten Tag, Professor Jaspert. Darf ich mich vorstellen? Mein Name ist Gerland. (Gibt ihm die Hand.)

Professor Jaspert

Guten Tag, Frau Gerland. Bitte nehmen Sie Platz.

Glossary

die Universität

The university

an der Universität

At the university

Darf ich mich vorstellen?

"May I introduce myself?" Used as a polite phrase in a formal conversation.

(Gibt ihm die "She shakes hands with him." Literally: "She

Hand) gives him the hand". Not shaking hands in this highly formal context would appear rude.

Bitte nehmen Sie Platz

"Please sit down." Note that Professor Jaspert uses the polite "Sie" form when speaking to Sophie, even though she is only 18 years old. He also calls her "Frau Gerland", and not "Fräulein" or "Sophie".

1.8 Conversations: Introductions (2)

Now Sophie Gerland introduces her boyfriend Marko Tredup to her friend Barbara Zacharias. All three are 18-year-old students.

Conversation 5: Marko und Barbara

Sophie Gerland

Hallo Barbara! Darf ich vorstellen? Das ist mein Freund Marko.

Barbara Zacharias

(Gibt ihm die Hand.) Hallo Marko!

Marko Tredup Hallo Barbara!

Barbara Zacharias

Nett, dich kennen zu lernen.

Marko Tredup Danke, gleichfalls.

Glossary

Darf ich vorstellen?

"May I introduce?" When introducing someone else, you omit the pronoun "mich" which you use when introducing yourself.

(Gibt ihm die Hand)

Although the fellow students naturally use "du" to each other, they still shake hands on being introduced to each other.

mein Freund Here: "my boyfriend". It is also the word which is used for a "any male friend".

Nett, dich kennen zu lernen.

"Nice to meet you". An informal response to being introduced. Note that "dich" is the accusative form of the pronoun "du".

Danke, gleichfalls

"Thank you, likewise". Or: "The same to you".

Marko Tredup introduces Sophie Gerland to his mother.

Conversation 6: Angenehm, Frau Tredup

Marko Mutter, darf ich dir meine Freundin Sophie vorstellen?

Frau Tredup

Freut mich, Sie kennen zu lernen, Sophie.

Sophie Angenehm, Frau Tredup. (Sie geben sich die Hand.)

Glossary

die Mutter Mother

Darf ich dir ... vorstellen?

"May I introduce ... to you?" Marko uses "dir" (the dative form of "du") because he is talking to his mother. Were he to be speaking in more formal circumstances he would say "Darf ich Ihnen ... vorstellen?"

meine Freundin

Here: "my girlfriend". It is also the word which is used for a "any female friend".

Freut mich, Sie kennen zu lernen.

"Pleased to meet you." This is a more formal version of "Freut mich" which we met in the first conversation. Note that Frau Tredup calls Sophie "Sie", even though the latter is the same age as her son Marko.

Angenehm "Pleased to meet you". It literally just means "pleasant". It is interchangable with "Freut mich" as a polite response when being introduced to someone.

(Sie geben sich die Hand)

They shake hands. Once more, shaking hands is an essential part of social etiquette in this context.

1.9 German first names

We have met a number of German first names in this chapter. But which are the ones that we are most likely to meet in everyday life? In 1997, sixteen researchers at the "Kulturbox" in Berlin collated the frequency of first names in the Berlin telephone directory. Click here to see the full list. The top twenty male and female names from their survey are listed below:

Most common names in the 1997 Berlin phone book

Male Female Male Female

1. Hans Ursula 11. Gerhard Gerda

2. Peter Hildegard 12. Joachim Sabine

3. Wolfgang Gertrud 13. Werner Ingrid

4. Heinz Helga 14. Manfred Erika

5. Klaus Renata 15. Andreas Karin

6. Horst Margarete 16. Thomas Ingeborg

7. Jürgen Monika 17. Bernd Petra

8. Dieter Brigitte 18. Karl Gabriele

9. Günter Charlotte 19. Frank Erna

10. Michael Gisela 20. Kurt Elisabeth

These are probably names which the outsider would recognise as "typically German". Yet recent years have seen parents choosing quite different names for their children. According to the German Language Society (GfdS), the ten names most commonly given to babies in 2002 and 2003 were as follows:

The most popular names given to German babies

2003 Boys Girls 2002 Boys Girls

1. Maximilian Marie 1. Alexander Marie

2. Alexander Sophie 2. Maximilian Sophie

3. Leon Maria 3. Paul Maria

4. Paul Anna/e 4. Leon Anna/e

5. Lukas Lea(h) 5. Lukas Laura

6. Felix Laura 6. Jonas Lea

7. Luca Lena 7. Tim Katharina

8. David Leonie 8. David Sarah

9. Tim Julia 9. Niklas Julia

10. Jonas Sara(h) 10. Luca Lena

Trends It is true to say that fewer traditional or religious names are chosen now than at the start of the century. In an ongoing survey carried out by the German magazine Familie Online for example, 42% of parents stated that they chose the name of the offspring "because they liked it", and 21% "because it was an unusual name". Names are indeed becoming more individual. The nineties witnessed the birth of children named Fritzi-Bo, Sammy-Joy, and Dana-Fee. Whilst only 9% of parents surveyed chose the name of their baby because of biblical connotations, it is clear from the above list that biblical names are by no means dying out - in the mid-1990's they even experienced a renaissance, as evidenced by Boris Becker calling his son Noah. German parents are also increasingly drawing on a broader range of cultures and backgrounds when naming their children. Italian names are becoming ever more popular, especially girls' names such as Chiara and Gina.

Regional variations within Germany In South Germany it is more common to find children with two or three first names (such as Franz Josef). In the former East Germany (GDR), parents still tend to give their sons shorter names such as Tim or Tom than those in the West. For girls, the name Michelle is much more common in the East than in the West. Here is the list of the most popular names given to children born in 1996 in Eastern and Western Germany: (Source: Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache e.V. (GfdS))

1996: Names given to babies in West and East Germany

West Boys Girls East Boys Girls

1. Alexander Maria 1. Maximilian Maria

2. Lukas Julia 2. Lukas Lisa

3. Maximilian Katharina 3. Philipp Laura

4. Daniel Anna/e 4. Florian Anna/e

5. Michael Laura 5. Kevin Sophia

6. Christian Marie 6. Max Julia

7. Philipp Sophie 7. Felix Sara(h)

8. Marcel Lisa 8. Paul Michelle

9. Jan Sara(h) 9. Tom Vanessa

10. Tobias Lena 10. Erik Jessica

Austria and Switzerland In Austria and particularly in Switzerland - where German is but one of four languages spoken -, the variations in name are even more pronounced. The top 10 names given to babies in the year 2000 are listed below for both countries. Note that the Swiss statistics refer to German-speaking Switzerland only! (Sources: Landesverwaltung Steiermark (Austria), Bundesamt für Statistik (Switzerland)):

2000: Names given to babies in Austria and Switzerland

Boys Girls Boys Girls

1. Lukas Julia 1. Luca Laura

2. Florian Anna 2. Jan Michelle

3. Michael Sarah 3. Simon Sarah

4. Daniel Lisa 4. Joel Lea

5. Alexander Katharina 5. Lukas Julia

6. Philipp Laura 6. David Jasmin

7. Fabian Vanessa 7. Fabian Vanessa

8. Dominik Viktoria 8. Marco Celine

9. Stefan Lena 9. Noah Nina

10. Matthias Michelle 10. Jonas Sara

In Switzerland, the difference between the various language groupings is quite pronounced. In German-speaking Switzerland (die Deutschschweiz), Laura has been the most popular name given to female babies since

1995, whereas Luca has been the most popular boys' name since 1997.

In French-speaking areas however, Léa took over from Laura as top girls' name in 1998, whereas David has been the most important boys' name since 1994. In the Ticino, the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, Sara and Luca became the most popular names given to babies in the year 2000, whereas Laura and Fabio lead the way in the Rumantsch-speaking regions.

1.10 Spelling your name

The letters of the alphabet German uses the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet. The name of almost every letter in German contains the sound ordinarily represented by that letter.

ah beh tseh

deh eh eff

geh hah eeh

yot kah ell

emm enn oh

peh kuh err

ess teh uh

fau weh iks

üppsilon tsett ess-tsett

Anna Müller is uncertain how Natascha Schäfer spells her Christian name, and decides to ask her.

Conversation 7: N-a-t-a-s-c-h-a

Anna Müller Wie heißt du?

Natascha Schäfer Natascha.

Anna Müller Wie schreibt man das?

Natascha Schäfer Großes n, a, t, a, s, c, h, a.

Glossary

Wie schreibt man das?

How do you write that?

Großes s "Capital s." Or literally "big s". If you wanted to say "small s", you would say "kleines s".

Maria Strauß goes to the bank to withdraw some money. She gives her details to Herr Klein behind the counter.

Conversation 8: Die Bank

Maria Strauß

Guten Morgen. Mein Name ist Maria Strauß.

Herr Klein Wie buchstabiert man das?

Maria Strauß

Das buchstabiert man: großes s, t, r, a, u, scharfes s.

Herr Klein Bitte wiederholen Sie das, langsam.

Maria Strauß

Großes s, t, r, a, u, scharfes s.

Glossary

die Bank the bank

Wie buchstabiert man das?

How do you spell that?

Das buchstabiert man...

It's spelt...

scharfes s "scharfes s" (literally "sharp s") is the name for the "ß" symbol. It sounds exactly like the "ss" sound.

Bitte wiederholen Sie das, langsam

Could you repeat that, slowly?

The pronoun "man" equates to "on" in French, in that it is used when talking about what people in general do - i.e. "one", "you", "they" etc. It takes the third person singular ("er/sie/es") verb endings.

I didn't quite catch that! There are a number of other useful phrases which you can use if you haven't quite understood and would like somebody to repeat something:

Could you repeat that?

Wie bitte?

("What did you say?")

Noch mal langsam bitte!

("Say that again please, slowly.")

Bitte wiederholen Sie das, langsam.

("Could you repeat that slowly?")

Chapter 2: Talking about yourself

2.1 Where are you from? Having asked how somebody is and what their name is, you will then want to find out where they come from. There are two main phrases that you can employ for this.

Vocabulary 1: Woher..?

Where are you from? I'm from...

Woher kommen Sie? Woher kommst du?

ich komme aus...

(Literally: "Where do you come from?")

Woher sind Sie? Woher bist du?

ich bin aus...

(Literally: "Where are you from?")

You might wish to ask somebody where they live. There is one main phrase for this, but remember to distinguish between the "Sie" and "du" forms depending on the person to whom you are talking!

Vocabulary 2: Where do you live?

Where do you live? I live in...

Wo wohnen Sie? Wo wohnst du?

ich wohne in...

(Literally: "Where do you live?")

Questions 1. You may have noticed that there are different words for "where" in German. "Woher" means "from where", whereas "wo" is the word which is used when no movement is involved. In subsequent chapters we shall also encounter "wohin" which means "to where": 2. Note the word order in German when a question is being asked. The question word comes first, followed by the verb and then the subject of the sentence. We have now met several examples of this:

• "Wie geht es Ihnen?" (= "How are you?") • "Wie heißt du?" (= "What is your name?")

• "Wie ist Ihr Name?" ("What is your name?") • "Woher kommst du?" ("Where do you come from?") • "Wo wohnen Sie?" ("Where do you live?") • "Wie schreibt man das?" (= "How do you write that?") • "Wie buchstabiert man das?" (= "How do you spell that?")

Present tense of German verbs (2) You will have noted that the verbs "wohnen" (= "to live") and "kommen" (= "to come") used above have the same endings as "heißen" in the previous chapter.

Grammar 1: The verb "wohnen" (= to live)

Singular

ich wohne I live

du wohnst Sie wohnen

You live (informal/formal)

er/sie/es wohnt He/she/it lives

Plural

wir wohnen We live

ihr wohnt Sie wohnen

You live (informal/formal)

sie wohnen They live

1. Note that the present tense of a German verb has two possible English translations, e.g. "er wohnt" could either mean "he lives"or "he is living" depending on context. Unlike English, German has no separate form to indicate continuing action. 2. You may also have noted that the endings for the "wir", "sie" (plural) and "Sie" forms are the same for all verbs. Helpfully, in regular verbs their verb form will be exactly the same as the infinitive.

Grammar 2: The verb "kommen" (= to come)

Singular

ich komme I come

du kommst Sie kommen

You come (informal/formal)

er/sie/es kommt He/she/it comes

Plural

wir kommen We come

ihr kommt Sie kommen

You come (informal/formal)

sie kommen They come

Note however that the verb "kommen" is only a regular verb in the present tense. In the vast majority of other German tenses it is irregular and its various forms need to be learned off by heart!

2.2 Cities and countries

Cities Most German, Austrian and Swiss cities are written as in English. The major exceptions are listed below, along with some other European cities where the German spelling is quite different. "Berlin" is spelled the same way as in English but is pronounced quite differently.

Vocabulary 3: Die Stadt - The City

Die Stadt City Die Stadt City

Basel Basle Luzern Lucerne

Bern Berne Moskau Moscow

Braunschweig Brunswick München Munich

Brüssel Brussels Prag Prague

Genf Geneva Rom Rome

Hannover Hanover Warschau Warsaw

Köln Cologne Wien Vienna

Lissabon Lisbon Zürich Zurich

Countries The vast majority of countries have their names written differently in German from how we would spell them in English. Here is a selection of the most important ones:

Vocabulary 4: Das Land - The Country

Das Land Country

Andorra Andorra

Australien Australia

Belgien Belgium

Brasilien Brazil

Bulgarien Bulgarien

China China

Dänemark Denmark

Deutschland Germany

England England

Estland Estonia

Finnland Finland

Frankreich France

Griechenland Greece

Großbritannien Great Britain

Indien India

Irland Ireland

Island Iceland

Israel Israel

Italien Italy

Japan Japan

Kanada Canada

Kolumbien Colombia

Kroatien Croatian

Lettland Latvia

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein

Litauen Lithuania

Luxemburg Luxembourg

Mazedonien Macedonia

Mexiko Mexico

Moldawien Moldova

Monaco Monaco

Neuseeland New Zealand

Norwegen Norway

Österreich Austria

Polen Poland

Portugal Portugal

Rumänien Romania

Russland Russia

Schottland Scotland

Schweden Sweden

Slowenien Slovenian

Spanien Spain

Südafrika South Africa

Südkorea South Korea

Tunesien Tunisia

Ungarn Hungary

Wales Wales

Zypern Cyprus

Putting everything together To say which city and country you come from or live in, you use the appropriate preposition. Prepositions - words like "in", "on" and "over" - stand in front of a noun or pronoun and relate it to the rest of the sentence. The two prepositions which we need for this section are "in" (= in) and "aus" (= from, out of):

Grammar 3: Prepositions

Where are you from? I'm from...

Woher kommen Sie? ich komme aus - England - Exeter

(Literally: "I come from England/Exeter")

Woher ist Lukas? er ist aus - Hamburg - Deutschland

(Literally: "He is from Hamburg/Germany")

Where do you live? I live in...

Wo wohnst du? ich wohne in - Wien - Österreich

(Literally: "I live in Vienna/Austria")

Wo wohnt Maria? sie wohnt in - Polen - Warschau

(Literally: "She lives in Poland/Warsaw")

Simple enough? Unfortunately not. For all German nouns have a gender and so far we have merely established the rules for neuter nouns...

2.3 The gender of German nouns

Masculine, feminine and neuter We can put it off no longer. One of the major difficulties experienced by English speakers when learning German is that all German nouns, whether they represent persons, things or ideas have a grammatical gender. Whereas in English gender virtually always corresponds logically to the sex of the noun, this is not the case in German. Most nouns denoting male persons and animals are in fact masculine, and most of those denoting females are feminine (examples of natural gender); but names of inanimate objects can be masculine, feminine or neuter.

Considering the nouns with which we have come into contact so far for example, a name is masculine in German (der Name), a city is feminine (die Stadt), whereas the word for a country is neuter (das Land). Overall, about 45% of German nouns are masculine, 35% are feminine and 20% are neuter. Although there is no apparent rationale for this classification, guidelines for predicting genders do exist. Yet these rules are far from watertight - indeed there are exceptions to most of them. Against all natural logic, the word for a girl is neuter in German (das Mädchen)! The author Mark Twain famously complained about German nouns: "In German, a young lady has no sex, while a turnip has. Think what overwrought reverence that shows for the turnip, and what callous disrespect for the girl." The unpalatable truth is that whenever you learn a German noun, you have to learn its gender, just as Germans do.

The definite article The best way to remember German genders is to learn each noun not as a single, isolated word, but together with the word for "the" that goes with it. We call "the" and its German equivalents the definite article, and unlike English nouns, the definite article in German is used to make the gender of German nouns obvious. Here are the genders of some of the nouns that we have met so far together with the appropriate form of the definite article:

Grammar 4: Gender and the definite article

Masculine Feminine Neuter

der Mann (= the man)

die Frau (= the woman)

das Kind (= the child)

der Sohn (= the son)

die Tochter (= the daughter)

das Mädchen (= the girl)

der Freund (= the male friend)

die Freundin (= the female friend)

das Büro (= the office)

der Tag (= the day)

die Nacht (= the night)

das Land (= the country)

Compound nouns Many German nouns are a combination of two or more shorter words - we call them compound nouns. The gender is always that of the last element in the compound noun:

Grammar 5: Compound nouns

Noun Compound noun

der Name (= the name)

der Vorname (= the Christian name)

die Frau (= the woman)

die Hausfrau (= the housewife)

das Land (= the country)

das Ausland (= abroad)

2.4 Countries (2)

Feminine countries So far all the countries which we have encountered have been neuter, and are never used with the definite article. A small number of names for countries however are feminine and are always preceded by the definite article "die".

Vocabulary 5: Feminine Countries

Das Land Country Das Land Country

die Schweiz Switzerland die

Slowakei Slovakia

die Türkei Turkey die Ukraine Ukraine

die Tschechische Republik Czech Republic

When you explain that you come from any of these countries, you also have to include the definite article with the preposition - but this article changes from "die" to "der". We shall see in a subsequent section that this is because it is now in the dative case.

Grammar 6: Prepositions and feminine countries

Where are you from?

Woher kommen Sie?

ich komme aus der Schweiz

(Trans.: "I come from Switzerland")

Woher ist Andrea?

sie ist aus der Ukraine

(Trans.: "She is from the Ukraine")

Where do you live?

Wo wohnt Mehmet?

er wohnt in der Türkei

(Trans.: "He lives in Turkey")

Plural Countries A small number of countries are written in the plural in German. In this case the definite article changes from "die" to "den":

Vocabulary 6: Plural Countries

Das Land Country

die USA die Vereinigten Staaten

USA United States

die Niederlande Netherlands

Phrases

ich komme aus den USA

(Trans.: "I come from the USA")

sie ist aus den Vereinigten Staaten

(Trans.: "She is from the United States")

er wohnt in den Niederlanden

(Trans.: "He lives in the Netherlands")

Notes 1. Note that "die Niederlande" adds an "-n" when we write "in den Niederlanden" or "aus den Niederlanden". This again is a result of the noun now being in the dative case. 2. "Amerika" is often used to translate "the United States", particularly in conversation. It should really only be used to translate the continent of America however. It is a neuter noun and is thus used without a definite article. 3. A few countries are masculine in German, particularly in the Middle East - "der Libanon" (= Lebanon), "der Irak" (= Iraq) "der Iran" (= Iran), "der Jemen" (= Yemen). They too are almost always used with the definite article, which changes from "der" to "dem" when you are describing where you are from.

2.5 Nationalities

Nouns of nationality

The German construction for saying which nationality you are is different from in English. Whereas English uses an adjective - i.e. "I am English" -, German uses a noun without a different article - "Ich bin Engländer" (literally: "I am Englishman"). And just as there are different words for "friend" depending on the gender of the person concerned, you would need to employ the feminine version of the noun if the

person being described is a woman - "Ich bin Engländerin" (literally: "I am Englishwoman"):

Grammar 7: Describing your nationality

Where are you from? I'm from...

Woher kommen Sie? ich bin Brite

("I'm British (male)")

Woher ist Anne? sie ist Britin

("She is British")

Woher kommt Urs? er ist Schweizer

("He is Swiss")

Woher bist du? ich bin Schweizerin

("I am Swiss (female)

Nationality table Listed below are the nouns of nationality for the countries which we have encountered so far. Note that:

• The vast majority of feminine nouns end in "-in". The major exception is an important one however - "die Deutsche" ("the German woman").

• With a few exceptions (der Ungar, der Israeli, der Zypriot), the names of male inhabitants listed below either end in "-e" or "-er". This is a little misleading however. For as we shall see in Chapter 11, the masculine nouns that end in "-e" can in fact take a number of endings depending on the case that they are in and whether they are preceded by an article. For the moment we have given you the endings that you will need to translate "He is a ..."

• The word for a German man - "der Deutsche" - is an adjectival noun. This type of noun will also be discussed in Chapter 11.

Vocabulary 7: Ich bin Engländer(in)

Country Male Inhabitant

Female Inhabitant

Andorra Andorraner Andorranerin

Australien Australier Australierin

Belgien Belgier Belgierin

Brasilien Brasilianer Brasilianerin

Bulgarien Bulgare Bulgarin

China Chinese Chinesin

Dänemark Däne Dänin

Deutschland Deutscher Deutsche

England Engländer Engländerin

Estland Este Estin

Finnland Finne Finnin

Frankreich Franzose Französin

Griechenland Grieche Griechin

Großbritannien Brite Britin

Indien Inder Inderin

Irland Ire Irin

Island Isländer Isländerin

Israel Israeli Israeli

Italien Italiener Italienerin

Japan Japaner Japanerin

Kanada Kanadier Kanadierin

Kolumbien Kolumbianer Kolumbianerin

Kroatien Kroate Kroatin

Lettland Lette Lettin

Liechtenstein Liechtensteiner Liechtensteinerin

Litauen Litauer Litauerin

Luxemburg Luxemburger Luxemburgerin

Mazedonien Mazedonier Mazedonierin

Mexiko Mexikaner Mexikanerin

Moldawien Moldawier Moldawierin

Monaco Monegasse Monegassin

Neuseeland Neuseeländer Neuseeländerin

die Niederlande Holländer Holländerin

Norwegen Norweger Norwegerin

Österreich Österreicher Österreicherin

Polen Pole Polin

Portugal Portugiese Portugiesin

Rumänien Rumäne Rumänin

Russland Russe Russin

Schottland Schotte Schottin

Schweden Schwede Schwedin

die Schweiz Schweizer Schweizerin

die Slowakei Slowake Slowakin

Slowenien Slowene Slowenin

Spanien Spanier Spanierin

Südafrika Südafrikaner Südafrikanerin

Südkorea Südkoreaner Südkoreanerin

die Tschechische Republik

der Tscheche die Tschechin

Tunesien Tunesier Tunesierin

die Türkei der Türke die Türkin

die Ukraine der Ukrainer die Ukrainerin

Ungarn Ungar Ungarin

die USA (US-)Amerikaner

(US-)Amerikanerin

Wales Waliser Waliserin

Zypern Zypriot Zypriotin

2.6 Conversation: Im Café

Das Café An English tourist Peter Withe strikes up a conversation with a German local Klaus Wagner whilst sitting outside a café in Bavaria in summer.

Conversation 1: Im Café

Peter Withe

Guten Tag.

Klaus Wagner

Guten Tag. Sind Sie vielleicht Ausländer?

Peter Withe

Ja, ich bin Engländer.

Klaus Wagner

Woher kommen Sie?

Peter Withe

Ich komme aus Birmingham.

Klaus Wagner

Sie sind also kein Amerikaner?

Peter Withe

Nein, ich komme nicht aus den USA. Und Sie?

Klaus Wagner

Ich bin Deutscher. Ich komme aus Norddeutschland. Aber ich wohne hier in Bayern. Mein Name ist Wagner, Klaus Wagner. Und wie heißen Sie?

Peter Withe

Ich heiße Withe, Peter Withe.

Glossary

das Café The café

im Café In the café

der Ausländer A male "foreigner". A female foreigner would be "die Ausländerin".

Sind Sie vielleicht Ausländer?

"Are you a foreigner by any chance?" Peter's German accent is not as authentic as he thinks! Note that "Ausländer" is used in exactly the same way as all other nationalities - without a definite article. The literal translation is "Are you perhaps foreigner?"

vielleicht In almost all other contexts, "vielleicht" would be translated as "perhaps".

also Be very careful of this word in German! It doesn't mean English "also" but "therefore" or "so".

Sie sind also kein Amerikaner?

"So you're not American?" The word "kein" literally means "not an".

Norddeutschland "North Germany". This is one word only in German - a compound noun.

Bayern This means "Bavaria". Many German regions with which we are familiar turn out to have very different names in German.

2.7 Conversation: Im Sitzungssaal

Im Sitzungsaal In a conference room (der Sitzungssaal) at a trade fair in Hanover, Herr Loss introduces Ken McNaught, who has just arrived from Glasgow, to Frau Melzig and Herr Slomka.

Conversation 2: Im Sitzungssaal

Herr Loss Darf ich vorstellen, Herr McNaught aus Glasgow. Frau Melzig aus Hannover.

Frau Melzig Guten Tag, Herr McNaught. Willkommen in Hannover. Sind Sie Schotte?

Herr Loss Ja, er ist Schotte. Er ist in der Nähe von Glasgow geboren.

Herr McNaught

Sind Sie Deutsche?

Frau Melzig Nein. Mein Mann ist Deutscher, aber ich komme aus der Schweiz.

Herr McNaught

Und wie ist Ihr Name, bitte?

Herr Loss Das ist Herr Slomka.

Herr McNaught

Woher sind Sie, Herr Slomka?

Herr Slomka

Ich bin aus Moskau.

Herr McNaught

Aha! Sie sind Russe! Sind Sie hier auf Geschäftsreise?

Herr Loss Nein. Er wohnt hier.

Glossary

der Sitzungssaal The conference room

im Sitzungssaal In the conference room

Willkommen in Hannover

"Welcome to Hanover". Note that German uses a different preposition to English in this context.

Sind Sie Schotte? Are you Scottish?

ja / nein "yes / no". But you knew that already, didn't you?

in der Nähe von Glasgow

This somewhat lengthy construction simply means "near Glasgow".

Er ist ... geboren "He was born..." Note that the word "geboren" is always placed right at the end of the clause, after the place in which the person was born.

aber but

hier here

Sind Sie hier auf Geschäftsreise?

Are you here on business?

2.8 Professions

Der Beruf The German construction for explaining what your job is involves the German word for profession - "der Beruf". You have a choice of word order with this construction, and can also choose whether to say "ich bin Manager von Beruf" or simply "ich bin Manager".

Grammar 8: What do you do for a living?

What's your job? I'm a... (male)

Was sind Sie von Beruf?Was bist du von Beruf?

von Beruf bin ich Arzt ich bin Arzt (von Beruf)

What's her job? She's a...

Was ist sie von Beruf? von Beruf ist sie Ärztin sie ist Ärztin (von Beruf)

You will have noticed that we use exactly the same construction for professions as we do for nationalities. Whereas in English we would say "I'm a doctor", in German you would say "Ich bin Arzt" (literally - "I am doctor"). Once more, the verb which you will need throughout is the irregular verb "sein". And just as there are two words for "a friend" or "a German" depending on the gender of the speaker, there are also two forms of each profession which need to be learned to employ the feminine version of the noun if the person being described is a woman - "Ich bin Ärztin".

Table of professions Listed below are the names of the most commonly used German professions with their male and female variants.

Vocabulary 8: Professions

Profession Male Variant Female Variant

Actor Schauspieler Schauspielerin

Artist Künstler Künstlerin

Author Schriftsteller Schriftstellerin

Bank clerk Bankangestellter Bankangestellte

Business(wo)man Geschäftsmann Geschäftsfrau

Car mechanic Automechaniker Automechanikerin

Chemist Chemiker Chemikerin

Civil servant Beamter Beamtin

Doctor Arzt Ärztin

Engineer Ingenieur Ingenieurin

Farmer Landwirt Landwirtin

Hairdresser Friseur Friseuse

Journalist Journalist Journalistin

Lawyer Rechtsanwalt Rechtsanwältin

Lecturer Dozent Dozentin

Nurse Krankenpfleger Krankenschwester

Pensioner Rentner Rentnerin

Photographer Fotograf Fotografin

Politician Politiker Politikerin

Postman Briefträger Briefträgerin

Professor Professor Professorin

Salesperson Verkäufer Verkäuferin

Secretary Sekretär Sekretärin

Student Student Studentin

Taxi driver Taxifahrer Taxifahrerin

Teacher Lehrer Lehrerin

Waiter Kellner Kellnerin

Grammar 1) As you will have noted from the above list, the suffix "-in" is often added in the feminine form - i.e. Kellner + "-in" = Kellnerin. 2) Sometimes the female equivalent modifies slightly with the addition of an "Umlaut" - i.e. Arzt + "-in" = Ärztin. 3) Occasionally the male form ends in "-in", and the female equivalent in "-e" - i.e. Bankangestellter - "-r" = Bankangestellte. 4) There are sometimes different words altogether for male and female jobs - i.e. Krankenpfleger (male) and Krankenschwester.

2.9 Conversation: Der Beruf

The teacher and the greengrocer Whilst waiting at the bus-stop, Müslüm Can and Mareike Herda discuss the jobs to which they are travelling.

Conversation 1: Die Lehrerin und der Gemüsehändler

Müslüm Can Was sind Sie eigentlich von Beruf, Frau Herda?

Mareike Herda Von Beruf bin ich Lehrerin.

Müslüm Can Ach nein! Mein Bruder ist auch Lehrer.

Mareike Herda Das gibt's doch gar nicht! Wo arbeitet er? Hier in Berlin?

Müslüm Can Nein, nein. Er ist Deutschlehrer in der Türkei. Wir sind beide in der Türkei geboren.

Mareike Herda Und was sind Sie von Beruf?

Müslüm Can Ich bin Gemüsehändler.

Mareike Herda Arbeiten Sie hier in der Stadt?

Müslüm Can Ja. Ich arbeite in einem kleinen Gemüseladen in der Nähe von hier.

Glossary

eigentlich actually; in fact

von Beruf bin ich...

Switching the word order around such that "von Beruf" comes first places slightly more emphasis on the profession.

Ach nein! Literally "Oh no!", but the sense is one of surprise: "Really?!"

mein Bruder my brother

auch "too; also". Not to be confused with the German word "also" meaning "therefore" (see below).

also Be very careful of this word in German! It doesn't mean English "also" but "therefore" or "so".

Das gibt's doch gar nicht!

"Well I never! You don't say!". A polite expression of great surprise.

Wo arbeitet er? "Where does he work?". There is no German equivalent of the English word "does". "Er arbeitet" is the sole German translation for "he works", "he is working" and "he does work".

Deutschlehrer "German teacher". Note that this is written as one word in German.

Wir sind ... geboren

We were born ....

wir beide both of us

der Gemüsehändler

greengrocer

in der Stadt in the city

in einem kleinen Gemüseladen

in a little greengrocer's shop

in der Nähe von hier

near here

Present tense of the verb "arbeiten" We have met a new verb in this section - "arbeiten" (= "to work"). Although it is a regular verb, some of the endings are slightly different as the stem of the verb ends in "t". To prevent a build-up of unpronouncable and teeth-damaging consonants, an extra "-e" is added before the "du", "er/sie" and "ihr" endings.

Grammar 1: The verb "arbeiten"

Singular

ich arbeite I work

du arbeitest Sie arbeiten

You work (informal/formal)

er/sie/es arbeitet He/she/it works

Plural

wir arbeiten We work

ihr arbeitet Sie arbeiten

You work (informal/formal)

sie arbeiten They work

2.10 About Germany

Location

The Federal Republic of Germany is the largest of the German-speaking countries. It is located in Central Europe, and has nine neighbours - Denmark to the North, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and France to the West, Switzerland and Austria to the South, and the Czech Republic and Poland to the East. This central location has been more pronounced since 3rd October 1990, when Germany was reunited. Due to its central position Germany functions within the EU and NATO as a bridge to the Central and Eastern European states and is an important location for European and global relations. Reunified Germany now is now the sixth largest country in Europe with an area of 137,826 square miles (356,970 sq. km.). Western Germany comprises just over two-thirds of this - 96,095 square miles compared with 41,731 square miles in the former Eastern Germany. Germany extends 876 kilometres from its northern border with Denmark to the Alps in the south, and (at its widest) 650 kilometres from the Belgian border in the west to the Polish frontier in the east. The total length of the country's borders is 3,758 kilometres.

Population

Germany has a population of approximately 82.163 million, the largest in Europe after the Russian Federation, followed by the United Kingdom (58.9 million), France (58.5 million) and Italy (57.5 million). About one fifth of this population live in the former GDR. The Federal Republic of Germany is a densely populated country, with a population density of 230 persons per square kilometre. More than half the German people live

in towns with a population of between 2,000 and 100,000. There are 86 larger towns and cities with more than 100 000 inhabitants spread throughout the country. The five largest cities are Berlin, the official capital with a population of 3,458,800, Hamburg (1,708,500), Munich (1,232,800), Cologne (964,400), and Frankfurt (646,400). There are 7,363,600 foreigners currently living in Germany, which is equal to 8.9% of the population. Just over two million of these come from Turkey, with other sizable immigrant communities coming from the former Yugoslavia, Italy, Greece, Africa and Eastern Europe. Climate

The Federal Republic's climate is determined by its location in a zone of temperate climatic conditions with frequent weather changes. There is precipitation all the year round. In the winter the average temperature is between 1.5°C in the lowland areas and -6°C in the mountains. In the warmest month of the year, July, temperatures are between 18°C in low-lying regions and 20°C in the sheltered valleys of the south. Progressing from the northwest to the east and southeast, the maritime climate gradually changes into a more continental climate. Geography

The whole of northern Germany, through which run the Weser, the Elbe, and smaller rivers, is set in the North European Plain. The Rhine Basin encompasses some of the most beautiful landscape and best wine-growing regions in Europe. Towards the east, this consists of morainic hills containing fertile loess soil. More than a quarter of the whole of Germany is covered with forest. Among the major ranges of the mid-German highlands are the Teutoburger Wald, the Harz Mountains, the Sauerland, Westerwald, and Taunusgebirge. In the west are the Ruhr coalfields, while in the east there are large lignite deposits. Southward the ground gradually rises to the Black Forest (der Schwarzwald), and the Swabian Jura, with dense pine forests and moorland, and potash, salt, and other minerals. In Bavaria, further south, the land becomes rugged. Here are patches of mountain pasture and lakes; to the east is the deep Danube valley. Economy

Germany is one of the most highly-industrialised and economically powerful countries in the world. The economic system is classed as a social market economy within which competition has become very pronounced. Unemployment is a problem, not only in the new Federal States. The major sectors of the economy are manufacturing industry, service industries and trade, and transport. Great political importance is attached to environmental protection which is a major concern of the people.

2.11 German History

History until 1945

Germany was originally occupied by Teutonic tribes who were driven back across the Rhine by Julius Caesar in 58 BC. When the Roman empire collapsed eight Germanic kingdoms were created, but in the 8th century Charlemagne consolidated these kingdoms under the Franks. The region became part of the Holy Roman Empire in 962, and almost 200 years later was invaded by the Mongols. A period of unrest followed until 1438 when the long rule of the Habsburgs began. The kingdom, now made up of hundreds of states, was torn apart during the Thirty Years War; when this ended with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the Elector of Brandenburg-Prussia emerged as a force ready to challenge Austrian supremacy. By the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the alliance of 400 separate German states that had existed within the Holy Roman Empire (962-1806) had been reduced to thirty-eight. At the Congress of Vienna these were formed into a loose grouping, the German Confederation, under Austrian leadership. The Confederation was dissolved as a result of the Austro-Prussian War (1866), and in 1867 all northern Germany formed a new North German Confederation under Prussian leadership. This was in turn dissolved in 1871, and the new German Second empire proclaimed. After Germany's defeat in World War I, the Weimar Republic was instituted, to be replaced in 1933 by the Third Reich under Adolf Hitler.

History: 1945 to 1990

In 1945 the victorious Allies divided defeated Germany into four zones of occupation: American, British, French and Soviet. The original intention was to denazify and unite Germany. But with the advent of the Cold War, ideological differences between the Allied powers became apparent, and two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC and NATO, while the communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. In 1953 East German workers revolted against the communist government, demanding higher salaries, more work and democratic elections. Faced by a steady flow of workers moving from East to West, the GDR government constructed the "antifascist protective wall" which divided Berlin into two. This Wall was 165 kilometres in length and between three and four metres in height. In the West, Konrad Adenauer, as Chancellor (1949-63), was determined to see eventual reunification of Germany and refused to recognize the legal existence of the German Democratic Republic. A crisis developed over Berlin in 1958, when the Soviet Union demanded the withdrawal of Western troops and, in 1961, when it authorized the erection of the Berlin Wall. The Berlin situation began to ease in 1971, during the chancellorship of the social democrat Willy Brandt (1969-74) with his policy of Ostpolitik. This resulted in treaties with the Soviet Union (1970), Poland (1970), Czechoslovakia (1973), and one of mutual recognition and co-operation with the German Democratic Republic (1972), with membership of the UN following in 1973. Economic recovery was assisted after the war by the Marshall Plan. The challenge of rebuilding shattered cities and of absorbing many millions of refugees from eastern

Europe was successfully met, as was that of re-creating systems of social welfare and health provision. The Federal Republic joined NATO in 1955, when both army and airforce were reconstituted; large numbers of US and British troops remained stationed there. In 1957 it signed the Treaty of Rome, becoming a founder-member of the European Economic Community in 1958. Although the pace of economic growth slackened, the economy remained one of the strongest in the world, under a stable democratic regime.

History: The present day

The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German reunification. Establishing the terms of political union proceeded quickly in the months following the collapse of the GDR's communist order in late 1989, with reunification itself following on October 3, 1990. This brought together one of the most affluent capitalist countries with one of the most prosperous socialist countries from the Eastern bloc. Yet despite this background, economic and social reunification remains a work in progress. During the forty years they existed side by side, the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic developed very different political, economic and social institutions. Forty years of state ownership and a command economy have left eastern Germany's industry obsolete and unable to compete in the German marketplace. Modernization of the infrastructure of the former GDR and the privatization of its industries has placed a burden on taxpayers in East and West. Economic disparities between east and west still remain. Eastern Germany is home to roughly a fifth of the country's residents, for example, but accounts for only about a tenth of its GDP. The unemployment rate in the east - 17 percent at the beginning of September 2000 - is more than double the rate in the west. In short, the euphoria sparked by the opening of the Berlin Wall has gradually given way to a more sober realization of the full magnitude of the task of rebuilding the east from the ground up. Relocating the seat of German government eastwards from Bonn to new official capital Berlin in 1999 is a symbol however that closing social gaps between east and west must remain the German government's highest priority.

2.12 The German Länder

The Federal Republic of Germany is called "Federal" because it consists of a federation of sixteen Länder or states. There are ten Länder in the territory of the former West Germany, whilst the former GDR has been divided into five federal states. The sixteenth state is Berlin comprising what used to be West and East Berlin.

Facts and figures As you can see from the table below, Bayern (Bavaria) is the largest Land in terms of area, whilst Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia) has the largest population. If you click on the names of each federal state, you will be taken to the homepage of the Land. Many of these homepages also have English versions.

The Sixteen German Länder

Land Capital Population (millions)

Area (km²)

Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart 10.37 35,751

Bayern Munich 12.04 70,554

Berlin --------- 3.45 889

Brandenburg Potsdam 2.55 29,476

Bremen --------- 0.68 404

Hamburg --------- 1.71 755

Hessen Wiesbaden 6.03 21,114

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Schwerin 1.82 23,421

Niedersachsen Hanover 7.82 47,348

Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf 17.95 34,072

Rheinland-Pfalz Mainz 3.88 19,846

Saarland Saarbrücken 1.08 2,570

Sachsen Dresden 4.55 18,408

Sachsen-Anhalt Magdeburg 2.72 20,443

Schleswig-Holstein Kiel 2.74 15,732

Thüringen Erfurt 2.49 16,176

The English translation of the German Länder names Many of these German Länder have English equivalents - although the English version of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is no less of a mouthful! Note in particular the very different German name for what we call Bavaria.

English translations of German Länder

German English

Bayern Bavaria

Hessen Hesse

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Mecklenburg West-Vorpomerania

Niedersachsen Lower Saxony

Nordrhein-Westfalen North Rhine-Westphalia

Rheinland-Pfalz Rhineland-Palatinate

Sachsen Saxony

Sachsen-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt

Thüringen Thuringia

In the next chapter, we will visit the only German Land which is made up of territory from both East and West Germany - the new capital Berlin.

Chapter 3: The Family

3.1 Im Studio (1) Anna Müller and Müslüm Can have both been invited to the studios of Radio Eins in Berlin to discuss their lives in Germany. There they are interviewed by the DJ Claudia Stenzel. You will be familiar with some of the questions, but what new information is Anna being asked to give here?

Conversation 1: Interview mit Anna Müller

Claudia Stenzel

Willkommen im Studio! Wie ist Ihr Name, bitte?

Anna Müller

Ich heiße Anna Müller.

Claudia Stenzel

Wie alt sind Sie, Frau Müller?

Anna Müller

Ich bin fünfzig Jahre alt.

Claudia Stenzel

Woher kommen Sie? Sind Sie aus Berlin?

Anna Müller

Ich wohne jetzt in Berlin, ich komme aber aus Linz.

Claudia Stenzel

Wo ist Linz?

Anna Müller

Linz liegt in Österreich.

Claudia Stenzel

Was sind Sie von Beruf?

Anna Müller

Von Beruf bin ich Sekretärin.

Claudia Stenzel

Sind sie verheiratet?

Anna Müller

Ja, ich bin verheiratet, Frau Stenzel.

Claudia Stenzel

Haben Sie auch Kinder?

Anna Müller

Ja, wir haben zwei Kinder. Wir haben einen Sohn und auch eine Tochter.

Claudia Stenzel

Wie heißt Ihr Sohn, und wie alt ist er?

Anna Müller

Unser Sohn heißt Lukas. Er ist zwanzig Jahre alt.

Claudia Stenzel

Und Ihre Tochter?

Anna Müller

Unsere Tochter heißt Julia. Sie ist siebzehn Jahre alt.

Glossary

das Interview interview

mit with

willkommen! welcome!

das Studio studio

willkommen im Studio!

welcome to the studio!

bitte please

Wie alt sind Sie?

"How old are you?" This construction will be explained in detail in the next section. Note that Claudia is using the polite "Sie" form when addressing Frau Müller.

ich bin fünfzig Jahre alt

"I am 50 years old." See next section for explanation.

Sind Sie aus Berlin?

"Are you from Berlin?" In many questions, the verb is the first element followed by the subject of the sentence.

Wo ist Linz? "Where is Linz?" For questions which ask "Who?", "Where?" or "Why?" for example, the question word comes first, followed by the verb and then the subject of the sentence.

Linz liegt in Österreich

"Linz is in Austria." Literally: "Linz lies in Austria." You could also say: "Linz ist in Österreich."

die Sekretärin This means "secretary". Note the feminine "-in" suffix to describe Anna Müller.

sind Sie verheiratet?

"Are you married?" Again note the word order for questions without a question word.

ja, ich bin verheiratet

Yes, I am married.

Kinder This is the word for "children". Whereas English nouns (except for "children"!) tend to end in "-s" in the plural, German has a whole range of plurals which need to be learned along with the gender.

haben Sie auch Kinder?

Do you also have children?

Ja, wir haben zwei Kinder

"Yes, we have two children." Although the verb "haben" ("to have") might look regular, it is in fact irregular (see next section).

Wir haben einen Sohn...

we have a son...

... und eine Tochter

... and a daughter

Ihr Sohn your son

unser Sohn Our son

Wie alt ist er? How old is he?

er ist zwanzig Jahre alt

he is twenty years old

Ihre Tochter your daughter

unsere Tochter our daughter

sie ist siebzehn Jahre alt

she is seventeen years old

3.2 How old are you?

Asking how old someone is in German required exactly the same construction as in English. It is however reliant on the student knowing the different forms of the irregular verb "sein" (= "to be") which you should have learned by now!

Vocabulary 1: How old are you?

Singular

wie alt bin ich? (How old am I?)

wie alt bist du? wie alt sind Sie?

(How old are you?)

wie alt ist er/sie? (How old is he/she?)

Plural

wie alt sind wir? (How old are we?)

wie alt seid ihr? wie alt sind Sie?

(How old are you?)

wie alt sind sie? (How old are they?)

And you respond to this question by using the following constructions:

Vocabulary 2: I am 20 years old

Singular

ich bin 20 Jahre alt (I am 20 years old)

du bist 20 Jahre altSie sind 20 Jahre alt

(You are 20 years old)

er ist 20 Jahre alt sie ist 20 Jahre alt

(He is 20 years old) (She is 20 years old)

Plural

wir sind 20 Jahre alt

(We are 20 years old)

ihr seid 20 Jahre altSie sind 20 Jahre alt

(You are 20 years old)

sie sind 20 Jahre alt (They are 20 years old)

Different types of questions In the previous chapter we looked at word order in questions where there are specific question words. If you remember, the question word comes first, followed by the verb and then the subject of the sentence:

• "Wie geht es Ihnen?" ("How are you?") • "Woher kommst du?" ("Where do you come from?") • "Wo wohnen Sie?" ("Where do you live?")

We have seen from the previous conversation however that if there is no specific question word in the clause, you should put the verb first, followed by the subject of the sentence:

• "Sind Sie verheiratet?" ("Are you married?") • "Haben Sie Kinder?" ("Do you have children?") • "Darf ich mich verabschieden?" ("May I say goodbye?")

Present tense of the verb "haben" The German verb "haben" (= "to have") is another common German verb which is irregular. The "-b-" of the stem disappears in both the "du" and the "er/sie" forms of the present tense:

Grammar 1: The verb "haben" (= to have)

Singular

ich habe I have

du hast Sie haben

You have (informal/formal)

er/sie/es hat He/she/it has

Plural

wir haben We have

ihr habt Sie wohnen

You have (informal/formal)

sie haben They have

3.3 Im Studio (2)

Now it is Müslüm Can's turn to be interviewed by Claudia Stenzel at Radio Eins in Berlin. How does his situation and family life differ from that of Anna Müller?

Conversation 2: Interview mit Müslüm Can

Claudia Stenzel Willkommen im Studio! Wer sind Sie?

Müslüm Can Mein Name ist Müslüm Can.

Claudia Stenzel Was sind Sie von Beruf?

Müslüm Can Ich bin Gemüsehändler hier in

Kreuzberg.

Claudia Stenzel Sind sie verheiratet?

Müslüm Can Nein, ich bin nicht verheiratet. Ich habe auch keine Kinder.

Claudia Stenzel Haben Sie Geschwister?

Müslüm Can Ja, ich habe einen Bruder und zwei Schwestern. Sie wohnen alle in der Türkei.

Claudia Stenzel Haben Sie Haustiere?

Müslüm Can Ja, meine Eltern haben einen Hund. Und mein Großvater hat eine Katze.

Claudia Stenzel Und wie heißen sie?

Müslüm Can Der Hund heißt Rex und die Katze heißt Mieze. Die Katze mag den Hund nicht. Und er mag sie auch nicht!

Glossary

Wer sind Sie? "Who are you?" In this context this seems to be quite an abrupt way of asking somebody's name!

der Gemüsehändler

Müslüm is a greengrocer. Don't you remember?

Kreuzberg Kreuzberg is a region of Berlin inhabited by people of many nationalities. Click here to visit the official homepage of Kreuzberg.

ich bin nicht verheiratet

"I am not married." Just as in English, the German word for not - "nicht" - precedes an adjective.

ich habe keine Kinder

"I don't have any children." Literally: "I have no children". The German word "kein(e)" means "not any" or "no(ne)".

Haben Sie Geschwister?

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" The useful word "Geschwister" means "brothers and sisters".

ich habe einen Bruder

"I have a brother". The next section will explain the endings on the indefinite article "einen".

zwei Schwestern "I am 50 years old." See next section for explanation.

alle This means "everyone; all of them". The full sentence would thus be translated as "They all live in Turkey".

Haustiere "Pets". One pet would be "ein Haustier".

meine Eltern "My parents". The word "Eltern" is only used in the plural.

der Hund This is the word for a "dog". The next

section will explain the endings on the indefinite article "einen".

mein Großvater my grandfather

eine Katze Müslüm's grandfather has "a cat".

Mieze "Mieze" approximates to the English "puss" or "pussy".

Die Katze mag den Hund nicht

"The cat doesn't like the dog". Literally: "The cat likes the dog not." Although the German word for "not" - "nicht" - precedes an adjective (see above), it follows the object of a sentence.

er...sie "Er" (= "he") refers back to the masculine noun "der Hund", while "sie" (= "she") refers back to the feminine noun "die Katze".

3.4 Plurals of German nouns

With the exception of nouns such as "children" and "sheep", English plurals are invariably formed by adding "-s" to the singular form. Forming the plural is by no means as simple as this in German, where there are a number of possible plural endings. It will thus be necessary for the student to learn the plural of each noun as well as its gender - and from now on we will list each noun which we encounter with its plural form and the correct form of the definite article. In the table below are the plurals of some of the nouns that we have encountered so far:

Grammar 2: Plurals of German nouns

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Männer Frauen Kinder

("men") ("women") ("children")

Freunde Freundinnen Büros

("friends") ("friends") ("offices")

Söhne Töchter Mädchen

("sons") ("daughters") ("girls")

Tage Nächte Länder

("days") ("nights") ("countries")

Guidelines for forming the plural It will later be possible to determine a number of rules as to which noun takes which plural ending. For the moment, we will restrict ourselves to pointing out a few general guidelines - but (as ever!) there are a large number of exceptions to these rules!

1. Feminine nouns

• Feminine nouns are the most predictable in their plural form. The majority of them add "-en": i.e. Frau + "-en" = Frauen.

• Feminine nouns which end in "-in" (such as those describing professions and nationalities) add "-nen" in the plural: i.e. Freundin + "-nen" = Freundinnen. Or: Engländerin + "-nen" = Engländerinnen.

• Yet take care: some feminine nouns also forms their plurals in other ways, such as Nächte and Töchter!

2. Masculine and neuter nouns

• Masculine and neuter nouns form their plural in a number of ways. Some of them add an "-e": i.e. Tag + "-e" = Tage.

• Others add an "-e" and also add an "umlaut" to the vowel: i.e. Sohn + "umlaut" + "-e" = Söhne.

• Other (mainly) masculine and neuter nouns add "-er" in the plural: i.e. Kind + "-er" = Kinder.

• Others add "-er" and also add an "umlaut" to the vowel: i.e. Mann + "umlaut" + "-er" = Männer.

• Some nouns add "-s" in the plural, although there are not as many of them as there are in English, and they tend to be words imported from other languages: i.e. Büro + "-s" = Büros.

• To make matters more complicated, some nouns remain the same in the plural: i.e. Mädchen (singular and plural).

3.5 Indefinite articles and "kein"

Indefinite articles In the last chapter we discovered that German nouns have genders, and that the gender of a noun affects the form of the definite article. This is also true of the German equivalents of "a" and "an" as in "a man" and "an occupation". The grammatical term for this is the indefinite article. The different forms of the German indefinite article are listed below for each gender. Note that both the masculine and neuter forms are identical when the noun is the subject of the sentence.

Grammar 3: The indefinite article

Masculine Feminine Neuter

ein Mann eine Frau ein Kind

("a man") ("a woman") ("a child")

ein Freund eine Freundin ein Büro

("a friend") ("a friend") ("an office")

ein Sohn eine Tochter ein Mädchen

("a son") ("a daughter") ("a girl")

ein Tag eine Nacht ein Land

("a day") ("a night") ("a country")

The plural of definite and indefinite articles The definite article of a plural noun is always "die", regardless of gender, as the table below displays:

Grammar 4: Plural of the definite article

Singular

der Mann die Frau das Kind

("the man") ("the woman") ("the child")

Plural

die Männer die Frauen die Kinder

("the men") ("the women") ("the children")

Just as in English, the indefinite article disappears in the plural in German. So just as the plural of "a son" in English is "sons", the plural of "ein Sohn" is "Söhne".

The word "kein" The simple translation of the German word "kein" is "no" as in Müslüm Can's statement: "Ich habe keine Kinder" (= I have no children). However "kein" is also used to translate "not a". The literal translation "nicht ein" should be avoided. Thus you could either translate "Ich habe keine Kinder" as "I don't have any children" or "I haven't got any children". As far as endings are concerned, "kein" behaves just like the indefinite article "ein":

Grammar 5: The word "kein"

Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural

kein Mann keine Frau kein Kind keine Eltern

("no man") ("no woman") ("no child") ("no parents")

kein Tag keine Nacht kein Land keine Länder

("no day") ("no night") ("no country") ("no countries")

But these are only the endings for "kein" when it is the subject of a sentence i.e. in a sentence such as "No child was unhappy". But "kein" is used most often to describe the objects of sentences and takes quite different endings. We will discover what these are in the next section.

3.6 The accusative case

Subject and object Compare the two following English sentences: 1) The dog likes the cat. 2) The cat likes the dog. The dog is playing a different role in each of the two sentences. In the first sentence, it is carrying out the action of the verb - liking the cat. In this instance, we speak of the dog being the subject of the sentence. We also say that it is in the nominative case. In the second sentence, the dog is on the receiving end of the action - being liked by the cat. In this instance, we speak of the dog being the object of the sentence. We also say that it is in the accusative case.

Subject and object in German The majority of sentences which we have examined so far involve nouns in the nominative case, carrying out the action of the verb - e.g. "ich heiße Michael", "Wie alt bist du?". But with the arrival of verbs such as "haben" (= "to have") which take a direct object, we need to acquaint ourselves with the accusative case. In the English sentences which we have considered above, the nouns "the dog" and "the cat" are written the same regardless of whether the noun is the subject or the object of the sentence. This is not the case in German. The definite article can be written differently depending on whether the noun to which it refers is in the nominative or the accusative case. Look closely at the definite articles in the German equivalents of the two sentences concerning the dog and the cat:

1) Der Hund mag die Katze. ("The dog likes the cat.")

2) Die Katze mag den Hund. ("The cat likes the dog.")

As the table below indicates however, the definite article only has a different form in the accusative case in this specific instance - namely when we are referring to a singular masculine noun:

Grammar 6: The definite article

Nominative Accusative

Masculine der Mann den Mann

Feminine die Frau die Frau

Neuter das Kind das Kind

Plural die Eltern die Eltern

The accusative of the indefinite article The same phenomenon came be observed when the indefinite article is used:

1) Ein Hund mag eine Katze. ("A dog likes a cat.")

2) Eine Katze mag einen Hund. ("A cat likes a dog.")

Grammar 7: The indefinite article

Nominative Accusative

Masculine ein Mann einen Mann

Feminine eine Frau eine Frau

Neuter ein Kind ein Kind

The accusative of "kein" Logically enough, the negative "kein" declines in exactly the same way as "ein" in the accusative:

1) Ein Hund mag keine Katze. ("A dog doesn't like a cat.")

2) Eine Katze mag keinen Hund. ("A cat doesn't like a dog.")

Grammar 8: Declension of "kein"

Nominative Accusative

Masculine kein Mann keinen Mann

Feminine keine Frau keine Frau

Neuter kein Kind kein Kind

Plural keine Eltern keine Eltern

Remember in particular that while "nicht" negates a verb (or an adjective or adverb), "kein" negates a noun. So the opposite of "Ich habe ein Kind" is not "Ich habe nicht ein Kind" but "Ich habe kein Kind".

3.7 Possessive adjectives

Possessive adjectives are those adjectives which refer to ownership, such as "your" and "his" in "What is your name?" or "What is his name?". We have already met some of them in the German equivalent of these questions "Wie ist Ihr Name?" or "Wie ist sein Name?". The full list of possessive adjectives is as follows:

Grammar 9: Nominative of possessive adjectives

Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural

My mein meine mein meine

Your (sing.)

dein Ihr

deine Ihre

dein Ihr

deine Ihre

His sein seine sein seine

Her ihr ihre ihr ihre

Its sein seine sein seine

Our unser unsere unser unsere

Your (plural)

euer Ihr

eure Ihre

euer Ihr

eure Ihre

Their ihr ihre ihr ihre

Her ihr ihre ihr ihre

Its sein seine sein seine

Once again, we find that the endings on all possessive adjectives change when they are in the accusative. We require a second table to explain these fully:

Grammar 10: Accusative of possessive adjectives

Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural

My meinen meine mein meine

Your (sing.)

deinen Ihren

deine Ihre

dein Ihr

deine Ihre

His seinen seine sein seine

Her ihren ihre ihr ihre

Its seinen seine sein seine

Our unseren unsere unser unsere

Your (plural)

euren Ihren

eure Ihre

euer Ihr

eure Ihre

Their ihren ihre ihr ihre

Her ihren ihre ihr ihre

Its seinen seine sein seine

Grammatical points 1) Be very careful to distinguish between Ihr (= "your" (polite)) and ihr (= "their; her"). The capital letter is crucial here! 2) The spelling of the various forms of euer, which means "your" when you are addressing more than one person informally, can prove difficult. When an ending is

added to "euer", the second "-e-" of the stem disappears. So whilst "your child" is "euer Kind", "your children" translates as "eure Kinder", and "your cat" is "eure Katze".

3.8 Numbers: 1-20

A firm grasp of numbers in German is essential when you visit a German-speaking country. It's helpful to be able to say numbers, but particularly to understand them when spoken quickly in shops and restaurants, railway stations and airports etc. Here are the German numbers from one to twenty.

Vocabulary 3: German numbers 1-20

eins

elf

zwei

zwölf

drei

dreizehn

vier

vierzehn

fünf

fünfzehn

sechs

sechzehn

sieben

siebzehn

acht

achtzehn

neun

neunzehn

zehn

zwanzig

Notes 1) "Eins" is used for counting and when you are reading out telephone numbers or a list of lottery numbers. When it precedes a noun - e.g. "one house", then you should use "ein(e)" as discussed in the previous sections on the indefinite article. 2) All numbers other than "eins" do not add endings - i.e. "vier Jahre", "acht Männer". 3) Sometimes "zwo" is used instead of "zwei" in spoken German to make sure that the similar-sounding "zwei" and "drei" are not confused, especially over the phone.

4) Numbers "thirteen" to "nineteen" are formed by adding the suffix "-zehn" to the appropriate number. Note however that "sechs" loses its final "-s" in "sechzehn", and that "sieben" likewise loses its "-en" in "siebzehn". 5) The German word for "zero" is "null".

How the numbers are written Although Germany uses the same numbers as English, they are written in a slightly different way:

The German number one consists not only of a straight vertical line, but also a second line slanting down diagonally to the left. The German number seven is always crossed with a horizontal bar. This is what distinguishes it from the number one.

3.9 German Families

The wedding (die Hochzeit) A German wedding (die Hochzeit) is as lavish an occasion as it is in Britain, and one that incorporates a large number of traditions. Some of them will be familiar to us - for example the stag night (der Junggesellenabschied) during which the groom celebrates his last few hours of freedom by drinking himself into an alcoholic stupor with his friends. Less familiar however is der Polterabend, a party held at the bride's house on the eve of the wedding that literally translates as "an evening of making noise". And this is precisely what happens - wedding guests and other friends bring ceramic dishes (but no glass, as this brings bad luck!) and smash them on the ground to ward off evil spirits. The bride (die Braut) and groom (der Bräutigam) then clear up the pieces with a broom, preferably together as this shows that they are willing to work as a team in bad times as well as good.

Other differences to note are that German married couples wear their wedding ring (der Ehering) on their right hand. Both the bride and the groom wear simple gold bands that are very different to the diamond-encrusted wedding rings that are often found in Britain. The bride often carries salt and bread as an omen for good harvest, whereas the groom carries grain for good luck and wealth. Rice is thrown in the air as the happy couple leave the church and instead of the bride's bouquet, it is her veil that is passed on to the female guest who is next in line for marriage.

German wedding celebrations (die Hochzeitsfeier) vary from region to region and from town to region. In some rural areas, the bride is "kidnapped" before the marriage by friends and family and the groom has to search strategic locations to find her. As these locations invariably include local hostelries, the groom will buy drinks for any acquaintances that he might meet on his journey. In parts of North Germany the newlyweds return to their house to find that the doors have been

barricaded shut and that all the furniture has been placed on the roof! Their first task as a a married couple is thus to rescue their furniture and get into their house without any outside help. In other rural areas, the first task of the bride and groom on leaving the church is to saw through a log using a 2-man log saw. Not very practical if you're wearing a wedding dress or a tuxedo... Given the strenuous and expensive nature of a traditional wedding, it seems hardly surprising that an increasing number of Germans forsake the additional chuch ceremony (die kirchliche Trauung) and make do with a simple civil ceremony (die zivile Trauung) at a registry office (das Standesamt). This civil ceremony is required by law. The money thus saved can then be spent on on the honeymoon (die Flitterwochen).

To marry or not to marry? As in other European countries, marriage (die Ehe) no longer holds such a central place in German society as it used to. Firstly, more marriages now end in divorce (die Ehescheidung) than ever before. In 1960, only 0.9 out of 1000 Germans had been part of a marriage that ended in divorce. By 1990 this figure had more than doubled to 1.9 per thousand inhabitants. One in three marriages now ends in divorce, with a record 194,408 divorces being registered in the year 2000. Secondly, fewer Germans choose to get married in the first place. There were only 442,000 marriages in Germany in 1993 compared to 690,000 marriages in 1960. The decline in the number of marriages is particularly pronounced in the former GDR, where the number of marriages dropped by over 50 per cent between 1990 and 1993. This can be explained partially by the dramatic social changes in the former East Germany brought about by reunification and partially by the fact that under socialism many couples had chosen to marry primarily in order to secure better accommodation and child-care benefits. More and more couples are choosing instead to live as non-married partners (der Partner; die Partnerin) in a so-called Lebenspartnerschaft (partnership for life), a relationship that is now recognised and protected by civil law. Between 1972 and 1990, the number of such households increased sevenfold, to 963,000, or 2.7 percent of all households. And by 1999 there were 2.1 million unmarried (unverheiratet) German couples living together which meant that one couple in ten did not have a marriage certificate. In the new German states and in the eastern part of Berlin, living together outside of marriage is very common: one couple in eight have no marriage certificate. Many of these are young couples who are choosing to live together before getting married. In 1992 the average age at first marriage had risen to 29.0 for men and 26.5 for women in the old Länder, compared with 27.1 for men and 25.1 for women in the new Länder.

To have children or not to have children? Equally noticeable is the falling birth rate in Germany with more and more couples choosing not to have children. For about 25 years the birth rate has been one third below the level necessary to replenish the population. In 1950 the average number of persons in German households was 3.0. By 1990 this figure had declined to 2.3. In the early 1990s, only foreign families were regularly having two or more children, with the Turkish subgroup being the largest in terms of family size. The slump in the birth-rate has been particularly pronounced after reunification in the east of Germany where a combination of high female unemployment and the dismantling of the GDR's child-care system has dissuaded women from starting a family.

The Federal Government has become increasingly aware of the need to promote family life and as of 1 January 2001 new legislation governing child-raising benefit came into force, entitling both parents to apply for child-raising leave simultaneously and spend up to 30 hours a week in part-time work. The aim was to redress the traditional role division between the sexes whereby mothers typically stayed at home to look after their children, which had an adverse effect on their professional lives. The one area in which marriage is on the increase is in the gay and lesbian communities. From August 2001 onwards, same-sex couples can marry in registry offices and enjoy all the rights that heterosexual spouses have in areas such as inheritance and health insurance. Foreign partners of German gays and lesbians are also now allowed to join them in Germany.

3.10 Vocabulary: The Family

From now on, vocabulary sections will appear at the end of each chapter to tie in with the topics which have been discussed. For each noun, both gender and plural will be given, as well as any peculiarities which the noun possesses. As the definite article of all plurals is "die", this will not be given with the plural of nouns. Unless otherwise indicated, you should assume that verbs are regular - i.e. have the normal endings which we have already seen. We will start off with the family, followed by pets on the next page, such that you can describe your own family and pets to your friends:

Vocabulary 4: Male family members

Singular Plural

husband der Mann Männer

partner der Partner der Lebenspartner

Partner Lebenspartner

father der Vater Väter

stepfather der Stiefvater Stiefväter

father-in-law der Schwiegervater Schwiegerväter

grandfather der Großvater der Opa

Großväter Opas

brother der Bruder Brüder

stepbrother der Stiefbruder Stiefbrüder

twin brother der Zwillingsbruder Zwillingsbrüder

brother-in-law der Schwager Schwäger

son der Sohn Söhne

grandson der Enkel der Enkelsohn

Enkel Enkelsöhne

stepson der Stiefsohn Stiefsöhne

son-in-law der Schwiegersohn Schwiegersöhne

uncle der Onkel Onkel

nephew der Neffe Neffen

cousin (male) der Cousin Cousins

Vocabulary 5: Female family members

Singular Plural

wife die Frau Frauen

partner die Partnerin die Lebenspartnerin

Partnerinnen Lebenspartnerinnen

mother die Mutter Mütter

stepmother die Stiefmutter Stiefmütter

mother-in-law die Schwiegermutter Schwiegermütter

grandmother die Großmutter die Oma

Großmütter Omas

sister die Schwester Schwestern

stepsister die Stiefschwester Stiefschwestern

twin sister die Zwillingsschwester Zwillingsschwestern

sister-in-law die Schwägerin Schwägerinnen

daughter die Tochter Töchter

granddaughter die Enkelin Enkelinnen

stepdaughter die Stieftochter Stieftöchter

daughter-in-law die Schwiegertochter Schwiegertöchter

aunt die Tante Tanten

niece die Nichte Nichten

cousin (female) die Cousine Cousinen

Vocabulary 6: Neuter family members

Singular Plural

girl das Mädchen Mädchen

child das Kind Kinder

grandchild das Enkelkind Enkelkinder

stepchild das Stiefkind Stiefkinder

only child das Einzelkind Einzelkinder

Vocabulary 7: Plural family members

English German

brothers and sisters Geschwister

parents Eltern

grandparents Großeltern

step-parents Stiefeltern

parents-in-law Schwiegereltern

twins Zwillinge

Vocabulary 8: Family phrases

Haben Sie Familie?

Do you have any family?

Haben Sie Kinder?

Do you have any children?

ich habe einen Sohn

I have a son

ich habe keine Kinder

I have no children

Hast du Geschwister?

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

ich habe eine Stiefschwester

I have a step-sister

ich habe keine Geschwister

I have no brothers or sisters

ich bin Einzelkind

I am an only child

ich bin verheiratet

I am married

ich wohne mit einem Partner zusammen ich wohne mit einer Partnerin zusammen

I live with my partner

ich bin geschieden

I am divorced

ich bin ledig

I'm not married

ich bin verwitwet

I am widowed

- family tree (der Stammbaum)

3.11 Vocabulary: Pets

Here is a list of pets found in Britain and Germany along with some birds and farm animals. Practise saying which pets you have, whether you like them, and whether they like each other!

Vocabulary 9: Pets (masculine)

Singular Plural

bird der Vogel Vögel

budgerigar der Wellensittich Wellensittiche

canary der Kanarienvogel Kanarienvögel

cockerel der Hahn Hähne

cuckoo der Kuckuck Kuckucke

dog der Hund Hunde

donkey der Esel Esel

fish der Fisch Fische

frog der Frosch Frösche

goldfish der Goldfisch Goldfische

hamster der Hamster Hamster

parrot der Papagei Papageien

wolf der Wolf Wölfe

Vocabulary 10: Pets (feminine)

Singular Plural

bee die Biene Bienen

cat die Katze Katzen

cow die Kuh Kühe

crow die Krähe Krähen

goat die Ziege Ziegen

goose die Gans Gänse

hen die Henne Hennen

lizard die Eidechse Eidechsen

mouse die Maus Mäuse

owl die Eule Eulen

pigeon die Taube Tauben

rat die Ratte Ratten

snake die Schlange Schlangen

tortoise die Schildkröte Schildkröten

Vocabulary 11: Pets (neuter)

Singular Plural

animal das Tier Tiere

chick das Küken Küken

guinea-pig das Meerschweinchen Meerschweinchen

horse das Pferd Pferde

insect das Insekt Insekten

pet das Haustier Haustiere

rabbit das Kaninchen Kaninchen

sheep das Schaf Schafe

Did you know:

• that "das Haustier" (= "pet") literally means "house animal"? • that "das Meerschweinchen" (= "guinea-pig") literally means "little sea pig"? • that "das Nilpferd" (= "hippopotamus") literally means "Nile horse"?

Vocabulary 12: Pet phrases

Haben Sie ein Haustier?

Do you have a pet?

Haben Sie Haustiere?

Do you have any pets?

ich habe keine Haustiere

I have no pets

ich habe einen Hund

I have a dog

ich habe keinen Hund

I don't have a dog

wir haben drei Katzen

we have three cats

3.12 Germans and their dogs

Man(n)'s best friend? The poster states proudly: "Wir gehören zusammen!" - "We belong together". And it is immediately apparent to the outsider that Germans adore their dogs. Cats are much less visible in German cities - there is a law which says they have to be kept in, and this is respected in Germany. Dogs, on the other hand, are taken everywhere. It's not unusual to see them in restaurants with their own water bowls supplied by the proprietor. This is in part because German dogs have traditionally been well-behaved - they all have to be registered and vaccinated against rabies (die Tollwut), as this is

prevalent in many areas among wildlife. You will also see signs in every park pointing out the strict "pooper-scooper" laws and designating special areas for dogs to swim in so that the rest is more pleasant for human bathers.

There are however several initiatives to help owners. Some parks or streets have a special area designated as a "Hundeklo" (= "doggy loo"). In popular dog-walking areas you will see vending machines (der Automat) for bags and scoops to get rid of mess, and bins are also provided. In Vienna, for example, certain areas are clearly designated as either "dog-free" (das Hundeverbot), "dog zones" (die Hundezone) or "a suitable place to walk your dogs" (der Hundeauslaufplatz).

Dog ownership however is one area in which the Germans are inclined to turn a blind eye to the regulations. John Hooper, Berlin correspondent for The Guardian recently wrote: "There are more dogs in Berlin than in most of Germany's other big cities put together. And an astonishing number can be found off their leads, not just rambling in the parks, but ambling along pavements, lounging in cafes and bars, and even in restaurants and clubs. Even members of the most popular breed, the pit bull terrier, roam about unhindered, along with rottweilers, dobermans and other dogs that look as if they eat a poodle or two for breakfast."

Until recently that is. The tragic death of a six-year-old Turkish boy in Hamburg at the hands of a pit-bull terrier and a Staffordshire terrier in July 2000 finally provoked the authorities into action after a growing number of children had been attacked by fighting dogs (der Kampfhund) ("fighting dogs"). Since then a number of measures have been introduced on a regional level to control how dangerous dogs are kept. These include stricter implementation of "der Leinenzwang", the requirement that certain dogs are kept on a leash in public, and the "der Maulkorbzwang", the requirement that certain dogs are muzzled. Some commentators have gone as far as to suggest that all dogs, regardless of breed, should be kept on a leash when out in public. And in Berlin, anyone owning pitbulls, American Staffordshire terriers, bull terriers or Tosa Inu must have them sterilised. These measure have proved unpopular with dog owners, and they are digging their heels in for a long battle with the authorities.

Pet Sounds The noises made by animals are written in different ways in different languages.

While English dogs go "woof, woof", French dogs go "ouah, ouah", Albanian dogs go "ham, ham", Greek dogs go "gav, gav", Korean dogs go "mung, mung", Italian dogs go "bau, bau" - and German dogs go "wau, wau"!

Chapter 4: In the restaurant

4.1 Café Einstein The Scotsman Ken McNaught, whom we first met in Chapter 2, arrives in Berlin for the first time by train. Getting off at Zoo Station, he walks for a while along the famous Kurfürstendamm street in the city centre before stopping off at the Café Einstein near the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (= Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church) for something to eat and drink.

Conversation 1: Im Café Einstein

Kellnerin Guten Morgen!

Ken McNaught

Guten Morgen!

Kellnerin Bitte schön? Was bekommen Sie?

Ken McNaught

Kaffee, bitte.

Kellnerin Eine Tasse oder ein Kännchen?

Ken McNaught

Eine Tasse.

Kellnerin Mit Milch und Zucker?

Ken McNaught

Mit Milch aber ohne Zucker.

Kellnerin Möchten Sie sonst noch etwas?

Ken McNaught

Und ein Stück Sachertorte.

Kellnerin (Sie kommt zurück.) Bitte sehr. Ein Stück Sachertorte, eine Tasse Kaffee.

Ken McNaught

Vielen Dank. Ich möchte gleich zahlen.

Kellnerin Das macht neun Euro fünfzig, bitte.

Ken McNaught

Zehn Euro. Bitte schön. Stimmt so.

Kellnerin Ich danke Ihnen.

Ken McNaught

Auf Wiedersehen!

Kellnerin Auf Wiedersehen!

Glossary

das Café The café

im Café in the café

die Kellnerin waitress

bitte schön This is essentially an invitation to speak. We might translate it by "What can I get you?" "Bitte" normally means "please".

Was bekommen Sie?

"What can I get you?" This is one of many ways of asking in German what a customer wants.

der Kaffee coffee

die Tasse cup

das Kännchen This is the word for a "pot" of coffee. In some cafés you might be required to order a pot of coffee rather than a cup.

die Milch milk

der Zucker sugar

ohne without

mit Milch aber ohne Zucker

"With milk but without sugar." As in English, the definite article is omitted in this context.

Möchten Sie sonst noch etwas?

"Would you like anything else?" The waitress naturally uses the polite form "Sie" to address her customers.

das Stück a piece

die Sachertorte This is a variety of chocolate gateau, invented in 1832 by Metternich's Viennese cook, Franz Sacher. See the picture at the top of the page or click here for a recipe.

bitte sehr This is a what the waitress says when she puts your food in front of you. We might possibly translate it by "There you go".

(Sie kommt zurück)

(She comes back)

vielen Dank This means "Many thanks". It expresses more gratefulness than the word "danke".

gleich immediately

ich möchte gleich zahlen

I would like to pay immediately

das macht... "It comes to...". Literally: "This makes..."

neun Euro fünfzig

nine euros fifty (cents)

bitte schön Ken gives the waitress the money and thus uses the same phrase as she had done when she brought him the food.

stimmt so Literally: "(That's) correct like that". We would translate it by saying "Keep the change!"

ich danke Ihnen

Literally: "I thank you." It is simply another variant of "Thanks!".

4.2 At the snack bar At the same time as Ken McNaught is drinking coffee at the restaurant, elsewhere in Berlin the two friends Sonja Malchow and Verena Offenberg are ordering something to eat at a typical Berlin Imbiss - an open stall or kiosk which you will see on street corners in German-speaking countries - outside the underground station (der U-Bahnhof) in Pankow.

Conversation 2: Der Imbiss

Herr Aksoy Guten Morgen!

Sonja Malchow

Guten Morgen!

Herr Aksoy Bitte schön? Was wünschen Sie?

Sonja Malchow

Ich möchte gerne eine Bratwurst, bitte.

Herr Aksoy Eine große oder eine kleine?

Sonja Malchow

Eine kleine, bitte.

Herr Aksoy Mit Ketschup und Pommes?

Sonja Malchow

Mit Ketschup aber ohne Pommes.

Herr Aksoy Möchten Sie auch ein Brötchen?

Sonja Malchow

Ja, bitte. Gerne.

Herr Aksoy Ein Euro achtzig, bitte.

Verena Offenberg

Und ich nehme eine Currywurst.

Herr Aksoy Ein Euro siebzig, bitte.

Verena Offenberg

Zehn Euro. (She hands over a ten euro note.)

Herr Aksoy Danke sehr! Und sechs Euro und fünfzig zurück. Guten Appetit!

Verena Offenberg

Danke schön!

Glossary

der Imbiss This is one of several words for a "snack bar". You might also see the words "der Schnellimbiss", "die Imbissbude" or "die Würstchenbude" ("sausage stand").

was wünschen Sie?

"What would you like?" Having started with "Bitte schön", the conventional request for information, Herr Aksoy chooses to ask more specifically.

ich möchte gerne...

"I would like...". "Ich möchte..." on its own could be also be used here without "gerne". Note that anything that you ask for will be in the accusative case!

eine Bratwurst

"A (fried) sausage". Usually served with a roll. The German reputation for eating sausages is certainly borne out by the choice offered at their snack bars!

eine große... a big (sausage)...

...oder eine kleine?

"...or a small (sausage)?" If the noun has already been mentioned immediately beforehand, it does not need to be repeated when you are describing it by means of an adjective.

bitte please

der Ketschup

Unsurprisingly, this means "ketchup". Until the recent German spelling reform, it was spelled the same way as the English word.

Pommes "Chips". From the French "Pommes frites". While "Pommes frites" is the version listed in German dictionaries, you are just as likely to hear "Pommes".

möchten Sie auch...?

"Would you like...?" See the conversation in the first section.

das Brötchen "A bread roll". All nouns ending in "-chen" are neuter - including "das Mädchen". The suffix "-chen" means "little" or "small".

gerne Another word that is difficult to translate. "Gerne" on its own means "happily" or "willingly". The combination "Ja, gerne" translates as a more enthusiastic version of "Yes please!"

ein Euro achtzig

"One euro eighty (cents)".

eine "A curried sausage". Very few German words

Currywurst begin with "c", and many of those that do are - as here - imported from other languages.

ein Euro siebzig

"One euro seventy (cents)".

danke sehr "many thanks" (literally: "thanks very")

zurück Literally "back", but here we would translate it as "in return".

Guten Appetit!

"Enjoy your food!" or "bon appetit".

4.3 Please and thank you

The use of "bitte" As the dialogues in this section have shown, the German word bitte and its variants bitte schön and bitte sehr can have a variety of meanings.

• When you are asking somebody for something, you would use "bitte" to translate "please" - i.e. "eine Currywurst, bitte" (= "a curried sausage please").

• "Bitte" is used by a waiter or someone offering a service to attract the customer's attention. We might translate it by "Can I help you?".

• You would also say "bitte" when handing things over to somebody. In this context it would mean "Here you are". You would expect the person to whom you were handing over the object to respond by saying "danke".

Bitte" is also used as a response to "danke", which is the German equivalent of "thanks" or "thank you". "Bitte" then means "You're welcome!" or "Don't mention it!". This acknowledgement of thanks is not simply a matter of politeness - it can be impolite not to follow a "danke" with a "bitte", since to a German speaker you may appear to be refusing their thanks. "Danke" is often followed by either "schön" or "sehr". If so, then the "bitte" response will be similarly modified. The following table listens the pattern of responses:

Vocabulary 1: "Danke" and "bitte"

Thanks! You're welcome!

danke bitte

danke schön bitte schön

danke sehr bitte sehr

vielen Dank any of the above

ich danke Ihnen/dir any of the above

The other forms of saying thanks - "vielen Dank" (= many thanks) and "ich danke Ihnen/dir" (= I thank you) have no specific predetermined answer, but do require some form of "bitte (schön/sehr)".

4.4 German currency: The Euro

The changeover from the Deutsche Mark

At the stroke of midnight on 1 January 2002, amidst firework displays across the European mainland, euro notes and coins were introduced into Germany, Austria and 10 other member states of the European Union. The old German currency, die Deutsche Mark (DM) or die D-Mark (but NOT "Deutschmark"!) was still legal tender until 28 February 2002, after which point der Euro (� or EUR) became the only acceptable currency in Germany. Should you still have any German marks or pfennigs (the smaller denomination of the old currency), it is still possible to exchange them at German banks. Postage stamps issued in D-Marks ceased to be legally valid in June 2002.

As you can imagine, changing the currency proved to be a huge logistical undertaking which in itself is estimated to have cost 2.4 billion Marks. 28.5 billion coins and 2.6 billion notes from the D-Mark era needed to be taken out of circulation, whilst at the same time 15.5 billion coins and 2.5 billion euro banknotes needed to be introduced to shops, banks and cashpoints. Yet the changeover has passed smoothly, not least because Germans had been well prepared for it by a Government information campaign. Furthermore, although the euro notes and coins were only introduced into circulation at the start of 2002, the new currency could be used from 1 January 1999 onwards in the form of "written money" - that is, by means of cheques, travellers' cheques, bank transfers and credit cards. Thus many German employees could choose whether they wished to be paid in euros or marks. And shops and supermarkets started to list prices in both marks and euros from 1999 onwards.

But although the advantages of a single European currency have been widely accepted, many Germans nevertheless bade farewell to the mark with great reluctance. The mark had been a symbol of fifty years of German post-War reliability and economic revival, banishing the traumatic memories of hyper-inflation in the 1920's, when the currency was worth that little that people needed to transport it in wheelbarrows if they needed to buy something substantial. Since the mark became fully convertible in 1958, no other major currency, including the Japanese yen or the Swiss franc, had been stronger. It had become the second-largest currency component of global monetary reserves, second only to the United States dollar - which itself lost about two-thirds of its value against the Deutsche Mark since 1958.

German suspicions about the euro have been increased by popular fears that manufacturers and shopkeepers took advantage of the introduction of the new currency to

raise prices on the sly. The price of everyday times staples such as bread and restaurant meals have been particularly affected, with price rises of 100% being registered on some consumer staples. Consumer groups and tabloid newspapers have rechristened the new currency "der Teuro", which is a play on the German word for expensive "teuer". As the alleged price increases were not reflected in the rate of inflation, the German government was initially slow to react to popular discontent. Having been overcharged for a sandwich in May 2002 however, Finance Minister Hans Eichel called for a consumer boycott of businesses which had tried to cash in on the currency changeover. Consumer affairs minister Renate Künast has also convened a meeting with retail and trade groups to push for "a return to fair prices." But the overall impression remains that the changeover to the new currency has been much more successful than Euro-sceptics had predicted. Although an opinion poll conducted in February 2002 showed that 48% of Germans regret the loss of the mark, a roughly equal number said that they were satisfied with the new euro currency.

What's a euro worth?

Since January 1 1999, the euro has had an irrevocably fixed conversion rate against the national currencies participating in the Eurozone. From that date onwards, the value of one euro has been fixed at 1.95583 German marks. This has proved useful in helping German citizens to come to terms with the new currency, as one euro is thus roughly equal to two German marks. One euro is also worth:

• 13.7903 Austrian schillings (ATS) • 40.3399 Belgian francs (BEF) • 5.94573 Finnish markka (FIM) • 6.55957 French francs (FRF) • 340.750 Greek drachma (GRD) • 0.787564 Irish pounds (IEP) • 1936.27 Italian lira (ITL) • 40.3399 Luxembourg francs (LUF) • 2.20371 Dutch guilders (NLG) • 200.482 Portuguese escudos (PTE) • 166.386 Spanish pesetas (ESP)

There are of course no fixed exchange rates for currencies of countries which are not in the Eurozone. In June 2002, one euro was worth 0.643 British pounds (and one British pound was thus worth 1.555 euros). One euro was also worth 0.945 United States dollars.

4.5 Euro notes and coins

Euro banknotes The seven Euro banknotes depict the theme "Ages and styles of Europe". Each of the notes has gateways and windows on its front and bridges on the back designed in a

specific architectural style. Gateways and windows are intended to symbolise the European spirit of openness and co-operation, whereas bridges symbolise the close co-operation and communication between Europe and the rest of the world. The 5 euro note represents the classical architectural style, the 10 euro note has a romanesque design, the 20 euro note has a gothic motif, the 50 euro note represents the renaissance period, the 100 euro note depicts the baroque and rococo periods, the 200 euro note displays iron and glass architecture and the 500 euro note depicts modern 20th Century architecture.

Euro banknotes

5 Euro (�5)

10 Euro (�10)

20 Euro (�20)

50 Euro (�50)

100 Euro (�100)

200 Euro (�200)

500 Euro (�500)

German euro coins The eight denominations of coins vary in size, colour and thickness according to their values. Alongside the one and two euro coins, there are six coins of the smaller denomination the cent (der Cent). One hundred cents are equal to one euro. The front of each coin features one of three designs common to all twelve euro area countries showing different maps of Europe surrounded by the twelve stars of the European Union. The reverse side of each coin shows individual designs relating to the respective member state. (Euro coins can of course be used anywhere in the euro area, regardless of their national sides.) The one and two euro coins have the eagle, the traditional symbol of German sovereignty on the back. The 10, 20 and 50 cent coins have the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins have an oak twig on the reverse - a symbol of continuity, as this motif was also to be found on the German pfennig coins which have just been phased out.

German euro coins

1 Cent

2 Cent

5 Cent

10 Cent

20 Cent

50 Cent

1 Euro (�1)

2 Euro (�2)

How to express the euro notes and coins in German

Compound nouns are used in German to translate items such as a "five euro note" or a "two cent piece". Such nouns begin with a capital letter and their gender is determined by the final element of the compound noun.

The German word for a banknote is der Schein (-e) and the word for a coin is die Münze (-n). When describing specific denominations of coin however, das Stück (-e) is used in German compound nouns instead of "die Münze". It literally means "piece" in the same way as the English "twenty pence piece".

Vocabulary 2: Scheine und Münzen

der Schein (-e) (note)

die Münze (-n) (coin)

das Eurostück (-e) (one euro coin)

das Centstück (-e) (one cent coin)

das Zweieurostück (-e) (two euro coin)

das Zweicentstück (-e) (two cent coin)

der Fünfeuroschein (-e) (five euro note)

das Fünfcentstück (-e) (five cent coin)

der Zehneuroschein (-e) (ten euro note)

das Zehncentstück (-e) (ten cent coin)

der Zwanzigeuroschein (-e)(twenty euro note)

das Zwanzigcentstück (-e)(twenty cent coin)

der Fünfzigeuroschein (-e) (fifty euro note)

das Fünfzigcentstück (-e) (fifty cent coin)

der Hunderteuroschein (-e) (hundred euro note)

der Zweihunderteuroschein (-e) (two hundred euro note)

Remember to use a comma and not a full stop to separate euros and cents!

Words and phrases:

"Los geht's! (= "Let's go!")

"Weiter spielen! (= "Carry on!")

"Spiel starten" (= "Start the game")

"Neues Spiel" (= "New Game")

"Ihr Ergebnis ist zu niedrig" (= Your amount is too low)

"Ihr Ergebnis ist zu hoch" (= Your amount is too high)

"Leider has du falsch gezählt. Das richtige Ergebnis war..." (= Unfortunately you have counted incorrectly. The correct amount was...)

4.6 Expressing prices and currencies

Currencies As currencies are proper nouns in German, they start with a capital letter. Many international currencies - such as der Euro and der Cent are masculine, but others are not.

Vocabulary 3: Die Währung (currency)

der Euro (euro)

der Cent (cent)

das Pfund (pound)

der Dollar (dollar)

der Franken (Swiss franc)

der Rappen (Swiss centime)

der Yen (Japanese yen)

der Rubel (Russian rouble)

die Mark die D-Mark die deutsche Mark (German mark)

Note therefore that while there are three different ways of expressing the former German currency, none of them were the word "Deutschmark" - which only existed in English!

How to express prices When we express prices in English, the currency itself will be in the plural if the number is greater than one e.g. "three euros and eighty cents", "two pounds fifty" etc. In German prices however, the currency is always in the singular in prices regardless of the amount - drei Euro achtzig, zwei Pfund fünfzig. Similarly, although one euro consists of a hundred cents, the word "Cent" is only written in the singular in German prices - i.e. zwölf Euro (und) zehn Cent (= twelve euros and ten cents). Note that in written German, a comma is invariably used in prices where we would put a decimal point in English. Thus � 3,99 (or 3,99 �) means "three euros and ninety-nine cents". In shops and supermarkets however, price tickets can either display a comma or a decimal point, as the price tags below display.

When a price ends in a round number of euros, as in the list of drinks prices on the board in the picture below, it is most commonly written as � 5,- etc. The reverse is also true. Whereas English uses a comma to split up large numbers, German uses a decimal point. So "� 2.635" means "two thousand six hundred and thirty-five euros" - not "two point six three five euros"!

4.7 Numbers: 21-99

In Chapter 3 we learned how to count from one to twenty in German. In the dialogues in this section we have discovered that larger numbers are required when buying things in Germany. A list of German numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine is given below.

Vocabulary 4: Numbers 21-99

21 einundzwanzig 31 einunddreißig

22 zweiundzwanzig 32 zweiunddreißig

23 dreiundzwanzig 40 vierzig

24 vierundzwanzig 45 fünfundvierzig

25 fünfundzwanzig 50 fünfzig

26 sechsundzwanzig 54 vierundfünfzig

27 siebenundzwanzig 60 sechzig

28 achtundzwanzig 70 siebzig

29 neunundzwanzig 80 achtzig

30 dreißig 90 neunzig

Explanation 1. The biggest difficulty which English-speakers experience with German numbers is that cardinal numbers above twenty appear to be formed "backwards". Whereas we say "twenty-four", German says "vierundzwanzig" (= four and twenty) like the "four-and-twenty blackbirds" in the nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence". This takes a lot of getting used to! Note in particular the difference between 45 and 54 in the list above. English-speakers often get such similar pairs of numbers the wrong way round. 2. Note too that German numbers greater than twelve are seldom written as words, except on cheques. When they are written out, each number is one continuous word - i.e. "achtundsiebzig" whereas we would write "seventy-eight".

3. The German equivalent of the suffix "-ty" (as in "forty", "fifty" etc.) is "-zig". There is one exception to this however: the German for "thirty" is "dreißig". 4. Be very careful of endings when using numbers containing "ein(e)". For example: - � 1,20 is written as ein Euro zwanzig as "der Euro" is a masculine noun. - DM 1,20 however is written as eine Mark zwanzig as "die Mark" is a feminine noun. - � 21,00 is written as einundzwanzig Euro. There are no endings on "ein" here as it appears in the middle of another number. - � 21,21 is likewise written as einundzwanzig Euro einundzwanzig.

4.8 Im Restaurant (1)

Anna Müller and Margarete Schäfer, the two Berlin neighbours whom we saw meeting for the first time in an earlier section, have met up at the "Café Lit" restaurant for a meal. But first they need to find a seat!

Conversation 3: Im Restaurant (1)

Anna Müller Guten Tag. Ist hier noch frei?

Mann Nein, hier ist leider besetzt.

Anna Müller Entschuldigen Sie bitte. Ist hier noch frei?

Frau Ja, natürlich. Nehmen Sie Platz!

Anna Müller Vielen Dank.

Kellner Guten Tag. Sie wünschen bitte? Tee, Kaffee, Kakao, Cola, Limonade, Wein?

Anna Müller Ich möchte gerne ein Kännchen Tee, bitte.

Kellner Mit Milch oder mit Zitrone?

Anna Müller Mit Zitrone, bitte.

Margarete Schäfer

Und ich nehme ein Glas Wein. Nein, ein Bier!

Kellner Ein großes oder ein kleines?

Margarete Schäfer

Ein kleines.

Kellner Ja. Möchten Sie auch die Speisekarte?

Anna Müller Ja, bitte. Gerne.

Glossary

das Restaurant

This is written as in English but it is pronounced quite differently.

im Restaurant in the restaurant

Ist hier noch frei?

"Is this seat taken?" Literally: "Is here still free?"

entschuldigen Sie bitte

"Excuse me please". This is the most polite way of gaining somebody's attention.

leider unfortunately

hier ist leider besetzt

"Unfortunately, this seat is taken". The word "besetzt" is also used to translate "engaged" both for a phone-line and a toilet cubicle.

natürlich of course; naturally

nehmen Sie Platz

"Take a seat". This is a word-for-word translation of the English, with the indefinite article being omitted. Both this phrase and "Entschuldigen Sie, bitte" are requests / instructions. In the "Sie" form, this means that the subject and the verb are reversed such that the verb is the first element in the sentence.

der Kellner waiter

der Tee tea

der Kakao cocoa

die (Coca-)Cola

No need to translate this one, but note that this is feminine in German. It is "das Coke" however!

die Limonade lemonade

der Wein "wine". Most alcoholic drinks turn out to be masculine.

ein Kännchen Tee

"A pot of tea". As with the glass of wine, the word for "of" is omitted in German after a noun of quantity.

die Milch milk

die Zitrone This means "lemon". Tea is usually drunk in German-speaking countries with lemon - and from a glass. If you want milk rather than lemon you will need to ask for "Tee mit Milch".

gleich immediately

und ich nehme....

and I'll have...

das Glas glass

ein Glas Wein This means "a glass of wine". Here too there is no word for "of" in German after the noun of quantity.

das Bier The German for "beer" is one of the few words for alcoholic beverages which is neuter, not masculine.

ein großes oder ein kleines?

"a large (beer) or a small (beer)". As in the earlier section, the noun does not need to be repeated. We will discuss adjective endings in a later section.

Möchten Sie auch...?

Would you also like...?

die Speisekarte

"The menu". Literally: "The food card". You might also hear it reduced to "die Karte".

4.9 Im Restaurant (2)

Having now found somewhere to sit and ordered a drink, Anna Müller and Margarete Schäfer are now ready to order their meal. Read their conversation to the waiter (der Kellner).

Conversation 4: Im Restaurant (2)

Kellner Haben Sie schon gewählt?

Margarete Schäfer

Ja, wir möchten bestellen.

Kellner Was hätten Sie gern?

Margarete Schäfer

Ich hätte gern Hähnchen mit Kartoffeln und Salat, bitte.

Kellner Gerne. Und für Sie?

Anna Müller Ich möchte Schweineschnitzel mit Pommes frites.

Kellner Ja... Und zu trinken?

Anna Müller Ein Glas Weißwein, bitte.

Margarete Schäfer

Und noch ein Bier!

Kellner Bitte sehr.

Anna Müller Danke.

Glossary

schon already

Haben Sie schon gewählt?

Have you already chosen?

Wir möchten bestellen

"We would like to order." Note that - as in English - the infinitive of the verb "bestellen" comes at the end of the clause.

das Hähnchen "Chicken". As this noun is another one which ends in "-chen", we know that it must be neuter.

die Kartoffel potato

der Salat salad; lettuce

gerne So far we have seen this word when a customer is saying what he or she would like. When spoken by a waiter, as here, it means "Of course!" or "You're welcome!"

Und für Sie? And for you?

das Schwein pig; pork

das Schnitzel cutlet, chop

das Schweineschnitzel

"Pork cutlet, escalope of pork". This is another example of those compound nouns which are so common in German. Remember that the gender of the compound noun will always be determined by the last element - here "das Schnitzel".

Und zu trinken? And to drink?

ein Glas Weißwein "A glass of white wine". "Weißwein" is another compound noun, coming from "weiß", the adjective for "white" and "der Wein" (= wine).

noch still; yet

noch ein Bier "Another beer". You would say "eine" for a feminine noun. So "another cup of tea" would be "Noch eine Tasse Tee".

bitte sehr Yet another nuance of "bitte"! Although the waiter isn't actually bringing them anything, he still says "bitte sehr" to confirm the transaction.

4.10 Settling the bill

Having had their main course, the waiter comes round to see if everything is in order. Anna decides that they don't want a dessert, but would like the bill instead.

Conversation 5: Settling the bill

Kellner So, hat es Ihnen geschmeckt?

Margarete Schäfer

Ausgezeichnet!

Anna Müller Sehr gut!

Kellner Möchten Sie noch etwas bestellen? Darf ich Ihnen einen Nachtisch bringen? Wir haben heute Erdbeeren mit Vanilleeis und Sahne.

Anna Müller Für mich nicht.

Margarete Schäfer

Nein, danke, die Rechnung, bitte.

Kellner Ja, zusammen oder getrennt?

Anna Müller Zusammen, bitte.

Kellner Ja, kleinen Moment bitte. Das macht siebenundzwanzig Euro sechzig, bitte.

Anna Müller Dreißig. Stimmt so?

Kellner Ja, danke schön.

Glossary

so This approximates to "well then". It never means the English "so" as in "a logical conclusion".

Hat es Ihnen geschmeckt?

"Did you enjoy your meal?". The literal meaning is: "Did it taste to you?"

ausgezeichnet "Excellent!" But then Margarete has had two beers by now...

sehr gut very good

noch etwas "Something else". This always has the sense of an additional something rather than "something different".

der Nachtisch "dessert". It literally means "after-table".

darf ich...? "may I...?" Just like "Ich möchte...", it is always followed by the infinitive of the verb which it governs.

darf ich Ihnen einen Nachtisch bringen?

"May I bring you a dessert?". And it is "einen Nachtisch", because the masculine noun "der Nachtisch" is the object of the sentence.

heute today

die Erdbeere "strawberry". As we have seen, many feminine nouns end in "-e", and form a plural in "-en".

das Vanilleeis "vanilla ice-cream". This is another German compound noun, coming from "die Vanille" (= "vanilla") and "das Eis" (= "ice cream"). As "das Eis" is the final element of the compound noun, it determines the gender.

die Sahne cream

für mich nicht "Not for me". Note that the German word for "not" - "nicht" - follows the noun to which it refers.

die Rechnung, bitte (Could we have) the bill, please?

zusammen... together...

...oder getrennt? "...or separately?" The waiter is thus asking them whether they wish to pay together or separately.

kleinen Moment, bitte

"One moment, please". Literally: "A little moment please".

das macht... "It comes to....". Literally: "This makes...".

siebenundzwanzig Euro sechzig

Twenty-seven euros sixty

dreißig Thirty

stimmt so? Is that right?

4.11 Vocabulary - Food and drink

Here is a summary of the vocabulary covered in this section, together with some other words for food and drink which you may find useful. Many of these nouns are not used in the plural - in most cases as in English - and so only the singular form will be given. Unless otherwise indicated, you should assume that any verbs given are regular (in the present tense at least).

Vocabulary 5: Food and drink (masc.)

English German

cake der Kuchen (plural - Kuchen)

cocoa der Kakao

coffee der Kaffee

dessert der Nachtisch

juice der Saft

- apple juice - der Apfelsaft

- orange juice - der Orangensaft

ketchup der Ketschup

salad der Salat

sugar der Zucker

tea der Tee

wine der Wein

- red wine - der Rotwein

- white wine - der Weißwein

Vocabulary 6: Food and drink (fem.)

Singular Plural

bill die Rechnung Rechnungen

coca-cola die (Coca-)Cola

cream die Sahne

cup die Tasse Tassen

gâteau die Torte Torten

lemon die Zitrone Zitronen

lemonade die Limonade

menu die Speisekarte Speisekarten

milk die Milch

potato die Kartoffel Kartoffeln

sachertorte die Sachertorte Sachertorten

sausage die Wurst Würste

- curried sausage - die Currywurst - Currywürste

- fried sausage - die Bratwurst - Bratwürste

strawberry die Erdbeere Erdbeeren

Vocabulary 7: Food and drink (neuter)

Singular Plural

beer das Bier

bread roll das Brötchen Brötchen

café das Café Cafés

chicken das Hähnchen Hähnchen

glass das Glas Gläser

ice cream das Eis

- vanilla ice cream

- das Vanilleeis

piece das Stück Stücke

pig; pork das Schwein Schweine

- pork cutlet - das Schweineschnitzel - Schweineschnitzel

pot das Kännchen Kännchen

restaurant das Restaurant Restaurants

Vocabulary 8: Food and drink (verbs)

English German

to bringen bringen

to choose wählen

to get; receive bekommen

to order bestellen

Vocabulary 9: Food and drink (phrases)

ist hier noch frei?

Is this seat taken?

hier ist besetzt

this seat is taken

nehmen Sie Platz!

Take a seat!

haben Sie schon gewählt?

Have you already chosen?

was bekommen Sie?

What would you like?

was möchten Sie?

What would you like?

möchten Sie sonst noch etwas?

Would you like anything else?

möchten Sie noch etwas bestellen?

Would you like anything else?

und zu trinken?

And to drink?

ich möchte...

I would like...

ich hätte gerne...

I would like...

guten Appetit!

Bon appetit!

hat es Ihnen geschmeckt?

Did you enjoy your meal?

ich möchte gleich zahlen

I would like to pay now

die Rechnung, bitte

The bill, please

kleinen Moment, bitte!

Just one moment please!

zusammen oder getrennt?

are you paying together or separately?

das macht 20 Euro

It comes to 20 euros

4.12 Eating out in Germany

Town and country

The choice of restaurants in Germany is broad and varied. This is particularly the case in large cities where you can find the cuisine of most countries of the world represented. Even smaller towns however will have their fair share of Italian, Greek,

Turkish and Chinese restaurants - although Indian cuisine has yet to catch on to the extent that it has in Great Britain. What have become popular and very common are take-aways on the American pattern, delivering pizzas, Chinese and Mexican food to your home. In the country you are more likely to come across "eine Gaststätte", "ein Gasthaus" or "eine Gaststube", a combination of pub, restaurant and café which invariably offers local delicacies. Take a look at the menu boards which are hung outside all German restaurants to see what they are offering! What you will not find in either town or country is an equivalent for the British "caff" or "greasy spoon". Cafés in German-speaking countries are in general more upmarket, with tablecloths, carpets and upholstered chairs.

Restaurant etiquette

When entering a restaurant in a German-speaking country, it is customary for the diner to find their own seat rather than waiting to be designated one. You should also not be surprised if another party asks if they may sit at your table. This is common practice on the European mainland. And do not be offended if the people in that party do not engage in conversation with you. They are rarely interested in making friends, just looking for a seat in a crowded restaurant. It used to be the case that you would address the waiter as Herr Ober and waitresses as Fräulein. These forms of address are out of date nowadays however and should be avoided. If you want to order or pay you should make a sign with your hand (but do not click your fingers!) and say something along the lines of Kann ich bestellen, bitte? (= "May I order, please"?).

Paying and tipping Credit cards are nearly always accepted in large restaurants nowadays but in more humble establishments hard cash is still the usual means of payment. If you want to pay by credit card, it is always advisable to ask before you order.

Paying for the meal is almost always done at your table with the waitress or waiter who served you. It is not necessary to tip 15%, because a 15% gratuity is included in the prices as a service fee (in addition to a 15% value added tax). It is nevertheless usual to leave a tip in restaurants, cafés and other places where your bill is brought to your table. This is done by rounding the bill up. If a bill is under 10 euros you round the sum up to the next full mark or next but one - i.e. � 11,50 would be rounded up to � 12. If the bill comes to more than 10 euros you should allow 5% for a tip, rising to 10% in a more upmarket establishment. Leaving the tip on the table after you have paid is unknown in Germany. Waiters and waitresses are accustomed to receiving their tip as part of the bill, not by looking for the tip on the table after you have left. If you let them give you your full change (and then leave a tip on the table) they will think that you are unhappy with their service. Only if you are really dissatisfied with the quality of service that you have received should you not leave any tip at all - a token tip of a few cents will have the same effect.

Snacks

One of the most striking aspects about a German city is the number of kiosks (der Kiosk), sausage stalls (die Würstchenbude) or snack bars (der Imbiss, der Schnellimbiss) on each street corner. They are most well-known for offering Bratwurst - a fried or grilled sausage - or curried sausage (Currywurst). In Austria, you may come across "Steckerlfisch" - grilled fish on a stick. You can also get chips there (Pommes, Pommes frites), but don't be alarmed if you are offered mayonnaise along with tomato sauce to put on them! Such kiosks and snack bars serve beer as well as soft drinks, and many will offer a very good ground coffee. The preference for coffee over tea in mainland Europe continues unabated. You may be offered tea in a café or restaurant, but most Germans drink it with lemon or just black. Iced tea is becoming increasingly popular as a summertime beverage. The traditional German kiosk and snack bar is however under attack from a variety of overseas food outlets, American fast food (hamburgers, pancakes et al.) being the most visible competitor. But you will also find Turkish kebabs, Italian pizzas and French crêpes doing a roaring trade on street corners.

Chapter 5: Asking for directions

5.1 Where is the Hotel Ravenna (1) Having arrived in Berlin for his conference, Ken McNaught now needs to find his way around in the big city. He knows that his hotel - the "Hotel Ravenna" (marked by an "X" in our diagram) - is in the road called Harbigstrasse which in the Charlottenburg region of Berlin, but he is having trouble finding it. Whilst in Position 1 on our diagram, standing on the corner of two roads called Waldschulallee and Messedamm, he meets a passer-by (ein Passant) and asks for directions.

Conversation 1: Wo ist das Hotel Ravenna?

Ken McNaught

Entschuldigen Sie bitte.

Passant Ja bitte?

Ken McNaught

Wo finde ich das Hotel Ravenna?

Passant Ach ja, ich weiß... Da gehen Sie bitte fünfhundert Meter geradeaus, und die nächste Straße rechts, und dann finden Sie das Hotel Ravenna auf der rechten Seite.

Ken McNaught

Wie bitte?

Passant Immer geradeaus, dann die nächste rechts - die Harbigstraße.

Ken McNaught

Danke schön!

Passant Bitte schön. Viel Spaß in Berlin!

Glossary

der Passant the passer-by

wo ist...? where is...?

das Hotel the hotel

entschuldigen Sie bitte

Excuse me please?

Ja, bitte Another nuance of "bitte"! This time it approximates to "Yes, how may I help?"

wo finde ich...? "Where can I find...?" The word for "can" is omitted in the German construction.

das Hotel Ravenna

The names of most German hotels follow the word for "hotel".

ach ja, ich weiß oh yes, I know

da gehen Sie bitte...

"You go...". Our old friend "bitte" is added for an extra touch of politeness.

fünfhundert Meter

five hundred metres

geradeaus "Straight on." Later in the conversation the passer-by will say "immer geradeaus", which equates to "keep straight on" - (literally "always straight on").

die Straße street; road

rechts on the right

die nächste Straße rechts

the next road on the right

dann finden Sie...

"Then you will find..." There is no word here for "will" - the present tense can be used in German to translate the immediate future.

auf der rechten Seite

"on the right-hand side". In practice this is interchangeable with "rechts".

Wie bitte? This means "Pardon me?". Never be embarrassed about asking somebody to repeat directions, particularly when you are new to a language!

die nächste rechts

The passer-by does not repeat "Straße" here. As we saw in the previous section, it is clear that the adjective refers back to the feminine noun "street".

viel Spaß "Enjoy yourself!". The literal meaning is "Much fun!"

5.2 Where is the Hotel Ravenna (2) Our passer-by is beginning to curse his luck! No sooner has he given instructions to Ken McNaught and moved along the Messedamm to Position 2 on our diagram than he bumps into Herr Loss, who is also looking for the Hotel Ravenna (which is again marked by an "X" in our diagram).

Conversation 2: Wo ist das Hotel Ravenna?

Herr Loss

Entschuldigen Sie bitte.

Passant Ja?

Herr Loss

Wie komme ich zum Hotel Ravenna?

Passant Gehen Sie hier geradeaus.

Herr Loss

Hier geradeaus?

Passant Richtig. Nehmen Sie dann die erste Straße rechts. Das ist die Jaffeestraße.

Herr Loss

Die zweite Straße rechts?

Passant Nein, nicht die zweite sondern die erste Straße rechts!

Herr Loss

Die erste Straße rechts?

Passant Ja, ganz richtig. Dann nehmen Sie bitte die erste Straße links. Das ist die Harbigstraße.

Herr Loss

Die Harbigstraße?

Passant Ja, genau. Und das Hotel Ravenna ist auf der linken Seite.

Herr Loss

Vielen Dank. Auf Wiedersehen!

Passant Auf Wiedersehen!

Glossary

Wie komme ich...?

"How do I get to...?" Literally: "How do I come to...?" As there is only one present tense in German, the word for "do" is omitted in the German construction.

... zum Hotel Ravenna

"...to the Hotel Ravenna". The word "zum" is short for "zu dem". It is only used for masculine and neuter nouns - for feminine nouns you would say "zur".

hier geradeaus

straight on here

richtig right; correct

Nehmen Sie...

"Take...". Note again the inverted word order of the polite request.

die erste Straße rechts

the first road on the right

die zweite Straße rechts

the second road on the right

nicht... sondern...

"Not ... but..." In this case, "nicht" precedes the noun to which it refers.

ganz richtig "Quite right". The word "ganz" is quite tricky in that it can mean "quite" or very according to context.

die erste Straße links...

the first road on the left...

auf der linken Seite

"On the left-hand side". In practice this is interchangeable with "links".

5.3 Where is the nearest...? On the previous two pages, we have practised how to get directions to specific places. The vocabulary and skills are slightly different when we have to find the nearest shop, station etc. In this conversation we find Herr McNaught asking a female passer-by (eine Passantin) where the nearest telephone box and the nearest chemist's are.

Conversation 3: Telefonzelle und Apotheke

Ken McNaught

Entschuldigen Sie bitte.

Passantin Ja?

Ken McNaught

Wo ist denn hier die nächste Telefonzelle?

Passantin Die nächste Telefonzelle ist gleich hier um die Ecke. In der Nähe vom Brandenburger Tor.

Ken McNaught

Und wo gibt es hier eine Apotheke?

Passantin Eine Apotheke oder eine Drogerie?

Ken McNaught

Eine Apotheke.

Passantin Sie gehen geradeaus und dann die vierte Straße links. An der Ampel rechts und dann stehen Sie direkt vor der Apotheke.

Ken McNaught

Ist das weit?

Passantin Nein, nur fünf Minuten zu Fuß.

Glossary

die Passantin passer-by (female)

Wo ist denn hier...?

"Wo ist...?" is the basic phrase used to translate "Where is...?". The additional words "denn hier" merely add a sense of conversational emphasis, and can be omitted.

die Telefonzelle telephone box

die nächste Telefonzelle

"The nearest telephone box." The endings of the adjective "nächst-" depend on the gender of the noun, and the case - i.e. whether it is in the nominative or the accusative case.

gleich hier just here; right here

um die Ecke around the corner

in der Nähe von "Near...". When the preposition "von" is followed by the definite article, this becomes "vom" for a masculine or neuter noun, and "von der" for a feminine noun.

das Brandenburger Tor

"The Brandenburg Gate" is probably Berlin's most famous landmark. We have included a picture of it in the top left-hand corner of each page in this chapter.

Wo gibt es hier...?

Another variant of "Where is...?" Note that in this construction, the thing which you are looking for is in the accusative case, whereas it is in the nominative case for the "Wo ist..." construction. This of course affects the endings on each noun.

die Apotheke This is a "chemist's shop" which is staffed by qualified pharmacists who can prescribe medication for straightforward ailments without a doctor's prescription.

die Drogerie We would also translate this as a "chemist's shop", but it is one that merely sells toothpaste, toilet articles and cough sweets.

die Ampel "Traffic lights". This is a singular noun in German.

an der Ampel rechts

"Right at the traffic lights". The definite article "die" becomes "der" after the preposition "an" which takes the dative case.

dann stehen Sie...

"Then you stand...". The verb "stehen" is regular in the present tense.

direkt directly

vor der Apotheke

"In front of the chemists shop". This is another preposition which takes the dative case.

Ist das weit? Is it far?

nur only

fünf Minuten zu Fuß

five minutes by foot

5.4 Studying the map Ken McNaught is now positioned "Ecke Singerstraße Neue Blumenstraße", that is on the corner of Singerstraße and Neue Blumenstraße in what used to be East Berlin. He asks a passer-by where he can find the post-office and the underground station. Both of these are shown on the map below - the post-office has the yellow logo of the German post office Deutsche Post with its trademark horn, and the "U-Bahnhof" (= "underground station") is indicated by the blue letter "U".

Conversation 4: Das Postamt und der U-Bahnhof

Ken McNaught

Entschuldigen Sie bitte.

Passant Ja bitte?

Ken McNaught

Gibt es hier in der Nähe ein Postamt?

Passant Ja, hier ganz in der Nähe. In der Schillingstraße etwa zwei Minuten von hier.

Ken McNaught

Und wo ist die Schillingstraße?

Passant Sie gehen geradeaus und dann links. Nehmen Sie die erste Straße rechts und dann finden Sie das Postamt auf der linken Seite.

Ken McNaught

Und wo gibt es hier einen U-Bahnhof?

Passant Da gehen Sie bitte circa sechshundert Meter geradeaus, die nächste rechts und dann gehen Sie ganz einfach die Schillingstraße entlang, an der Polizeiwache vorbei, und dann stehen Sie direkt davor.

Ken McNaught

Welcher U-Bahnhof ist das?

Passant U-Bahnhof Schillingstraße.

Glossary

hier in der Nähe near here

hier ganz in der Nähe

very near here

das Postamt "Post office". You will often hear the word "die Post" used for this, which also means the post office as an institution.

etwa approximately

zwei Minuten von hier

two minutes from here

Wo gibt es hier einen U-Bahnhof?

"Where is an underground station round here?" As "es gibt" takes the accusative case, the masculine noun "ein U-Bahnhof" becomes "einen U-Bahnhof".

circa approximately; about

sechshundert Meter

six hundred metres

ganz einfach quite simply

die Schillingstraße entlang

"Along the Schillingstraße". The preposition "entlang" follows the noun to which it refers.

die Polizeiwache "Police station". It is indicated on German

maps by a green star on a white circular background.

an der Polizeiwache vorbei

past the police station

direkt davor directly in front of it

Welcher U-Bahnhof ist das?

"Which underground station is that?" If the noun following "which" was a feminine noun, it would be "welche" and if it was a neuter noun, it would be "welches".

5.5 Prepositions

Prepositions which take the accusative case Prepositions are words such as "in", "on" and "over" which stand in front of a noun or pronoun to relate it to the rest of the sentence. In German, when these prepositions are used, the words for "the" (der/die/das) and "a" (ein) alter their endings depending on the case in which they are used. We are already familiar with the accusative case, and have explained how "der" changes into "den" in the accusative case, and "ein" changes into "einen". This same change from "der" to "den" also happens after certain prepositions - we say that these prepositions "take" the accusative case. Some of the more commonly used German prepositions are listed below:

Grammar 1: Accusative prepositions

Preposition Example

durch durch das Hotel through the hotel

entlang die Straße entlang along the street

für für den Mann for the man

um um die Ecke round the corner

The dative case Many prepositions however take a case which is new to us - the dative case. For the definite article, the dative case means that both the masculine "der" and the neuter "das" change into "dem", and the feminine "die" changes into "der". As regards to the indefinite article, the dative case means that both the masculine and the neuter "ein" change into "einem", whereas the feminine "eine" changes into "einer". Some of the most commonly used German prepositions that take the dative case are:

Grammar 2: Dative prepositions

Prep. Example

an an der Ampel (at the traffic lights)

in in einem Restaurant (in a restaurant)

von 5 Minuten von der Apotheke (five minutes from the chemist's)

vor vor dem Hotel (in front of the hotel)

zu Wie komme ich zum Hotel? (How do I get to the hotel?)

There is an additional difficulty however, in that some prepositions can either take the accusative or the dative case, depending on context. The prepositions "an", "in" and "vor" take the dative case when they are describing a fixed position, but the accusative case when they are describing movement - "Er geht in das Hotel". We will look at this in more detail in a subsequent chapter. The prepositions "von" and "zu" on the other hand, always take the dative case.

5.6 The dative case and the articles

Definite article The endings for the definite article "der" in the dative case are as follows - singular endings only.

Grammar 3: Definite article in the dative case

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nominative der Mann die Frau das Kind

Accusative den Mann die Frau das Kind

Dative dem Mann der Frau dem Kind

Merging of prepositions with the definite article You will already have noted that certain prepositions tend to merge with the definite article - but never with the indefinite article. The following contracted forms are almost always preferred to the non-contracted forms:

Grammar 4: Dative prepositions

Prep. Example

an + dem = am Ich bin am U-Bahnhof (I am at the underground station)

in + dem = im Wir sind im Café (We are in the café)

von + dem = vom Zehn Minuten vom Bahnhof (Ten minutes from the station)

zu + dem = zum Wie komme ich zum Hotel? (How do I get to the hotel?)

zu + der = zur Sie geht zur Bank (She goes to the bank)

The indefinite article The endings for the indefinite article "ein" in the three cases which we have met so far are printed below. Note that "kein" also declines in the same way.

Grammar 5: Indefinite article in the dative case

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nom. ein Mann eine Frau ein Kind

Acc. einen Mann eine Frau ein Kind

Dat. einem Mann einer Frau einem Kind

Possessive adjectives The endings for the possessive adjectives are as follows. We have given "mein" as an example, but the others decline in the same way.

Grammar 6: Possessive adjectives in the dative case

Masc. Fem. Neut.

Nom. mein Mann meine Frau mein Kind

Acc. meinen Mann meine Frau mein Kind

Dat. meinem Mann

meiner Frau

meinem Kind

The only exception to this rule is the possessive adjective "euer" (= your). This possessive loses the "-e-" of its stem when it adds endings.

Grammar 7: The possessive "euer" in the dative case

Masc. Fem. Neut.

Nom. euer Mann eure Frau euer Kind

Acc. euren Mann eure Frau eurer Kind

Dat. eurem Mann eurer Frau eurem Kind

5.7 Adjectives

When adjectives follow a noun When an adjective - or "describing word" - follows the verb "to be" as in the phrase "Ist es weit?" (= Is it far?) in one of the conversations in this chapter, or in the question "Wie alt bist du?, adjectives in this position do not have endings in German. When an adjective is given as a one word response to a question, there are also no endings. For example, when the waiter asks the diners in Chapter 4 whether they had enjoyed their meal - "Hat es Ihnen geschmeckt?" (= Did you enjoy your meal?), Anna and Margarete reply with adjectives without endings - "Ausgezeichnet!" (= Excellent!) and "Sehr gut!" (= Very good!).

Adjectives before a noun Adjectives standing in front of a noun add endings to show whether that noun is singular or plural, what its gender is, and what case it stands in. The endings the adjective adds depend on what sort of article is standing before it. The endings for an adjective which follows the definite article "der" are as follows:

Grammar 8: Adjective endings after the definite article

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nom. der gute Mann die gute Frau das gute Kind

Acc. den guten Mann die gute Frau das gute Kind

Dat. dem guten Mann der guten Frau dem guten Kind

The indefinite article "ein" - along with "kein" - has the following endings, depending on the gender of the noun which follows it and the case that this noun is in.

Grammar 9: Adjective endings after the indefinite article

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nom. ein guter Mann eine gute Frau ein gutes Kind

Acc. einen guten Mann eine gute Frau ein gutes Kind

Dat. einem guten Mann einer guten Frau einem guten Kind

Adjectives after possessive adjectives take exactly the same endings as those which follow the indefinite article:

Grammar 10: Adjectives after possessive adjectives

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nom. ihr guter Mann ihre gute Frau ihr gutes Kind

Acc. ihren guten Mann ihre gute Frau ihr gutes Kind

Dat. ihrem guten Mann ihrer guten Frau ihrem guten Kind

Examples To work out the endings on an adjective you need to know three things:

• What is the gender of the noun - masculine, feminine or accusative? • What case is the noun in in this sentence - nominative, accusative or dative? • What type of article precedes the adjective - definite "ein" or indefinite "ein"? Or is it

preceded by a possessive adjective "mein etc."?

Thus for the sentence "Wo ist die nächste Apotheke?", we know that the ending on the adjective is "-e" because:

• "die Apotheke" is a feminine noun • It is in the nominative case in the above sentence - i.e. it is the subject of the clause • It is preceded by the definite article "die"

And in the sentence "Wo gibt es hier den nächsten U-Bahnhof?", we know that the adjective ending is "-en" because:

• "der U-Bahnhof" is a masculine noun • It is in the accusative case in the sentence - i.e. it is the object of the clause • It is preceded by the definite article "den"

5.8 Ordinal numbers

Ordinal numbers from one to nineteen We refer to the English words "first", "second", "third" etc as ordinal numbers. These are formed in German for the numbers one to nineteen by taking the number itself and adding "-t-" to the end. Four ordinals are irregular: "erst-" (= "first"), "dritt-" (= "third"), "siebt-" (= "seventh") and "acht-" (= "eighth"). The important thing to remember is that such numbers are adjectives, and must therefore take adjective endings when they precede a noun. They do so according to the rules which we established in the previous section. Here are the ordinal numbers from one to nineteen, with the adjective endings for a masculine noun after a definite article.

Ordinal numbers 1-19 (def. article)

der erste

der elfte

der zweite

der zwölfte

der dritte

der dreizehnte

der vierte

der vierzehnte

der fünfte

der fünfzehnte

der sechste

der sechzehnte

der siebte

der siebzehnte

der achte

der achtzehnte

der neunte

der neunzehnte

der zehnte

When the ordinal number follows an indefinite article, the adjective endings must therefore change. For the purposes of the table below, imagine again that we are dealing with a masculine noun:

Ordinal numbers 1-19 (indef. article)

ein erster

ein elfter

ein zweiter

ein zwölfter

ein dritter

ein dreizehnter

ein vierter

ein vierzehnter

ein fünfter

ein fünfzehnter

ein sechster

ein sechzehnter

ein siebter

ein siebzehnter

ein achter

ein achtzehnter

ein neunter

ein neunzehnter

ein zehnter

Ordinal numbers from twenty upwards Ordinal numbers from twenty upwards are formed by adding "-st-" to the number itself. Adjective endings are then added in the usual way:

Grammar 13: Ordinal numbers greater than 19 (def. article)

20 der zwanzigste 31 der einunddreißigste

22 der zweiundzwanzigste 32 der zweiunddreißigste

23 der dreiundzwanzigste 40 der vierzigste

24 der vierundzwanzigste 45 der fünfundvierzigste

25 der fünfundzwanzigste 50 der fünfzigste

26 der sechsundzwanzigste 54 der vierundfünfzigste

27 der siebenundzwanzigste 60 der sechzigste

28 der achtundzwanzigste 70 der siebzigste

29 der neunundzwanzigste 80 der achtzigste

30 der dreißigste 90 der neunzigste

5.9 Berlin: Facts and figures

A brief history

Berlin was founded in the 13th Century and was originally a seat of the Hohenzollerns royal family. It was initially the capital of Brandenburg and then became capital of Prussia, which it remained until 1945. Berlin was also the capital of Germany between 1871 and 1945. From the end of World War II until the reunification of Germany in 1990 the city was divided into two parts: West Berlin (a state of the Federal Republic of Germany, forming an enclave within the German Democratic Republic) and East Berlin (the zone of the city that was Soviet-occupied at the end of the war, and later became capital of the German Democratic Republic). Despite being blockaded by the Communists, West Berlin was successfully supplied by a large-scale Allied 'airlift' in 1949. A fortified wall separating the two sectors was erected in 1961 by the Communist authorities to curb the flow of refugees to the West, and many people were killed or wounded while attempting to cross. The Berlin wall was opened in November 1989 after the collapse of the Communist regime in East Germany, and subsequently dismantled. It once more became the capital of Germany after the reunification of October 3, 1990 and the second half of the 1990's witnessed key government bodies relocating from Bonn to Berlin.

The new Berlin

The new Berlin is defining itself as a bridge between East and West. Berlin is situated on the east-west axis from Paris to Warsaw/Moscow and on the north-south line from Stockholm to Prague, Vienna and Budapest. It has been transformed from the symbol of European division to the place where East and West Europe meet. The growing economy in Central and Eastern Europe finds a bridge to the western economy in Berlin. Companies with world-wide operations make use of the many institutions located in Berlin and the expertise that is concentrated here. Berlin�s scientific, research and cultural institutions represent one of the invaluable strengths of the city.

Size and population Berlin currently has a population of 3.45 million inhabitants. It is a multicultural city, with more than 430,000 people from 184 different nations living there. Lower rents for residential accommodation in the eastern boroughs and the greater supply of jobs in the western boroughs led to a new mixture of the population soon after unification. It is both a city and a federal state, fulfils both federal state functions and municipal functions.

Berlin has an area of around 891 square kilometres - as large as Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt am Main put together � and unites a large number of urban districts, centres and boroughs which are completely different in character. In the inner part of the city, the buildings of the Kulturforum on the southern edge of the Tiergarten and the modern office and shopping complex on Potsdamer Platz link the western city around the Kurfürstendamm with the eastern city in the historical centre of Berlin between the Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz. To the north of the Tiergarten, the government and parliament buildings are being built in the meander of the River Spree.

Architecture

In addition to the architecture of the 19th and 20th century, the new cityscape is dominated by buildings designed by top international architects. The outstanding example is the Reichstag, which has been redesigned by Norman Foster and now has a glass dome which is open to visitors. Architects such as Helmut Jahn, Renzo Piano, Hans Kollhoff and Richard Rogers have designed offices, shops and apartments in the restored Potsdamer Platz. Frank O�Gehry has designed a new building on Pariser Platz for the DG Bank and Aldo Rossi's residential complex in the Schützenstraße has also attracted positive comment.

5.10 John F. Kennedy in Berlin

Ich bin ein Berliner

Between 1945-1989, Germany as a whole, and Berlin as a city, was divided by the Cold War (der Kalte Krieg), a state of open confrontation between the Communist bloc and the NATO alliance. The West had been already been forced to come to Berlin's aid once before in 1948, carrying out an eleven-month airlift of food and industrial supplies to the Western sectors after the Soviets had started a temporary blockade of West Berlin's railroads, highways and waterways

In August 1961 the Soviets erected the Berlin Wall to stop the mass exodus of people fleeing Soviet East Berlin for West Berlin and the non-Communist world, thus sealing West Berlin behind a twelve foot wall for some twenty-eight years. Only two years after this, on June 26th 1963, American President John F. Kennedy came to West Berlin as part of a European goodwill tour and addressed the city's populace. The last part of his speech has gone down in history as a ringing endorsement of freedom. You can read a transcript of this below. Click here or on the sound icon at the start of this paragraph to listen to a recording of Kennedy's speech.

President Kennedy's speech in Berlin

Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free. When all are free, then we can look forward to that day when this city will be joined as one and this country and this great Continent of Europe in a peaceful and hopeful globe. When that day finally comes, as it will, the people of West Berlin can take sober satisfaction in the fact that they were in the front lines for almost two decades. All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner."

Did Kennedy really call himself a doughnut?

Stirring stuff, no doubt, but Kennedy's actual German has been a source of controversy ever since 1961. For as we have learned, to say that you come from a certain place necessitates the construction: "Ich bin Engländer", "Ich bin Österreicherin" etc. - i.e. a construction without the definite article. So by saying "Ich bin ein Berliner" instead of "Ich bin Berliner", some people have concluded that Kennedy had made an embarrassing mistake. For the word, "der Berliner" has two meanings, not only "a citizen of Berlin" but also "a jelly doughnut", and by using the definite article in his speech Kennedy has been interpreted as outing himself as a tasty culinary delicacy! Similarly, if you said "Ich bin ein Hamburger" instead of "Ich bin Hamburger", you might be seen to be implying not that you came from Hamburg but that you are a quarterpounder with cheese...!

In fact, Kennedy inadvertently outing himself a jelly donut is an urban myth. For one thing, he was told to say this sentence by his translator - who was a German. For another, the crowd patently understood what Kennedy was saying, and cheered him instead of laughing. Whilst not worrying too much about the distinction for the time being, there are many regions of Germany where the definite article can be used to describe your profession and where you live. This is particularly the case in Bavaria - and in the north-east of Germany where Berlin is located. Furthermore, if you claim that a "Berliner" can be a type of character as well as a place of birth, then the grammatical rule as to whether you use the definite article or not in this context becomes very blurred. So what lessons should we learn as students of German? We would still recommend omitting the definite article when describing your profession and where you live. You should nevertheless be aware that native Germans who include the article are not trying to indicate that they are nutty as a fruitcake. Or a jelly donut. Or a hamburger for that matter.

Chapter 6: Getting around town

6.1 Der Zeitungskiosk

Having attended his conference, Herr McNaught now needs to get back to Zoo Station in Berlin - or to give it its proper name "Berlin Zoologischer Garten" - in order to catch his train home. We find him in the Wöhlertstraße in the North-East of the city asking for help at "ein Zeitungskiosk" - one of the many kiosks selling newspapers and cigarettes which you will see in any major German city.

Conversation 1: Der Zeitungskiosk

Ken McNaught

Ich hätte gerne eine Berliner Zeitung und einen Stadtplan, bitte.

Kioskbetreiber Einen großen oder einen kleinen Stadtplan?

Ken McNaught

Was kostet der große?

Kioskbetreiber Fünf Euro.

Ken McNaught

Ja, den nehme ich. Und wie komme ich am besten zum Bahnhof Zoo? Ich wollte eigentlich mit der Straßenbahn fahren. An der Haltestelle steht aber niemand.

Kioskbetreiber Nehmen Sie ein Taxi! Oder fahren Sie mit der U-Bahn. Es gibt einen U-Bahnhof gleich um die Ecke. Nehmen Sie die erste Straße links, das ist die Chausseestraße.

Ken McNaught

Danke sehr!

Kioskbetreiber Bitte sehr.

Wöhlertstraße

Glossary

der Zeitungskiosk

"The newspaper kiosk." This is a compound noun formed from "die Zeitung" (= newspaper) and "der Kiosk" (= kiosk). As with all compound nouns, it takes the gender of the final element in the compound noun.

der Kioskbetreiber

kiosk owner

Tabakwaren tobacco goods

Berliner Zeitung "Die Zeitung" is the word for "a newspaper". "Berliner" is both the adjective formed from Berlin and the name of an inhabitant of Berlin. Click here to visit the homepage of this newspaper.

der Stadtplan A "map of the city". This is another compound noun coming from "die Stadt" (= the city) and "der Plan" (= map; plan).

groß ... klein "Big ... small". It is "einen" and not "ein" because both words are implicitly still in the accusative case.

Was kostet der große...?

"What does the big one cost?". Note the word order - the question word comes first, followed by the verb and then the subject of the sentence.

den nehme ich "I'll take that one." Unlike in English, it is quite possible for the object of the clause to be the first word in a German clause. This is because the endings of German pronouns clearly tell us which is nominative and which is accusative.

Wie komme ich am besten...?

This is an alternative to "Wie komme ich..." in the previous section. A rough translation would be: "What is the best way to get to...?"

der Bahnhof station

der Zoo A "zoo", fairly obviously, but note that the full form of this noun - "der zoologische Garten" is also used in German.

eigentlich in fact

ich wollte... "I wanted to..." This is always followed by the infinitive of the verb. It is an irregular verb (see verb tables).

die Straßenbahn A "tram" - or quite literally "street-car". These are almost exclusively to be found in East Berlin, and are marked by red squares and numbers on our map.

mit (+ Dative) This preposition means "with" and always takes the dative case. It never has contracted forms with the definite article.

mit der This means "to travel by tram" or literally "to

Straßenbahn fahren

travel with the tram". Note that the definite article is used in the German construction while we do not use it in the English construction. The verb "fahren" is also irregular - see following sections.

die Haltestelle This means "a stop (bus, tram etc.)".

an der Haltestelle

"At the bus-stop". As with "die Ampel" (traffic-lights), the word for a "stop" takes the preposition "an (+ Dative)" to translate "at".

niemand This means "nobody". The full meaning of the sentence is "But there is nobody standing at the bus-stop".

das Taxi This means "taxi". The plural varies according to where you are in the country. In most parts of the country you will see "Taxis", but in Berlin and the north of Germany the plural is "Taxen".

die U-Bahn This means "the Underground". "Mit der U-Bahn fahren" means "to travel by underground".

6.2 Der U-Bahnhof Ken McNaught decides to follow the kiosk attendant's advice and go to to U-Bahnhof Schwartzkopffstraße. But he still needs to buy a ticket - and work out his route to Zoo Station on the underground. He first asks a commuter ("der Pendler") where he can buy a ticket, but as he doesn't have the necessary change for one of the ticket machines he has to go to the ticket counter.

Conversation 2: Der U-Bahnhof

Ken McNaught

Entschuldigen Sie, wo bekomme ich einen Fahrschein?

Pendlerin Da steht ein Fahrkartenautomat. Dort hinten.

Ken McNaught

Ach so. Aber ich habe kein Kleingeld.

Pendlerin Dann müssen Sie am Schalter fragen.

Ken McNaught

(He goes to the ticket office.) Guten Tag. Ich möchte zum U-Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten fahren. Welche Linie geht dahin, bitte?

Beamtin Am besten nehmen Sie die Linie U6 Richtung Alt-Mariendorf. Steigen Sie am U-Bahnhof Friedrichstraße um.

Ken Wie bitte?

McNaught

Beamtin Ja, Sie müssen leider umsteigen. Sie steigen drei Stationen weiter am U-Bahnhof Friedrichstraße um und fahren dann mit der S3 Richtung Charlottenburg.

Ken McNaught

Mit der S3?

Beamtin Ja, das ist die S-Bahn.

Ken McNaught

Richtung Charlottenburg?

Beamtin Ja, da ist Endstation.

Ken McNaught

Und was kostet ein Fahrschein bei Ihnen?

Beamtin Haben sie keine Jahreskarte?

Ken McNaught

Nein, ich bin hier auf Geschäftsreise.

Beamtin Das macht zwei Euro zehn.

Ken McNaught

So.... und wann fährt der nächste Zug?

Beamtin In fünf Minuten, um Viertel nach elf.

Glossary

wo bekomme ich...? "Where can I get...?" Note that there is no word for "can" in the German version.

der Fahrschein This means "the ticket". You might also see two alternative words for "ticket" - "die Fahrkarte" or "der Fahrausweis".

der Pendler This is a male "commuter". A female commuter is "die Pendlerin".

der Fahrkartenautomat

"Ticket machine". See the picture below. All underground stations in Berlin have automatic ticket machines. You simply choose the type of ticket you require and insert your money. Click here to see a screenshot of the instructions on the front of a German ticket machine.

dort hinten "Over there at the back". "Hinten" means "at the back", whilst "vorne" means "at the front".

ach so Oh, I see

das Kleingeld This means "change" - literally "little money". Ken McNaught has no change for the ticket machine, so has to ask at the counter.

dann müssen Sie... "Then you'll have to...." The verb

"müssen" is an irregular verb (see subsequent sections).

am Schalter This means "at the counter". "Der Schalter" is a masculine noun.

zum...fahren He wants to travel to Zoo Station. The verb "fahren" is used when you use a means of transport; "gehen" is used for going somewhere on foot.

die Linie the (train, bus) line

welche Linie geht dahin?

"Which line goes there?". The "-e" ending on "welche" is added because "die Linie" is a feminine noun.

die Beamtin "The ticket clerk (female)". This word is also used to translate a "civil servant".

am besten nehmen Sie...

your best bet would be to take...

Richtung Alt-Mariendorf

This means "in the direction of Alt-Mariendorf". "Die Richtung" is the German word for "direction".

am U-Bahnhof "At the underground station". Note that "an" is the preposition used here and that "an + dem" are contracted to form the single word "am".

steigen Sie ... um This means "to change (bus, train, tram)". Here it is two words with the separable prefix going to the end of the clause, whereas the infinitive "umsteigen"is written as only one word. An explanation of German separable verbs is given on Page 6 of this chapter.

drei Stationen weiter

"Three stations onwards". Both "der Bahnhof" and "die Station" can be used to translate "underground station".

U6 is the conventional abbreviation for

"der Untergrund" (= the Underground).

S3 is the normal abbreviation for "die S-

Bahn (Schnellbahn)", which might best be translated as "suburban railway" (see the picture of two old-fashioned S-Bahn trains at the bottom of this page).

da ist Endstation that's the last stop

die Jahreskarte "A yearly (travel) pass". This is the cheapest way to travel round Berlin and most major German cities.

ich bin hier auf Geschäftsreise

We've had this before. It means "I'm here on business". Remember?

Wann fährt der nächste Zug?

"When does the next train depart?" "Wann?" is the question word used when

you want to ask the precise physical time of something.

um Viertel nach elf at a quarter past eleven

6.3 An der Bushaltestelle Meanwhile, at a bus stop (die Bushaltestelle) near the Görlitzer Bahnhof in Kreuzberg, Frau Wendt is talking to the driver of a number 129 bus. She wants to go the airport but his bus doesn't go there directly and he suggests an alternative route. Strange but true: Berlin's main airport, Tegel, is only accessible by bus!

Conversation 3: An der Bushaltestelle

Frau Wendt

Ich möchte zum Flughafen Tegel.

Busfahrer Ich fahre nicht direkt zum Flughafen. Sie müssen zwei Stationen vor der Endstation aussteigen und dann in die Linie U1 umsteigen.

Frau Wendt

Ach nein!

Busfahrer Am besten nehmen Sie die Linie U1 bis Möckernbrücke und dann die U7 bis Jakob-Kaiser-Platz (Richtung Rathaus Spandau). Und am Jakob-Kaiser-Platz nehmen Sie den Airport Express X9 zum Flughafen Tegel.

Frau Wendt

Und wann fährt der nächste Airport Express?

Busfahrer Um halb eins.

Glossary

die Bushaltestelle The bus-stop

an der Bushaltestelle

At the bus-stop

der Bus The bus

der Busfahrer The bus driver

der Flughafen "The airport". "At the airport" would be "am Flughafen".

ich fahre nicht direkt zum Flughafen

I don't go directly to the airport

die Endstation terminus

vor der Endstation "Before the terminus". Thus "vor" can either mean "in front of" when you are referring to a place or "before" when you are referring to time or place.

aussteigen This means "to get off" a train or a bus or "to get out" of a car. It is also a separable verb like "umsteigen"

bis Möckernbrücke

This means "until Möckernbrücke". The preposition "bis" takes the accusative case.

Rathaus Spandau "Spandau Town Hall". This is one "Endstation" of the U7 underground line. Click here to find Rathaus Spandau on a map of the Berlin transport system.(Hint: Spandau is in the West of the city!)

der Platz The square

am Jakob-Kaiser-Platz

"In Jakob-Kaiser Square". Note that German uses the preposition "an" whereas we would say "in the square" in English.

der Airport Express

The name of the bus which connects Tegel Airport to Berlin city centre. Many products and public services in German-speaking countries are given English names in order to sound cool.

Um halb eins "At half-past twelve". When telling the time, German prefers to think of it being "half to the hour" rather than "half past" as in English. How to tell the time in German will be explained fully in Chapter 8.

6.4 Der Hauptbahnhof Ken McNaught has successfully managed to get to the "Berlin Zoologischer Garten" station. To see what the station looks like at any time of the day or night, click here for a live webcam of the station. Ken now needs go to the travel centre (das Reisezentrum) to book a ticket to Kassel, a town in the middle of Germany.

Conversation 4: Der Hauptbahnhof

Beamtin Guten Morgen.

Ken McNaught

Morgen. Einmal nach Kassel, bitte.

Beamtin Einfach oder hin und zurück?

Ken McNaught

Einfach.

Beamtin Und ist das erster oder zweiter Klasse?

Ken McNaught

Zweiter Klasse.

Beamtin Haben Sie eine BahnCard?

Ken McNaught

Nein. Ich habe keine BahnCard.

Beamtin Die Fahrkarte ohne BahnCard kostet dreißig Euro und vierzig Cent.

Ken McNaught

So...und der nächste Zug nach Kassel fährt um halb zehn?

Beamtin Ja, in ungefähr zehn Minuten, um 09.28.

Ken McNaught

Fährt der Zug pünktlich?

Beamtin Selbstverständlich!

Ken McNaught

Von welchem Gleis?

Beamtin Von Gleis 9.

Ken McNaught

Und ist das ein ICE-Zug?

Beamtin Nein, das ist ein Regional Express. Es gibt keinen InterCity-Zuschlag.

Ken McNaught

Muss ich in Weimar umsteigen?

Beamtin Nein, der Zug fährt direkt.

Ken McNaught

Wann kommt der Zug in Kassel an?

Beamtin Um elf Uhr dreizehn.

Ken McNaught

Danke sehr. Auf Wiedersehen.

Beamtin Bitte sehr. Auf Wiedersehen.

Glossary

der Bahnhof The station

der Hauptbahnhof The central station

das Reisezentrum The travel centre

die Abfahrtstafel The departure board

einmal "One ticket". It literally means "once".

nach Kassel The preposition "nach" always takes the

dative case. You should use it when you are travelling to a town or country - provided that the country is neuter.

einfach... This means "single" as in a "single ticket". As we have seen earlier, the literal meaning of the word is "simple".

...oder hin und zurück?

"...or return?" Literally: "there and back".

die Klasse class

erster oder zweiter Klasse

This means "first or second class". Note the endings on the ordinal numbers.

die BahnCard A BahnCard from the German railway company Deutsche Bahn entitles you to substantial reductions on the entire German rail network and on most regional buses for the duration of one year.

die Fahrkarte The ticket

ohne This preposition meaning "without" always takes the accusative case.

halb zehn This means "half-past nine" and not "half-past ten". See Chapter 8.

ungefähr approximately

fahren This means "to go", when you are not travelling by foot. It is an irregular verb.

der Zug train

pünktlich punctually

Fährt der Zug pünktlich?

Is the train on time?

selbstverständlich of course

das Gleis This means "platform" when you are asking from which platform a train departs. In fact, "das Gleis" literally means the railway track itself.

von welchem Gleis? from which platform?

der ICE-Zug An "ICE train". "ICE" stands for InterCity Express.

der RegionalExpress A "regional express train". This is a stopping train, but it is faster than you might assume.

der Zuschlag A "supplement". You have to pay a supplementary charge to travel on an ICE train. But as Ken's train is not an ICE, the official informs him that there is no supplement to pay.

direkt direct; directly

der Zug fährt direkt "This is a direct train". Literally: "This

train travels directly".

ankommen This means "to arrive". The verb "ankommen" is a separable verb, a type of verb which will be discussed in detail on Page 6 of this chapter.

Wann kommt der Zug in Kassel an?

When does the train arrive in Kassel?

um elf Uhr dreizehn at 11:13

6.5 More irregular verbs

In this section we have encountered four more verbs which are irregular in their present tenses. Their full present tense is given below.

Grammar 1: The verb "fahren" (= to travel)

Singular

ich fahre I travel

du fährst Sie fahren

You travel (informal/formal)

er/sie/es fährt He/she/it travels

Plural

wir fahren We travel

ihr fahrt Sie fahren

You travel (informal/formal)

sie fahren They travel

Grammar 2: The verb "müssen" (= to have to)

Singular

ich muss I have to

du musst Sie müssen

You have to (informal/formal)

er/sie/es muss He/she/it has to

Plural

wir müssen We have to

ihr müsst Sie müssen

You have to (informal/formal)

sie müssen They have to

Grammar 3: The verb "nehmen" (= to take)

Singular

ich nehme I take

du nimmst Sie nehmen

You take (informal/formal)

er/sie/es nimmt He/she/it takes

Plural

wir nehmen We take

ihr nehmt Sie nehmen

You take (informal/formal)

sie nehmen They take

Grammar 4: The verb "wollen" (= to want)

Singular

ich will I want

du willst Sie wollen

You want (informal/formal)

er/sie/es will He/she/it wants

Plural

wir wollen We want

ihr wollt Sie wollen

You want (informal/formal)

sie wollen They want 6.6 Separable verbs

In this chapter we have encountered verbs such as "umsteigen" ("to change (trains etc.)"), "aussteigen" ("to get out (of a train etc.)"), "einsteigen" ("to get on (trains etc.)") and "ankommen" ("to arrive") which are known as separable verbs. This is because they can be separated into two parts - a prefix and a main verb. Most prefixes are prepositions (as in all the cases listed above), but they are occasionally adverbs, nouns, or adjectives.

Grammar 5: Components of a separable verb

Prefix + Verb = Sep. Verb

ab (from)

+ fahren (to travel)

= abfahren (to depart)

an (at)

+ kommen (to come)

= ankommen (to arrive)

aus + steigen = aussteigen

(out of) (to climb) (to get out)

ein (in)

+ steigen (to climb)

= einsteigen (to get in)

um + steigen (to climb)

= umsteigen (to change)

Word order in separable verbs If the separable verb is the first (and often only) verb in a sentence or clause, these two elements separate. The main verb - also called the stem - assumes its normal position in the sentence, but the prefix is placed right at the end. Look at the following examples:

Grammar 6: Separable verbs in a normal clause

Verb Clause

abfahren Wann fährst du ab? ("When do you depart?")

ankommen Wann kommt der Zug an? ("When does the train arrive?")

aussteigen Er steigt in München aus. ("He gets out in Munich.")

einsteigen Bitte steigen Sie ein! ("Please get in!")

umsteigen Sie steigen hier um. ("You change here.")

But if the separable verb is the second verb in a sentence, it does not split up and behaves just like any other verb. Note too that when a separable verb is the second verb in the sentence, it will always remain in the infinitive form. The separable verb will be the second verb in a sentence when it follows what is known as a modal verb. These verbs will be explained in detail in Chapter 8, but for now you should note that we have already met three of them: "müssen" ("to have to"), "wollen" ("to want") and "mögen" ("to like") - although we have only encountered the latter in the form "ich möchte" ("I would like").

Grammar 7: Separable verbs after a modal verb

Modal verb Clause

müssen Wann müssen Sie abfahren? ("When do you have to depart?")

wollen Wo wollen Sie umsteigen? ("Where do you want to change?")

mögen Ich möchte jetzt aussteigen. ("I want to get out now.")

Which prefixes are separable? The following common prefixes are always separable when attached to a main verb:

Grammar 8: Separable prefixes

ab- ("away")

an- ("starting")

auf- ("up")

aus- ("out")

bei- ("joining")

da(r)-

ein- ("in")

entgegen- ("towards")

hin- ("away")

her- ("towards")

los- ("starting")

mit- ("with")

nach- ("after")

nieder- ("down")

vor- ("ahead")

vorbei- ("past")

weg- ("away")

zu- ("on")

zurück- ("back")

zusammen- ("together")

The following prefixes are separable when they precede certain verbs and inseparable when they precede others:

Grammar 9: Occasionally separable prefixes

durch- ("through")

hinter- ("behind")

über- ("over")

um- ("change")

unter- ("under")

wieder- ("again")

Don't worry if you can't remember all of these - this will take some time. For the moment you should try to remember which verbs that we encounter during this course are separable and how they should be used. We will always indicate which verbs are separable in our vocabulary lists.

6.7 Places and prepositions

Places which take "an" You will already have noted that when you say that you are "at" several types of location in German, you use the preposition "an" - i.e. "am Bahnhof", "an der Ampel"

etc. If a German location uses "an" to translate "at", then you should use "zu" to describe movement towards such a place, and "von" to describe movement away from it. Thus when describing a bus stop you would say:

• die Bushaltestelle = the bus-stop • an der Bushaltestelle = at the bus-stop • zur Bushaltestelle = to the bus-stop • von der Bushaltestelle = from the bus-stop

The following table explains this pattern for some more of the nouns which we have met so far.

Grammar 10: Movement to and from places taking "an"

Place At the... To the... From...

airport der

Flughafen am Flughafen

zum Flughafen

vom Flughafen

platform der Gleis am Gleis zum Gleis vom Gleis

square der Platz am Platz zum Platz vom Platz

station der

Bahnhof am Bahnhof

zum Bahnhof

vom Bahnhof

traffic lights

die Ampel an der Ampel

zur Ampel von der Ampel

Neuter countries We can construct a similar pattern for countries, but only those which are neuter. Here of course different prepositions are used and no definite articles. Note that all three prepositions "in", "nach" and "aus" take the dative case:

• Deutschland = Germany • in Deutschland = in Germany • nach Deutschland = to Germany • aus Deutschland = from Germany

Grammar 11: Movement to and from countries

Country In... To... From...

England in England nach England aus England

Irland in Irland nach Irland aus Irland

Polen in Polen nach Polen aus Polen

6.8 Transport and prepositions

Going somewhere by means of transport Whilst English talks of travelling "by" a means of transport (with no definite article), German uses the preposition "mit" with the appropriate form of the definite article in the dative case - e.g. "Ich fahre mit dem Rad", "er fährt mit dem Flugzeug". The preposition "mit" always takes the dative case. Here is how you would describe travelling by the most common means of transport in German:

Grammar 12: Travelling by modes of transport

Transport I travel by...

aeroplane das Flugzeug ich fahre mit dem Flugzeug

bicycle das Rad du fährst mit dem Rad

bus der Bus er fährt mit dem Bus

car das Auto sie fährt mit dem Auto

ferry die Fähre wir fahren mit der Fähre

lorry der Lastwagen ihr fahrt mit dem Lastwagen

moped das Mofa sie fahren mit dem Mofa

motor-bike das Motorrad ich fahre mit dem Motorrad

S-Bahn die S-Bahn Sie fahren mit der S-Bahn

ship das Schiff wir fahren mit dem Schiff

taxi das Taxi du fährst mit dem Taxi

train der Zug sie fährt mit dem Zug

tram die

Straßenbahn ihr fahrt mit der Straßenbahn

underground die U-Bahn sie fahren mit der U-Bahn

Going somewhere by foot As all of these actions involve motorised transport - or in the case of the bicycle, transport on wheels, you use the verb "fahren" (= to go; travel) to translate them. When you are going somewhere by foot however, you use the verb "gehen" (= to go; travel) e.g. "Ich gehe zum Bahnhof" or "Wir gehen zur Bushaltestelle". If you wish to emphasise that you are walking as opposed to taking some means of transport, you could also say "Ich gehe zu Fuß" - "I'm going by foot".

6.9 The interrogative adjective "welcher...?"

The German word for the interrogative adjective "which?" is "welcher?". It declines in exactly the same way as the definite article "der". The declination of the interrogative adjective for the cases which we have met so far are as follows:

Grammar 13: The endings for "welcher?" (which?)

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nominative welcher Mann?

welche Frau?

welches Kind?

Accusative welchen Mann?

welche Frau?

welches Kind?

Dative welchem Mann?

welcher Frau?

welchem Kind?

Here are a few sample sentences showing the use of the interrogative adjective.

• Welcher U-Bahnhof ist das? ("Which underground station is that?") • Welche Linie geht dahin? ("Which line goes there?") • Welchen Zug nehmen Sie? ("Which train are you taking?") • Von welchem Gleis? ("From which platform?") • Mit welchem Bus fährst du? ("With which bus are you travelling?")

6.10 Getting around town

Germany has a very comprehensive system of public transport, the reliability and cleanliness of which often put the British system in the shade. The best thing to do on arriving in a town or city is to get hold of a town plan (der Stadtplan). This will include a map showing the rail, tram, bus and underground connections. An overview of bus routes and a bus and rail time-table can be obtained from the ticket kiosks located at major stops in the town centres. For the fullest picture, you should head for the local tourist office, which is either called das Verkehrsbüro or das Fremdenverkehrsamt. This will offer general information about cultural events as well as transport information. Look out for the information symbol shown at the top of this paragraph.

Bicycle (das Fahrrad; das Rad) When you visit Germany you will probably be surprised by the number of bicycles. Students in particular are very fond of using bicycles as a means of transport. In smaller towns it can be worthwhile to get hold of a second-hand bicycle. You can always sell it again when you leave. There are second-hand bicycle shops in many towns or you can look at advertisements in the newspaper.

Car (das Auto) A particularly useful aspect of German student life is the concept of car-sharing. At some colleges and universities you will find a car-sharing notice-board (das Mitfahrerbrett) where you can look and see whether someone is travelling to the destination which you require. In larger towns and cities there are also car-sharing centres (die Mitfahrzentrale) offering a wide range of car-sharing arrangements. The combined cost of the journey and the centre's service fee is usually well below what you would have to pay on public transport. And likewise of course, if you yourself are intending to drive somewhere you can reduce your expenses by taking one or more people with you. The telephone number of the car-sharing centres can be found in town magazines or the Yellow Pages under "car-sharing arrangements" (die Mitfahrvermittlung). Just ring and ask whether there is a car-sharing arrangement to the place you want to go on the day you want to travel or offer to take people with you in your car if you are driving yourself. The centre will write down the amount to be paid or received. As a passenger you are not required to contribute to any other costs.

Underground trains (die U-Bahn) and suburban trains (die S-Bahn) As a general rule, underground trains travel shorter distances within the city centre, whereas suburban trains unite the city with surrounding regions and commuter belts. Their routes often intertwine however, and it is by no means uncommon for an "U-Bahn" to travel above ground, whilst the "S-Bahn" is travelling below ground!.

Bus (der Bus) and tram (die Straßenbahn) In most German towns and citites, the main terminal or bus station (der Busbahnhof) will be near the main railway station, and information centres there will provide you with timetables and the latest information. A bus-stop is called die Bushaltestelle or just die Haltestelle. Most larger towns and cities also have a tram network (die Straßenbahn). The word for a "tram-stop" is the rather cumbersome compound noun die Straßenbahnhaltestelle.

There are no conductors on the vast majority of German buses and trams. You buy a ticket from the driver himself or from a ticket machine (der Fahrkartenautomat) which will probably be cheaper as you then get the chance of getting some of the reductions "die Ermäßigung" which are on offer. You can recognise a bus-stop or a tram-stop by a green letter "H" on the sign.

Tickets There are at least three commonly used German words for a ticket - der Fahrschein, die Fahrkarte and der Fahrausweis. You can either buy a single ticket (der Einzelfahrschein) and (die Einzelfahrkarte) or a ticket which is valid for several trips (die Sammelkarte) or (die Mehrfahrkarte). These are always better value for money than a single ticket, and become more of a bargain the more journeys that you need to make.

Many cities offer tourists tickets which are valid for a whole day (die Tageskarte) or an entire weekend (die Wochenendkarte). These are more often than not valid for every means of public transport. Commuters can buy a yearly ticket (die Jahreskarte) which offer even greater savings.

One of the most confusing factors about German tickets for overseas tourists is that the price of a ticket is often determined by which zone of the city (die Tarifzone) you are in. You will need to study a map of the local transport network to sort this out.

Another practice which leads to confusion is the necessity for each passenger (der Fahrgast) to have their ticket "cancelled" (i.e. stamped) by a special machine called der Entwerter (ticket validator; ticket canceller). Only then is your ticket valid, as most machines print a date and time on your ticket. This cancelling machine will either be on the train platform, at the bus-stop, or on the bus or tram itself. Whilst there are not inspectors on every bus, tram or U-Bahn, you can expect to pay a heavy fine if you are caught without a valid ticket - or without one which has been cancelled!

6.11 Rail travel in Germany

Since German reunification in 1990, much effort has been put into improving the transport links within Germany, especially between the former East German states and the West. This was not easy: Until that time, German trains had been run by two separate state-owned, deficit-ridden operations. The Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) or German Federal Railway was the old West German railway that had been running things there since Germany's division in 1949. The Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) or German Imperial Railway in former East Germany kept the pre-war name of the railroad that Hitler and those before him had known. In 1994, the two German state railroads that had tried to act as one since reunification were merged into the Deutsche Bahn AG - and privatised. This was in part an effort to get the government out from under billions of marks of mounting debt.

The flagship of the new enterprise is the InterCity Express (ICE), which has been operating on several high-speed lines between major German cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt. Click here for a glossy map of the German ICE network. The sleek, white ICE trains travel at 250-280 kilometres per hour, whisking passengers along in quiet, comfortable carriages equipped with video screens (in first class), stereo headsets, fax machines, and telephones. The InterCity Night trains are modern hotels on wheels which operate daily on the routes Munich-Berlin, Frankfurt-Bonn-Berlin and Hamburg-Munich. You can choose between three categories: Comfort Schlafwagen (= a sleeper compartment with private facilities), Comfort (= couchettes) and Comfort Sitzwagen (= with reclining seats and a footrest). Trains similar to the ICEs, with the same internationally stipulated quality standards, connect Germany with the major cities of neighbouring countries. They are called EuroCity (EC) trains.

Given the fact that flying between Germany cities is expensive and often subject to delays, you are much better off travelling by rail. The ICE gets from Munich to

Frankfurt, for example, in just over three and one-half hours, and once a new high speed track is completed the trip from Frankfurt to Cologne will be less than an hour. The ICE trains are supplemented by InterCity (IC) and InterRegio (IR) express trains. The latter usually run every two hours, have a maximum speed of 200 kilometres per hour, and link major cities to the medium-sized ones and to holiday destinations in Germany and neighbouring countries. They often use double-decker trains nowadays and are timetabled to connect with the railway's long-distance network. Despite their names, der Schnellzug (D) (literally: "the fast train") and der Eilzug (E) (= a fast stopping train) are much slower than the ICE trains, whereas der Nahverkehrszug (= literally: "local transport train") will stop at all the local stations before reaching its final destination.

Buying a ticket When booking a train ticket in Germany, it certainly pays to ask if there are any special reductions (Ermäßigungen). There are also of course reduced fares and special deals for senior citizens (Senioren) and children and teenagers (Junioren), as well as special holiday tickets (das Ferienticket) (see left). Travellers might also consider the Schönes Wochenende Ticket (= literally: "Nice Weekend Ticket"). This provides weekend travel on local trains only for up to five persons travelling together.

But the perhaps the biggest price-slasher for the regular visitor is die BahnCard, a railpass valid for a whole year, giving you a 25% reduction on all fares. It costs 50 euros for second class travel and 100 euros for first class travel. Other versions of the BahnCard give you 50% and 100% reduction on train travel, but you need to pay more for them.

Chapter 7: Going Shopping

7.1 The shopping list Anna Müller works out a shopping list for her son Lukas, advising him how much he needs to buy and where he should go to find the products. He quite clearly doesn't want to go shopping however, and keeps trying to find excuses to go at a later date.

Conversation 1: Die Einkaufsliste

Anna Müller

Gehst du bitte jetzt einkaufen?

Lukas Müller

Jawohl! Hast du eine Einkaufsliste für mich?

Anna Müller

Nein, ich sage dir alles. Erst hol bitte vom Bäcker ein kleines Weißbrot und zehn frische Brötchen.

Lukas Müller

Sie sind billiger im Supermarkt, und wir fahren heute Nachmittag dorthin.

Anna Müller

Na gut! Dann kauf beim Metzger ein halbes Pfund Hackfleisch und 250 Gramm gekochten Schinken.

Lukas Müller

Ich kaufe Fleisch lieber in der Altstadt, und heute Nachmittag fahren wir auch dorthin.

Anna Müller

Na gut! Vom Gemüsegeschäft brauche ich dann einen Kopfsalat, anderthalb Pfund kleine feste Tomaten, eine schöne Gurke, zehn Pfund Kartoffeln und ein Pfund grüne Bohnen.

Lukas Müller

Die Sachen für den Salat und das andere Gemüse eilen nicht, und morgen ist doch Markt.

Anna Müller

Na gut, aber ich brauche unbedingt Eier von Lidl.

Lukas Müller

Nein, brauchst du nicht. Wir haben doch viele. Eier kriegen wir dann auch noch vom Markt.

Anna Müller

Na gut, dann brauchst du nicht einkaufen gehen.

Glossary

die Einkaufsliste (-n)

shopping list

einkaufen to do the shopping

einkaufen gehen "To go shopping". In this construction, both "einkaufen" and "gehen" are infinitives. Only the second verb "gehen" declines (i.e. changes its endings), whereas "einkaufen" remains the same.

jetzt now

Gehst du bitte jetzt einkaufen?

Will you please go and do the shopping now?

jawohl! "Yes, of course". This is often used ironically in response to somebody who is trying to boss you around!

sagen In this context it means "to tell", but it can also mean "to say".

ich sage dir alles "I'll tell you everything". Note that the person to whom you are speaking ("dir") is in the dative case, whereas what you tell them ("alles") is in the accusative case.

erst This means "first", as in the first thing in a list of things which need to be done.

holen This means "to fetch". The word "hol" is the imperative form i.e. the form used to give commands. We have here the informal form used when talking to

someone whom you would call "du". The polite form is "holen Sie".

der Bäcker (-) The baker

das Weißbrot "A loaf of white bread". In another context this could also mean "white bread" in general. Likewise "das Brot" could either mean "a loaf of bread" or just "bread".

frisch "fresh". The endings on adjectives following numbers will be explained later in this chapter.

das Brötchen "A bread roll". All German nouns which end in "-chen" are neuter. The suffix "-chen" means "little" or "small".

billiger "cheaper". The adjective "billig" means "cheap", adding "-er" is how you form the comparative.

der Supermarkt The supermarket

der Nachmittag (-e)

afternoon

heute Nachmittag "This afternoon" - literally "today afternoon".

dorthin "to there". This is used when movement is implied.

na gut! All right then!

kaufen This means "to buy". The form "kauf" is the informal "du" form of the imperative which we saw earlier with "hol".

der Metzger (-) The butcher

bei (+ Dative) at

beim Metzger "At the butcher's". "Bei dem" is shortened to "beim" in the same way as the definite article is reduced with many other prepositions.

das Pfund (-e) pound

ein halbes Pfund half a pound

das Hackfleisch mincemeat

gekocht This means "boiled". The reason for the adjective endings will be explained in this chapter.

der Schinken "ham". The form "kauf" is the imperative form which we saw earlier on in this section with "hol".

das Fleisch meat

lieber "preferably". It is often used with a verb to translate "prefer to". Thus "Ich kaufe lieber" means "I prefer to..."

die Altstadt old (part of) town

das Geschäft (-e) This means "shop, store". It is also the general term for "business".

das Gemüsegeschäft

This is another word for a "greengrocer's shop".

brauchen to need

der Kopfsalat (-e) "lettuce". Literally: "head salad" (!)

anderthalb "one and a half". You will also see the word "eineinhalb" used to translate this.

fest firm

schön "nice". It can also mean "beautiful" in other contexts.

die Gurke (-n) cucumber

die Bohne (-n) bean

grüne Bohnen green/French beans

die Sache (-n) thing, item

der Salat (-e) salad

ander... "other". It is never used in the root form "ander", but only in its declined form in front of a noun.

das Gemüse "vegetables". Note that this is a singular noun in German.

(sie) eilen nicht (they) are not urgent

morgen "tomorrow". Be careful not to write this with a capital letter, for then it would mean "morning"!

doch after all

der Markt market

morgen ist doch Markt

tomorrow is market-day after all

unbedingt definitely; absolutely

das Ei (-er) egg

Lidl The name of a German supermarket chain. You can visit their homepage by clicking here.

brauchst du nicht This means "you don't need them". The pronoun "them" is omitted is this clause.

viele many, a lot

kriegen "to get". This is quite a conversational word which should not be used in formal German.

du brauchst nicht einkaufen gehen

"You don't need to go shopping". In other words, "brauchen" can either be used with a direct object or another infinitive, here

"einkaufen gehen". 7.2 At the greengrocer's Having despaired of getting her son to go shopping for her, Anna Müller decides that she will go herself. She stops first at Müslüm Can's greengrocer's in Kreuzberg.

Conversation 2: Im Gemüsegeschäft

Anna Müller

Ein Kilo Äpfel, bitte!

Müslüm Can

Wir haben da verschiedene Äpfel, englische, französische, spanische...

Anna Müller

Englische.

Müslüm Can

Englische... so, ein Pfund Äpfel.

Anna Müller

Dann noch ein Kilo Birnen, bitte!

Müslüm Can

Möchten Sie eine süße Birne oder eine saure?

Anna Müller

Ah, ich nehme eine süße, bitte. Saure Birnen schmecken mir nicht!

Müslüm Can

So, bitte. Möchten Sie sonst noch etwas?

Anna Müller

Ich hätte gern zwei Pfund Karotten.

Müslüm Can

Da, zwei Pfund polnische Karotten.

Anna Müller

Dann noch eineinhalb Pfund Zwiebeln.

Müslüm Can

Da hätten wir rote, weiße und normale Zwiebeln.

Anna Müller

Weiße bitte. Und ich hätte gerne zwei Pfund Trauben.

Müslüm Can

Ja, ich habe verschiedene Sorten. Welche möchten Sie denn, grüne oder schwarze?

Anna Müller

Ich hätte gerne die grünen.

Müslüm Can

Ja, sie schmecken lecker! So, bitte schön.

Anna Müller

Was kosten die Bananen?

Müslüm Can

Ein Euro vierzig das Pfund.

Anna Müller

Und die Apfelsinen?

Müslüm Can

Sie kosten neunzig Cent das Stück.

Anna Müller

Oh, sie sind leider viel zu teuer. Ich gehe lieber auf den Markt.

Müslüm Can

Sonst noch etwas?

Anna Müller

Das wär's. Was macht das zusammen?

Müslüm Can

Das macht sechsundzwanzig Euro und siebzig.

Anna Müller

Da sind dreißig Euro.

Müslüm Can

Danke schön. Und drei Euro und dreißig Cent bekommen Sie zurück. Vielen Dank.

Glossary

das Gemüsegeschäft (-e)

The greengrocer's

im Gemüsegeschäft

in the greengrocer's

der Apfel (pl. - Äpfel)

apple

das Kilo "A kilogram(me)". The shortened form is more common when a product (such as apples) is specified afterwards.

da here, there

verschiedene "various". We might translate this sentence by saying "We have many different types of apple".

englisch "English". Note that adjectives of nationality are written with small letters in German.

französisch French

spanisch Spanish

dann noch... Then I'd like...

die Birne (-n) This is the word for a "pear". Because of the shape, this is also the word for a light-bulb.

süß sweet

sauer This means "sour". Note in particular that

when adjectives which end in "-er" take adjective endings, the "-e" disappears. Thus it is here "saure Äpfel".

...schmecken mir nicht

This means "I don't like sour pears". The verb "schmecken" means "to taste", so this literally means "They don't taste (very good) to me". The thing that you do or do not like the taste of is always the subject of the sentence, whilst the person who doesn't like the taste is always in the dative case.

Möchten Sie sonst noch etwas?

"Would you like anything else?". We have already met "sonst noch etwas" on its own.

ich hätte gern "I would like". We have already met "Ich möchte gern", which is another variant of this expression.

die Karotte (-n) This means "carrot". You might also see "carrot" translated by "die Möhre (-n)".

polnisch Polish

eineinhalb "One and a half". We have already met "anderthalb", which means the same thing.

die Zwiebel (-n) onion

da hätten wir... "We have...". A politer way of saying "da haben wir".

rot red

weiß white

normal This means "normal", surprisingly enough, but is pronounced slightly differently.

die Traube (-n) This means "grape". You might also see "die Weintraube (-n)".

die Sorte (-n) sort, type

schwarz black

die grünen "the green (ones)". There is no need in German to repeat a noun or a pronoun.

lecker tasty, delicious

sie schmecken lecker

they taste delicious

die Banane (-n) banana

Ein Euro vierzig das Pfund

"One euro forty per pound". The definite article is used in German where we would use the preposition "per".

die Apfelsine (-n) No, not a variety of apple, but an "orange". You might also translate this by "die Orange (-n)".

neunzig Cent das Stück

Ninety cents "each". We have already seen that "das Stück" usually means "a piece".

viel zu teuer far too expensive

ich gehe lieber... I prefer to go...

auf den Markt This means "to the markt". You would translate "at the market" by "auf dem Markt".

das wär's that's all

was macht...? what does that come to? 7.3 At the supermarket Next, Anna Müller goes to her local Lidl supermarket. Unfortunately, they have just had a refurbishment and moved everything around, such that she has to ask an assistant (die Verkäuferin) where things are.

Conversation 3: Im Supermarkt

Anna Müller Entschuldigen Sie bitte.

Die Verkäuferin

Ja, bitte.

Anna Müller Können Sie mir helfen?

Die Verkäuferin

Was suchen Sie denn?

Anna Müller Wo gibt's hier denn Milch?

Die Verkäuferin

Milch? Gleich hier vorne links. Bei den Milchprodukten.

Anna Müller Und wo finde ich Marmelade?

Die Verkäuferin

Ganz hinten im letzten Gang. Im dritten Regal.

Anna Müller Ich brauche auch noch Kekse.

Die Verkäuferin

Ich glaube, da hinten rechts.

Anna Müller Und wo ist der Joghurt?

Die Verkäuferin

Im nächsten Gang links.

Anna Müller Oben oder unten?

Die Verkäuferin

In der Mitte.

Anna Müller Wo findet man Waschmittel?

Die Verkäuferin

Hier unten, bei den Haushaltswaren.

Anna Müller Ich suche auch Fisch.

Die Im vorletzten Gang, bei der Tiefkühlkost.

Verkäuferin

Anna Müller Und Pralinen?

Die Verkäuferin

Tut mir Leid, das weiß ich auch nicht. Fragen Sie doch mal an der Kasse.

Anna Müller Ich danke Ihnen.

Die Verkäuferin

Nichts zu danken.

Glossary

der Supermarkt The supermarket

im Supermarkt in the supermarket

die Verkäuferin (-innen)

sales assistant (female)

ja, bitte "Yes" (implying willingness to help)

helfen (+ Dative)

This means "to help". The person whom you are helping is in the dative case in German.

können Sie mir helfen?

can you help me?

suchen to look for

wo gibt es hier...?

"Where is..?" This is one of many constructions for this phrase which you will find in this section. The object which you are looking for is always in the accusative case in this construction.

die Milch milk

die Milchprodukte

dairy produce

bei den Milchprodukten

Although "bei" maintains its general meaning of "at" here, we would probably translate this as "amongst the dairy produce" or "in the dairy produce section". Note too that the plural "Milchprodukte" adds an "-n" when in the dative case. The reason for this will be explained later.

vorne at the front

vorne links at the front on the left

die Marmelade No, not marmalade but "jam". The nearest equivalent to British marmalade is "die Orangenmarmelade". Note the slightly different spelling in German too!

hinten at the back

ganz hinten right at the back

der/die letzte... the last...

der Gang In a supermarkt, we would translate this by

(pl. - Gänge) "aisle". It is the general word for a passage, hallway or corridor in a building.

das Regal (-e) "shelf". Note that while we say "on the third shelf", German uses the equivalent of "in the third shelf".

der Keks (-e) This means "biscuit, cookie"

glauben to believe, think

der Saft (fruit) juice

der Apfelsaft apple juice

das Getränk (-e)

drink

oben at the top

unten at the bottom

die Mitte middle; centre

in der Mitte in the middle

wo findet man...?

Note that Anna uses the impersonal "man" form here - it isn't solely used by men! Often, as here, it has the sense of the passive i.e. "Where can this be found?"

das Waschmittel washing powder

hier unten down here

die Haushaltswaren

household goods

der Fisch (-e) fish

der/die vorletzte...

the last but one...

die Tiefkühlkost frozen food

die Pralinen chocolates

tut mir Leid This is short for "das/es tut mir Leid", which we met in Chapter 1 and means "I'm sorry".

das weiß ich auch nicht

I don't know that either

fragen to ask

die Kasse (-n) "The checkout". In other contexts you might wish to translate this word by "counter" or "desk".

an der Kasse at the checkout

nichts zu danken

"don't mention it, you're welcome". Literally: "Nothing to thank for".

7.4 At the checkout

When Anna Müller gets to the checkout with her goods, the salesperson ("der Verkäufer") reads out what she has bought as he runs it over the scanner. He's funny that way.

Conversation 4: An der Kasse

Der Verkäufer:

Zwei Dosen Tomaten, eine Tiefkühl-Pizza, vier Packungen Nudeln, eine Schachtel Pralinen, ein halbes Pfund Butter, ein 3-Kilo-Paket Waschmittel, fünf 1-Liter-Flaschen Orangensaft, eine Tafel Schokolade, ein Glas Erdbeermarmelade, drei Liter Milch, eine Packung Taschentücher, zwei Tuben Zahnpasta, ein Becher Margarine, 500 Gramm Emmentaler Käse, eine Tüte Bonbons, sechs Flaschen Mineralwasser, acht Becher Himbeerjoghurt. Macht zusammen zweiundsiebzig Euro fünfundachtzig. Vielen Dank und auf Wiedersehen!

Glossary

die Dose (-n) "tin" or "can"

die Tomate (-n) tomato

die Pizza (-s) pizza

die Tiefkühl-Pizza (-s)

frozen pizza

die Packung (-en) packet, pack

die Nudeln (pl.) pasta; noodles

die Schachtel (-n) Here a "box" of chocolates. It can also be used to translate a "pack" of cigarettes.

die Butter butter

das Paket (-e) A "packet". Note the hyphens in 3-Kilo-Paket.

die Flasche (-n) bottle

der Orangensaft orange juice

die Tafel (-n) "bar" of chocolate

die Schokolade "chocolate". The general term for "chocolate", whereas Pralinen is what you would find in a box of chocolates.

das Glas (pl. - Gläser)

Here it means a "jar" of jam, whereas in other contexts it simply means "glass".

die Erdbeere (-n) strawberry

die Erdbeermarmelade (-n)

strawberry jam

das Taschentuch hanky; handkerchief

die Tube (-n) "tube". Note the different pronunciation

in German!

die Zahnpasta toothpaste

der Becher (-) tub

die Margarine margarine

der Käse "cheese". Although this ends in an "-e", this noun is masculine.

Emmentaler Käse Emmentaler cheese

die Tüte (-n) bag

das Bonbon (-s) A "sweet". You might also see "der Bonbon" used for this.

unten at the bottom

das Waschmittel washing powder

das Wasser water

das Mineralwasser mineral water

die Himbeere (-n) raspberry

der Joghurt "Yoghurt". You might occasionally see it written as "das Joghurt" or "der/das Jogurt".

der Himbeerjoghurt (-s)

raspberry yoghurt

macht zusammen... (This) comes to...

7.5 In the delicatessen Finally, Anna Müller goes the delicatessen to buy some meat, bread and tea.

Conversation 5: In der Feinkosthandlung

Der Verkäufer

Guten Tag. Sie wünschen?

Anna Müller

Guten Tag! Ich hätte ganz gerne 200 Gramm von dieser Pfeffersalami bitte.

Der Verkäufer

Ja, gerne. Darf's ein bisschen mehr sein? 220 Gramm?

Anna Müller

Nein, das ist ein bisschen viel.

Der Verkäufer

Haben Sie noch einen Wunsch?

Anna Müller

Ja, geben Sie mir bitte ein Stück Gouda Käse. 500 Gramm.

Der Verkäufer

So.... Ich habe 480 Gramm, ist das recht?

Anna Müller

Ist gut, ja, das reicht. Das ist in Ordnung.

Der Verkäufer

Außerdem noch einen Wunsch?

Anna Müller

Dann nehme ich 5 Frankfurter Würstchen. Wie teuer sind sie? Hier steht kein Preis darauf.

Der Verkäufer

5 Frankfurter Würstchen, acht Euro neunundneunzig.

Anna Müller

Ja, das ist in Ordnung.

Der Verkäufer

Kommt noch etwas dazu?

Anna Müller

Ich hätte gerne noch sechs Scheiben von dem Schwarzwälder Schinken.

Der Verkäufer

Alles klar. Wäre das alles?

Anna Müller

Ja, das wäre alles. Nein, Moment mal. Ich möchte ein Vollkornbrot und zehn frische Brötchen bitte. Was kosten die Brötchen?

Der Verkäufer

Brötchen kosten zwanzig Cent das Stück. Haben Sie sonst noch einen Wunsch?

Anna Müller

Ich hätte gerne ein Stück Kuchen...nur weiß ich noch nicht von welchem! Was können Sie mir empfehlen?

Der Verkäufer

Die Zitronentorte ist sehr gut... oder dieser Apfelstrudel ist eine unserer Spezialitäten.

Anna Müller

So eine große Auswahl! Ich nehme ein Stück Marmorkuchen, bitte.

Der Verkäufer

Bitte schön... macht achtundzwanzig Euro vierundfünfzig insgesamt.

Anna Müller

Hier, bitte. Kleiner habe ich leider nicht.

Der Verkäufer

Das macht nichts. So, und hier ist Ihr Kleingeld. Vielen Dank.

Anna Müller

Ich danke auch. Auf Wiedersehen

Glossary

die Feinkosthandlung

"delicatessen". You might also see "der Feinkostladen" used to translate this.

Sie wünschen? "What would you like?". It is just another way of saying "Was wünschen Sie?"

die Salami salami

der Pfeffer pepper

die Pfeffersalami "pepper salami". As we have seen earlier, the gender of a German compound noun is determined by its second element (= die Salami).

dieser this

200 Gramm von dieser...

"200 grammes of this...". "Von" can either mean "from" or "of" depending on context. You need to use it here as Anna is specifying which salami she wants.

ein bisschen a little

mehr more

darf's ein bisschen mehr sein?

Do you mind it being a little over?

ein bisschen viel a little too much

der Wunsch (pl. - Wünsche)

wish

haben Sie noch einen Wunsch?

Do you want anything else?

geben Sie mir bitte...

"please give me...". Note that "geben" is another verb which takes the dative case.

ist das recht? "Is that OK?". Just like its English equivalent "right", the word "recht" can have a number of meanings.

das reicht that's enough

(das ist) in Ordnung

(that's) OK, all right!

außerdem "besides; in addition". The phrase as a whole is another variant on "Sonst noch einen Wunsch?" Note that "einen Wunsch" is in the accusative case.

Frankfurter An adjective meaning "from Frankfurt". Just like "Emmentaler" earlier on in this chapter, the word "Frankfurter" does not add adjective endings because the adjective is formed from the name of a place.

das Würstchen (-) "small sausage". The combination "Frankfurter Würstchen" would be translated as a "frankfurter".

wie teuer sind sie? "How expensive are they?" This is simply another variant for asking how much something costs.

der Preis (-e) "price". Also the word for a "prize".

darauf on it

hier steht kein Preis darauf

there is no price on it

kommt noch etwas dazu?

Yet another way of asking the customer if she wants anything else!

die Scheibe (-n) slice

der Schwarzwald "Black Forest". The adjective "Schwarzwälder" means "from the Black Forest".

alles klar "all right, OK". The word "klar" literally means "clear".

wäre das alles? Would that be all?

das wäre alles that will be all

Moment mal just a moment

das Vollkornbrot a loaf of coarse wholemeal bread

noch nicht "not yet". Thus the whole clause would be translated as "I don't know yet".

welcher which

... von welchem I don't know which cake I want a piece of...

empfehlen "to recommend". This verb is irregular in the present tense.

was können Sie mir empfehlen?

"What can you recommend (to me)?". The verb "empfehlen" is another one whereby the person being recommended something is in the dative case.

die Zitrone (-n) lemon

die Torte (-n) flan; cake

die Zitronentorte (-n)

lemon flan

der Apfelstrudel apple strudel

die Spezialität (-en)

"speciality". The apfelstrudel is "one of our specialities".

die Auswahl selection

so eine große Auswahl!

What a large selection!

der Marmorkuchen (-)

"marble cake". "Der Marmor" is the word for "marble".

insgesamt "in total". It all comes to ("macht") � 28,54 in total.

kleiner smaller

kleiner habe ich leider nicht

"I'm sorry I don't have anything smaller". We assume that she has offered him a fifty euro note or even a higher denomination. German shop-keepers can be quite reluctant to give change for

banknotes of high denomination.

(das) macht nichts it doesn't matter

ich danke auch This is a practical response if a shopkeeper uses a "danke" construction at the end of a conversation instead of "bitte".

7.6 Quantities

Some grammatical points When asking for a quantity "of" something in German, the word for "of" is omitted.

Grammar 1: Nouns of quantity

English German

a piece of cake ein Stück Kuchen

a glass of beer ein Glas Bier

a portion of chips eine Portion Pommes

a bottle of wine eine Flasche Wein

Note too that even following numerals greater than one, masculine and neuter nouns of weight, measurement or value must remain in the singular:

Grammar 2: Plurals of nouns of quantity

English German

three pieces of cake drei Stück Kuchen

two glasses of beer zwei Glas Bier

five sacks of potatoes fünf Sack Kartoffeln

six pairs of shoes sechs Paar Schuhe

ten English pounds zehn englische Pfund

for a few dollars more

um ein paar Dollar mehr

Feminine nouns of quantity do take the plural form however:

Grammar 3: Plurals of fem. nouns of quantity

English German

seven portions of chips

sieben Portionen Pommes

eleven bottles of wine

elf Flaschen Wein

sixteen cups of tea sechzehn Tassen Tee

Feminine nouns for currencies remain singular however. Thus the former German currency "die Mark" never took a plural ending - i.e. "zwanzig Mark", "drei Mark 50".

German weights and measures German uses the metric system and the basic unit of weight is the gram - das Gramm - which equates to 0.0353 ounces. One ounce equals 28 Gramm. Note again here that the quantity is singular in German whereas we would say 28 grams in English. The pound - das Pfund - is also used in German-speaking countries, but note that a German pound is slightly heavier than an English pound. One Pfund is equal to 500 Gramm, whereas one English pound equates to 454 grams.

Grammar 4: Weights and measures

Weight Gramm Ounces

100g 100 Gramm 3.5 oz

ein Viertelpfund 125 Gramm 4.375 oz

ein halbes Pfund 250 Gramm 8.75 oz

ein Pfund 500 Gramm 1lb 1oz

das Kilo(gramm) 1000 Gramm 2lb 2oz

German-speaking countries use the litre - das Liter - to measure liquids. One litre is equivalent to 1.7 pints. One Liter is made up of 1000 Milliliter.

7.7 Numbers greater than 100

Here are the basic constructions for German numbers which have more than two digits.

Vocabulary 1: Numbers from 100 upwards

100 hundert

101 hundert(und)eins

102 hundertzwei

103 hundertdrei

110 hundertzehn

150 hundertfünfzig

151 hunderteinundfünfzig

200 zweihundert

300 dreihundert

346 dreihundertsechsundvierzig

400 vierhundert

500 fünfhundert

600 sechshundert

700 siebenhundert

800 achthundert

900 neunhundert

999 neunhundertneunundneunzig

Explanation 1. German numbers above 100 are combined in the same way as numbers above 20. All you do is add the word for 100, 200 etc in front of the two-figure number which we learned to construct in Chapter 4: 7 + 60 = siebenundsechzig; 400 + 7 + 60 = vierhundertsiebenundsechzig. 2. Note that Germans normally say hundertzwei where we would say "one hundred and two", and tausend where we would say "one thousand". "Ein" is however normally inserted in complex numbers such as tausendeinhundert (=1100). 3. It is possible (but wholly optional), to insert "und" between "hundert" and "eins" in the German for 101, and also between "tausend" and tens or units, e.g. tausend(und)eins, siebentausend(und)elf. 4. Years are usually stated in hundreds: - 1998 is written: neunzehnhundertachtundneunzig. - The year 2000 is however written as das Jahr zweitausend and 2001 is written as zweitausendeins.

Vocabulary 2: Numbers from 1000 upwards

1000 tausend

1001 tausend(und)eins

1009 tausend(und)neun

1010 tausendzehn

1052 tausendzweiundfünfzig

1100 tausendeinhundert

2000 zweitausend

2003 zweitausenddrei

2010 zweitausendzehn

5000 fünftausend

10000 zehntausend

10001 zehntausendeins

50000 fünfzigtausend

100000 hunderttausend

500000 fünfhunderttausend

Larger numbers Long numbers (i.e. those with more than one element) are rarely written out in full. In practice, complex numbers are rarely written fully except on cheques, and figures are used in written German more often than is usual in English. Numbers higher than a thousand are written with spaces every three digits - not with commas as in English, i.e. Germans would write 123 678 and not 123,678 as in English.

Vocabulary 3: Larger numbers

123 678

hundertdreiundzwanzigtausendsechs- hundertachtundsiebzig

1 000 000

eine Million

2 000 000

zwei Millionen

10 000 000

zehn Millionen

5 276 497

fünf Millionen zweihundertsechsundsiebzigtausend- zweihundertsiebenundneunzig

1 000 000 000

eine Milliarde

2 000 000 000

zwei Milliarden

10 000 000

zehn Milliarden

Explanation 1) The numbers eine Million and eine Milliarde are treated as separate nouns. They thus have a plural ending where necessary - i.e. drei Millionen fünfhunderttausend.

2) The plural form is also used when one million is followed by a decimal: 1,4 Millionen Euro. This is spoken as einskommavier Millionen Euro.

7.8 Adjectives of nationality and colour

In Chapter 2 we learned how to express your nationality, and discovered that whereas English uses an adjective - i.e. "I am English" -, German uses a noun without a different article - "Ich bin Engländer" (literally: "I am Englishman"). When you wish to express "German beer" or "English food", as we have started to do in this chapter, you need the appropriate adjective to express your nationality. These are listed in the table below:

Vocabulary 4: Adjectives of nationality

Country Adjective Translation

Andorra andorranisch Andorran

Australien australisch Australian

Belgien belgisch Belgian

Brasilien brasilianisch Brazilian

Bulgarien bulgarisch Bulgarian

China chinesisch Chinese

Dänemark dänisch Danish

Deutschland deutsch German

England englisch English

Estland estländisch estnisch

Estonian

Finnland finnisch Finnish

Frankreich französisch French

Griechenland griechisch Greek

Großbritannien britisch British

Indien indisch Indian

Irland irisch Irish

Island isländisch Icelandic

Israel israelisch Israeli

Italien italienisch Italian

Japan japanisch Japanese

Kanada kanadisch Canadian

Kolumbien kolumbianisch Columbian

Kroatien kroatisch Croatian

Lettland lettisch Latvian

Liechtenstein liechtensteinisch Liechtensteinian

Litauen litauisch Lithuanian

Luxemburg luxemburgisch Luxembourgish

Mazedonien mazedonisch Macedonian

Mexiko mexikanisch Mexican

Moldawien moldawisch Moldovan

Monaco monegassisch Monegasque

Neuseeland neuseeländisch New Zealand

die Niederlande

niederländisch Dutch

Norwegen norwegisch Norwegian

Österreich österreichisch Austrian

Polen polnisch Polish

Portugal portugiesisch Portuguese

Rumänien rumänisch Romanian

Russland russisch Russian

Schottland schottisch Scottish

Schweden schwedisch Swedish

die Schweiz schweizerisch Schweizer

Swiss

die Slowakei slowakisch Slovakian

Slowenien slowenisch Slovenian

Spanien spanisch Spanish

Südafrika südafrikanisch South African

Südkorea südkoreanisch South Korean

die Tschechische Republik

tschechisch Czech

Tunesien tunesisch Tunisian

die Türkei türkisch Turkish

die Ukraine ukrainisch Ukranian

Ungarn ungarisch Hungarian

die USA (US-)amerikanisch

American

Wales walisisch Welsh

Zypern zypriotisch Cypriot

Grammatical Points 1. Unlike English, adjectives referring to countries take a small letter in German. Thus "my German uncle" would be translated as "mein deutscher Onkel". 2. Adjectives of nationality take adjective endings in exactly the same way as other adjectives. 3. There are two different adjectives to translate "Swiss". The first of these - "schweizerisch" behaves like any other adjective of nationality. The second however "Schweizer" always starts with a capital letter and never takes adjective endings. Thus "Swiss eggs" could either be translated as "schweizerische Eier" (= with endings) or "Schweizer Eier" (= without endings).

Colours In the course of the conversations in the first few sections of this chapter, we have encountered some more German adjectives for colours to add to the ones which have already featured in earlier chapters. Here is a list of the most important ones:

Vocabulary 5: Colours

black schwarz grey grau

blue blau red rot

brown braun white weiß

green grün yellow gelb

All of these adjectives take the normal adjectival endings - i.e. "rote Äpfel", "grüne Trauben". There are however four common colours which do not take adjectival endings and thus behave like Schweizer above. These colours are:

Vocabulary 6: Colours that do not decline

beige beige orange orange

pink rosa purple lila

Such adjectives do however often take on suffixes such as "-farben" and "-farbig", both meaning "-coloured". When they do so normal adjectival endings are added - i.e. "ein lila Kleid" or "ein lilafarbenes Kleid" (a purple dress).

7.9 Adjectives following numbers

In Chapter 5 we looked at adjective endings after definite and indefinite articles. In this section we have met the third type of adjective endings. These are used in the following circumstances:

• when an adjective follows a number greater than one: - i.e. "zehn frische Brötchen"

• when the adjective is preceded by a quantity: - i.e. "ein Pfund grüne Bohnen"

• when the adjective is not preceded by any type of article - i.e. "Welche möchten Sie denn, grüne oder schwarze?"

The endings for an adjective which follows such endings, which we call the strong declension, are given below. First the singular endings:

Grammar 5: Singular endings in the strong declension

Singular Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nominative deutscher Käse deutsche Wurst deutsches Bier

Accusative deutschen Käse deutsche Wurst deutsches Bier

Dative deutschem Käse

deutscher Wurst

deutschem Bier

Plural

Nominative zwei grüne Bohnen

Accusative zwei grüne Bohnen

Dative zwei grünen Bohnen

Weak declension We can now complete the endings tables for the other declensions by adding their plural forms. Firstly for adjectives following the definite article - also known as the weak declension. Note too the way that the definite articles decline in the plural:

Grammar 6: Singular endings in the weak declension

Sing. Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nom. der deutsche Käse die deutsche Wurst

das deutsche Bier

Acc. den deutschen Käse

die deutsche Wurst

das deutsche Bier

Dat. dem deutschen Käse

der deutschen Wurst

dem deutschen Bier

Plural

Nom. die grünen Bohnen

Acc. die grünen Bohnen

Dat. den grünes Bohnen

Mixed declension Finally, here is the "mixed" declension - namely the form of the adjective when it follows the indefinite article or a personal possessive. Note again the plural adjective endings, and the way in which "mein" ("dein", "sein" etc.) declines in the plural:

Grammar 7: Singular endings in the weak declension

Sing. Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nom. ein deutscher Käse

eine deutsche Wurst

ein deutsches Bier

Acc. einen deutschen Käse

eine deutsche Wurst

ein deutsches Bier

Dat. einem deutschen Käse

einer deutschen Wurst

einem deutschen Bier

Plural

Nom. meine grünen Bohnen

Acc. meine grünen Bohnen

Dat. meinen grünen Bohnen

7.10 Personal pronouns

Introduction Pronouns are a set of short words which stand for or replace nouns or noun phrases. In particular they stand for nouns which have already been mentioned or which are so well to the speaker and the listener that they do not need to be repeated in full. The so-called "personal" pronouns are used to refer to the speaker ("I", also called the first person), the person addressed ("you", also called the second person), and other persons or things which just happen to be mentioned ("he", "she", "it", also called the "third person"). These personal pronouns have distinct forms to indicate number, case and in the third person, gender. We have already met the nominative form of these personal pronouns in our verb tables; we can now add the accusative and the dative forms:

Grammar 8: Nominative of the personal pronoun

Singular Plural

ich I wir we

du you (informal) ihr you (informal)

Sie you (formal) Sie you (formal)

er he sie they

sie she

es it

Comments English speakers need to take particular care when translating the English pronoun it. As all German nouns have one of three genders, so too do pronouns - a masculine noun must therefore have a masculine pronoun regardless of whether it is a living thing or an inanimate object. For example:

• Der Hund mag die Katze. Er mag die Katze. (The dog likes the cat. It likes the cat.)

• Die Katze mag den Hund. Sie mag den Hund. (The cat likes the dog. It likes the dog.)

• Hier ist das Pferd. Es heißt Shergar. (Here is the horse. It is called Shergar.)

• Hier ist der Kaffee. Er schmeckt gut. (Here is the coffee. It tastes good.)

Accusative of the personal pronoun

Grammar 9: Accusative of the personal pronoun

Singular Plural

mich me uns us

dich you (informal)

euch you (informal)

Sie you (formal) Sie you (formal)

ihn him sie they

sie her

es it

Examples We have already met several examples of the accusative of the personal pronoun in set phrases in earlier chapters:

• Das freut mich. (That pleases me.)

• Es freut mich, Sie kennen zu lernen, Herr Deisler. (I'm pleased to meet you, Mister Deisler.)

• Grüß dich! (Literally: I greet you.)

• Die Frau mag uns, Sebastian. (The woman likes us, Sebastian.)

Once again you should to be careful of German genders when you translate the English pronoun "it":

• Der Hund mag die Katze. Der Hund mag sie. (The dog likes the cat. The dog likes it.)

• Die Katze mag den Hund. Die Katze mag ihn. (The cat likes the dog. The cat likes it.)

• Ich mag das Pferd. Ich mag es. (I like the horse. I like it.)

• Hier ist der Kaffee. Ich kaufe ihn. (Here is the coffee. I'll buy it.)

Dative of the personal pronoun

Grammar 10: Dative of the personal pronoun

Singular Plural

mir to me uns to us

dir to you (informal)

euch to you (informal)

Ihnen to you (formal)

Ihnen to you (formal)

ihm to him ihnen to them

ihr to her

ihm to it

Examples Examples of how to use the dative of the personal pronoun will be given in the next section, when we look at verbs which take the dative case. Once again however, the problem of translating English "it" in the dative should be noted:

• Der Hund spielt mit der Katze. Der Hund spielt mit ihr. (The dog plays with the cat. The dog plays with it.)

• Die Katze spielt mit dem Hund. Die Katze spielt mit ihm. (The cat plays with the dog. The cat plays with it.)

• Ich spiele mit dem Pferd. Ich spiele mit ihm. (I am playing with the horse. I'm playing with it.)

7.11 Verbs taking the dative case

We have already looked at which verbs which take the accusative case in Chapter 3. Some German verbs however take the dative case. They often equate to the English "to (you etc.)" or "from (you etc.)", but this is not always the case. Some verbs which take an indirect object in German - such as "danken" ("to thank") and "helfen" ("to help") are ones which take a direct object in English.

(N.B. A noun or pronoun in the accusative case is called a direct object. A verb which takes a direct object is called a transitive verb. A noun or pronoun in the dative case is called an indirect object.) We have met several examples of verbs taking the dative case in this chapter, and they can be split into four types. Firstly verbs which simply take a dative object:

• Können Sie mir helfen? ("Can you help me?")

• Ich danke Ihnen. ("(I) thank you.")

Verbs that take both the dative and the accusative case Secondly, a number of verbs take both a direct and an indirect object. As a general rule, the person to whom to you are giving something (or from whom you are taking something) will be in the dative case, whereas the thing that you are giving to them (or taking from them) will be in the accusative case:

• Ich sage dir alles... ("I'll tell you everything...")

• Geben Sie mir bitte ein Stück Gouda Käse. ("Please give me a piece of Gouda cheese.")

• Was können Sie mir empfehlen? ("What can you recommend to me?")

Thus in the above examples the personal pronouns "dir" and "mir" are in the dative case. What is being told / given / recommended to them is in the accusative case. In the first two examples this would be "alles" and "ein Stück Gouda Käse". In the third example it would be the interrogative pronoun "was".

Verbs where the dative object equates to the English subject The final groups of verbs are ones which can take a lot of getting used to for an English speaker, as the indirect object of the German construction corresponds to the subject of the English equivalent. The most common examples of such verbs are those which express the English "to like": "gefallen" (= the general verb for liking something) and "schmecken" (= to like food):

• Saure Birnen schmecken mir nicht. ("I don't like sour pears.")

• Das Kleid gefällt ihr nicht. ("She doesn't like the dress.")

In both of these cases the noun or pronoun which is in the dative case in the German sentence - "mir" and "ihr" would be the subject in the English construction. Likewise, the subject of the German verb (i.e. the noun that is in the nominative case) would either be the object of the English verb - "saure Birnen" or "das Kleid". It logically follows that the subject of the German sentence will determine the endings on the verb. If (as here) this is an inanimate object, the verb will be in the third person. The verb will have singular endings if the subject is singular ("das Kleid"), plural endings if the subject is a plural one ("saure Birnen").

Impersonal verbs Another type of construction in which what would be the subject of an English sentence is in the dative case in a German sentence are the so-called impersonal verbs. These are verbs in which the grammatical subject of the sentence is "es", a non-specific "it". We have met two of the most common impersonal verbs already:

• Es tut mir Leid. ("I'm sorry.")

• Wie geht es Ihnen? ("How are you?")

• Mir geht es gut. ("I'm very well.")

7.12 Irregular verbs taking the dative case

Four of the verbs governing the dative case which we met in the previous section are irregular. Their declension is given below.

Grammar 11: The verb "empfehlen" (= to recommend)

Singular

ich empfehle I recommend

du empfiehlst Sie empfehlen

You recommend (informal/formal)

er/sie/es empfiehlt He/she/it recommends

Plural

wir empfehlen We recommend

ihr empfehlt Sie empfehlen

You recommend (informal/formal)

sie empfehlen They recommend

Grammar 12: The verb "geben" (= to give)

Singular

ich gebe I give

du gibst Sie geben

You give (informal/formal)

er/sie/es gibt He/she/it gives

Plural

wir geben We give

ihr gebt Sie geben

You give (informal/formal)

sie geben They give

Grammar 13: The verb "gefallen" (= to please)

Singular

ich gefalle I please

du gefällst Sie gefallen

You please (informal/formal)

er/sie/es gefällt He/she/it pleases

Plural

wir gefallen We please

ihr gefallt Sie gefallen

You please (informal/formal)

sie gefallen They please

Grammar 14: The verb "helfen" (= to help)

Singular

ich helfe I help

du hilfst Sie helfen

You help (informal/formal)

er/sie/es hilft He/she/it finds

Plural

wir helfen We help

ihr helft Sie helfen

You help (informal/formal)

sie helfen They help

7.13 The Imperative

The imperative is used to give orders or instructions or to express requests. We have met it twice in the first conversation in this chapter:

• Erst hol bitte vom Bäcker ein kleines Weißbrot ("First fetch a small loaf of white bread from the baker")

• Dann kauf beim Metzger ein halbes Pfund Hackfleisch ("Then buy half a pound of mincemeat from the butcher")

The verb endings for the imperative depend on the person to whom you are talking. In both of the above cases the "du" form is used, as Anna Müller is talking to a member of her own family. The other pronouns for "you" in German have their own form of the imperative:

Grammar 15: Forms of the imperative

holen kaufen

du hol(e)! kauf(e)!

ihr holt! kauft!

Sie holen Sie! kaufen Sie!

Formation 1. The "du" form of the imperative is formed by dropping the final "-en" of the infinitive and adding "-e" to the end of the word. This "-e" ending is usually dropped in spoken German and quite often in written German as well. The "-e" is always kept however with verbs whose stem end in "-d", "-t", "-ig" and "-m" or "-n" after another consonant. 2. The "ihr" form of the imperative is exactly the same as the "ihr" form of the regular present tense. 3. The "Sie" form of the imperative is exactly the same as the "Sie" form of the regular present tense BUT the word order is reversed - the verb always precedes the pronoun. 4. Note in particular that the "Sie" form of the imperative is the only one in which the pronoun is used in the command; you must omit the pronoun in the "du" and "ihr" forms.

Irregular verbs Most irregular verbs with "-e-" in the stem change this to "-i-" or "-ie-" in the "du" form, just as they do in the regular present tense. Such verbs never add the ending "-e" in the "du" form. The "ihr" and "Sie" forms remain unaffected. This works out as follows for the three irregular verbs of this kind that we have already encountered:

Grammar 16: Irregular imperatives

geben nehmen

du gib! nimm!

ihr gebt! nehmt!

Sie geben Sie! nehmen Sie!

empfehlen sein

du empfiehl! sei!

ihr empfehlt! seid!

Sie empfehlen Sie! seien Sie!

Note from the above table that the verb "sein" is also irregular in the imperative. It too never adds the final "-e" in the "du" form of the imperative.

The verbs "können" and "wollen" do not have an imperative.

The "wir" form There is also a "wir" form of the imperative which equates to "Let's do something" rather than being an order. Just like the "Sie" form of the imperative, you merely take the normal "wir" form of the present tense verb and follow it with the adverb: - i.e. "Gehen wir!" (= "Let's go!"); "Machen wir!" (= "Let's do!")

7.14 Vocabulary - Shops and product containers

Containers Here is a summary of the vocabulary covered in this section. The first table will list the different types of container in which products come, and the second table will list the names of products itself. From now on, we shall indicate the plurals of each of these nouns by the use of brackets. The plural of (for instance) die Tüte is die Tüten. We would show this plural formation by writing die Tüte (-n). Similarly, the plural of der Becher is die Becher. To show that this noun does not change in the plural - although the article always does! - we would write der Becher (-). When the stem of a noun changes, and not just the ending, we will aim to write the new plural out in full.

Vocabulary 7: Containers

bag die Tüte (-n)

bar die Tafel (-n)

bottle die Flasche (-n)

box die Schachtel (-n)

can die Dose (-n)

jar; glass das Glas (pl. - Gläser)

pack; packet die Packung (-en)

packet das Paket (-e)

sack der Sack (pl. - Säcke)

slice die Scheibe (-n)

tub der Becher (-)

tube die Tube (-n)

Shops

Vocabulary 8: Types of shop

baker die Bäckerei (-en)

butcher's die Metzgerei (-en)

chemist's die Apotheke (-n)

corner store der Tante-Emma-Laden (pl. - Tante-Emma-Läden)

department store das Kaufhaus (pl. - Kaufhäuser)

drugstore die Drogerie (-n)

food store das Lebensmittelgeschäft (-e)

health food shop der Bioladen (pl. - Bioläden) das Reformhaus (pl. - Reformhäuser)

market der Markt (pl. - Märkte)

- Christmas market

- der Weihnachtsmarkt (pl. - Weihnachtsmärkte)

shop das Geschäft (-e) der Laden (pl. - Läden)

supermarket der Supermarkt (pl. - Supermärkte)

7.15 Vocabulary - Types of food

Here is a vocabulary list of different types of food which you might encounter in German-speaking countries. Once again, the plurals of each noun are indicated by the use of brackets.

Vocabulary 9: Food

apple der Apfel (pl. - Äpfel)

- apple juice - der Apfelsaft

- apple strudel - der Apfelstrudel

banana die Banane (-n)

bean die Bohne (-n)

- green bean - die grüne Bohne

biscuit der Keks (-e)

bread das Brot

- coarse wholemeal bread

- das Vollkornbrot

- white bread - das Weißbrot

bread roll das Brötchen (-)

butter die Butter

carrot die Karotte (-n) die Möhre (-n)

cheese der Käse

chocolate die Schokolade

chocolates die Pralinen (pl.)

cornflakes die Cornflakes (pl.)

cucumber die Gurke (-n)

dairy produce die Milchprodukte (pl.)

drink das Getränk (-e)

egg das Ei (-er)

fish der Fisch (-e)

flan; cake die Torte (-n)

frozen food die Tiefkühlkost

fruit juice der Saft

grape die Traube (-n)

ham der Schinken

honey der Honig

jam die Marmelade

lemon die Zitrone (-n)

- lemon flan - die Zitronentorte (-n)

lettuce der Kopfsalat

marble cake der Marmorkuchen

margarine die Margarine

meat das Fleisch

milk die Milch

mincemeat das Hackfleisch

mineral water das Mineralwasser

onion die Zwiebel (-n)

orange die Orange (-n) die Apfelsine (-n)

- orange juice - der Orangensaft

pasta die Nudeln (pl.)

pear die Birne (-n)

pepper der Pfeffer

- pepper salami - die Pfeffersalami

pizza die Pizza (-s)

raspberry die Himbeere (-n)

salad der Salat

salami die Salami

sausage die Wurst (pl. - Würste)

- small sausage - das Würstchen (-)

strawberry die Erdbeere (-n)

- strawberry jam - die Erdbeermarmelade

sweet das Bonbon (-s)

tomato die Tomate (-n)

vegetables das Gemüse

water das Wasser

yoghurt der Joghurt (-s)

7.16 Shopping in Germany

Supermarkets Germany is one of the countries with the highest cost of living. On top of this, some towns are more expensive than others. Living in Munich is significantly more costly than living in Rostock or the Ruhr area. Even within the same town it is possible to buy the same product for different prices. It is always worth comparing prices carefully. When being food, note that delicatessens are the most expensive, while specialist shops such as the baker's (die Bäckerei) or the butcher's (die Metzgerei) are not necessarily more expensive than supermarkets. Even amongst supermarkets prices vary considerably. In some supermarkets, the selection of cheeses, sausage, bread, wines and spirits (Weine und Spirituosen) can be quite staggering - but then so are their prices! As a general principle, the more self-service there is a supermarket, the less you have to pay. In some supermarkets you will see nothing but rows of products stacked in boxes on top of one another!

By contrast with many other countries it is usual to weigh your fruit and vegetables yourself in German supermarkets. You simply put them on the scales, press the button with a picture of the product and stick the price tag on the plastic bag. Germans are very ecologically-minded and hence many shops charge 10-15 cents for a plastic carrier bag when you get to the checkout desk. Furthermore, the use of re-usable glass or plastic bottles (Mehrwegflaschen) is encouraged and you have to pay a deposit (der Pfand) on most bottles which will be refunded to you when you return the bottles.

Other types of shops A general food store is called "das Lebensmittelgeschäft". If a general store is small and rather old-fashioned, it is affectionately called "der Tante-Emma-Laden". Should you wish to buy organic foods and vegetables, you should look for signs saying "Bioladen" (= health food shop) or the more traditional "das Reformhaus".

Note also the difference between a German chemist's and a drugstore. The chemist's (die Apotheke) dispense drugs and medicines. Some drugs don't require a prescription, whereas others do. Drugs are generally cheaper on prescription, but you obviously have to see a doctor. It is also possible to buy cosmetics and some health foods in an Apotheke.

A drugstore (die Drogerie) on the other hand sells mainly toiletries, cosmetics and films etc, although it will sell some medicines if they are not on prescription. More upmarket and thus more expensive than a Drogerie is "die Parfümerie", where you can get mainly perfumes and cosmetics.

Markets Almost all towns, big or small, have one or two markets days a week, often on Wednesday or Saturday mornings. This can vary however - some towns have a permanent market open throughout the week. Quite a few of the stalls are run by local vegetable growers, and are of very high standard. Particularly attractive for visitors are the Christmas markets ("Weihnachtsmärkte"), at which you can buy sweets, pastries and hand-carved Christmas decorations.

Re-cycling To a much greater extent than in other countries Germany practises the re-cycling of waste products. A "throw-away mentality" (die Wegwerfmentalität) is frowned upon and people are encouraged to purchase environmentally friendly products (umweltfreundliche Produkte) which are recognisable by the symbol of the "blue angel" (der blaue Engel) - see below - and which can be recycled at places indicated by the green dot symbol (der grüne Punkt).

Citizens are also informed by brochures produced by the municiple authorities how to sort their rubbish (die Mülltrennung), i.e. put different kinds of material into different dustbins. Consequently there are dustbins and containers for used paper, glass (which is sorted according to colour), packaging material, organic waste, and residual waste. Yellow sacks are used for recyclable material, green for biodegradable material and black for the rest. The yellow and green bags are taken away free of charge, but you have to pay to have the rest collected. In the street, rubbish is put into the appropriate bin for recycling. Glass bottles should not be thrown into containers on Sundays or at night because of the noise.

Mail order

Home shopping has affected German buying habits severely - according to the German Mail Order Association, Germany ranks second in the world among home-shopping giants behind the USA. The Association reported that in 1996, 49% of Europe's mail-order trade came from German citizens. They also reported that there are at least 20 main mail order companies, 12 of which are based in Germany and of these twelve, two are the largest houses in the world. This means that around 350 million catalogues are printed each year, which works out to be about four catalogues per person or at least 10 catalogues per household in Germany. Catalogue houses advertise heavily and you are almost guaranteed to receive something unsolicited from them in the mail. Sometimes it's the catalogue itself or a postcard inviting you to order the catalogue. Larger houses, such as Otto, Heine or Quelle send regular post card invitations asking 'occupants' to fill-in the card and return it to receive a free gift.

Chapter 8: Telephone Calls

8.1 Calling the doctor (1) In the following conversation, Anna Müller tries to make an appointment with the doctor by phone. Pay particular attention to how they express the words for times.

Conversation 1: Ein Termin bei der Ärztin

Anna Müller

Guten Morgen, Frau Müller am Apparat. Hat die Frau Doktor Weber einen Termin frei?

Frau Krug

Ja, natürlich, Frau Müller. Um 10.20 Uhr haben wir einen Termin frei, oder zehn Minuten später um halb elf. Ist das in Ordnung?

Anna Müller

Wie spät ist es jetzt?

Frau Krug

Es ist zehn Uhr fünf.

Anna Müller

Nein, das schaffe ich nicht. Haben sie einen späteren Termin frei?

Frau Krug

Der nächste ist um 11.00 Uhr. Ist Ihnen das Recht?

Anna Müller

Um 11:00 Uhr? Ja, da kann ich. Vielen Dank, auf Wiederhören.

Frau Krug

Auf Wiederhören.

Conversation 1: A doctor's appointment

Anna Müller Good morning, Frau Müller speaking. Does Doctor Weber have a vacant appointment?

Frau Krug Yes, of course, Ms. Müller. We have an appointment at 10:20 or ten minutes later at half-past ten. Is that OK?

Anna Müller What time is it now?

Frau Krug It is 10:05.

Anna Müller No, I can't manage that. Do you have a later appointment that's not taken?

Frau Krug The next one is at eleven o'clock. Is that OK by you?

Anna Müller At eleven o'clock? Yes, I can manage that. Thank you very much, goodbye.

Frau Krug Goodbye.

Glossary

der Termin (-e)

appointment

die Ärztin (-innen)

This is the word to describe the profession of "doctor". The masculine is "der Arzt" (pl. - Ärzte). When you are using "doctor" in connection with a name, you would use the word "der Doktor" regardless of gender - i.e. Frau Doktor Weber.

Hat (sie) einen Termin frei?

"Does she have a vacant appointment?". The word "frei" literally means "free".

natürlich of course

um 10.20 Uhr "At 10.20". Note that this is said "um zehn Uhr zwanzig", although "Uhr" actually follows "zwanzig" when it is written.

später later

um halb elf "At half-past ten". Literally: "half (to) eleven".

ist das in Ordnung?

Is that OK?

schaffen to do; manage

das schaffe ich nicht

I can't make that

ein späterer Termin

"A later appointment". The comparative of the adjective also takes adjective endings. This will be discussed in more detail later.

der nächste "The next one", as in the next appointment. As "der Termin" is a masculine noun, the gender of the definite pronoun will also be masculine.

um 11.00 Uhr Spoken = "um elf Uhr" - "at 11 o'clock".

ist Ihnen das Recht?

Is that all right for you?

da kann ich "I can manage that". The verb for "manage" can be omitted after the modal verb "können"

auf Wiederhören

goodbye (on phone)

8.2 Calling the doctor (2)

In the following conversation, Marko Tredup also attempts to make an appointment with his doctor. Once again, things don't go to plan and times need to be altered.

Conversation 2: Ein Termin mit dem Arzt

Marko Tredup

Guten Tag. Mein Name ist Tredup. Wann hat Herr Doktor Becker Sprechstunde?

Herr Friedrich

Dienstags bis donnerstags von 12 Uhr bis 14 Uhr.

Marko Tredup

Kann ich bitte heute in die Sprechstunde kommen?

Herr Friedrich

Moment mal, Herr Tredup... Können Sie um 12.40 Uhr kommen?

Marko Tredup

Leider nicht.

Herr Friedrich

Ich kann Ihnen einen Termin um 13.10 Uhr geben. Wenn das Ihnen nicht passt, müssen Sie leider bis morgen warten.

Marko Tredup

Äh ... muss ich mal nachschauen. Ja, 13.10 Uhr ist mir Recht. Vielen Dank, auf Wiederhören.

Herr Friedrich

Auf Wiederhören.

Conversation 2: A doctor's appointment

Marko Tredup

Good afternoon. My name is Tredup. When does Doctor Becker have his surgery?

Herr Friedrich

Between Tuesday and Thursday, from 12 o'clock until 2 o'clock.

Marko Tredup

Could I come to the doctor's surgery today?

Herr Friedrich

One moment, Herr Tredup... Could you come at 12:40?

Marko Tredup

Unfortunately not.

Herr Friedrich

I can give you an appointment at 13:10. If that isn't suitable, I'm afraid that you will have to wait until tomorrow.

Marko Tredup

Erm ... I'll have to have a look. Yes, 13:10 is fine by me. Many thanks, goodbye.

Herr Friedrich

Goodbye.

Glossary

heute today

die Sprechstunde (-n)

surgery; consultation hour

dienstags Tuesdays

bis until; (here) to

donnerstags Thursdays

Moment mal one moment!

leider nicht unfortunately not

passen (+ Dative)

This means "to suit". It is another verb that takes a dative object.

wenn das Ihnen nicht passt

if that doesn't suit you; if that isn't suitable

bis morgen until tomorrow

warten to wait

äh... erm...

nachschauen This is a separable verb meaning "to have a look". We assume that Marko Tredup is consulting his diary or appointments book.

12.40 Uhr ist mir Recht

"12.40 is fine by me". This is the answer to the phrase: "Ist das Ihnen Recht?"

8.3 Herr Walle We move to an office environment for the next three conversations in which a caller attempts to speak to a business partner, only to be unable to do so. Pay close attention to how the callers say that they will ring back, or ask to leave a message.

Conversation 3: Herr Walle

Anna Müller

Schmidt & Co., guten Tag.

Herr Walle

Walle, von der Firma Kindt AG, kann ich bitte Herrn Doktor Schmidt sprechen?

Anna Müller

Das tut mir Leid. Er ist noch in einer Besprechung. Kann ich Ihnen helfen?

Herr Walle

Vielen Dank. Ich rufe später noch mal an. Auf Wiederhören.

Anna Müller

Bitte schön. Wiederhören.

Conversation 3: Herr Walle

Anna Müller

Schmidt & Co., good afternoon

Herr Walle

Walle, from the Kindt AG company, can I speak to Doctor Schmidt please?

Anna Müller

I'm sorry, he's still in a meeting. May I help you?

Herr Walle

Many thanks. I'll call back later. Goodbye.

Anna Müller

Don't mention it. Goodbye.

Glossary

Co. This is the abbreviation for the German word for "company".

die Firma (pl. - Firmen)

company

AG An abbreviation for "Aktiengesellschaft". This means a "(public) limited company".

Herrn Doktor Schmidt

When the word for Mr. - "der Herr" - is in the accusative and dative case, it adds an extra "-n", becoming "den Herrn".

sprechen This means "to speak to". It is an irregular verb.

die Besprechung

meeting

anrufen This means "to ring up". It is a separable verb.

später later

noch mal again

Wiederhören Short for "Auf Wiederhören", which means "Goodbye" on the telephone.

8.4 Herr Döblin In this telephone conversation, Herr Döblin wishes to speak to Frau Hartmann but is unable to do so. How does Barbara Zacharias ask him whether he would like to call back later? What other option does she give him?

Conversation 4: Herr Döblin ruft an

Barbara Zacharias

Firma Aksoy, Zacharias am Apparat, guten Morgen.

Herr Döblin Mein Name ist Döblin, könnten Sie mich bitte mit Frau Hartmann verbinden?

Barbara Zacharias

Moment bitte, ich verbinde. Da meldet sich niemand. Frau Hartmann ist im Moment

nicht an ihrem Arbeitsplatz.

Herr Döblin Könnte ich vielleicht Herrn Schneider sprechen?

Barbara Zacharias

Er spricht gerade auf einer anderen Leitung. Möchten Sie später noch mal anrufen oder soll er Sie zurückrufen?

Herr Döblin Vielen Dank. Ich rufe zurück. Auf Wiederhören.

Barbara Zacharias

Wiederhören.

Conversation 4: Herr Döblin rings up

Barbara Zacharias

The Aksoy company, Zacharias speaking, good morning.

Herr Döblin My name is Döblin, could you please connect me with Ms. Hartmann?

Barbara Zacharias

One moment please, I'm connecting you now. There's no response. Ms. Hartmann is not at her desk at the moment.

Herr Döblin Could I speak to Mr. Schneider perhaps?

Barbara Zacharias

He's talking on another line at the moment. Would you like to call back later or would you like him to ring you back?

Herr Döblin Thanks very much. I'll call back. Goodbye.

Barbara Zacharias

Goodbye.

Glossary

Zacharias am Apparat

"Zacharias speaking". As "der Apparat" means (in some contexts) "the telephone", this literally means "on the phone".

verbinden to connect

sich melden to answer (telephone)

da meldet sich niemand

"Nobody is answering". We could also say: "There's no response".

im Moment at the moment

der Arbeitsplatz Here: "work station; place of work". It's also the word for a "job".

am Arbeitsplatz at her(/his etc.) work station

gerade at the moment; just

die Leitung (-en) (telephone) line

auf einer on another line

anderen Leitung

zurückrufen This means "to ring back". It is a separable verb.

soll er Sie zurückrufen?

"Would you like him to ring you back?" Note the usage of the modal verb "sollen".

ich rufe zurück I'll call back

8.5 Frau Wolf In this telephone conversation, Frau Wolf wishes to speak to Professor Roth but she is not in. How does Marko Tredup ask her whether she would like to leave a message? What other information does he ask her for?

Conversation 5: Frau Wolf

Marko Tredup

Büro Roth, Tredup am Apparat.

Frau Wolf

Könnte ich bitte mit Frau Professor Roth sprechen?

Marko Tredup

Frau Professor Roth ist zur Zeit nicht im Hause. Wer ist am Apparat?

Frau Wolf

Wolf, von der Firma Grünschnabel in Leipzig.

Marko Tredup

Möchten Sie eine Nachricht hinterlassen?

Frau Wolf

Ja, gern. Es geht um einen Termin für nächste Woche. Könnte sie mich sobald wie möglich zurückrufen?

Marko Tredup

Das geht in Ordnung, Frau Wolf. Wie ist Ihre Telefonnummer?

Frau Wolf

Wir haben jetzt eine neue Nummer, die lautet 25 13 07.

Marko Tredup

25 13 07 - und welche Vorwahl hat Leipzig?

Frau Wolf

Leipzig hat die 0341.

Marko Tredup

Die 0341. Und haben Sie eine Faxnummer?

Frau Wolf

Die Faxnummer lautet 25 13 21.

Conversation 5: Frau Wolf

Marko Tredup

Professor Roth's office, Tredup speaking.

Frau Wolf Could I speak to Professor Roth please?

Marko Tredup

Professor Roth is not in the building at the moment. Who's speaking?

Frau Wolf Ms. Wolf, from the Grünschnabel company in Leipzig.

Marko Tredup

Would you like to leave a message?

Frau Wolf Yes please. It's about an appointment for next week. Could she ring me back as soon as possible?

Marko Tredup

That's fine, Ms. Wolf. What's your telephone number?

Frau Wolf We've got a new number now, it's 251307.

Marko Tredup

251307 - and what is the dialling code for Leipzig?

Frau Wolf Leipzig's dialling code is 0341.

Marko Tredup

0341. And do you have a fax number?

Frau Wolf The fax number is 251321.

Glossary

Büro Roth We would translate this as "Professor Roth's office" - the word "Professor" (and likewise "Ms.", "Mr." etc.) are not given in the German construction.

die Zeit time

zur Zeit at the moment

das Haus (pl. - Häuser)

house

nicht im Hause not in the building; not on the premises

wer ist am Apparat?

"Who's speaking"? You could also say: "Wer spricht?"

die Nachricht (-en)

This means "a message". It is also the word for "a piece of news".

hinterlassen to leave (behind). This is an irregular verb. It is also inseparable.

es geht um... "It's about..." The noun following "um" must be in the accusative case.

der Termin (-e) appointment

die Woche (-n) week

nächste Woche next week

sobald wie as soon as

möglich possible

das geht in Ordnung

that's OK; that's fine

die Telefonnummer (-n)

telephone number

neu new

die Nummer (-n) number

lauten This means "to be" when you are giving information such as a number.

die Vorwahl dialling code

die Faxnummer (-n)

fax number

die Nummer (-n) number

8.6 The Answerphone Someone is trying to contact the tourist information office in Velten (which is just north of Berlin). But as they have rung outside opening hours, the caller only gets a recorded answerphone message. According to the answerphone, what are the opening hours of the office? And what should a caller do to leave a message?

Conversation 6: Der Anrufbeantworter

Guten Tag, hier ist der automatische Anrufbeantworter des Fremdenverkehrsbüros Velten, Telefon- und Faxnummer 03304 17 46 89. Im Moment ist unser Büro geschlossen. Unsere Öffnungszeiten sind: montags bis freitags von 9 Uhr bis 13 Uhr und von 15 bis 17 Uhr 30. Am Samstag ist das Fremdenverkehrsbüro Velten von 9 Uhr bis 13 Uhr geöffnet. Am Sonntag ist es geschlossen. Falls Sie eine Nachricht hinterlassen möchten, sprechen Sie bitte nach dem Signalton. Vielen Dank für Ihren Anruf.

Conversation 6: The answerphone

Hello, this is the answerphone of the tourist information office in Velten. Our telephone and fax number is 03304 17 46 89. Our office is closed at the moment. Our opening hours are from nine o'clock to one o'clock and from three to five thirty Mondays to Fridays. On Saturdays the tourist information office in Velten is open from 9 until 1. It is closed on Sundays. If you wish to leave a message, please speak after

the tone. Many thanks for your call.

Glossary

automatisch automatic

der Anrufbeantworter answering machine

das Fremdenverkehrsbüro

The "tourist information office". The words "des Fremdenverkehrsbüros" is the genitive of this noun i.e. it translates as "of the tourist information office".

Telefon- und Faxnummer

"Telephone number and fax number". If the second element of two compound nouns joined by "and" is the same, you replace this element in the first of the two nouns by a hyphen.

im Moment at the moment

geschlossen closed

die Öffnungszeiten (pl.)

opening hours

montags on Mondays

freitags "On Fridays". The same construction for the other days of the week would be dienstags, mittwochs, donnerstags, samstags and sonntags.

am Samstag "On Saturday". This can either mean "on one particular Saturday" or (as here) "on Saturdays" - i.e. "samstags".

geöffnet open

der Signalton tone; pip (of answerphone)

der Anruf (-e) call

8.7 Telling the time (1)

Grammar 1: What time is it?

Wie spät ist es? (Literally: "How late is it?")

Wie viel Uhr ist es? (Literally: "How much of the clock is it?")

Both of the above phrases equate to the English "What time is it?" or "What's the time?". You can add the word for "please" if you wish to be more polite - "Wie spät ist es bitte?". The answer to the question will be: "Es ist ... Uhr" (= It is ... o'clock). Although "die Uhr" is a feminine noun, you would translate "It is one o'clock" as "Es ist ein Uhr". If you said "Es ist eine Uhr", this would mean "This is a clock/watch"!

Grammar 2: It is ... o'clock

Es ist ein Uhr Es ist eins

Es ist zwei Uhr

Es ist drei Uhr

Es ist vier Uhr

Es ist fünf Uhr

Es ist sechs Uhr

Es ist sieben Uhr

Es ist acht Uhr

Es ist neun Uhr

Es ist zehn Uhr

Es ist elf Uhr

Es ist zwölf Uhr Es ist Mittag Es ist Mitternacht

As you will have probably guessed: "Es ist Mittag" means "It is midday" "Es ist Mitternacht" means "It is midnight".

In the morning, afternoon, evening Although A.M. and P.M. are not used in German-speaking countries, you can make times formed using the 12-hour clock more clear by adding the adverbs for "in the morning", "in the afternoon" etc.:

Grammar 3: morgens, abends usw.

Es ist neun Uhr morgens/vormittags (It's nine o'clock in the morning)

Es ist drei Uhr nachmittags (It's three o'clock in the afternoon)

Es ist sieben Uhr abends (It's seven o'clock in the evening)

Es ist zwei Uhr nachts (It's two o'clock at night)

8.8 Telling the time (2)

Wie spät ist es jetzt in Exeter? Es ist sechs.

Quarter past/to and half past The constructions required to express minutes "past" and "to" the hour in German are very similar to the English. The equivalent of "past" is "nach" (= after) and "to" is translated by "vor" (= before). The German word for a "quarter" is "das Viertel".

Grammar 4: Quarter past/to and half-past

Es ist Viertel nach zehn (It is a quarter past ten)

Es ist halb elf (It is half past ten)

Es ist Viertel vor elf (It is a quarter to eleven)

Expressing "half past" is thus much more tricky. The half hour is counted in German in relation to the following full hour, not the preceding hour as in English. Thus "halb elf" is half past ten and not - as you might expect from the English - half past eleven. Just think of it as being "half to eleven".

Minutes past the hour

Grammar 5: Minutes past the hour

Es ist fünf nach zwölf

Es ist zehn nach zwölf

Es ist Viertel nach zwölf

Es ist zwanzig

Es ist

Es ist halb

nach zwölf fünfundzwanzig nach zwölf (Es ist fünf vor halb eins)

eins

Es ist fünfundzwanzig vor eins (Es ist fünf nach halb eins)

Es ist zwanzig vor eins

Es ist Viertel vor eins

Es ist zehn vor eins

Es ist fünf vor eins

Es ist ein UhrEs ist eins

As in English, you will also hear a fuller version using "die Minute (-n)", the German word for a minute. It is more common to use it when you are giving a number of minutes which is not a multiple of five:

Es ist vierundzwanzig Minuten vor neun (It is twenty-four minutes to nine)

Es ist siebzehn Minuten nach fünf (It is seventeen minutes past five)

Using prepositions Make a note of the prepositions used in the following key German time phrases:

Grammar 6: Prepositions in time phrases

um halb acht (at half past seven)

gegen halb acht (at about half past seven)

von zehn (Uhr) bis zwölf (Uhr) (from ten (o'clock) to twelve (o'clock))

zwischen drei (Uhr) und fünf (Uhr)(between three (o'clock) and five (o'clock))

8.9 The 24-hour clock

The 24-hour clock is used much more commonly in German-speaking countries than it is in Britain - not least because abbreviations such as A.M. and P.M. are not commonly used. But the 24-hour system is also standard practice for all official time-telling including in the media, on train timetables and announcements of events etc. Subtract twelve to get the P.M. time expressed in English.

Grammar 7: The 24-hour clock

Written Spoken English

13.00 Uhr dreizehn Uhr 1:00 P.M.

18.00 Uhr achtzehn Uhr 6:00 P.M.

21.00 Uhr einundzwanzig Uhr 9:00 P.M.

0.00 Uhr 24.00 Uhr

null Uhr vierundzwanzig Uhr

midnight

Minutes after the hour When expressing the number of minutes after an hour in the German 24-hour system, you add the number of minutes after the word "Uhr" in spoken German. In written German however, the word "Uhr" comes after the minutes.

Although midnight can be expressed in the German 24-hour clock either as null Uhr or vierundzwanzig Uhr, you can only use null Uhr when you need to express that it is a number of minutes past midnight. You cannot however say "halb null", just as you cannot say "halb dreizehn", "Viertel nach/vor dreizehn" etc. Thus the times shown on the previous page would be expressed as follows using the 24-hour system:

Grammar 8: Minutes past the hour

Es ist null Uhr Es ist 0 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr fünf Es ist 00.05 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr zehn Es ist 00.10 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr fünfzehn Es ist 00.15 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr zwanzig Es ist 00.20 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr fünfundzwanzig Es ist 00.25 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr dreißig Es ist00.30 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr fünfunddreißig Es ist 00.35 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr vierzig Es ist 00.40 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr fünfundvierzig Es ist 00.45 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr fünfzig Es ist 00.50 Uhr

Es ist null Uhr fünfundfünfzig Es ist 00.55 Uhr

Odd numbers of minutes The twenty-four clock can of course also be used to express times where the minutes are not divisible by five:

Es ist sechzehn Uhr neunundzwanzig / 16.29 Uhr Es ist zwanzig Uhr zweiundzwanzig / 20.22 Uhr Es ist dreiundzwanzig Uhr sechsundfünfzig / 23.56 Uhr

And a German speaking clock always uses the twenty-four system, giving the number of seconds (= die Sekunde (-n)) along with the time in hours and minutes:

Es ist zehn Uhr dreiundvierzig Minuten dreißig Sekunden (It is ten thirty-four and thirty seconds)

Be punctual! Punctuality (die Pünktlichkeit) is taken very seriously in Germany. It goes without saying that strict punctuality is expected for business appointments. Note however that if somebody invites you for dinner at 7 o'clock, then that is the time that you are expected to turn up. Arriving "fashionably late" by ten or fifteen minutes - as is common in Britain - is viewed as a social faux pas. So if you find yourself running late, make sure to ring up in advance and inform your hosts!

There is slightly more leeway given in academic circles. When university students have an appointment with their tutors or professors, they should of course be

punctual (pünktlich). Yet German universities have a tradition of beginning their classes fifteen minutes after the hour. This quarter-hour is known as the akademisches Viertel. Classes which begin fifteen minutes after the hour are designated "c.t." (= cum tempore) and would be listed as beginning at 9.00 c.t., 10.00 c.t., etc. Courses which begin precisely on the hour are designated "s.t." (= sine tempore) and would be listed as beginning at 9.00 s.t., 10.00 s.t., etc.

8.10 Days of the week

Grammar 8: Die Wochentage

Sonntag (Sunday)

Donnerstag (Thursday)

Montag (Monday)

Freitag (Friday)

Dienstag (Tuesday)

Samstag / Sonnabend

Mittwoch (Wednesday)

(Saturday)

N.B. Samstag is the word used to translate "Saturday" in southern Germany, whereas Sonnabend is used in certain parts of northern Germany (including Berlin).

On Monday(s) To translate "on Monday" etc., you should precede the day of the week by "am" - i.e. am Montag, am Dienstag, am Mittwoch etc. This is because all days of the week are masculine. Most of them are compound nouns whose final element is der Tag, the German word for "day", but the other two - Mittwoch and Sonnabend - are also masculine. There are specific adverbs to translate "on Mondays" etc., when this implies "every Monday". Note that the fact that these words do not start with a capital letter:

Grammar 9: On Mondays etc.

sonntags (on Sundays)

donnerstags (on Thursdays)

montags (on Mondays)

freitags (on Fridays)

dienstags (on Tuesdays)

samstags / sonnabends

mittwochs (on Wednesdays)

(on Saturdays)

Notable days in the calendar A number of notable days in the calendar are compounds of the names of German

days of the week.They are therefore used the same way grammatically - "am Karfreitag" means "on Good Friday":

Grammar 9: Notable days of the week

Ostersonntag (Easter Sunday)

Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday)

Pfingstmontag (Whit Monday)

Gründonnerstag (Maundy Thursday)

Rosenmontag (Monday before Ash Wednesday)

Karfreitag (Good Friday)

Faschingsdienstag (Shrove Tuesday)

8.11 Modal verbs

Grammar 9: German modal verbs

dürfen (may) (= permission)

müssen (must)

können (can)

sollen (is to)

mögen (may) (= possibility)

wollen (want)

The German modal verbs are a group of six verbs which affect the mood of a sentence, approximating to words like "can", "must" and "will" in English. Great care needs to be taken with their usage as each verb has a number of different meanings in different uses of their various tenses.

Word order All of these modal verbs need to be used with a second verb in the infinitive form. This second verb is always placed at the end of the sentence. Here are some examples which we have already met in this course:

Grammar 10: Word order with modal verbs

Modal verb Clause

dürfen Darf ich Ihnen einen Nachtisch bringen? ("May I bring you a dessert?")

können Kann ich Ihnen helfen?

("Can I help you?")

mögen Möchten Sie eine Nachricht hinterlassen? ("Would you like to leave a message?")

müssen Sie müssen leider bis morgen warten. ("You'll have to wait until tomorrow.")

sollen Soll er Sie zurückrufen? ("Would you like him to ring you back?")

wollen Ich wollte mit der Straßenbahn fahren. ("I wanted to travel by tram.")

If the infinitive following a modal verb comes from a separable verb, then it does not split up and behaves like any other verb:

Grammar 11: Modal verbs followed by a separable verb

Modal Verb Clause

können Ich rufe zurück. BUT: Könnten Sie mich sobald wie möglich zurückrufen? ("Could you ring me back as soon as possible?")

mögen Du rufst an. BUT: Möchten Sie später noch mal anrufen? ("Would you like to ring back later?")

müssen Sie fahren ab. BUT: Wann müssen Sie abfahren? ("When do you have to leave?")

The same construction also appears with gehen (= to go) and brauchen (= to need):

• Ich gehe jetzt einkaufen. (I'm going shopping now.)

• Du brauchst das nicht tun. (You don't have to do that.)

Modal verbs without the infinitive

Unlike in English, German modal verbs can sometimes be used without a following infinitive, provided that the meaning of the omitted infinitive is clear from the context. This occurs most often in conversation, and predominantly with verbs of motion:

• Ja, da kann ich. (Yes, I can manage that.)

• Frau Müller will zum Bahnhof (fahren). (Frau Müller wants to go to the station.)

• Barbara Zacharias muss ins Büro (gehen). (Barbara Zacharias has to go into the office.)

• Ich möchte ein Eis (haben). (I would like to have an ice cream.)

8.12 Modal verbs: Können, mögen, wollen

"Können Sie" or "könnten Sie"? You can use different forms of the verb "können" to express the difference between the English "I can" and "I could". The present tense of the verb is used to translate the former, the conditional the latter.

Grammar 12: The present tense of "können" (= can)

Singular

ich kann I can

du kannst Sie können

You can (informal/formal)

er/sie/es kann He/she/it can

Plural

wir können We can

ihr könnt Sie können

You can (informal/formal)

sie können They can

Grammar 13: The conditional of "können" (= could)

Singular

ich könnte I could

du könntest Sie könnten

You could (informal/formal)

er/sie/es könnte He/she/it could

Plural

wir könnten We could

ihr könntet Sie könnten

You could (informal/formal)

sie könnten They could

When asking questions, you would use the present tense of "können" if you are merely asking for a simple statement of fact, and the conditional if you are trying to be more polite.

• Kann ich Ihnen helfen? (Can I help you?)

• Können Sie um 12.40 Uhr kommen? (Can you come at 12:40?)

• Kann ich bitte Herrn Doktor Schmidt sprechen? (Can I please speak to Doctor Schmidt?)

• Könnte ich vielleicht Herrn Schneider sprechen? (Could I perhaps speak to Mr. Schneider?)

• Könnten Sie mich bitte mit Frau Hartmann verbinden? (Could you please connect me with Frau Hartmann?)

As you can tell from the third and fourth example in this list, the distinction between the "moods" implied by the two forms of the verb can often be very small. The person asking for Doctor Schmidt would not be deemed to be impolite for having used the present tense of "können". When you are not asking a question, but merely stating your ability to do something, the conditional of the verb indicates that you would be able to do something depending on circumstances.

• Ich kann Ihnen helfen. (I can help you.)

• Ich könnte Ihnen helfen. (I could help you.)

• Wir können heute in die Sprechstunde kommen. (We are able to come to the surgery today.)

• Wir könnten heute in die Sprechstunde kommen. (We might be able to come to the surgery today.)

Ich möchte... The verb mögen ("to like") is unique amongst modal verbs in that it is the conditional form, and not the present tense, which is used with a following infinitive. We will deal with the present tense of the verb mögen and how it is used in the next chapter.

Grammar 14: Conditional of "mögen" (= would like to)

Singular

ich möchte I'd like to

du möchtest Sie möchten

You'd like to (informal/formal)

er/sie/es möchte He/she/it would like to

Plural

wir möchten We'd like to

ihr möchtet Sie möchten

You'd like to (informal/formal)

möchten They'd like to

It translates as a more polite (and more restrained) way of saying "I want to" than "ich will". Thus in the final example below, it would appear rude to say: "Wollen Sie später noch mal anrufen?".

• Ich will eine Nachricht hinterlassen. (I want to leave a message.)

• Ich möchte eine Nachricht hinterlassen. (I would like to leave a message.)

• Möchten Sie später noch mal anrufen? (Would you like to ring back later?)

8.13 Verbs whose stem ends in "-d" or "-t"

The present tense of verbs with stems ending in "-d" Verbs whose stem ends in "-d" add an extra "-e-" before the normal verb endings in the "du", "ihr" and "er/sie/es" forms of the present tense. This is true of two verbs which we have met in this section - "verbinden" (= to connect) and "melden" (= to answer). It also affects the present tense of the verb "finden" (= to find) which we have met earlier.

Grammar 15: The present tense of "verbinden"

Singular

ich verbinde I connect

du verbindest Sie verbinden

You connect (informal/formal)

er/sie/es verbindet He/she/it connects

Plural

wir verbinden We connect

ihr verbindet Sie verbinden

You connect (informal/formal)

sie verbinden They connect

Examples of other verbs with a stem ending in "-d" would be:

• Niemand meldet sich. (No-one is answering.)

• Findest du das Hotel? (Will you find the hotel?)

The present tense of verbs with stems ending in "-t" The same principle is true for verbs whose stem ends in "-t", such as "warten" (= to wait), "lauten" (= to be) and "antworten" (= to answer). These verbs also add an extra "-e-" before the normal verb endings in the "du", "ihr" and "er/sie/es" forms of the present tense.

Grammar 16: The present tense of "warten"

Singular

ich warte I wait

du wartest Sie warten

You wait (informal/formal)

er/sie/es wartet He/she/it waits

Plural

wir warten We wait

ihr wartet Sie warten

You wait (informal/formal)

sie warten They wait

The present tenses of the other aforementioned "-t-" verbs would give us the following examples:

• Die Nummer lautet: 28 50 67. (The number is 285067.)

• Ihr antwortet nicht! (You're not answering me!)

The irregular verb "sprechen" We have also come across a further verb which has an irregular present tense. The verb "sprechen" (= to speak) changes the stem vowel from "-e-" to "-i-" in the "du" and "er/sie/es" forms of the present tense.

Grammar 17: The present tense of "sprechen"

Singular

ich spreche I speak

du sprichst Sie sprechen

You speak (informal/formal)

er/sie/es spricht He/she/it speaks

Plural

wir sprechen We speak

ihr sprecht Sie sprechen

You speak (informal/formal)

sie sprechen They wait

8.14 Telephone vocabulary

Here is a summary of the telephone vocabulary covered in this section, together with some other words which you may find useful when making a phone call. As before,

plurals of nouns will be indicated in brackets. Unless otherwise indicated, you should assume that any verbs given are regular (in the present tense at least).

Vocabulary 1: Das Telefon

English German

answerphone der (automatische) Anrufbeantworter (-)

appointment der Termin (-e)

beep; tone der Signalton

call der Anruf (-e) das Gespräch (-e)

- emergency call - der Notruf

- local call - das Ortsgespräch (-e)

- long-distance call

- das Ferngespräch (-e)

- telephone call - der Telefonanruf (-e)

car-phone das Autotelefon (-e)

connection die Verbindung (-en)

dial (of phone) die Wählscheibe (-n)

dialling code die Vorwahl

dialling tone der Wählton

directory enquiries

die Auskunft die Fernsprechauskunft

engaged tone das Besetztzeichen

extension 2689 Apparat 2689

fax machine die Faxmaschine (-n)

line die Leitung (-en)

message die Nachricht (-en)

mobile phone das Handy (-s)

number die Nummer (-n)

- fax number - die Faxnummer (-n)

- mobile phone number

- die Handynummer (-n)

- telephone number

- die Telefonnummer (-n)

phonecard die Telefonkarte (-n)

receiver der Hörer (-)

ringing tone das Rufzeichen (-)

speaking clock die Zeitansage

switchboard die Zentrale (-n)

telephone das Telefon (-e) der Apparat (-e) der Telefonapparat (-e)

telephone directory

das Telefonbuch (pl. -bücher)

Yellow Pages die gelben Seiten (pl.)

Vocabulary 2: Telephone (phrases)

Büro Geyer

Mr./Ms. Geyer's office

Zacharias am Apparat

Zacharias speaking

Scharping, von der Firma Easyjet

Mr./Ms. Scharping, from the Easyjet company

Wer ist am Apparat? Wer spricht?

Who's speaking?

Kann ich Ihnen helfen?

Can I help you?

Kann/könnte ich Herrn Doktor Schmidt sprechen?

Can/could I speak to Doctor Schmidt?

Könnte ich mit Herrn Krauss sprechen?

Could I speak with Mr. Krauss?

Könnten Sie mich mit Frau Gerstner verbinden?

Could you put me through to Frau Gerstner?

Er spricht gerade an einer anderen Leitung

He's speaking on another line at the moment

Sie ist zur Zeit nicht im Hause

She's not in the building at the moment

im Moment ist/hat unser Büro geschlossen

our office is closed at the moment

unser Büro ist/hat geöffnet

our office is open

unsere Öffnungszeiten sind...

our opening hours are...

Möchten Sie eine Nachricht hinterlassen? (= inseparable verb)

Would you like to leave a message?

falls Sie eine Nachricht hinterlassen möchten...

in case you want to leave a message...

sprechen Sie bitte nach dem Signalton

please speak after the tone

möchten Sie später noch mal rufen?

Would you like to ring back later?

soll er Sie zurückrufen?

Would you like him to ring you back?

könnte sie mich sobald wie möglich zurückrufen?

Could she ring me back as soon as possible?

ich rufe zurück

I'll call back

wie ist Ihre Telefonnummer?

what is your telephone number?

meine Telefonnmmer lautet...

my telephone number is...

welche Vorwahl hat Berlin?

what is the dialling code for Berlin?

haben Sie eine Faxnummer?

do you have a fax number?

wann hat Herr Doktor Grün Sprechstunde?

When does Doctor Grün have his surgery?

Haben Sie einen Termin frei?

Do you have a vacant appointment?

Er ist noch in einer Besprechung

He's still in a meeting

Moment mal...

One moment...

ich muss mal nachschauen

I'll have to have a look

ist das Ihnen Recht?

Is that all right with you?

das ist mir Recht

that's all right with me

ist das in Ordnung?

is that OK with you?

das ist in Ordnung

that's OK with me

wenn das Ihnen nicht passt

if that isn't suitable for you

Ich rufe später noch mal an

I'll ring back later

vielen Dank für Ihren Anruf

many thanks for your call

auf Wiederhören

goodbye

8.15 The German telephone system

Deregulation

The German telephone service always used to be a state monopoly operated by the German postal service (die Bundespost). A few years ago however this monopoly was split up and privatised. Deutsche Post AG now looks after letters and parcels, DeTeMobil became responsible for mobile communications whilst the phone service was separated from the postal service and renamed Deutsche Telekom, a private company in which the German government holds a controlling 72% stake. Deutsche Telekom had a monopoly on the German telephone industry until as late as January 1, 1998, when the telecommunications branch was opened up to competition. To install a phone in your own home, you first need to register with Telekom, who control phone lines into individual houses and flats. This can be done quite conveniently by filling out a form either at the post office or at one of the T-Punkt customer information centres to be found in most German towns and cities. As it costs over a hundred marks to have a phone installed, and you can wait quite some time for this to occur, it is advisable to take over the telephone from the previous tenant when you move in somewhere if possible. Once you have your connection and a telephone, you can then choose your provider. And good luck to you! For although competition amongst providers has lowered the cost of making a phone call considerably since deregulation, trying to differentiate between the features and rate structures offered by companies is as difficult as it is in Great Britain. As a result, web sites such as Billiger Telefonieren (= telephone more cheaply) have sprung up on the internet offering up-to-the-minute information on the cheapest phone rates.

Mobile phones

During the year 2000 there was an unprecedented boom in the European mobile communications market, both with respect to absolute growth in the number of users and the associated handset sales, not least in Germany where the number of mobile phones in use more than doubled. By the end of the year 2000, Germany had the greatest number of mobile phone users in any European country, clearly ahead of Italy and the UK. Deutsche Telekom more than doubled its number of mobile phone subscribers from 9 million to 19 million. A mobile phone is known as das Handy in Germany. This is the result of German marketing executives giving the new phone a trendy American sounding name in an attempt to help it sell in the Federal Republic. Despite the fact that no other nation - English-speaking or otherwise - refers to a mobile phone in this way, das Handy remains the German word for a mobile phone. The Gesellschaft für Deutsche Sprache (German Language Society) based in Wiesbaden even launched a competition in 1996 to come up with a more "solid" i.e. German-sounding variant. 1195 (!) alternative names were suggested by the German public, including Handgurke, BUMM, Anrufli, Calli, Foni, Mini, Mobi, Nervi, Rufli, Sacki, Schnelli, Speaki, Telli, Tragi, Digifon, Handfon, Kultfon, Lightfon, Minifon, Pocketfon, Praktifon, Schnulofon, Superfon, Funktel, Handtel, Kablotel, Manutel, Portel, Tragetel, Taschtel or Mobitel. But all of these more Germanic-sounding names for a mobile phone failed to grab the public's imagination.

The fact that many of the names proposed for this competition - such as der Yuppielutscher (= yuppie lollipop) or das Protzofon (= show-off phone) - were less than complimentary is indicative of the hostility with which the mobile phone has been greeted in some quarters of German society. Already you can see a `no handy' sign modelled on the no-smoking symbol - a drawing of a mobile in a red circle with a diagonal red bar across it - in hotel lobbies and restaurants. In his book "Hand in Handy", a witty analysis of the mobile phone phenomenon, journalist Hellmuth Karasek depicts das Handy as a status symbol for German children as well as an executive toy which itself looks doomed to be replaced by the satellite phone.

8.16 Telephone boxes and telephone numbers

Phoneboxes Whereas telephone boxes - die Telefonzelle - used to be yellow in colour (see graphic on the previous page), the new Telekom models have are lavender and grey in colour. And whilst the older models are coin-operated, the vast majority of German telephone boxes now require you to use a telephone card (die Telefonkarte). These can be obtained from post offices, kiosks, telephone stores (der Telefonladen) and some stationery outlets. In most public telephone boxes it is possible to be rung back; there should be a sign with the number. A local call from a public call box during the day costs a set amount, whereas tariffs for calls abroad vary according to distance and time of day. As a general rule it is much cheaper to phone at the weekends and in the evenings.

Important German telephone numbers The emergency - Notruf - telephone numbers for Germany are:

- 110 to call the police - 112 for fire and ambulance You can ring directory enquiries on: - 11833 for a domestic number - 11834 for an international enquiry How to give and receive telephone numbers German telephone numbers are usually said in pairs. This is not true however for the dialling code, so (0475) 24 88 79 would be given as null vier sieben fünf - vierundzwanzig achtundachtzig neunundsiebzig. If there is an odd number of digits in a German phone number, the first digit is usually isolated and the followed digits are then spoken in pairs, for example 2 34 47 95. When numbers are said over the telephone or as part of a public announcement, you will also often hear "zwo" instead of "zwei". This is to avoid any confusion as "zwei" could be confused with "drei" if the line is bad. This also applies to compound numbers such as 82 which might be said as "zwoundachtzig" over the phone.

Chapter 9: Going Shopping (2)

9.1 Das Konzert

Sophie Gerland rings up Barbara Zacharias at work to see if she would like to go out to a concert at Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace). They then arrange when and where they should meet. How does Barbara ask "Where shall we meet?" What is the other meaning that we have encountered of the word "der Platz"?

Conversation 1: Das Konzert

Sekretärin Firma Aksoy, schönen guten Tag.

Sophie Gerland

Mein Name ist Gerland, könnte ich Frau Zacharias, Apparat 2467, kurz sprechen?

Sekretärin Augenblick, ich verbinde Sie.

Barbara Zacharias

Zacharias.

Sophie Gerland

Hallo, Barbara, hier ist die Sophie.

Barbara Zacharias

Hallo, Sophie. Geht's dir gut?

Sophie Gerland

Ja, es geht so. Du, ich habe folgenden Vorschlag. Am Sonnabend, dem elften Oktober gibt es ein schönes Händelkonzert im Schloss Charlottenburg. Händel höre ich

besonders gern und Schloss Charlottenburg ist bestimmt sehenswert. Ich möchte also gern ins Konzert gehen - aber lieber nicht allein. Möchtest du mitkommen?

Barbara Zacharias

Na klar, ich komme gern mit. Das ist eine tolle Idee.

Sophie Gerland

Soll ich dir auch eine Karte besorgen?

Barbara Zacharias

Ja, das ist nett von dir.

Sophie Gerland

Wo liegt das Schloss?

Barbara Zacharias

Am Spandauer Damm. Hinter dem Ägyptischen Museum, glaube ich.

Sophie Gerland

Das Ägyptische Museum liegt gegenüber der Sammlung Berggruen, oder?

Barbara Zacharias

Kann sein. Wo wollen wir uns treffen? Vor dem U-Bahnhof Sophie-Charlotte-Platz? Oder vielleicht am Schlosseingang?

Sophie Gerland

Sagen wir am Schlosseingang um Viertel vor sieben?

Barbara Zacharias

Abgemacht! Wollen wir heute Abend in die Disko gehen?

Sophie Gerland

Ach nein, dazu habe ich keine Lust. Ich möchte heute nicht tanzen gehen.

Conversation 1: The Concert

Secretary The Aksoy company, a very good day to you.

Sophie Gerland

My name is Gerland, could I please have a quick word with Ms. Zacharias on extension 2467?

Secretary One moment, I'll put you through.

Barbara Zacharias

Zacharias.

Sophie Gerland

Hello, Barbara, it's Sophie.

Barbara Zacharias

Hello, Sophie. How are things?

Sophie Gerland

Things are OK. Listen, I've got the following suggestion for you. On Saturday the eleventh of October there's a nice concert of Händel's

music at Charlottenburg Palace. I particularly like listening to Händel and Charlottenburg Palace is certainly worth seeing. So I'd like to go to the concert - but I'd prefer not to go on my own. Would you like to come with me?

Barbara Zacharias

Of course, I'd love to come! That's a great idea.

Sophie Gerland

Would you like me to get a ticket for you as well?

Barbara Zacharias

Yes, that's nice of you.

Sophie Gerland

Where is the Palace?

Barbara Zacharias

On the Spandauer Damm. Behind the Egyptian Museum, I think.

Sophie Gerland

The Egyptian Museum is opposite the Berggruen collection, isn't it?

Barbara Zacharias

Could be. Where shall we meet? In front of the underground station at Sophie-Charlotte-Platz? Or perhaps at the entrance to the Palace?

Sophie Gerland

Shall we say at the entrance to the Palace at a quarter to seven?

Barbara Zacharias

Agreed! Shall we go to the disco tonight?

Sophie Gerland

Oh no, I don't feel like doing that. I don't want to go out dancing today.

Glossary

schönen guten Tag

a very good day to you

kurz briefly

der Augenblick (-e)

This is another word for a "moment". We would translate it here as "One moment".

ich verbinde Sie I'll connect you; I'll put you through

hallo! The informal greeting is used because the two colleagues are on "du" terms with each other.

die Sophie Using the definite article is common in colloquial spoken German when asking or giving your name. It simply means "It's Sophie here".

geht's dir gut? Are you well?; how are things?

es geht so things are OK

folgende(r) "the following". Unlike English, the definite article is usually omitted. It takes "strong" adjective endings when not preceded by a definite article.

der Vorschlag (pl. - Vorschläge)

suggestion

am Sonnabend As Sophie comes from Berlin, she uses the North German word for Saturday.

Oktober October

am Sonnabend, dem elften Oktober

"On Saturday, the eleventh of October". The reason why "the eleventh of October" is in the dative case will be explained in the following sections.

das Konzert (-e) concert

das Händelkonzert (-e)

A concert featuring the works of Georg Friedrich Händel. Note the umlaut in his surname - it is invariably omitted in English!

das Schloss A "castle", "palace" or "stately home". It is also the word for a "lock".

Schloss Charlottenburg

The pleasure mansion or "palace" of Queen Sophie-Charlotte, built in Berlin in 1695. Click here for an introduction to the mansion and its gardens.

hören to hear, listen to

Händel höre ich gern

"I like listening to Händel". Unlike in English, the object of a German sentence can be placed at the start of a clause or sentence.

bestimmt certainly; definitely

sehenswert worth seeing

ins Konzert gehen

to go to the concert

allein alone; on one's own

mitkommen This is a separable verb meaning "to come with someone". Unlike in English you do not need to supply a noun or pronoun in German to indicate the person being accompanied. Thus "Ich komme mit" means "I'm coming with you (her/him etc.)".

na klar "Of course!" You would only use this in conversation amongst friends. A word such as "natürlich" should be used in more formal circumstances.

ich komme gerne mit

I'd be happy to come.

toll great; excellent

die Idee (-n) idea

die Karte (-n) ticket

besorgen This means "to get". The thing which you are getting (here: "die Karte") is in the accusative case; the person for whom you are getting it (here: "dir") is in the dative case.

liegen Literally: "to lie". You would use it in this context to say where buildings "are situated".

der Damm (pl. - Dämme)

Normally the word for a "dam" or a "dyke", you will also find it (as here) in names of roads - such as Berlin's most famous street the "Kurfürstendamm". "Spandauer Damm" equates to "Spandau Road". Click here to locate Spandauer Damm on a map of Berlin.

hinter This is the preposition meaning "behind". It takes the dative case when you are referring to position, and the accusative case when movement in involved.

das Museum (pl. - Museen)

This means "museum". Note the unusual plural.

ägyptisch Egyptian

das Ägyptische Museum

The Egyptian Museum in Berlin contains one of the most important collections of Egyptian culture, inlcuding works of art from the time of King Echnaton of Tell el-Amarna. Click here to visit a web-site devoted to the museum. In German only.

gegenüber This is a preposition meaning "opposite". It always takes the dative case.

die Sammlung (-en)

collection

Sammlung Berggruen

The Berggruen Collection is a private art collection in Berlin containing works of art from the classical modernist period. You can see works by Picasso, Braque, Klee, Laurens and Giacometti here. Click here for more information.

oder? isn't it?; right?

kann sein "Could be". Note the use of the modal verb.

sich treffen "to meet". This is a reflexive verb (see Chapter 10).

wo wollen wir uns treffen?

"Where shall we meet?". This is a set phrase where the modal verb wollen has the sense of implying a future action.

vor This is the preposition meaning "in front of". It takes the dative case when you are referring to position, and the accusative

case when movement is involved.

Sophie-Charlotte-Platz

"Sophie-Charlotte Square". Charlottenburg Palace was Queen Sophie-Charlotte's pleasure mansion. Click here to locate the underground station at Sophie-Charlotte-Platz on a map of Berlin.

der Eingang (pl. - Eingänge)

entrance

am Schlosseingang

This means "at the entrance to the Palace". German makes a single compound noun out of this concept.

sagen wir... Shall we say...?

abgemacht! "Agreed!; done!" The verb "abmachen" is a separable verb meaning "to agree".

die Disko (-s) "disco". You might also see "die Disco" or "die Diskothek".

wollen wir... in die Disko gehen?

Shall we go to the disco?

ach nein Oh, no!; no, no!

dazu habe ich keine Lust

I don't feel like doing that; I don't want to do that.

tanzen This means "to dance". "To go dancing" is thus "tanzen gehen".

9.2 Gehen wir ins Kino!

In the Schöneberg region of Berlin, Marko Tredup rings up Lukas Müller and asks him if he would like to go and see a film with him. Unfortunately they have trouble agreeing what they would like to see and when they would like to do it. What are their favourite types of film? And why can't Marko Tredup go to the cinema the day after tomorrow?

Conversation 2: Gehen wir ins Kino!

Marko Tredup

Hallo, Lukas! Was möchtest du heute Abend machen? Wollen wir vielleicht etwas zusammen unternehmen?

Lukas Müller

Ja, gern! Was schlägst du vor?

Marko Tredup

Ich würde sehr gerne ins Kino gehen. Was für Filme siehst du gerne?

Lukas Müller

Krimis und spannende Abenteuerfilme.

Marko Ja, so was mag ich auch gerne.

Tredup

Lukas Müller

Was läuft heute im Kino?

Marko Tredup

Moment mal, ich schaue mal nach. Der Wievielte ist heute?

Lukas Müller

Heute ist Donnerstag, der vierzehnte März.

Marko Tredup

Im Odeon gibt es "Hennen Rennen". Der Film fängt um 20:15 Uhr an. Wir können auch erst um elf gehen. Da gibt es noch eine Spätvorstellung.

Lukas Müller

Was für ein Film ist das?

Marko Tredup

Das ist ein Zeichentrickfilm.

Lukas Müller

Nein, so was finde ich zu kindisch. Was läuft sonst noch?

Marko Tredup

Morgen ist Freitag, der fünfzehnte März, stimmt's? Im Cosima gibt es morgen "Romeo und Julia" von William Shakespeare. Der Regisseur ist Baz Luhrmann.

Lukas Müller

Das ist eine Liebesgeschichte.

Marko Tredup

Nein, so was finde ich langweilig. Das interessiert mich überhaupt nicht.

Lukas Müller

Wie wär's mit übermorgen?

Marko Tredup

Tut mir Leid, da kann ich nicht. Ich muss am Wochenende zu Hause bleiben und packen.

Conversation 2: Let's go to the cinema!

Marko Tredup

Hello, Lukas! What would you like to do this evening? What about doing something together perhaps?

Lukas Müller

Yes, I'd like that! What do you suggest?

Marko Tredup

I'd really like to go to the cinema. What type of films do you like?

Lukas Müller

Thrillers and exciting adventure films.

Marko Tredup

Yes, that's the sort of thing I like too.

Lukas Müller

What's on at the cinema today?

Marko Tredup

One moment, I'll have a look. What's the date today?

Lukas Müller

Today is Thursday, the fourteenth of March.

Marko Tredup

There's "Chicken Run" at the Odeon. The film starts at 8.15. We could also wait until eleven o'clock to go. There's a late showing on then.

Lukas Müller

What sort of film is it?

Marko Tredup

It's a cartoon film.

Lukas Müller

No, things like that are too childish for me. What else is on?

Marko Tredup

Tomorrow is Friday, the fifteenth of March, right? There's William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" at the Cosima. The director is Baz Luhrmann.

Lukas Müller

That's a love story.

Marko Tredup

Oh no, I find things like that boring. That's doesn't interest me at all.

Lukas Müller

How about the day after tomorrow?

Marko Tredup

Sorry, I can't manage it. I've got to stay at home at the weekend and pack.

Glossary

machen This very common verb can either mean "to make" or (as here) "to do".

unternehmen Literally: "to undertake", this inseparable verb can also be translated as "to do".

vorschlagen (sep.) A separable verb meaning "to suggest"

das Kino (-s) cinema

ich würde sehr gerne ins Kino gehen

I would really like to go to the cinema

was für...? "What sort of...". The noun which follows it will be in the accusative case.

der Film (-e) film

sehen This irregular verb means "to see" or occasionally "to watch".

der Krimi (-s) This is a "crime film" or "thriller". You tend to hear it more often than the longer version "der Kriminalfilm".

spannend exciting

der Abenteuerfilm (-e)

adventure film

so was A more conversational form of "so etwas". Both mean "things like that".

mag The third person singular from the modal verb "mögen" (see explanation on Page 10 of this chapter).

so was mag ich auch gerne

"I also like things like that". Note again that the object of the sentence can come at the start of a phrase in German.

laufen An irregular verb meaning "to run".

im Kino This means "at the cinema". Note the different preposition in German.

was läuft heute im Kino?

What's on at the cinema today?

der Wievielte ist heute?

What's the date today?

Dienstag Tuesday

der vierzehnte März

"The fourteenth of March". There is no word for "of" in the German phrase.

im Odeon "In the Odeon (cinema)". The word for "cinema" (das Kino) is not repeated at this point in the conversation, but it is understood as being there, so the gender of Odeon must be the same as das Kino, namely neuter.

Hennen Rennen This is the literal German translation of the cartoon film Chicken Run and was used as the German title of the film because of the fortuitous rhyme! Click here for more information about the German version of this film.

anfangen This is a separable verb meaning "to begin". It is irregular.

erst um elf not until eleven o'clock

die Vorstellung (-en)

showing (of a film); performance

die Spätvorstellung (-en)

late showing

was für ein Film ist das?

What sort of film is that?

der Zeichentrickfilm (-e)

cartoon (film)

zu kindisch This means "too childish". Note this usage of "zu" before an adjective.

was läuft sonst noch?

What's on apart from that?

Mittwoch Wednesday

stimmt's? is that right?

im Cosima "At the Cosima (cinema)". This is also neuter for the reasons outlined above.

Romeo und Julia Romeo and Juliet

von William Shakespeare

by William Shakespeare

der Regisseur (-e) director

die Liebesgeschichte (-n)

love story

langweilig boring

interessieren to interest

überhaupt nicht not in the slightest; not at all

das interessiert mich überhaupt nicht

That doesn't interest me at all

wie wär's mit...? what about...?

übermorgen the day after tomorrow

da kann ich nicht I can't manage that

das Wochenende (-)

weekend

am Wochenende at the weekend

zu Hause at home

bleiben remain

packen to pack

9.3 Der Einkaufsbummel

Barbara Zacharias and Sophie Gerland agree to go shopping the following morning. They first need to find out where to meet. As they plan to meet at the square called Hackescher Markt (= Hackescher Market) in a busy area of East Berlin, Barbara Zacharias needs to be fairly precise in giving instructions to Sophie Gerland, who still doesn't know her way round too well.

Conversation 3: Der Einkaufsbummel

Barbara Zacharias

Sag mal, hättest du Lust, morgen früh einen Einkaufsbummel zu machen?

Sophie Gerland

Ja, warum nicht? Wann und wo wollen wir uns treffen?

Barbara Zacharias

Um halb zehn vor der Bäckerei am Hackeschen Markt - oder ist das vielleicht zu früh?

Sophie Gerland

Kein Problem. Ich bin Frühaufsteherin. Wo ist die Bäckerei?

Barbara Zacharias

Die Bäckerei ist neben dem Blumengeschäft.

Sophie Gerland

Und wo ist das Blumengeschäft?

Barbara Zacharias

Unter dem Fitness-Center. Nein, es gibt Wohnungen über dem Blumengeschäft. Das Blumengeschäft ist gegenüber der Bibliothek.

Sophie Gerland

Und wo ist der S-Bahnhof?

Barbara Zacharias

Der S-Bahnhof ist hinter der Post. Die Post ist zwischen dem Reisebüro und der Sparkasse. Alles klar?

Sophie Gerland

Alles klar! Bis morgen dann!

Barbara Zacharias

Bis morgen!

Conversation 3: The shopping spree

Barbara Zacharias

Tell me, would you like to go on a shopping spree with me tomorrow morning?

Sophie Gerland

Yes, why not? When and where shall we meet?

Barbara Zacharias

At half past nine in front of the baker's at the Hackescher Markt - or is that perhaps too early?

Sophie Gerland

That's no problem. I'm an early riser. Where is the baker's?

Barbara Zacharias

The baker's is next to the florist's.

Sophie Gerland

And where is the florist's?

Barbara Zacharias

Below the fitness centre. No, there are flats above the florist's. The florist's is opposite

the library.

Sophie Gerland

And where is the S-Bahn station?

Barbara Zacharias

The S-Bahn station is behind the post office. The post office is between the travel agency and the savings bank. Is that OK?

Sophie Gerland

OK! See you tomorrow then!

Barbara Zacharias

See you tomorrow!

Glossary

sag mal! "Tell me!" "Sag" is the imperative of the verb "sagen" (= to say).

hättest du Lust... "Would you like to..." This construction is always followed by a comma, and then a clause ending with the word "zu" and the infinitive of a second verb.

morgen früh tomorrow morning

der Einkaufsbummel (-)

shopping spree

einen Einkaufsbummel machen

to go on a shopping spree

warum nicht? why not?

die Bäckerei (-en) bakery

zu früh too early

das Problem (-e) problem

kein Problem! no problem

die Frühaufsteherin (-innen)

This means an "early riser". The masculine version would be der Frühaufsteher.

neben This is a preposition meaning "next to". It takes the dative case when position is being described, and the accusative case when movement is being described.

die Blume (-n) flower

das Blumengeschäft (-e)

flower shop

unter This is a preposition meaning "beneath" or "under". It takes the dative case when

position is being described, and the accusative case when movement is being described.

das Fitness-Center (-)

fitness centre

die Wohnung (-en)

flat, apartment

über This is a preposition meaning "above". It also takes the dative case when position is being described, and the accusative case when movement is being described.

gegenüber This is a preposition meaning "opposite". It always takes the dative case.

die Bibliothek (-en)

library

der S-Bahnhof (pl. -Bahnhöfe)

S-Bahn station

hinter This is a preposition meaning "behind". It also takes the dative case when position is being described, and the accusative case when movement is being described.

die Post post-office

zwischen This is a preposition meaning "between". It also takes the dative case when position is being described, and the accusative case when movement is being described.

das Reisebüro (-s) travel agency

die Sparkasse (-n) savings bank

alles klar? everything OK?

bis morgen until tomorrow

9.4 Das Kaufhaus

As part of their shopping tour, Sophie Gerland and Barbara Zacharias go to the Berlin department store Kaufhaus des Westens which is the largest store on the European continent. Since "KaDeWe", as it is commonly called, has eight storeys, a sales floor area of 60,000 square metres and over 380,000 articles of merchandise, Sophie and Barbara need to ask an assistant where things are.

Conversation 4: Das Kaufhaus

Sophie Gerland

Entschuldigung. Ich möchte eine Puppe kaufen. Wo finde ich die Abteilung für Spielwaren?

Assistentin Die Spielwarenabteilung ist im ersten Stock. Sie müssen also in den ersten Stock.

Barbara Und wo kann ich hier eine Jacke

Zacharias bekommen?

Assistentin Für einen Mann oder eine Frau?

Barbara Zacharias

Für eine Frau.

Assistentin Also, da müssen Sie in den dritten Stock. Damenjacken finden Sie im dritten Stock bei Damenbekleidung.

Sophie Gerland

Pralinen sind wohl bei Lebensmitteln im Untergeschoss, oder?

Assistentin Nein, nicht im Untergeschoss. Wir haben eine besondere Abteilung für Süßwaren im sechsten Stock.

Barbara Zacharias

Wir möchten auch eine Bettdecke kaufen. Welcher Stock ist das?

Assistentin Bettdecken sind bei Bettwäsche ganz oben im sechsten Stock. Da müssen Sie hinauf.

Sophie Gerland

Und Portmonees?

Assistentin Portmonees sind bei Taschen im Untergeschoss. Sie müssen also ins Untergeschoss.

Barbara Zacharias

Und wo können wir hier einen Kugelschreiber bekommen?

Assistentin Kugelschreiber sind bei Schreibwaren im Erdgeschoss. Sie müssen also ins Erdgeschoss.

Sophie Gerland

Wo sind hier Topfplanzen?

Assistentin Topfplanzen? Sie sind beim Gartenbedarf im fünften Stock.

Sophie Gerland

Vielen Dank.

Assistentin Gern geschehen.

Conversation 4: The department store

Sophie Gerland

Excuse me. I'd like to buy a doll. Where can I find the toy department?

Shop assistant

The toy department is on the first floor. So you'll have to go to the first floor.

Barbara Zacharias

And where can I get a jacket here?

Shop assistant

For a man or a woman?

Barbara Zacharias

For a woman.

Shop assistant

Well, for that you'll have to go to the third floor. You will ladies' jackets on the third floor in with the ladies' wear.

Sophie Gerland

I take it that the chocolates are in the food department in the basement, right?

Shop assistant

No, not in the basement. We have a special department for them amongst the confectionery on the sixth floor.

Barbara Zacharias

We'd also like to buy a blanket. Which floor is that?

Shop assistant

Blankets are with the bedding right up on the sixth floor. You'll have to go up there for that.

Sophie Gerland

And purses?

Shop assistant

Purses are in the bag department in the basement. So you'll have to go to the basement.

Barbara Zacharias

And where can we get a fountain pen here?

Shop assistant

Fountain pens are with the stationery on the ground floor. So you'll have to go to the ground floor.

Sophie Gerland

Where are your potted plants?

Shop assistant

Potted plants? They're with the garden equipment on the fifth floor.

Sophie Gerland

Thank's very much.

Shop assistant

You're welcome.

Glossary

die Puppe (-n) doll

die Abteilung (-en) department

Spielwaren (pl.) "toys". The singular word for a toy is "das Spielzeug".

die Spielwarenabteilung

"The toy department". As we have seen before, German tends to make a

(-en) compound noun where English uses two or more separate words

der Stock "floor (of shop); storey". It's also the word for a "stick".

im ersten Stock "On the first floor". Note the preposition used in German here.

Sie müssen also in den ersten Stock

"So you'll have to go to the first floor". The preposition "in" is used with the accusative case when it denotes motion, and in the dative case ("im ersten Stock") when it denotes position. As the preposition makes it clear that there is motion involved, the verb for "to go" is omitted here.

die Jacke jacket

da müssen Sie... for this you'll have to go...

die Dame lady

die Damenjacke (-n) A "lady's jacket". A man's jacket would be "die Herrenjacke"

die Damenbekleidung

"Ladies' wear". You would translate "menswear" by "die Männerbekleidung".

bei Damenbekleidung

in the ladies' wear department

Pralinen (pl.) chocolates

die Lebensmittel (pl.) This means "groceries; food". Thus "bei Lebensmitteln" means "in the food department".

das Untergeschoss basement

im Untergeschoss in the basement

oder? "right"? Normally "oder" is the conjunction meaning "or".

besondere particular; special

Süßwaren (pl.) confectionery

die Bettdecke (-n) blanket; duvet

welcher Stock ist das?

which floor is that?

die Bettwäsche (-n) bedding

ganz oben right at the top

hinauf "up". The full sentence could be translated as "You'll have to go up there".

das Portmonee (-s) This is the new spelling of the German word for "purse". The old spelling of the word was "das Portemonnaie".

die Tasche (-n) "bag". Somewhat confusingly, it is also the word for "pocket".

Sie müssen also ins Untergeschoss

"So you'll have to go to the basement". The word "ins" is a contraction of "in das". The accusative case again denotes motion.

der Kugelschreiber "ballpoint pen; biro"

Schreibwaren (pl.) stationery

das Erdgeschoss ground floor

im Erdgeschoss on the ground floor

ins Erdgeschoss to the ground floor

der Topf (pl. - Töpfe)

pot

die Pflanze (-n) plant

die Topfpflanze (-n) potted plant

der Garten (pl. - Gärten)

garden

der Gartenbedarf garden equipment

gern geschehen you're welcome; it's my pleasure

9.5 Buying Clothes

After they have found their way to the women's clothing department (die Damenbekleidung), Barbara and Sophie try and find a present for Barbara's sister. What do they decide on, what size is it, and do they get a bargain?

Conversation 5: Buying Clothes

Barbara Zacharias

Entschuldigung, könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?

Assistentin Gerne, was darf ich Ihnen denn zeigen?

Barbara Zacharias

Ich suche ein T-Shirt.

Assistentin Aus Baumwolle?

Barbara Zacharias

Ja, aus Baumwolle.

Assistentin Ja, hätten Sie es gerne selbst oder möchten Sie es verschenken?

Barbara Zacharias

Ich suche ein T-Shirt für meine Schwester.

Sophie Gerland

Wann hat sie Geburtstag?

Barbara Zacharias

Am einunddreißigsten Januar. Welche Farben haben Sie da?

Assistentin In gelb, rot, schwarz, beige, hellblau,

dunkelblau...

Sophie Gerland

Auch in grün, sehe ich.

Barbara Zacharias

Ja, denn könnten Sie mir bitte ein grünes T-Shirt zeigen?

Assistentin Ja, gerne. Welche Größe muss es denn sein?

Barbara Zacharias

Sie ist etwas kleiner als ich, ich glaube so Größe S.

Assistentin S oder M?

Barbara Zacharias

Hm, S reicht, glaube ich.

Assistentin Sehen Sie mal, ein grünes T-Shirt mit rundem Ausschnitt.

Barbara Zacharias

Kann ich vielleicht ein T-Shirt in Größe M sehen?

Assistentin Gerne, schauen Sie, das ist es in Größe M.

Barbara Zacharias

Ja, ich nehme das T-Shirt in Größe M. Was kostet es?

Assistentin Sechzehn Euro.

Barbara Zacharias

Ist das billig oder teuer?

Sophie Gerland

Sechzehn Euro für ein T-Shirt. Das ist nicht teuer. Das ist ein preiswertes T-Shirt.

Conversation 5: Buying Clothes

Barbara Zacharias

Excuse me, could you help me please?

Sales assistant

Of course, what might I show you?

Barbara Zacharias

I'm looking for a T-shirt.

Sales assistant

Made of cotton?

Barbara Zacharias

Yes, made of cotton.

Sales assistant

Yes, would you like it for yourself or are you going to give it as a present?

Barbara Zacharias

I'm looking for a T-shirt for my sister.

Sales assistant

When is her birthday?

Barbara Zacharias

On the thirty-first of January. Which colours do you have?

Sales assistant

We have it in yellow, red, black, beige, light blue, dark blue...

Sophie Gerland

Also in green, I see.

Barbara Zacharias

Yes, so could you show me a green T-shirt please?

Sales assistant

Yes, of course. Which size do you require?

Barbara Zacharias

She is a little smaller than I am, I think about a small size.

Sales assistant

Small or medium?

Barbara Zacharias

Hmm, small will be about right, I think.

Sales assistant

Here you are, a green T-shirt with a round neck.

Barbara Zacharias

Could I perhaps see a T-shirt in the medium size please?

Sales assistant

Of course, here you are, that's it in the medium size.

Barbara Zacharias

Yes, I'll take the T-shirt in the medium size. What does it cost?

Sales assistant

Sixteen euros.

Barbara Zacharias

Is that cheap or expensive?

Sophie Gerland

Sixteen euros for a T-shirt. That's not expensive. It's a T-shirt that is good value for money.

Glossary

zeigen This means "to show". The thing which you are showing is in the accusative case. The person to whom you are showing it ("Ihnen") is in the dative case.

was darf ich Ihnen zeigen?

What may I show you?

das T-Shirt (-s) T-Shirt

suchen to look for

die Baumwolle cotton

aus Baumwolle made of cotton

selbst This means "self" i.e. the full question reads: "Would you like it for yourself?"

verschenken to give sth as a present

der Geburtstag (-e) birthday

wann hat sie Geburtstag?

when is her birthday?

Januar January

am einunddreißigsten Januar

on the thirty-first of January

die Farbe (-n) colour

welche Farben...? which colours...?

hellblau light blue

dunkelblau dark blue

die Größe (-n) size

welche Größe muss es denn sein?

which size do you need?

klein small

etwas kleiner als ich a little smaller than me

(Größe) S small (size)

ich glaube so Größe S

I think she's a small size.

(Größe) M medium (size)

reichen to be sufficient

S reicht "Small" will do

Sehen Sie mal Look!; Here you are! (= polite imperative)

rund round

der Ausschnitt (-e) neck (of shirt)

mit rundem Ausschnitt

This means "with a round neck". Note the strong adjective endings on "rund" as there is no article preceding the adjective.

schauen This is another verb meaning "to look" or "to see".

preiswert good value

ein preiswertes T-Shirt

a T-Shirt which is good value (for money)

9.6 Zwei Geschenke

After buying a present for Barbara's sister, Sophie remembers that she needs to buy presents for her brother and her aunt. What does she decide on in both cases? What is a "Sonderangebot"?

Conversation 6: Zwei Geschenke

Sophie Gerland

Ich möchte ein Geburtstagsgeschenk für meinen Bruder.

Barbara Zacharias

Wann hat er Geburtstag?

Sophie Gerland

Im Sommer.

Barbara Zacharias

Und wann genau?

Sophie Gerland

Am sechzehnten Juli.

Barbara Zacharias

Wie wär's mit einer CD? CDs sind in der zweiten Etage - in der Elektroabteilung. Was für Musik mag er?

Sophie Gerland

Er findet Popmusik gut.

Barbara Zacharias

Magst du Popmusik nicht?

Sophie Gerland

Nein, ich höre lieber klassische Musik.

Barbara Zacharias

Ich höre gern Rock und Techno.

Sophie Gerland

(Spotting a stall with jewellery.) Ich möchte auch ganz gerne ein Geschenk für meine Tante Käthe kaufen. Sie hat am dritten Juni Geburtstag.

Assistent Was darf es sein? Ein Armband, eine Brosche?

Sophie Gerland

Eine Brosche.

Assistent Gefällt Ihnen hiervon etwas? Diese vielleicht?

Sophie Gerland

Nein, die gefällt mir nicht.

Assistent Oder diese?

Sophie Gerland

Die gefällt mir besser, aber ich glaube, die ist ein bisschen zu teuer.

Barbara Zacharias

Hey, guck mal, hier sind Sonderangebote! Diese Armbänder sind billiger. Wie gefallen sie dir?

Sophie Gerland

Die gefallen mir gut. Ich glaube, ich werde dieses Armband kaufen, das silberne.

Assistent Ja. Soll ich dieses Armband als Geschenk verpacken?

Sophie Gerland

Das wäre sehr nett, ja bitte.

Assistent Dann können Sie mir zur Kasse folgen und dort bezahlen.

Sophie Gerland

Ja, gut. Danke schön.

Conversation 6: Two presents

Sophie Gerland

I'd like to get a birthday present for my brother.

Barbara Zacharias

When is his birthday?

Sophie Gerland

In summer.

Barbara Zacharias

And when exactly?

Sophie Gerland

On the sixteenth of July.

Barbara Zacharias

How about a CD? CDs are on the second floor - in the electrical department. What sort of music does he like?

Sophie Gerland

He thinks that popmusic is good.

Barbara Zacharias

Don't you like pop music?

Sophie Gerland

No, I prefer to listen to classical music.

Barbara Zacharias

I like listening to rock and techno.

Sophie Gerland

(Spotting a stall with jewellery.) I'd also quite like to buy a present for my aunt Käthe. Her birthday is on the third of June.

Sales assistant

How can I help you? A bracelet or a brooch?

Sophie Gerland

A brooch.

Sales assistant

Do you like anything here? This one perhaps?

Sophie No, I don't like that one.

Gerland

Sales assistant

Or this one?

Sophie Gerland

I like that one more, but I think that it's a bit too expensive.

Barbara Zacharias

Hey, look, there are some special offers here! These bracelets are cheaper. Do you like them?

Sophie Gerland

Yes, I like them. I think I'll buy this bracelet, the silver one.

Sales assistant

Yes. Would you like me to wrap up this bracelet as a present?

Sophie Gerland

Yes please, that would be very nice of you.

Sales assistant

Could you follow me to the till then and pay there?

Sophie Gerland

Yes, fine. Thank you.

Glossary

das Geschenk (-e) present

das Geburtstagsgeschenk (-e)

birthday present

der Sommer summer

im Sommer in summer

genau exact; precise

Juli July

die CD (-s) This means (unsurprisingly!) "compact disc". The full German version is only one word - "die Compactdisc".

wie wär's mit einer CD?

how about a CD?

die Etage (-n) This is another word meaning "the floor (of a building)". It and "der Stock" are interchangeable.

in der zweiten Etage on the second floor

die Elektroabteilung (-en)

electrical department

die Musik music

was für Musik...? what sort of music...

die Popmusik pop music

ich höre lieber... I prefer to listen to...

klassisch classical

die klassische Musik classical music

der Rock This means both "rock music" and "a skirt".

der Techno techno (music)

Juni June

was darf es sein? "How may I help?"

das Armband (pl. - Armbänder)

This means "bracelet". It can also mean a "watchstrap".

die Brosche (-n) brooch

gefallen This irregular verb literally means "to please". It is however a very common way of saying that you like something. Thus "das gefällt mir" (literally: "That is pleasing to me") means "I like that".

hiervon of these things here

gefällt Ihnen hiervon etwas?

do you like any of the things here?

diese It means "this one". The word for "one" is not given in German, as the endings on the word for "this" indicate the gender of the noun, and thus tell the reader which previously mentioned noun is being referred to.

besser better

ein bisschen zu teuer a little too expensive

gucken Another word for "to look"! Unlike "sehen" and "schauen", this verb is strictly conversational and should not be used in written German.

guck mal! "Look!" This is the "du" form of the imperative.

das Sonderangebot (-e)

special offer

billiger This means "cheaper". To form the comparative of most adjectives, you add "-er" to the end.

die gefallen mir gut "I like them". The verb is in the third person plural because there is more than one brooch.

silbern silver

das silberne It means "the silver one". It is neuter as it refers back to "das Armband".

als Geschenk This means "as a present". The indefinite article is omitted in German.

verpacken to wrap (up)

das wäre sehr nett that would be very nice of you

die Kasse (-n) till; checkout

folgen This means "to follow". The person whom you are following is always in the dative case.

zur Kasse folgen to follow to the till

bezahlen to pay

9.7 The Calendar

Grammar 1: Die Monate

Januar (January)

Juli (Juli)

Februar (February)

August (August)

März (March)

September (September)

April (April)

Oktober (October)

Mai (May)

November (November)

Juni (June)

Dezember (December

• In Austria, the word for January is Jänner. • You would translate "in January", "in February" etc. as im Januar, im Februar. • All German months are masculine. • The German word for a month is der Monat (-e).

Asking and giving the date

There are two phrases that you can use to ask the date in German. Both of them employ a "how many" construction.

Grammar 2: What's the date today?

Der Wievielte ist heute? (Literally: "The how many-th is it today?")

Den Wievielten haben wir heute? (Literally: "The how many-th do we have today?")

To answer the question you would use any of the following responses, depending on context. The masculine form of the definite article is used because all days of the week are masculine. As in English the ordinal number is used to specify the date.

Grammar 3: Today is...

"Der Wievielte ist heute?"

Heute ist der Vierte (Literally: "Today is the fourth")

Heute ist der vierte Mai (Literally: "Today is the fourth of May")

Heute ist Mittwoch, der vierte Mai (Literally: "Today is Wednesday the fourth of May")

"Den Wievielten haben wir heute?"

Heute haben wir den Vierten (Literally: "Today is the fourth")

Heute haben wir den vierten Mai (Literally: "Today is the fourth of May")

The first question requires you to use the nominative case when giving the date; the second question requires you to give the case in the accusative case. As the adjective follows the definite article, you need to use the weak declension.

Writing the date Unlike English which has several variations ("May 4", "May 4th", "4th May" etc.), the abbreviated form of the German date is always written the same way - der 4. Mai. If you are also giving the date you would write: 4. Mai 2001 At the head of letters, the date is given in the order day, month, year preceded by the definite article in the accusative case. Thus "May 4, 2001" would appear in a letter heading as den 4.5.2001. You can also precede the date by stating your location - i.e. Exeter, den 4.5.2001.

Dates in German

Unlike English which has several variations (May 2, May 2nd, 2nd May etc.), dates in German are always written the same way - der 2. Mai.

At the head of letters, the accusative form is used, preceded by the name of the place - Exeter, den 2. Mai 2001. Dates written all in numbers are also found in German, particularly in business letters - e.g. Exeter, den 2.5.2001.

Monday May 2nd 2001 Montag, der 2. Mai 2001

With reference to your letter of the 2.5.2001

Bezug nehmend auf Ihr Schreiben vom 2.5.2001

Prepositions in dates

"On" with days and dates is translated by "an" (+ Dative) with the definite article, conflated to "am", whether there is a definite article in English or not:

On Friday am Freitag

On May 2nd am 2. Mai On Friday May 2nd am Freitag, den or dem 2. Mai

On the first of next month am nächsten Ersten

"In" with months is translated by "in" (+ Dative) with the definite article, conflated to "im", whether there is a definite article in English or not:

in June im Juni

last June voriges Jahr im Juni

next June im Juni nächsten Jahres

BUT:

at the start of June Anfang Juni in the middle of December Mitte Dezember

at the end of October Ende Oktober

When giving the year when something happened in German, the year is usually given on its own without any preposition, although "im Jahre" can be added in more formal language:

She died in 1963 Sie starb 1963 Sie starb im Jahre 1963

Date of birth Current usage of "geboren" is as follows: "Ich bin geboren" is used when no other circumstances or only the place of birth are mentioned:

"Ich wurde geboren" is used if further circumstances, such as the date, are given:

Referring to people who are dead, either passive may be used:

I was born in Hamburg Ich bin in Hamburg geboren

I was born in 1983 in Blubberhouses

Ich wurde 1983 / im Jahre 1983 in Blubberhouses geboren

Goethe was born in 1749 in Frankfurt Goethe wurde / war 1749 in Frankfurt geboren

Date of birth: 2nd May 2001 Geburtsdatum: 02.05.2001

Place of birth: Hanover Geburtsort: Hannover

Other phrases

From April onwards ab April; vom April an From April 5th onwards vom 5. April an From next Tuesday von kommendem Dienstag an From the 21st to the 30th vom 21. bis zum 30. It will be ready by Friday Es wird bis Freitag fertig

It will be ready by the 12th Es wird bis zum 12. fertig It won't be ready until Friday Es wird erst (am) Freitag fertig Around November 15th um den 15. November (herum) In the 1980's in den Achtzigerjahren; in den 80er-Jahren

Years The German word for a year is "das Jahr (-e)" You have two options when translating "in 2001", neither of which is identical with the English version. The German equivalents are either "im Jahre 2001" or simply "2001" without a preposition. When years are spoken, they are done so in two blocks up to 1999 much as in English. Thus 1999 would be neunzehnhundertneunundneunzig (literally: "nineteen hundred ninety-nine"). Note that the word "hundert" is always included in German whereas it can be omitted in English. The year 2000 is das Jahr zweitausend, 2001 is written as zweitausendeins.

9.8 The Calendar (2)

April 2006 So Mo Di Mi Do Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A German calendar (der Kalender) showing the current month and day. Note the German abbreviations that are used for the days of the week.

On which day? To say "on which day" something is happening, you need to use "am" followed by the date in the dative case:

Grammar 4: An welchem Tag?

Wann / An welchem Tag gehen Sie? (When / On which day are you going?)

Wir gehen am vierten Mai (We're going on the fourth of May)

Wir gehen am Vierten

(We're going on the fourth)

Wir gehen am Mittwoch, dem/den vierten Mai (We're going on Wednesday, the fourth of May)

Wir gehen am 4. Mai (We're going on May 4th)

Wir gehen am 4.5.2001 (spoken: am vierten, fünften, zweitausendeins) (We're going on 4.5.2001)

In the third response, you can either use the dative or the accusative of the definite article when you are giving the day of the week followed by the date. It is more formal to use the dative of the article. Note in particular the word order when you say on what day your birthday falls. The word "Geburtstag" will always be the final element in the clause:

• Wann hast du Geburtstag? (When is your birthday?)

• Ich habe am vierten Mai Geburtstag. (My birthday is on the fourth of May.)

Major festivals

Below are a few important events on the German calendar along with the preposition that you would use when stating what you are doing on that day.

Grammar 5: Major festivals

Weihnachten (Christmas)

zu Weihnachten (at Christmas)

Ostern (Easter)

zu Ostern (at Easter)

Pfingsten (Whitsun)

zu Pfingsten (at Whitsun)

(In south German, "an" is often used rather than "zu" with these festivals.)

This morning/afternoon/evening The table below gives the phrases needed to say at what part of the day you wish to do something:

Grammar 6: This morning etc.

heute Morgen / heute Vormittag (this morning)

morgen früh (tomorrow morning)

heute Nachmittag (this afternoon)

morgen Nachmittag (tomorrow afternoon)

heute Abend (this evening)

morgen Abend (tomorrow evening)

Why is "heute Morgen" used to translate "this morning" whereas "morgen früh" is used for "tomorrow morning"? Because "morgen Morgen" would sound absurd! Always make sure that you are using small and capital letters correctly with this word - "Morgen" = morning; "morgen" = tomorrow.

9.9 Two-way prepositions

We have already learned that some prepositions in German are always followed by an object in the accusative case, while others are always followed by an object in the dative case. A third group, called the "two-way prepositions" (Wechselpräpositionen), all show spatial relationships. They are followed by the accusative case when they signal movement, and by the dative case when they signal location. In the example sentences in the table below, notice how the verb determines movement or location. Verbs such as sein, liegen and stehen show location and thus require the dative case; verbs such as gehen and fahren show movement and thus require the accusative case.

Grammar 7: Die Wechselpräpositionen

an

Kevin geht ans Fenster. (Acc.) ("Kevin is going towards the window.")

Kevin steht am Fenster. (Dat.) ("Kevin is standing at the window.")

auf

Ich gehe auf die Post. (Acc.) ("I'm going to the post office.")

Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (Dat.) ("The book is on the table.")

hinter

Franziska läuft hinter die Post. (Acc.) ("Franziska runs behind the post office.")

Der S-Bahnhof ist hinter der Post. (Dat.) ("The S-Bahn station is behind the post office.")

in

Sie müssen in den ersten Stock gehen! (Acc.) ("You'll have to go to the first floor.")

Damenjacken finden Sie im dritten Stock. (Dat.) ("You'll find ladies jackets on the third floor.")

neben

Ulla legt die Zeitung neben das Buch. (Acc.) ("Ulla puts the newspaper next to the book.")

Das Schloss liegt neben dem Blumengeschäft (Dat.) ("The castle is next to the florist's.")

über

Wir fahren über die Brücke. (Acc.) ("We're driving over the bridge")

Es gibt Wohnungen über dem Blumengeschäft. (Dat.) ("There are flats above the florist's.")

unter

Das Kind läuft unter das Bett. (Acc.) ("The child runs under the bed.")

Die Katze liegt unter dem Bett. (Dat.) ("The cat is lying under the bed.")

vor

Der Bus fährt vor das Hotel. (Acc.) ("The bus drives up in front of the hotel.")

Der Bus ist vor dem Hotel. (Dat.) ("The bus is in front of the hotel.")

zwischen

Ich laufe zwischen das Reisebüro und die Sparkasse. (Acc.) ("I'm running between the travel agency and the savings bank.")

Die Post ist zwischen dem Reisebüro und der Sparkasse. (Dat.) ("The post office is between the travel agency

and the savings bank.")

This does not mean however that all prepositions of motion take the accusative case. We have already seen that "aus", "nach", "von" and "zu" always take the dative case, even when they indicate motion. It is much better to remember the three different groupings which we have encountered so far:

Grammar 8: Prepositions and cases

Accusative (bis, durch, für, gegen, ohne, um)

Dative (aus, bei, gegenüber, mit, nach, seit (= since), von, zu)

"Two-way" prepositions (an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen)

Merging of prepositions with the definite article We have already seen in an earlier chapter that certain prepositions tend to merge with the definite article in the dative case. This is also true with certain prepositions in the accusative case, although fewer prepositions require this contraction in the accusative case than they do in the dative case:

Grammar 9: Prepositions and the definite article

Prep. Example

an + das = ans Du gehst ans Telefon. (You're going to the phone.)

in + das = ins Gehen wir ins Kino! (Let's go to the cinema!)

Whilst you might hear some other contractions in spoken German (i.e. "aufs", "durchs", "fürs", "übers", "ums", "unters", they are quite colloquial and you should use the uncontracted forms in formal writing.

9.10 Liking and disliking

Grammar 10: The verb "mögen" (= to like)

Singular

ich mag I like

du magst Sie mögen

You like (informal/formal)

er/sie/es mag He/she/it likes

Plural

wir mögen We like

ihr mögt Sie mögen

You like (informal/formal)

sie mögen They like

The irregular verb "mögen" is the only one of the modal verbs which does not have to be followed by an infinitive. When it takes a direct object, it simply means to like something. The usage of "gern" is optional:

• Magst du die Brosche? Ja, ich mag sie. (Do you like the brooch? Yes, I like it.)

• Mögt ihr Abenteuerfilme? Nein, wir mögen sie nicht. (Do you like adventure films? No, we don't like them.)

• Mag er Popmusik? Ja, er mag Popmusik gern. (Does he like pop music? Yes, he likes pop music.)

The verb "gefallen" The second verb which can used to express likes and dislikes is the irregular verb "gefallen", which means "to please":

Grammar 11: The verb "gefallen" (= to please)

Singular

ich gefalle I please

du gefällst Sie gefallen

You please (informal/formal)

er/sie/es gefällt He/she/it pleases

Plural

wir gefallen We please

ihr gefallt Sie gefallen

You please (informal/formal)

sie gefallen They please

The verb takes the dative case, such that "das gefällt mir" means "that pleases me". But it is equally used to translate "I like it", whereby the English speaker must remember that it in the German construction, it is the thing which is being liked which is the subject of the sentence. The person doing the liking is in the dative case. The addition of "gut" for emphasis is an optional extra. For example:

• Gefällt dir die Brosche? Ja, sie gefällt mir. (Do you like the brooch? Yes, I like it.)

• Gefallen euch Abenteuerfilme? Nein, sie gefallen uns nicht. (Do you like adventure films? No, we don't like them.)

• Gefällt ihr das Schloss? Ja, es gefällt mir ganz gut. (Does she like the stately home? Yes, see likes it.)

Gerne You would use "mögen" and "gefallen" to describe whether you like objects or not. To explain what you like doing, simply add the adverb "gern(e)" after the verb denoting the action in question. If you don't like doing an action, add nicht gern(e):

Grammar 12: Gern(e)

Händel höre ich gern. ("I like listening to Händel.")

Händel höre ich nicht gern. ("I don't like listening to Händel.")

Was essen Sie gern? ("What do you like to eat?")

Ich esse gern Pommes frites. ("I like eating chips.")

9.11 Expressing a preference

The comparative The comparative is formed in English by adding "-er" to an adjective or adverb, or by preceding it with "more", according to the length of the adjective - i.e. "bigger", "more difficult", "more easily". German forms the comparative in one way only, by adding "-er" to the end of an adjective or adverb. There is no equivalent to the English use of "more" with longer adjectives:

Grammar 13: The Comparative

Adjective Comparative

klein (small)

kleiner (smaller)

schön (nice)

schöner (nicer)

neu (new)

neuer (newer)

Unfortunately some of the most commonly used German adjectives and adverbs have comparatives which are exceptions to this rule: either the vowel "modifies" - i.e. adds an umlaut - or a different word is used entirely:

Grammar 14: Comparative - exceptions

Adjective Comparative

groß (big)

größer (bigger)

alt (old)

älter (older)

gut (good)

besser (better)

gern (gladly)

lieber (more gladly)

The comparative using "mögen" As the optional adverb used with "mögen" is "gern", you need to use "lieber" (= the comparative of "gern") if you wish to use this verb to say that you prefer something:

Grammar 15: Comparative with "mögen"

Wir mögen Berlin (gern). ("We like Berlin.")

Wir mögen Berlin lieber. Wir mögen lieber Berlin. ("We prefer Berlin.")

Welchen Wein mögen Sie lieber? ("Which wine do you prefer?")

Ich mag Rotwein lieber. Ich mag lieber Rotwein. ("I prefer red wine.")

By extension, as you use "gern(e)" to describe what you like doing, you will also use "lieber" to describe what you prefer doing:

Grammar 16: Comparative with verbs

Ich höre Händel gern. ("I like listening to Händel.")

Ich höre Händel lieber. Ich höre lieber Händel. ("I prefer listening to Händel.")

Welchen Wein trinken Sie lieber? ("Which wine do you prefer to drink?")

Ich trinke Rotwein lieber. Ich trinke lieber Rotwein. ("I prefer to drink red wine.")

The comparative using "gefallen" As the optional adverb used with "gefallen" is "gut", you need to use "besser" (= the comparative of "gut") if you wish to use this verb to say that you prefer something:

Grammar 17: Comparative with "gefallen"

Diese Stadt gefällt uns (gut). ("We like this city.")

Diese Stadt gefällt uns besser. ("We prefer this city.")

Was gefällt dir besser? ("What do you like better?")

Das Armband gefällt mir besser. ("I prefer the bracelet.")

9.12 The conditional of "sein" and "haben"

The "conditional subjunctive" mood is used to express what might happen if something else occurred and is normally formed in English with "would" - e.g. "I would go if..." etc. The present-time conditional subjunctive is also used in German to make very polite requests. We have already seen in Chapter 8 how the conditional of some modal verbs is used in this way. The present-time conditional subjunctive of the verbs "haben" and "sein" can be translated into English as "would have" and "would be":

Grammar 18: Conditional of the verb "haben" (= to be)

Singular

ich hätte I would have

du hättest Sie hätten

You would have (informal/formal)

er/sie/es hätte He/she/it would have

Plural

wir hätten We would have

ihr hättet You would have

Sie hätten (informal/formal)

sie hätten They would have

We have already seen several usages of the conditional form of "haben". It also tends to have the sense of a polite request:

Grammar 20: Conditional sentences with "haben"

Was hätten Sie gern? ("What would you like?")

Ich hätte gerne ein Bier. ("I would like a beer.")

Hätten Sie es gern selbst? ("Would you be buying it for yourself?")

Ich hätte gern Frau Arndt gesprochen.("I would like to speak to Ms. Arndt.")

Occasionally the distinction between the normal present tense and the conditional is a very small one. The following two sentences mean much the same thing - the first is more direct, the second slightly more tentative:

• Hast du Lust, morgen früh einen Einkaufsbummel zu machen? (Are you interested in going on a shopping spree tomorrow morning?)

• Hättest du Lust, morgen früh einen Einkaufsbummel zu machen? (Would you be interested in going on a shopping spree tomorrow morning?)

Conditional usage of "sein"

Grammar 19: Conditional of the verb "sein" (= to be)

Singular

ich wäre I would be

du wär(e)st Sie wären

You would be (informal/formal)

er/sie/es wäre He/she/it would be

Plural

wir wären We would be

ihr wärt Sie wären

You would be (informal/formal)

sie wären They would be

In this chapter we have met some conditional usages of the verb "sein". Sentences containing such forms tend to be hypothetical in meaning:

Grammar 21: Conditional sentences with "sein"

Das wäre seht nett. ("That would be very nice.")

Wie wäre es mit einer CD? ("How about a CD?")

Wie wäre es mit übermorgen? ("How about the day after tomorrow?")

9.13 New irregular verbs

In addition to the verb declinations already covered in this chapter, we have also come across four new irregular verbs, two of which are separable.

Grammar 22: Present tense of "anfangen" (= to begin)

Singular

ich fange an I begin

du fängst an Sie fangen an

You begin (informal/formal)

er/sie/es fängt an He/she/it begins

Plural

wir fangen an We begin

ihr fangt an Sie fangen an

You begin (informal/formal)

sie fangen an They begin

Grammar 23: Present tense of "laufen" (= to run)

Singular

ich laufe I run

du läufst Sie laufen

You run (informal/formal)

er/sie/es läuft He/she/it runs

Plural

wir laufen We run

ihr lauft Sie laufen

You run (informal/formal)

sie laufen They run

Grammar 24: Present tense of "sehen" (= to see; to watch)

Singular

ich sehe I see

du siehst Sie sehen

You see (informal/formal)

er/sie/es sieht He/she/it sees

Plural

wir sehen We see

ihr seht Sie sehen

You see (informal/formal)

sie sehen They see

Grammar 25: Present tense of "vorschlagen" (= to suggest)

Singular

ich schlage vor I suggest

du schlägst vor Sie schlagen vor

You suggest (informal/formal)

er/sie/es schlägt vor He/she/it starts

Plural

wir schlagen vor We suggest

ihr schlagt vor Sie schlagen vor

You suggest (informal/formal)

sie schlagen vor They suggest

9.14 "dieser" and "jener"

The demonstrative "dieser" refers to something near at hand. It corresponds to English "this", but as it is used in contexts where the difference between near and distant is not crucial, it often equates to English "that". When placed in front of a noun, it declines as follows:

Grammar 26: The declination of "dieser" (= this)

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nominative dieser Mann diese Frau dieses Kind

Accusative diesen Mann diese Frau dieses Kind

Dative diesem Mann

dieser Frau

diesem Kind

Plural

Nominative diese Frauen

Accusative diese Frauen

Dative diesen Frauen

"Dieser" can also be used as a pronoun meaning "this one". It then of course takes the same endings as in the table above:

• Welches Kind arbeitet gut? - Dieses. (Which child works well? - This one.)

• Welchen Mann siehst du? - Diesen. (Which man do you see? - That one.)

You will have noticed that "dieser" takes the same endings as the definite article. It also takes the same adjective endings - the weak declension which we met in Chapter 5:

Grammar 27: Adjective endings after "dieser"

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nom. dieser gute Mann diese gute Frau dieses gute Kind

Acc. diesen guten Mann diese gute Frau dieses gute Kind

Dat. diesem guten Mann

dieser guten Frau

diesem guten Kind

Plural

Nom. diese guten Frauen

Acc. diese guten Frauen

Dat. diesen guten Frauen

The demonstrative "jener" Although the pronoun "jener" means "that", it is really only used in certain formal registers or to contrast with "dieser", which should otherwise be used to translate "that":

• Ich will nicht dieses Armband kaufen, sondern jenes. (I don't want to buy this bracelet, but that one.)

• Willst du diese Brosche oder jene? (Do you want this brooch or that one?)

"Jener" adds the same endings as "dieser" and the definite article and adjectives following "jener" will be in the weak declension:

Grammar 28: The declination of "jener" (= that)

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nominative jener Mann jene Frau jenes Kind

Accusative jenen Mann jene Frau jenes Kind

Dative jenem Mann jener Frau jenem Kind

Plural

Nominative jene Frauen

Accusative jene Frauen

Dative jenen Frauen

9.15 The department store

Here is a list of vocabulary to help you navigate your way around a German department store. Note the high number of compound nouns and the influx of English words and phrases into commercial German! As ever, plurals are indicated by brackets.

Vocabulary 1: Das Kaufhaus

English German

babywear die Babyartikel (pl.)

basement das Untergeschoss

bathroom fittings die Badezimmerausstattung

bedding die Bettwäsche

book das Buch (pl. - Bücher)

car accessories das Autozubehör

carpet der Teppich (-e)

cheap billig

children's wear die Kinderbekleidung

clearance sale der Räumungsverkauf

closed geschlossen

clothing die Bekleidung

computer section der Computershop (-s)

confectionery Süßwaren (pl.)

cosmetics die Kosmetik

curtains die Gardine (-n)

customer der Kunde (-n); die Kundin (-nen)

customer service der Kundendienst

electrical appliance

das Elektrogerät (-e)

escalator die Rolltreppe (-n)

expensive teuer

fashion die Mode

- young people's fashion

- die Junge Mode

floor (of shop) der Stock (no pl.) die Etage (-n)

furniture das Möbel (no pl.)

gardening equipment

der Gartenbedarf

gift der Geschenkartikel (-)

glassware das Glas

good value (adj.) preiswert

groceries die Lebensmittel (pl.)

ground floor das Erdgeschoss

jewellery der Schmuck

ladies' shoes Damenschuhe (pl.)

ladies' wear die Damenbekleidung

lift der Fahrstuhl (pl. - Fahrstühle)

leather goods die Lederwaren (pl.)

lighting section das Lampenstudio (-s)

menswear die Herrenbekleidung

men's shoes Herrenschuhe (pl.)

music die Musik

open geöffnet

opening hours die Öffnungszeiten (pl.)

photography section

der Fotoshop (-s)

porcelain das Porzellan

present das Geschenk (-e)

price der Preis (-e)

reduced reduziert

sales receipt der Kassenbon (-s)

souvenir das Andenken (-)

special offer das Sonderangebot (-e)

sports goods Sportartikel (pl.)

stationery Schreibwaren (pl.)

summer sale der Sommerschlussverkauf (SSV)

television der Fernseher (-)

till die Kasse (-n)

tobacco goods Tabakwaren (pl.)

toilet die Toilette (-n)

toys Spielwaren (pl.)

video store die Videothek (-en)

winter sale der Winterschlussverkauf (WSV)

9.16 Opening hours in German-speaking countries

A gradual relaxation

Ever since the 1950's, shop opening hours in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have been among the most restricted in Europe. Germany's draconian law on opening hours (das Ladenschlussgesetz) ensured that stores remained closed after 1800 on weekdays and 1400 on Saturdays. Shops were allowed to remain open two longer on one Saturday every month, on a day called "the long Saturday" (der lange Samstag). In June 1996, the German Parliament finally gave in to pressure from both business and consumers and relaxed (das Ladenschlussgesetz). Starting from November 1 that year, shops were allowed to remain open until eight o'clock in the evening on weekdays and until four o'clock on Saturdays. They are only allowed to open later than that on Thursdays when some city centre shops choose to remain open until 20.30. In the weeks leading up to Christmas however, shops can open until 18:00 on Saturdays. Whilst there is intense pressure from customers to extend opening hours still further, Germany's trade unions are unwilling to give way. And while it makes sense for businesses in major cities like Berlin to extend opening hours (Öffnungszeiten), many shops in towns and villages have found that longer opening hours does not necessarily mean more turnover, and have gone back to the old opening hours for Thursdays and Saturdays.

All of which still means that if you run out of fresh milk on Sundays, then you are out of luck. You will have to go to the station or airport where fresh goods can be sold on Sundays. At kiosks and petrol station shops (der Tankstellenshop), you will find durable items such as long-life milk, cold drinks, sweets etc. Flower shops usually open for a couple of hours around lunchtime on Sundays and cake shops (die Konditorei) are allowed to ensure that everyone can have a piece of fresh gateau at the Sunday afternoon coffee and cake (Kaffee und Kuchen) sessions. Occasionally department stores, particularly furniture stores, open on a Sunday for people to go and look and get advice - but they are not allowed to buy things. These Sundays are referred to as open days (der Tag der offenen Tür). Under Austrian law, stores may stay open from 0600 until 1930 on work days. In tourist areas they are allowed to conduct business until 2000, even on Sundays. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland however, pub opening hours are much more relaxed than in Britain - in general they open at around 11 a.m. and stay open till midnight or beyond.

Sales You can get particularly good bargains in the summer sales (der Sommerschlussverkauf (SSV)) and winter sales (der Winterschlussverkauf (WSV)). Strictly speaking the sales only begin on the last Monday in July and the last Monday in January, selling goods left over from the previous season at considerably reduced rates. Just look for the German word for "reduced" - reduziert. However, most shops start offering reduced-price articles and special offers long before the official date so that all that is left on the shelves when the real sales begin are often sub-standard goods specially manufactured for the sales.

Chapter 10: Daily Life

10.1 Der Alltag: Mareike Herda

In Chapter 3 we listened to Radio Eins DJ Claudia Stenzel interviews Anna Müller and Müslüm Can about modern Berliners and their lives. Her series continues with interviews entitled "Ein Tag in meinem Leben" ("One day in my life"), in which she asks her guests what they do every day. First to be interviewed is the school-teacher Mareike Herda, whom we met in Chapter 2.

Conversation 1: Ein Tag in meinem Leben

Claudia Stenzel

Wie ist Ihr Alltag?

Mareike Herda

Ich stehe um halb sieben Uhr auf...

Claudia Stenzel

Sie haben es gut! Ich stehe um fünf Uhr auf.

Mareike Herda

Ich frühstücke gegen sieben und gehe um halb acht aus dem Haus. Ich bin Lehrerin auf einer Grundschule und wohne in einem Vorort. Ich fahre mit dem Bus zur Schule, etwa 10 Minuten.

Claudia Stenzel

Wann arbeiten Sie?

Mareike Herda

Ich hab's ziemlich gut, denn mittwochs und freitags habe ich die erste Stunde frei. Das heißt, ich fange erst um Viertel vor neun an. Und ich bin jeden Tag um halb zwei fertig. Um Viertel vor zwei verlasse ich die Schule.

Claudia Stenzel

Gefällt Ihnen die Arbeit?

Mareike Herda

Ja, die Arbeit gefällt mir gut, aber ich mag nicht in Berlin wohnen. Die Stadt ist mir zu groß.

Claudia Stenzel

Und was machen Sie nachmittags?

Mareike Herda

Ich arbeite! Ich mache Schularbeiten und höre dabei ein bisschen Musik - oder ich gehe einkaufen. Das mache ich eigentlich nicht so gerne aber es muss sein. Um halb fünf hole ich meinen Freund von der Arbeit ab.

Claudia Stenzel

Wann essen Sie Abendbrot?

Mareike Herda

Normalerweise essen wir um halb sieben Abendbrot.

Claudia Stenzel

Und was machen Sie abends?

Mareike Herda

Nach dem Abendbrot sehen wir im Wohnzimmer fern. Zweimal in der Woche gehe ich zu einer Aerobicstunde. Ich mache gern Aerobic, es macht Spaß und ich bleibe fit. Mein Freund treibt gern Sport. Jeden Mittwoch spielt er Federball oder Handball im Sportzentrum. Wir haben auch viele gute Freunde, und wir unternehmen oft etwas zusammen.

Claudia Stenzel

Was zum Beispiel?

Mareike Herda

Jeden Freitagabend treffen wir uns zum Kegeln. Und nach dem Kegeln gehen wir dann noch ein Bier trinken. Es gibt viele Kneipen. Es ist natürlich viel los in Berlin! Meistens sind wir vor zwei Uhr nie zu Hause. Aber normalerweise gehen wir zwischen halb elf und elf ins Bett.

Conversation 1: A day in my life

Claudia Stenzel

What's your everyday life like?

Mareike Herda

I get up at half-past six...

Claudia Stenzel

You're lucky! I get up at five o'clock.

Mareike Herda

I have breakfast at about seven o'clock and leave the house at about half-past seven. I'm a primary school teacher and live in the suburbs. I travel to school on the bus, it takes about ten minutes.

Claudia Stenzel

When are your working hours?

Mareike Herda

I'm pretty lucky, because I have the first hour off on Wednesdays and Fridays. That means that I don't start until a quarter to nine. And I finish every day at half-past one. I leave school at a quarter to two.

Claudia Stenzel

Do you enjoy your work?

Mareike Herda

Yes, I enjoy the work a lot, but I don't like leaving in Berlin. I find the city too big.

Claudia Stenzel

And what do you do in the afternoon?

Mareike Herda

I work! I do school work and listen to some music while I'm doing it - or I go shopping. I don't really like doing that but it has to be done. At half-past four I pick up my boyfriend from work.

Claudia Stenzel

When do you have your evening meal?

Mareike Herda

We normally have our evening meal at half-past six.

Claudia Stenzel

And what do you do in the evening?

Mareike Herda

After tea we watch television in the living room. I attend an aerobics class twice a week. I enjoy doing aerobics, it's fun and I keep fit. My boyfriend enjoys doing sport. He plays badminton or handball every Wednesday in the sports centre. We also have a lot of good friends, and we often do something together.

Claudia Stenzel

What for example?

Mareike Every Friday evening we met up to go bowling.

Herda After bowling we then go and have a beer. There are a lot of bars. Of course there's a lot going on in Berlin! More often than not we don't get back home before two o'clock. But we normally go to bed between half-past ten and eleven o'clock.

Glossary

das Leben (-) life

der Alltag everyday life

wie ist Ihr Alltag? what's your everyday life like?

aufstehen (sep.) This separable verb means "to get up". (Literally: "to stand up")

Sie haben es gut!

"You're lucky!" (Literally "You have it good".) The "es" is invariable.

frühstücken This means "to have breakfast". It is an inseparable verb.

gegen sieben "At about seven o'clock". The word "Uhr" is often omitted in the German construction.

aus dem Haus gehen

to leave the house

die Grundschule (-n)

primary school

auf einer Grundschule

This means "in a primary school". Although the preposition "auf" usually means "on", it can also be used with certain nouns to mean "to" (with the accusative case) or "in" (with the dative case).

der Vorort (-e) suburb

die Schule (-n) school

ich fahre zur Schule

"I travel to school". Mareike doesn't say in die Schule, because the bus isn't actually entering the school.

etwa 10 minuten about 10 minutes; approximately 10 minutes.

ziemlich fairly

ich hab's ziemlich gut

I'm pretty lucky

denn for; because

die Stunde (-n) This also means "a school class" as well as "an hour".

frei haben to have off

das heißt this means...

erst um Viertel vor neun

not until a quarter to nine

jeden Tag This means "every day". It is one of many German time phrases which is in the accusative case no matter where it comes in the sentence.

fertig It means "finished" in this context. It can also mean "ready" of a meal.

verlassen (insep.) to leave

die Stadt ist mir zu groß

I find the city too big

Schularbeiten machen

to do school work

dabei A very useful word which means "while I'm/you're (etc.) doing it".

das mache ich nicht so gerne

I don't really like doing that

abholen (sep.) This separable verb means "to fetch". What you are fetching is in the accusative case.

der Freund (-e) This means "boyfriend" here - you have to work it out from the context.

das Abendbrot evening meal; tea

normalerweise normally

das Wohnzimmer (-)

living room

fernsehen (sep.) This is a separable verb meaning "to watch television". The prefix "fern" is invariable but the "sehen" element of the verb declines in exactly the way which we have already encountered.

zweimal twice

zweimal in der Woche

twice a week

die Aerobicstunde (-n)

aerobics class

Aerobic machen to do aerobics

der Spaß fun

es macht Spaß it's fun

fit fit (!)

Sport treiben to do sport

jeden Mittwoch every Wednesday

das Sportzentrum (pl. -zentren)

sports centre

spielen to play

der Federball badminton

der Handball Handball is a much more popular sport in German-speaking countries than it is in Britain.

unternehmen (insep.)

to undertake; to do

zum Beispiel (z.B.)

for example

jeden Freitagabend

"Every Friday evening". Another time phrase which is always in the accusative case. Note too that "Friday evening" is one word in German.

kegeln to go bowling; to play skittles

wir treffen uns zum Kegeln

"We meet to go bowling." The grammatical construction with the second verb will be explained in a later section.

trinken to drink

wir gehen ein Bier trinken

we go and have a beer

die Kneipe (-n) bar; pub

es ist viel los there's a lot going on

meistens mostly

vor zwei Uhr before two o'clock

nie never

zu Hause at home

das Bett (-en) bed

ins Bett gehen to go to bed

10.2 Der Alltag: Anna Müller

Now it is Anna Müller's turn to discuss her daily routine with Claudia Stenzel. What five different things does she like to eat for supper? What does she like doing inthe different seasons of the year? What can you do in Werder?

Conversation 2: Ein Tag in meinem Leben

Claudia Stenzel

Wie sieht Ihr typischer Tag aus?

Anna Müller

Ich stehe gegen sechs Uhr auf. Ich gehe ins Badezimmer und dusche. Danach bin ich ganz schön wach. Dann gehe ich in die Küche und frühstücke mit der Familie. Zum Frühstück esse ich eine Grapefruit und trinke einen Früchtetee - ich mache eine Diät. Ich muss abnehmen.

Claudia Wie lange machen Sie schon eine Diät?

Stenzel

Anna Müller

Seit fänf Wochen. Ich bemähe mich, aber es ist nicht einfach!

Claudia Stenzel

Und was dürfen Sie essen?

Anna Müller

Viel Gemüse und Obst, wenig Fleisch.

Claudia Stenzel

Und wie viel Kalorien dürfen Sie essen?

Anna Müller

Tausend.

Claudia Stenzel

Dürfen Sie Alkohol trinken?

Anna Müller

Nein, Alkohol darf ich nicht trinken.

Claudia Stenzel

Was essen Sie zum Abendbrot?

Anna Müller

Wir essen abends alle zusammen und wir essen sehr gesund. Das Abendbrot besteht normalerweise aus Suppe (meine Lieblingssuppe ist Gulaschsuppe!), Fleisch, Brot, Käse und Quark. Nach dem Abendbrot räumen die Kinder den Tisch und wir waschen ab.

Claudia Stenzel

Was machen Sie gern in Ihrer Freizeit?

Anna Müller

Abends? Nichts Besonderes. Ich faulenze gern. Vielleicht sehe ich mir ein paar Fernsehsendungen an.

Claudia Stenzel

Was sehen Sie gern im Fernsehen?

Anna Müller

Seifenopern, Talkshows, Quizsendungen, die Nachrichten. Ich sehe mir alles an!

Claudia Stenzel

Was für Hobbys haben Sie?

Anna Müller

Ich interessiere mich für Reisen. Im Sommer bleibe ich nicht gern zu Hause - ich langweile mich zu Tode! Im Winter fahren wir in die Berge. Ich liebe den Schnee und ich laufe sehr gern Ski. Im Frühling und im Herbst fahren wir gern nach Werder. Dort kann man herrlich segeln und spazieren gehen. Ich wandere gern durch den Wald. Ich fotografiere auch leidenschaftlich gern. Ich habe meinen Fotoapparat immer dabei.

Conversation 2: A day in my life

Claudia Stenzel

What does your typical day look like?

Anna Müller

I get up at about six o'clock. I go into the bathroom and have a shower. I'm really quite awake afterwards. Then I go into the kitchen and have breakfast with my family. I have grapefruit for breakfast and drink a fruit tea - I'm on a diet. I have to lose weight.

Claudia Stenzel

How long have you been on a diet for?

Anna Müller

For five weeks. I'm making an effort, but it isn't easy!

Claudia Stenzel

And what are you allowed to eat?

Anna Müller

A lot of vegetables and fruit, but not much meat.

Claudia Stenzel

And how many calories are you allowed to eat?

Anna Müller

A thousand.

Claudia Stenzel

Can you drink alcohol?

Anna Müller

No, I'm not allowed to drink alcohol.

Claudia Stenzel

What do you eat for tea?

Anna Müller

We all eat together in the evening and we eat very healthily. Our evening meal normally consists of soup (my favourite soup is goulash soup!), meat, bread, cheese and soft curd cheese. After tea the children clear the table and we do the washing-up.

Claudia Stenzel

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Anna Müller

In the evenings? Nothing in particular. I like lazing about. I might watch a few TV programmes.

Claudia Stenzel

What do you like watching on the television?

Anna Müller

Soap operas, talk shows, quiz programmes, and the news. I watch everything!

Claudia Stenzel

What hobbies do you have?

Anna Müller

I'm interested in travel. I don't like staying at home in the summer - I get bored to death! In winter we go to the mountains. I love the snow and I really like skiing. In spring and in autumn we like going to Werder. You can have a wonderful time sailing and walking there. I like rambling in the forest. I'm also mad about photography. I always have my camera with me.

Glossary

aussehen (sep.) to look (like)

typisch typisch

das Badezimmer (-)

bathroom

duschen to shower

danach afterwards

ganz schön wach This means "really quite awake". When "ganz schön" precedes an adjective it has an emphatic sense.

die Küche (-n) kitchen

zum Frühstück for breakfast

essen This means "to eat". It is an irregular verb.

die Grapefruit (-s)

grapefruit

der Früchtetee (-s)

fruit tea

die Diät (-en) diet

eine Diät machen to go on a diet

abnehmen (sep.) This means "to lose weight". To gain weight is "zunehmen". Both verbs are separable.

wie lange...? how long...?

seit fünf Wochen Although seit literally means "since", this translates as "for five weeks".

sich bemühen to make an effort

viel Gemüse a lot of vegetables

das Obst fruit

wenig Fleisch "Not much meat". Note that neither "viel" nor "wenig" have endings when used this way.

die Kalorie (-n) calorie

der Alkohol alcohol

alle zusammen all together

gesund healthy

wir essen gesund we eat healthily

bestehen aus (+ Dat.)

This means "to consist of". The verb "bestehen" is inseparable.

die Suppe (-n) soup

die Lieblingssuppe (-n)

This means "favourite soup". You can add "Lieblings-" to the front of any noun to create this effect.

die Gulaschsuppe (-n)

goulash soup

der Quark soft curd cheese

räumen to clear

abwaschen to do the washing up. As "waschen" is an irregular verb, so too is "abwaschen".

die Freizeit free time; spare time

nichts Besonderes

nothing much; nothing in particular

faulenzen to laze about

ein paar a few

die Fernsehsendung (-en)

TV programme

sich etwas ansehen

This means "to watch something". The programme that is being watched is in the accusative case whilst the reflexive pronoun referring back to the person doing the action is in the dative case. The verb "ansehen" is both separable and reflexive.

das Fernsehen This means "television" as in "the medium of television", as opposed to a "TV set", which is translated by "der Fernseher".

die Seifenoper (-n)

soap opera

die Talkshow (-s) talk show

die Quizsendung (-en)

quiz programme

die Nachrichten (plural)

This means "the news". The singular of this noun - die Nachricht (-en) - means "a piece of news".

das Hobby (-s) hobby

sich interessieren für (+ Acc.)

This reflexive verb means "to be interested in". The reflexive pronoun referring back to the person doing the action is in the accusative case.

reisen to travel

ich interessiere mich für Reisen

"I'm interested in travelling". If the thing in which you are interested is a verb, you use the infinitive form of the verb starting with a capital letter.

der Sommer summer

im Sommer in summer

sich langweilen to be bored

ich langweile mich zu Tode

I'm bored to death

der Winter winter

im Winter in winter

der Berg (-e) mountains

der Schnee snow

Ski laufen to ski

der Frühling spring

im Frühling in spring

der Herbst autumn

im Herbst in autumn

herrlich wonderful

segeln to sail

spazieren gehen to go for a walk

wandern to ramble; to hike

der Wald (pl. - Wälder)

wood, forest

fotografieren to take photos

ich ... leidenschaftlich gern

"I'm mad about..." The word "leidenschaftlich" on its own means "passionately".

der Fotoapparat (-e)

camera

dabei with me/you etc.

10.3 Der Alltag: Jens Hoffmann

Now it is the turn of Jens Hoffmann (below right) to be interviewed. Try to work out what he does during his lunchtime break and why his route home depends on the weather. Which football team does he support?

Conversation 3: Jens Hoffmann

Claudia Stenzel

Herr Hoffmann, was machen Sie an einem normalen Tag?

Jens Hoffmann

Ich stehe ziemlich früh auf, so gegen halb sieben. Ich gehe ins Badezimmer und wasche mich. Normalerweise rasiere ich mich - aber am Wochenende nicht immer! Dann ziehe ich mich an und lese den Tagesspiegel. Diese Zeitung gefällt mir am besten. Zum Frühstück esse ich Müesli, vielleicht eine Scheibe Brot oder ein Brötchen und zwei Tassen Kaffee.

Claudia Stenzel

Welche Sorte trinken Sie am liebsten?

Jens Hoffmann

Am allerliebsten trinke ich brasilianischen Kaffee.

Claudia Stenzel

Wann gehen Sie normalerweise aus dem Haus?

Jens Hoffmann

Das kommt darauf an. Normalerweise um sieben Uhr zwanzig.

Claudia Stenzel

Und wie kommen sie zur Arbeit?

Jens Hoffmann

Ich gehe zu Fuß zum Büro - aber nur wenn es nicht regnet! Ich wohne in einer Dreizimmerwohnung im Stadtzentrum, nicht weit von meinem Büro entfernt. Ich komme um Viertel vor acht im Büro an.

Claudia Stenzel

Haben sie Mittagspause?

Jens Hoffmann

Die Mittagspause ist von halb eins bis halb zwei. Zu Mittag esse ich in einem kleinen italienischen Restaurant, vielleicht eine Pizza oder Spagetti oder etwas Ähnliches. Ich esse gern auswärts und ich esse am liebsten italienische Gerichte.

Claudia Stenzel

Wann verlassen Sie das Büro?

Jens Hoffmann

Ich bin um siebzehn Uhr dreißig mit der Arbeit fertig. Dann gehe ich aus dem Büro. Wenn die Sonne scheint, gehe ich durch den Park zurück nach Hause. Um zehn vor sechs bin ich wieder zu Hause. Dann mache ich das Abendessen. Nach dem Abendessen bin ich

oft wirklich müde und ruhe mich vor dem Fernseher aus. Jeden Donnerstagabend leihe ich mir ein Video aus. Ich sehe mir gern alte Horrorfilme und Komödien an.

Claudia Stenzel

Was machen Sie in Ihrer Freizeit? Haben Sie Hobbys?

Jens Hoffmann

Tja, eigentlich habe ich nicht viel Freizeit. Ich interessiere mich für Literatur und gehe regelmäßig ins Theater...

Claudia Stenzel

Was für Bücher lesen Sie gerne?

Jens Hoffmann

Meistens Romane und Kurzgeschichten. Ich treibe nicht gern Sport aber ich sehe mir gern Fußballspiele an.

Claudia Stenzel

Welche Fußballmannschaft mögen Sie lieber: Hertha Berlin oder Bayern München?

Jens Hoffmann

Ich mag weder Hertha noch Bayern. Ich bin TeBe-Fan.

Claudia Stenzel

Wie bitte?

Jens Hoffmann

Meine Lieblingsmannschaft heißt TeBe - Tennis Borussia Berlin!

Conversation 3: Jens Hoffmann

Claudia Stenzel

Mr. Hoffmann, what do you do on a normal day?

Jens Hoffmann

I get up quite early, at about half-past six. I go into the bathroom and have a wash. I usually have a shave - but not always at the weekend! Then I get dressed and read the Tagesspiegel. I like this newspaper most of all. For breakfast I have muesli, perhaps a slice of bread or a roll and two cups of coffee.

Claudia Stenzel

What sort of coffee do you like drinking the most?

Jens Hoffmann

I like drinking Brazilian coffee most of all.

Claudia Stenzel

When do you normally leave the house?

Jens Hoffmann

That depends. Usually at twenty past seven.

Claudia Stenzel

And how do you get to work?

Jens Hoffmann

I walk to the office - but only when it doesn't rain! I live in a three-room flat in the city

centre, not far from my office. I get to the office at a quarter to eight.

Claudia Stenzel

Do you have a lunch-break?

Jens Hoffmann

The lunch-break is between half-past twelve and half-past one. I have lunch in a small Italian restaurant, perhaps a pizza or spaghetti or something like that. I like eating out and I like eating Italian dishes most of all.

Claudia Stenzel

When do you leave the office?

Jens Hoffmann

I finish work at five thirty. Then I leave the office. If the sun is shining, I walk home through the park. I get back home at ten to six. Then I cook my evening meal. After tea I'm often really tired and relax in front of the television. Every Thursday evening I rent a video. I like watching old horror films and comedies.

Claudia Stenzel

What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?

Jens Hoffmann

Well, I don't actually have much spare time. I'm interested in literature and go to the theatre regularly...

Claudia Stenzel

What kind of books do you like reading?

Jens Hoffmann

Mainly novels and short stories. I don't like doing sport but I enjoy watching football matches.

Claudia Stenzel

Which football team do you prefer: Hertha Berlin or Bayern Munich?

Jens Hoffmann

I don't like Hertha or Bayern. I'm a TeBe fan.

Claudia Stenzel

I'm sorry?

Jens Hoffmann

My favourite team is called TeBe - Tennis Borussia Berlin!

Glossary

normal normal

sich waschen This reflexive verb means "to have a wash". It is also an irregular verb.

sich rasieren to have a shave

das Wochenende (-n)

weekend

am Wochenende at the weekend

immer always

nicht immer not always

sich anziehen This is a separable verb meaning "to get dressed".

lesen This is an irregular verb meaning "to read"

Der Tagesspiegel This is a Berlin daily newspaper which literally translates as "Daily Mirror" but is actually a broadsheet. Click here to read the latest edition of the newspaper on the Internet!

die Zeitung (-en) newspaper

das Müesli muesli

am liebsten most

am allerliebsten most of all

das kommt darauf an

that depends

zur Arbeit kommen to get to work

nur wenn only when

es regnet it's raining

das Zimmer (-) room

die Dreizimmerwohnung (-en)

three-room flat

das Stadtzentrum (pl. -zentren)

city centre

entfernt distant

nicht weit ... entfernt "Not far away from". The thing from which you are not far away - here "the office" - is in the dative case and is preceded by "von" i.e. "nicht weit von meinem Büro entfernt".

ankommen This means "to arrive". Note that the place where you are arriving is in the dative case even though motion is involved.

die Mittagspause (-n)

lunch-hour; lunch-break

zu Mittag essen to have lunch

Spagetti (pl.) spaghetti

ähnlich similar

etwas Ähnliches something similar

auswärts essen to eat out

das Gericht (-e) dish; meal

verlassen This irregular verb means "to leave".

die Sonne (-n) sun

scheinen This means "to shine". In other contexts it can also mean "to appear".

der Park (-s) park

nach Hause gehen to go home

wieder again

das Abendessen (-) This is another word for "evening meal" or "tea".

oft often

wirklich really

müde tired

sich ausruhen This separable and reflexive verb means "to have a rest".

der Donnerstagabend (-e)

Thursday evening

sich etwas ausleihen This means "to borrow or rent". The object that you are renting is in the accusative case. The reflexive pronoun referring back to the person doing in the borrowing is in the dative case.

das Video (-s) video

der Horrorfilm (-e) horror film

die Komödie (-n) comedy

tja well...

die Literatur literature

regelmäßig regularly

das Theater (-) theatre

ins Theater gehen to go to the theatre

der Roman (-e) novel

die Kurzgeschichte (-n)

short story

der Sport sport

Sport treiben to do sport

der Fußball football

das Spiel (-e) game

das Fußballspiel (-e) football game

die Mannschaft (-en) team

die Fußballmannschaft (-en)

football team

Hertha Berlin Currently the biggest football team in Berlin. Cynics would say that this has a lot to do with the favouritism of the Berlin media and local football associations. Click here to visit the club's homepage.

Bayern München This is the club that we call "Bayern Munich", the biggest team in German football. If you like them, click here. If you don't like them, click here.

weder ... noch neither ... nor

der Fan (-s) (football) fan

die Lieblingsmannschaft (-en)

favourite team

Tennis Borussia Berlin

Despite their name, Tennis Borussia Berlin - or TeBe - are a football club based in the Charlottenburg area of Berlin. Click here to visit their homepage. This is also the team supported by the author of this German course!

10.4 Der Alltag: Lars Weber

Finally, Claudia Stenzel interviews one of the children taught by Mareike Herda. As you would imagine, he is much more interested in playing than his schoolwork! Pay particular attention to how he expresses his daily routine when he gets up in the morning and when he goes to bed at night.

Conversation 4: Ein Tag in meinem Leben

Claudia Stenzel

Wann wachst du auf?

Lars Weber

Ich wache um sieben Uhr auf. Ich stehe auf, gehe ins Badezimmer und wasche mir die Hände. Ich wasche mir das Gesicht und putze mir die Zähne. Ich ziehe mir das Hemd, die Hose und die Schuhe an. Um Viertel nach sieben ist Frühstück.

Claudia Stenzel

Trägst du keine Socken?

Lars Weber

Doch!

Claudia Stenzel

Und wann gehst du in die Schule?

Lars Weber

Kurz nach halb acht. Mutti bringt mich in die Schule.

Claudia Stenzel

Gefällt dir die Schule?

Lars Weber

Manchmal. Ich hasse Hausaufgaben! Am Abend muss ich immer lernen!

Claudia Stenzel

Gefällt dir Mathe?

Lars Weber

Nein, natürlich nicht!

Claudia Stenzel

Gefällt dir Sport?

Lars Weber

Ja. Finde ich Klasse!

Claudia Stenzel

Was gefällt dir am besten?

Lars Weber

Schwimmen und Wasserball.

Claudia Stenzel

Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit?

Lars Weber

Skateboarden. Das macht Spaß. Ich spiele gern draußen. Ich bin auch Inlineskater. Meine Schwester fährt gern Rad. Sie hat ein nagelneues rotes Mountainbike. Ich interessiere mich auch für Briefmarken. Ich sammle sie gern.

Claudia Stenzel

Wann gehst du ins Bett?

Lars Weber

Gegen neun Uhr. Ich ziehe mich aus, nehme ein Bad, und ziehe mir den Schlafanzug an. Ich habe mein eigenes Schlafzimmer!

Conversation 4: A day in my life

Claudia Stenzel

When do you wake up?

Lars Weber

I wake up at seven o'clock. I get up, go into the bathroom and wash my hands. I wash my face and clean my teeth. I put my shirt, my trousers and my shoes on. Breakfast is at a quarter past seven.

Claudia Stenzel

Don't you wear any socks?

Lars Weber

Yes I do!

Claudia Stenzel

And when do you go to school?

Lars Weber

Just after half-past seven. Mummy takes me to school.

Claudia Stenzel

Do you like school?

Lars Weber

Sometimes. I hate homework! I always have to study in the evenings!

Claudia Stenzel

Do you like maths?

Lars Weber

No, of course not!

Claudia Stenzel

Do you like sport?

Lars Weber

Yes. I think it's great!

Claudia Stenzel

What do you like the most?

Lars Weber

Swimming and water polo.

Claudia Stenzel

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Lars Weber

Skateboarding. It's fun. I like playing outside. I'm also an inline skater. My sister likes cycling. She's got a brand new red mountain bike. I'm also interested in stamps. I like collecting them.

Claudia Stenzel

When do you go to bed?

Lars Weber

About nine o'clock. I get undressed, have a bath, and put my pyjamas on. I've got my own bedroom!

Glossary

aufwachen (sep.)

This is a separable verb meaning "to wake up".

die Hand (pl. - Hände)

hand

das Gesicht (-er)

face

putzen to clean

der Zahn (pl. - Zähne)

tooth

das Hemd (-en) shirt

die Hose (-n) This means "(a pair of) trousers". It is a singular noun in German.

der Schuh (-e) shoe

tragen This is an irregular verb meaning "to wear" or "to carry".

die Socke (-n) sock

doch This means "yes" and it is used like the French "si" after someone has asked a question in the negative.

Mutti Mummy

manchmal sometimes

hassen to hate

die Hausaufgaben (pl.)

This means "homework". It is a plural noun in German.

am Abend in the evening

lernen to learn; to study

die Mathe This means "maths". It is short for die Mathematik.

Klasse! great!; cool!

das Schwimmen This means "swimming". To form a verbal noun in German, you simply put a capital letter in front of the infinitive of a verb. All verbal nouns are neuter in gender.

der Wasserball water polo

das Skateboarden

This means "skateboarding". It is another verbal noun.

draußen (insep.) outside

der Inlineskater (-)

Unsurprisingly, this means "inline skater". It is another example of just how many English words are entering the German language.

(sie) fährt gern Rad

She likes riding her bike.

nagelneu This means "brand new". It literally translates as "as new as a nail"!

das Mountainbike mountain bike

(-s)

die Briefmarke (-n)

(postage) stamp

sammeln This means "to collect". Verbs ending in "-eln" tend to drop the "-e-" of the infinitive in the first person singular - i.e. "ich sammle".

sich ausziehen This means "to get undressed". It is both irregular and separable.

das Bad (pl. - Bäder)

bath

ein Bad nehmen to have a bath

der Schlafanzug (pl. -anzüge)

This means "pyjamas". It is a singular noun in German.

eigen own

das Schlafzimmer (-)

bedroom

10.5 Das Wetter

In this conversation Sophie Gerland tries to find out from Barabara Zacharias what the weather is like in Berlin in general and then what the weather is going to be like today. They decide to listen to the weather forecast on Radio Eins.

Conversation 5: Das Wetter

Sophie Gerland Wie ist das Wetter hier in Berlin?

Barbara Zacharias

Im Sommer ist es ziemlich heiß und trocken. Im Winter ist es oft neblig und sehr kalt - besonders in der Nacht. Wir haben ab und zu viel Schnee und Glatteis.

Sophie Gerland Das kann ich mir gut vorstellen!

Barbara Zacharias

Im Frühling ist es warm aber oft stürmisch und im Herbst ist es kühl und wolkig - wir haben fast die ganze Zeit Regen.

Sophie Gerland Und wie ist das Wetter heute? Schlecht, oder?

Barbara Zacharias

Im Moment ist es mild. Es ist sonnig aber auch windig. Ich sehe keine schwarzen Wolken!

Sophie Gerland Wie viel Grad sind es?

Barbara Zacharias

Weiß ich nicht. Es sind wohl etwa vierzehn Grad. Hoffentlich kommt das

schöne Wetter noch. Hören wir uns die Wettervorhersage im Radio an! (Sie macht das Radio an.)

Wettervorhersage Und jetzt die Wettervorhersage bis morgen abend. Im Norden stark bewölkt, Gewitter oder Regenschauer. Starker Wind aus Nordost. In der Mitte bewölkt oder bedeckt, wiederholt gibt es ein paar Tropfen Regen. Schwacher Wind aus Ost bis Südost. In Süddeutschland heiter und trocken, keine Niederschläge. Höchsttemperaturen elf bis siebzehn Grad. Temperaturen im Sendegebiet: Berlin - 14 Grad; Neuruppin - 16 Grad; Angermünde - 15 Grad; Frankfurt an der Oder - 15 Grad; Finsterwalde - 12 Grad; Cottbus - 13 Grad. Tiefsttemperaturen in der Nacht zum Montag um den Gefrierpunkt. In Norddeutschland leichter Frost bis minus drei Grad. Vereinzelt Gewitterschauer.

Conversation 5: The Weather

Sophie Gerland What is the weather like here in Berlin?

Barbara Zacharias

In summer it is fairly hot and dry. In winter it is often foggy and very cold - particularly in the night. Every now and then we get a lot of snow and ice.

Sophie Gerland I can imagine that!

Barbara Zacharias

In spring it is warm but often stormy and in autumn it is cool and cloudy - we have rain almost all the time.

Sophie Gerland And what's the weather like today? Bad, isn't it?

Barbara Zacharias

At the moment it's mild. It's sunny but also windy. I can't see any black clouds!

Sophie Gerland What's the temperature?

Barbara Zacharias

Don't know. It's probably about fourteen degrees. Hopefully the nice weather will come. Let's listen to the weather forecast on the radio! (She

turns the radio on.)

Weather forecast And now the weather forecast until tomorrow evening. In the north, heavy clouds, thunderstorms or rain showers. Strong wind from the north-east. In the middle of Germany, cloudy or overcast, with a few drops of rain on several occasions. A slight wind from the east to the south-east. In South Germany it will be fine and dry, with no precipitation. The highest temperature will be between eleven and seventeen degrees. Temperatures in our broadcast area: Berlin - 14 degrees; Neuruppin - 16 degrees; Angermünde - 15 degrees; Frankfurt an der Oder - 15 degrees; Finsterwalde - 12 degrees; Cottbus - 13 degrees. Lowest temperatures between Sunday night and early Monday morning around the freezing point. In North Germany there will a slight frost which could reach minus three degrees. Occasional thundery showers.

Glossary

das Wetter (-) weather

wie ist das Wetter? what's the weather like?

heiß hot

trocken dry

der Winter winter

im Winter in winter

neblig foggy; misty

in der Nacht in the night

ab und zu now and then

das Glatteis (black) ice

sich etwas vorstellen

We have already met the verb "vorstellen" when it takes a direct object and means "to introduce somebody". When it takes a reflexive pronoun in the dative case however it means "to imagine something".

der Frühling spring

im Frühling in spring

warm warm

stürmisch stormy

der Herbst autumn

im Herbst in autumn

kühl cool; cold

wolkig cloudy

fast almost

die ganze Zeit the whole time

der Regen rain

schlecht bad

mild mild

sonnig sunny

windig windy

die Wolke (-n) cloud

der Grad (-e) degree

wie viel Grad sind es?

"What is the temperature?" Literally: "How many degrees is it?"

weiß ich nicht don't know

wohl probably

etwa approximately

hoffentlich hopefully

sich etwas anhören This means "to listen to something". The thing that you are listening to is in the accusative case, whereas the reflexive pronoun referring back to the person doing the listening is in the dative case.

die Wettervorhersage (-n)

weather forecast

das Radio radio

im Radio on the radio

anmachen (sep.) This means "to switch on". It is a separable verb.

bis morgen abend until tomorrow evening

der Norden the north

im Norden in the north

der Regenschauer (-)

rain shower

stark This normally means "strong", but when used in weather phrases it can also mean "heavy".

bewölkt cloudy

stark bewölkt with heavy clouds

das Gewitter (-) (thunder-)storm

der Wind (-e) wind

der Nordosten the north-east

aus Nordost This means "from the north-east". Note that the shorter form of the part of the compass without "-en" is used in this construction.

die Mitte (-n) middle; centre

in der Mitte in the middle (i.e. between North and South Germany)

bedeckt overcast

wiederholt repeatedly

der Tropfen (-) drop

schwach weak

der Osten the east

der Südosten the south-east

aus Ost bis Südost from the east to the south-east

Süddeutschland This means "South Germany". The shorter form of the part of the compass is used in the compound noun.

heiter fine; clear

trocken dry

der Niederschlag (pl. -schläge)

This means "precipitation". It is used very commonly in weather forecasts but not in conversational German.

die Temperatur (-en)

temperature

die Höchsttemperatur (-en)

This means "highest temperature". It is often used in the plural in weather forecasts.

das Sendegebiet (-e)

broadcast area (i.e. the area to which the radio station is broadcasting)

die Tiefsttemperatur (-en)

This means "lowest temperature". It is often used in the plural in weather forecasts.

in der Nacht zum Montag

This literally means "in the night to Monday", but equates to "Sunday night and early Monday morning".

der Gefrierpunkt This means "freezing point". You might also hear "null Grad" used to translate this.

um den around the freezing point

Gefrierpunkt

Norddeutschland North Germany

leicht light

der Frost frost

minus drei Grad minus three degrees

vereinzelt isolated; occasional

der Gewitterschauer (-)

thundery shower

10.6 Vocabulary: The weather

To ask what the weather is like (today), you should say "Wie ist das Wetter (heute)?". As in English, many descriptions of weather require impersonal verbs, i.e. verbs which are only used in the "es" form.

Vocabulary 1: Wie ist das Wetter heute?

es regnet ("It's raining")

es schneit ("It's snowing")

es donnert ("There's thunder")

es blitzt ("There's lightning")

es hagelt ("It's hailing")

die Sonne scheint ("The sun is shining")

Other weather phrases resemble their English equivalents in that they use "Es ist..." (= It is...) followed by the appropriate adjective. The adjectives themselves can also be quite similiar to the English version.

Vocabulary 2: Wie ist das Wetter? Es ist...

es ist sonnig ("It's sunny")

es ist warm ("It's warm")

es ist heiß ("It's hot")

es ist schwül ("It's sultry")

es ist heiter ("It's fine")

es ist schön ("It's nice")

es ist trocken ("It's dry")

es ist mild ("It's mild")

es ist wolkig ("It's cloudy")

es ist bewölkt ("It's cloudy")

es ist bedeckt ("It's overcast")

es ist neb(e)lig ("It's misty")

es ist kühl ("It's cool")

es ist kalt ("It's cold")

es ist eisig ("It's icy")

es ist windig ("It's windy")

es ist regnerisch ("It's rainy")

es ist stürmisch ("It's stormy")

es ist wechselhaft ("It's changeable")

German weather nouns Nouns relating to German weather phenomena are listed below. Plurals are given in brackets. Some of these nouns are usually only found in German weather forecasts and not in conversational German.

Vocabulary 3: German weather nouns

der Blitz (-e) (lightning flash)

die Bö (-en) (squall)

die Brise (-n) (breeze)

der Donner (thunder)

das Eis (ice)

der Frost (frost)

das Gewitter (-) (thunderstorm)

das Glatteis (black ice)

der Hagel (hail)

der Nebel (fog; mist)

der Niederschlag (pl. -schläge) (precipitation)

der Regen (rain)

der Schauer (-) (shower)

der Schnee (snow)

die Sonne (sun)

der Sturm (pl. Stürme) (storm)

die Temperatur (-en) (temperature)

der Wind (-e) (wind)

die Wolke (-n) (cloud)

Notes on nouns 1. To specify which type of shower you are experiencing, form a compound noun using "der Schauer":

• "der Hagel" + "der Schauer" = "der Hagelschauer" (brief hailstorm)

• "der Regen" + "der Schauer" = "der Regenschauer" (shower of rain) • "der Schnee" + "der Schauer" = "der Schneeschauer" (snow shower)

Similar compounds can also be made with "der Sturm". As with all compound nouns, such nouns have the gender of the final element of the compound noun, and form the plural in the same way as this final element:

• "der Hagel" + "der Sturm" = "der Hagelsturm" (hailstorm) • "das Gewitter" + "der Sturm" = "der Gewittersturm" (thunderstorm) • "der Schnee" + "der Sturm" = "der Schneesturm" (snowstorm)

2. Whereas English speaks of "temperature" in the singular, German uses the word almost exclusively in the plural - "die Temperaturen". This is also true of the other compounds of the noun which we have met in this chapter: "die Höchsttemperaturen" (highest temperature) and "die Tiefsttemperaturen" (lowest temperature). 3. We have also encountered some other words in this section's conversations where the usage of singular and plural is different from in English:

• "die Hausaufgaben" (plural) = homework (singular) • "die Hose" (singular) = trousers (plural) • "der Schlafanzug" (singular) = pyjamas (plural)

10.7 Seasons and the compass

German seasons The names of the German seasons are all masculine in German, with the exception of "das Frühjahr", which is one of the words for "spring". The word for a season is "die Jahreszeit (-en)", which literally means "the time of the year":

Vocabulary 4: Die vier Jahreszeiten

der Frühling das Frühjahr (spring)

der Sommer (summer)

der Herbst (autumn)

der Winter (winter)

Note that German uses the definite article when translating "in spring etc.". In practice, this means that you precede each of the seasons by "im" - "im Frühling / Frühjahr", "im Sommer", "im Herbst", "im Winter".

Points of the compass Similarly, the points of the compass are all masculine in German. To say "in the north etc.". In practice, you also precede each of the compass points by "im" - "im Norden", "im Westen", "im Süden", "im Osten".

Vocabulary 5: Points of the compass

der Norden (the North)

der Westen (the West)

der Süden (the South)

der Osten (the East)

When used as the first element in compound nouns however, the points of the compass drop the final "-en". Any compound noun thus formed will always take the gender of the final element of the compound.

Vocabulary 6: Compound nouns of location

der Nordwesten (the North-West)

der Nordosten (the North-East)

der Südwesten (the South-West)

der Südosten (the South-East)

Nordengland (the North of England)

Süddeutschland (South Germany)

Westfrankreich (the West of France)

Ostbelgien (the East of Belgium)

Notes on the compass 1. When wind directions are given in weather forecasts, the shorter forms of the points of the compass tend to be used:

• Schwacher Wind aus Nordost (= A light wind from the north-east)

• Starker Wind aus West bis Südwest (= A strong wind from the west to the south-west)

2. If you wish to describe what the temperature is in the middle of a country, you should say "in der Mitte". The element "Mittel-" in a compound geographical noun is used to indicate centrality:

• Mittelamerika (= Central America) • Mitteleuropa (= Central Europe)

10.8 Reflexive verbs (1)

Definition In most sentences with objects, the subject and the object are two different people or things - e.g. Ich sehe ihn ("I see him"). Sometimes however a verb's subject and object are the same person or thing. Such verbs

are called reflexive. In English, reflexive verbs end in "-self" or "-selves" - e.g. "I hurt myself", "she flatters herself", "they're giving themselves a break".

Not all German reflexive verbs however can be translated by "-self". In fact, whilst most English reflexive verbs are also reflexive in German, there are a number of German reflexive verbs that are not reflexive in English. Some of them have English equivalents which use "get" (i.e. to get dressed, to get washed, to get shaved), whereas some of them describe physical actions for which we do not use a reflexive verb. Many other German reflexive verbs however do not fall into either of these two categories (i.e. to be interested, to relax).

The infinitive of a German reflexive verb German reflexive verbs consist of a simple verb together with the reflexive pronoun in the accusative or (in certain circumstances) the dative case. In the infinitive form, the reflexive pronoun (sich) precedes the verb itself. Here is the infinitive form of the reflexive verbs taking an accusative pronoun which we have encountered in this and earlier chapters:

Grammar 1: Reflexive verbs with an accusative pronoun

sich anziehen (to get dressed)

sich ausruhen (to relax)

sich ausziehen (to get undressed)

sich bemühen (to make an effort)

sich interessieren (to be interested)

sich langweilen (to be bored)

sich rasieren (to have a shave)

sich treffen (to meet)

sich vorstellen (to introduce oneself)

sich waschen (to get washed)

Notes 1. The verb treffen (= to meet) is only used reflexively in the plural. In this context, the reflexive pronoun denotes reciprocity and is the equivalent of each other:

• Wir treffen uns morgen. (We will meet each other tomorrow.) • Wo treffen sie sich? (Where are they meeting each other?)

We will meet more reflexive verbs of this sort in subsequent chapters. 2. When using sich interessieren, you should employ the preposition für followed by a noun in the accusative case to say what it is that you are interested in. If your interest is an activity, you should express this by using the infinitive of the German verb, spelling it with a capital letter. This is called a verbal noun.

• Paula interessiert sich für Fußball. (Paula is interested in football.) • Interessieren Sie sich für Lesen? (Are you interested in reading?)

Reflexive and non-reflexive verbs Most of the verbs which we have met on the previous page can either be used as a reflexive verb followed by a reflexive pronoun in the accusative case, or as a normal verb using a personal pronoun in the accusative case. In the second case the action of the verb is being carried out to somebody else.

Grammar 2: Reflexive and non-reflexive verb pairs

sich anziehen (to get dressed)

jemanden anziehen (to dress somebody)

sich ausziehen (to get undressed)

jemanden ausziehen (to undress somebody)

sich interessieren (to be interested)

jemanden interessieren (to interest somebody)

sich langweilen (to be bored)

jemanden langweilen (to bore somebody)

sich rasieren (to have a shave)

jemanden rasieren (to shave somebody)

sich treffen (to meet)

jemanden treffen (to meet somebody)

sich vorstellen (to introduce oneself)

jemanden vorstellen (to introduce somebody)

sich waschen (to wash oneself)

jemanden waschen (to wash somebody)

Notes 1. In dictionaries, verbs which take a direct object are listed as in the table above, namely preceded by jemanden or its abbreviated form jdn.. The word jemand is the German word for somebody. In the accusative case (as here), it adds "-en". To use the verb, simply replace jemanden with the accusative of the noun to which you are referring. 2. Care needs to be taken in distinguishing between the reflexive and non-reflexive usages of a verb:

• Claudia wäscht sich. (Claudia washes herself.)

• Claudia wäscht das Kind. (Claudia washes the child.)

• Er stellt sich vor. (He introduces himself.)

• Er stellt ihn vor. (He introduces him (i.e. somebody else).)

• Sie treffen sich. (They meet each other.)

• Sie treffen sie. (They meet them (i.e. some other people).)

10.9 Reflexive verbs (2)

Present tense of reflexive verbs taking an accusative pronoun The present tense of a reflexive verb consists of a verb with the normal present tense endings followed by the reflexive pronoun in the appropriate case. The only difference between reflexive pronouns and the personal pronouns which we have encountered in previous chapters is that the reflexive pronoun is sich in the formal "Sie" form as well as in the third person singular and plural. Here is the present tense of a reflexive verb which takes a reflexive pronoun in the accusative case:

Grammar 3: The present tense of "sich rasieren"

Singular

ich rasiere mich I shave myself

du rasierst dich Sie rasieren sich

You shave yourself (informal/formal)

er rasiert sich He shaves himself

Plural

wir rasieren uns We shave ourselves

ihr rasiert euch Sie rasieren sich

You shave yourselves (informal/formal)

sie rasieren sich They shave themselves

If the reflexive verb is also separable, then the separable prefix of the verb will follow the pronoun (and any other elements of the clause). Of the verbs which we have encountered so far, this is true for sich anziehen, sich ausruhen, sich ausziehen and sich vorstellen:

Grammar 4: The present tense of "sich anziehen"

Singular

ich ziehe mich an I get dressed

du ziehst dich an Sie ziehen sich an

You get dressed (informal/formal)

er/sie/es zieht sich an He/she/it gets dressed

Plural

wir ziehen uns an We get dressed

ihr zieht euch an Sie ziehen sich an

You get dressed (informal/formal)

sie ziehen sich an They get dressed

Present tense of reflexive verbs with a modal verb When reflexive verbs are preceded by a modal verb, the infinitive of the verb itself is used, but the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject of the verb. The reflexive pronoun in such cases is identical to the appropriate pronoun in the present tense of the reflexive verb:

Grammar 5: The infinitive of a reflexive verb after a modal verb

Singular

ich muss mich waschen I must have a wash

du musst dich waschen Sie müssen sich waschen

You must have a wash (informal/formal)

er muss sich waschen He must have a wash

Plural

wir müssen uns waschen We must have a wash

ihr müsst euch waschen Sie müssen sich waschen

You must have a wash (informal/formal)

sie müssen sich waschen They must have a wash

10.10 Reflexive verbs taking the dative case

Present tense of reflexive verbs taking a dative pronoun A number of verbs use the reflexive pronoun in the dative case. Only two of the dative reflexive pronouns are different from their equivalent accusative reflexive pronoun. These are mich and dich which become mir and dir respectively. Here is the present tense of sich vorstellen, a separable verb which takes a reflexive pronoun in the dative case when it means "to imagine":

Grammar 6: The present tense of "sich vorstellen" (= to imagine)

Singular

ich stelle mir vor I imagine

du stellst dir vor Sie stellen sich vor

You imagine (informal/formal)

er/sie stellt sich vor He/she imagines

Plural

wir stellen uns vor We imagine

ihr stellt euch vor Sie stellen sich vor

You imagine (informal/formal)

sie stellen sich vor They imagine

Great care must be taken with using this particular verb. As we have seen, when sich vorstellen takes a reflexive pronoun in the accusative case, it means "to introduce oneself". And when it takes a non-reflexive object in the accusative case it means "to introduce somebody else":

• Ich stelle ihn vor (I introduce him (= accusative)) • Ich stelle mich vor (I introduce myself (= accusative)) • Ich stelle mir vor (I imagine (= dative))

Other reflexive verbs taking a dative pronoun We have already seen in Chapter 7 that a number of German verbs such as sagen, geben and empfehlen take both a dative and an accusative object. The dative object is usually a person whereas the accusative object is usually a thing. The same construction is found with certain reflexive verbs. The reflexive pronoun, which is an integral part of the verb, is in the dative case, but the verb also has an accusative object. Here is a list of such verbs which we have encountered in this chapter.

Grammar 7: Verbs taking a dative reflexive pronoun

sich etwas anhören (to listen to something)

sich etwas ansehen (to watch something)

sich etwas ausleihen(to borrow something)

sich etwas vorstellen (to imagine something)

Notes 1. All of these four verbs happen to be separable. This by no means always true of verbs taking a reflexive pronoun in the dative case! 2. To use these verbs, replace etwas (= something) with an appropriate noun in the accusative case. For example:

• Ich höre mir die Wettervorhersage an. (I'm listening to the weather forecast.) • Wir sehen uns die Quizshow an. (We're watching the quiz show) • Du leihst dir das Video aus. (You borrow the video.)

• Das kann ich mir vorstellen. (I can imagine that.)

The complete present tense of "sich ansehen" with an accusative noun is thus as follows:

Grammar 8: The present tense of "sich ansehen"

Singular

ich sehe mir den Film an I watch the film

du siehst dir den Film an Sie sehen sich den Film an

You watch the film (informal/formal)

er sieht sich den Film an sie sieht sich den Film an

He watches the film She watches the film

Plural

wir sehen uns den Film an We watch the film

ihr seht euch den Film an Sie sehen sich den Film an

You watch the film (informal/formal)

sie sehen sich den Film an They watch the film

Reflexive verbs concerning the body The dative reflexive pronoun is used in German with certain verbs when they refer to doing things to parts of the body (sich waschen) and putting on or taking off articles of clothing (sich anziehen, sich ausziehen). The dative reflexive pronoun must be used when you specify which part of your body you are washing or which article of clothing you are putting on or taking off. Furthermore, the definite article is used to refer to the specific part of the body, whereas in English the possessive (my, your, his etc.) is used. It is therefore the task of the dative reflexive pronoun to indicate possession.

Grammar 9: Dative reflexive pronouns referring to specific items

ich wasche mir die Hände I wash my hands

du wäscht dir das Gesicht You wash your face

ich ziehe mir das Hemd an I put my shirt on

du ziehst dir die Schuhe aus

You take your shoes off

Great care must therefore be taken to distinguish between the following pairs of verbs:

• Ich wasche mich. (I'm having a wash.) • Ich wasche mir die Hände. (I'm washing my hands.)

• Du ziehst dich an. (You get dressed.) • Du ziehst dir die Hose an. (You put your trousers on.)

The same construction is also used in German to translate "to clean one's teeth". The full present tense of this construction is given below.

Grammar 10: The present tense of "sich die Zähne putzen"

Singular

ich putze mir die Zähne I clean my teeth

du putzt dir die Zähne Sie putzen sich die Zähne

You clean your teeth (informal/formal)

er/sie putzt sich die Zähne

He/she cleans her teeth

Plural

wir putzen uns die Zähne We clean our teeth

ihr putzt euch die Zähne Sie putzen sich die Zähne

You clean your teeth (informal/formal)

sie putzen sich die Zähne They clean their teeth

As the stem of the verb putzen ends in "-z-", note that the "du" form of the verb adds "-t", and not "-st" - du putzt.

10.11 Verbs in "-el", "-er" and new irregular verbs

Verbs whose stem ends in "-el" and "-er" Regular verbs whose stem ends in "-el" or "-er" differ from the general pattern of present tense endings in the following respects:

• The infinitive of such verbs ends in "-n", not "-en". • The first and third person plural of the present tense, along with the polite "Sie" form,

also end in "-n", not "-en". • In the "ich" form of the present tense, the "-e-" of the stem is always dropped with

verbs in "-el" - e.g. ich sammle. This "-e-" is also occasionally dropped with verbs ending in "-er", although this is more common in spoken German than in written German - e.g. ich wand(e)re.

Here is the present tense of two such verbs which we have encountered in this chapter: sammeln (= to collect) and wandern (= to ramble; to hike).

Grammar 11: Present tense of "sammeln" (= to collect)

Singular

ich sammle I collect

du sammelst Sie sammeln

You collect (informal/formal)

er/sie/es sammelt He/she/it collects

Plural

wir sammeln We collect

ihr sammelt Sie sammeln

You collect (informal/formal)

sie sammeln They collect

Grammar 12: The present tense of "wandern" (= to ramble)

Singular

ich wand(e)re I ramble

du wanderst Sie wandern

You ramble (informal/formal)

er/sie/es wandert He/she/it rambles

Plural

wir wandern We ramble

ihr wandert Sie wandern

You ramble (informal/formal)

sie wandern They ramble

New irregular verbs Here is the present tense of the new irregular verbs which we have met in this chapter.

Grammar 13: Present tense of "essen" (= to eat)

Singular

ich esse I eat

du isst Sie essen

You eat (informal/formal)

er/sie/es isst He/she/it eats

Plural

wir essen We eat

ihr esst Sie essen

You eat (informal/formal)

sie essen They eat

Grammar 14: The present tense of "lesen" (= to read)

Singular

ich lese I read

du liest Sie lesen

You read (informal/formal)

er/sie/es liest He/she/it reads

Plural

wir lesen We read

ihr lest Sie lesen

You read (informal/formal)

sie lesen They read

Grammar 15: Present tense of "tragen" (= to wear, carry)

Singular

ich trage I wear

du trägst Sie tragen

You wear (informal/formal)

er/sie/es trägt He/she/it wears

Plural

wir tragen We wear

ihr tragt Sie tragen

You wear (informal/formal)

sie tragen They wear

Grammar 16: Present tense of "treffen" (= to meet)

Singular

ich treffe I meet

du triffst Sie treffen

You meet (informal/formal)

er/sie/es trifft He/she/it meets

Plural

wir treffen We meet

ihr trefft Sie treffen

You meet (informal/formal)

sie treffen They meet

Grammar 17: Present tense of "verlassen" (= to leave)

Singular

ich verlasse I leave

du verlässt You leave

Sie verlassen (informal/formal)

er/sie/es verlässt He/she/it leaves

Plural

wir verlassen We leave

ihr verlasst Sie verlassen

You leave (informal/formal)

sie verlassen They leave

Grammar 18: Present tense of "waschen" (= to wash)

Singular

ich wasche I wash

du wäschst Sie waschen

You wash (informal/formal)

er/sie/es wäscht He/she/it washes

Plural

wir waschen We wash

ihr wascht Sie waschen

You wash (informal/formal)

sie waschen They wash

Grammar 19: Present tense of "wissen" (= to know)

Singular

ich weiß I know

du weißt Sie wissen

You know (informal/formal)

er/sie/es weiß He/she/it knows

Plural

wir wissen We know

ihr wisst Sie wissen

You know (informal/formal)

sie wissen They know

10.12 Compound verbs

Types of compound verb We have already seen in Chapter 6 how simple German verbs add prefixes to take on another meaning. In this and the previous chapter we have come across a lot more instances of such compound verbs which are listed in the table below.

Grammar 20: New compound verbs in this section

Main Verb Compound Verb

fangen (to catch)

anfangen (to begin)

holen (to fetch)

abholen (to pick up)

kommen (to come)

ankommen (to depend; to arrive)

lassen (to let; to leave)

verlassen (to leave)

leihen (to lend, borrow)

ausleihen (to lend, borrow)

machen (to do; to make)

anmachen (to switch on)

nehmen (to take)

abnehmen (to lose weight) unternehmen (to do; undertake) zunehmen (to gain weight)

sehen (to see)

ansehen (to look at) aussehen (to look like) fernsehen (to watch television)

stehen (to stand)

aufstehen (to get up) bestehen (to consist)

wachen (to be awake)

aufwachen (to wake up)

waschen (to wash)

abwaschen (to do the washing up)

ziehen (to pull)

anziehen (to put on) ausziehen (to take off)

Just as the gender and plural of compound nouns are determined by the final element of the noun, the declension of a compound verb is determined by the final element. Thus although all the compounds of "sehen" are irregular, they are not listed separately in verb tables as it suffices to learn the endings of "sehen" to be able to decline them all!

• Ich sehe keine schwarzen Wolken (I can't see any black clouds) • Du siehst oft fern (You often watch television) • Anna sieht sich die Talkshow an (Anna watches the talk show)

And although we may only have come across the compounds of verbs such as fangen, lassen and wachen, we know how they will decline if we learn the endings of verbs such as anfangen, verlassen and aufwachen.

Other types of compound verbs German compound verbs are not only formed by adding prefixes, but also by adding other parts of speech. As the following four examples show, it is also possible to add nouns and other verbs to form a compound verb:

Grammar 21: Other forms of compound verbs

Rad fahren (to cycle)

Ski laufen (to ski)

einkaufen gehen (to go shopping)

spazieren gehen (to go for a walk)

Notes Although these compound verbs are written as two words, they behave in the same way as verbs with a separable prefix. This means that it is only the second element which declines - even if the first element is another verb as with einkaufen gehen and spazieren gehen. It also means that, like a separable prefix, the first element is positioned at the end of a German clause. For example:

• Thomas fährt gern Rad. (Thomas likes cycling.)

• Läufst du gern Ski? (Do you like skiing?)

• Heute Nachmittag gehe ich einkaufen. (I'm going shopping this afternoon.)

• Wir gehen jeden Abend spazieren. (We go for a walk every evening.)

10.13 The modal verbs "dürfen" und "müssen"

Present tense of "dürfen" We have already had an introduction to German modal verbs and their usage in Chapter 8 of this course. Here are the present tenses of two more modal verbs which we have encountered in this chapter:

Grammar 22: Present tense of "dürfen" (= to be allowed to)

Singular

ich darf I am allowed to

du darfst Sie dürfen

You are allowed to (informal/formal)

er/sie/es darf He/she/it is allowed to

Plural

wir dürfen We are allowed to

ihr dürft Sie dürfen

You are allowed to (informal/formal)

sie dürfen They are allowed to

Usage of "dürfen" The verb "dürfen" corresponds to English "be allowed to" or "can" (in the sense of having the permission to do something).

• Was dürfen Sie essen? (What are you allowed to eat?)

• Dürfen Sie Alkohol trinken? (Can you drink alcohol?)

Great care must be taken when translating the English word "can" into German. You need to distinguish between two different possible meanings of "can": "to be able to do something" (= "können") and "to have permission to do something" (= "dürfen"). For example:

• Ich kann Rad fahren. (I can (= know how to) ride a bicycle.)

• Ich darf Rad fahren. (I can (= have permission to) ride a bicycle.)

• Andrea kann Deutsch. (Andrea can (= knows how to) speak German.)

• Andrea darf nach Deutschland fahren. (Andrea is able to (= has permission to) go to Germany.)

Present tense of "müssen"

Grammar 23: The present tense of "müssen" (= must)

Singular

ich muss I must

du musst Sie müssen

You must (informal/formal)

er/sie/es muss He/she/it must

Plural

wir müssen We must

ihr müsst You must

Sie müssen (informal/formal)

sie müssen They must

Usage of "müssen" The verb "müssen" corresponds to English "must" or "to have to". For example:

• Ich muss abnehmen. (I must lose weight.)

• Am Abend muss ich immer lernen. (In the evenings I have to study.)

The negative of "dürfen" and "müssen" Great care must be taken when using "dürfen" and "müssen" in the negative. Although "müssen" is used to translate "must", it is "nicht dürfen" which is used to translate "mustn't" in the sense of "not being allowed to do something". The words "nicht müssen" are instead used to translate "don't have to". For example:

• Michael darf das nicht tun. (Michael must not do that.)

• Michael muss das nicht tun. (Michael does not have to do that.)

• Alkohol darf ich nicht trinken. (I'm not allowed to drink alcohol.)

• Alkohol muss ich nicht trinken. (I don't have to drink alcohol.)

10.14 Adverbs and word order

Explanation Adverbs are words which describe the action of a verb. They show how, when and where things happen - e.g. "quickly", "often", "outside". You can usually recognise an adverb in English becuase it ends in "-ly" - e.g. "happily", "regularly", "completely". This is not the case in German, where most adjectives can be used as adverbs without adding a suffix. In fact, when such adjectives are used as adverbs they have no endings at all:

• Anna ist eine gesunde Frau. (Anna is a healthy woman (= adjective).)

• Wir essen sehr gesund. (We eat very healthily (= adverb).)

• "Metropolis" ist ein guter Film. ("Metropolis" is a good film (= adjective).)

• Es geht mir gut. (I am very well (= adverb).)

Word order with adverbs The positioning of adverbs in a German sentence can be tricky as German word order is quite specific on this point. For the moment it will suffice to note that if you put an adverb or adverbial phrase at the start of the sentence, then the verb must come next followed immediately by the subject of the clause. This is known as inverted word order. Note too that German adverbial phrases are not separated from the rest of the clause by a comma when they occur at the start of the sentence.

• Hoffentlich kommt das schöne Wetter noch. (Hopefully the good weather will still come.)

• Manchmal fahren wir in die Berge. (Sometimes we go into the mountains.)

• Im Moment ist es mild. (At the moment the weather is mild.)

• Zweimal in der Woche gehe ich zu einer Aerobicstunde. (Twice a week I go to an aerobics class.)

General word order It is not only adverbs however which can be placed at the start of a German clause. You may have noticed that - unlike in English - it is also possible to emphasise an accusative or dative object by putting it at the start of a sentence. This is because in German, it is the the case endings, not the word order, which tell us who is doing what to whom, i.e. what is the subject and what are the objects. Thus the following pairs of sentences have the same basic meaning, even though the subject of the clause is in first position only in the first sentence in each pair. Note how the case endings change depending on who is doing what to whom!

Grammar 24: Inverted word order

Die Katze sieht den Hund. Den Hund sieht die Katze. (The cat sees the dog.)

Der Hund sieht die Katze. Die Katze sieht der Hund. (The dog sees the cat.)

Ich sehe dich. Dich sehe ich. (I see you.)

Du siehst mich. Mich siehst du. (You see me.)

Der Mann hilft dem Kind. Dem Kind hilft der Mann. (The man helps the child.)

Das Kind hilft dem Mann. Dem Mann hilft das Kind. (The child helps the man.)

Notes In each of these pairs there is a slight difference in that the first element in each sentence is always being stressed. Whereas the first sentence in each pair stresses therefore who is performing the action i.e. seeing or helping, the second sentence stresses more who is being seen or being helped. Certain nouns, pronouns, definite and indefinite articles have identical endings in the nominative and accusative cases. In most instances, common sense will tell you who is performing the action. For example, in the clause "Bier darf Thomas nicht trinken", it should hopefully be clear that it is Thomas who not allowed to drink beer and not vice versa. Yet the phrase "sie sieht sie" could have six different meanings: 1) "she sees her"; 2) "she sees them"; 3) "she sees it (= feminine noun)"; 4) "it sees her"; 5) "it sees them"; 6) "it sees it"!

10.15 Adverbs of time

Introduction As has been indicated, most German adjectives can be used as adverbs without a suffix being added. There are however a number of adverbs which are only (or primarily) used in the adverbial form. On the next two pages of this chapter we have listed a number of such adverbs which we have already encountered in this course or which are in common usage in German. They have been divided up into three groups which describe when, how and where things happen - we call them adverbs of time, manner and place. Listed below are the most common German adverbs of time - note that both "morgens" and "vormittags" mean "in the morning".

Vocabulary 7: Adverbs of time

abends (in the evening)

nachher (afterwards)

bald (soon)

nachts (in the night)

danach (afterwards)

nun (now)

dann (then)

oft (often)

früh (early)

rechtzeitig (in good time)

gleich (at once)

schon (already)

gleichzeitig (at the same time)

selten (rarely)

heute (today)

sofort (immediately)

immer (always)

spät (late)

jetzt (now)

täglich (every day)

lange (for a long time)

vormittags (in the morning)

manchmal (sometimes)

zuerst (at first)

morgen (tomorrow)

zuletzt (at last)

morgens (in the morning)

Adverbs for days of the week

Vocabulary 8: Adverbs for days of the week

sonntags (on Sundays)

donnerstags (on Thursdays)

montags (on Mondays)

freitags (on Fridays)

dienstags (on Tuesdays)

samstags / sonnabends

mittwochs (on Wednesdays)

(on Saturdays)

To translate "on Tuesday mornings", "on Wednesday evenings" etc., form a compound noun consisting of the name of the day followed by the adverb for the appropriate part of the day - "morgens", "vormittags", "abends" and "nachts". Such compound adverbs do not start with a capital letter. For example:

• Wir treffen uns freitagabends zum Kegeln. (We meet on Friday evenings and go bowling.)

• Ich leihe mir donnerstagnachmittags ein Video aus. (I rent a video on Thursday afternoons.)

• Wir spielen sonnabendvormittags Fußball. (We play football on Saturday morning.)

Adverbial phrases We have also encountered a number of adverbial phrases with which you can express the time in German. These are listed below:

Vocabulary 9: Adverbial phrases of time

am Montag (on Monday)

jeden Montag (every Monday)

am Morgen (in the morning)

jeden Morgen (every morning)

am Vormittag (in the morning)

jeden Vormittag (every morning)

am Nachmittag (in the afternoon)

jeden Nachmittag (every afternoon)

am Abend (in the evening)

jeden Abend (every evening)

in der Nacht (in the night)

jede Nacht (every night)

die ganze Zeit (the whole time)

im Moment (at the moment)

zweimal in der Woche (twice a week)

Notes Both "der Morgen" and "der Vormittag" can be used to translate the English word "morning". Many adverbial time phrases in German are in the accusative case. This is the case for "jeden Tag", "jede Nacht" etc. and also for the phrase "die ganze Zeit". To translate "on Tuesday morning" or "every Wednesday evening", form a compound noun from the name of the day and the part of the day. As the gender of the compound noun is determined by the gender of the final element, the endings on "am" and "jede(n)" remain unchanged. For example:

• Jeden Freitagabend treffen wir uns zum Kegeln. (Every Friday evening we meet up and go bowling.)

• Jeden Donnerstagnachmittag leihe ich mir ein Video aus. (Every Thursday afternoon I rent a video.)

• Am Sonnabendvormittag spielen wir Fußball. (We play football on Saturday morning.)

10.16 Adverbs of manner and place

Adverbs of manner Having looked in the previous section at adverbs of time, we shall now examine the adverbs of manner which we have already encountered in this course as well as others which are in common usage in German:

Vocabulary 10: Adverbs of manner

außerdem (besides)

natürlich (of course)

dazu (in addition)

normalerweise (normally)

eben (even, just)

plötzlich (suddenly)

eigentlich (actually)

selbstverständlich (of course)

gern (gladly)

sonst (otherwise)

gleichfalls (likewise)

vielleicht (possibly)

hoffentlich (hopefully)

wahrscheinlich (probably)

leider (unfortunately)

wirklich (really)

möglicherweise (possibly)

Adverbs of manner with "-erweise"

"Möglicherweise" and "normalerweise" belong to a group of adverbs which are formed by adding the suffix "-erweise" to the adjective - in this case "möglich" (= possible) and "normal" (= normal). Remember that the adverb is invariable, whereas the adjective takes the appropriate adjective endings:

• Heute ist ein normaler Tag. (Today is a normal day (= adjective).)

• Normalerweise essen wir um halb sieben Abendbrot. (We normally have our evening meal at half-past six (= adverb).)

• Das ist möglich. (That is possible (= adjective).)

• Möglicherweise geht er zu Fuß. (He's possibly walking (= adverb).)

Other such adverbs include: "glücklicherweise" (= "fortunately"), "natürlicherweise" (= "naturally") and "unglücklicherweise" (= "unfortunately").

Adverbs of place

Vocabulary 11: Adverbs of place

auswärts (out; outwards)

irgendwo (somewhere)

da (there)

links (on the left)

dabei (with me/you etc.)

nirgendwo (nowhere)

dort (there)

oben (at the top)

dorthin (there (= motion))

rechts (on the right)

draußen (outside)

überall (everywhere)

geradeaus (straight on)

unten (at the bottom)

hier (here)

vorne (at the front)

hinten (at the back)

Adverbs of degree There is a further group of adverbs which precede other adjectives or adverbs to emphasise or tone down the word which they are qualifying. These are known as adverbs of degree.

Vocabulary 12: Adverbs of degree

äußerst (extremely)

kaum (scarcely)

besonders (especially)

meistens (mostly)

etwas (somewhat)

sehr (very)

fast (almost)

völlig (completely)

ganz (quite)

ziemlich (fairly)

genug (enough)

zu (too)

höchst (extremely, highly)

Notes Adverbs of degree qualify other adjectives or adverbs but do not themselves add endings. Like all adverbs they are invariable. For example:

• Es ist sehr neblig und äußerst kalt. (It is very foggy and extremely cold.)

• Im Frühling ist es besonders stürmisch. (In spring it is particularly stormy.)

• Sein neuer Film ist ganz gut. (His new film is pretty good.)

• Im Sommer ist es ziemlich trocken und oft zu heiß. (In summer it is pretty dry and often too hot.)

• In der Nacht kann ich kaum sehen. (I can hardly see at night.)

• Die Ärztin ist etwas nervös. (The doctor is a little nervous.)

The only exception to this pattern is the adverb "genug" (= enough), which as in English follows the adjective or adverb which it qualifies:

• Es ist heute warm genug. (It is warm enough today.)

• Das Fahrrad war nicht gut genug. (The bicycle wasn't good enough.)

10.17 Adverbs: The Superlative

The superlative using "mögen" In the previous chapter you learned how to form the comparative of German adverbs and to express ideas such as "more", "bigger" etc. In this chapter, we have met several instances of the superlative of German adverbs - i.e. how to say that you like something "best" or enjoy doing something "most of all". When using the verb "mögen" to express a preference, you form the superlative by using "am liebsten" (which is the superlative of the adverb of manner "gern"):

Grammar 24: The superlative using "mögen"

Wir mögen Berlin (gern). ("We like Berlin.")

Wir mögen Berlin lieber. ("We prefer Berlin.")

Wir mögen Berlin am liebsten. ("We like Berlin most of all.")

Welchen Wein mögen Sie lieber? ("Which wine do you prefer?")

Ich mag Rotwein lieber. ("I prefer red wine.")

Ich mag Rotwein am liebsten. ("I like red wine most of all.")

To add even more emphasis to your preferences, you could also use "am allerliebsten" to describe something which you like "more than anything else". For example:

• Was magst du am allerliebsten? (What do you like more than anthing else?)

• Am allerliebsten mag ich Fußball. (I like football more than anything else.)

The superlative of "gern" when used with other verbs You will recall that we can use the adverb "gern(e)" with other verbs to describe things that you like doing. By extension therefore, you use "am liebsten" - the superlative of "gern(e)" with verbs other than "mögen" to describe what you like doing most of all:

Grammar 25: The superlative with other verbs

Ich esse gern Käse. ("I like (to eat) cheese.")

Ich esse lieber Käse. ("I prefer (to eat) cheese.")

Ich esse am liebsten Käse. ("I like (to eat) cheese most of all.")

Welchen Wein trinken Sie am liebsten? ("Which wine do you like (drinking) most of all?")

Ich trinke am liebsten Weißwein. ("I like (to drink) white wine most of all.")

Once again you could use "am allerliebsten" to add even more emphasis:

• Welche Sorte trinken Sie am allerliebsten? (What sort do you like drinking more than anthing else?)

• Am allerliebsten trinken wir brasilianischen Kaffee. (We like Brazilian coffee more than anything else.)

The superlative using "gefallen" As the optional adverb used with the verb "gefallen" is "gut", you need to use "am besten" (= the superlative of "gut") if you wish to use "gefallen" to say that you like something "most of all":

Grammar 26: Superlative using "gefallen"

Diese Stadt gefällt uns (gut). ("We like this city.")

Diese Stadt gefällt uns besser. ("We prefer this city.")

Diese Stadt gefällt uns am besten. ("We like this city most of all.")

Was gefällt dir am besten? ("What do you like the most?")

Das Armband gefällt mir am besten. ("I like the bracelet most of all.")

10.18 Prepositions with motion and place

The prepositions "in" und "aus" As a general rule, the preposition "in" (+ Accusative) is used for going to places which one will then be "inside". To describe being "inside" such places - which include rooms and most buildings - you should use "in" (+ Dative). When leaving such places, you use the preposition "aus". This preposition always takes the dative case, even though motion is involved.

Grammar 27: "in" und "aus"

Ich gehe ins Badezimmer. ("I go into the bathroom.") Ich gehe in die Küche. ("I go into the kitchen.")

Ich bin im Badezimmer. ("I am in the bathroom.") Ich bin in der Küche. ("I am in the kitchen.")

Ich gehe aus dem Badezimmer. ("I go out of the bathroom.") Ich gehe aus der Küche. ("I go out of the kitchen.")

Notes German also uses the preposition "in" (+ Accusative) where we would not necessarily do so in English:

• Gehen wir ins Konzert! (Let's go to the concert!)

• Herr Dr. Schmidt geht regelmäßig ins Theater. (Dr. Schmidt regularly goes to the theatre.)

• Ich gehe ins Stadtzentrum! (I'm going to the city centre.)

• Im Winter fahren wir in die Berge. (In winter we go into the mountains.)

For a number of German buildings and public places, you should use the preposition "zu" (+ Dative) for motion towards, "an" (+ Dative) to translate position ("at" or "in") and "von" (+ Dative) to translate motion away. We have already dealt with this grammatical point in Chapter 6, where the correct prepositions for travelling to and from countries are also explained. When using the separable verb ankommen (= "to arrive"), the place where you arrive is in the dative case:

• Ich komme um Viertel vor acht im Büro an. (I arrive in the office at a quarter to eight.)

• Wann kommt sie am Flughafen an? (When does she arrive at the airport?)

Note too that the same prepositions are used for travelling to and from towns and cities as are used for travelling to (neuter) countries.

Grammar 28: Prepositions and cities

Wir fahren nach Werder. ("We travel to Werder.")

Mareike wohnt in Berlin. ("Mareike lives in Berlin.")

Peter kommt aus Nürnberg. ("Peter comes from Nuremberg.")

Prepositions with "die Schule"

Grammar 29: Die Schule

Lars geht in die Schule. ("Lars goes to school.")

Mutti bringt mich in die Schule. ("Mummy takes me to school.")

Mareike fährt zur Schule. ("Mareike drives to school.")

Lars ist in der Schule. ("Lars is at school.")

Sie ist Lehrerin auf einer Grundschule.("She teaches in a primary school.")

Um drei Uhr verlasse ich die Schule. ("I leave school at three o'clock.")

Notes As a school is a building which you can be "inside", the preposition used for going

into a school is "in" (+ Accusative). It cannot be used in the third example however as Mareike is driving to school. To use the German preposition "in" here would imply that she drove her car into the school building itself! As the example suggests, you should instead use the preposition "zu" (+ Dative), which indicates motion up to, but not inside a place or building. The preposition used for being physically inside a school is "in" (+ Dative). The prepositions "auf" (+ Dative) or "an" (+ Dative) are used with academic institutions at which a person is employed. The verb "verlassen" equates to "to leave" in English. It is used to describe movements out of buildings as opposed to rooms. "Verlassen" is a transitive verb, which means that it has to be followed by an accusative (direct) object - i.e. "die Schule". You cannot simply say "Ich verlasse".

Prepositions with "das Haus" "Das Haus" is literally the German word for a house. Even though a large number of Germans live in a flat (= "die Wohnung"), "das Haus" is nevertheless used to translate "home".

Grammar 30: Das Haus

Ich gehe nach Hause. ("I go home.")

Ich bin zu Hause. ("I am at home.")

Ich gehe aus dem Haus. Ich verlasse das Haus. ("I leave home.")

In older German, some masculine and neuter nouns, particularly those of one syllable, added "-e" in the dative singular. This is now extremely uncommon in modern German. The practice persists however with certain set phrases involving "das Haus" - the phrases "nach Hause" kommen and "zu Hause sein" always add the additional "-e". It is rare however to find the "-e" in the expression "aus dem Haus gehen". You must of course never add it in the expression "ich verlasse das Haus", as the noun is here in the accusative case.

Prepositions used with meals Note the different prepositional constructions used to translate the different meals of the day:

Grammar 31: Prepositions and meals

Zum Frühstück esse ich Müesli. ("I have muesli for breakfast.")

Zu Mittag esse ich eine Pizza. ("I have a pizza for lunch.")

Zum Abendbrot esse ich Fisch. ("I have fish for tea.")

The German word for "lunch" is "das Mittagessen", but the phrase for "to have lunch" is "zu Mittag essen". You would use the construction "zum Mittagessen" when you are describing what there is for lunch - i.e. "Zum Mittagessen gibt es eine Pizza" ("There is pizza for lunch").

10.19 Vocabulary: Clothes (1)

In the vocabulary sections of this chapter, we shall be dealing with clothes and hobbies. Firstly here is a list of the different verbs used to translate "wearing", "putting on" and "taking off" clothes. Pay particular attention to the different compounds of the verb "ziehen" and the different cases which the object is in depending on whether you are referring to the whole process of getting changed or just one item of clothing.

Vocabulary 13: The verb "tragen"

tragen (du trägst, er trägt)

to wear (see Chapter 10.11)

was trägst du? was tragen Sie?

what are you wearing?

ich trage einen grauen Mantel

I'm wearing a grey coat

Lars trägt eine blaue Hose

Lars is wearing blue trousers

Trägst du eine Brille?

Do you wear glasses?

Anja trägt keine Socken

Anja is not wearing any socks Vocabulary 14: Clothing - anziehen

was soll ich anziehen?

what shall I wear?

sich (+ Acc.) anziehen (ich ziehe mich an)

to get dressed (see Chapter 10.8)

sich (+ Dat.) etwas anziehen

to put something on (see Chapter 10.10)

ich ziehe mir die Jacke an

I put my coat on

sich (+ Acc.) ausziehen (du ziehst dich aus)

to get undressed (see Chapter 10.8)

sich (+ Dat.) etwas ausziehen

to take something off (see Chapter 10.10)

du ziehst dir die Schuhe aus

You take your shoes off

sich (+Acc.) umziehen (er zieht sich um)

to get changed

Vocabulary 15: Clothing - other verbs

etwas (+ Acc.) anhaben

to have something on

ich habe die schwarzen Schuhe an

I've got my black shoes on

etwas (+ acc.) anprobieren

to try something on

Robert probiert diesen Sakko an

Robert is trying this sports jacket on

einen Hut aufprobieren

to try a hat on

Katja probiert den gelben Hut auf

Katja is trying the yellow hat on

sich (+ Dat.) den Hut aufsetzen

to put one's hat on

ich setze mir den Hut auf

I put my hat on

den Hut abnehmen

to take one's hat off

Mirjam nimmt den Hut ab

Mirjam takes her hat off

10.20 Vocabulary: Clothes (2)

Having learned the expressions for putting on and taking off clothes, here is a vocabulary list containing articles of clothing and their German equivalents. Pay particular attention to those words which are plural in English, but singular in German!

Vocabulary 15: Articles of clothing

English German

anorak der Anorak (-s)

apron die Schürze (-n)

belt der Gürtel (-)

bikini der Bikini (-s)

blouse die Bluse (-n)

blouson das/der Blouson (-s)

boot der Stiefel (-)

bow-tie die Fliege (-n)

bra der Büstenhalter (-) der BH (-s)

bracelet das Armband (pl. -bänder)

(pair of) briefs (pl.) der Slip (-s)

cap die Mütze (-n)

cardigan (pl.) die Strickjacke (-n)

clothes (pl.) die Kleider (pl.) die Kleidung (no pl.)

coat der Mantel (pl. - Mäntel)

culottes (pl.) der Hosenrock (pl. -röcke)

dinner-jacket der Smoking (-s)

dress das Kleid (-er)

dressing-gown

der Bademantel (pl. -mäntel) der Morgenrock (pl. -röcke)

duffle-coat der Dufflecoat (-s)

(pair of) dungarees (pl.)

die Latzhose (-n)

earring der Ohrring (-e)

fur coat der Pelzmantel (pl. -mäntel)

glasses (pl.) die Brille (-n)

glove der Handschuh (-e)

gym shoe der Turnschuh (-e)

handkerchief das Taschentuch (pl. -tücher)

hat der Hut (pl. - Hüte)

headscarf das Kopftuch (pl. -tücher)

high-heeled shoe der Stöckelschuh (-e)

jacket die Jacke (-n)

jeans die Jeans (-)

jumper der Jumper (-)

knickers (pl.) das Höschen (-) der Schlüpfer (-)

(pair of) lederhosen (pl.)

die Lederhose (-n)

mini-skirt der Minirock (pl. -röcke)

necklace die Halskette (-n)

petticoat der Unterrock (pl. -röcke)

polo-neck sweater der Rollkragenpulli (-s)

pyjamas (pl.) der Schlafanzug (pl. -anzüge)

pullover der Pullover (-) der Pulli (-s)

raincoat der Regenmantel (pl. -mäntel)

sandal die Sandale (-n)

scarf der Schal (pl. -s or -e)

shirt das Hemd (-en)

shoe der Schuh (-e)

shorts (pl.) die Shorts (pl.)

skirt der Rock (pl. - Röcke)

slipper der Hausschuh (-e) der Pantoffel (-n)

sock die Socke (-n)

sports jacket der/das Sakko (-s)

sports shirt das Sporthemd (-en)

stocking der Strumpf (pl. - Strümpfe)

suit der Anzug (pl. - Anzüge)

suit (for women) das Kostüm (-e)

sun-glasses die Sonnenbrille (-n)

sweatshirt das Sweatshirt (-s)

swimming trunks die Badehose (-n)

swimsuit der Badeanzug (pl. -anzüge)

tie die Krawatte (-n) der Schlips (-e)

(pair of) tights die Strumpfhose (-n)

tracksuit der Trainingsanzug (pl. -anzüge)

trainer der Trainingsschuh (-e)

trousers (pl.) die Hose (-n)

T-shirt das T-Shirt (-s)

underpants die Unterhose (-n)

underwear die Unterwäsche (no pl.)

uniform die Uniform (-en)

vest das Unterhemd (-en)

watch die Uhr (-en)

waistcoat die Weste (-n)

wellington boot der Gummistiefel (-)

wristwatch die Armbanduhr (-en)

10.21 Television and radio in Germany

Public broadcasters

Germany has two public broadcasting corporations. The first of these, ARD, was founded in 1954 and comprises eleven regional public television and radio stations. Each of these regional stations contributes programmes to ARD's national television channel "Das Erste" (= "the first"), and also broadcasts its own regional channel known as "das dritte Programm" (= "the third programme"), which concentrates on the culture and politics of their area.

As its name suggests, ZDF (= "Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen") is the second national TV channel. It was launched in 1961, and, unlike ARD, it is structured as a single national corporation.

The Austrian public broadcaster ORF offers two TV channels: ORF 1 and ORF 2. The Swiss national broadcasting company DRS also offers two German-speaking channels - SF1 and SF2 - alongside their French and Italian output.

Licence fees Both ARD and ZDF are funded by public licence fees (Rundfunkgebühren). If a household has a television, or a television and a radio, a licence fee of 16 Euros and 15 cents (DM 31,58) per month must be paid to the central fees office (GEZ) of the public broadcasting corporations. Payment can be made quarterly, every six months or annually and is normally carried out by direct debit or standing order. Individuals with a low income can apply for exemption.

Unlike in Britain, a licence fee of � 5,32 (DM 10,40) per month must also be paid if you only have a radio in the house! This includes radio alarm clocks and even car radios,

although a car driver who is already paying licence fees for a radio at his home address does not need a separate licence for a car registered in his/her name.

Another major distinction to Britain is that licences in Germany are not merely determined "per household" but on the principle of who has access to the television and radio in a given accommodation. Thus a child who lives with their parents but who has a personal income above a certain level has to pay "Rundfunkgebühren" for any TV sets and radios in his/her own room, as do pensioners living with their sons and daughters. Non-married couples are also treated differently in Germany. Whichever of the two partners has the TV and radio licence registered under their name can have as many radios and TV sets as they like, but the other partner must pay a licence fee for any additional sets that he/she has in their room. And students are only exempted from paying licence fees in their university accommodation if their total income (including grants) is below a certain amount! You must apply to the municipal authorities to be exempted from paying licence fees.

Similar licensing agreements exist in the other German-speaking countries, although the licensing situation in Switzerland is comparatively liberal. Unlike in Germany, you only need to register and pay the licence fee once if you share accommodation with your partner and you also do not need to have a separate licence for a holiday home which is not rented out commercially. Click here for more details.

Cable and satellite

In 1981 the Federal Constitutional court recognised the right of the individual German Länder to grant broadcasting licences to private companies, and the broadcasting law of 1987 allowed the creation of private broadcasting companies to compete with public stations. The entertainment channel Sat 1 became Germany's first private television station in 1985, quickly followed by a number of other national and local private broadcasters which can be received via cable and satellite.

Many of these (such as RTL, Pro7, Vox and Kabel 1 and Neun Live) are light entertainment channels, broadcasting a mixture of films, talkshows, soaps and series. Others are purely specialist broadcasters: N24 and N-TV (owned by CNN and Time Warner) are rolling news channels, Bloomberg TV concentrates on business news, the encrypted channel Premiere is a film channel, DSF is a German sports broadcaster, and both MTV Deutschland and Viva are music broadcasters. The impact on the German media scene of the finanical collapse of the Kirch media group, which owns Sat 1, Pro Sieben, Kabel 1, N24, DSF and Neun Live, in April 2002 has yet to fully evaluated. As the pay TV wing of Kirch has broadcasting rights to German Bundesliga football, as well as to the football World Cup and Formula 1 motor racing, jobs may well be at risk in the sproting world as well as in television.

Public broadcasters have also taken the opportunities offered by cable and satellite broadcasting to create a number of new channels. 3Sat offers the best cultural and

documentary programmes from the German, Swiss and Austrian public channels, Arte is a Franco-German cultural co-production, Phoenix is a German current affairs programme, whereas Ki.Ka is a channel for children.

Reception of German programmes in Britain

There are currently over 30 (!) German-language channels broadcasting their programmes unencrypted via the ASTRA satellite, including ARD, ZDF and all the German "third programmes".

A large number of German radio stations also broadcast via the ASTRA satellite, although many of them are digital channels only and you will need a special digital receiver in order to listen to them. As in Britain, this may be an option worth considering, as the number of digital TV channels - such as those offered by ARD Digital - are on the rise. A number of German TV stations allow you to view their programmes via the Internet. Some of them - such as N-TV, Phoenix and Deutsche Welle TV (the German equivalent of BBC World Service) broadcast their TV programme as a livestream. Other broadcasters allow you to watch the current edition of certain programmes as a "video on demand" option.

Viewing habits in Germany

According to a survey of viewing habits carried out on behalf of ARD, 90.2% of Germans watch television several times a week. Only 83.6% of Germans said that they read a newspaper or listened to the radio regularly each week. The viewing figures are slightly higher for women (91.3%) than they are for men (89.1%), and in terms of age groups, the over 60's watch the most television (95.5%), whereas the 20-39 year olds watch the least (85.4%). In 2001, German households spent an average of 333 minutes per week compared with 275 minutes in 1992. There was a pronounced regional difference: families in the former GDR spend an average of 375 minutes per week watching the box, whereas "West" Germans spent only 323 minutes doing so. The same study showed that RTL had leapfrogged Das Erste (ARD) in 2001 to become the most popular TV channel, with the families surveyed watching it for 28 minutes per day, closely followed by Das Erste (26 mins), ZDF and the regional "third programmes" (25 mins). They are followed by channels which are broadcast only on satellite and cabel - Sat 1 (19 mins), ProSieben (15 mins) and Kabel 1 (10 mins). A regional difference is again apparent, with citizens of the former GDR spending much more time - 33 minutes per day - watching both RTL and the regional third programmes.

10.22 Vocabulary: Leisure activities

Here is a list of words and phrases connected with general hobbies and leisure activities. Note again that there are two ways of saying what your favourite hobby is. You can either:

• use "am liebsten" followed by the verb OR • say "mein Lieblingshobby ist" followed by a verbal noun or the noun describing the

activity • the translation of "my favourite leisure activity" shows you just how long German

compound nouns came be - "meine Lieblingsfreizeitsbeschäftigung"!

Vocabulary 16: Leisure - Verbs

Sein Lieblingshobby ist Angeln Am liebsten angelt er

His favourite hobby is fishing.

Mein Lieblingssport ist Eishockey Am liebsten spiele ich Eishockey

My favourite sport is ice hockey.

Lieblings-

favourite

was machen Sie gern in Ihrer Freizeit?

what do you like doing in your spare time?

Haben Sie Hobbys?

Do you have any hobbies?

Am Abend liest Kai gern

Kai likes reading in the evening

Ich spiele gern Fußball, Karten usw.

I like playing football, cards etc.

sich interessieren für (+ Accusative)

to be interested in (see Chapter 10.8)

wir interessieren uns für Musik

we're interested in music

er interessiert sich für Lesen

he's interested in reading

wofür interessierst du dich? wofür interessieren Sie sich?

what are you interested in?

Vocabulary 17: Hobbys

English German

art die Kunst

bar die Bar (-s)

bird-watching die Vogelkunde

book das Buch (pl. - Bücher)

to go bowling kegeln

- bowling alley die Kegelbahn (-en)

camera der Fotoapparat (-e) die Kamera (-s)

to play cards Karten spielen

to play chess Schach spielen

to cook kochen

to dance tanzen

- to go dancing - tanzen gehen

disco die Diskothek (-en) die Disko (-s)

DIY das Do it yourself

to draw zeichnen

to do dressmaking

schneidern

embroidery die Stickerei

to be fun Spaß machen

gardening die Gartenarbeit

- to do gardening

- gärtnern

to go out ausgehen (sep.)

to hike; to ramble

wandern (For "-ern" verbs, see Chapter 10.11)

hobby das Hobby (-s)

interest das Interesse

jigsaw das Puzzlespiel (-e)

to knit stricken

to laze about faulenzen

leisure die Freizeit

leisure activity die Freizeitsbeschäftigung (-en)

leisure centre das Freizeitzentrum (pl. -zentren)

literature die Literatur

to do the lottery Lotto spielen

model-making der Modellbau

- to make models

- basteln (For "-eln" verbs, see Chapter 10.11)

music die Musik

to listen to music

Musik hören

to go bowling kegeln

novel der Roman (-e)

to paint malen

- painting (as hobby)

- die Malerei

photography die Fotografie

- to take photographs

- fotografieren

pub die Kneipe (-n) das Lokal (-e)

radio das Radio

to listen to the radio

Radio hören

to read lesen (irreg.)

to sew nähen

to sing singen

spare time die Freizeit

stamp die Briefmarke (-n)

- to collect stamps

- Briefmarken sammeln (For "-eln" verbs, see Chapter 10.11)

to watch television

fernsehen (sep.)

theatre das Theater (-)

- to go to the theatre

- ins Theater gehen

to travel reisen

to go on a trip einen Ausflug machen

to go for a walk spazieren gehen

youth club das Jugendzentrum (pl. -zentren)

zoo der Zoo (-s) der Tiergarten (pl. -gärten)

10.23 Sport in Germany (1)

An active sporting nation?

In 2001, the number of Germans who were members of the country's 87,000 sports clubs was estimated at 26.8 million - or one in three German citizens and an increase of three million people on the 1990 figure. The actual figure may be closer to 18 million German club members however, as some sportsmen and sportswomen belong to more than one club whereas others are merely passive or social members. This figure is even more impressive if you consider the fact that only 29% of German sportsmen and sportswomen play their sports "primarily in a club" (der Sportverein). 58% of people regularly participating in sport do not belong to any organisation, - i.e. they cycle or jog -, and another 12% use a commercial facility such as a fitness centre (das Fitness-Center) or a dance studio (das Tanzstudio). In fact, the number of fitness centres has more than doubled since 1985, rising from 2,800 to 6,500. Acording to a report commissioned by the Institut für Demoskopie in Allensbach in March 2001, 63% of Germans claim to take part in sporting activities, and 34% do so at least once a week.

The German government is becoming increaingly concerned about the health of the 37% of Germans who do not take part in any sporting activity. Not least for financial reasons - medical research has shown lack of exercise and physical work to be one of the reasons for the increase in cardiovascular diseases, and about 30 per cent of medical costs incurred in Germany result from heart, circulatory or metabolic disorders. This is a major problem in an ageing population, as 52% of German Bewegungsmuffel (= people who don't like exercise) are aged fifty or over, and only one in ten German adults between the age of 35 and 60 does two hours or more of moderate sporting activity. Younger generations are equally threatened by an increasingly sedentary lifestyle characterised by long periods of being seated in front of a computer or television screen.

Keeping Germany fit is the aim of the Deutscher Sportbund (= German Sports Federation), the umbrella organisation for Germany's 16 state sports federations and numerous other specialised sports associations. In terms of numbers, it is the largest organisation in Germany. Under the motto "Sport für alle" (= "Sport for all") the DSB has launched several campaigns to increase mass participation, starting in the seventies with the construction of "Trimm-dich-Pfade", keep-fit trails in parks and woods. Their current campaigns include Sport Pro Gesundheit (= "Sport For Health") and Richtig Fit (= "Properly Fit"), both of which offer courses and information on how best to use sport to stay fit and healthy.

10.24 Sport in Germany (2)

"König Fußball" (King Football)

As in Britain, football is by far the most popular spectator sport in Germany. The football clubs of Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 both attract an average over 60,000 fans per home game in the German Bundesliga, the top division in German football. In third place in terms of attendance is Germany's most successful club in terms of national and international titles - FC Bayern München. Bayern have won the German championship more than anyone else (17 times) and have also won the European Cup / Champions League four times, most recently in 2001. But there are also literally thousands of smaller football clubs throughout Germany. With more than 6.3 million members, the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB) (= German Football Federation) has the largest membership of any sports organisation in Germany.

The success of the German national team has also contributed to the mass appeal of "König Fußball" (= King Football). Germany has won the World Cup three times (1954, 1974, 1990) and has been runners-up on a further four occasions (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002). And footballing heroes such as Uwe Seeler, Franz Beckenbauer, Lothar Matthäus and Jürgen Klinsmann have proved excellent sporting ambassadors for the nation abroad.

German success at the 2002 World Cup

Finishing runners-up at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea was a sensational achievement for the team managed by popular ex-international Rudi Völler. For despite having won the European Championships in 1996, the German national squad had been widely perceived to be in decline. With not enough gifted players coming through the ranks, the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB) launched programmes campaigns aimed at spotting and developing young German talent. Former international striker Jürgen Klinsmann urged German children to start playing street football again in their spare time as he had done as a boy. Expectations in Germany were thus quite low when the 2002 World Cup got started. Germany had required a playoff against Ukraine to qualify at all after an unconvincing qualifying campaign which had included a 5-1 home defeat against England in the Olympic Stadium in Munich.

Yet Germany grew in confidence as the tournament progressed. An 8-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, in which Miroslav Klose scored a hat-trick, laid the foundation for Germany to top a tricky frist-round group which also included Cameroon and Ireland. It was then the turn of defenders such as Sebastian Kehl to shine, as successive 1-0 victories over Paraguay, USA and hosts South Korea took the Nationalelf through to a clash in the finals with Brazil. Although an unfortunate error by goalkeeper Oliver Kahn ultimately handed Brazil a 2-0 victory, he was subsequently voted the player of the tournament by international journalists. And Kahn was cheered louder than anyone when the German team received a heroes welcome on their return to Frankfurt on July 1, 2002

Golden years until 2006? Uli Hoeness, the general manager of Bayern Munich, predicted after the tournament that German football would now experience "golden years". On one level this seems plausible, not least because Germany itself will be hosting the next World Cup finals in 2006. On another level however, domestic football is crying out for the kind of shot in the arm which the unexpected success in the Far East could provide. TV viewing figures for the Bundesliga have been dropping steadily for years. Whereas in

the 1995/96 football season, an average of 6.83 million viewers watched "ran", the Saturday night Bundesliga highlights programme broadcast by Sat 1, the figure had dropped to a mere 4.33 million viewers by December 2001.

And the pay TV channel Premiere, which has been showing all of the Bundesliga matches live for the last two seasons has only managed to attract 2.4 million paying customers. Most damagingly of all, the financial crisis affecting the Kirch media group leaves German football in as uncertain a position as British football after the collapse of ITV Digital. Many big clubs such as Eintracht Frankfurt and 1.FC Kaiserslautern are already in extreme financial difficulties.

Other Sports The German sporting landscape is quite different from that in Britain. Cricket and rugby have very little support in Germany, although rugby union is gradually establishing a presence in some towns and cities. Darts and snooker also enjoy a very limited media presence in Germany.

Winter sports on the other hand enjoy a much greater popularity in the Federal Republic than in the UK. The opportunities for alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing make Germany's mountainous regions a favourite destination for tourists. Both speed skating and in particular ice hockey are big spectator in Germany, with an average of 4,765 fans attending matches in the German ice-hockey league DEL. Germany in fact topped the medal table at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, winning twelve gold, sixteen silver and seven bronze medals. The speed skaters Claudia Pechstein and Anni Friesinger were in record-breaking form. Switzerland finished tenth in the medals table, and Austria finished twelfth.

Alongside basketball, volleyball and - increasingly - American football, handball is a good example of a sport that is much more popular in Germany than it is in Britain. More than five thousand handball clubs with 838,000 members belong to the German handball association Deutscher Handball-Bund (DHB). Germany's cycling boom has developed steadily throughout the 1990s, triggered by the reunification of the country which brought the GDR's highly successful amateur cyclists into the professional fold. Deutsche Telekom, Europe's largest telecommunications and internet service provider, sponsors a cycling team which won the Tour de France two years running, in the shape of the Dane Bjarne Riis in 1996 and then homegrown star Jan Ullrich in 1997, who has also finished runner-up in the race four times in the last six years. Another German cyclist, Erik Zabel, managed won the Tour de France points jersey for Team Telekom six years in a row (1996-2001). It is testimony to the popularity of cycling in Germany that both Ullrich and Zabel regularly triumph in annual national sporting polls.

Other German sports have similarly benefited from the success of individual athletes. Single-minded Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher has won the Formula 1 championship four times, and is joined on the start grid by his brother Ralf as well as compatriots Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Nick Heidfeld. The tennis boom initiated by the Wimbledon victories of Boris Becker, Steffi Graf and Michael Stich lasted for much of the 1990s, although in recent times the pool of German tennis talent seems to have dried up somewhat.

Bernhard Langer�s victories in the US Masters in 1985 and 1993 can be seen to have triggered interest in golf - the number of golf clubs in the Federal Republic increased by 70% in the 1990s to its current figure of over 500. Yet these are primarily private clubs with high membership fees, targetted at the business community, the well-off and overseas tourists. The absence of public municipal golf courses will possibly prove as detrimental to the sport's growth as the lack of public courts has to tennis.

10.25 Vocabulary: Sports

Below is a list of words and phrases connected with sports and leisure activities. Note in particular that there are two ways of saying what your favourite sport or hobby is. You can either:

• use "am liebsten" followed by the verb OR • say "mein Lieblingssport / Lieblingshobby ist" followed by a verbal noun or the noun

describing the activity • the translation of "my favourite leisure activity" shows you just how long German

compound nouns came be - "meine Lieblingsfreizeitsbeschäftigung"!

Vocabulary 18: Leisure - Sportarten

English German

to do aerobics Aerobic machen

alpine skiing der Ski alpin

American football der Football

archery das Bogenschießen

athletics die Leichtathletik

badminton das Badminton der Federball

baseball der Baseball

basketball der Basketball

bobsleigh der Bob

boxing der Boxsport

- to box - boxen

bungee jumping das Bungeespringen

to climb klettern

cricket das Kricket

cross-country skiing

der Skilanglauf

cycling der Radsport

- to cycle - Rad fahren

fencing der Fechtsport

- to fence - fechten

figure skating der Eiskunstlauf

to fish angeln

football der Fußball

golf der Golf

- to play golf - Golf spielen

gymnastics die Gymnastik

- to do gymnastics - turnen

handball der Handball

hockey der Hockey

to hunt jagen

ice hockey der Eishockey

to ice skate Schlittschuh laufen

to jog joggen

judo das Judo

long jump der Weitsprung

to luge rodeln

motorcycling der Motorradsport

motorracing der Rennsport

mountaineering das Bergsteigen

polo das Polo

riding der Reitsport

to ride reiten

to row rudern

rugby das Rugby

to sail segeln

shooting das Schießen

skateboard das Skateboarden

to ski Ski fahren; Ski laufen

skijumping das Skispringen

sport der Sport (no pl.)

- type of sport die Sportart (-en)

- to do sport Sport treiben

sports centre das Sportzentrum (pl. -zentren)

sports club der Sportverein (-e)

stadium das Stadion (pl. - Stadien)

to swim schwimmen

- to go swimming - schwimmen gehen

swimming pool das Schwimmbad (pl. -

bäder)

table tennis das Tischtennis

tennis das Tennis

to train trainieren

triathlon der Triathlon

volleyball der Volleyball

water polo der Wasserball

weightlifting das Gewichtheben

windsurfing das Windsurfing

to wrestle ringen

Chapter 11: Booking Accommodation

11.1 Am Empfang (1)

Sophie Gerland's boyfriend Marko Tredup, whom we first met in Chapter 1, has been accepted to study at the Dresden University of Technology. He has arrived in the city to sort out his course details and his accommodation for the coming year. He therefore needs to find a hotel room in Dresden for a few days and makes enquiries at the Hotel Ambiente. The hotel receptionist (die Empfangsdame) is called Ursula Wagner.

Conversation 1: Am Empfang (1)

Marko Tredup

Guten Tag. Haben Sie ein Zimmer frei?

Ursula Wagner

Für heute Abend?

Marko Tredup

Ja, für heute Abend.

Ursula Wagner

Möchten Sie ein Einzelzimmer oder ein Doppelzimmer?

Marko Tredup

Ein Einzelzimmer bitte.

Ursula Wagner

Mit Dusche oder mit Bad?

Marko Tredup

Mit Dusche.

Ursula Ich schaue mal nach... ja, natürlich, wir haben

Wagner ein Einzelzimmer frei. Und das ist mit Dusche und WC. Wie lange bleiben Sie?

Marko Tredup

Drei Nächte, vom sechzehnten bis zum neunzehnten Juli.

Ursula Wagner

Also das heißt am 16., 17. und 18. Juli?

Marko Tredup

Ja, genau. Ich fahre am 19. Juli wieder ab.

Ursula Wagner

Und möchten Sie Halbpension haben oder nur Übernachtung mit Frühstück?

Marko Tredup

Nur Übernachtung mit Frühstück. Was kostet das?

Ursula Wagner

In unseren Hotels kostet ein Einzelzimmer 85 Euro pro Nacht, und das ist inklusive Frühstück, Bedienung und Mehrwertsteuer.

Marko Tredup

Das ist ziemlich viel für einen Studenten. Um wie viel Uhr wird das Frühstück serviert?

Ursula Wagner

Das ist ab sieben Uhr im Restaurant, hier geradeaus.

Marko Tredup

Wo ist der Parkplatz für das Hotel? Mein Auto steht hier auf der Straße.

Ursula Wagner

Wir haben eine Tiefgarage mit 200 Stellplätzen.

Marko Tredup

Ausgezeichnet. Und welche Freizeiteinrichtungen haben Sie hier?

Ursula Wagner

Ein Solarium haben wir ... Fitnessraum, Sauna und Schwimmbecken auch.

Marko Tredup

Prima, das freut mich! Werden Kreditkarten akzeptiert?

Ursula Wagner

Ja, wir akzeptieren alle großen Kreditkarten.

Marko Tredup

Gut. Ich nehme das Zimmer.

Ursula Wagner

Würden Sie sich bitte eintragen?

Marko Tredup

Gerne. (He signs the register.)

Ursula Wagner

Wollen Sie mir jetzt bitte folgen? Hier ist Ihr Schlüssel, ich zeige Ihnen Ihr Zimmer. Es ist im obersten Stock und Ihre Zimmernummer ist 426. Der Portier trägt Ihr Gepäck nach oben.

Conversation 1: At the reception desk (1)

Marko Tredup

Hello. Do you have any vacancies?

Ursula Wagner

For this evening?

Marko Tredup

Yes, for this evening.

Ursula Wagner

Would you like a single room or a double room?

Marko Tredup

A single room please.

Ursula Wagner

With shower or bath?

Marko Tredup

With shower.

Ursula Wagner

Let me have a look... yes, of course, we have a single room free. And this is with shower and toilet. How long will you be staying?

Marko Tredup

Three nights, from the sixteenth to the nineteenth of July.

Ursula Wagner

So that would be on the 16th, 17th and 18th of July?

Marko Tredup

Yes, precisely. I'll be departing on the 19th July.

Ursula Wagner

And would you like half-board or just bed and breakfast?

Marko Tredup

Just bed and breakfast. What does that cost?

Ursula Wagner

A single room costs 85 euros per night, and that includes breakfast, service and VAT.

Marko Tredup

That's quite a lot for a student. What time is breakfast served?

Ursula Wagner

From seven o'clock onwards in the restaurant, straight in front of you.

Marko Tredup

Where is the hotel car park? My car is here in the street.

Ursula Wagner

We have an underground car park with 200 parking spaces.

Marko Tredup

Excellent. And what leisure facilities do you have here?

Ursula Wagner

We have a solarium, and also a fitness room, a sauna and a swimming pool.

Marko Great, I'm pleased to hear that! Do you accept

Tredup credit cards?

Ursula Wagner

Yes, we accept all major credit cards.

Marko Tredup

Good. I'll take the room.

Ursula Wagner

Would you like to sign the register?

Marko Tredup

With pleasure. (He signs the register.)

Ursula Wagner

Follow me please. Here is your key, I'll show you your room. It's on the top floor and your room number is 426. The porter will carry your luggage upstairs.

Glossary

das Ambiente ambience

der Empfang reception (desk)

am Empfang at the reception desk

die Empfangsdame (-n)

receptionist

heute Abend this evening

das Einzelzimmer (-)

single room

das Doppelzimmer (-)

double room

die Dusche (-n) shower

das Bad (pl. - Bäder)

bath

nachschauen (sep.) to have a look

der WC (-s) toilet; WC

vom ... bis zum from ... to

am 16., 17. und 18. Juli

"On the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth of July". Note the abbreviated form in German.

ja, genau yes, exactly

abfahren (sep.) to leave, depart

die Halbpension half-board

die Übernachtung (-en)

overnight stay

Übernachtung mit Frühstück

bed and breakfast

pro Nacht per night

inklusive This preposition means "inclusive of; including". It takes the genitive case, which we shall discuss in Chapter 12.

die Bedienung service

die Mehrwertsteuer value added tax, VAT

ziemlich viel quite a lot

für einen Studenten This means "for a student". "Der Student" is a weak masculine noun and "Studenten" is the accusative singular of this (see explanation on Page 9 of this chapter).

um wie viel Uhr? at what time?

servieren to serve

wird ... serviert This means "is served". It is an example of the passive mood in German.

ab sieben Uhr This means "from seven o'clock onwards". The preposition "ab" takes the dative case.

hier geradeaus straight ahead (of you)

der Parkplatz (pl. -plätze)

Here it means "car park". It can also mean "parking space".

die Tiefgarage (-n) underground car park

der Stellplatz (pl. -plätze)

(parking) space

die Freizeiteinrichtung (-en)

leisure facility

das Solarium (pl. -ien)

solarium

der Fitnessraum (pl. -räume)

fitness room

die Sauna (-s) sauna

das Schwimmbecken (-)

swimming pool

das freut mich I'm pleased to hear that

die Kreditkarte (-n) credit card

akzeptieren to accept

werden Kreditkarten akzeptiert?

are credit cards accepted?

sich eintragen (sep.)

This is a separable and reflexive verb meaning "to sign the register".

würden Sie...? This means "would you like to...?" Using the conditional form "würden Sie" is a polite way of asking someone to do something.

wollen Sie...? This also means "would you like to...?" Using the modal verb "wollen" is another polite way of asking someone to do something.

folgen (+ Dative) to follow

der Schlüssel (-) key

zeigen This means "to show". The object that you are showing is in the accusative case and the person to whom you are showing the object is in the dative case.

oberst top

im obersten Stock on the top floor

die Zimmernummer (-n)

room number

der Portier (-s) porter

tragen This means "to carry" in this context. It can also mean "to wear".

das Gepäck luggage

nach oben upstairs

11.2 Am Empfang (2)

The family Schulz arrive at the Hotel Ambiente and Frau Schulz approaches Ursula Wagner to see if accommodation is available at short notice.

Conversation 2: Am Empfang (2)

Frau Schulz

Guten Tag. Ich möchte ein Zimmer für mich und meine Familie reservieren, bitte. Wir sind zwei Erwachsene und zwei Kinder.

Ursula Wagner

Ja, klar. Die Kinder sind wohl beide unter zwölf Jahren, oder?

Frau Schulz

Ja, sie sind erst siebeneinhalb und neuneinhalb Jahre alt.

Ursula Wagner

Sie können also kostenlos in Ihrem Zimmer übernachten. Wir haben Drei- und Vierbettzimmer für Familien. Wie lange wollen Sie bleiben?

Frau Schulz

Eine Woche.

Ursula Wagner

Also vom sechzehnten bis zum dreiundzwanzigsten Juli?

Frau Schulz

Ja, richtig.

Ursula Wagner

Und möchten Sie Halbpension haben, oder nur Übernachtung mit Frühstück?

Frau Schulz

Ähmm ... Halbpension, bitte. Was kostet das?

Ursula Wagner

In unseren Hotels kostet ein Doppelzimmer mit Bad und Balkon 100 Euro pro Nacht, und das ist inklusive Frühstück, Bedienung und Mehrwertsteuer. Halbpension kostet zusätzlich 20 Euro pro Tag.

Frau Schulz

Alles klar.

Ursula Wagner

Haben Sie spezielle Wünsche?

Frau Schulz

Ja. Mein Mann ist behindert. Hat das Hotel Ausstattung für Rollstuhlfahrer?

Ursula Wagner

Ja, natürlich. Wir haben zwei Handicapzimmer für Behinderte im Erdgeschoss. Sie sind rollstuhlgerecht eingerichtet und etwas größer als die übrigen Zimmer. Das Hotel hat natürlich auch einen Lift zu allen Stockwerken.

Frau Schulz

Wir müssen unbedingt ein ruhiges Zimmer haben, wenn möglich in einer Nichtraucheretage.

Ursula Wagner

Ja, das ist kein Problem. Wir haben fünfzehn Nichtraucherzimmer.

Frau Schulz

Wir möchten auch Satellitenfernsehen haben.

Ursula Wagner

In unseren Hotelzimmern gibt es einen Kabelfernseher mit Kabel-TV, Hausvideo und Fernbedienung.

Frau Schulz

Ist das Hotel familienfreundlich?

Ursula Wagner

Ja, wir haben einen Kinderspielplatz für unsere Gäste. Haustiere sind leider aber nicht erlaubt.

Frau Schulz

Gut. Wir nehmen das Zimmer.

Ursula Wagner

Bitte füllen Sie das Anmeldeformular aus. Angenehmen Aufenthalt!

Conversation 2: At the reception desk (2)

Frau Schulz

Hello. I'd like to reserve a room for myself and my family please. We're two grown-ups and too children.

Ursula Wagner

Yes, of course. I assume that the children are both younger than twelve, yes?

Frau Schulz

Yes, they are only seven and half and nine and a half years old.

Ursula Wagner

Then they can spend the night in your room free of charge. We have rooms with three beds and four beds for families. How long do you plan to stay?

Frau Schulz

A week.

Ursula Wagner

That would be from the sixteenth to the twenty-third of July?

Frau Schulz

Yes, that's right.

Ursula Wagner

And would you like half-board or just bed and breakfast?

Frau Schulz

Um ... half-board, please. How much does that cost?

Ursula Wagner

A double room with a bath and a balcony costs 100 euros per night, and that includes breakfast, service and VAT. Half-board costs an additional 20 euros per day.

Frau Schulz

That's fine.

Ursula Wagner

Do you have any special wishes?

Frau Schulz

Yes. My husband is disabled. Does the hotel have wheelchair facilities?

Ursula Wagner

Yes, of course. We have two handicap rooms for disabled guests on the ground floor. They are furnished so as to be suitable for wheelchairs and are a little bigger than the other rooms. The hotel naturally also has a lift to all floors.

Frau Schulz

We absolutely have to have a quite room, if possible on a non-smoking floor.

Ursula Wagner

Yes, that's no problem. We have fifteen non-smoking rooms.

Frau Schulz

We'd also like satellite television.

Ursula In our hotel rooms there are cable TV sets with

Wagner cable TV, in-house video and remore control.

Frau Schulz

Is the hotel family-friendly?

Ursula Wagner

Yes, we have a children's playground for our guests. Unfortunately pets are not allowed.

Frau Schulz

Good. We'll take the room.

Ursula Wagner

Please fill out the registration form. Enjoy your stay!

Glossary

reservieren to reserve, book

der/die Erwachsene adult

wohl This means "no doubt". You could translate this by starting the sentence "I assume that...".

erst This means "only" and is used with time phrases.

siebeneinhalb seven and a half

neuneinhalb nine and a half

kostenlos free of charge

übernachten This means "to stay the night". It is an inseparable verb.

das Dreibettzimmer (-)

room with three beds

das Vierbettzimmer (-)

room with four beds

bleiben to stay

zusätzlich This means "additionally". The full meaning is "an additional 20 euros".

der Wunsch (pl. - Wünsche)

wish; desire

behindert disabled

die Ausstattung (-en) facilities; equipment

der Rollstuhl (pl. -stühle)

wheelchair

der Rollstuhlfahrer (-) wheelchair user

das Handicapzimmer (-)

handicap room

der/die Behinderte This means "a disabled person". It is an adjectival noun.

das Erdgeschoss ground floor

im Erdgeschoss on the ground floor

rollstuhlgerecht suitable for wheelchairs

einrichten furnish

eingerichtet furnished

etwas größer als a little bigger than

übrig other

der Lift (-e or -s) lift; elevator

das Stockwerk (-e) This is another word for a "floor" or "storey". It tends to be used when you need to refer to "floors" in the plural.

unbedingt absolutely

wir müssen unbedingt...

we absolutely have to...

ruhig quiet

wenn möglich if possible

die Nichtraucheretage (-n)

non-smoking floor

kein Problem no problem

das Nichtraucherzimmer (-)

non-smoking room

das Satellitenfernsehen

satellite TV (i.e. as a medium)

der Kabelfernseher (-) cable television set

das Kabel-TV cable TV (i.e. as a medium)

das Hausvideo in-house video

die Fernbedienung remote control

familienfreundlich family-friendly

der Kinderspielplatz (pl. -plätze)

children's playground

der Gast (pl. - Gäste) guest

das Haustier (-e) pet

erlaubt allowed

ausfüllen (sep.) to fill out

das Anmeldeformular (-e)

registration form

angenehm pleasant

der Aufenthalt (-e) stay

angenehmen Aufenthalt!

This means "enjoy your stay!". Note that the phrase is in the accusative case in German.

11.3 Am Empfang (3)

Detlef Grün rings up the Hotel Ambiente on behalf of his company to try and book accommodation and meeting rooms for a forthcoming conference. His call is answered by Ursula Wagner.

Conversation 3: Am Empfang (3)

Ursula Wagner

Guten Morgen. Hier das Hotel Ambiente Dresden. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?

Detlef Grün

Guten Morgen. Hier Herr Grün von der Firma Köster & Hermann in Chemnitz. Ich möchte für ein paar Kollegen Zimmer reservieren.

Ursula Wagner

Ja, gerne. Wie viele Personen sind das?

Detlef Grün

Elf Personen, das wären also elf Einzelzimmer, und Vollpension für alle.

Ursula Wagner

Und für welches Datum, bitte?

Detlef Grün

Für den 7. und 8. Oktober, also zwei Nächte insgesamt.

Ursula Wagner

Ich schaue mal nach... Ja, das wäre möglich. Haben Sie spezielle Wünsche?

Detlef Grün

Ja, wir brauchen zwei Seminarräume.

Ursula Wagner

Kein Problem. Fünf klimatisierte Konferenzräume mit modernen Tagungseinrichtungen stehen unseren Gästen zur Verfügung. Die Tagungspauschale ist 25 Euro pro Person.

Detlef Grün

Haben alle Zimmer Telefon und Minibar?

Ursula Wagner

Ja, wir haben dreißig stilvolle Businesszimmer mit separatem Schlaf-, Wohn- und Arbeitsbereich. In sämtlichen Businesszimmern gibt es Direktwahltelefon, PC- und Telefaxanschluss, Radiowecker, Farbfernseher, Schreibtisch und Minibar. Wir haben natürlich auch eine Hausbar mit offenem Kamin.

Detlef Grün

Gibt es eine Gruppenermäßigung?

Ursula Wagner

Ja, bei Gruppen von elf bis fünfzehn Personen kostet ein Businesszimmer nur 95 Euro pro Nacht.

Detlef Grün

Gut. Kann ich Sie auch noch fragen... Zwei von meinen Kollegen sind Vegetarier...

Ursula Wagner

Das ist kein Problem. Unser Restaurant ist auch für Vegetarier geeignet. Es gibt ein Vegetariermenü mit internationalen und regionalen Spezialitäten und Ihre Kollegen kommt mit Sicherheit zu ihrem Recht.

Detlef Grün

Alles klar. Wo liegt das Hotel? Wie weit ist es zum Stadtzentrum?

Ursula Wagner

Das Hotel befindet sich in ruhiger Lage nahe der Elbe im Stadtteil Laubegast, circa sechs Kilometer vom Stadtzentrum entfernt. Direkt vor dem Hotel befindet sich eine Straßenbahnhaltestelle. Die Verkehrsanbindungen zu allen wichtigen Autobahnen sind optimal.

Detlef Grün

Das freut mich. Und was für Freizeitmöglichkeiten gibt es in der Nähe vom Hotel?

Ursula Wagner

Recht viele! Am besten schicke ich Ihnen einen Prospekt. Geben Sie mir bitte die Adresse von Ihrer Firma.

Detlef Grün

Köster & Hermann GmbH, Hauptstraße 57, 09117 Chemnitz.

Ursula Wagner

Und auf welchen Namen gehen die Zimmer?

Detlef Grün

Detlef Grün. Meine Telefonnummer lautet 0371 6 57 68 41. Meine Faxnummer lautet 0371 6 57 68 42.

Ursula Wagner

Alles klar. Sie müssen die Reservierung schriftlich bestätigen, bitte.

Conversation 3: At the reception desk (3)

Ursula Wagner

Good morning. This is the Hotel Ambiente in Dresden. How may I help you?

Detlef Grün

Good morning. This is Herr Grün from the Köster & Hermann company in Chemnitz. I would like to book some rooms for some colleagues of mine.

Ursula Wagner

Yes, of course. How many people would that be?

Detlef Grün

Eleven people, so that would be eleven single rooms, and full board for everyone.

Ursula Wagner

And for which date would that be please?

Detlef Grün

For the 7th and 8th of October, so that's two nights in total.

Ursula Wagner

I'll just have a look... Yes, that would be possible. Do you have any special wishes?

Detlef Grün

Yes, we shall require two seminar rooms.

Ursula Wagner

No problem. Our guests have five air-conditioned conference rooms at their disposal with modern conference facilities. The conference charge is 25 euros per person.

Detlef Grün

Do all rooms have telephone and mini-bar?

Ursula Wagner

Yes, we have thirty stylish business rooms with separate sleeping, living and working areas. In all of our business rooms there is a direct-dial telephone, PC connection, fax connection, radio alarm clock, colour TV set, desk and mini-bar. Of course we also have a house bar with an open fire.

Detlef Grün

Is there a reduction for groups?

Ursula Wagner

Yes, for groups of eleven to fifteen people a business room only costs 95 euros per night.

Detlef Grün

Good. Could I also ask... Two of my colleagues are vegetarians...

Ursula Wagner

That's no problem. Our restaurant is also suitable for vegetarians. There is a vegetarian menu with international and regional specialities and your colleagues will certainly be well-treated.

Detlef Grün

That's fine. Where is the hotel? How far is it to the city centre?

Ursula Wagner

The hotel is situated in a quiet location near to the River Elbe in a district called Laubegast, which is about six kilometres from the city centre. There is a tram stop directly outside the hotel. The transport connections to all important motorways are excellent.

Detlef Grün

That's good to hear. And what leisure opportunities are there in the vicinity of the hotel?

Ursula Wagner

Quite a lot! The best thing would be if I sent you a brochure. Please give me the address of your company.

Detlef Köster & Hermann Ltd., Hauptstraße 57, 09117

Grün Chemnitz.

Ursula Wagner

And in what name should I book the rooms?

Detlef Grün

Detlef Grün. My telephone number is 0371 657 6841. My fax number is 0371 657 6842.

Ursula Wagner

OK. You need to confirm your reservation in writing please.

Glossary

die Firma (pl. - Firmen) company; firm

Chemnitz This city in Saxony was called Karl-Marx-Stadt during the GDR period.

der Kollege (-n) colleague

die Person (-en) person

das wären also... that would make...

die Vollpension full board

das Datum (pl. - Daten) date

insgesamt in total

das Seminar (-e) seminar

der Seminarraum (pl. -räume)

seminar room

klimatisiert air-conditioned

die Konferenz (-en) conference

der Konferenzraum (pl. -räume)

conference room

modern modern

die Tagung (-en) conference

die Tagungseinrichtungen (pl.)

conference equipment

zur Verfügung stehen This means "to be available". It literally translates as "to stand at someone's disposal". The person to whom the objects are available (here "unseren Gästen") is in the dative case.

die Pauschale flat rate

die Tagungspauschale (-n)

This is often translated as "conference package" and means the flat rate charged for attending a conference.

die Minibar (-s) mini-bar

stilvoll stylish

das Businesszimmer (-) business room

separat separate

der Bereich (-e) area

der Schlafbereich (-e) sleeping area

der Wohnbereich (-e) living area

der Arbeitsbereich (-e) working area

Schlaf-, Wohn- und Arbeitsbereich

This means "sleeping, living and working area". When two or more compound nouns are listed which share a common final element, this final element can be omitted for the first noun(s) in the list and is replaced by a hyphen.

sämtliche (pl.) all

das Direktwahltelefon (-e)

direct-dial telephone

der Anschluss (pl. -schlüsse)

connection

der PC (-s) PC; personal computer

der PC-Anschluss (pl. -schlüsse)

computer connection

das Telefax fax

der Telefaxanschluss (pl. -schlüsse)

fax connection

PC- und Telefaxanschluss

PC and fax connection

der Radiowecker (-e) radio alarm clock

der Farbfernseher (-) colour television set

der Schreibtisch (-e) desk

die Hausbar (-s) house bar

offen open

der Kamin (-e) chimney

der offene Kamin open fire

die Gruppe (-n) group

die Ermäßigung (-en) reduction

die Gruppenermäßigung (-en)

group reduction

der Vegetarier (-) vegetarian

geeignet This means "suitable". Note that the person for whom the object is suitable normally precedes the adjective itself.

das Menü (-s) menu

das Vegetariermenü (-s)

vegetarian menu

international international

regional regional

die Spezialität (-en) speciality

mit Sicherheit certainly

sie kommen zu ihrem Recht

they will be well-treated

das Stadtzentrum (-en) city centre

sich befinden This is a reflexive verb meaning "to be situated".

die Lage (-n) This can either mean "situation" or (as here) "location".

in ruhiger Lage in a quiet location

nahe (+ Dative) This is a preposition meaning "near to" or "close to". It takes the dative case.

die Elbe River Elbe

der Stadtteil (-e) district; part of town

Laubegast This is a district in the south-east of Dresden.

der Kilometer (-) kilometre

nicht weit ... entfernt not far away

direkt directly

die Straßenbahnhaltestelle (-n)

tram stop

die Verkehrsanbindungen (pl.)

transport connections

wichtig important

die Autobahn (-en) motorway

optimal excellent; optimal

was für...? what kind of...?

die Freizeitmöglichkeiten (pl.)

leisure opportunities

in der Nähe von (+ Dat.)

near

recht viele quite a lot

schicken This means "to send". Note that the object that you are sending is in the

accusative case whereas the person to whom you are sending the object is in the dative case.

am besten schicke ich...

"The best thing would be if I sent you". Note that German uses the present tense for this construction.

der Prospekt (-e) brochure

geben Sie mir... (pl.) This is the imperative of the verb "to give". Note that the object that you are giving is in the accusative case whereas the person to whom you are giving the object is in the dative case.

die Adresse (-n) address

GmbH This means "limited company" or "Ltd.". As it is short for "Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung", you can see why the abbreviation is used!

auf welchen Namen...? (+ Acc.)

This translates as "in whose name...?". In this instance, the two-way preposition "auf" takes the accusative case. Note that the weak masculine noun "der Name" adds an "-n" in the accusative case (see explanation on Page 9 of this chapter).

6 57 68 41 German telephone numbers are normally said in pairs. If (as in this case) there is an odd number of digits in the phone number, the first digit is given separately and the following digits are then spoken in pairs.

die Faxnummer (-n) fax number

alles klar OK; fine

die Reservierung (-en) reservation

schriftlich in writing

bestätigen to confirm

11.4 Der Prospekt

Below is the brochure of the Pension Sonnenhof in Dresden. It sets out the facilities that are available, the type of rooms, prices and how to get there.

Text 1: Der Prospekt

Herzlich willkommen in der Pension Sonnenhof!

Unsere beliebte und gastfreundliche Pension befindet sich

im Nordwesten von Dresden, im Grünen aber dennoch verkehrsgünstig gelegen (nur 25 Minuten Fahrtzeit vom Stadtzentrum entfernt). Ganzjährig geöffnet.

Appartements und Zimmer

Wir bieten komplett ausgestattete Ferienwohnungen und Appartements, sowie gemütliche Gästezimmer für Reisende und Suiten mit Blick auf die Elbe oder ins Grüne. Alle Zimmer sind für Rollstuhlfahrer geeignet und verfügen über Klimaanlage und ein Badezimmer mit Dusche/WC, teilweise Badewanne. Zusatzbett auf Anfrage.

Parkanlage

Unseren Gästen steht eine große Parkanlage mit Terrasse, Gartenrestaurant und Liegestühlen zur Verfügung. Hauseigener Parkplatz.

Sächsische Küche

Wir verwöhnen Sie in unserem Restaurant mit einem reichhaltigen Frühstück, gepflegten Getränken und kulinarischen Genüssen am Abend (3-Gang-Menü). Es gibt auch ein Vegetarier- und Kindermenü.

Freizeiteinrichtungen

Ein heller freundlicher Aufenthaltsraum mit Farb-TV steht unseren Gästen zur Verfügung. In 10 Gehminuten ist das Hallenbad erreichbar. In unmittelbarer Umgebung: Eisbahn, Minigolf, Vergnügungspark und Kasino.

Exzellente Verkehrsanbindungen

Unsere Pension ist problemlos erreichbar. Aus Richtung Norden führen die Autobahnen A 13 und A 14, aus Richtung Osten und Westen die A 4 sowie aus Richtung Süden die A 9 und A 72 nach Dresden. Ab Hauptbahnhof direkt per S-Bahn: S3 oder S35 Haltestelle Pankstraße (Entfernung 250 Meter). Von unserer Pension aus erreichen Sie einfach und schnell alle Sehenswürdigkeiten!

Preise

Alle Preise auf Anfrage. Sonderpreise in der Vor- und Nachsaison. Kinderermäßigung ab 12 Jahren.

Unsere Gäste kommen als Fremde und gehen als Freunde!

Text 1: The Guest-House Brochure

A very warm welcome to the Sonnenhof Guest-House!

Our popular and hospitable guest-house is situated in the north-west of Dresden - in the countryside but nevertheless conveniently located (only a 25 minute journey from the city centre). Open all the year round.

Apartments and rooms

We offer fully furnished holiday flats and apartments, as well as comfortable guest rooms for travellers and suites that look out on the River Elbe or the countryside. All of our rooms are suitable for wheelchair users and have air-conditioning and a bathroom with shower/toilet, some of them have a bath. Additional beds available on request.

Park

A large park with terrace, garden restaurant and deckchairs is at our guests' disposal. Car park that belongs to the hotel.

Saxon cuisine

We spoil you in our restaurant with a lavish breakfast, excellent drinks and culinary delights in the evening (3 course menu). There is also a vegetarian menu and a children's menu.

Leisure facilities

A bright friendly recreation room with colour TV is at our guests' disposal. The indoor swimming pool is only 10 minutes walk away. In the immediate vicinity are an ice rink, crazy golf, amusement park and a casino.

Excellent travel connections

You can get to our guest-house without any difficulties. From the north, the A 13 and A 14 motorways go to Dresden, as does the A 4 from the east and the west and the A 9 and the A 72 from the south. From the central station the S-Bahn brings you directly here: take the S3 or the S35, and the Pankstraße bus-stop is 250 metres away. You can reach all the attractions of Dresden easily and quickly from our guest-house!

Prices

All prices are available on request. Special prices at the start of the season and in late season. Child reduction from 12 years upwards.

Our guests arrive as strangers and leave as friends!

Glossary

der Prospekt (-e) brochure

herzlich willkommen a very warm welcome

die Pension (-en) guest-house

beliebt popular

gastfreundlich hospitable

im Nordwesten von (+ Dat.)

in the north-west of

im Grünen in the countryside

dennoch nevertheless

verkehrsgünstig gelegen

conveniently situated (for travel)

die Fahrtzeit (-en) journey time

ganzjährig all the year round

geöffnet open

das Appartement (-s) apartment

bieten This means "to offer". The person to whom the object is being offered is in the dative case, whereas the thing that is being offered is in the accusative case.

komplett completely; fully

ausgestattet furnished

komplett ausgestattet fully furnished

die Wohnung (-en) flat

die Ferienwohnung (-en)

holiday flat

sowie as well as

gemütlich comfortable; cosy

das Gästezimmer (-) guest room

der/die Reisende This is the word for a "traveller". It is an adjectival noun (see explanation on Page 7 of this chapter).

die Suite (-n) suite

der Blick (-e) look; glance

mit Blick auf (+ Acc.) This means "looking out on", with the object that is being looked out on in the accusative case. The German title of the book and film "A Room With A View" was "Zimmer mit Blick".

das Grüne This means "the countryside". It is another adjectival noun.

mit Blick ... ins Grüne looking out over the countryside

verfügen über (+ Acc.)

This means "to have" or "to possess". Unlike "haben" it does not take a direct object, but instead requires "über" followed by the accusative case.

die Klimaanlage (-n) air-conditioning (system)

teilweise This can mean "partially", but here it means "some of them".

die Badewanne (-n) bath tub

teilweise Badewanne some of them have a bath tub

das Zusatzbett (-en) This means an "additional bed". "Zusatz" (= additional) can be used as the first element in a number of compound nouns.

die Parkanlage (-n) park

die Terrasse (-n) terrace

das Gartenrestaurant (-s)

garden restaurant

der Liegestuhl (pl. -stühle)

deckchair

hauseigen (adj.) belonging to the hotel

der Parkplatz (pl. -plätze)

car park

sächsisch This means "Saxon". Dresden is in Saxony.

die Küche This means "cuisine" in this context. It more commonly means "kitchen", as we have already seen.

verwöhnen This means "to pamper or spoil somebody".

reichhaltig substantial

gepflegt This can mean "sophisticated" in other contexts, but when it refers to food and drink it means "excellent".

das Getränk (-e) drink; beverage

kulinarisch (-) culinary

der Genuss (pl. - Genüsse)

delight; pleasure

der Gang (pl. - Gänge)

course (of meal)

das 3-Gang-Menü (-s) three course menu

das Kindermenü (-s) children's menu

hell bright

freundlich friendly

der Aufenthaltsraum (pl. -räume)

day room; recreation room

Farb-TV colour TV

die Gehminute (-n) minute's walk

in 10 Gehminuten in 10 minutes walk

das Hallenbad (pl. -bäder)

indoor swimming pool

erreichbar can be reached; reachable

unmittelbar immediate

die Umgebung surroundings; vicinity

in unmittelbarer Umgebung

in the immediate vicinity

die Eisbahn (-en) ice-rink

das Minigolf crazy golf

der Vergnügungspark (-s)

amusement park

das Kasino (-s) casino

exzellent excellent

die Verkehrsanbindungen (pl.)

transport connections

problemlos without any problems

problemlos erreichbar can be reached without any problems

die Richtung (-en) direction

aus Richtung Norden from the north

führen This normally means "to lead", but it means "to go" when it describes a road.

die Autobahn (-en) motorway

A 13 German motorways start with the letter "A".

der Hauptbahnhof (pl. -höfe)

central station

per S-Bahn This means "with the S-Bahn". The preposition "per" is used as an alternative to "mit" to describe travelling on means of transport. It is used without a following definite article and can take the accusative or (sometimes) the dative case.

Haltestelle Pankstraße the Pankstraße stop

die Entfernung (-en) distance

das/der Meter (-) The German word for "metre" is officially neuter, but often appears in as

a masculine noun in colloquial usage and sometimes even in print.

von unserer Pension aus

from our guest-house

erreichen to reach; to get to

einfach easily

schnell quick(-ly)

die Sehenswürdigkeit (-en)

attraction; sight

alle Preise auf Anfrage all prices available on request

der Sonderpreis (-e) special price

die Saison (-s) (holiday) season

die Vorsaison (-s) start of the season

die Nachsaison (-s) late season

die Kinderermäßigung (-en)

child reduction

ab 12 Jahren from 12 years upwards

als In this context, it means "as" although in can mean "than" when used with the comparative.

der/die Fremde This means "stranger". It is another adjectival noun.

11.5 Zimmer frei?

Meanwhile, back in Berlin, Sophie Gerland rings up the tourist information office in Dresden in an attempt to book a room in a boarding house so that she can come and visit her boyfriend Marko. She does not appear to be having much luck however, as it is summer and much of the accommodation has already been booked up.

Conversation 4: Zimmer frei?

Frau Däbritz

Fremdenverkehrsbüro Dresden, guten Tag.

Sophie Gerland

Guten Tag, mein Name ist Gerland. Ich hätte gern ein Zweibettzimmer mit Dusche in einem Hotel in Dresden reserviert. Ich reise mit einer Bekannten von mir.

Frau Däbritz

Ja gut, und von wann bis wann?

Sophie Gerland

Vom zwanzigsten bis zum vierundzwanzigsten August.

Frau Däbritz

Moment, bitte. Oh, das tut mir Leid, sämtliche Hotels sind für diese Zeit schon voll belegt.

Sophie Gerland

Voll belegt? Schade. Hm, was mache ich denn da? Können Sie mir eine Pension oder ein Hotel garni in der Nähe empfehlen?

Frau Däbritz

Versuchen Sie es mal in der Pension Schmidt, die Telefonnummer lautet 0351 49 56 98. Aber wir sind jetzt in den Sommermonaten und alle Unterkünfte sind bereits ausgebucht...

Sophie Gerland

Können Sie mir Informationen über Jugendherbergen in Dresden geben?

Frau Däbritz

Ja, natürlich. Die Jugendherberge Dresden "Rudi Arndt" liegt in der Südvorstadt und das Jugendgästehaus Dresden befindet sich wenige Minuten Fußweg vom historischen Stadtkern entfernt, gegenüber dem World-Trade-Center. Beide Jugendherbergen sind geeignet für Jugendliche, Studenten und Schulklassen.

Sophie Gerland

Gibt es bestimmte Regeln und Vorschriften in den Herbergen?

Frau Däbritz

Man muss spätestens vor 19 Uhr in der Jugendherberge eintreffen. Man darf nicht rauchen. Man darf keinen Alkohol mitbringen. Man muss nach dem Essen abwaschen. Man muss einen gültigen Herbergsausweis haben...

Sophie Gerland

Auweia! Ich habe keinen Herbergsausweis! Ich werde langsam verrückt!

Frau Däbritz

Wie wär's mit einem Campingplatz? Haben Sie einen Wohnwagen, ein Wohnmobil oder ein Zelt...?

Sophie Gerland

Ich habe ein altes Zelt. Könnte ich einen Stellplatz reservieren?

Frau Däbritz

Da muss ich mal nachschauen. Eine Reservierung ist normalerweise ab 4 Nächten und gegen Anzahlung möglich. Aber mitten in der Hauptsaison ist es unbedingt erforderlich, frühzeitig Unterkünfte zu reservieren!

Conversation 4: Any rooms available?

Frau Däbritz Hello, Dresden tourist information office.

Barbara Zacharias

Hello, my name is Zacharias. I'd like to book a room with two beds and a shower in a hotel in Dresden. I'll be travelling with one of my acquaintances.

Frau Däbritz Yes OK - from when to when?

Barbara Zacharias

From the twentieth to the twenty-fourth of August.

Frau Däauml;britz

One moment please. Oh, I'm sorry, all hotels are already fully booked for this period.

Barbara Zacharias

Fully booked? Oh, that's a shame. Hmm, what will I do now? Could you recommend a guest-house or a bed and breakfast in the vicinity?

Frau Däauml;britz

You could try the Schmidt guest-house, the telephone number is 0351 495698. But we're now in the summer months and all of the accommodation is already booked...

Barbara Zacharias

Could you give me some information about youth hostels in Dresden?

Frau Däbritz Yes, of course. The youth hostel "Dresden Rudi Arndt" is situated in the southern suburb and the youth hostel Dresden is only a few minutes walk from the historic town centre, opposite the World Trade Centre. Both youth hostels are suitable for young people, students and school classes.

Barbara Zacharias

Are there certain rules and regulations in the hostels?

Frau Däbritz You must arrive in the youth hostel before seven o'clock in the evening. Smoking is forbidden. You must not bring any alcohol with you. You have to do the washing-up after meals. You have to have a valid youth hostel card...

Barbara Zacharias

Oh dear! I don't have a youth hostel card! I think I'm going mad!

Frau Däbritz What about a camp site? Do you have a tent, a dormobile or a caravan?

Barbara Zacharias

I have an old tent. Could I book a pitch for the tent?

Frau Däbritz I'll have to have a look. A reservation is usually possible if you are staying more than four nights and on payment of a deposit. But in the middle of high season it is aboslutely necessary to book accommodation in good time!

Glossary

ich hätte gern ... reserviert

I would like to reserve

das Zweibettzimmer (-)

room with two beds

reisen to travel

der/die Bekannte (-n)

This means "acquaintance" or "friend" and is an adjectival noun

von wann bis wann?

from when to when?

voll full; fully

belegt occupied

Sie haben es gut! "You're lucky!" (Literally "You have it good".) The "es" is invariable in this construction.

Schade! What a pity / shame!

was mache ich denn da?

what shall I do now?

das Hotel garni (-s, -s)

This is is the German expression for a "bed and breakfast". Note that both words add an "-s" in the plural.

empfehlen This means "to recommend". The object that is being recommended is in the accusative case, the person to whom the object is being recommended is in the dative case.

versuchen to try

versuchen Sie es mal...

why not try...?

der Sommermonat (-e)

summer month

bereits already

ausgebucht fully booked

die Information (-en)

This means "a piece of information". Whereas English uses "information" only in the singular, German uses "die Information" in the plural unless you are referring to one specific piece of information.

Informationen über (+ Acc.)

information about

die Jugendherberge (-n)

youth hostel

"Rudi Arndt" A lot of German youth hostels are named after people.

die Vorstadt (pl. -städte)

suburb

die Südvorstadt southern suburb

das Gästehaus (pl. -häuser)

guest house

das Jugendgästehaus (pl. -häuser)

This is another word for "youth hostel"

sich befinden to be situated

der Fußweg (-e) walk; footpath

wenige Minuten Fußweg von

only a few minutes walk from

historisch historic

der Stadtkern (-e) city centre

gegenüber (+ Dat.)

opposite

das World-Trade-Center (-)

This means "World Trade Centre" and is one of the many European trade centres to belong to the World Trade Centre Association.

eineinhalb one and a half

für etwas (+ Acc.) geeignet

The word "geeignet" follows the person for whom the object is suitable unless there is a long list of such people.

der/die Jugendliche

The German word for "young person" is another adjectival noun.

der Student (-en) The German word for "student" is a weak masculine noun. See explanation on Page 7 of this chapter.

die Schulklasse (-n)

school class

bestimmt certain

die Regel (-n) rule

die Vorschrift (-en) regulation

die Herberge (-n) hostel

vor 19 Uhr before seven o'clock in the evening

eintreffen (sep.) This is a separable verb meaning "to arrive". Like "ankommen", the place in which you are arriving is in the dative case even though motion is involved.

rauchen to smoke

man darf nicht rauchen

you are not allowed to smoke

der Alkohol alcohol

mitbringen (sep.) This means "to bring with you".

das Essen (-) meal

abwaschen (sep.) to do the washing-up

gültig valid

der Herbergsausweis (-e)

youth hostel card

auweia! oh dear!

werden to become

langsam slowly; gradually

verrückt mad

ich werde langsam verrückt

I think I'm going mad

wie wär's mit...? how about...?

der Campingplatz (pl. -plätze)

camp site

der Wohnwagen (-)

caravan

das Wohnmobil (-e)

dormobile; camper van

das Zelt (-e) tent

der Stellplatz (pl. -plätze)

In this context this means a "pitch for a tent" on a camping site. As we have seen already in this chapter, it can also mean a parking space in a car park.

ab 4 Nächten This means "from 4 nights", i.e. you can book a pitch for your tent if you are staying longer than four nights.

die Anzahlung (-en)

deposit

gegen Anzahlung This means "if you pay a deposit". It is one of many instances where the German language uses a noun where English uses a verb.

mitten in (+ Dative)

in the middle of

die Hauptsaison (-s)

high season

unbedingt absolutely

erforderlich necessary; essential

frühzeitig in good time; early

... zu reservieren This is an infinitive clause meaning "to reserve ..." We will look at this from a grammatical perspective in subsequent chapters.

11.6 The dative plural

German plural nouns add an "-n" when in the dative case unless:

• The plural of the noun already ends in "-n" • The plural of the noun ends in "-s"

Grammar 1: Nouns in the dative plural

The man

der Mann Singular

die Männer Plural

den Männern Dative plural

The guest

der Gast Singular

die Gäste Plural

den Gästen Dative plural

The hotel room

das Hotelzimmer Singular

die Hotelzimmer Plural

den Hotelzimmern Dative plural

The hotel

das Hotel Singular

die Hotels Plural

den Hotels Dative plural

The woman

die Frau Singular

die Frauen Plural

den Frauen Dative plural

The speciality

die Spezialität Singular

die Spezialitäten Plural

den Spezialitäten Dative plural

Examples from this chapter You will already have seen the following instances in this chapter where an "-n" has been added to nouns in the dative plural:

• Wir haben eine Tiefgarage mit 200 Stellplätzen. (We have an underpground garage with 200 parking spaces.) (Singular = der Stellplatz; Plural = die Stellplätze; Dative Plural = den Stellplätzen)

• Das Hotel hat einen Lift zu allen Stockwerken. (The hotel has a lift to all floors.) (Singular = das Stockwerk; Plural = die Stockwerke; Dative Plural = den Stockwerken)

• In sämtlichen Businesszimmern gibt es Direktwahltelefon. (There is a direct-dial telephone in every business room.) (Singular = das Businesszimmer; Plural = die Businesszimmer; Dative Plural = den Businesszimmern)

• Das steht unseren Gästen zur Verfügung. (This is available to our guests.) (Singular = unser Gast; Plural = unsere Gäste; Dative Plural = unseren Gästen)

In the following examples however, the nouns in the dative plural do not add an extra "-n":

• In unseren Hotels kostet ein Einzelzimmer 85 Euro pro Nacht. (In our hotels a single room costs 85 euros per night.) (Singular = unser Hotel; Plural = unsere Hotels; Dative Plural = unseren Hotels)

• Bei Gruppen von 11 bis 15 Personen ... (With groups of eleven to 15 people ...) (Singular = die Person; Plural = die Personen; Dative Plural = den Personen)

• Die Verkehrsanbindungen zu allen wichtigen Autobahnen sind optimal. (Travel connections to all important motorways are excellent.) (Singular = die Autobahn; Plural = die Autobahnen; Dative Plural = den Autobahnen)

Determiners and adjectives in the dative plural As you will have noticed, the dative plural of the definite article is "den", regardless of the gender of the noun. All other determiners (i.e. articles, possessives and all other items that "determine" adjective endings) also end in "-n" in the dative plural - i.e. diesen, meinen, deinen, seinen, ihren, unseren, euren, Ihren, allen, sämtlichen, welchen etc. All adjective endings in the dative plural also end in "-en" - regardless of whether they are in the weak, mixed or strong declension:

Grammar 2: Adjective endings in the dative plural

Weak declension

in Ihren großen Hotelzimmern ("in your big hotel rooms")

aus diesen roten Autos ("out of these red cars")

zu allen wichtigen Autobahnen ("to all important motorways")

bei sämtlichen internationalen Gruppen ("with all international groups")

Mixed declension

nach meinen ersten Nächten ("after my first nights")

vor euren letzten Abenden ("before your final evenings")

mit keinen besonderen Wünschen ("with no particular wishes")

Strong declension

mit modernen Tagungseinrichtungen ("with modern conference facilities")

mit gepflegten Getränken und kulinarischen Genüssen ("with excellent drinks and culinary delights")

in zwei guten Studios ("in two good studios")

Notes Both words meaning "all" - "alle" and "sämtliche" - take weak adjectival endings.

11.7 Adjectival nouns (1)

All adjectives can be used as nouns in German. This is much more common than in English where usage of such adjectives is restricted to certain instances in the plural (the old, the young, the French, etc.). German adjectives used as nouns (or "adjectival nouns") can either refer to people - in which case they are masculine or feminine - or abstract concepts, in which case they tend to be neuter. Here are a list of the adjectival nouns that we have already encountered in this and other chapters, as well as other commonly used adjectival nouns:

Grammar 3: German adjectival nouns

der/die Angestellte (employee)

der/die Fremde (stranger; foreigner)

der/die Bankangestellte (bank employee)

der/die Jugendliche (young person)

der Beamte (civil servant)

der/die Obdachlose (homeless person)

der/die Behinderte (disabled person)

der/die Reisende (traveller)

der/die Bekannte (acquaintance)

der/die Überlebende (survivor)

der/die Deutsche (German)

der/die Verlobte (fiancé(e))

der/die Erwachsene (adult)

der/die Verwandte (relative)

der/die Gefangene (prisoner)

der/die Vorsitzende (chairperson)

Notes 1. Although formed from adjectives, adjectival nouns are written with a capital letter. 2. "Die Beamtin", a female civil servant, is not an adjectival noun. It declines just like a normal feminine noun ending in "-in" and has the plural "die Beamtinnen".

The declension of adjectival nouns German adjectival nouns take exactly the same endings as adjectives would in the same grammatical context. Let us take for example one of the most common adjectival nouns to have been incorporated into the German language - "der Deutsche" (= the German man). It has an "-e" ending because it is:

• masculine • singular • in the nominative case • in the weak declension (i.e. it follows the definite article "der")

Likewise the feminine equivalent "the German woman" is "die Deutsche", because this adjectival noun is feminine, singular, nominative and in the weak declension. (It may help you at first to imagine the adjectival noun followed by "Mann" or "Frau". "Der Deutsche" has the same endings as "der deutsche Mann" and "die Deutsche" has the same endings as "die deutsche Frau".) The full table of endings for adjectival nouns in the weak declension is as follows:

Grammar 4: Adjectival nouns in the weak declension

Singular Masculine Feminine

Nominative der Deutsche die Deutsche

Accusative den Deutschen die Deutsche

Dative dem Deutschen der Deutschen

Plural

Nominative die Deutschen

Accusative die Deutschen

Dative den Deutschen

Notes 1. Adjectival nouns have the same endings as above after other determiners which require the weak declension such as "dieser", "jener", "welcher", "alle" and "sämtliche":

• Mit welchem Deutschen redet er? (To which German (man) is he speaking?)

• Sämtliche Behinderten sind hier. (All of the disabled people are here.)

• Man muss allen Obdachlosen helfen. (We must help all the homeless people.)

2. Note in the following examples how the endings of the determiner and the adjectival noun serve to distinguish between different genders and numbers of people:

• Welche Verwandte besuchen Sie? (Which (female) relative are you visiting?)

• Welche Verwandten besuchen Sie? (Which relatives are you visiting?)

• Welchen Verwandten besuchen Sie? (Which (male) relative are you visiting?)

• Die Empfangsdame spricht mit dem Vorsitzenden. (The receptionist is speaking to the chairman.)

• Die Empfangsdame spricht mit der Vorsitzenden. (The receptionist is speaking to the chairwoman.)

• Die Empfangsdame spricht mit den Vorsitzenden. (The receptionist is speaking to the chairpersons.)

11.8 Adjectival nouns (2)

Mixed declension As we have seen on the previous page, the endings for adjectives used as nouns are dependent on the determiner that precedes it. Below are the endings for the "mixed

declension", i.e. when the adjectival noun follows "ein", "kein" or one of the possessives.

Grammar 5: Adjectival nouns in the mixed declension

Singular Masculine Feminine

Nominative ein Deutscher eine Deutsche

Accusative einen Deutschen eine Deutsche

Dative einem Deutschen einer Deutschen

Plural

Nominative keine Deutschen

Accusative keine Deutschen

Dative keinen Deutschen

Notes 1. The following examples show how adjectival nouns are used with the possessives:

• Ihr Verlobter ist Arzt. (Her fiancé is a doctor.)

• Seine Verlobte ist Ärztin. (His fiancée is a doctor.)

• Wir verhandeln mit unseren Angestellten. (We're in discussions with our employees.)

2. Note once again how the ending of both the determiner and the adjectival noun indicates the gender and the number of the noun:

• Ich reise mit einer Bekannten von mir. (I'm travelling with one of my acquaintances (female).)

• Ich reise mit einem Bekannten von mir. (I'm travelling with one of my acquaintances (female).)

• Sie arbeitet für ihren Verwandten. (She's working for her relative (male).)

• Sie arbeitet für ihre Verwandte. (She's working for her relative (female).)

• Sie arbeitet für ihre Verwandten. (She's working for her relatives.)

Strong declension This is how adjectival nouns decline in the strong declension i.e. after "viele" (many), numbers and when they are not preceded by a determiner.

Grammar 6: Adjectival nouns in the strong declension

Singular Masculine Feminine

Nominative Deutscher Deutsche

Accusative Deutschen Deutsche

Dative Deutschem Deutscher

Plural

Nominative zwei Deutsche

Accusative zwei Deutsche

Dative zwei Deutschen

Notes 1. In practice the singular of the strong declension is rarely used. 2. The following examples shos how the strong declension of adjectival nouns is used in different contexts:

• Viele Reisende brauchen Businesszimmer. (Many travellers require business rooms.)

• Wir fahren mit drei Gefangenen. (We're travelling with three prisoners)

• Fremde haben keinen Zutritt. (No access for strangers!)

Adjectives with adjectival nouns When adjectival nouns are preceded by adjectives, these adjectives - logically enough - have the same endings as the adjectival nouns. For example:

• Wir helfen den kalten Überlebenden. (We are helping the cold survivors.)

• Ein alter Bekannter von mir spielt auch Squash. (An old friend of mine also plays squash.)

• Junge Erwachsene haben oft viele Probleme. (Young adults often have a lot of problems.)

• Ich fahre zu meiner französischen Verlobten. (I'm travelling to my French fiancée's house.)

Neuter adjectival nouns Adjectival nouns that refer to things or abstract concepts are neuter. We have met only one of these so far - "das Grüne", which can means "green" but also means "the countryside". It it is often used with the preposition "in" as in the examples below:

• Unsere Pension befindet sich im Grünen. (Our guest-house is in the countryside.)

• Eure Verwandten fahren ins Grüne. (Your relatives are going to the countryside.)

• Wir bieten Suiten mit Blick ins Grüne. (We offer suites which look out on the countryside.)

11.9 Weak masculine nouns

As the name suggests, this a group of masculine nouns which predominantly denote living beings. Although they are occasionally confused by students with adjectival nouns, they decline in a different way: weak masculine nouns add "-(e)n" throughout the plural and in all singular cases other than the nominative. The table below gives the endings for "der Student" (= (male) student) and "der Name" (= name):

Grammar 7: Declension of weak adjectival nouns

Singular Plural

Nominative der Student die Studenten

Accusative den Studenten die Studenten

Dative dem Studenten den Studenten

Nominative der Name die Namen

Accusative den Namen die Namen

Dative dem Namen den Namen

Examples

• Ihr Bruder ist Student. (Her brother is a student (= nominative).)

• Das ist ziemlich viel für einen Studenten. (That's quite a lot for a student (= accusative).)

• Meine Schwester ist mit einem Studenten verlobt. (My sister is engaged to a student (= dative).)

• Alle Studenten müssen nach dem Essen abwaschen! (All of the male students (= nominative) must wash up after the meal!)

• Wie ist Ihr Name? (What is your name (= nominative)?)

• Auf welchen Namen geht das Zimmer? (In what name (= accusative) should I book the room?)

Male nationalities ending in "-e" These include many of the masculine nouns describing nationalities that we met in Chapter 2.

Grammar 8: Weak masculine nouns - nationalities

der Brite (Briton (male))

der Monegasse (Monegasque man)

der Bulgare (Bulgarian man)

der Pole (Polish man)

der Chinese (Chinese man)

der Portugiese (Portuguese man)

der Däne (Dane (male))

der Rumäne (Romanian man)

der Este (Estonian man)

der Russe (Russian (male))

der Finne (Finnish man)

der Schotte (Scotsman)

der Franzose (Frenchman)

der Schwede (Swede (male))

der Grieche (Greek (male))

der Slowake (Slowak (male))

der Ire (Irishman)

der Slowene (Slovenian man)

der Kroate (Croatian man)

der Tscheche (Czech man)

der Lette (Latvian man)

der Türke (Turk (male))

Other weak masculine nouns ending in "-e" Other weak masculine nouns ending in "-e" that we have encountered so far or are in common usage include:

Grammar 9: Weak masculine nouns ending in "-e"

der Affe (ape)

der Knabe (boy; lad)

der Buchstabe (letter of alphabet)

der Kollege (colleague (male))

der Bulle (bull; policeman)

der Kunde (customer (male))

der Bursche (boy; lad)

der Löwe (lion)

der Experte (expert)

der Name (name)

der Hase (hare; rabbit)

der Neffe (nephew)

der Jude (Jew (male))

der Sklave (slave (male))

der Junge (boy)

der Zeuge (witness (male))

Notes 1. As we shall see in the following chapter, both "der Buchstabe" and "der Name" belong to a separate subdivision of weak masculine nouns and behave differently in the genitive case. 2. You would only use "der Experte", "der Jude", "der Kollege", "der Kunde", "der Löwe", "der Sklave", and "der Zeuge" if you are speaking of male experts, Jews, colleagues etc. The female equivalents have their own separate German noun, all of which end in "-in" - "die Expertin (-innen)", "die Jüdin (-innen)", "die Kollegin (-innen)", "die Kundin (-innen)", "die Löwin (-innen)", "die Sklavin (-innen)" and "die Zeugin (-innen)".

Masculine nouns coming from the Greek and other foreign languages This is particularly the case with masculine nouns ending in "-and", "-ant", "-ent", "-ist", "-krat" and "-log(e)". These primarily (but not exclusively) refer to human beings:

Grammar 10: Weak masculine nouns with certain endings

der Architekt (architect)

der Katholik (Catholic)

der Biologe (biologist)

der Komponist (composer)

der Bürokrat (bureaucrat)

der Monarch (monarch)

der Demokrat (democrat)

der Philosoph (philosopher)

der Diplomat (diplomat)

der Polizist (policeman)

der Elefant (elephant)

der Präsident (president)

der Fotograf (photographer)

der Soziologe (sociologist)

der Journalist (journalist)

der Student (student)

Other German masculine nouns There are a few native German weak masculine nouns which do not end in "-e" in the nominative singular:

Grammar 11: Other weak masculine nouns

der Bär (bear)

der Herr (man; gentleman)

der Bauer (peasant)

der Mensch (human being)

der Bayer (Bavarian)

der Nachbar (neighbour)

der Fürst (prince)

der Narr (fool)

der Graf (count)

der Oberst (colonel)

der Held (hero)

der Prinz (prince)

Note the irregular declension of "der Herr". This weak masculine noun adds "-en" throughout the plural, but "-n" in the singular for all cases other than the nominative.

Grammar 12: Declension of "der Herr"

Singular Plural

Nominative der Herr die Herren

Accusative den Herrn die Herren

Dative dem Herrn den Herren

11.10 Prepositions and questions

It is possible in English (although not always strictly grammatically correct!) to place a preposition at the end of a question. In spoken English therefore you might hear "for which date is this?" or "which date is this for?". This second option does not exist in German as the preposition must be the first element in a question followed by the interrogative as second element. If the interrogative is not invariable (i.e. if its endings can change), then the case of the interrogative - and thus its endings - is determined by the preposition. We have encountered the following combinations of questions and prepositions in this and previous chapters:

Grammar 13: Questions involving prepositions

Welcher?

Auf welchen Namen gehen die Zimmer? ("In which name should I book the rooms?")

Für welches Datum? ("For which date?")

Von welchem Gleis fährt der Zug? ("From which platform does the train leave?")

Mit welchem Bus fährst du?

("Which bus are you travelling on?")

Invariable interrogatives

Um wie viel Uhr wird das Frühstück serviert? ("At what time is breakfast served?")

Von wann bis wann? ("From when to when?")

Was für...? Although the question phrase "was für...?" (= what kind of...?) is comprised of a pronoun and a preposition, it should be considered as a single concept which behaves according to the rules outlined above. This means that the case of the noun that follows "was für...?" depends on the role of the phrase in the clause and not on "für" - i.e. it does not mean that any noun following "was für...?" is automatically in the accusative case. Equally, "was für...?" can be preceded by a preposition which then determines the case of any subsequent noun. Look at the following examples using the weak masculine noun "der Mensch" (see previous page):

Grammar 14: Questions involving "was für...?"

Nominative

Was für ein Mensch ist er? ("What kind of a person is he?")

Accusative

Was für einen Menschen siehst du? ("What sort of a person can you see?")</EM< td>

Was für Freizeitmöglichkeiten gibt es im Hotel? ("What sort of leisure facilities are there in the hotel?")

Dative

Mit was für einem Menschen ist deine Schwester verlobt? ("With what sort of man is your sister engaged?")

In was für einer Pension übernachten wir? ("What sort of guest-house are we spending the night in?")

Questions involving "wie...?" Note the following different question constructions involving "wie...?" that we have encountered in this chapter:

Grammar 15: Questions involving "wie...?"

Wie lange bleiben Sie? ("How long are you staying?")

Um wie viel Uhr wird das Frühstück serviert? ("At what time is breakfast served?")

Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen? ("How may I help you?")

Wie viele Personen sind das? ("How many people will that be?")

Wie weit ist es zum Stadtzentrum? ("How far is it to the city centre?")

Notes 1. Note the type of constructions required for responding to the question "Wie weit ist es zum Stadtzentrum?":

• Wie weit ist es zum Stadtzentrum? (How far is it to the city centre?)

• Das Hotel ist circa sechs Kilometer vom Stadtzentrum entfernt. (The hotel is approximately six kilometres away from the city centre.)

• Unsere Pension ist nur 25 Minuten Fahrtzeit vom Stadtzentrum entfernt. (Our guest-house is only 25 minutes travel away from the city centre.)

• Die Jugendherberge befindet sich nur wenige Minuten Fußweg vom Stadtkern entfernt. (The youth hostel is only a few minutes walk from the city centre.)

• Der Gasthof liegt nur 15 Gehminuten vom Stadtzentrum entfernt. (The inn is only 15 minutes walk from the city centre.)

• Das Stadtzentrum ist etwa 15 Gehminuten entfernt. (The city centre is about 15 minutes walk away.)

2. When in German-speaking countries, remember to give all distances in metres and kilometres, and not yards and miles!

11.11 New prepositions

The preposition "ab" The German preposition "ab" means "from ... onwards" and tends to be used without a following article or determiner. It normally takes the dative case, but it can also take the accusative case in time phrases when it is not followed by a determiner.

Grammar 16: The preposition "ab"

Das ist ab sieben Uhr im Restaurant ("That is from seven o'clock onwards in the restaurant")

Kinderermäßigung ab 12 Jahre(n) ("Child reductions for 12-year-olds and above.")

Eine Reservierung ist ab 4 Nächte(n) möglich. ("A reservation is possible for stays of longer than four nights.")

Ab Hauptbahnhof direkt per U-Bahn ("From the central station you can travel directly using the underground")

The prepositions "per" and "pro" Take care not to confuse these two prepositions. The German preposition "pro" should be used to translate English "per". The German preposition "per" on the other hand is used mainly in commercial German to translate "by" as in a means of doing something, often a means of transport. Both "per" and "pro" take the accusative case, but are almost always used without a following determiner.

Grammar 17: The prepositions "per" and "pro"

Pro

Was ist der Preis pro Tag? ("What is the price per day?")

Ein Einzelzimmer kostet 85 Euro pro Tag. ("A single room costs 85 euros per day.")

Die Tagungspauschale ist 25 Euro pro Person.("The conference charge is 25 euros per person.")

Die Äpfel kosten 50 Cent pro Stück. ("The apples cost 50 cents each.")

Per

Wie Sie uns per Bahn finden: ("How you can find us by rail:")

So erreichen Sie unser Hotel per Straßenbahn: ("This is how you can reach our hotel by tram:")

per Post ("by post")

The preposition "bis" In practice, "bis" is used on its own only with names, adverbs and a few time phrases. Otherwise it is followed by another preposition which determines the case of the following noun. We shall look at "bis" in more detail in subsequent chapters, but for the moment note the construction required to express the date until which you plan to stay somewhere and how to travel "as far as" a place:

Grammar 18: The preposition "bis"

Von wann bis wann bleiben Sie hier? ("From when until when are you staying here?")

Wir bleiben vom ersten bis zum siebten Februar. ("We're staying from the first to the seventh of February.")

Sie bleibt vom 20. August bis zum 24. August. ("She's staying from the twentieth to the twenty-fourth of August.")

Wie weit ist es bis zum Hotel? ("How far is it to the hotel?")

Mit dem Bus Linie 27 fahren Sie direkt bis zur Pension. ("You can travel directly to the guest-house using bus number 27.")

BUT:

von acht Uhr bis neun Uhr ("from eight o'clock until nine o'clock")

Ihr fahrt nur bis Dresden. ("You're only travelling as far as Dresden.")

Notes 1. If you need reminding about how to express dates in German, click here to return to the appropriate page in Chapter 9. 2. Note another construction that you can use to describe the duration of your stay:

• Und für welches Datum, bitte? (And for which date, please?)

• Für den 14. und 15. März, also zwei Nächte. (For the fourteenth and the fifteenth of March, that makes two nights.)

11.12 "Werden" and the passive

Grammar 19: Present tense of "werden" (= to become)

Singular

ich werde I become

du wirst Sie werden

You become (informal/formal)

er/sie/es wird He/she/it becomes

Plural

wir werden We become

ihr werdet Sie werden

You become (informal/formal)

sie werden They become

The German irregular verb "werden" has a number of uses. Its basic meaning is "to become" and it can be combined with both adjectives and nouns:

• Es wird kalt. (It's getting cold.)

• Ich werde langsam verrückt! (I think I'm going mad!)

• Britta will Lehrerin werden. (Britta wants to become a teacher.)

• Es wird Winter. (Winter is coming.)

In addition to this "werden" is used as an auxiliary verb to form the future tense (which we shall look at in the next chapter) and the passive voice which we shall examine here.

The passive voice What is the passive voice? The passive voice is where the subject of the verb experiences the action rather than performs it:

• He was seen (= passive). (He saw (= active).)

• You are being helped by us (= passive). (We are helping you (= active).)

How is the passive voice formed? As the examples above indicate, the passive in English is formed with parts of the verb "to be" and the past participle. This is only one of two possibilities in German, both of which however include the past participle. As we shall not learn how to construct the past participle until a later chapter, it will suffice for the moment to be able to identify it in German passages:

• For the vast number of verbs, the past participle will start with "ge-" and end with either "-t" or "-en" - e.g. "gemacht" (= done), "geschlossen" (= closed).

• Verbs that end in "-ieren" or that have inseparable prefixes also end in "-t" or "-en" but do not start with "ge-". These include two of the past participles that we have encountered in this chapter - "akzeptiert" (= accepted) and "serviert" (= served).

What is the distinction between the two forms of the German passive? If a state is being described as opposed to an action, the present tense of the German passive - like its English equivalent - consists of the present tense of "sein" and the past participle.

• Das Geschäft ist heute geschlossen. (The shop is closed today.)

• Haustiere sind nicht erlaubt. (Pets are not allowed.)

But if an action is being described as opposed to a state, the present tense of the German passive consists of the present tense of "werden" and the past participle.

• Das Geschäft wird jetzt geschlossen. (The shop is being closed now.)

• Wann wird das Frühstück serviert? (When is breakfast served?)

• Werden Kreditkarten akzeptiert? - Ja, wir akzeptieren alle großen Kreditkarten. (Are credit cards accepted? - Yes, we accept all major credit cards.)

Note the word order in all of the above clauses. The verbs "sein" and "werden" occur in the same position as a main verb would in a clause, whereas the past participle comes at the end of the sentence. There will be an extensive explanation of the passive, the past participle and the distinction between a state and an action in a subsequent chapter.

11.13 Compound nouns in lists

To avoid clumsy repetition, German uses hyphens in a list of compound nouns to represent those elements that are common to all nouns in the list:

Grammar 20: Lists of compound nouns

Drei- und Vierbettzimmer (Implied: "Dreibettzimmer und Vierbettzimmer") (Translation: "rooms with three and four beds")

PC- und Telefaxanschluss (Implied: "PC-Anschluss und Telefaxanschluss") (Translation: "PC connection and fax connection")

Schlaf-, Wohn- und Arbeitsbereich (Implied: "Schlafbereich, Wohnbereich und Arbeitsbereich") (Translation: "sleeping area, living area and

working area")

Vegetarier- und Kindermenü (Implied: "Vegetariermenü und Kindermenü")(Translation: "vegetarian menu and children's menu")

Hyphens and compound nouns Hyphens are also used to break up individual compound nouns that would otherwise be difficult to read. This is particularly true in compound nouns were one element is an abbreviation such as "der PC-Anschluss", "der/die HIV-Infizierte" (= HIV-infected person) or "die VIP-Lounge" (= VIP lounge).

One of the changes introduced recently in the German spelling reforms has made it possible to have three (!) of the same letters in a row in a German compound noun. This occurs when the first element of a compound noun ends with a double letter and the second element of the compound noun starts with the same letter. Before the spelling reforms, only two of the three letters would have been written. It is still an accepted variant however to split up such compound nouns with a hyphen, and this version is more common when you have three vowels in a row.

Grammar 21: Same three letters in a row!

3 Consonants 3 Vowels

die Balletttänzerin ("die Ballett-Tänzerin") (ballet dancer)

die Teeei ("die Tee-Ei") (tea infuser)

der Rollladen ("der Roll-Laden") (shutter)

der Kaffeeersatz ("der Kaffee-Ersatz") (coffee substitute)

die Brennnessel ("die Brenn-Nessel") (stinging nettle)

die Hawaiiinseln ("die Hawaii-Inseln") (Hawaii islands)

der Schlussstrich ("der Schluss-Strich") (final stroke)

die Armeeeinheit ("die Armee-Einheit") (army unit)

Common first elements in compound nouns In Chapter 10 we looked at main verbs that appear as the second element in a number of compound verbs. On a similar theme, you may have noticed how certain parts of speech form the first element in many compound nouns and colour the element which follows in a particular way. For example:

Grammar 22: First elements in compound nouns

First element Compound noun

Bade- der Badeanzug

(bathing) (swimming costume) die Badehose (swimming trunks) der Bademantel (bathrobe) die Badewanne (bath tub) das Badezimmer (bathroom)

Einzel- (individual)

das Einzelkind (only child) das Einzelzimmer (single room)

Fern- (distance)

die Fernbedienung (remote control) das Ferngespräch (long-distance call) das Fernsehen (television)

Haupt- (central)

der Hauptbahnhof (central station) die Hauptstadt (capital city)

Sonder- (special)

das Sonderangebot (special offer) der Sonderpreis (special price)

Zusatz- (additional)

das Zusatzbett (additional bed) die Zusatzzahl (additional number)

11.14 Addresses and postcodes

On the following three pages you will find a basic introduction to structuring a German letter.

The address (die Adresse) German addresses are much shorter than British addresses. Whereas British addresses can extend to six or seven lines with their house names, villages, town and counties, addresses in German-speaking countries tend to contain only three lines - the name of the addressee, the street name and number and the town/city together with the post code. Other differences include:

• German street numbers occur after the name of the street and not before - e.g. Hauptstraße 43, Wolburgsweg 36c, Webergasse 7-9.

• Postcodes in German-speaking countries precede the name of the town or city - e.g. 10825 Berlin, 09117 Chemnitz, 01069 Dresden.

Street names (der Straßenname) German street names are usually one or two words long, depending on the nature of the first element of the name. Whereas streets named after people tend to written as one word - e.g. Schillerstraße, Brahmsweg -, cities and regions that appear in street names are for example usually written as a separate word - e.g. Berliner Straße, Frankfurter Allee, Leipziger Platz. The signpost below bears this out. Lothringer Weg is written as two words as it is named after the German word for the region of Lorraine (= Lothringen). Goetheallee on the other hand is written as one word as it celebrates Germany's most famous writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832).

The second element of a German street name is normally a type of thoroughfare as listed in the table below:

Vocabulary 1: Types of German roads

die Allee (-n) (avenue)

der Ring (-e) (ring road)

die Chaussee (-n) (avenue; highway)

der Steig (-e) (path)

der Damm (pl. - Dämme) (road (lit: dam))

die Straße (-n) (road; street)

die Gasse (-n) (lane; alley)

das Ufer (-) ((river-)bank)

die Landstraße (-n) (country road)

der Weg (-e) (way; road)

der Pfad (-e) (path; track)

die Zeile (-n) (row)

der Platz (pl. - Plätze) (square)

Other road names do not contain a type of thoroughfare, but instead describe a landmark in the vicinity of the road - i.e. Am Park, Am Hauptbahnhof, An der Brücke (= bridge).

The postcode (die Postleitzahl) Germany pioneered the idea of post codes back in the early sixties, and the rest of the world imitated the concept. The German word for a postcode is "die Postleitzahl (-en)", which is often abbreviated to "PLZ". The current postcode system was introduced on 1 July 1993 to take account of post-reunification Germany. All addresses now have a five-digit code, with the first two numbers indicating the region and the last three narrowing it down to a specific area of a town or a village. Hence the reason why German addresses are so much shorter than British ones - the postcode supplies all the requisite information. Below is a

map showing the regions of Germany to which the first number of the post code corresponds.

Unlike British postcodes, German postcodes precede the name of the place in addresses. In addition, when writing to one of the German-speaking countries from abroad, people sometimes prefix the postcode with the international country code for the sake of clarity. As Germany has the international country code "D", this produces such postcodes as D-10825 Berlin and D-01069 Dresden. A similar principle applies when writing from overseas to addresses in the other German-speaking countries. Austria has the international country code "A", Switzerland has "CH" and Liechtenstein "FL". As postcodes in these countries have four digits, this produces such postcodes as A-9010 Klagenfurt, CH-4012 Basel or FL-9490 Vaduz. These international country codes are now however increasingly seen as archaic. The correct convention for addressing international letters is not to prefix the postcode with a country code, but to ensure that the country name is written in capital letters in the language of the origin country on a line of its own at the end of the address - e.g. "10825 Berlin, Deutschland", "9010 Klagenfurt, Österreich", "4012 Basel, Schweiz", "9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein". German addresses look different to English ones.

Linie 1 Herrn Professor Frau Herrn

Linie 2 Jens Melzig Dr.Ingeborg Holm Goran Curko

Linie 3 Jenaer Straße 11a Wolburgsweg 36c bei Schmidt

Linie 4 D-10717 Berlin A-8010 Graz Frankenstraße 4

Linie 5 Germany Austria CH-6002 Luzern

Linie 6 Switzerland

Line 1: the person's basic title (Mr = Herrn, Mrs or Ms = Frau, Miss = Fräulein) followed by any other title or rank (Professor, Major etc.). This is except for Dr. and Dipl.-Ing (Diplomingenieur) which precede the name on Line 2.

N.B. There is an "n" after Herr in addresses because this is an accusative.

Line 3: the street, with the house number after it.

Line 4: the place, preceded by the postcode (die Postleitzahl). The postcode may be preceded by "D" for Germany, "A" for Austria or "CH" for Switzerland on letters from outside the country itself. A district of a large town will often be added after the name of the town and joined with a hyphen (e.g. Berlin-Tegel).

Line 5: the country itself.

When writing to someone staying with a family or friend, use "bei" plus the surname, e.g. bei Schmidt. This is then placed on Line 3, after the addressee and before the street name.

Writing to a firm If the name of the company is a person's name, the word Firma can be placed on Line 1. The name of the department and person you want follows the firm's name, and if you writing to a person, precede it with "z.H." = zu Händen (for the attention of).

Linie 1 Firma ZF Friedrich AG

Linie 2 Winni Schäfer Verkaufsabteilung

Linie 3 z.H. Herrn Hamann Postfach 23 96 17

Linie 4 Harbigstraße 13 48637 Coesfeld

Linie 5 14055 Berlin

If you are writing to a specific person with a specific post within a company, you can put:

Linie 1 An Herrn An den

Linie 2 Mike Lünsmann Personaldirektor

Linie 3 Personaldirektor Musterfirma GmbH

Linie 4 Musterfirma GmbH Industriestraße 78

Linie 5 Industriestraße 78 77649 Offenburg

Linie 6 77649 Offenburg

N.B. In typed or printed business mail there is often a blank line before the place on an envelope, but not when the name of the firm is typed on the heading of the letter itself. Thus on an envelope you might see:

Linie 1 An Herrn An den

Linie 2 Mike Lünsmann Personaldirektor

Linie 3 Personaldirektor Musterfirma GmbH

Linie 4 Musterfirma GmbH Industriestraße 78

Linie 5 Industriestraße 78

Linie 6 77649 Offenburg

Linie 7 77649 Offenburg

The Austrian post office's guide to addressing an envelope however clearly states that no blank lines should be included on an envelope - see the separate section on setting out an envelope.

Dear Sir... Yours Faithfully

1) If you do not know the person's name

If you are writing to a firm or an institution and do not know the name of the person to whom you are writing, use "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren," (= Dear Sir or Madam).

You should only use "Sehr geehrte Herren," or "Sehr geehrte Damen," if you are sure that the people to whom you are writing are all male or all female.

In all cases you should close the letter - "Mit freundlichen Grüßen". If you are writing a business letter as a representative of a company, you could also use - "Mit besten Empfehlungen".

If you are a writing to one individual woman whose name you do not know, open with "Sehr geehrte gnädige Frau" and close with "Mit vorzüglicher Hochachtung".

2) If you know the person's job title, but not their name If you are writing (say) to the head of personnel of a company (= "der Personaldirektor"), start with "Sehr geehrter Herr Personaldirektor,". End as usual with "mit freundlichen Grüßen".

3) If you know the person's name

Dear Mr. Wagner Sehr geehrter Herr Wagner, Dear Mrs Wagner Sehr geehrte Frau Wagner,

Dear Mr and Mrs Wagner Sehr geehrte Frau Wagner, sehr geehrter Herr Wagner,

An important point to remember is that Herr / Frau is retained when writing to someone who has a title:

Dear Professor Yates Sehr geehrter Herr Professor Yates, Dear Professor Lauster Sehr geehrte Frau Professor Lauster,

If you are writing to somebody with a title, you should not write their Christian name. Thus the opening formula to write to Dr. Marie Huana is Sehr geehrte Frau Dr. Huana. In all cases, "mit freundlichen Grüßen" would be an acceptable closing formula. A possible (if rather formal) alternative when writing to a female professor would be: "Ich verbleibe, sehr geehrte Frau Professor, mit vorzüglicher Hochachtung Ihr / Ihre..."

N.B. The usage of feminine endings with German titles varies. The feminine endings are no longer used with "Frau Doktor" and "Frau Professor", but they are used with Frau Studienrätin (= "secondary school teacher").

4) When writing to someone in the same profession

In a formal letter: Sehr geehrter Herr Kollege; Sehr geehrte Frau Kollegin,

In an informal letter: Lieber Kollege; Liebe Kollegin, In both cases conclude with: Mit freundlichen kollegialen Grüßen,

5) When writing to a person in a very important position In this case it is usual practice to omit the name:

Addressing a president: Sehr geehrte Frau Präsidentin, Addressing a government minister: Sehr geehrter Herr Bundesminister, In both cases conclude with: Mit vorzüglicher Hochachtung,

Letter-writing vocabulary

Letter headings and initials

our reference unser Zeichen your reference Ihr Zeichen

your message of 13th June Ihre Nachricht vom 13. Juni

our person responsible unser Sachbearbeiter

concerning, re: Betreff: Oder: Betr.:

with reference to Bezug: in replying please quote bei Beantwortung bitte angeben

Applying for an advertised post

an applicant der Bewerber; die Bewerberin

an application die Bewerbung

to apply for something sich um (+ Acc.) bewerben a vacancy die freie Stelle

sich um den Posten der Bankkauffrau bewerben (to apply for the post of bank clerk)

Hiermit möchte ich mich um die ausgeschriebene Stelle als Lehrer bewerben. (I would like to apply for the advertised job as a teacher.) in die engere Wahl gezogen werden (to be short-listed) Bewerbung als Leiter der Anzeigenabteilung. (Application for the post of head of the advertising department.) Ich beziehe mich auf Ihre Stellenanzeige in der heutigen Ausgabe der "Berliner Zeitung" und möchte Sie bitten, mir nähere Angaben über die Stelle zuzusenden. Oder: Ich nehme Bezug auf Ihre Anzeige in der heutigen Ausgabe der "Berliner Zeitung" und wäre Ihnen dankbar, wenn Sie mir nähere Angaben über die Stelle zusenden würden.. (In reply to your advertisement in today's "Berliner Zeitung", I should be grateful if you could send me further details of this post.) In Beantwortung Ihrer Stellenanzeige in der FAZ wäre ich Ihnen für die Berücksichtigung meiner Bewerbung sehr verbunden. (In response to your advertisement in "Frankfurter Allgemeine", I would be grateful if you could consider my application.) Ich möchte mich um die Stelle eines Marketingmanagers bewerben, die Sie im "Spiegel-Online" vom August ausgeschrieben haben. Oder: Hiermit bewerbe ich mich auf Ihre Anzeige im "Spiegel-Online" vom August für die ausgeschriebene Stelle eines Marketingmanagers. (I wish to apply for the post of marketing manager which you advertised in the August edition of "Spiegel-Online".) Mit Bezug auf Ihre Anzeige in der "Tageszeitung" bewerbe ich mich für die oben erwähnte Position. (With reference to your advertisement in the "Tageszeitung", I would like to apply for the aforementioned position.) Ihrer Anzeige in der Juli-Ausgabe von "Kicker" entnehme ich, dass... (I see from your advertisement in the July edition of "Kicker" that ...) Bewerbungen müssen bis spätestens 13. Juni eingehen. (The closing date for applications is the 13th June.)

To whom am I writing?

personnel office die Personalabteilung

personnel officer der Personaldirektor; die PersonaldirektorinOder: der Leiter der Personalabteilung

"To the Personnel Officer" "An den Personaldirektor"

personnel management die Personalführung

"To the Management" "An die Geschäftsführung"

Asking for more details

Könnten Sie mir bitte .... übersenden? (Could you please send me ...?) Für weitere Einzelheiten wenden Sie sich an: (For more details, contact:) Ich beziehe mich auf Ihre Stellenanzeige in der heutigen Ausgabe der "Berliner Zeitung" und möchte Sie bitten, mir nähere Angaben über die Stelle zuzusenden. Oder: Ich nehme Bezug auf Ihre Anzeige in der heutigen Ausgabe der "Berliner Zeitung" und wäre Ihnen dankbar, wenn Sie mir nähere Angaben über die Stelle zusenden würden. (In reply to your advertisement in today's "Berliner Zeitung", I should be grateful if you could send me further details of this post.)

Asking for a reply to a letter

Auf mein Schreiben vom 27. Oktober habe ich noch keine Antwort erhalten.I have received no reply to my letter of 27 October. Bitte bestätigen Sie den Empfang dieses Schreibens. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter. Ich danke im voraus für eine postwendende Antwort. I would be grateful for a reply by return of post. Ich würde mich freuen, bald von Ihnen Nachricht zu erhalten. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Being offered a post

Wir freuen uns, hiermit die Stelle eines / einer ..... anbieten zu können. (We are happy to offer you the post of ...) Mit Bezug auf Ihr Schreiben vom Montag den 12. Januar kann ich Ihnen nun die Position des Systemanalytikers in unserer Firma anbieten. (Further to your letter of Monday the 12th of January, I would like to offer you the post of systems analyst in our firm.) Dieses Angebot gilt bei verbindlicher Bestellung vor dem 24. März des nächsten Jahres. (This offer is subject to your firm acceptance by 24th March next.) Bitte setzen Sie sich mit uns in Verbindung, damit die nötigen Vorbereitungen getroffen werden können. (Please contact us in order to make the necessary arrangements.)

Being turned down for a post

Es tut mir leid, Ihnen mitteilen zu können, dass ... (I regret to inform you that...) Wir müssen Ihnen leider mitteilen, dass der Posten schon besetzt wurde. (We regret to inform that the post has already been filled.) Wir müssen Ihnen leider mitteilen, dass Sie nicht in die engere Wahl gekommen sind. (We regret to inform you that your name has not been put on our short list.) Nach eingehenden Überlegungen kamen wir zu dem Entschluss, dass wir Ihnen im Moment keine Anstellung in unseren Büros anbieten können. (After lengthy considerations we decided that we do not have any work for you in our offices at the moment.) Wir werden Ihren Lebenslauf und Ihre Bewerbung zu unseren Akten legen. (We will keep your CV and application form on file.) Wir werden Ihre Bewerbung zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt berücksichtigen, da wir regelmäßig zusätzliches Personal oder Ersatzpersonal suchen.

(We will keep your application on file as we regularly look for replacement staff.) Bei künftigen Stellenangeboten können Sie sich gerne um einen ähnlichen Posten bewerben. (Please do not hesitate to reply to future advertisements for a similar post.) Ich hoffe, dass diese Entscheidung keine zu große Enttäuschung für sie bedeutet. (I hope that you do not feel too disappointed by this decision.)

Curriculum vitae General phrases

der Lebenslauf (curriculum vitae) Anbei sende ich Ihnen meinen Lebenslauf (Please find enclosed my C.V.) Wie Sie meinem Lebenslauf entnehmen können, habe ich schon in Deutschland gearbeitet. (As you will see from my C.V., I have worked in Germany before.) Aus meinem beiliegenden Lebenslauf erfahren Sie Näheres über meine akademische Laufbahn. (You will learn more about my academic career from the C.V. enclosed within.)

Skills

skills Kenntnisse (pl.)

computer skills PC-Kenntnisse (pl.) - data processing skills - EDV-Kenntnisse (pl.)

- I am familiar with word processors - Ich bin mit der Textverarbeitung vertraut

- I am familiar with Word 6.0 - Textverarbeitung (Word 6.0) ist mir geläufig

- I am familiar with DataBase3 - DataBase3 ist mir geläufig

I can type well Ich kann gut Maschine schreiben

- typing speed - die Schreibgeschwindigkeit

- typewritten - Maschine geschrieben

driving licence der Führerschein - I've lost my driving licence - mir wurde der Führerschein entzogen

my organisational ability mein organisatorisches Können

my sound knowledge of the field meine fundierten Sachkenntnisse (pl.)

to come up to your expectations Ihren Erwartungen entsprechen

Ich bin stets bemüht, meine beruflichen Kenntnisse zu verbessern. (I have always tried to improve my career skills.) Ich besuchte Kurse in Betriebswirtschaft und Datenverarbeitung. (I have taken courses in business management and data processing.) Ich habe einen Abendkurs in Büroorganisation belegt. (I have taken a night-school course in office management.) Spezialkenntnisse (pl.) auf dem Fachgebiet der Psychologie (Special knowledge in the field of psychology) Ich bin sicher, dass ich alle mir anvertrauten Aufgaben als Sekretärin zu Ihrer vollsten Zufriedenheit ausüben würde. (I am confident that I could fulfil all the tasks which you would require of a secretary.) Sie hat die ihr übertragenen Aufgaben stets zur vollsten Zufriedenheit erledigt. (She carried out her work to our complete satisfaction.)

Language skills

Englisch ist meine Muttersprache. (English is my first language.) Haben Sie irgendwelche Sprachkenntnisse? (Do you know any languages?) Ich habe gute mündliche und schriftliche deutsche Sprachkenntnisse.

(I speak and write German well.) Ich spreche fließend Deutsch. (I speak fluent German.) Meine Deutschkenntnisse sind ziemlich eingerostet. (My German is a little rusty.) Mein Handelsdeutsch erwarb ich am Goethe-Institut in London. (I learned business German at the Goethe Institute in London.) Ich habe gute Anfangskenntnisse im Italienischen. (I have some knowledge of Italian.) Ich habe Grundkenntnisse in Russisch. (I have a working knowledge of Russian.) Ich habe Kurse in Spanisch und Französisch mit Erfolg belegt. (I have successfully taken courses in Spanish and French.) Ich kann Schwedisch lesen. (I can read Swedish.) Ich verstehe kein Griechisch. (I don't understand Greek.) Ich möchte meine Sprachkenntnisse verbessern. (I want to improve my language.) Ich würde meine Sprachkenntnisse gerne etwas mehr einsetzen. (I would like to make better use of my languages.) deutschen Sprachunterricht erteilen (to give German lessons) einen Text aus dem Deutschen ins Englische übersetzen. (to translate a text from German into English)

Ich kann nicht gut übersetzen. (I'm not very good at translation.) die zweisprachige Sekretärin (bilingual secretary)

Work experience

"previous employment" "berufliche Tätigkeiten"

die Arbeitsplatzbeschreibung job description

die Berufsbezeichnung job title

der Ferienjob (-s) holiday job

Dienstjahre (pl.) length of service

Meine offizielle Berufsbezeichnung ist ... (My official job title is ...) Ich arbeite zur Zeit in diesem Bereich. (I am currently working in this field.) Ich bin seit 5 Jahren hier tätig. (I have been working here for 5 years.) Ich bin seit 1998 in dieser Stelle. (I started the job in 1998.) Seit vier Jahren bin ich als Sekretärin in einer aufstrebenden kleinen Firma tätig. (I have been a secretary in a small but ambitious company for 4 years.) Die letzten sechs Jahre war ich in der Exportabteilung von EMI tätig. (I was working in the export dept. of EMI for the last 6 years.) Ich habe die nötige Erfahrung für diese Stelle. (I have the necessary experience for this job.)

Erfahrung in diesem Bereich ist erwünscht, aber nicht unbedingt erforderlich. (Experience in the field is preferable but not essential.) Ich verfüge über Berufserfahrung in der Werbebranche. (I have experience of working in advertising.) Ich verfüge über 2 Jahre Büroerfahrung. Oder: Ich habe zwei Jahre Büroerfahrung. (I have 2 years experience of office work.) Ich habe drei Jahre Erfahrung in diesem Bereich. (I have 3 years experience of this kind of work.) viel Berufserfahrung im Bankwesen haben (to have a lot of experience in banking) Ich habe zwar keine Erfahrung auf diesem speziellen Fachgebiet, habe aber ... (Although I have no experience of this type of work, I have ....) Ich bin ausgebildeter Ingenieur. (I was trained as an engineer.) Durch die dadurch gewonnenen Erfahrungen bin ich mit den Aufgaben einer Sekretärin bestens vertraut. (Thanks to this experience I am thoroughly familiar with the job of secretary.) Ich habe mehrere Ferienjobs ausgeübt. (I have had many holiday jobs.) in meiner Funktion als Richter Oder: in meiner Eigenschaft als Richter (in my function as judge)

Qualifications - general

die Qualifikationen (pl.) (qualifications)

Meine Qualifikationen sind folgende: (My qualifications are briefly as follows:) Ich habe die erforderlichen Qualifikationen für die Stelle. (I have the necessary qualifications for the job.) Ich beendete meine schulische Laufbahn 1999. (I left school in 1999.) Ich graduierte von der Universität Exeter in dem Fach moderne Sprachen (Deutsch & Französisch). (I graduated from Exeter University with a degree in Modern Languages (German & French).)

The contract

the contract der Arbeitsvertrag; der Vertrag - der Vertrag mit bestimmter Dauer - fixed term contract

- einen Vertrag unterzeichnen - to sign a contract

- Vertragsbedingungen (pl.) - terms of contract - ein vertraglich zugesichertes Recht - a contractual right

Anbei senden wir Ihnen drei Kopien Ihres Arbeitsvertrags. (Please find enclosed three copies of your contract.) Dieser Vertrag erfordert die Schriftform. (This contract must be drawn up in writing.) Bitte schicken Sie sobald wie möglich zwei unterschriebene Verträge an meine Sekretärin zurück. (Please sign two copies of this contract and return it to my secretary as soon as possible.) Sollten Sie noch Fragen zu den Vertragsbedingungen haben, wenden Sie sich bitte an mich. (Should you have any further questions about the contract terms, please contact me.)

bei ICI unter Vertrag stehen (to be under contract to ICI) Habe ich das Recht auf Rücktritt aus diesem Vertrag? (Do I have the right to withdraw from this conract?)

Work permits

work permit die Arbeitserlaubnis

residence permit das Aufenthaltserlaubnis; die Aufenthaltsgenehmigung

to obtain a work permit eine Arbeitserlaubnis erteilen

Können Sie mir bitte Informationen bezüglich Erhalt einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis zusenden? (Could you send me details about getting a residence permit?)

Requests

Könnten Sie bitte ...? (Could you please ....?) Dürfte ich Sie bitten, das zu tun? (May I ask you to ...?) Ich wäre Ihnen (sehr) dankbar, wenn Sie... Oder: Ich wäre Ihnen zu Dank verpflichtet, wenn Sie... (I would be (very) grateful if you ...) Hätten Sie die Liebenswürdigkeit, mir mitzuteilen, ob Sie ...? (Would you be kind enough to inform me whether you...?) Ich wüßte gerne, ob ich ... (I would like to know whether I ...)

Ich wüßte gerne, wie lange ich ... (I would like to know how long I ...) Ich verlasse mich darauf, dass Sie das tun. (I'm relying on you doing that.) Wir bestehen darauf, dass ... (We must insist that ...) Wir möchten Sie dringend bitten, das nicht zu tun. (We must insist that you do not do that.) Wir möchten Sie dringend auffordern, das zu tun. (You are urgently requested to do that.)

Types of Letter

the letter der Brief (-e)

- a letter of application - der Bewerbungsbrief (-e); - das Bewerbungsschreiben (-)

- handwritten letter - der handgeschriebene Brief

- typewritten letter - der Maschine(n) geschriebene Brief - draft letter - der Entwurf

circular die Wurfsendung

parcel das Päckchen; das Paket

parcel post die Paketpost

Sending a fax

the fax das Fax; das Telefax

to send somebody a fax jdm ein Fax schicken

to fax somebody something jemandem etwas faxen

fax machine die Faxmaschine; das Fax

fax number die Faxnummer

Kann ich von hier aus ein Fax schicken?Can I send a fax from here?

Ending a letter

Ich hoffe, dass Sie meine Bewerbung wohlwollend in Betracht ziehen werden. (I hope that you will look favourably upon my application.) Für weitere Auskünfte stehe ich Ihnen gerne jederzeit zur Verfügung. (Please feel free to ask for any further details which you may require.) Sollten Sie irgendwelche Fragen haben, werde ich sie Ihnen gerne beantworten. (Should you have any queries, I shall be pleased to discuss them with you.) Ich würde mich freuen, bald von Ihnen Nachricht zu erhalten. Oder: Ich hoffe, bald von Ihnen zu hören. Oder: Ich sehe Ihrer Antwort mit Interesse entgegen. (I look forward to hearing from you soon.) Wir danken im voraus für eine postwendende Antwort. Oder: Ich wäre Ihnen dankbar, wenn Sie mir umgehend antworten würden. (I would be grateful if you could reply by return of post.) Wenn ich sonst noch etwas für Sie tun kann, setzen Sie sich bitte wieder mit mir in Verbindung. (If there is anything further that I can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact me.) Ich hoffe, Sie sind hiermit einverstanden. (I trust the foregoing is to your satisfaction.)

Asking if work is available

die Blindbewerbung; die Initiativbewerbung (unsolicited application) Ich schreibe Ihnen in der Hoffnung, dass Sie mir eine Stelle im Bereich ... anbieten können.

(I am writing to you in the hope that you will be able to offer me employment in the field of ...) Als Teil meines Universitätsstudiums würde ich gerne 6 Monate in Deutschland arbeiten. (As part of my university course, I would like to work in Germany for approximately 6 months.) ein Praktikum absolvieren (to go on work placement) Ich möchte mich hiermit erkundigen, ob es möglich wäre, in Ihrer Firma ein sechsmonatiges / zwölfmonatiges Praktikum zu absolvieren. (I am writing to enquire about the possibility of joining your company for 6 / 12 months on work placement.) Haben Sie Stellen für ....? (Do you vacancies for ....?) Ich habe mit Interesse erfahren, dass ... (I was interested to hear that ...) Ich möchte sehr gern in der Werbebranche arbeiten und würde mich freuen, wenn Sie eine entsprechende Arbeit für mich hätten. (I would very much like to work in advertising and wonder whether you are able to offer me work in any capacity.) Ich möchte unbedingt im Verlagswesen / in der Werbebranche arbeiten. (I am very anxious to work in publishing / advertising.)

Reasons for applying for a post

Das Auslandsjahr ist obligatorischer Teil meines Studiums an der Universität Exeter. (As part of my university course I am required to spend a year abroad.) Als Teil meines Universitätsstudiums würde ich gerne 6 Monate in Deutschland arbeiten. (As part of my university course, I would like to work in Germany for approximately 6 months.)

Ich interessiere mich ganz besonders für diese Stelle, weil ich sehr gerne im Verlagswesen arbeiten möchte. (I am particularly interested in this job, because I am very keen to work in publishing.) Ich würde meine Sprachkenntnisse gerne etwas mehr einsetzen. (I would like to make better use of my languages.) Ich würde gerne wieder im Ausland arbeiten. (I would like to work in Germany again.) Ich möchte in Deutschland arbeiten, um meine Sprachkenntnisse zu verbessern und Erfahrungen in der Hotelbranche zu sammeln. (I wish to work in Germany in order to improve my languages and to gain experience of hotel work.) Ich möchte meinen Arbeitsplatz wechseln, weil ... (I would like to change jobs because...) Ich möchte mich verändern. (I would welcome a change.) aus persönlichen Gründen (for personal reasons) aus beruflichen Gründen (for professional reasons) Nachdem ich auf diesem Niveau nun seit einigen Jahren gearbeitet habe, strebe ich eine verantwortungsvollere Tätigkeit an. (Having worked at this level for some years, I am looking for a more responsible position.)

Arranging a meeting

mit jemandem einen Termin ausmachen (to arrange a time for a meeting)

Ich wäre Ihnen sehr verbunden, wenn Sie mich den Termin baldmöglichst wissen lassen. (I would be most obliged if you inform me of the date as soon as possible.) Bitte schlagen Sie einen günstigen Termin für unsere Besprechung vor. (Please suggest a convenient time and date for our meeting.) Ich habe in der Woche vom 20. März Zeit für eine Besprechung mit Ihnen. (I shall be free to meet you some time during the week commencing 20 March.) Der vorgeschlagene Termin kommt mir sehr gelegen / passt mir ausgezeichnet. (The suggested date suits me perfectly.) Tut mir leid, aber an diesem Tag / zu dieser Zeit geht es nicht. (I'm afraid I can't manage the date / time you suggest.) Ich komme gerne zu dem von Ihnen angegebenen Zeitpunkt zu Ihrem Büro. (I will be happy to meet you at your office at the time you suggest.) Ich bin am 2. Februar in Bonn und könnte Sie zwischen 14 und 17 Uhr treffen. (I will be in Bonn on 2 February, and would be free to meet you from 2pm to 5pm.) Sollten Sie den Termin für unsere Besprechung ändern müssen, dann setzen Sie sich bitte so bald wie möglich mit mir in Verbindung. (Should you need to change the time / date of our meeting, please contact me as soon as possible.) eine Sitzung (auf morgen) vertagen (to postpone a meeting (until tomorrow)) Das Datum / die Zeit für die Besprechung wurde auf .... vorverlegt. (The date / time of the meeting has been brought forward to ...) Das Datum / die Zeit für die Besprechung wurde verschoben auf ... (The date / time of the meeting has been put back to ...) Wenn möglich, würde ich die Besprechung gern vorverlegen / verschieben / absagen.

(I'd like to bring forward / postpone / cancel the meeting if possible.)

Acknowledging receipt of a letter

Vielen Dank für Ihr Schreiben vom 13.Juni. (Thank you for your letter of 13th June.) Vielen Dank für Ihr Schreiben, das ich gerade erhalten habe. (Thank you for your letter, which I have just received.) Vielen Dank für Ihr Schreiben, das von X an mich weitergeleitet wurde. (Thank you for your letter, which X has passed on to me.) Vielen Dank für die Zusendung Ihrer Broschüre. (Thank you for sending me your brochure.) Bitte bestätigen Sie den Empfang dieses Schreibens. (Please acknowledge receipt of this letter.)

Accepting a job offer

das Angebot annehmen (to accept the offer) Es freut mich sehr, Ihnen mitteilen zu können, dass ich Ihr Angebot für die Stelle als ... mit Arbeitsbeginn am 28. Dezember gerne annehme. (I am very pleased to say that I would like to accept your offer of the post of ..., commencing on 28 December.) Ich freue mich, Ihnen mitteilen zu können, dass ... (I am happy to inform you that...) Ich würde die Stelle, die Sie mir angeboten haben, sehr gerne annehmen. Wäre es jedoch möglich, das Anfangsdatum auf den 1. April zu verschieben? (I would very much like to accept the post which you have offered me. Would it be possible however to postpone my starting date until the 1st of April?) Ich würde Ihr Angebot sehr gerne annehmen, wenn Sie bereit wären, das Gehalt auf .... zu erhöhen.

(I would be very glad to accept your offer if you agreed to increase the salary to ...) Hiermit bestätige ich, dass ... (I hereby confirm that ...)

Confidentiality

"vertraulich" ("confidential") Ich wäre Ihnen zu Dank verpflichtet, wenn Sie in dieser Sache äußerste Diskretion walten lassen könnten. (I would be grateful if you could show the utmost discretion in this matter.) Ihre Antwort wird selbstverständlich streng vertraulich behandelt. (Your answer will be treated in strict confidence.)

Curriculum vitae: things to include

abroad: im Ausland:

- year abroad - das Auslandsjahr

- term abroad - das Auslandssemester

activities: Tätigkeiten (pl.): - activities outside work - nebenberufliche Tätigkeiten

- cultural activities - kulturelle Tätigkeiten

- sporting activities - sportliche Tätigkeiten

address die Anschrift birth: die Geburt:

- date of birth - das Geburtsdatum

- place of birth - der Geburtsort

dissertation die Diplomarbeit

- dissertation topic - das Diplomarbeitsthema

education: die Ausbildung:

- school education - die Schulbildung

- university education - das Studium

"enclosed" "Anlage"

grant (university) das Stipendium

job experience berufliche Tätigkeiten (pl.)

marital status: der Familienstand:

- single - unverheiratet; ledig

- married - verheiratet

mark: die Note:

- overall mark - die Gesamtnote

membership die Mitgliedschaft

name: der Name:

- full name - der vollständige Name

photograph das Lichtbild

postgraduate studies postgraduatierte Studien (pl.)

skills: Kenntnisse (pl.):

- computer skills - PC-Kenntnisse (pl.)

- language skills - Fremdsprachenkenntnisse (pl.)

- multimedia skills - Multimedia-Kenntnisse (pl.)

- other skills - sonstige Kenntnisse (pl.)

society, club: der Verein:

- a University society - ein universitärer Verein

- a non-University society - ein außeruniversitärer Verein

subject studied das Studienfach

telephone number die Telefonnummer

work experience das Praktikum

Personal qualities

competent kompetent

conscientious gewissenhaft

hard-working fleißig punctual pünktlich

reliable zuverlässig

trustworthy vertrauenswürdig

Ich bin kontaktfreudig. (I am an outgoing person.) Er ist ein äußerst zuverlässiger Mitarbeiter. (He is a thoroughly reliable worker.) Ich habe Freude am selbständigen Arbeiten. (I like taking responsibility.) Ich bin pflichtbewusst. (I have a sense of responsibility.) Im Umgang mit seinen Kollegen zeigte er sich stets hilfsbereit. (He was always helpful to his colleagues.) meine sorgfältige Arbeitsweise (a careful approach to my work)

University vocabulary

Exeter University die Universität Exeter

at Exeter University an der Universität Exeter

to enrol at a university sich an einer Universität einschreiben

first-year student Student(in) im ersten Jahr

during the summer vacation während der Sommersemesterferien

before starting University bevor ich mit meinem Universitätsstudium begann

after graduating in 1999 nach meiner Graduierung 1999

Als Teil meines Universitätsstudiums würde ich gerne 6 Monate in Deutschland arbeiten. As part of my university course, I would like to work in Germany for approximately 6 months.

Ich graduierte von der Universität Exeter in dem Fach moderne Sprachen (Deutsch & Französisch). I graduated from Exeter University with a degree in Modern Languages (German & French).

Types of work

to work arbeiten

- to work in advertising - in der Werbebranche arbeiten

- to work in banking - im Bankwesen tätig sein - to work in the hotel industry - in der Hotelbranche arbeiten

- to work in publishing - im Verlagswesen arbeiten holiday job der Ferienjob (-s)

- I have had many holiday jobs - Ich habe mehrere Ferienjobs ausgeübt

work placement das Praktikum

- to go on a work placement - ein Praktikum absolvieren

full-time job die Ganztagsstelle; die ganztägige Arbeit

- full-time occupation - die Ganztagsbeschäftigung

- to work full-time - ganztägig arbeiten

part-time job der Teilzeitjob (-s); die Teilzeitarbeit; die Teilzeitbeschäftigiung (-en)

- part-time worker - der/die Teilzeitbeschäftigte - I'm only working part-time - Ich arbeite nur Teilzeit

- employed part-time - teilzeitbeschäftigt

- Can I do the job part-time? - Kann ich auf Teilzeit arbeiten?

- She only teaches part-time - Sie unterrichtet nur stundenweise self-employed freiberuflich; selbständig

- a self-employed person - der Freiberufler; die Freiberuflerin

- to be self-employed - freiberuflich für eine Firma arbeiten

freelance work for a publisher freie Mitarbeit bei einem Verlag

short-time work die Kurzarbeit

employee / white-collar worker der/die Angestellte

skilled worker der Facharbeiter

- semi-skilled worker - die angelernte Arbeitskraft

- unskilled worker - der ungelernte Arbeiter; die ungelernte Arbeiterin

employer der Arbeitgeber - equal opportunities employer

- ein Arbeitgeber, der Chancengleichheit praktiziert

English qualifications

O Levels, GCSEs, Standard Grades die mittlere Reife

A Levels, Higher Grades das Abitur (in Germany); die Matura (in Austria, Switzerland)

A Levels/Highers in German, French, Maths

Abitur/Matura in den Fächern Deutsch, Französisch, Mathematik

a degree (in ...) akademischer Abschluss (in ...)

a diploma in industrial management Diplom in Betriebsführung

OND (in ...) zweijähriges Studium an einer technischen Fachschule (in...)

HND (in ...) dreijähriges Studium an einer technischen Fachschule (in...)

MA (in ...) der M.A. (in ...)

MBA der MBA (Magister in Betriebswirtschaftslehre)

MSc Magister der Naturwissenschaften (in ...) PhD (in...) Dr. (der / des ...)

Salary and conditions

salary das Gehalt

- salary increase - die Gehaltserhöhung

- an across the board salary increase - die allgemeine Gehaltserhöhung

- My present salary is X DM per annum

- Zur Zeit verdiene ich DM X im Jahr; Oder: Mein derzeitiges Gehalt ist DM X pro Jahr

- salaried employee - der Gehaltsempfänger

- salary on application - Auskunft über Gehalt auf Anfrage

- salary review - die Gehaltsüberprüfung

wage der Lohn - minimum wage - der Mindestlohn

- guaranteed minimum wage - der garantierte Mindestlohn

- wage earner - der Lohnempfänger

paid holidays der bezahlte Urlaub

- I have five weeks paid holiday

- Ich habe einen jährlichen Anspruch auf fünf Wochen bezahlten Urlaub

to receive a bonus payment eine Prämie erhalten

golden hello die Einstellungsprämie

golden handshake die hohe Abfindung bei Entlassung contributory pension scheme die beitragspflichtige Rentenversicherung

employee benefits Sachbezüge (pl.) für Angestellte equal pay gleicher Lohn (m.)

expense account das Spesenkonto

expenses Spesen (pl.)

flexitime die Gleitzeit fringe benefits Lohnnebenleistungen (pl.)

gross pay der Bruttolohn; das Bruttogehalt

incentive scheme das Anreizsystem luncheon voucher die Essensmarke

maternity benefit das Mutterschaftsgeld

maternity leave der Mutterschaftsurlaub

national insurance die Nationalversicherung net pay der Nettolohn

non-contributory pension scheme die beitragsfreie Rentenversicherung

paternity leave der Vaterschaftsurlaub

payment-by-results system das Leistungslohnsystem

performance-related pay Der leistungsbezogene Lohn probationary period die Probezeit

profit-sharing scheme der Gewinnbeteiligungsplan

redundancy agreement die Entlassungsvereinbarung redundancy payment die Entlassungsabfindung

security of tenure der Kündigungsschutz

statutory deductions gesetzliche Abzüge (pl.)

take-home pay der Nettolohn; das Nettogehalt time-and-a-half die Arbeitszeit zu anderthalbfachem Tarif

Gehalt: ... pro Jahr zusätzlich Kommission / Prämien und Firmenwagen Salary: ... p.a. plus commission / bonuses and a company car Ich würde Ihr Angebot sehr gerne annehmen, wenn Sie bereit wären, das Gehalt auf .... zu erhöhen. I would be very glad to accept your offer if you agreed to increase the salary to ...

Sending a letter

I'd like to send this letter... Ich möchte diesen Brief ... schicken.

- by airmail - per Luftpost

- by registered post - per Einschreiben

- express delivery - per Express / per Eilboten

- as cheaply as possible - auf die billigste Art postage and packing Porto und Verpackung

postage rate Porto

surface mail die Post auf dem Landweg / Seeweg express delivery die Eilzustellung

recorded delivery die eingeschriebene Sendung

Datapost Datapost

Freepost Freepost courier service der Kurierdienst

poste restante postlagernd

by return of post postwendend

postpaid portofrei prepaid envelope der Freiumschlag

window envelope der Fensterumschlag

international reply coupon = der internationale Rückantowrtschein reply paid postcard die Rückantwortkarte

address die Anschrift

- business address - die Geschäftsadresse

- at the above address - unter obenstehender Adresse

- sender's address: - Absender:

postcode die Postleitzahl (PLZ)

P.O. Box 226 Postfach 226 postmark der Poststempel

"date as postmark" das Datum des Poststempels

printed matter Drucksache (f.)

for the attention of Mr. Joyce z. Hd. Herrn Joyce care of, c/o per Adresse

"private" "vertraulich"

"private and confidential" "streng vertraulich" please forward bitte nachsenden

jemandem einen Brief schicken, zusenden (to send somebody a letter) etwas mit getrennter Post senden (to send something in a separate letter) Wie lange wird dieser Brief brauchen?

(How long will this letter take to arrive?) Wie kann ich diesen Brief auf die schnellste Art schicken? (What's the quickest way of sending this letter?) Ich weiß die Postleitzahl nicht. Wo könnte ich sie nachschlagen? (I don't know the postcode. Where can I look it up?) Ich lege einen frankierten Umschlag bei. (I enclose a stamped, addressed envelope)

Offers and offering

Wenden Sie sich bitte jederzeit an mich. (Please feel free to contact me at any time.) Ich kümmere mich gern um diese Sache. (I would be glad to take care of this matter.) Ich wäre gerne bereit, das zu tun Oder: Ich wäre mit Vergnügen bereit, das zu tun.(I would be happy to ...)

Booking accomodation

Ich möchte bei Ihnen Übernachtungen mit Frühstück buchen. (I would like to book bed-and-breakfast accommodation with you.) Ich würde gerne ein Doppelzimmer für meine Frau und mich sowie ein Zweibettzimmer für unsere beiden Söhne (beide unter 12 Jahren) reservieren. (I wish to book one double room for my wife and myself, and one twin-bedded room for our sons, who are both under 12 years of age.) Ich hätte gerne ein Einzelzimmer mit Dusche für zwei Nächte. (I'd like a single room with shower for two nights.) Ich möchte für Herrn Namdar ein Einzelzimmer mit Bad für die Woche nach dem 23. Februar selbst. Herr Namdar bezahlt seine Rechnung selbst. (I wish to reserve a single room with bath for one week from the 23rd February, in the

name of Herr Namdar. Herr Namdar will settle the bill himself.) Bitte betrachten Sie diese Reservierung als bindend, und halten Sie mir das Zimmer frei, auch wenn ich sehr spät am Abend ankommen sollte. (Please consider this a firm booking, and hold the room till I arrive, however late in the evening.) Ich hätte gerne ein Zimmer mit Blick auf .... , wenn möglich. (If possible, I would like a room with a view of ...) Ich hätte gerne ein ruhiges Zimmer. (I would like a room which isn't too noisy, please.) Was sind Ihre Preise? (What are your room rates?) Was kostet eine Übernachtung mit Frühstück? (How much is a room per night, with breakfast?) Können Sie mir bitte ein Prospekt von Ihrem Hotel schicken? (Please send me a brochure about your hotel.) Wir wollen gegen Abend eintreffen, falls nicht dazwischenkommt. (We expect to arrive in the early evening, unless something unforeseen prevents us.) Bitte senden Sie die Rechnung an die obige Adresse. (Please send the bill to the above address.) Welche Kreditkarten nehmen Sie? (Which credit cards do you accept?) Können Sie mir vielleicht ein anderes Hotel empfehlen, das eventuell noch Zimmer frei hat? (Can you suggest another hotel that might have a vacancy?) Ich muss Ihnen leider mitteilen, dass ich aufgrund unvorhersehbarer Umstände meine Zimmerreservierung für die Woche ab dem 5. September stornieren muss.

(Owing to unforeseen circumstances, I am afraid that I must cancel the booking made with you for the week beginning September 5th.) Leider muss ich Sie bitten, meine Reservierung vom 24. August auf den 3. September umzubuchen. (I am afraid I must ask you to alter my booking from 24th August to 3rd September.)

Thanks and best wishes

Vielen Dank schon im voraus Oder: Ich danke Ihnen im voraus für Ihre Bemühungen. (Thanks in anticipation) Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Mühe gemacht haben, mir zu schreiben. (Thank you for taking the trouble to write to me.) Ich danke Ihnen vielmals für Ihre Zeit und Mühe. (I greatly appreciate the time and trouble which you took for us.) Ich danke Ihnen vielmals für all Ihre Bemühungen. (Please accept my grateful thanks for all your efforts.)

Application forms

das Bewerbungsformular (-e); das Antragsformular (-e) (application form) ein Bewerbungsformular ausfüllen (to complete an application form) Hiermit übersende ich Ihnen mein ausgefülltes Bewerbungsformular. (Please find herewith my completed application form.) Ich füge ein Bewerbungsformular bei. Bitte senden Sie es ausgefüllt bis zum 10. Oktober an uns zurück. (I enclose an application form. Please fill it and return it by 10th October.)

Availability for work

Ich könnte diese Stelle im Mai 2001 antreten Oder: Ich könnte Ihnen ab Mai 2001 zur Verfügung stehen. (I shall be available from May 2001.) Ich bin in unangekündigter Stellung. (I am not under notice to leave.) Ich verlasse die Firma auf eigenen Wunsch. (I am leaving the firm at my own request.)

The job interview

das Vorstellungsgespräch; das Einstellungsgespräch (the job interview) das Beurteilungsgespräch (appraisal interview) Ich stehe Ihnen jederzeit zu einem persönlichen Vorstellungsgespräch zur Verfügung. (I am available for a personal interview at any time.) Über ein Vorstellungsgespräch würde ich mich sehr freuen. (I would welcome an interview.) Ich hoffe sehr, dass Sie mir die Gelegenheit zu einem persönlichen Vorstellungsgespräch gewähren werden. (I hope that you will allow me a personal interview.) Ich freue mich, Sie persönlich kennenzulernen. (I look forward to meeting you in person.) Wenn möglich, würde ich lieber an einem Freitag zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch kommen. (If possible, I would prefer to have my interview on a Friday.) Wir möchten Sie hiermit am 20. Juni zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch bitten.

(We would be grateful if you could come here for an interview on the 20th June.) Ich komme gern am 20. Juni zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch in Ihr Büro. (I shall be delighted to attend for interview in your offices on 20th June.) Lassen Sie mich bitte wissen, ob dieser Termin Ihnen ungelegen ist. (Please let me know if this time is inconvenient.) Falls Ihnen dieser Termin nicht passt, setzen Sie sich bitte sofort mit uns in Verbindung. (Please contact us immediately if this is not convenient.) Sollte dieser Termin Ihnen ungelegen sein, wenden Sie sich bitte an meine Sekretärin zur Vereinbarung eines beiderseits akzeptablen Termins. (If this time is not convenient for you, I would appreciate it if you could let my secretary know, and I will arrange the interview for a date that it suitable for us both.)

Replying to a letter

In Beantwortung Ihres Briefes (In reply to your letter) Bezug nehmend auf Ihr Schreiben vom 31 Juli ... (With reference to your letter of 31 July...) Mit Bezug auf Ihr Angebot möchten wir Sie bitten, ... (With reference to your offer we would like to ask you ...) Ich beziehe mich auf Ihre Anfrage vom 14. Februar und sende Ihnen in der Anlage ...(In response to your enquiry of the 14th February, I enclose ...) Ich nehme Bezug auf unser Gespräch vom 23. August (Further to our conversation of 23 August)

Turning down a job offer

das Angebot ablehnen (to refuse the offer) Ich möchte Ihnen mitteilen, dass ich mich nach reiflicher Überlegung leider gezwungen sehe, Ihr Angebot abzulehnen. (Having given your offer due consideration, I regret to say that I am forced to decline your offer.) Es tut mir wirklich leid, aber ich kann Ihr Angebot nicht annehmen. (I'm very sorry but I can't accept your offer.) Ich danke Ihnen herzlich für die Einladung, muss aber leider ablehnen. (I'm afraid I cannot accept your kind invitation.) Es ist mir leider nicht möglich, das zu tun. (I'm afraid I will not be able to do that.) Ich bin nicht in der Lage, das zu tun. (I am not in a position to do that.) Ich kann Ihre Bitte nur unter größten Schwierigkeiten erfüllen. (It will be very difficult for me to fulfil your request.)

References

a reference das Zeugnis (-sse); die Referenz (-en)

a letter of recommendation das Empfehlungsschreiben

a referee die Referenz

Zeugnisse meiner früheren Arbeitgeber vorlegen (to provide references from my previous employers) Auf Verlangen kann ich Ihnen jederzeit Zeugnisse meiner früheren Arbeitgeber vorlegen.

Oder: Wenn Sie wünschen, kann ich Ihnen Referenzen von früheren Arbeitgebern vorlegen. (I can supply references from my previous employers, if you would like them.) Bitte setzen Sie sich nicht mit meinem derzeitigen Arbeitgeber in Verbindung. (Please do not contact my present employers.) Ich wäre Ihnen sehr dankbar, wenn Sie mir gestatten würden, Ihren Namen als Referenz nennen zu dürfen. (I would very much appreciate it if I could include your name in my list of references.) Ich habe mich für den Sommer um eine Stelle als Kellnerin beworben und wurde jetzt gebeten, ein Zeugnis vorzulegen. Wären Sie so freundlich, mir eines auszustellen? Ich wäre Ihnen sehr dankbar dafür. (I have applied for a job of waitress for the summer and they have asked me to supply a reference. I wonder if you would be kind enough to write one for me? I would be very grateful.) Ich wäre Ihnen sehr dankbar, wenn Sie mir so bald wie möglich ein Zeugnis über meine Tätigkeit hier zuschicken könnten. (I would be very grateful if you would send me a reference relating to my time here as soon as possible.) Ich wäre Ihnen sehr verbunden, wenn Sie mir ein Empfehlungsschreiben ausstellen könnten. (I would be very grateful if you could write a letter of recommendation on my behalf.) Da Sie mit meiner Arbeit vertraut sind, wäre ich Ihnen dankbar, wenn Sie eine unparteiische Einschätzung meiner Fähigkeiten geben könnten. (As you are familiar with my work I would be grateful if you could give a fair evaluation of my capabilities.) jemandem als Referenz dienen (to be a referee for somebody) jemandem ein gutes Zeugnis ausstellen Oder: jemandem gute Referenzen ausstellen (to give somebody a good reference)

Man hat mich gebeten, ihm eine Referenz zu geben. (I have been asked to write a reference for him.) Wir wären Ihnen sehr dankbar, wenn Sie uns mitteilen könnten, ob sie Ihrer Meinung nach für diesen Posten geeignet ist. (We would be grateful if you could let us know whether she is suitable for the post.) Könnten Sie uns bitte mitteilen, ob Sie ihn für diese Tätigkeit empfehlen können? (Would you be kind enough to tell us whether you can recommend him for this post?) Ich bin gerne bereit, Ihnen nähere Auskunft über Ellen Bogen zu geben. (I am happy to provide information about Ellen Bogen.) Ich kann Ihnen Bill Anz bestens empfehlen. (I can strongly recommend Bill Anz.) Ich bin überzeugt, dass Harry Bo für den Posten in Ihrer Firma sehr geeignet ist. (I am convinced that Harry Bo is suitable for the post in your firm)

Documents

my application documents meine Bewerbungsunterlagen (pl.)

the original document das Originaldokument (-e)

a copy of a document die Zeugnisabschrift; die Zeugniskopie

an authenticated copy eine beglaubigte Kopie medical certificate das amtsärztliche Zeugnis

You should never send the original documents, but instead approved copies

Sie sollten nie Originaldokumente verschicken, immer nur beglaubigte Kopien.

Enclosing documents

In der Anlage übersende ich Ihnen meinen Lebenslauf und Referenzen. (Please find enclosed my C.V. and references.)

In der Anlage übersende ich Ihnen die üblichen Bewerbungsunterlagen. (I have enclosed the customary application documents.) Aus meinem beiliegenden Lebenslauf erfahren Sie Näheres über meine berufliche Laufbahn. (You will learn more about my career from the CV enclosed within.) In der Anlage sende ich Ihnen einen Scheck über DM X. (I enclose a cheque for X Marks.) Für Ihre Rückantwort lege ich einen frankierten Umschlag bei. (I enclose a stamped, addressed envelope for your reply.) Ich lege einen (internationalen) Antwortschein bei. (I enclose an international reply coupon.) Mit getrennter Post übersende ich Ihnen ... (I am sending under separate cover ...)

Training

training die Ausbildung - training course - der Ausbildungskurs

- training officer - der Ausbildungsleiter

- in-house training - die betriebsinterne Ausbildung - off-the-job training - die außerbetriebliche Ausbildung

- on-the-job training - die innerbetriebliche Ausbildung

- vocational training - die Berufsausbildung trainee; apprentice der/die Auszubildende; der Azubi

- management trainee - der/die Management-Auszubildende

Responsibilities

Ich war verantwortlich für die Publicity. (I was responsible for publicity.)

Ich bin dafür verantwortlich, dass ... Oder: Es ist meine Aufgabe, sicherzustellen, dass ... (I am responsible for ensuring that ...) Meine Aufgabe innerhalb der Firma ist es, ... zu ..... (My role within the company is to ...) Ich kümmere mich um alle Angelegenheiten, die mit ... zu tun haben. (I deal with all matters regarding ...) Ich war für den täglichen Büroablauf verantwortlich. (I looked after the day-to-day running of the office.) Zu meinen Aufgaben gehörte außerdem die Vereinbarung weiterer Termine.(I was also responsible for arranging private appointments.) Ein Teil meines Aufgabengebiets war ... (One of my responsibilities was ...)

German qualifications

Diplom (Dipl.) = diploma after 5-6 years at university Dipl.-Ing = academically qualified engineer

Dipl.-Kfm = business school graduate

Fachabitur = A Levels in a specific subject

FH = qualification from a Fachhochschule

Gesellenprüfung = craftman's certificate

Lehre = apprenticeship

Meisterprüfung = master craftman's certificate

Staatsexamen = first degree required before teacher training

Accommodation / relocation expenses

Würden Sie mir bei der Wohnungssuche behilflich sein? (Would you help me to find accommodation?)

Wir werden Ihnen gerne behilflich sein, vorübergehende Unterkunft zu finden.(We will help you to find temporary accommodation.) Wir werden kostenlos vorübergehende Unterkunft für Sie arrangieren. (We will arrange temporary accommodation for you free of charge.) Würden Sie für meine Umzugskosten aufkommen? (Would you cover my relocation expenses?) Wir kommen für Umzugskosten bis zu einer Summe von ..... auf (We will cover your relocation expenses up to ...)

Telephone and fax vocabulary

telephone das Telefon

telephone number die Telefonnummer

telephone extension die Durchwahl extension number 213 Apparat 213

telephone box die Telefonzelle

telephone directory das Telefonbuch

Yellow Pages das Branchenverzeichnis; die Gelben Seiten directory enquiries die (Fernsprech)auskunft

answering machine der Anrufbeantworter

recorded answerphone message der Ansagetext cardphone das Kartentelefon

carphone das Autotelefon

cellular telephone das Funktelefon

cordless telephone das schnurlose Telefon mobile telephone das Handy (-s)

pager der Funkrufempfänger; die Personenrufanlage

Ich bin jederzeit unter der Telefonnummer 123-4567 zu erreichen. (I can be contacted by phone at any time at the number 123-4567.) Ich bin jederzeit über meinen Anrufbeantworter zu erreichen. (You can leave a message on my answering machine at any time.)

Orders and compulsion

Ich bin verpflichtet, Sie darauf hinzuweisen, dass... (It is my duty to point out that...) Ich sehe mich gezwungen, das zu tun. (I am obliged / forced to do this.) Man ist (dazu) verpflichtet, das zu tun. (It is compulsory to do this.)

Booking accomodation (2)

accommodation die Unterkunft "accommodation offered" "Fremdenzimmer" "accommodation wanted" "Zimmer / Wohnung gesucht"

adjacent rooms nebeneinanderliegende Zimmer air conditioned klimatisiert alarm call der Weckruf

balcony der Balkon

chambermaid das Zimmermädchen to check in sich anmelden

to check out abreisen

check-out time die Abreisezeit

conference facilities die Konferenzräumlichkeiten conference room das Konferenzzimmer connecting rooms angrenzende Zimmer dining room der Speisesaal

double room das Doppelzimmer

emergency exit der Notausgang with en suite bathroom mit Bad foyer die Empfangshalle

full board die Vollpension

function suite die Veranstaltungsräume half board die Halbpension hotel reservation die Hotelreservierung laundry service die Wäscherei lobby die Eingangshalle

lounge der Gesellschaftsraum meeting room der Besprechungsraum mini-bar die Minibar night porter der Nachtportier non-smoking room das Nichtraucherzimmer

porter der Portier receipt die Quittung reception der Empfang; die Rezeption

receptionist (male) der Empfangschef; der Herr am Empfang

receptionist (female) die Empfangsdame; die Dame am Empfang

room rates die Zimmerpreise (pl.)

room service der Zimmerservice secretarial services Schreibdienste (pl.)

single room das Einzelzimmer

sleeping accommodation for six Schlafgelegenheit für 6 Personen suite die Suite

twin beds zwei Einzelbetten

valet service der Reinigungsdienst

Postcodes

Germany Germany pioneered the idea of post codes (= Postleitzahlen) back in the early sixties, and the rest of the world imitated the concept. Under the current system established after reunification all addresses have a five-digit code, and letters are directed not just to cities, but to certain parts of cities. Hence the reason why German addresses are so much shorter than British ones - the postcode supplies all the requisite information.

Dates in German

Unlike English which has several variations (May 2, May 2nd, 2nd May etc.), dates in German are always written the same way - der 2. Mai.

At the head of letters, the accusative form is used, preceded by the name of the place - Exeter, den 2. Mai 2001. Dates written all in numbers are also found in German, particularly in business letters - e.g. Exeter, den 2.5.2001.

Monday May 2nd 2001 Montag, der 2. Mai 2001 With reference to your letter of the 2.5.2001

Bezug nehmend auf Ihr Schreiben vom 2.5.2001

Prepositions in dates "On" with days and dates is translated by "an" (+ Dative) with the definite article, conflated to "am", whether there is a definite article in English or not:

On Friday am Freitag

On May 2nd am 2. Mai On Friday May 2nd am Freitag, den or dem 2. Mai

On the first of next month am nächsten Ersten

"In" with months is translated by "in" (+ Dative) with the definite article, conflated to "im", whether there is a definite article in English or not:

in June im Juni last June voriges Jahr im Juni next June im Juni nächsten Jahres

BUT:

at the start of June Anfang Juni in the middle of December Mitte Dezemberat the end of October Ende Oktober

When giving the year when something happened in German, the year is usually given on its own without any preposition, although "im Jahre" can be added in more formal language:

She died in 1963 Sie starb 1963 Sie starb im Jahre 1963

Date of birth Current usage of "geboren" is as follows: "Ich bin geboren" is used when no other circumstances or only the place of birth are mentioned:

"Ich wurde geboren" is used if further circumstances, such as the date, are given:

Referring to people who are dead, either passive may be used:

I was born in Hamburg Ich bin in Hamburg geboren I was born in 1983 in Blubberhouses

Ich wurde 1983 / im Jahre 1983 in Blubberhouses geboren

Goethe was born in 1749 in Frankfurt Goethe wurde / war 1749 in Frankfurt geboren

Date of birth: 2nd May 2001 Geburtsdatum: 02.05.2001 Place of birth: Hanover Geburtsort: Hannover

Other phrases

From April onwards ab April; vom April an From April 5th onwards vom 5. April an

From next Tuesday von kommendem Dienstag an From the 21st to the 30th vom 21. bis zum 30. It will be ready by Friday Es wird bis Freitag fertig It will be ready by the 12th Es wird bis zum 12. fertig

It won't be ready until Friday Es wird erst (am) Freitag fertig Around November 15th um den 15. November (herum) In the 1980's in den Achtzigerjahren; in den 80er-Jahren

Writing to friends

1) Writing formally to acquaintances and friends (using "Sie")

Dear Dr. Jaekel, Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Jaekel,Ending formula: mit freundlichen Grüßen, Dear friends, Liebe Freunde, Ending formula: mit besten Grüßen,

2) Writing quite informally to acquaintances and friends ("du" or "Sie")

Dear Ingrid, Liebe Ingrid, Dear Peter, Lieber Peter,

Dear Peter and Ingrid, Liebe Ingrid, lieber Peter,

Ending formula in each case:Es grüßt dich / Sie..., Herzliche Grüße von deinem / Ihrem (+ Dat.)...(followed by your own name)

When writing to two people you can also close by saying: "Viele Grüße an euch / Sie beide".

3) Writing to close friends and family ("du")

Dear Uncle Tom, Lieber Onkel Tom,

Dear Mother and Father, Liebe Mutti, lieber Vati, Dear Peter and Ingrid, Liebe Ingrid, lieber Peter,

Possible ending formulae: - Liebe Grüße von ... (+ Dative), - Viele liebe Grüße - Viele Grüße und Küsse von deinem / eurem ...(+ Dat.)

Please note that as of August 1998, the second person singular and plural ("du" and "ihr") and their various forms ("dich", "dir" and "euch") are no longer written with an initial capital letter in letters. The polite form "Sie" is however still written with a capital letter.

Envelope layout

1) Basic rules There are some basic rules to be adhered to when writing the name and address on an envelope. These are: 1) Make sure that the address is written flush left - i.e. that the first letters of each line are written directly beneath each other.

2) The street name (= "b" in our graphic) should be placed on the last line but two when writing to a foreign country, and on the last line but one when writing to an addressee in the same country as you. 3) The postcode and city/region (= "c" and "d" in our graphic) should be placed on the last line but one when writing to a foreign country, and on the very last line when writing to an addressee in the same country as you. Separate the postcode and the city/region by a single space. When writing to a German-speaking country from Britain you should always include the international abbreviation. 4) The country to which you are writing should go on the very last line of a letter abroad. 5) Do not underline any part of the address or use any graphics. 6) The Austrian post office's guide to addressing an envelope states that no blank lines should be included on an envelope. In typed or printed business mail however there is often a blank line before the place on an envelope.

2) "Absender" When sending a letter, you should always put your own name and address on the envelope. Many companies print this on the top left corner of the front of the envelope, but if you do this, make sure that this is printed in small lettering so as not to distract from the address of the person to whom you are sending the letter! On handwritten envelopes, most Germans write their own address on the back, preceded by the word "Absender:".

International Postcodes

International abbreviations As well as the four/five digit postcodes which determine cities and regions, you should also preface the postcode on a letter heading overseas with the appropriate international abbreviation (= internationales Kennzeichen) for the country where the addressee lives. Thus a letter to Germany might bear the postcode: D-05067. A letter to Austria might bear the postcode: A-9010. A letter to Switzerland might bear the postcode: CH-4012. A letter to Liechtenstein might bear the postcode: FL-9490. The following countries would prefer you to include their international abbreviation in letters posted from overseas:

A Austria L Luxembourg B Belgium LT Lithuania BG Bulgaria LV Latvia CH Switzerland MC Monaco CY Cyprus MD Moldova CZ Czech Republic MK Macedonia D Germany N Norway DK Denmark P Portugal E Spain PL Poland EE Estonia RD Dominican Republic F France RO Romania FIN Finland RSM San Marino FL Liechtenstein S Sweden FO Faroe Islands SI Slovenia GR Greece SK Slovakia H Hungary TN Tunisia HR Croatia TR Turkey HT Haiti V Vatican City I Italy YU Yugoslavia IS Iceland

When sending a letter from one place in Germany to another, there is no need to add the international abbreviation.

How to write a CV

Introduction As with the letter of application, a German CV should be brief - one side, at most two. Unless otherwise stipulated, the CV should be typewritten and set out as a table (= "der tabellarische Lebenslauf"). Thus the requisite headings should appear on the left of the page followed on the right by a brief keyword description of your personal details. The advantages for an employer are clear: the information is clearly set out, and comparisons between candidates are much easier.

The following information should be included (usually in this order):

1) Personal data ("die persönlichen Daten")

(Full) name Name:

Address Anschrift: Telephone number Telefonnummer:Date of birth Geburtsdatum: Place of birth Geburtsort: Marital status Familienstand: Number of children Kinderzahl:

2) School Education List all the schools which you attended and the years that you were there. After the name of each school, it would make sense to indicate in German which type of establishment this was - e.g. "Grundschule", "Gymnasium". You should also list all qualifications gained, again followed by the appopriate German equivalent in brackets - e.g. "Abitur", "Mittlere Reife". See the specific vocabulary section for help in this.

3) University career ("das Studium")

Name and location of university Name und Ort der Universität: Subject(s) studied Studienfach:

(Main emphasis of studies) (Schwerpunkt:) (Subject of dissertation) (Diplomarbeitsthema:) Level of qualification Akademischer Grad: (Expected academic grade) (Angestrebter akademischer Grad:)

You might also wish to list:

Terms spent abroad Auslandssemester: Year spent abroad Auslandsjahr: Postgraduate Studies Postgraduierte Studien:

Awards Förderpreise: Publications Veröffentlichungen:

4) Work experience ("Berufliche Tätigkeiten; Berufserfahrung") List any jobs which you have already had, and the dates of each employment. Although you may not have had much work experience at this point, the more jobs you can supply, the more active a person you appear.

5) Other skills ("Besondere Kenntnisse") Or in other words, anything impressive which you haven't managed to fit into the previous categories. This should include knowledge of foreign languages ("Sprachkenntnisse"), other than those which you have indicated on your earlier degree information. Be as specific as possible. The phrase "zwei Jahre Spanischunterricht" is less likely to convince a company than an honest assessment of your actual standard - e.g. "Grundkenntnisse in Italienisch" (a basic knowledge of Italian).

It is better still to mention specific certificates which you have attained, particularly if they are business-related such as the "Cambridge Certificate for International Business and Trade". If you have attended a "Business German" course at the Foreign Language Centre, here would be the ideal place to mention it!

Other skills which you might care to mention:

Computer skills PC-Kenntnisse: Multimedia skills Multimedia-Kenntnisse:

Driving licence Führerschein:

6) Hobbies ("Hobbys")

Be sensible here - the aim is to show that you are a well-balanced individual with cultural and sporting inclinations and NOT somebody with so many extracurricular activities that work responsibilties would merely get in the way of your social life.

Try to reduce the number of hobbies that you list to ones where you held positions of responsibility or achieved something tangible - e.g. Mitgliedschaft in universitären und außeruniversitären Vereinen (= membership of university societies and non-university groupings).

7) Date and place ("Ort und Datum") At the bottom of your CV you should give the name of the town in which you are writing the form, followed by a comma and the date - e.g. "Exeter, 01.10.2000".

8) Signature ("Unterschrift") Finally sign your CV in your own handwriting and on the left-hand side of the page. Beneath that you should then print your name.

9) Photograph ("Lichtbild") If there is not a specific place on an application form for a photograph of yourself then you should attach one on the first page of the CV, if possible in the top right hand corner. German employers tend to be quite picky about the quality of picture required - the quality of picture is deemed to correspond to the seriousness of your application.

A passport picture will NOT suffice, and it should be slightly larger than that in size (4 x 5cm). Whether you choose a colour or a black and white picture is a matter of taste.

The photograph

The photograph "Das Lichtbild" If there is not a specific place on an application form for a photograph of yourself then you should affix one on the first page of the CV, if possible in the top right hand corner. German employers tend to be quite picky about the quality of picture required - the quality of picture is deemed to correspond to the seriousness of your application. A passport picture will not suffice, and it should be slightly bigger than this in size (4 x 5cm). Whether you choose a colour or a black and white picture is a matter of taste. On the letter of application itself, you should list the picture as one of the items enclosed, even if it is attached to the CV.

photograph das Lichtbild (-er); das Bewerbungsfoto (-s) passport photo das Passfoto

picture from a photo booth das Automatenfoto black and white picture das Schwarzweißfoto

colour picture das Farbfoto

Das Lichtbild auf dem Bewerbungsbogen leicht ankleben! (Please stick the picture onto the application form.) Das Lichtbild stellt den ersten optischen Eindruck Ihrer Person dar. (The photograph gives the first visual impression of your character.)

Vocabulary - Curriculum vitae

General phrases

der Lebenslauf (curriculum vitae) Anbei sende ich Ihnen meinen Lebenslauf (Please find enclosed my C.V.) Wie Sie meinem Lebenslauf entnehmen können, habe ich schon in Deutschland gearbeitet. (As you will see from my C.V., I have worked in Germany before.) Aus meinem beiliegenden Lebenslauf erfahren Sie Näheres über meine akademische Laufbahn. (You will learn more about my academic career from the C.V. enclosed within.)

Documents

my application documents meine Bewerbungsunterlagen (pl.) the original document das Originaldokument (-e)

a copy of a document die Zeugnisabschrift; die Zeugniskopie

an authenticated copy eine beglaubigte Kopie

medical certificate das amtsärztliche Zeugnis

You should never send the original documents, but instead approved copies

Sie sollten nie Originaldokumente verschicken, immer nur beglaubigte Kopien.

Qualifications - general

die Qualifikationen (pl.) (qualifications) Meine Qualifikationen sind folgende: (My qualifications are briefly as follows:) Ich habe die erforderlichen Qualifikationen für die Stelle. (I have the necessary qualifications for the job.) Ich beendete meine schulische Laufbahn 1999. (I left school in 1999.) Ich graduierte von der Universität Exeter in dem Fach moderne Sprachen (Deutsch & Französisch). (I graduated from Exeter University with a degree in Modern Languages (German & French).)

University vocabulary

Exeter University die Universität Exeter at Exeter University an der Universität Exeter

to enrol at a university sich an einer Universität einschreiben

first-year student Student(in) im ersten Jahr during the summer vacation während der Sommersemesterferien

before starting University bevor ich mit meinem Universitätsstudium begann

after graduating in 1999 nach meiner Graduierung 1999

Als Teil meines Universitätsstudiums würde ich gerne 6 Monate in Deutschland arbeiten. As part of my university course, I would like to work in Germany for approximately 6 months.

Ich graduierte von der Universität Exeter in dem Fach moderne Sprachen (Deutsch & Französisch). I graduated from Exeter University with a degree in Modern Languages (German & French).

Work experience

"previous employment" "berufliche Tätigkeiten"

die Arbeitsplatzbeschreibung job description

die Berufsbezeichnung job title der Ferienjob (-s) holiday job

Dienstjahre (pl.) length of service

Meine offizielle Berufsbezeichnung ist ... (My official job title is ...) Ich arbeite zur Zeit in diesem Bereich. (I am currently working in this field.) Ich bin seit 5 Jahren hier tätig. (I have been working here for 5 years.) Ich bin seit 1998 in dieser Stelle. (I started the job in 1998.) Seit vier Jahren bin ich als Sekretärin in einer aufstrebenden kleinen Firma tätig. (I have been a secretary in a small but ambitious company for 4 years.) Die letzten sechs Jahre war ich in der Exportabteilung von EMI tätig. (I was working in the export dept. of EMI for the last 6 years.) Ich habe die nötige Erfahrung für diese Stelle. (I have the necessary experience for this job.)

Erfahrung in diesem Bereich ist erwünscht, aber nicht unbedingt erforderlich. (Experience in the field is preferable but not essential.) Ich verfüge über Berufserfahrung in der Werbebranche. (I have experience of working in advertising.) Ich verfüge über 2 Jahre Büroerfahrung. Oder: Ich habe zwei Jahre Büroerfahrung. (I have 2 years experience of office work.) Ich habe drei Jahre Erfahrung in diesem Bereich. (I have 3 years experience of this kind of work.) viel Berufserfahrung im Bankwesen haben (to have a lot of experience in banking) Ich habe zwar keine Erfahrung auf diesem speziellen Fachgebiet, habe aber ... (Although I have no experience of this type of work, I have ....) Ich bin ausgebildeter Ingenieur. (I was trained as an engineer.) Durch die dadurch gewonnenen Erfahrungen bin ich mit den Aufgaben einer Sekretärin bestens vertraut. (Thanks to this experience I am thoroughly familiar with the job of secretary.) Ich habe mehrere Ferienjobs ausgeübt. (I have had many holiday jobs.) in meiner Funktion als Richter Oder: in meiner Eigenschaft als Richter (in my function as judge)

Curriculum vitae: things to include

abroad: im Ausland:

- year abroad - das Auslandsjahr

- term abroad - das Auslandssemester

activities: Tätigkeiten (pl.): - activities outside work - nebenberufliche Tätigkeiten

- cultural activities - kulturelle Tätigkeiten

- sporting activities - sportliche Tätigkeiten

address die Anschrift birth: die Geburt:

- date of birth - das Geburtsdatum

- place of birth - der Geburtsort

dissertation die Diplomarbeit

- dissertation topic - das Diplomarbeitsthema

education: die Ausbildung:

- school education - die Schulbildung

- university education - das Studium

"enclosed" "Anlage"

grant (university) das Stipendium

job experience berufliche Tätigkeiten (pl.)

marital status: der Familienstand:

- single - unverheiratet; ledig

- married - verheiratet

mark: die Note:

- overall mark - die Gesamtnote

membership die Mitgliedschaft

name: der Name:

- full name - der vollständige Name

photograph das Lichtbild

postgraduate studies postgraduatierte Studien (pl.)

skills: Kenntnisse (pl.):

- computer skills - PC-Kenntnisse (pl.)

- language skills - Fremdsprachenkenntnisse (pl.)

- multimedia skills - Multimedia-Kenntnisse (pl.)

- other skills - sonstige Kenntnisse (pl.)

society, club: der Verein:

- a University society - ein universitärer Verein

- a non-University society - ein außeruniversitärer Verein

subject studied das Studienfach

telephone number die Telefonnummer

work experience das Praktikum

Enclosing documents

In der Anlage übersende ich Ihnen meinen Lebenslauf und Referenzen. (Please find enclosed my C.V. and references.) In der Anlage übersende ich Ihnen die üblichen Bewerbungsunterlagen. (I have enclosed the customary application documents.) Aus meinem beiliegenden Lebenslauf erfahren Sie Näheres über meine berufliche Laufbahn. (You will learn more about my career from the CV enclosed within.) In der Anlage sende ich Ihnen einen Scheck über DM X. (I enclose a cheque for X Marks.) Für Ihre Rückantwort lege ich einen frankierten Umschlag bei. (I enclose a stamped, addressed envelope for your reply.) Ich lege einen (internationalen) Antwortschein bei. (I enclose an international reply coupon.) Mit getrennter Post übersende ich Ihnen ... (I am sending under separate cover ...)

English qualifications

O Levels, GCSEs, Standard Grades die mittlere Reife

A Levels, Higher Grades das Abitur (in Germany); die Matura (in Austria, Switzerland)

A Levels/Highers in German, French, Maths

Abitur/Matura in den Fächern Deutsch, Französisch, Mathematik

a degree (in ...) akademischer Abschluss (in ...)

a diploma in industrial management Diplom in Betriebsführung

OND (in ...) zweijähriges Studium an einer technischen Fachschule (in...)

HND (in ...) dreijähriges Studium an einer technischen Fachschule (in...)

MA (in ...) der M.A. (in ...)

MBA der MBA (Magister in Betriebswirtschaftslehre)

MSc Magister der Naturwissenschaften (in ...)

PhD (in...) Dr. (der / des ...)

Language skills

Englisch ist meine Muttersprache. (English is my first language.) Haben Sie irgendwelche Sprachkenntnisse? (Do you know any languages?) Ich habe gute mündliche und schriftliche deutsche Sprachkenntnisse. (I speak and write German well.) Ich spreche fließend Deutsch. (I speak fluent German.) Meine Deutschkenntnisse sind ziemlich eingerostet. (My German is a little rusty.) Mein Handelsdeutsch erwarb ich am Goethe-Institut in London. (I learned business German at the Goethe Institute in London.)

Ich habe gute Anfangskenntnisse im Italienischen. (I have some knowledge of Italian.) Ich habe Grundkenntnisse in Russisch. (I have a working knowledge of Russian.) Ich habe Kurse in Spanisch und Französisch mit Erfolg belegt. (I have successfully taken courses in Spanish and French.) Ich kann Schwedisch lesen. (I can read Swedish.) Ich verstehe kein Griechisch. (I don't understand Greek.) Ich möchte meine Sprachkenntnisse verbessern. (I want to improve my language.) Ich würde meine Sprachkenntnisse gerne etwas mehr einsetzen. (I would like to make better use of my languages.) deutschen Sprachunterricht erteilen (to give German lessons) einen Text aus dem Deutschen ins Englische übersetzen. (to translate a text from German into English) Ich kann nicht gut übersetzen. (I'm not very good at translation.) die zweisprachige Sekretärin (bilingual secretary)

Types of work

to work arbeiten - to work in advertising - in der Werbebranche arbeiten

- to work in banking - im Bankwesen tätig sein

- to work in the hotel industry - in der Hotelbranche arbeiten

- to work in publishing - im Verlagswesen arbeiten

holiday job der Ferienjob (-s) - I have had many holiday jobs - Ich habe mehrere Ferienjobs ausgeübt

work placement das Praktikum - to go on a work placement - ein Praktikum absolvieren

full-time job die Ganztagsstelle; die ganztägige Arbeit

- full-time occupation - die Ganztagsbeschäftigung - to work full-time - ganztägig arbeiten

part-time job der Teilzeitjob (-s); die Teilzeitarbeit; die Teilzeitbeschäftigiung (-en)

- part-time worker - der/die Teilzeitbeschäftigte

- I'm only working part-time - Ich arbeite nur Teilzeit

- employed part-time - teilzeitbeschäftigt - Can I do the job part-time? - Kann ich auf Teilzeit arbeiten?

- She only teaches part-time - Sie unterrichtet nur stundenweise

self-employed freiberuflich; selbständig

- a self-employed person - der Freiberufler; die Freiberuflerin

- to be self-employed - freiberuflich für eine Firma arbeiten

freelance work for a publisher freie Mitarbeit bei einem Verlag

short-time work die Kurzarbeit

employee / white-collar worker der/die Angestellte

skilled worker der Facharbeiter

- semi-skilled worker - die angelernte Arbeitskraft

- unskilled worker - der ungelernte Arbeiter; die ungelernte Arbeiterin

employer der Arbeitgeber

- equal opportunities employer

- ein Arbeitgeber, der Chancengleichheit praktiziert

Skills

skills Kenntnisse (pl.) computer skills PC-Kenntnisse (pl.)

- data processing skills - EDV-Kenntnisse (pl.)

- I am familiar with word processors - Ich bin mit der Textverarbeitung vertraut

- I am familiar with Word 6.0 - Textverarbeitung (Word 6.0) ist mir geläufig

- I am familiar with DataBase3 - DataBase3 ist mir geläufig

I can type well Ich kann gut Maschine schreiben

- typing speed - die Schreibgeschwindigkeit - typewritten - Maschine geschrieben

driving licence der Führerschein

- I've lost my driving licence - mir wurde der Führerschein entzogen my organisational ability mein organisatorisches Können

my sound knowledge of the field meine fundierten Sachkenntnisse (pl.)

to come up to your expectations Ihren Erwartungen entsprechen

Ich bin stets bemüht, meine beruflichen Kenntnisse zu verbessern. (I have always tried to improve my career skills.) Ich besuchte Kurse in Betriebswirtschaft und Datenverarbeitung. (I have taken courses in business management and data processing.) Ich habe einen Abendkurs in Büroorganisation belegt. (I have taken a night-school course in office management.) Spezialkenntnisse (pl.) auf dem Fachgebiet der Psychologie (Special knowledge in the field of psychology) Ich bin sicher, dass ich alle mir anvertrauten Aufgaben als Sekretärin zu Ihrer vollsten Zufriedenheit ausüben würde. (I am confident that I could fulfil all the tasks which you would require of a secretary.)

Sie hat die ihr übertragenen Aufgaben stets zur vollsten Zufriedenheit erledigt. (She carried out her work to our complete satisfaction.)

Personal qualities

competent kompetent

conscientious gewissenhaft

hard-working fleißig

punctual pünktlich

reliable zuverlässig

trustworthy vertrauenswürdig

Ich bin kontaktfreudig. (I am an outgoing person.) Er ist ein äußerst zuverlässiger Mitarbeiter. (He is a thoroughly reliable worker.) Ich habe Freude am selbständigen Arbeiten. (I like taking responsibility.) Ich bin pflichtbewusst. (I have a sense of responsibility.) Im Umgang mit seinen Kollegen zeigte er sich stets hilfsbereit. (He was always helpful to his colleagues.) meine sorgfältige Arbeitsweise (a careful approach to my work)

German qualifications

Diplom (Dipl.) = diploma after 5-6 years at university

Dipl.-Ing = academically qualified engineer

Dipl.-Kfm = business school graduate Fachabitur = A Levels in a specific subject

FH = qualification from a Fachhochschule

Gesellenprüfung = craftman's certificate Lehre = apprenticeship

Meisterprüfung = master craftman's certificate

Staatsexamen = first degree required before teacher training

Training

training die Ausbildung - training course - der Ausbildungskurs

- training officer - der Ausbildungsleiter

- in-house training - die betriebsinterne Ausbildung

- off-the-job training - die außerbetriebliche Ausbildung

- on-the-job training - die innerbetriebliche Ausbildung

- vocational training - die Berufsausbildung

trainee; apprentice der/die Auszubildende; der Azubi - management trainee - der/die Management-Auszubildende

Responsibilities

Ich war verantwortlich für die Publicity. (I was responsible for publicity.) Ich bin dafür verantwortlich, dass ... Oder: Es ist meine Aufgabe, sicherzustellen, dass ... (I am responsible for ensuring that ...) Meine Aufgabe innerhalb der Firma ist es, ... zu ..... (My role within the company is to ...) Ich kümmere mich um alle Angelegenheiten, die mit ... zu tun haben.

(I deal with all matters regarding ...) Ich war für den täglichen Büroablauf verantwortlich. (I looked after the day-to-day running of the office.) Zu meinen Aufgaben gehörte außerdem die Vereinbarung weiterer Termine.(I was also responsible for arranging private appointments.) Ein Teil meines Aufgabengebiets war ... (One of my responsibilities was ...)

Model CV (1)

Lebenslauf

Name: Martina Mustermann

Anschrift: Im Spektefeld 23

D-13307 Berlin

Telefonnummer: 0123/45678

Geburtsdatum: 5. Juni 1983

Geburtsort: Halle

Eltern: Erwin Mustermann, Maurermeister

Lena Mustermann, Erzieherin

Schulbildung: September 1989 - Juli 1993 Erich-Kästner-Grundschule Musterstadt

September 1993 - Juli 1995 Pestalozzi-Hauptschule Musterstadt

seit September 1995 Hermann-Hesse-Realschule Musterstadt

Schulabschluss: Mittlere Reife voraussichtlich im Juli 1999

Lieblingsfächer: Mathematik, Englisch

Außerschulische Tätigkeiten:

seit Juni 1996 Leiterin der Jugendgruppe "Kleine Schwalben"

Juli 1998 Betriebspraktikum bei der Wieauchimmer GmbH

Besondere Kenntnisse: Maschinenschreiben

Textverarbeitung mit Word for Windows

Hobbys: Tanzen, Lesen

Berufswunsch: Industriekauffrau

Musterstadt, 1. Oktober 1998

(handschriftlich unterschreiben)

Model CV (2)

Lebenslauf

Harry Kearie

Alexandrinenstraße 43a

D-10969 Berlin

Tel: 030/123 4567

Geboren: 15.9.1962 in Braunschweig

Familienstand: Verheiratet seit 1990, 3 Kinder

Schulbildung: 5 Jahre Grundschule in Lübeck

9 Jahre Pestalozzi-Gymnasium Lübeck

Abitur 1980

Studium: Chemie und Physik

Universität Gießen

1983-1989

Berufliche Tätigkeiten: Juli 1989 - Juni 1991

Auslandsaufenthalt New York

Freie Mitarbeit bei Reuters News Agency

Seit Juli 1991

Personaldirektor bei der Spielwarenfirma

Kinderschreck GmbH in Berlin-Neukölln

Kenntnisse: PC-Kenntnisse (Textverarbeitung und Tabellenkalulation)

Gute mündliche und schriftliche englische und

französische Sprachkenntnisse

Anfangskenntnisse Japanisch

Führerschein Klasse 3

Berlin, 2. Mai 1997

(handschriftlich unterschrieben)

Model CV (3)

LEBENSLAUF

NAME: Duncan George Disorderly

ANSCHRIFT: 12 Letsby Avenue

Exeter EX2 4QQ

England

Tel:(0044) 1392 987654

E-Mail: D.Disorderly@exeter.ac.uk

GEBURTSDATUM: 19.06.1975

GEBURTSORT: Sellafield, England

AUSBILDUNG:

1986-1993 Queen Mary's Girls School, Sellafield

(Gymnasium)

Mai 1993 4 A Levels: German, French, Maths, Physics

(Abitur in 4 Fächern: Deutsch, Französisch,

Mathematik, Physik)

1993-1997 BSc in Mechanical Engineering II.1

(Diplom in Maschinenbau)

Universität Exeter

1997-1998 Master of Business Administration

(Magister in Betriebswirtschaftslehre)

Universität Exeter

BERUFLICHE TÄTIGKEITEN:

Juni 1998 - Juli 1998 Trainee Salesman (Firmenpraktikant)

Marko Tredup KG, Hamburg

Juli 1998 - heute Deputy Export Manager

(Stellvertretender Leiter der Exportabteilung)

Rancid Scones Ltd., Exeter

HOBBYS: In meiner Freizeit leite ich eine Jugendgruppe

SPRACHKENNTNISSE: Englisch (Muttersprache)

Deutsch (fließend)

Französisch (gute mündliche und schriftliche Kenntnisse)

WEITERE INFORMATIONEN: PC-Kenntnisse

Führerschein

Model CV (4)

Lebenslauf

Persönliche Daten

Name: Nina Muster

Adresse: Musterstr. 5

12345 Musterstadt

Telefon: 0814 / 4711

Geburtsdatum: 5.10.1981

Geburtsort: Musterstadt

Staatsangehörigkeit: deutsch

Familienstand: ledig

Eltern: Vater: Felix Muster, Bauingenieur

Mutter: Beate Muster, geb. Glück, Hausfrau

Geschwister: Bruder: Dennis Muster

Geboren am: 13.05.1985

Schulische Daten

September 1987 - Juli 1991: Musterschule Musterhausen

Seit September 1991: Gymnasium von Musterhausen

Juni 1999: Schulabschluß Abitur

Lieblingsfächer: Physik, Mathematik, Geschichte

Fremdsprachenkenntnisse

Englisch gut, Grundkenntnisse in Französisch und Italienisch

Nina Muster

Musterstadt, 22.12.1998

Asking if work is available

Model Letter 1

Peter Maier Rosenstraße 3 Musterstadt Telefon 1 23 / 6 78

Firma XY Geschäftsführung Herrn Jörg Klein Detmolder Straße 3 40213 Düsseldorf

Beispielstadt, den 17. Januar 1999

Meine Bewerbung bei der XXXXX

Sehr geehrter Herr Klein,

Ihre Gesellschaften gehören zu einem der größten und wachstumsstärksten Unternehmen der Branche und bieten in Anzeigen immer wieder attraktive Aufgaben an. Ich könnte mir vorstellen, daß Ihr Haus qualifizierten Fach- und Führungskräften auch darüber hinaus interessante Perspektiven aufzeigen kann. Deshalb bewerbe ich mich bei Ihrer Unternehmensgruppe.

Als Volljurist und gelernter "Sachmann" mit fundierten und zugleich vielseitigen Erfahrungen in der Branche, im Innen- und Außendienst, interessiere ich mich für eine neue Aufgabe bei einem namhaften xxxx. Zehn Jahre bei der xxxx und etwa zweieinhalb Jahre bei einem xxxx Unternehmen sind meine Ausgangsposition.

Für den Einstieg stelle ich mir vor, eine Funktion im Außendienst zu übernehmen und denke dabei an den Vertrieb für den privaten oder industriell, gewerblichen Bereich. So könnte ich wieder an meine bei der xxxx ausgeübten Tätigkeit anknüpfen.

Aber auch ein anderer Weg, mit der Chance, Neues dazuzulernen, würde mich sehr reizen. Vielleicht ergibt sich vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen Entwicklung auf dem Gebiet des xxxx eine solche Möglichkeit im Bereich xxxx. Einschlägige Berufserfahrungen auf diesem Gebiet sind bei mir vorhanden.

Gerne sende ich Ihnen, wie telefonisch vereinbart, mit diesem Schreiben meine Bewerbungsunterlagen. Ich würde mich sehr freuen, wenn Sie die Einsatzmöglichkeiten für mich in Ihrem Hause prüfen könnten.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

xxxx

Anlagen: Lichtbild, Lebenslauf, Zeugniskopie

How good is this application?

Good unsolicited applications are personalised - i.e. the intended addressee of the letter is mentioned with both Christian name and surname in the firm's address. By simply writing to "the management", the applicant sends a negative signal. He has clearly not taken time to investigate the company and find out the name of its employees.

In unsolicited applications, the letter-writer must seek the shortest possible path to the decision-maker in the department in which he seeks to work. Writing directly to a Head of Department often yields more positive results in Germany than simple writing to personnel departments.

The reason for writing (Betreffzeile) is not punchy enough. The name of the firm can be taken for granted - why does the applicant not simply write "Bewerbung Vertriebsleiter" (Application for the post of Sales Manager), thus immediately telling the recipient which post he is interested in?

As there as already been telephone contact between applicant and addressee, the "Betreffzeile" should be completed by the line "Unser Telefonat vom ..." (Re: Our telephone call of ...) so as to remind the recipient that he knows this man. This letter-writer only mentions the phone call in the final paragraph - by which time the company representative may well have thrown his letter in the bin!

And if we assume that the function of the telephone call was to see if the firm needed a sales manager, the opening paragraph is very vague and does not suggest that the applicant knows that an opportunity might be available. A much better opening paragraph would therefore be: "Sie teilten mir mit, dass Sie im Bereich der gewerblich / industriellen Kunden expandieren wollen. Hierbei könnte ich Sie durch meine langjährige Erfahrung auf diesem Gebiet unterstützen. Daher bewerbe ich mich."

The main function of a letter of application should be to communicate the applicant's experience and skills as concisely and punchily as possible. Here again our letter-writer is found wanting, using too many relative clauses and over-complex sentences. The reader's attention naturally wanders, particularly if he/she has to read many such letters per day. Crisp (German) sentences should ideally be no longer than eight or nine words.

Another error on behalf of the letter-writer is to talk in too much detail about the benefits of a new job for him. He should instead concentrate upon delineating what expertise he can offer the company. In unsolicited applications at least three positions of responsibility which the applicant has held should be mentioned - but only if they are relevant to the post itself

Perhaps the most serious mistake is in the fourth paragraph, where the applicant undoes all his good work by suggesting another area in the company in which he would be prepared to work. In trying to display his flexibility, he instead inadvertently signals both career uncertainty and a degree of desperation to the reader! For clarity's sake, stick to applying for one particular post.

The idea of listing the enclosed items next to each other, instead of beneath each other as is usual, is perfectly acceptable in longish letters where the dangers of going on to a new sheet of paper is present.

Model Letter 2

How effective is this letter of application?

The form of letter heading is very compact and provides more room for the main body of the text - a detail depiction of the person applying for the post. It is by no means the most conventional of letter headings, but as formal requirements are met, it is acceptable.

BUT there is no "Betreffzeile" - the brief key-word explanation of the purpose of the letter which should come before the body of the text. A minus point! Nor has the applicant remembered to list the documents which she has enclosed - another black mark.

To the content: A plus point is the way in which the text is split up into clear and concise sections, which makes it easy to read. Note too how the writer of the letter relates the various elements of her career so as to give a clear sense of purpose and direction. The application for this job thus seems like a logical conclusion, and not a whim.

Equally strong is the reference in the first line to a concrete episode, a conversation which the applicant had with the person to whom she is writing (and the fact what she has remembered her name is another advantage!).

The conclusion of the letter is not exactly creative - but then there are no prizes for creativity in letters of application. The traditional formulae of greetings and good wishes are a safe option - particularly for non-native German speakers!

Translation of Anna Morgner's letter of application

Dear Ms Haupt,

We have already exchanged initial details at your company's "Milk Round" presentation at the University of Cologne on the 6th May 1997. I was especially pleased to discover how much emphasis you placed on personality as opposed to the by now standard intellectual excellence. For in all my activities I have concentrated precisely upon personality development. Thus I was able to complete my psychology degree with a very high level of success and graduated from business school in eight terms.

In order to not only possess theoretical knowledge, I looked for practical challenges, avoiding the circuitous route. In my function as assistant to the commercial manager of the Bau GmbH, I was required to display not only my knowledge of the field but above all social competence in completing the tasks allocated to me and a good deal of common sense. How good it is therefore that the motto of the "Kaufbank" is thinking on your feet. In my capacity as assistant, I fulfilled tasks on projects such as the introduction of a new

accounting system for building-sites, but also carried out the myriad chores of everyday working life. In accordance with my special subjects, my dissertation topic centred on the area of financing and investment accounting. the dissertation title "The private financing of municipal properties" and my specialised subjects of investment / financing and banking complement each other to form the perfect basis for starting out with the "Kaufbank".

As a continuation of my previous efforts and of the possibilities for development offered by the "Kaufbank" through its focus on the areas of financing and real estate, I would like to start climbing the career ladder with you. The "Kaufbank", which requires charisma and the ability to think on your feet, and myself, who can offer both of these qualities, make a perfect combination in my eyes.

If you also see it this way, I would be grateful for the opportunity of an interview.

Yours faithfully,

Anna Morgner

Model Letter 3

Guildo Horn Dieffenbachstraße 28 D-10967 Berlin

Frau Christiane Schindler Fremdspracheninstitut Bettinastraße 9-11 D-14193 Berlin

Berlin, 5. November 1998

Bewerbung

Sehr geehrte Frau Schindler,

von meinem Kollegen Ben Dover, der bis vor kurzem bei Ihnen beschäftigt war, weiß ich, dass Sie im kommenden März neue Mitarbeiter einstellen wollen.

Ich bin derzeit als Lehrer für Deutsch als Fremdsprache bei einem Fremdspracheninstitut in Potsdam beschäftigt. Da mein Vertrag jedoch auf Ende Dezember dieses Jahres befristet ist, suche ich nach einem neuen Betätigungsfeld.

Wie Sie meinem Lebenslauf entnehmen können, bringe ich die notwendigen Qualifikationen sowie einschlägige Berufserfahrung mit.

Zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch stehe ich ab dem 18. Dezember jederzeit zur Verfügung. Sie können mich ab diesem Datum unter der folgenden Adresse erreichen:

c/o Strittmatter Herzbergstraße 79

D-10365 Berlin Tel: (030) 5 47 20

Mit freundlichen Grüßen (handschriftlich unterschrieben)

Guildo Horn

Anlage

Model Letter 4

Claudia Schiffer Niederwallstraße 10 70715 Stuttgart

Softwarehaus Fiducia AG Dieselstraße 1 76227 Karlsruhe

Stuttgart, 23. März 1999

Bewerbung

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

ich wende mich an Sie in der Hoffnung, dass Sie mir eventuell eine Stelle anbieten können. Wie Sie meinem Lebenslauf entnehmen können, verfüge ich über beträchtliche Berufserfahrung. Ich bin derzeit auf der Basis eines demnächst auslaufenden Zeitvertrags bei der Firma Evocom Informationssysteme GmbH in Stuttgart tätig und habe nun den Wunsch, in einem kleinen Team hier im Karlsruher Raum zu arbeiten.

Ich hoffe, von Ihnen zu hören, und würde Ihnen gerne auch Arbeitsproben vorlegen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen (handschriftlich unterschrieben)

Claudia Schiffer

Anlage

Asking for references

Which referees should I ask?

References ("Referenzen, Zeugnisse") The references which you supply should portray you in as positive a light as possible. As in Britain you should choose as referees people who can vouch for your personal qualities or who can provide an overview of youe academic / working skills, such as teachers, lecturers or previous employers.

As such, the referees whom you choose should be credible witnesses whose title and position within society would boost your application. Remember to ask for their permission first!

Asking someone to give a reference

Letter asking for permission to give a person's name as a referee

Sehr geehrter Herr Professor Dermech,

ich möchte mich als Außendienstmitarbeiter bei Newag Papier GmbH in Salzburg bewerben. Ich wäre Ihnen daher sehr dankbar, wenn Sie mir gestatten würden, Ihren Namen als Referenz nennen zu dürfen.

Da Sie mit meiner Arbeit bei Consilium Agentur GmbH in Heidelberg vertraut sind, wäre ich Ihnen dankbar, wenn Sie eine unparteiische Einschätzung meiner Fähigkeiten geben könnten.

Anbei sende ich Ihnen einen frankierten und adressierten Briefumschlag für Ihre Rückantwort.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Walter Wall-Carpeting

Asking someone to send a reference to an employer

Letter asking a referee to send a reference directly to a potential employer

Sehr geehrter Frau Kovacec,

ich bewerbe mich um den Posten der zweisprachigen Fremdsprachensekretärin bei Haut Como Cosmetic GmbH in Saarbrücken.

Da Sie mich zur Fortführung meines Studiums der deutschen Sprache in jeglicher Weise anspornten und mir bei der Vorbereitung der Abschlussprüfung beim Goethe-Institut behilflich waren, wäre ich Ihnen sehr verbunden, wenn Sie mir ein Empfehlungsschreiben ausstellen könnten.

Anbei sende ich Ihnen einen frankierten Briefumschlag, adressiert an Herrn Jansen, dem Personalleiter bei Haut Como Cosmetic GmbH.

Mit freundlichen Grüß

Stella R. Trois

Vocabulary

a reference das Zeugnis (-sse); die Referenz (-en)

a letter of recommendation das Empfehlungsschreiben a referee die Referenz

Zeugnisse meiner früheren Arbeitgeber vorlegen (to provide references from my previous employers) Auf Verlangen kann ich Ihnen jederzeit Zeugnisse meiner früheren Arbeitgeber vorlegen. Oder: Wenn Sie wünschen, kann ich Ihnen Referenzen von früheren Arbeitgebern vorlegen. (I can supply references from my previous employers, if you would like them.) Bitte setzen Sie sich nicht mit meinem derzeitigen Arbeitgeber in Verbindung. (Please do not contact my present employers.) Ich wäre Ihnen sehr dankbar, wenn Sie mir gestatten würden, Ihren Namen als

Referenz nennen zu dürfen. (I would very much appreciate it if I could include your name in my list of references.) Ich habe mich für den Sommer um eine Stelle als Kellnerin beworben und wurde jetzt gebeten, ein Zeugnis vorzulegen. Wären Sie so freundlich, mir eines auszustellen? Ich wäre Ihnen sehr dankbar dafür. (I have applied for a job of waitress for the summer and they have asked me to supply a reference. I wonder if you would be kind enough to write one for me? I would be very grateful.) Ich wäre Ihnen sehr dankbar, wenn Sie mir so bald wie möglich ein Zeugnis über meine Tätigkeit hier zuschicken könnten. (I would be very grateful if you would send me a reference relating to my time here as soon as possible.) Ich wäre Ihnen sehr verbunden, wenn Sie mir ein Empfehlungsschreiben ausstellen könnten. (I would be very grateful if you could write a letter of recommendation on my behalf.) Da Sie mit meiner Arbeit vertraut sind, wäre ich Ihnen dankbar, wenn Sie eine unparteiische Einschätzung meiner Fähigkeiten geben könnten. (As you are familiar with my work I would be grateful if you could give a fair evaluation of my capabilities.) jemandem als Referenz dienen (to be a referee for somebody) jemandem ein gutes Zeugnis ausstellen Oder: jemandem gute Referenzen ausstellen (to give somebody a good reference) Man hat mich gebeten, ihm eine Referenz zu geben. (I have been asked to write a reference for him.) Wir wären Ihnen sehr dankbar, wenn Sie uns mitteilen könnten, ob sie Ihrer Meinung nach für diesen Posten geeignet ist. (We would be grateful if you could let us know whether she is suitable for the post.) Könnten Sie uns bitte mitteilen, ob Sie ihn für diese Tätigkeit empfehlen können?

(Would you be kind enough to tell us whether you can recommend him for this post?) Ich bin gerne bereit, Ihnen nähere Auskunft über Ellen Bogen zu geben. (I am happy to provide information about Ellen Bogen.) Ich kann Ihnen Bill Anz bestens empfehlen. (I can strongly recommend Bill Anz.) Ich bin überzeugt, dass Harry Bo für den Posten in Ihrer Firma sehr geeignet ist. (I am convinced that Harry Bo is suitable for the post in your firm)

Letters of application

How to write letters of application

How to write a letter of application ("Wie schreibt man ein Bewerbungsanschreiben?") An ideal letter of application should cover one side of paper, and certainly no more than a side and a half. It must be typewritten, using an easily legible font (Times New Roman, Arial). Font size should be between 10-12 cpi. A laser printed version on high quality A4 paper is also essential. The following elements are essential for a letter of application:

1) Letter heading (Der Briefkopf) This should be placed on the left hand side of the paper (= linksbündig). It should include your own address ("die Anschrift") and telephone number ("die Telefonnummer"). You may also wish to include a fax number ("die Faxnummer") or E-Mail address ("die E-Mail-Adresse"). Then leave 2/3 lines of space.

Be logical here: it is no use asking a German firm to contact you at an Exeter E-Mail address if you are not going to be here to answer it!

2) Address of the firm This should again be on the left hand side of the page (= linksbündig). The more precise you can make this the better. If you know the name and the post of the person to whom you are writing, you should include this. If not, try and specify a department of the company - e.g. "Personalabteilung" (= "personnel department").

A vague instruction such as "An die Geschäftsführung" (= "To the management") suggests apathy and lack of initiative on behalf of the applicant.

3) Place and date (Ort und Datum) This should be on the right hand side of the page (= rechtsbündig). The town where you are writing the letter comes first, followed by a comma and then the date - e.g. Exeter, 1. Oktober 2000.

4) Reason for writing (die Betreffzeile) This should be on the left hand side of the page - as should all subsequent components of your letter. Here is where you give the reason for your application. This should be short and given in key words (= stichwortartig). Thus if you are applying for the job of sales manager, the words Bewerbung Vertriebsleiter" will suffice, as opposed to a vague formulation such as "Meine Bewerbung bei der Firma XXXX".

Do not write the German word for concerning - "Betreff" - itself!

If you have already been in telephone contact with the person to whom you are writing, you should mention it here, as this gives you an advantage over other applicants. This should also be written in the form of key words. For example: "Unser Telefonat vom 01.05.1999, Einstiegsmöglichkeit Controlling" is a concise way of expressing "Re: Our telephone conversation of the 1st June 1999 about the possibility of my starting work in the controlling department"!

5) Dear Sir (= die Anrede) If you know the name of the person to whom you are writing, then use his/her name: "Sehr geehrter Herr XYZ" or "Sehr geehrte Frau XYZ". If you do not know the name of the person to whom you are writing, then you should you use the traditional business introduction "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren".

You will gain plus points if you ring up or E-mail beforehand to ask the name of the person to whom you should address your application. This is especially true if you are making a speculative enquiry to see whether work is available ("eine Initiativbewerbung"). If your letter reaches the wrong person, they may well throw it away!

6) Body of the text The aim of your letter is to advertise your qualities as concisely and relevantly as possible. An employer will pose the following questions: Why is the applicant writing to me of all people? Do I need what he/she has to offer? What makes him / her stand out?

So as a general principle, avoid overcomplicated sentences ("Bandwurmsätze") with too many unnecessary relative clauses ("Satzverschachtelungen").

You should firstly describe in a clear and precise form the post for which you are applying and your reasons for doing so. If you are applying for a post on the basis of a telephone call or other personal contact, you should mention this - e.g. "Sie teilten mir mit, dass Sie im Bereich der industriellen Kunden expandieren wollen. Hierbei könnte ich Sie durch meine langjährige Erfahrung auf diesem Gebiet unterstützen. Daher bewerbe

ich mich." ("You told me that you were looking to expand your industrial customer-base. With my many years of experience in this area, I can help you in this goal. This is the reason for my application.)

Then start a new paragraph, in which you describe the most important aspects of your academic career and work experience, so long as they are relevant to the post for which you are applying. The other stages of your career can be taken from your curriculum vitae. Bring out your strengths without exaggerating - the probationary period in your new job will clearly show if you have been lying!

Make sure to emphasise any positions of responsibility and give concrete instances of when you used the skills which you have learned - e.g. "Organisatorische Fähigkeiten stellte ich bei ... unter Beweis". (I showed my organisational skills when ...)

N.B. For people who are just starting out on their career, it is not normal to suggest the salary which you would like to earn!

7) Concluding phrase ("die Schlussformulierung") Between the main text and the concluding phrase you should again leave a line. Write a short, collegial, and practical sentence expressing (say) that you would look forward to a meeting at the next possible opportunity. In many situations you are required to state the earliest possible date when you would be able to start work - this would also be a good point in your application to do so.

8) Greeting and signature ("Grußformel und Unterschrift") See vocabulary section for the various options - "Mit freundlichen Grüßen" is now the standard business greeting. Underneath your handwritten signature, you should also type your name (Christian name and surname will suffice).

9) "Enclosed" ("Anlagenvermerk") If you enclose documents with your letter of application it is essential to list them here. Leave 2/3 lines after you have typed your name, and then type the word "Anlagen". Then list beneath the various documents which you have enlcosed - e.g. Lebenslauf ("curriculum vitae"), Lichtbild ("photograph") etc. These enclosed documents should be listed one beneath the other, but be sensible - if you are running out of space on the page and have enclosed a number of documents, it makes more sense to list them all on the same line as opposed to starting a new page for one item.

Which certificates should be included?

Academic Certificates (= Zeugnisse) All stages of your academic and working career should ideally be backed up with

documentation (good quality copies only, never the originals!). If this isn't possible, it is advisable to provide an explanation for any absences on a separate piece of paper.

If you have not yet finished your degree, you should provide a copy of your Vordiplom (= first diploma) if you have one, or if not a summary of the marks which you have already gained. As university authorities do not issue these, you should type your own, pointing out that the university may be contacted for confirmation of these marks.

People starting work for the first time should also include documentation confirming periods of practical training, student jobs etc., particularly if the comments of your employers are likely to be positive!

Vocabulary

the original document das Originaldokument (-e) a copy of a document die Zeugniskopie (-n); die Zeugnisabschrift (-en) an authenticated copy eine beglaubigte Kopie medical certificate das amtsärztliche Zeugnis

eine Notenübersicht bereits abgelegter Examensprüfungen (An overview of the marks which I have already obtained) Die Noten können beim Prüfungsamt der Universität Exeter bestätigt werden. (The marks can be confirmed by the examinations office of Exeter University.) Sie sollten nie Originaldokumente verschicken, immer nur beglaubigte Kopien.(You should never send the original documents, but instead approved copies.)

Model Letter of Application 1

Martina Mustermann Bahnhofstraße 15 12345 Musterstadt Tel. 0123/56789

Musterfirma GmbH Frau Inge Schmidt Industriestraße 98-102 34567 Irgendwo

Musterstadt, 1. Oktober 1998

Bewerbung um eine Ausbildungsstelle als Industriekauffrau Ihre Anzeige im "Musterstädter Tagblatt" vom 28.9.1998

Sehr geehrte Frau Schmidt,

durch Ihre Anzeige im Musterstädter Tagblatt habe ich erfahren, dass Sie mehrere Auszubildende suchen. Daher bewerbe ich mich um einen Ausbildungsplatz als Industriekauffrau.

Ich besuche zur Zeit noch die Hermann-Hesse-Realschule in Musterstadt, die ich im Juli nächsten Jahres mit der Mittleren Reife abschließen werde.

Während eines vierwöchigen Betriebspraktikums im Juli 1998 bei der Wieauchimmer GmbH habe ich einen ersten Einblick in die Arbeit von Industriekaufleuten gewonnen. Ich habe erlebt, wie sie Kosten kalkulieren und Aufträge abrechnen. Besonders gut gefallen hat mir außerdem der Umgang mit den Kunden. Nach diesem Praktikum habe ich mich für eine Ausbildung zur Industriekauffrau entschieden und mich im Berufsinformationszentrum ausführlich über diesen Beruf informiert.

Meine guten Leistungen in Mathematik und meine in der Schule erworbenen Computer- und Schreibmaschinenkenntnisse kann ich sicher gut in die Arbeit einbringen. Auch auf die Beratung von Kunden freue ich mich, da ich sehr kontaktfreudig bin und in meiner Freizeit eine Jugendgruppe leite.

Über eine Einladung zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch würde ich mich sehr freuen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

(handschriftlich unterschreiben)

Martina Mustermann

PS: Meine Bewerbung habe ich bereits nach den neuen Rechtschreibregeln verfasst

Anlagen: Lebenslauf Versetzungszeugnis Klasse 9 Zeugnis Betriebspraktikum bei der Wieauchimmer GmbH

Model Letter of Application 2

Anna Baptiste 52 Festive Road Exeter Devon EX3 5LT

An Frau Dr. Anna Konder Leiterin der Personabteilung Musterfirma GmbH Johnathan-Aitken-Straße 35 D-12623 Berlin Germany

Exeter, 24. März 1999

Bewerbung als Leiter der Exportabteilung Ihre Anzeige im "Dornacher Tagblatt" vom 22.3.1999

Sehr geehrte Frau Dr. Konder,

hiermit möchte ich mich um die ausgeschriebene Stelle als Leiter der Exportabteilung in Ihrem Verlag bewerben.

Neben Spezialkenntnissen auf dem Fachgebiet der Psychiatrie verfüge ich über Berufserfahrung in der Exportbranche. Außerdem habe ich gute deutsche Sprachkenntnisse und bin mit der internationalen Marktsituation vertraut. Ich bin kontaktfreudig und habe Freude am selbständigen Arbeiten.

In der Anlage übersende ich Ihnen meine Bewerbungsunterlagen sowie meinen Lebenslauf und Kopien meiner Zeugnisse.

Für weitere Auskünfte stehe ich Ihnen gerne jederzeit zur Verfügung.

Ich würde mich freuen, bald von Ihnen zu hören.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

(handschriftlich unterschrieben)

Anna Baptiste

Anlagen: Lebenslauf Zeugnisse Lichtbild

Translation of Anna Baptiste's application

Dear Dr. Konder,

Re: Application for the post of Export Manager Ref.: Advertisement in the "Dornacher Tagblatt" of 22nd March 1999

I wish to apply for the above-mentioned post of Export Manager in your publishing house.

In addition to my specialised knowledge in the field of psychiatry, I have experience of exporting. I also have a good command of written and spoken German and am well acquainted with the international market situation. I have an outgoing personality and enjoy working independently.

Please find enclosed the documents in support of my application, as well as Curriculum Vitae and copies of my references.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

(Signature)

Anna Baptiste

Model Letter of Application 3

Rhoda Hawes 34 Ambrosia Avenue Exeter Devon EX1 1LL

Firma XYZ z. Hd. Frau Anke Ranke Personalreferentin Lipschitzallee 7b D-12351 Berlin Germany

Exeter, den 25. August 1999

Bewerbung um einen Ausbildungsplatz als Touristik-Informations-Assistentin Ihre Anzeige in der "Süddeutschen Zeitung" vom 22. August 1999

Sehr geehrte Frau Ranke,

mit Bezug auf Ihre Anzeige in der "Süddeutschen Zeitung" bewerbe ich mich für die oben erwähnte Position. Meine Qualifikationen und Berufserfahrungen sind folgende:

Ich graduierte von der Universität in Exeter in dem Fach moderne Sprachen (Deutsch und Französisch). Mein Handelsdeutsch erwarb ich am Goethe-Institut in London.

Nach meiner Graduierung 1999 arbeitete ich als Korrekturleserin bei einer Werbeagentur für deren Monatsmagazin, das sich mit dem deutschen Großhandel befasste. Während dieser Zeit besuchte ich Abendkurse in Betriebswirtschaft und Datenverarbeitung.

Ich bin sicher, dass ich alle mir anvertrauten Aufgaben als Touristik-Informations-Assistentin zu Ihrer vollsten Zufriedenheit ausüben würde.

Ich spreche fließend Deutsch und hoffe, dass sie meine Bewerbung wohlwollend in Betracht ziehen werden.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

(handschriftlich unterschrieben)

Rhoda Hawes

Anlagen: Lebenslauf Lichtbild Zeugnisabschriften

Model Letter of Application 4

Laura Norder 45 Yokel Terrace Exeter Devon EX6 5EX England

An Herrn Niclas Weiland Leiter der Personalabteilung Feurigstraße 16 D-10827 Berlin Germany

Exeter, den 30. Oktober 1999

Bewerbung um einen Posten als Privatsekretärin Ihre Anzeige in der "Berliner Zeitung" vom 28. Oktober 1999

Sehr geehrter Herr Weiland,

da ich seit drei Jahren als einzige Sekretärin in einer aufstrebenden kleinen Firma tätig bin, möchte ich mich nun auf Grund Ihrer Anzeige in der "Berliner Zeitung" vom 28.10.1999 um den Posten der Privatsekretärin bewerben.

Als Privatsekretärin des Inhabers James Young plc in Exeter war ich nicht nur für den täglichen Büroablauf verantwortlich, sondern auch für die gesamte Auslandskorrespondenz, vorwiegend in Deutsch, da wir viele unserer Produkte nach Deutschland und Osteuropa exportieren.

Zu meinen Aufgaben gehörte außerdem die Vereinbarung privater Termine, das Selektieren von Telefongesprächen und Besuchern und die Organisation von Mr. Youngs Korrespondenz. Durch die dadurch gewonnenen Erfahrungen bin ich mit den Aufgaben einer Chefsekretärin bestens vertraut und werde Ihren Erwartungen entsprechen.

Anbei sende ich Ihnen meinen Lebenslauf und stehe Ihnen jederzeit zu einem persönlichen Vorstellungsgespräch zur Verfügung.

Ich bin jederzeit über meinen Anrufbeantworter unter der Nummer 01392 - 987654 zu erreichen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

(handschriftlich unterschrieben)

Laura Norder

Anlagen: Lichtbild Lebenslauf Zeugniskopie

Year abroad work

Gordon Bennett 65 Quality Street Small Heath

Birmingham BH2 8TE Tel. (0044) 21 666 6666

Fa. Werner-Werbung Markstraße 20 D-13409 Berlin

Birmingham, 14. Februar 1999

Bewerbung um eine Praktikantenstelle

Sehr geeehrte Damen und Herren,

als Teil meines Studiums an der Universität Exeter muss ich mein Auslandsjahr (September 1999 � Juli 2000) in einem deutschsprachigen Land verbringen. Ich möchte unbedingt in Berlin arbeiten, um meine Sprachkenntnisse zu verbessern und Erfahrungen in der Werbebranche zu sammeln.

Da ich Ihre Firma durch Frau Silke Jones, die im vorigen Jahr für neun Monate bei Ihnen war, kenne, erlaube ich mir, bei Ihnen anzufragen, ob Sie mir eine geeignete Praktikantenstelle anbieten könnten..

In der Anlage finden Sie meinen Lebenslauf und ein Empfehlungsschreiben.

In der Hoffnung auf eine positive Antwort verbleibe ich mit freundlichen Grüßen

(handschriftlich unterschrieben)

Gordon Bennett

Anlagen

Leaving a job

Heinz Tetzner Merowingerstraße 33 50677 Köln Telefon (02 21) 9 31 24 40

Robotron GmbH Personalleitung Herrn Dr. Matthäus

Heumarkt 45 50667 Köln

Köln, 24. November 1998

Kündigung des Arbeitsverhältnisses zum 31.01.1999

Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Matthäus,

hiermit kündige ich form- und fristgemäß mein Arbeitsverhältnis zum 31. Januar 1999.

Ich bitte um ein qualifiziertes Zeugnis und Aushändigung der Arbeitspapiere zum Dienstzeitende.

Mit freundlichem Gruß

Bernd Sommer

Sabine Hecht Steintorweg 17 20099 Hamburg Telefon (040) 24 63 14

Kilper Baustellenservice GmbH Herrn Kilper Oberaltenallee 12 21039 Hamburg

Hamburg, 10. Februar 1999

Kündigung des Arbeitsverhältnisses zum 30.03.1997

Sehr geehrter Herr Kilper,

wie mit Ihnen bereits persönlich besprochen, tritt mein Mann am 1. April 1999 eine neue Stelle als Buchhalter bei einer englischen Firma an. Dadurch bedingt werden wir in die Nähe von London ziehen und unsere Wohnung in Hamburg zum 1. Mai 1999 aufgeben.

Aus den genannten Gründen kündige ich mein Arbeitsverhältnis zum 30. März 1999 und bitte daher um ein qualifiziertes Zeugnis sowie um Übergabe meiner Arbeitspapiere zum Zeitpunkt des Ausscheidens.

Abschließend möchte ich mich für die vertrauensvolle Zusammenarbeit während meiner fünfjährigen Firmenzugehörigkeit recht herzlich bedanken und wünsche Ihnen, Ihrer

Familie und allen Mitarbeitern der Kilpen Baustellenservice GmbH alles erdenklich Gute und viel Erfolg.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Sabine Hecht

Booking accommodation

Booking a hotel room for yourself

Booking a hotel room for yourself

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

ich würde gerne ein Doppelzimmer für meine Frau und mich sowie ein Zweibettzimmer für unsere beiden Töchter (beide unter 12 Jahren) für den 7., 8. und 9. September reservieren.

Falls nichts dazwischenkommt, werden wir am 7. September um ca. 17.00 Uhr ankommen und am 9. September vormittags wieder abreisen.

Bitte betrachten Sie diese Reservierung als bindend, und halten Sie uns die Zimmer frei, auch wenn wir sehr spät am Abend ankommen sollten.

Ich wäre Ihnen für eine Zimmerreservierung auf der Rückseite Ihres Hotels sehr dankbar.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Frank N. Sense

Booking a hotel room for someone else

Booking a hotel room for sombody else

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

ich möchte für unseren Export-Verkaufsleiter ein Einzelzimmer mit Bad und Vollpension für die Woche nach dem 24. September buchen. Für seine Sekretärin wird ein Einzelzimmer auf der gleichen Etage benötigt.

Wir wären Ihnen sehr dankbar für die umgehende Bestätigung der Reservierung vom 24. - 30. September einschließlich. Bitte lassen sie uns auch Informationen über Ihre Preise zukommen und senden Sie die Rechnung an die obige Adresse.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Annette Curton i.A. B. Styng Verkaufsleiter

How to cancel / alter a booking

Cancelling / amending a booking

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

Ich muss Ihnen leider mitteilen, dass ich aufgrund unvorhersehbarer Umstände meine Zimmerreservierung für die Woche ab dem 12. Januar stornieren muss.

Leider muss ich Sie auch bitten, meine Reservierung vom 3. Februar auf den 17. Februar umzubuchen

Mit freunlichen Grüßen,

Stan Dan Deliver

Translation

Dear Sir or Madam,

Owing to unforeseen circumstances, I am afraid that I must cancel the booking made with you for the week beginning January 12th.

I am afraid that I must also ask you to alter my booking from February 3rd to February 17th.

Yours faithfully,

Stan Dan Deliver

Asking for details

Julia Reich Möhnstraße 9 55130 Mainz Telefon (0 61 31) 4 00 49

Hotel Cafe Reiss Haifa-Allee 6 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Mainz, 10. April 1999

Bitte um Zusendung von Prospektmaterial

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

mit Bezug auf Ihre Annonce in der Zeitschrift "Schöne Ferien" möchte ich Sie bitten, mir Prospektmaterial über Ihr Haus - inklusive Preise - zuzusenden.

Vielleicht können Sie mir auch Auskünfte über die Umgebung, die Ausflugsmöglichkeiten und die Sehenswürdigkeiten geben.

Im voraus herzlichen Dank!

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Julia Reich

Accommodation vocabulary

accommodation die Unterkunft "accommodation offered" "Fremdenzimmer"

"accommodation wanted" "Zimmer / Wohnung gesucht" adjacent rooms nebeneinanderliegende Zimmer air conditioned klimatisiert alarm call der Weckruf balcony der Balkon chambermaid das Zimmermädchen to check in sich anmelden to check out abreisen

check-out time die Abreisezeit conference facilities die Konferenzräumlichkeiten conference room das Konferenzzimmer connecting rooms angrenzende Zimmer dining room der Speisesaal double room das Doppelzimmer emergency exit der Notausgang with en suite bathroom mit Bad foyer die Empfangshalle

full board die Vollpension

function suite die Veranstaltungsräume half board die Halbpension hotel reservation die Hotelreservierung

laundry service die Wäscherei

lobby die Eingangshalle lounge der Gesellschaftsraum meeting room der Besprechungsraum mini-bar die Minibar night porter der Nachtportier

non-smoking room das Nichtraucherzimmer porter der Portier receipt die Quittung reception der Empfang; die Rezeption

receptionist (male) der Empfangschef; der Herr am Empfang

receptionist (female) die Empfangsdame; die Dame am Empfang

room rates die Zimmerpreise (pl.) room service der Zimmerservice secretarial services Schreibdienste (pl.) single room das Einzelzimmer sleeping accommodation for six Schlafgelegenheit für 6 Personen

suite die Suite twin beds zwei Einzelbetten

valet service der Reinigungsdienst

Ich möchte bei Ihnen Übernachtungen mit Frühstück buchen. (I would like to book bed-and-breakfast accommodation with you.) Ich würde gerne ein Doppelzimmer für meine Frau und mich sowie ein Zweibettzimmer für unsere beiden Söhne (beide unter 12 Jahren) reservieren. (I wish to book one double room for my wife and myself, and one twin-bedded room for

our sons, who are both under 12 years of age.) Ich hätte gerne ein Einzelzimmer mit Dusche für zwei Nächte. (I'd like a single room with shower for two nights.) Ich möchte für Herrn Namdar ein Einzelzimmer mit Bad für die Woche nach dem 23. Februar selbst. Herr Namdar bezahlt seine Rechnung selbst. (I wish to reserve a single room with bath for one week from the 23rd February, in the name of Herr Namdar. Herr Namdar will settle the bill himself.) Bitte betrachten Sie diese Reservierung als bindend, und halten Sie mir das Zimmer frei, auch wenn ich sehr spät am Abend ankommen sollte. (Please consider this a firm booking, and hold the room till I arrive, however late in the evening.) Ich hätte gerne ein Zimmer mit Blick auf .... , wenn möglich. (If possible, I would like a room with a view of ...) Ich hätte gerne ein ruhiges Zimmer. (I would like a room which isn't too noisy, please.) Was sind Ihre Preise? (What are your room rates?) Was kostet eine Übernachtung mit Frühstück? (How much is a room per night, with breakfast?) Können Sie mir bitte ein Prospekt von Ihrem Hotel schicken? (Please send me a brochure about your hotel.) Wir wollen gegen Abend eintreffen, falls nicht dazwischenkommt. (We expect to arrive in the early evening, unless something unforeseen prevents us.) Bitte senden Sie die Rechnung an die obige Adresse. (Please send the bill to the above address.) Welche Kreditkarten nehmen Sie?

(Which credit cards do you accept?) Können Sie mir vielleicht ein anderes Hotel empfehlen, das eventuell noch Zimmer frei hat? (Can you suggest another hotel that might have a vacancy?) Ich muss Ihnen leider mitteilen, dass ich aufgrund unvorhersehbarer Umstände meine Zimmerreservierung für die Woche ab dem 5. September stornieren muss. (Owing to unforeseen circumstances, I am afraid that I must cancel the booking made with you for the week beginning September 5th.) Leider muss ich Sie bitten, meine Reservierung vom 24. August auf den 3. September umzubuchen. (I am afraid I must ask you to alter my booking from 24th August to 3rd September.)

Writing to a bank

Asking for a loan

Marco Walker Eisenacher Straße 16 10781 Berlin

Berliner Bank AG Niederlassung Schöneberg Bayerischer Platz 1 10779 Berlin

Berlin, 2. März 1999

Anfrage Konditionen für einen Bankkredit

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

wegen der geplanten Neuanschaffung eines Computers bitte ich Sie, mir Ihre Konditionen für einen Kredit in Höhe von 5.500,00 DM zu nennen. Die Laufzeit sollte 2 Jahre betragen. Ich rechne mit einer monatlichen Ratenzahlung von ca. 250,00 DM.

Die Kopie meiner Verdienstbescheinigung des Arbeitgebers füge ich bei.

Ich freue mich auf Ihre baldige Antwort.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Marco Walker

Anlage: Verdienstbescheinigung (Kopie)

Asking for an overdraft

Marco Walker Eisenacher Straße 16 10781 Berlin

Berliner Bank AG Niederlassung Schöneberg Bayerischer Platz 1 10779 Berlin

Berlin, 3. August, 1999

Girokonto 1462859 Antrag auf Gewährung eines Dispositionskredits

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

seit dem 1. Oktober 1992 bin ich Kunde Ihrer Bank. Zahlungen von dem oben genannten Girokonto wurden bisher ausnahmslos über das Guthabensaldo ausgeführt. Aufgrund kurzfristiger Liquiditätsengpässe - meine Baufirma hat noch DM 2.000 Außenstände - bitte ich um Einrichtung eines Überziehungskredits in Höhe von 1.500,00 DM.

Ich bitte um umgehende Bearbeitung meines Antrags.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Marco Walker

Stating a change of address

Ansgar Brinkmann Am Stadtpark 99 90499 Nürnberg

Berliner Bank AG Niederlassung Nürnberg

Frankenhauser Straße 2 90456 Nürnberg

Nürnberg, 30. August 1999

Girokonto 146532459: Umzug

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

am 1. September 1999 werde ich nach Pansdorf umziehen. Mein Girokonto soll von der dortigen Filiale geführt werden. Meine neue Anschrift lautet:

Koloniestraße 36 51879 Pansdorf

Bisher habe ich die Kontoauszüge selbst bei der Bank abgeholt. Zukünftig sollen die Auszüge per Post an meine neue Anschrift verschickt werden.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Ansgar Brinkmann

When cheques have been stolen

Ansgar Brinkmann Am Stadtpark 99 90499 Nürnberg

Berliner Bank AG Niederlassung Nürnberg-West Frankenhauser Straße 2 90456 Nürnberg

Nürnberg, 17. Juni 1999

Girokonto 1457862342 Sperrung meiner Euroschecks und meiner Euro-Scheckkarte nach Diebstahl

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

gestern wurde mir in Fürth meine Aktentasche gestohlen. In ihr befanden sich unter anderem meine Euro-Scheckkarte sowie mein Scheckbuch. Selbstverständlich habe ich den Diebstahl bei der Polizei sofort angezeigt. Dort riet man mir dringend, die Schecks und die Scheckkarte sofort sperren zu lassen.

Ich beantrage hiermit die Sperrung der Schecks und der Euro-Scheckkarte. Die Schecks tragen fortlaufend die Nummer 1123258 bis 1123265.

Ich bitte um Ihre schriftliche Bestätigung.

Mit freundlichem Gruß

Ansgar Brinkmann

Closing a bank account (1)

Marco Walker Eisenacher Straße 16 10781 Berlin

Berliner Bank Niederlassung Schöneberg Bayerischer Platz 1 10779 Berlin

Berlin, 18. Februar 1999

Kündigung des Girokontos 136465234

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit kündige ich das oben genannte Girokonto bei Ihrer Bank zum 1. März 1999. Aus familiären Gründen werde ich Berlin verlassen und mich in Liechtenstein als Arzt niederlassen. Daher benötige ich das Konto bei Ihrer Bank nicht länger.

Bitte bestätigen Sie mir die Kündigung.

Mit freundlichem Gruß

Marco Walker

Closing a bank account (2)

Marco Walker Eisenacher Straße 16 10781 Berlin

EINSCHREIBEN MIT RÜCKSCHEIN

Berliner Bank AG Niederlassung Schöneberg Bayerischer Platz 1 10779 Berlin

Berlin, 17. September 1999

Auflösung des Sparkontos 147741

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

ich bitte Sie, das beigefügte Sparbuch aufzulösen und den Betrag meinem Girokonto 112333358, Bankleitzahl 322 855 45 bei der Berliner Bank, Filiale Berlin-Lübars gutzuschreiben.

Das Sparbuch unterliegt der gesetzlichen Kündigungsfrist.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Marco Walker

Anlage: Sparbuch 147741

Letters of condolence

Martin Bergmann Schumannstraße 21 01069 Dresden Telefon 03 51 / 4 95 10 81

Ricarda Krenz Anton-Graff-Straße 20 01309 Dresden

Dresden-Laubegast, 10. Januar 1999

Liebe Frau Krenz,

zum Heimgang Ihres lieben Vaters, den ich so sehr schätzte und verehrte, spreche ich Ihnen mein herzliches Beileid aus. Sie dürfen überzeugt sein, daß die Selbstlosigkeit und das politische Engagement, die Ihren Vater auszeichneten, all jenen, die ihn kannten, unvergessen bleiben werden.

In aufrichtiger Anteilnahme

Martin Bergmann

Registering with authorities

Urs Bauer

Schellingstraße 7 70177 Stuttgart Telefon 0711 / 6574500

Stadt Stuttgart Einwohnermeldeamt Fritz-Reuter-Straße 23 70255 Stuttgart

Stuttgart, 7. Mai 1999

Anmeldung bei der Stadt Stuttgart nach Umzug

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

am 6. Mai 1999 bin ich von 24159 Kiel, Eichhofstraße 31a nach Stuttgart umgezogen. Ich wohne nun in der Schellingstraße 7 in 70177 Stuttgart.

Bitte senden Sie mir ein entsprechendes Anmeldeformular zu. Teilen Sie mir auch bitte mit, welche weiteren Dokumente für die Anmeldung erforderlich sind.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Urs Bauer

Invitations

Accepting an invitation (1)

Ulrike und Jens Fiedler Innere Klosterstraße 42 09111 Chemnitz

Herrn Lothar Staiger Rudolf-Marek-Straße 18 09112 Chemnitz

Chemnitz, 20. Oktober 1998

Einladung zum Abendessen

Hallo Lothar,

für die nette Einladung zum Abendessen am nächsten Freitag danken wir recht herzlich. Wir kommen sehr gerne.

Wir freuen uns, Sie und Ihre Frau wiederzusehen und verbleiben bis dahin mit herzlichen Grüßen

Ulrike und Jens Fiedler

Declining an invitation (1)

Iris Naumann Saargemünder Straße 182 66129 Saarbrücken

Frau Elke Schneider Kreuzstraße 15

66132 Saarbrücken

Saarbrücken, 22. Oktober 1998

Einladung zur Geburtstagsfeier

Liebe Elke,

ich möchte mich ganz herzlich für deine freundliche Einladung bedanken.

Bedauerlicherweise kann ich am kommenden Freitag nicht kommen, da ich für diesen Abend bereits eine Einladung von meinen Großeltern angenommen habe.

Ich hoffe, daß wir vielleicht nach der Party deinen Geburtstag feiern können. Wie wäre es mit Sonntag?

Bis dahin feiere schön und ganz herzliche Grüße

Deine Iris

Accepting an invitation (2)

Edith Herzog Moltkestraße 14 33330 Gütersloh

Eheleute Nicole und Andreas Scholz Avenwedder Straße 35 33335 Gütersloh

Gütersloh, 11. Dezember 1998

Einladung zur Silvesterparty

Liebe Nicole, lieber Andreas,

über Eure Einladung zur Silvesterparty habe ich mich riesig gefreut. Natürlich komme ich gerne an diesem Abend gegen 19.30 Uhr zu Euch nach Hause.

Wir alle werden bestimmt eine Menge Spaß miteinander haben. Falls ich noch etwas mitbringen kann, ruft mich doch einfach an.

Wir sehen uns spätestens am 31. Dezember.

Es grüßt Euch ganz herzlich

Eure

Edith

Declining an invitation (2)

Eheleute Birgit und Robert Weber Hochbaumstraße 27a 14167 Berlin

Herrn Werner Götz Stechlinstraße 8 10318 Berlin

Berlin, 10. April 1999

Einladung zur Jubiläumsfeier

Sehr geehrter Herr Götz

haben Sie aufrichtigen Dank für die freundliche Einladung. Leider können wir am 22. April nicht kommen, da wir in dieser Zeit verreist sind.

Wir hoffen auf Ihr Verständnis und verbleiben mit den besten Wünschen auch an Ihre Frau Gemahlin

Birgit und Robert Weber

Invitation to a cocktail party

Irene und Dirk Lottner Tönisberger Straße 39 47839 Krefeld Telefon 0 21 51 / 81 30

Eheleute Helene und Markus Spörl Friedrichstraße 25 47798 Krefeld

Krefeld, 13. Juni 1999

Liebe Frau Spörl, lieber Herr Spörl,

es gehört zu unseren liebgewonnenen Gewohnheiten, den Sommer mit einer Cocktail-Party zu begrüßen. Auch in diesem Jahr möchten wir mit guten Freunden den Sommeranfang am 25. Juni 1999 in unserem Garten feiern. Wir hoffen, das Wetter spielt mit und alle Gäste bringen gute Laune mit.

Haben Sie Lust zu kommen? Sie würden uns eine große Freude machen.

Ihre

Irene und Dirk Lottner

Invitation to a birthday party

Ute Malewski Von-Coels-Straße 232 52080 Aachen

Kai Assmann Theaterstraße 63 52062 Aachen

Aachen, 5. August 1999

Geburtstagsfeier am 17. August 1999

Lieber Kai,

kaum zu glauben, aber wahr: Am 16. August werde ich ganze 21. Jahr !

Ich möchte Dich aus diesem Anlaß ganz herzlich zu meiner Geburtstagsfeier um 20.00 Uhr im Pfarrzentrum Peter und Paula einladen.

Bitte gib mir bis 14. August 1999 Bescheid, ob Du kommen kannst. Ich würde mich sehr freuen.

Bis dahin, liebe Grüße

Ute

Invitation to a picnic

Karin Präger Sandhofer Straße 31 68307 Mannheim Telefon 06 21 / 4 70 30

Herrn Uwe Frontzeck Käfertaler Straße 24 68167 Mannheim

Mannheim, 2. Juni 1999

Hallo Uwe,

das anhaltend strahlende Wetter und mein neuer Wagen haben mich auf die Idee gebracht, am kommenden Samstag, den 6. Juni 1999 irgendwo im Grünen ein Picknick zu veranstalten, zu dem ich Dich herzlich einladen möchte.

Ich weiß nicht, wo es sein wird, sondern nur, wann ich Dich abhole - nämlich genau um 11.00 Uhr vormittags.

Wenn Du mich telefonisch nicht erreichst, so hinterlasse mir doch bitte eine Nachricht auf meinem Anrufbeantworter, damit ich weiß, ob Du Lust hast, meine Einladung anzunehmen.

Viele Grüße

Karin

Letters of apology

Apologising for absence from studies

Neil Downe Bodenmaiser Weg 4 10318 Berlin Telefon 0 30 / 21 56 96

Kleist-Gymnasium Herrn Oberstudienrat Eduard Knoblauch Lassaner Straße 11 12621 Berlin

Berlin, 16. Februar 1999

Entschuldigung

Sehr geehrter Herr Knoblauch,

am Dienstag, dem 14. November 1999, konnte ich wegen einer starken Erkältung nicht am Unterricht teilnehmen. Ich bitte, mein Fernbleiben zu entschuldigen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Neil Downe

Apologising due to ill health

Neil Downe Bodenmaiser Weg 4 10318 Berlin Telefon 0 30 / 21 56 96

Kleist-Gymnasium Schulleitung Herrn Oberstudiendirektor Dr. Wilhelm Schadow Lassaner Straße 11 12621 Berlin

Berlin, 12. Juni 1999

Entschuldigung

Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Fleischer,

in der Zeit von 4. Juni 1999 bis 10. Juni 1999 konnte ich wegen eines grippalen Infekts nicht am Unterricht teilnehmen. Ein erstes ärztliches Attest liegt Ihnen bereits vor. Die neue Bescheinigung von Herrn Dr. Staiger ist diesem Schreiben beigefügt.

Ich besuche die Jahrgangsstufe 12. Mein Beratungslehrer ist Herr Wunderlich.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Neil Downe

Anlage:

ärztliche Bescheinigung

Letters of complaint

Lost luggage (1)

Friederike Wagner Spreeallee 4 24111 Kiel Telefon 0431 / 8 15 33

Deutsche Bahn AG Hauptbahnhof Kiel Gepäckausgabe Bahnhofsplatz 5-9 24312 Kiel

Kiel, 25. November 1998

Verlust meines Koffers

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

am 23. November 1998 gab ich am Bahnhof meinen Koffer für eine Geschäftsreise nach Flensburg auf. Der Koffer sollte an diesen Ort vorausgeschickt und am Bahnhof von mir in Empfang genommen werden. Dort traf er aber nie ein.

Bei dem vermißten Gepäckstück handelt es sich um einen grauen Koffer aus Kunstleder. Das Gepäckstück war mit meinem Namen und meiner Privatanschrift in Kiel versehen.

Ich bitte Sie, Nachforschungen über den Verbleib des Gepäcks anzustellen, das einen Wert von ca. 1.500,-- DM darstellt.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Friederike Wagner

Lost luggage (2)

Ansgar Brinkmann Am Stadtpark 99 90409 Nürnberg Telefon 0911/ 356377

Deutsche Bahn AG Hauptbahnhof Hannover Fundbüro Bahnhofsplatz 5-9 30451 Hannover

Nürnberg, 12. April 1999

Verlust meines Reisegepäcks

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

am 9. April reiste ich mit dem ICE 1389 von München nach Hannover. Ich hatte einen Platz im Wagen 7, Sitz 11 gebucht. Der Zug fuhr um 10.25 Uhr in München ab und erreichte Düsseldorf-Hauptbahnhof um 14.08 Uhr.

Da ich den D-Zug nach Wolfsburg unbedingt erreichen mußte, ließ ich in der Eile einen Koffer im Gepäcknetz liegen.

Es handelt sich um einen schwarzblauen Koffer der Marke "ExtraSafe" aus echtem Leder. Am Griff sind meine Initialen "A B" aufgeklebt. Im Koffer befinden sich einige Ausweispapiere (Geburtsurkunde, Studentenausweis, etc.) mit meinem Namen. Weiterhin enthält er wichtige Vertragsdokumente sowie ein paar Geschenke für meine Nichte.

Falls der Koffer bei Ihnen abgegeben wurde oder noch gebracht wird, bitte ich um schnellstmögliche Nachricht, wann und wo ich ihn in Empfang nehmen kann.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Ansgar Brinkmann

Postal delay

Michael Kocak

Münchener Straße 42 45145 Essen Telefon 02 01/23 21 61

Postamt Essen-West Vogelheimer Strasse 14 45326 Essen

Essen, 7. Dezember 1998

Beschwerde über die Postzustellung

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit möchte ich mich über die Zustellung meiner Post beschweren.

Zur Zeit bewerbe ich mich bei einigen Unternehmen und versende die Bewerbungsunterlagen per Post. Da ich als Berufseinsteiger selbstverständlich mit mehreren Rückläufern rechne, bat ich den Zusteller, Herrn Franz Beckenbauer, die zurückkommenden Umschläge nach Möglichkeit nicht zu knicken, da ich die verhältnismäßig teuren Bewerbungsmappen wiederverwenden möchte.

Herr Beckenbauer versprach darauf zu achten und bei der Zustellung brauner DIN A4-Umschläge zu klingeln.

Leider sind meine Wünsche nicht berücksichtigt worden. Erst vorgestern fand ich in meinem Briefkasten zwei völlig ramponierte Umschläge mit meinen kaum wiederverwendbaren Bewerbungsmappen.

Ich bitte Sie darauf einzuwirken, daß die Zustellung meiner DIN A4-Umschläge künftig sorgfältiger erfolgt.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Michael Kocak

Faulty goods

Katja Ostwald Frankfurter Straße 181

35392 Gießen Telefon 06 41/ 2 00 30

Wilhelm Busch Elektroanlagen-Installation Bismarckstraße 11 35390 Gießen

Gießen, 13. Mai 1999

Reklamation Hi-Fi-Anlage "Tower of Power TP 5000"

Sehr geehrter Herr Busch,

vor drei Wochen kaufte ich in Ihrem Geschäft eine Hi-Fi-Anlage "Tower of Power TP 5000" zum Preis von 1.200,-- DM. Eine Kopie der Quittung ist diesem Brief beigefügt.

Leider muß ich Ihnen mitteilen, daß ich mit dem Gerät nicht zufrieden bin. Das Kassettendeck und die Lautsprecher sind defekt. Bitte schicken Sie einen Ihrer Kundendienst-Mitarbeiter, um die Stereoanlage zu prüfen oder es gegen ein anderes Modell auszutauschen.

Für eine schnelle Erledigung der Angelegenheit danke ich Ihnen im voraus und verbleibe mit freundlichen Grüßen

Katja Ostwald

Anlage: Quittung über den Kauf der Hi-Fi-Anlage "Tower of Power TP 5000"

Letters of congratulation

On the birth of a child

Michael Schmidt Nachtigallenweg 10 04356 Leipzig Telefon 03 41 / 5 26 91 42

Familie Horst Gerber Buchbinderstraße 19 18055 Rostock

Leipzig, 13.06.1999

Liebe Frau Gerber, lieber Herr Gerber,

ich wünsche Ihnen und dem neuen Familienzuwachs alles Gute. Vor allem Ihnen, liebe Frau Gerber, wünsche ich baldige Erholung.

Hoffentlich habe ich in Bälde Gelegenheit, Ihren strammen Sohn persönlich kennenzulernen.

Ich bin ganz sicher, dass er seiner großen Schwester Anja viel Freude bereiten wird.

Herzlichst Ihr

Michael Schmidt

On somebody's engagement

Richard und Franziska Kirsten 38108 Braunschweig Telefon 0 53 09 / 53 59

Herrn Michael Clement Amalienstraße 47 90763 Fürth

Braunschweig, 17.08.1998

Lieber Herr Clement

Ihnen und Ihrer Frau Michaela möchten wir zu Ihrer Vermählung die herzlichsten Glückwünsche aussprechen.

Für Ihren gemeinsamen Lebensweg wünschen wir Ihnen zu allen Zeiten Glück, Harmonie und vor allem Gesundheit.

Richard Kirsten, Franziska Kirsten

Letters to the phone company

Asking for a phone to be installed

Jörg Osthoff Varenholzstraße 26 44797 Bochum

Deutsche Telekom AG Bezirksstelle Bochum Postfach 10 20 30 44801 Bochum

Bochum, 04.10.1999

Fernsprechanschluß

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

für meine neubezogene Wohnung in der Varenholzstraße 26 in 44797 Bochum beantrage ich einen Telefonanschluß. Bitte senden Sie mir die entsprechenden Antragsformulare schnellstmöglich zu.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Jörg Osthoff

When moving house

Simon Jentzsch Borchener Straße 23 33098 Paderborn Telefon (0 52 51) 6 94 25

Deutsche Telekom Niederlassung Paderborn An der Talle 46 33102 Paderborn

Paderborn, 28. Mai 1999

Kündigung des Fernsprechanschlusses (0 52 51) 7 80 05

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit kündige ich meinen Fernsprechanschluß (0 52 51) 7 80 05 fristgerecht zum 1. Juli 1999. Mein Nachmieter möchte den Anschluß gerne zum gleichen Termin übernehmen.

Ich bitte, die Endabrechnung an meine neue Adresse zu senden:

Wilhelm Meister Borchener Straße 23 33098 Paderborn

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Simon Jentzsch

11.15 Ein Brief an ein Hotel

Below is a letter received by the Hotel Blauer Engel in Dresden from Annette Curton of the marketing department of the company E. Rösler KG in Berlin. Annette is booking a suite for the chairman of the company and another room for his secretary. Pay particular attention to the layout of the letter and the vocabulary used in a business letter such as this. The next page will explain how to set out a letter in German.

Text 2: Ein Brief an ein Hotel

Firma E. Rösler KG Bozener Straße 11-15 10825 Berlin Tel: 0 30 / 21 56 96 Fax: 0 30 / 21 56 98

Hotel Blauer Engel Prinzenallee 6 01069 Dresden

Berlin, den 13. Juni 2002

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

wir möchten für unseren Vorsitzenden Herrn Erhard Rösler eine Suite mit Loggia und Halbpension in einer Nichtraucheretage für die Woche nach dem 18. August buchen. Für seine Sekretärin benötigen wir ein Einzelzimmer auf der gleichen Etage.

Bitte betrachten Sie diese Reservierung als bindend, und halten Sie die Zimmer frei, auch wenn unser Vorsitzender sehr spät am Abend ankommen sollte.

Bestätigen Sie uns bitte schriftlich die Reservierung und den Preis von 146 Euro pro Tag für die Suite und zusätzlich 29 Euro pro Tag für Halbpension. Bitte schicken Sie uns auch Ihren Hotelprospekt zu.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Thomas Berger Marketing-Abteilung

Text 2: A letter to a hotel

Firma E. Rösler KG Bozener Straße 11-15 10825 Berlin Tel: 0 30 / 21 56 96 Fax: 0 30 / 21 56 98

Hotel Blauer Engel Prinzenallee 6 01069 Dresden

Berlin, 13th June 2002

Dear Sir or Madam,

We would like to book a suite with a balcony on a non-smoking floor and half-board for our chairman Erhard Rösler for the week commencing 18th August. We also require a single room on the same floor for his secretary.

Please regard this reservation as definite and save the rooms for our chairman even if he should arrive very late in the evening.

Please confirm this reservation in writing and confirm that the price of the suite will be 146 euros per day with an additional 29 euros per day for half-board. Please also send us a copy of your hotel brochure.

Yours faithfully,

Thomas Berger Marketing Department

Glossary

der Brief (-e) letter

ein Brief an (+ Acc.)

a letter to

KG (-s) This means "limited partnership". It is short for "die Kommanditgesellschaft"

der Engel (-) This means "angel". The full title of the hotel translates as "Blue Angel", which was a famous Marlene Dietrich film!

die Allee (-n) This means not an "alley" but an "avenue".

geehrt honoured, esteemed

die Dame (-n) lady

der Herr (weak masc.)

gentleman

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren

This equates to the English "Dear Sir or Madam". It is the standard opening in a business letter where you do not know the name or gender of the recipient.

für unseren Vorsitzenden

This means "for our chairman". Note the accusative endings on this adjectival noun.

Herrn Rösler Note too that the weak masculine noun "Herr" adds an "-n" here as it is also in the accusative case.

die Suite (-n) suite

die Loggia (pl. - Loggien)

balcony

buchen to book

die Sekretärin (-innen)

secretary

benötigen to require

der/die gleiche the same

auf der gleichen Etage

on the same floor

betrachten als to regard as

die Reservierung (-en)

reservation

bindend binding; definite

freihalten (sep.)

This is a separable verb ("frei-halten") meaning "to keep or save" a hotel room for someone

auch wenn even if

unser Vorsitzender

Once again note the mixed declension endings on the adjectival noun.

spät late

spät am Abend late in the evening

sollte ankommen

This means "should arrive" and is a form of the conditional tense which shall be discussed in forthcoming chapters.

bestätigen to confirm

bestätigen Sie uns...

please confirm for us...

schriftlich in writing

der Preis (-e) price

zusätzlich additionally

zuschicken (sep.)

This is a separable verb meaning "to send". The object that you are sending is in the accusative case, and the person to whom you are sending it is in the dative case.

der Hotelprospekt (-e)

hotel brochure

der Gruß (pl. - Grüße)

greeting

mit freundlichen Grüßen

This literally means "with friendly greetings" - note the dative plural endings on the noun! It equates to the English "Yours..." at the end of a business letter.

das Marketing marketing

die Marketing-Abteilung (-en)

marketing department

11.16 German letter layout

1. Position of the address Your own address should be the first element of the letter, and you can include your telephone number, fax number and/or E-mail address at the end of this, if you are willing to be contacted in this way. Leave a gap and then type in the address of the person or company to whom you are writing. Note that whilst telephone numbers are said in pairs, they are written in a business letter as only two numbers, the regional dialling code followed by the actual number. If you are writing from overseas, remember to add the international dialling code. Both addresses should be positioned flush left on your page and should not contain commas at the end of each line. If you know the name of the person to whom you are addressing the letter, then this should be included in their address. In such cases the first line of the address should either be "Herrn" or "Frau", depending on the gender of the addressee.

Grammar 23: Addresses with titles

Herrn Jan Walle Lehrter Pfad 34 10825 Berlin

Frau Irmgard Krznaric Halker Zeile 4c 9490 Vaduz

Herrn Doktor Armin Prill Bleicherweg 7 8002 Zürich

Frau Professor Andrea Widy Kärtnerring 6/3a 1010 Wien

Notes 1. Why is it "Herrn" and not "Herr"? Because you are writing to the man in question, and he is thus in the accusative case. As we have seen in this chapter, "Herr" is a weak masculine noun and thus adds an extra "-n" in all cases other than the nominative singular. 2. If the person to whom you are writing has a title such as "doctor" or "professor", this title is preceded on the first line of the address by either "Herrn" or "Frau" depending on the gender of the addressee. 3. In many cases, the masculine form of the title is used regardless of the gender of the person possessing this title - e.g. "Frau Doktor", "Frau Professor". With some other titles however, the feminine form is used for a female addressee - e.g. "Frau Studienrätin" (= secondary school teacher).

2. The date and its position The date should be written on the right-hand side of the page. Unlike English which has several variations (May 2, May 2nd, 2nd May etc.), dates in German are always written the same way - der 2. Mai. At the head of letters, the accusative form is used, preceded by the name of the place from where you are writing - e.g. Exeter, den 25. Dezember 2002. Dates written all in numbers are also found in German, particularly in business letters - e.g. Exeter, den 25.12.2002.

3. Dear Sir or Madam The "Dear Sir or Madam..." line is written flush left on the page. If you are writing to a firm or an institution and do not know the name of the person to whom you are writing, use "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren," which literally translates as "Very esteemed ladies and gentlemen" but equates to the English "Dear Sir or Madam". (You should only use "Sehr geehrte Herren," or "Sehr geehrte Damen," if you are sure that the people to whom you are writing are all male or all female.) The table below shows how you should start a letter when writing to someone whose name you know:

Grammar 24: Addressing the addressee

Sehr geehrter Herr Wagner, ("Dear Mr. Wagner,")

Sehr geehrte Frau Wagner, ("Dear Mrs. Wagner,")

Sehr geehrte Frau Wagner, sehr geehrter Herr Wagner, ("Dear Mr. and Mrs. Wagner")

With titles

Sehr geehrter Herr Doktor Prill, ("Dear Doctor Prill,")

Sehr geehrte Frau Professor Widy, ("Dear Professor Widy,")

Notes 1. In this case the person to whom you are writing is in the nominative case. You can tell this by the adjective endings and the fact that "Herr" does not have an "-n" on the end. 2. Note again that "Herr" and "Frau" are retained when writing to someone who has a title. 3. If you are writing to somebody with a title, you should not write their Christian name. Thus the opening formula to write to Professor Andrea Widy is "Sehr geehrte Frau Professor Widy".

4. Body of the letter The first line of the body of a German letter is not indented, but is positioned flush left on the page. Note too that - unlike in English - the first word of the body of a letter does not start with a capital letter (unless it is a noun). Why? This is because this first word is only the start of a new clause, not a new sentence. Viewed from a grammatical perspective, it continues the sentence started on the previous line by "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,".

5. Ending a letter Whereas in English we must choose between "Yours faithfully" and "Yours sincerely" when concluding a business letter, the standard ending for a German letter is "Mit freundlichen Grüßen," (= with friendly wishes). As in English letters you then sign the letter and print your name beneath it.

11.17 Hotel vocabulary (1)

Listed below is a two-page vocabulary guide to booking accommodation in German-speaking countries. We have also included symbols for each word or phrases that you may well find in tourist brochures or tourist offices. On this page you will find types of accommodation, stay and rooms as well as general accommodation phrases. On the next page you will find vocabulary for room facilities and hotel facilities. As ever, plurals of nouns are given in brackets.

Vocabulary 2: Types of accomodation

der Campingplatz (pl. -plätze)

camp site

das Ferienhaus (pl. -häuser)

holiday home

die Ferienwohnung (-en) holiday flat

das Gasthaus (pl. -häuser)

inn

der Gasthof (pl. -höfe) inn

die Herberge (-n) hostel

das Hotel (-s) hotel

das Hotel garni (-s -s) bed and breakfast

das Jugendgästehaus (pl. -häuser)

youth hostel

die Jugendherberge (-n) youth hostel

die Pension (-en) guest-house

die Unterkunft (pl. -künfte)

accommodation; place to stay

das Wohnmobil (-e) dormobile; camper van

der Wohnwagen (-) dormobile; camper van

das Zelt (-e) tent

Vocabulary 3: Types of stay

die Halbpension half-board

die Übernachtung (-en) overnight stay

Übernachtung mit Frühstück bed and breakfast

die Vollpension full board

Vocabulary 4: Der Zimmertyp (type of room)

das Businesszimmer (-)

business room

D das Doppelzimmer (-) double room

T das Dreibettzimmer (-) room with three beds

E das Einzelzimmer (-) single room

D das Gästezimmer (-) guest room

das Handicapzimmer (-) handicap room

das Komfortzimmer (-) luxury room

das Nichtraucherzimmer (-) no-smoking room

die Nichtraucheretage (-n) no-smoking floor

die Suite (-n) suite

V das Vierbettzimmer (-) room with four beds

Z das Zweibettzimmer (-) twin room

Vocabulary 5: Hotel phrases

wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?

how may I help you?

können Sie mir Informationen über das Hotel geben?

can you give me some information about the hotel?

sämtliche Zimmer sind voll belegt

all of the rooms are fully occupied

alle Unterkünfte sind bereits ausgebucht

all accommodation is already fully booked

das steht unseren Gästen zur Verfügung

this is available to our guests

das Hotel befindet sich...

the hotel is situated...

in ruhiger Lage

in a quiet location

in 10 Gehminuten erreichbar

can be reached with a ten-minute walk

in unmittelbarer Umgebung

in the immediate vicinity

ganzjährig geöffnet

open all the year round

der hauseigene Parkplatz

car park belonging to the hotel

um wie viel Uhr wird das Frühstück serviert?

at what time is breakfast served?

werden Kreditkarten akzeptiert?

are credit cards accepted?

bitte betrachten Sie diese Reservierung als bindend

please regard this reservation as binding

bitte halten Sie (uns) das Zimmer frei...

please keep the room (for us)...

...auch wenn wir sehr spät am Abend ankommen sollten

...even if we should arrive very late in the evening

Preise auf Anfrage

prices on request

inklusive Mehrwertsteuer

including value added tax

Kinderermäßigung ab 12 Jahren

child reduction from 12 years upwards

Wollen Sie mir bitte jetzt folgen?

Would you like to follow me please?

im Erdgeschoss

on the ground floor

im obersten Stock

on the top floor

das Zimmer verfügt über (+ Acc.)

the room has...

ein Zimmer mit Blick auf (+ Acc.)

a room that looks out on...

komplett ausgestattet

fully furnished

rollstuhlgerecht eingerichtet

furnished so as to be suitable for wheelchairs

Vegetarier kommen zu ihrem Recht

vegetarians are well-treated

wie weit ist es zum Stadtzentrum?

how far is it to the city centre?

verkehrsgünstig gelegen

conveniently situated

würden Sie sich bitte eintragen?

would you like to sign the hotel register?

bitte füllen Sie das Anmeldeformular aus

please fill out the registration form

Sie müssen die Reservierung schriftlich bestätigen

you must confirm the reservation in writing

11.18 Hotel vocabulary (2)

Listed below is a two-page vocabulary guide to booking accommodation in German-speaking countries. We have also included symbols for each word or phrases that you may well find in tourist brochures or tourist offices. On this page you will find vocabulary for room facilities and hotel facilities. On the previous page you will find types of accommodation, stay and rooms as well as general accommodation phrases. As ever, plurals of nouns are given in brackets.

Vocabulary 6: Hotel room facilities

der Arbeitsbereich (-e) working area

das Bad (pl. - Bäder) bath

der Balkon (-s) balcony

das Direktwahltelefon (-e) direct-dial telephone

die Dusche (-n) shower

der Farbfernseher (-) colour television set

die Fernbedienung remote control

der Fernseher (-) television set

das Hausvideo in-house video

der Internetanschluss (pl. -schlüsse) internet connection

das Kabelfernsehen; das Kabel-TV cable television (as a medium)

der Kabelfernseher (-) cable television set

das Kinderbett (-en) cot

die Klimaanlage (-n) air-conditioning

klimatisiert air-conditioned

die Loggia (pl. - Loggien) balcony

die Minibar (-s) mini-bar

der PC-Anschluss (pl. -schlüsse) PC connection

der Radiowecker (-) radio alarm clock

das Satellitenfernsehen satellite TV

der Schlafbereich (-e) sleeping area

der Schlüssel (-) key

der Schreibtisch (-e) desk

der Telefaxanschluss (pl. -schlüsse) fax connection

das Telefon (-e) telephone

der WC (-s) toilet

der Wohnbereich (-e) living area

die Zimmernummer (-n) room number

das Zusatzbett (-en) additional bed

Vocabulary 7: General hotel vocabulary

der Airport-Shuttle (-s) airport shuttle

das Anmeldeformular (-e) registration form

die Anzahlung (-en) deposit

gegen Anzahlung if you pay a deposit

der Aufenthaltsraum (pl. -räume) day room; recreation room

der Bahnhof-Shuttle (-s) station shuttle

die Bar (-s) hotel bar

die Bedienung service

die behindertengerechte Ausstattung disabled facilities

der Empfang (pl. -fänge) reception

die Empfangsdame (-n) receptionist

das englischsprachige Personal English-speaking staff

die Ermäßigung (-en) reduction

die Etage (-n) floor

der Etagenservice floor service

fahrradfreundlich catering for cyclists

familienfreundlich catering for families

der Fitnessraum (pl. -räume) fitness room

die Freizeitmöglichkeiten (pl.) leisure opportunities

das Frühstücksbüfett (-s) breakfast buffet

die Garage (-n) garage / car park

der Gast (pl. - Gäste) guest

gastfreundlich hospitable

das Getränk (-e) drink; beverage

die Gruppenermäßigung (-en) group reduction

die Hausbar (-s) house bar

Haustiere erlaubt pets allowed

kinderfreundlich catering for children

das Kindermenü (-s) children's menu

der Kinderspielplatz (pl. -plätze) children's playground

der Konferenzraum (pl. -räume) conference room

Kreditkarten akzeptiert credit cards accepted

die (sächsische) Küche (Saxon) cuisine

der Lift (-e or -s) lift; elevator

der Messe-Shuttle (-s) trade fair shuttle

der Nachtportier (-s) night porter

der offene Kamin open fire

die Parkanlage (-n) park

der Parkplatz (pl. -plätze) parking space

der Portier (-s) porter

der Prospekt (-e) brochure

der/die Reisende traveller

die Reservierung (-en) reservation

das Restaurant (-s) restaurant

die Sauna (-s) sauna

das Schwimmbecken (-) swimming pool

der Seminarraum (pl. -räume) seminar room

das Solarium (pl. -rien) solarium

der Stock (no pl.) floor; storey

das Stockwerk (-e) floor; storey

die Tagungseinrichtungen (pl.) conference equpiment

der Tagungsraum (pl. -räume) conference room

die Terrasse (-n) terrace

die Tiefgarage (-n) underground car park

das Vegetariermenü (-s) vegetarian menu

die Verkehrsanbindungen (pl.) transport connections

der Whirlpool (-s) whirlpool

11.19 Tourist accommodation

Hotels Prices and standards in German hotels vary enormously. You can stay overnight in luxury suites, rooms in middle class hotels or very inexpensive accommodation in smaller hotels. Whilst it is true as a general principle that hotels are cheaper in rural areas and on the outskirts of cities than in city centres, a more reliable guide to what you can expect to find and pay is the German hotel classification system. This was introduced by the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) in 1996. Hotels are classified based on a uniform criteria and are categorized by a certain number of stars - five stars is the best that a hotel (or other accommodation facility) can achieve. Click here for details of the mininum criteria for each of the star categories. Some of Germany's most luxurious hotels are the Accor, ArabellaSheraton, Hilton, Inter-Continental, Kempinski, Marriott, Radisson, Romantik and Steigenberger

When you arrive in a German town or city, the local tourist office (das Fremdenverkehrsbüro) - will usually be able to help you find a hotel that meets your requirements. If the tourist office is not open, there may well be a list of rooms on display outside the office with prices and other details. At airports and railway stations, you will often find a counter with a sign saying Zimmernachweis (= accommodation service) where you can book a room.

It is becoming easier and easier however to book hotel rooms via the Internet. See the web links at the bottom of this page for a number of hotel reservation services and hotel search engines which can enable you you to book your ideal accommodation from the comfort of your own desk!

Rooms in other types of accommodation As a general rule, prices in a German guest house (die Pension) or a bed and breakfast (das Hotel garni) will be cheaper than in a hotel, but in high season guest house prices in tourist areas can still be quite high. Look out for country inns (der Gasthof) that offer rooms. Many of them have their own butcher's and offer a wide variety of local specialities.

Holiday flats (die Ferienwohnung), holiday homes (das Ferienhaus) and holiday villages (das Feriendorf) are gaining in popularity as a low-price vacation option. With environmental awareness in German-speaking countries being high, holidays on farms (Ferien auf dem Bauernhof) or in other "green" locations (such as stables or vineyards) are very popular. The German Agricultural Society (DLG) provides a comprehensive list of such approved holiday locations.

Youth hostels Germany's 608 youth hostels are used not only by students, youth groups and school parties but also by hikers and tourists of all ages who seek an informal environment where you can meet people from a wide range of backgrounds. Most youth hostels are also suitable for families, offer sports facilities on their grounds and are wheelchair-accessible.

The only requirement is that one must be a member of the German Youth Hostel Association (DJH). You may purchase a membership card directly from the German Youth Hostel Association or in the youth hostels themselves.

So-called "Friends of Nature hostels" (das Naturfreundehaus) exist in locations of natural beauty such as mountain regions or walking areas. Many of them are youth guest houses or hiking centres, but it is possible for tourists, travellers and families to stay overnight. There are 500 such hostels in Germany alone and they range from simple boathouses and self-catering accommodation to recognised education centres. In mountainous areas you may also find a mountain hut (die Berghütte) that is willing to put up passing travellers for the night.

Tourist boards Your first port of call when trying to find out more about accommodation and/or holidays in Germany should be the English homepage of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB). In addition to their excellent service for tourists, the sixteen German Länder have their own tourist boards.

11.20 Dresden: Florence of the North

Early history Situated in the east of modern Germany on the River Elbe, Dresden was first

mentioned in official documents in 1206. The city derives its name from "Drezdany", the name of a village inhabited by Sorbs, and which literally means "the people from the marshy forest". It quickly became the capital of Saxony (in German: Sachsen), which became a major European power in 1697 when August the Strong of Saxony converted to catholicism and gained the Polish crown. Dresden became known internationally for its elaborately-decorated china which was manufactured from 1710 onwards in nearby Meißen.

In 1806 French troops occupied Dresden, and the city was the scene of Napoleon's last great military victory in August 1813 when 23,000 enemy soldiers died as French troops defeated Austrian forces under the command of General Schwarzenberg. Dresden grew quickly in size during the 19th Century and had a population of 632,710 by 1930 - by which time of course Saxony had become part of a unified Germany.

The air-raid on Dresden in 1945 In 1945, during the latter stages of World War II, Dresden was perceived by the Allied forces to be a pivotal centre of communications as the Allied commander-in-chief General Eisenhower was anxious to link up with the advancing Red Army in south Germany. Many factors spoke against it being a bombing target however. Dresden was a beautiful Baroque city known as the "Florence of the North". It had no war industry and little military value. The city was known to be overcrowded with some 200,000 refugees, mainly peasants from Silesia fleeing the Red Army. Despite this however, it was believed that air attacks on Dresden would sap the morale of the German populace and also provide retaliation for German attacks on London and other British cities. On the night of 13-14 February 1945, heavy and sustained air-raids were launched on Dresden by Britain's Bomber Command. 805 bombers dropped a total of 2690 tonnes of bombs on the city, followed by three more in daylight by the US 8th Air Force.

A firestorm engulfing eight square miles flattened over 30,000 buildings, including many of great cultural importance such as the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). The numbers of those who died in the bombing and the ensuing firestorm are still in dispute, with estimates varying from 55,000 to 250,000. Whatever the figure, it was probably greater than the 51,509 British civilians killed by the Luftwaffe during the whole of the Second World War and the 70,000 immediate deaths at Hiroshima after the dropping of the first atom bomb on 6th August 1945.

1949 to the present day After World War II, Dresden found itself in the Soviet occupation zone and thus became part of the German Democratic Republic. Saxony was dissolved as an administrational area and replaced by three regions: Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz. The city was located in what once was called the Tal der Ahnungslosen (Valley of the Clueless) - as the city is encircled by mountains and hills, the signals of the West German TV stations never seemed to reach peoples antennas, forcing them to watch the television channels of the socialist state broadcaster. German reunification in 1990 saw the reinstatement of Saxony as a German Land, with Dresden once again as its capital.

In August 2002 large areas of Dresden were flooded, first by the Weißeritz river and then by the River Elbe. The Elbe, which has a normal summer level of around two

metres on its way through Dresden, reached a height of over nine metres, thus beating the all-time high of 1845. 35,000 people had to be evacuated and 100,000 people were without electricity. The basement of the 19th-century Semper Opera House (pictured below) was filled with water to a depth of almost three metres, although most of the cultural artefacts in the building were thankfully brought to safety. The biggest clear-up operation in Dresden since 1945 looks set to cost the city millions of euros.

Size and architecture Dresden currently has a population of 472,350 inhabitants, which makes it the fifteenth biggest city in Germany. The city owes its reputation as the "Florence of the North" to the baroque period, when it became one of the most glamorous European royal capitals. This period witnessed the construction of many of Dresden's most beautiful buildings such as the Zwinger, the Hofkirche and the Schaumburgpalais. Dresden's highlights include the magnificent palatial buildings around the Theaterplatz and the Brühl Terraces, and the many art treasures at the state museums.

The reconstruction of Dresden's elegant landmarks after the air-raids of August 1945 was largely neglected by the GDR authorities. Inner-city areas that had only been lightly damaged by the bombing were largely left as they were. Instead a series of Soviet-style concrete buildings and housing blocks were added in areas such as Johannstadt, Gorbitz and Prohlis. Until 1989 the architecture of the city constituted a harsh contrast between decaying baroque splendour and concrete functionalism.

It was only after reunification in 1990 that large scale reconstruction of the city got underway. Work was started in 1994 to rebuild the Frauenkirche (see picture left), the 18th Century baroque church at the heart of Dresden which had been in ruins since the bombing raids of 1945. Restoration work should be completed by the 800th anniversary of the city in 2006 and the new Frauenkirche will not only complete Dresden's city landscape but also provide Europe with a symbol of reconciliation between nations.

Chapter 12: Accommodation (2)

12.1 Am Studentenwerk

Having found a hotel room for a few days, Marko Tredup must now use his time in Dresden to find some student accommodation for when he starts at the Dresden University of Technology in October. He goes to seek advice from das Studentenwerk - the student administration of the university. Unfortunately it is Friday, the one day of the week on which the office is closed. Instead Marko meets fellow student Leon Arndt who gives him some information about the accommodation situation for students in Germany.

Conversation 1: Am Studentenwerk

Marko Tredup

Ach, Entschuldigung, wo finde ich das Studentenwerk?

Leon Arndt

Das Studentenwerk befindet sich gleich um die Ecke im Hauptgebäude.

Marko Tredup

Und wann hat das Studentenwerk geöffnet?

Leon Arndt

Tja, Pech gehabt! Die Sprechzeiten während der Semesterferien sind montags und mittwochs von 09.00 Uhr bis 12.00 Uhr und dienstags und donnerstags von 09.00 Uhr bis 15.00 Uhr. Freitags bleibt das Studentenwerk leider geschlossen.

Marko Tredup

So ein Pech! Was mache ich denn jetzt? Kannst du mir eine Frage beantworten?

Leon Arndt

Ja, klar.

Marko Tredup

Ab dem kommenden Semester werde ich hier an der Universität Jura studieren. Bekommen alle Studenten einen Platz in einem Studentenwohnheim?

Leon Arndt

Nein, nicht alle. Die Wohnungssituation in Dresden ist äußerst schwierig - besonders für Studierende. Wegen der langen Wartezeiten bekommen Studienanfänger in der Regel kein Zimmer in einem Wohnheim. Du musst zumindest für das Wintersemester eine Unterkunft auf dem privaten Wohnungsmarkt oder bei Freunden finden.

Marko Tredup

Aber ich habe keine Freunde oder Bekannte in Dresden!

Leon Arndt

Das schwarze Brett befindet sich ganz in der Nähe der Mensa. Vielleicht wirst du da etwas finden.

Marko Tredup

Das schwarze Brett? Was ist denn das?

Leon Arndt

Das ist eine riesige Tafel mit bunten Anzeigen. Sie ist über und über mit Mietangeboten und Mietgesuchen beklebt.

Marko Tredup

Danke für den Tipp! Ich kenne mich hier nicht aus! Welches Fach studierst du an der Uni?

Leon Arndt

Ich studiere Germanistik. Übrigens: Ich suche auch eine Unterkunft. Während meines Sommerkurses habe ich ein Zimmer in einem Studentenwohnheim, aber für die Zeit danach suche ich eine möblierte Wohnung.

Conversation 1: At the student administration

Marko Tredup

Oh, excuse me, where can I find the student administration?

Leon Arndt

The student administration is just round the corner in the main building.

Marko Tredup

And when is the student administration open?

Leon Arndt

Ah, you're unlucky there! The consulting hours during the university vacation are from 09:00 to 12:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays and between 09:00 and 15:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays the student administration is unfortunately closed.

Marko Tredup

That's just my luck! What am I going to do now? Can you answer a question for me?

Leon Arndt

Yes, of course.

Marko Tredup

From the coming term onwards I'm going to be studying law here at the university. Do all students get a place in halls of residence?

Leon Arndt

No, not all of them. The accommodation situation in Dresden is extremely difficult - particularly for students. Due to the long waiting periods first year students don't normally get a room in halls of residence. For the winter term at least you have to find a place to stay on the private accommodation market or with friends.

Marko Tredup

But I don't have any friends or acquaintances in Dresden!

Leon Arndt

The notice board is very near the refectory. Perhaps you'll be able to find something there.

Marko Tredup

The notice board? What's that then?

Leon Arndt

It's a massive board with colourful adverts. It's completely covered in offers of accommodation and requests for accommodation.

Marko Tredup

Thanks for the tip! I don't know my way around here! What subject are you studying at the university?

Leon Arndt

I'm studying German. I'm also looking for a place to stay, by the way. I've got a room in halls of residence during my summer course but I'm looking for a furnished flat for the period

after that.

Glossary

ach, Entschuldigung Oh, excuse me!

das Studentenwerk (-e)

student administration

gleich just

um die Ecke (a)round the corner

das Hauptgebäude (-)

main building

hat ... geöffnet This means "is open" and is an alternative to "ist offen". The word "geöffnet" is the past participle of "öffnen", the verb meaning "to open".

das Pech bad luck

Pech gehabt! you're unlucky there!

die Sprechzeit (-en) consulting time

während This preposition means "during" and takes the genitive case.

das Semester (-) semester; term

die Semesterferien (pl.)

university vacation

montags on Mondays

mittwochs on Wednesdays

dienstags on Tuesdays

donnerstags on Thursdays

freitags on Fridays

geschlossen This means "closed" and is the past participle of "schließen", the verb meaning "to close".

so ein Pech! that's just my luck!

jetzt now

kannst du... Marko uses the "du" form as he is speaking to a fellow student.

beantworten This means "to answer". The thing that you are answering (here "die Frage") is in the accusative case. The person whose question etc. you are answering (here: "mir") is in the dative case.

ab (+ Dat.) from... onwards

kommend coming; forthcoming

die Universität (-en) university

an der Universität at university

Jura This means "law" when you are referring to it as a university subject

studieren to study

ich werde studieren This means "I will study" and is the future tense of the verb.

bekommen (insep.) to get; to receive

der Platz (pl. - Plätze)

This means "a place" in this context.

das Studentenwohnheim (-e)

(student) halls of residence

die Situation (-en) situation

die Wohnungssituation

accommodation situation

schwierig difficult

besonders particularly

der/die Studierende This is an adjectival noun and is another word for "a student". Thus a male student would be "der Studierende" and a female student would be "die Studierende". For the endings on adjectival nouns, see the previous chapter.

wegen This is another preposition that takes the genitive case. It means "because of".

die Wartezeit (-en) wait; waiting period

der Studienanfänger (-)

first year student; fresher

in der Regel usually; as a rule

das Wohnheim (-e) halls of residence

zumindest at least

das Wintersemester (-)

winter term

die Unterkunft (pl. -künfte)

place to stay

privat private

der Wohnungsmarkt (pl. -märkte)

housing market

bei (+ Dat.) In this context, "bei" means lodging "with" someone when they are the owners of the accommodation (such as your parents). If you are sharing

accommodation with someone as equal partners, you should use "mit".

das schwarze Brett (-er)

This means "notice board" and despite the literal translation, most of them aren't black!

in der Nähe (+ Gen.) This means "near" and is another phrase that takes the genitive case.

ganz in der Nähe very near

die Mensa (pl. - Mensen)

refectory; canteen

du wirst finden you will find

riesig This means "huge" or "massive" ans is used more in conversational German than written German.

die Tafel (-n) This means "board" in this context. As we have seen, it can also mean a "bar" of chocolate!

bunt colourful

die Anzeige (-n) advertisement

über und über completely

das Mietangebot (-e) accommodation offer

das Mietgesuch (-e) request for accommodation

beklebt This means "covered over" and comes from the verb "bekleben" meaning "to stick something on something".

der Tipp (-s) tip

sich auskennen This is a separable and reflexive verb meaning "to know one's way around".

das Fach (pl. - Fächer)

subject

die Uni (-s) This is the shortened form of the German word for "university" and is used mainly in spoken German.

an der Uni at the university

die Germanistik This means "German" as a university subject. In schools and colleges, the subject is called "Deutsch".

übrigens moreover

der Kurs (-e) course

der Sommerkurs (-e) summer course

danach afterwards

möbliert furnished

die Wohnung (-en) flat; apartment

12.2 Das schwarze Brett (1)

When Marko Tredup finds the university notice board by the refectory, the only thing that he can see at first are advertisements left by other students looking for accommodation!

Text 1: Zimmer dringend gesucht!

Nachmieter gesucht?

Suche günstige 2-Zimmer-Wohnung in Dresden. Am besten sofort! Komme am Sonntagabend nach Dresden und würde mir gerne Montag, Dienstag und Mittwoch ein paar nette ruhige Neubauwohnungen ansehen. Wenn möglich ohne Ofenheizung, ohne Kaution und bis 300 � warm. Lage egal - Loschwitz / Wachwitz jedoch optimal. Ich freue mich auf eine schnelle Nachricht von euch, also bis dahin... Bei Interesse ruft mich an: 0 36 43/52 63 39

Suche preiswertes Zimmer!

Hallo, ich bin Anglistikstudent aus Nürnberg und suche dringend für sechs Monate vom 01.10.02 bis zum 01.4.03 ein helles möbliertes Zimmer zur Untermiete (WG, Wohnheim oder privat) oder ein Einzelappartement.- nur Zentralheizung oder Etagenheizung! - kein EG. - zwischen 250-350 Euro Warmmiete. Ich bin WG-erprobt, nett und umgänglich. Ich brauche wenig Platz, bringe viel gute Laune mit und freue mich über eine E-mail oder einen Anruf!

Kontaktperson:

Gert Wahnschaffe Telefon: 0911/457667 E-Mail-Adresse: gert_wahnschaffe@hotmail.com

Suche nette und gemütliche Wohngemeinschaft!

Auf Grund meines Umzugs nach Dresden (Hochschulwechsel) suche ich zum 01.03.2003 ein helles Zimmer, mindestens 19 Quadratmeter / Altbau. Nach

Möglichkeit ruhige Lage, möglichst zentral und gute Verkehrsanbindung! Ich bin 20 Jahre alt, studiere seit einem halben Jahr Medizin und vermisse total das WG-Leben. Ich möchte nicht mehr alleine wohnen und möchte raus aus meiner eigenen Studentenwohnung! Ich denke mal, ich bin recht gesellig und kein allzu schwieriger Charakter. Ich kann monatlich maximal 200 Euro (kalt) ausgeben. Hoffe auf baldige Antwort! MfG, Markus. Meldet euch schnell unter: (03804) 561900

Text 1: Desperately looking for a room

Looking for a follow-on tenant?

I'm looking for a reasonably priced 2 room flat in Dresden. Preferably immediately! I'm coming to Dresden on Sunday evening and would like to look at a few nice and quiet newly-built flats on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. If possible without stove heating, without deposit and up to 300 � including heating. I don't mind about the location, but Loschwitz / Wachwitz would be perfect. I look forward to getting your prompt replies, so until then... If you're interested, call me: 0 36 43/52 63 39

I'm looking for a reasonably priced room!

Hallo, I'm an English student from Nuremberg and I'm urgently looking for a bright furnished room where I can be a tenant (shared flat, hall of residence, private) or a one-person apartment for six months from 01.10.02 to 01.04.03. - only central heating or whole-floor heating! - not on the ground floor. - between 250-350 euros rent including heating. I have experience of living in a shared flat, and I'm friendly and easy to get on with. I won't take up much space, I'm very cheerful and I look forward to receiving an e-mail or a phone call from you!

Contact:

Gert Wahnschaffe Telephone: 0911/457667 E-Mail address: gert_wahnschaffe@hotmail.com

I'm looking for nice and friendly shared accommodation!

As a result of my moving to Dresden (change of university), I'm looking for a bright room for March 1, 2003: at least 19 square metres / old building. A quite location if possible, as central as possible and good traffic connections! I'm 20 years old, have been studying medicine for half a year and really miss life in a shared flat. I don't want to live alone any more and want to get out of my own student flat! I think I'm pretty sociable and not too much of a difficult character. I can pay a maximum of 200 euros per month (without heating). I hope for a prompt response! Best wishes, Markus. Contact me soon on the number: (03804) 561900

Glossary

First advert

der Nachmieter (-) This can be translated approximately as "next tenant". More accurately, it means the person who takes over a flat or room from someone else.

Nachmieter gesucht?

This would translate as "Looking for a new tenant?" or more literally "Is a follow-on tenant being looked for?" as it is the passive that is implied here - i.e. "Nachmieter wird gesucht". The word "gesucht" is the past participle of the verb "suchen".

suche... "I'm looking for..." The pronoun "ich" is omitted here for the sake of brevity.

günstig reasonably priced

die 2-Zimmer-Wohnung (-en)

This means a "two-room flat". It could also be written in full as "die Zweizimmerwohnung".

am besten ideally; if possible

sofort immediately

komme... "I'm coming...". See "suche...".

am Sonntagabend on Sunday evening

sich etwas ansehen In this context it means "to look at something". We have already used it to describe "watching TV programmes". In both cases the thing that you are looking at is in the accusative case and the dative pronoun refers back to the person doing the "looking".

ich würde mir gerne ... ansehen

This means "I would like to look at". Note that the infinitive comes at the end of the sentence.

nett nice

ruhig quiet

die Neubauwohnung (-en)

newly-built flat

wenn möglich if possible

der Ofen (pl. - Öfen)

oven; heater

die Ofenheizung This means "stove heating". This is the (unpopular!) way in which a number of flats in old buildings are still heated.

die Kaution (-en) This means the "deposit" that you put down on a flat. It does NOT mean "caution"!

300 � warm In this context, this means "300 � including heating". You would use "kalt" when heating costs are not included in the rent.

die Lage (-n) location

Lage egal I don't care about the location

jedoch however

optimal optimal; perfect

sich freuen auf (+ Acc.)

This means "to look forward to". The reflexive pronoun is always in the accusative case. Note that if you use "sich freuen" with a different preposition it means something different.

die Nachricht (-en) message; piece of news

also so

bis dahin until then

das Interesse (-n) interest

bei Interesse if you are interested

anrufen (sep.) This means "to ring somebody up". The person whom you are calling is in the accusative case.

ruft mich an! "Ring me up!" This is the second person plural "ihr" form of the imperative. The polite "Sie" form is not used here as the advertiser is aiming his appeal at people of his own age group.

Second advert

preiswert reasonable; good value

die Anglistik This means "English" as a university subject.

die Anglistikstudentin

English student (female)

suche... "I'm looking for..." The pronoun "ich" is omitted here for the sake of brevity.

dringend urgently

hell bright

die Untermiete subtenancy

ein Zimmer zur Untermiete

a room where I could be a tenant

die WG (-s) This means a shared flat. It is short for "die Wohngemeinschaft".

das Appartement (-s)

apartment

das Einzelappartement (-s)

one-person apartment

die Zentralheizung central heating

die Etagenheizung heating system that covers one floor of a building

EG This is short for "das Erdgeschoss", meaning ground floor.

die Warmmiete (-n) rent including heating

erprobt experienced

WG-erprobt experienced in living in shared flats

umgänglich friendly; sociable

der Platz In this context it means "space" or "room".

die Laune (-n) mood

sich freuen über (+ If you use "sich freuen" with the

Acc.) preposition "über (+ Acc.)", this means "to be happy about".

die E-Mail (-s) e-mail

der Anruf (-e) telephone call

die Kontaktperson (-en)

(person to) contact

die E-Mail-Adresse (-n)

e-mail address

Third advert

gemütlich comfortable; friendly

die Wohngemeinschaft (-en)

This means "shared flat". It usually gets abbreviated to "die WG".

auf Grund (+ Gen.) This preposition means "because of" and takes the genitive case. It can also be written as one word - "aufgrund".

der Umzug (pl. - Umzüge)

This means "a move" as in "moving house".

die Hochschule (-n) This is another word for "university", and can also mean "college".

der Wechsel (-) change

der Hochschulwechsel (-)

change of university

zum 01.03.2003 for March 1, 2003

mindestens at least

das Quadratmeter (-)

This means "square metre". German accommodation adverts tend to deal in room sizes more than the number of rooms. In spoken German "Quadratmeter" may be masculine.

der Altbau (pl. - Altbauten)

old building

die Möglichkeit (-en)

possibility

nach Möglichkeit if possible

zentral central

möglichst zentral as central as possible

die Verkehrsanbindung (-en)

transport connection

ein halbes Jahr half a year

studiere ... seit einem halben Jahr

I have been studying for half a year.

die Medizin medicine

vermissen (insep.) to miss

total This adverb means "totally" and should be used in conversational German only

das WG-Leben (-) life in a shared flat

nicht mehr no longer; no more

ich möchte nicht mehr...

I don't want to ... any more

alleine This adverb means "alone" and can be written with or without an "-e" at the end of the word.

ich möchte raus... "I want to get out". The verb of motion itself can be omitted in this construction.

eigen own

die Studentenwohnung (-en)

student flat

denken to think

ich denke mal I think

recht quite; fairly

gesellig sociable

allzu too; all too

schwierig difficult

der Charakter (-) character

monatlich per month

maximal 200 Euro a maximum of 200 euros

kalt In this context this means "without heating"

ausgeben (sep.) This is a separable verb meaning "to spend". The money that you spend is in the accusative case.

hoffen auf (+ Acc.) This means "to hope for". Once again the pronoun "ich" has been omitted here.

baldig quick; early

die Antwort (-en) answer

mfg This is an informal abbreviation of "mit freundlichen Grüßen" (with best wishes). Don't use it in business letters!

sich melden This is a reflexive verb meaning "to get in touch". The reflexive pronoun is always in the accusative case.

meldet euch unter.. "Contact me on the number..." The imperative is once again being used in the familiar "ihr" form of the second person plural, as Bettina's advert is aimed at her

fellow students.

12.3 Das schwarze Brett (2)

Marko wonders at first if he should just place his own advertisement (die Anzeige) and leave it at that. He then however spots a number of advertisements for flats in the Dresden area. Are any of the adverts that he finds (listed below) for one person flats, or is he going to try and find some fellow students to group up with?

Text 2: Wohnung zu vermieten

Wir suchen eine/n Nachmieter/in!

Wir werden ausziehen und unsere Maisonettewohnung in einem ruhigen Dresdner Vorort (Übigau) wird bald frei. Neubau, 81m². Kochecke, Diele, Wohnzimmer, Badezimmer mit WC & Bidet, 2 Balkone, Parkett, Tiefgaragenstellplatz inklusive, Nachtspeicherheizung. Komplett renoviert, schöne Aussicht. Sehr hohe Decke. WG-geeignet, gute Verkehrsanbindung. Die Kaltmiete beträgt � 490 + � 210 Heiz- und Nebenkosten also insgesamt � 700 warm. Besichtigung am 28. September. Ab 30.09.02 zu beziehen.

Weitere Informationen unter:

Festnetz: (0371) 467856 Handy: 0160/576835 E-Mail: A.Prill@gmx.de

Altbauwohnung zu vermieten!

Wer möchte für die Zeit meiner Abwesenheit (20.10. bis 30.12.2002) in meiner sonnigen Dreizimmerwohnung im Hochparterre wohnen? Zentrale Wohnanlage (Dresdner Neustadt), an der Elbe gelegen, 68 qm. Wohnküche, Bad mit Duschkabine, Fußbodenheizung, modern möbliert, hochwertige Ausstattung, Kabel-TV, Holzboden, Aufzug im Haus, 295 � inklusive. Ich freue mich auf Eure Anrufe!

Kontaktperson:

Jessica Däbritz Büro: 0351/2576835 Privat: 0351/345736 (Anrufbeantworter!)

Eigentumswohnung zu vermieten!

Ab Anfang Oktober zu beziehen: Neubauwohnung in Dresden-Cotta. Erdgeschoss, ca. 84 m² Wohnfläche bestehend aus: 1 Wohnzimmer, 1 Schlafzimmer, 1 Kochnische, 1 Arbeitszimmer, 1 Bad, 1 WC, 1 Abstellraum in Wohnung + kleine Loggia/Terrasse + Keller. Küche, Bad und Vorzimmer eingerichtet, Schlafzimmer mit Kleiderschrank vorhanden, Wohnung wird renoviert, Heizung und Warmwasser mit Fernwärme (geringe Heizkosten im Winter). Parkplatz vor dem Haus vorhanden, Grünstreifen vor dem Balkon. Sehr verkehrsgünstig, gute Einkaufsmöglichkeiten. Monatliche Miete: EUR 375,-- (kalt), Nebenkosten 121 Euro bei 2 Personen. Besichtigung nach Vereinbarung.

Rückfragen:

Andreas Fricke: 0351/431824 E-Mail: Fricke3@yahoo.com

Text 2: Flat to let

We're looking for a follow-on tenant!

We will be moving out and our maisonette flat in a quiet Dresden suburb (Übigau) will soon become free. New building, 81 square metres. Kitchen/cooking area, hall, living room, bathroom with toilet & bidet, 2 balconies, parquet flooring, space in an underground car park, night storage heating. Completely renovated, pleasant view. Very high ceiling. Suitable for a shared flat, good transport connections. The rent excluding heating costs amounts to 490 � + 210 � for heating and additional costs which makes a total of

700 � including heating. Viewing on 28th September. Can be occupied from 30.09.02.

For further details, contact:

Landline: (0371) 467856 Mobile phone: 0160/576835 E-Mail: A.Prill@gmx.de

Flat in an old building to let!

Who would like to live in my sunny three-room flat on the upper ground floor for the time of my absence (20.10. to 30.12.2002)? Central location (Dresdner Neustadt), situated by the River Elbe, 68 square metres. Combined kitchen and living room, bathroom with shower cubicle, underfloor heating, high-quality modern furnishings, cable TV, wooden floor, lift in building, 295 � inclusive. I look forward to your phone calls!

Contact:

Jessica Däbritz Office: 0351/2576835 Private: 0351/345736 (Answer phone!)

Owner-occupied flat to let!

Ready to be occupied from the start of October: Newly-built flat in Dresden-Cotta. Ground floor, approximately 84 square metres living space consisting of: 1 living room, 1 bedroom, 1 kitchenette, 1 study, 1 bathroom, 1 WC, 1 store room in flat + small balcony/terrace + cellar. Kitchen, bath and anteroom furnished, bedroom with wardrobe, flat is being renovated, heating and warm water via district heating (low heating costs in the winter). Parking space available in front of the building, grass verge in front of the balcony. Very conveniently situated, good shopping facilities. Monthly rent: 375 EUR (excluding heating costs),

additional costs for 2 people 121 euros. Viewing by arrangement.

Queries:

Andreas Fricke: 0351/431824 E-Mail: Fricke3@yahoo.com

Glossary

First advert

eine/n Nachmieter/in Note the different endings to show that the offer is open to both male and female applicants!

ausziehen This means "to move out". We have encountered this verb before in the reflexive form.

die Maisonettewohnung (-en)

maisonette flat

Dresdner This is the adjective that comes from "Dresden". It is invariable, i.e. it never changes its endings no matter which case it is in or what kind of determiner it follows.

der Vorort (-e) suburb

der Neubau (pl. - Neubauten)

new building

81m² The total size of the flat in square metres.

die Kochecke (-n) kitchen / cooking area

die Diele (-n) hall

das Wohnzimmer (-) living room

das Badezimmer (-) bathroom

das Bidet (-s) bidet

das Parkett (-e) parquet flooring

der Tiefgaragenstellplatz (pl. -plätze)

space in an underground car park

inklusive included

die Nachtspeicherheizung

night storage heating

komplett completely

renovieren to renovate

renoviert renovated

die Aussicht (-en) view

hoch This means "high". When "hoch" adds adjective endings, the "-c-" is omitted. Hence "die hohe Decke".

die Decke (-n) ceiling

WG-geeignet suitable for a shared flat

die Kaltmiete (-n) rent excluding heating costs

betragen (insep.) This means "to come to" or "to amount to". It declines in the same way as the irregular verb "tragen" (see verb tables).

die Heizkosten (pl.) heating costs

die Nebenkosten (-) additional costs

insgesamt in total

die Besichtigung (-en) viewing

beziehen (insep.) to occupy

ab ... zu beziehen can be occupied from...

weitere Informationen (pl.)

further information

das Festnetz landline

das Handy (-s) mobile phone

Second advert

die Altbauwohnung (-en)

flat in an old building

vermieten (insep.) to rent out

Wohnung zu vermieten flat to let; flat for rent

wer möchte ... wohnen?

"Who would like to live...?"

für die Zeit (+ Gen.) This means "for the time of" and is a construction that takes the genitive case.

sonnig sunny

die Dreizimmerwohnung (-en)

three-room flat

das Hochparterre (-s) upper ground floor

im Hochparterre on the upper ground floor

die Wohnanlage (-n) location

die Neustadt (pl. -städte)

new (part of) town

an der Elbe gelegen situated by the River Elbe

68 qm Short for "68 Quadratmeter" (= 68 square metres)

die Wohnküche (-n) combined kitchen and living room

das Bad This can sometimes mean "bath" as well as "bathroom".

die Duschkabine (-n) shower cubicle

der Fußboden (pl. -böden)

floor

die Fußbodenheizung underfloor heating

modern modern

hochwertig high-quality

die Ausstattung In this context, this means "furnishings".

der Holzboden (pl. -bßden)

wooden floor

der Aufzug (pl. -züge) This is another word for a "lift"

das Haus (pl. - Häuser) Although this normally means "house", it can also be a generally word for a "building" in which individual flats are located.

der Anrufbeantworter (-)

answer phone

Third advert

die Eigentumswohnung (-en)

owner-occupied flat

der Anfang (pl. - Anfänge)

start; beginning

Anfang Oktober This means "at the beginning of October". Note the absence of articles and prepositions in the German phrase!

ca. This is short for "circa", meaning "approximately".

die Wohnfläche (-n) living space

84m² Wohnfläche This means "84 square metres of living space". In practice this comprises the space taken up by lving room, dining room and bedroom.

bestehend aus This means "consisting of". It is the present participle of the verb "bestehen".

das Schlafzimmer (-) bedroom

die Kochnische (-n) kitchenette

das Arbeitszimmer (-) study

der Abstellraum (pl. -räume)

storeroom

die Loggia (pl. - balcony

Loggien)

die Terrasse (-n) terrace

der Keller (-) cellar

das Vorzimmer (-) anteroom; hall

eingerichtet furnished

der Kleiderschrank (pl. -schränke)

wardrobe

vorhanden present; there

renovieren to renovate

wird renoviert This means "is being renovated". It is an example of the passive which we met in the previous chapter.

die Heizung heating

das Warmwasser warm water

die Fernwärme district heating

gering (adj.) low

der Grünstreifen (-) grass verge

verkehrsgünstig convenient for transport

die Einkaufsmöglichkeiten (pl.)

shopping facilities

bei 2 Personen if there are two people

die Vereinbarung (-en) arrangement; agreement

nach Vereinbarung by arrangement

die Rückfrage (-n) query; question

12.4 Das schwarze Brett (3)

Having dug around amongst the mound of adverts cluttering up the notice board, Marko finally locates two advertisements offering rooms in a "Wohngemeinschaft" (or "WG" for short). This literally translates as "living community" and means "a shared house or apartment". This is much more practical for a student arriving in a new city - and much better for the bank balance too! He also finds an advertisement for a one room flat which would also suit his needs.

Text 3: Zimmer zu vermieten!

Zimmer in Studenten-WG frei!

Mitbewohner/in dringend gesucht! Einzelzimmer in

Dreier-WG im 2. OG. Uni-Nähe (Johannstadt). Circa 1 Minute zur Bushaltestelle. Wohnungsgröße gesamt 85m². Das Zimmer ist ca. 24 m² groß mit Doppelbett, Schrank und Sessel - Südseite, Altbau mit Stuck. Wir benutzen gemeinschaftlich eine große Wohnküche mit Backofen und Herd. Sofort Warmwasser durch Wasserboiler. Eine Waschmaschine ist da, der Kühlschrank zieht leider aus. Weiterhin: großes Badezimmer mit Badewanne, gratis Parkplatz, Garten. Miete: ca. � 170 + � 34 Strom/Gas. Die Kaution beträgt � 160. Sofort beziehbar! Bitte meldet euch bei mir ab 18 Uhr! Anna (0351) 3 53 24 26

Angebot: Vermietung auf Zeit

Biete ein freies unmöbliertes Zimmer in einer 3-Raum-Wohnung in einem Wohnblock am Rathaus Blasewitz ab frühestens 01.11.02 bis mindestens 04/2003. Bestens renoviert, großer Südbalkon, Küche, Elektroheizung, neu gefliestes Bad, Kellerabteil. Internetanschluss vorhanden. Grillplatz im Hof. Kaltmiete: 200 Euro. Das Zimmer ist wegen meines Auslandsaufenthalts an eine Frau zu vermieten. Ausländische Studentinnen willkommen. Anfragen bitte per E-mail (F.Copado@t-online.de) oder telefonisch. Ich bin unter 0351/269889 zu erreichen.

Einzimmerwohnung in Striesen (Wormser Str.)

Suche Nachmieter für helle 35qm-Wohnung zum 01.10.02. Gefliestes Wannenbad, Kinderzimmer mit eingebautem Kleiderschrank, Einbauküche, Mansarde. Nahe Universität. WBS erforderlich. Preis: 195,10 Euro / Monat Einmalige Zahlung: 300,00 Euro (für Kaution) Thomas Adler (thom_adler@bbv.de) Telefonnummer: 0371/2 45 94 60

Text 3: Room to let

Zimmer in Studenten-WG frei!

Desperately seeking flatmate! Single room in three-person shared flat on the second floor. Near the university (Johannstadt). Approximately 1 minute from the bus stop. Flat size in total 85 square metres. The room is approximately 24 square metres in size with a double bed, wardrobe and armchair - south side, old building with stucco. We have communal usage of a large combined kitchen and living room with oven and cooker. Warm water immediately thanks to a hot-water tank. A washing machine is there, the fridge is unfortunately moving out. Furthermore: large bathroom with a bath tub, free parking space, garden. Rent: approx. 170 � + 34 � electricity / gas. The deposit amounts to � 160. Can be moved into immediately! Please get in touch with me from 6 o'clock onwards! Anna (0351) 3 53 24 26

Offer: Fixed period lease

I'm offering an available unfurnished room in a three-room flat in a block of flats near the Blasewitz town hall from 01.11.02 at the earliest until at least April 2003. Excellently renovated, large south-facing balcony, kitchen, electric heating, recently tiled bath, cellar compartment. Internet connection available. Barbecue area in the courtyard. Rent excluding heating costs: 200 euros. The room is available due to a stay abroad and is to be rented to a woman. Overseas students are welcome. Inquiries by e-mail (F.Copado@t-online.de) or telephone please. I can be reached on 0351/269889.

One-room flat in Striesen (Wormser Straße)

I'm looking for a follow-on tenant for a bright 35 sq. metre flat for 01.10.02. Tiled bath, children's bedroom with built-in wardrobe, fitted kitchen, attic room. Near the university. Permit for subsidised housing required. Price: 195.10 euros per month One-off payment: 300.00 euros (for deposit) Thomas Adler (thom_adler@bbv.de) Telephone number: 0371/2 45 94 60

Glossary

First advert

die Studenten-WG (-s)

shared student flat

der Mitbewohner (-)

housemate (male)

die Mitbewohnerin (-innen)

This means "a female housemate". Note again how difficult it can be in German to show that an offer applies to both genders!

dringend gesucht This translates as "desperately looking for a housemate" or literally "housemate is desperately looked for". This is another passive construction where the word "wird" is omitted for reasons of space - it should be "Mitbewohner/in wird dringend gesucht".

das Einzelzimmer (-)

single room

die Dreier-WG (-s) three-person shared flat

im 2. OG. This is an abbreviation of "im zweiten Obergeschoss" meaning "on the second floor".

das Obergeschoss upper floor; top floor

Uni-Nähe near the university

die Bushaltestelle (-n)

bus stop

die Wohnungsgröße (-n)

size of flat

das Doppelbett (-en)

double bed

der Schrank (pl. - Schränke)

cupboard

der Sessel (-) armchair

die Südseite south side

der Stuck This means "stucco" and must not be confused with "das Stück", which is the German word for "piece".

benutzen (insep.) to use

gemeinschaftlich communally

der Backofen (-öfen)

oven

der Herd (-e) cooker

der Wasserboiler (-)

hot-water tank

die Waschmaschine (-n)

washing machine

der Kühlschrank (pl. -schränke)

fridge; refrigerator

ausziehen This means "to move out". We assume that the housemate who is leaving is taking the fridge with them.

weiterhin furthermore

die Badewanne (-n) bathtub

gratis This adverb means "free of charge". It cannot add adjectival endings.

der Garten (pl. - Gärten)

garden

der Strom electricity

das Gas (-e) gas

beziehbar ready to move to

meldet euch bei mir get in touch with me

Second advert

das Angebot (-e) offer

die Vermietung (-en)

renting out; letting out

auf Zeit for a fixed period

bieten to offer

Biete... I'm offering...

unmöbliert unfurnished

die 3-Raum-Wohnung (-en)

This is another word for a "three-room flat".

der Wohnblock (-s) block of flats

das Rathaus (pl. -häuser)

town hall

frühestens at the earliest

mindestens at least

bestens excellently; very well

der Südbalkon (-s or -e)

south-facing balcony

die Elektroheizung electric heating

neu gefliest recently tiled

das Kellerabteil (-e) cellar compartment

das Internet internet

der Internetanschluss (pl. -schlüsse)

internet connection

der Grillplatz (pl. -plätze)

barbecue area

der Hof (pl. Höfe) courtyard

wegen (+ Gen.) because of

der Aufenthalt (-e) stay

der Auslandsaufenthalt (-e)

stay abroad

an eine Frau zu vermieten

The room "is to be let to a woman".

ausländisch overseas; foreign

die Anfrage (-n) inquiry; question

per E-Mail by e-mail

telefonisch by telephone

erreichen to reach

ich bin ... zu erreichen

I can be reached ...

Third advert

die Einzimmerwohnung (-en)

one-room flat

Wormser Str. "Wormser" is the adjective for the German city of Worms in Rheinland-Pfalz. "Str." is short for "die Straße".

35qm This is an abbreviation for "35 Quadratmeter", meaning "35 square metres".

zum 01.10.02 for October 1, 2002

gefliest tiled

das Wannenbad (pl. -bäder)

bath

das Kinderzimmer (- children's bedroom

)

eingebaut built-in

der Schrank (pl. - Schränke)

cupboard; wardrobe

die Einbauküche (-n)

fitted kitchen

die Mansarde (-n) attic room

WBS This is short for "der Wohnberechtigungsschein" which is a "permit for subsidised housing".

erforderlich necessary; required

einmalig one-off

die Zahlung (-en) payment

12.5 Die Mitwohnzentrale

Unfortunately most of the advertisements on the university notice board in Dresden turn out to be out of date. Feeling desperate, Marko decides to go to eine Mitwohnzentrale, a professional accommodation agency that provides him with contact addresses for a commission. One of the addresses he is given is that of Silke Kitschler and Andreas Hilfiker who are offering a room in their shared flat in the Wilsdruffer Straße in the old part of Dresden. Marko rings up Silke and Andreas to see if the room is still available.

Conversation 2: Die Mitwohnzentrale

Silke Kitschler

Silke Kitschler am Apparat. Guten Tag.

Marko Tredup

Guten Tag. Ich heiße Marko Tredup. Ich rufe wegen des Zimmers an. Ist das Zimmer schon vergeben?

Silke Kitschler

Nein, es ist noch nicht vergeben.

Marko Tredup

Wie groß ist das Zimmer bitte?

Silke Kitschler

Es ist circa 25 Quadratmeter groß.

Marko Tredup

Und wie ist das Zimmer?

Silke Kitschler

Es ist hell und gemütlich.

Marko Tredup

Und was für ein Haus ist das - ein Einfamilienhaus? Ein Reihenhaus?

Silke Kitschler

Hier muss ein Irrtum vorliegen. Wir wohnen in einer sanierten Altbauwohnung!

Marko Tredup

Wie viele Zimmer hat die Wohnung?

Silke Kitschler

Sie hat eine Wohnküche, ein Wohnzimmer, ein Badezimmer und zwei Schlafzimmer. Die Wohnung hat eine Wohnfläche von 82 qm.

Marko Tredup

Wie liegt die Wohnung?

Silke Kitschler

Sie liegt sehr ruhig im Seitenflügel eines Altbaus in der Altstadt. Im dritten Stock. Die Nachbarn sind alle sehr leise. Wir haben nie Probleme mit ihnen.

Marko Tredup

Ist es eine Mietwohnung oder eine Eigentumswohnung?

Silke Kitschler

Eine Mietwohnung.

Marko Tredup

Und wo liegt die Wohnung genau?

Silke Kitschler

In der Wilsdruffer Straße. Südlich der Elbe und nordöstlich des Rathauses. Von unserem Fenster aus kann man das Rathaus sehen.

Marko Tredup

Wie viele Leute wohnen in Ihrer Wohngemeinschaft?

Silke Kitschler

Drei. Ich, mein Freund Andreas, und unsere Mitbewohnerin Marlene. Aber sie wird nicht mehr hier sein.

Marko Tredup

Wann kann man einziehen?

Silke Kitschler

Marlene wird Mitte Oktober ausziehen. Sie wird heiraten und mit ihrem Verlobten in ein Zweifamilienhaus umziehen.

Marko Tredup

Wie hoch ist die Monatsmiete?

Silke Kitschler

180 Euro kalt.

Marko Tredup

180 Euro kalt? Was bedeutet das?

Silke Kitschler

Das heißt, die Miete für die Wohnung ist 180 Euro im Monat, aber ohne die Kosten für Elektrizität. Du musst also etwa 65 Euro dazurechnen.

Marko Tredup

Also, insgesamt 245 Euro im Monat? Das ist ziemlich viel. Kann ich mir das Zimmer

ansehen?

Silke Kitschler

Ja, natürlich. Morgen oder übermorgen, nach 18 Uhr. Ich zeige dir die Wohnung und wir trinken einen Kaffee zusammen.

Conversation 2: The accommodation agency

Silke Kitschler

Hello, Silke Kitschler speaking.

Marko Tredup

Hello, my name is Marko Tredup. I'm ringing up about the room. Has the room already been taken?

Silke Kitschler

No, it's not yet been taken.

Marko Tredup

How big is the room please?

Silke Kitschler

It's about 25 square metres in size.

Marko Tredup

And can you describe the room?

Silke Kitschler

It's bright and comfortable.

Marko Tredup

Und what sort of house is it - a detached house? A terraced house?

Silke Kitschler

There must be some kind of mistake here. We live in a flat in an old renovated building!

Marko Tredup

How many rooms does the flat have?

Silke Kitschler

It has a combined kitchen / living room, a living room, a bathroom and two bedrooms. The flat has a living area of 82 square metres.

Marko Tredup

How is the flat situated?

Silke Kitschler

It has a very quiet location in the side wing of an old building in the old part city of the city. On the third floor. The neighbours are all very quiet. We never have any problems with them.

Marko Tredup

Is it a rented flat or an owner-occupied flat?

Silke Kitschler

A rented flat.

Marko And where is the flat located exactly?

Tredup

Silke Kitschler

In the Wilsdruffer Straße. South of the River Elbe and north-east of the town hall. You can see the town-hall from our window.

Marko Tredup

How many people live in your shared flat?

Silke Kitschler

Three. Myself, my boyfriend Andreas, and our flatmate Marlene. But she won't be here any more.

Marko Tredup

When would it possible to move in?

Silke Kitschler

Martine will be moving out in the middle of October. She's going to get married and will be moving to a semi-detached house with her fiancé.

Marko Tredup

How high is the rent each month?

Silke Kitschler

180 Euro without heating costs.

Marko Tredup

180 Euro without heating costs? What does that mean?

Silke Kitschler

That means that the rent for the flat is 180 euros per month without electricity costs. So you'll have to add on about 65 euros.

Marko Tredup

So that makes 245 euros per month in total? That's quite a lot. Can I have a look at the room?

Silke Kitschler

Yes, of course. Tomorrow or the day after, after 6 o'clock in the evening. I'll show you the flat and we'll have a cup of coffee together.

Glossary

vergeben This means "taken" or "let" when it refers to accommodation.

was für ein Haus...? what sort of house...?

das Einfamilienhaus (pl. -häuser)

detached house

das Reihenhaus (pl. -häuser)

terraced house

der Irrtum (pl. - Irrtümer)

error

vorliegen (sep.) This separable verb means "to exist" or

"to be present". The meaning of this sentence thus equates to "There must be some kind of mistake".

saniert (adj.) This adjective means "renovated". It is the past participle of the verb "sanieren" (= to renovate).

wie liegt die Wohnung?

how is the flat situated?

der Seitenflügel (-) side wing

der Nachbar (-n) This means "neighbour". It is another weak masculine noun (see previous chapter).

leise (adj.) quiet

die Mietwohnung (-en)

rented flat

die Eigentumswohnung (-en)

owner-occupied flat

südlich (+ Gen.) This preposition means "south of". All such prepositions of direction take the genitive case.

nordöstlich (+ Gen.) north-east of

das Fenster (-) window

von unserem Fenster aus

from our window

die Leute (pl.) This noun means "people" and is only used in the plural form.

mein Freund In this context this means "my boyfriend".

die Mitbewohnerin (-innen)

flatmate (female)

einziehen (sep.) to move in

Mitte Oktober This means "in the middle of October". Note the absence of articles and prepositions in the German version.

ausziehen (sep.) This means "to move out". Remember that when this verb is reflexive (sich ausziehen), it means "to get undressed".

heiraten This means "to get married".

der Verlobte (adj. noun)

This means "fiancé". It is an adjectival noun (see previous chapter).

das Zweifamilienhaus (pl. -häuser)

This means "semi-detached house". Another word for this is "das Doppelhaus".

umziehen (sep.) This separable verb means "to move

house". Remember that when this verb is reflexive (sich umziehen), it means "to get changed".

hoch This means "high". We have already seen in this chapter that this adjective loses its "-c-" when it adds adjective endings - e.g. "die hohe Decke" (= the high ceiling).

die Monatsmiete (-n) monthly rent

bedeuten This means "to mean"! Like all German verbs beginning with the prefix "be-", it is inseparable.

im Monat per month

die Kosten (pl.) costs

die Elektrizität electricity

dazurechnen (sep.) This is a separable verb meaning "to add on".

morgen In this context this means "tomorrow".

übermorgen the day after tomorrow

12.6 Die Besichtigung

Marko jots down the details of a room in a shared flat in the Wilsdruffer Straße in the old part of Dresden. He then rushes over there to see whether the room is still available. Fortunately it is, and Silke Kitschler shows him around and answers his questions.

Conversation 3: Die Besichtigung

Marko Tredup

(Er klingelt.)

Silke Kitschler

Moment. Ich mache die Tür auf!

Marko Tredup

Hallo, ich bin der Marko. Ich komme wegen der Anzeige. Ist das Zimmer noch frei?

Silke Kitschler

Ja, komm herein! Herzlich willkommen bei uns! Ich zeige dir mal die Wohnung. So, hier ist zuerst der Flur. Leg deinen Mantel an der Garderobe ab!

Marko Tredup

(Er kommt herein und legt seinen Mantel ab.)

Silke Kitschler

Hier rechts vom Flur findest du das Badezimmer. Es gibt eine Duschkabine, ein neu gefliestes Bad, einen WC, ein

Waschbecken und einen großen runden Spiegel.

Marko Tredup

Gibt es genügend Warmwasser?

Silke Kitschler

Ja, dank dem Wasserboiler ist genügend Warmwasser immer vorhanden. Hier vorne am Ende des Flurs ist die Wohnküche, siehst du, dort rechts? Es ist ein kombiniertes Zimmer - wir haben kein Esszimmer. Aber der Esstisch ist ziemlich lang.

Marko Tredup

Ist die Küche gut ausgestattet?

Silke Kitschler

Ja, sie ist sehr modern ausgestattet. Wir haben einen Elektroherd, einen Mikrowellenherd, einen Kühlschrank, einen Gefrierschrank, einen Geschirrspüler, eine Waschmaschine, eine Kaffeemaschine und einen Toaster... Nein, das stimmt nicht, das ist Marlenes Toaster. Sie wird ihn mitnehmen.

Marko Tredup

Sehr praktisch! Und das Zimmer vorne links mit dem Doppelbett?

Silke Kitschler

Das ist mein Schlafzimmer. Ich teile das Zimmer mit meinem Freund Andreas. Er ist momentan nicht hier. Das ist Andreas' Stereoanlage in der Ecke. Und hier links neben der Wohnungstür ist das Wohnzimmer. Das Sofa, die Schrankwand und der Couchtisch sind altmodisch aber elegant. Wir benutzen den Farbfernseher und den Videorecorder gemeinschaftlich.

Marko Tredup

Das Wohnzimmer ist wirklich hübsch!

Silke Kitschler

So, und links nebenan ist Marlenes Zimmer ... äh ... das Gästezimmer. Es ist im Moment ein bisschen unordentlich.

Marko Tredup

Das macht nichts! Was für Möbel gibt es im Zimmer?

Silke Kitschler

Es gibt zwei weiche Einzelbetten, einen geräumigen Kleiderschrank, ein kompaktes Bücherregal und eine hohe Stehlampe. Ein bequemer Sessel steht im rechten Winkel neben dem Nachttisch und das Zimmer hat auch zwei gepolsterte Stühle. In der anderen Ecke steht ein viereckiger Schreibtisch mit einer Lampe darauf. Natürlich wird Marlene den Wecker und den Computer mitnehmen.

Marko Das Zimmer ist ein bisschen dunkel, findest du

Tredup nicht?

Silke Kitschler

Trotz der dunklen Wände ist es eigentlich ganz hell. (Sie zieht die Vorhänge auf.) Wollen wir eine Tasse Kaffee trinken? Setz dich! Ich gehe in die Küche und mache Kaffee.

Conversation 3: Die Besichtigung

Marko Tredup

(He rings the bell.)

Silke Kitschler

Just a moment. I'm opening the door!

Marko Tredup

Hallo, I'm Marko. I've come about the advertisement. Is the room still free?

Silke Kitschler

Yes, come in! A very warm welcome to our flat! I'll just show you the flat. So, first of all this is the hall. Take your coat off and hang it on the coat-rack!

Marko Tredup

(He comes in and takes off his coat.)

Silke Kitschler

Over here on the right of the hall you'll find the bathroom. There's a shower cubicle, a re-tiled bath, a toilet, a wash-basin and a large round mirror.

Marko Tredup

Is there enough warm water?

Silke Kitschler

Yes, there's always enough warm water available thanks to the hot-water tank. Here in front of us at the end of the hall is the combined kitchen and living room, do you see, there on the right? It's a combined room - we don't have a dining room. But the dining table is fairly long.

Marko Tredup

Is the kitchen well-equipped?

Silke Kitschler

Yes, it has very up-to-date equipment. We have an electric cooker, a microwave oven, a fridge, a freezer, a dishwasher, a washing machine, a coffee machine and a toaster... No, that's not true, it's Marlene's toaster. She'll be taking it with her.

Marko Tredup

Very practical! And the room at the front on the left with the double bed?

Silke That's my bedroom. I share the room with my

Kitschler boyfriend Andreas. He's not hier at the moment. That's Andreas' stereo system in the corner. And here on the left by the front door is the living room. The sofa, the wall unit and the coffee table are old-fashioned but elegant. We use the colour TV and the video recorder communally.

Marko Tredup

The living room is really pretty!

Silke Kitschler

Right, and next to it on the left is Marlene's Zimmer ... erm ... the guest room. It's a bit untidy at the moment.

Marko Tredup

That doesn't matter! What kind of furniture does the room have?

Silke Kitschler

There are two soft single beds, a spacious wardrobe, a compact bookshelf and a tall standard lamp. There's a comfortable armchair in the right-hand corner by the bedside table and the room also has two upholstered chairs. In the other corner there's an oblong desk with a lamp on it. Marlene will of course take the alarm-clock and the computer with her.

Marko Tredup

The room's a bit dark, don't you think?

Silke Kitschler

Despite the dark walls it's actually quite bright. (She opens the curtains.) Shall we have a cup of coffee? Sit down! I'll go into the kitchen and make some coffee.

Glossary

klingeln to ring the doorbell

aufmachen (sep.) This is a separable verb meaning "to open".

die Tür (-en) door

hereinkommen (sep.)

This is a separable verb meaning "to come in". "Komm herein!" is the imperative form when speaking to a "du" (see earlier chapter).

komm herein! Although Marko and Silke used "Sie" when speaking to each other on the telephone, they use "du" when they meet and recognise that they are both of student age.

zuerst first of all

der Flur (-e) hall; corridor

ablegen (sep.) This is a separable verb meaning "to take off an item of item clothing". "Leg ab" is the imperative form when speaking to a "du" (see earlier chapter).

die Garderobe (-n) coat-rack

rechts vom Flur on the right-hand side of the hall

die Duschkabine (-n)

shower cabinet

das Waschbecken (-)

wash-basin

rund (adj.) round

der Spiegel (-) mirror

genügend sufficient

dank (+ Dat.) This is a preposition meaning "thanks to". It always takes the dative case.

der Wasserboiler (-)

hot-water tank

das Ende (-n) end

am Ende (+ Gen.) at the end of

siehst du? do you see?

kombiniert combined

das Esszimmer (-) dining room

der Esstisch (-e) dining table

lang long

gut ausgestattet well-equipped

der Elektroherd (-e)

electric cooker

der Mikrowellenherd (-e)

microwave oven

der Kühlschrank (pl. -schränke)

fridge

der Gefrierschrank (pl. -schränke)

freezer

der Geschirrspüler (-)

dishwasher

die Kaffeemaschine (-n)

coffee machine

der Toaster (-) toaster

das stimmt (nicht) that's (not) true

mitnehmen (sep.) This is a separable verb meaning "to take something with you". There is no need to express "with you (etc.)" in the German

construction.

praktisch practical

das Doppelbett (-en)

double bed

teilen to share

momentan at the moment

die Stereoanlage (-n)

stereo system

die Wohnungstür (-en)

front door of the flat

das Sofa (-s) sofa

die Schrankwand (pl. -wände)

wall unit

der Couchtisch (-e) coffee table

altmodisch old-fashioned

elegant elegant

der Videorecorder (-)

video recorder; VCR

gemeinschaftlich communally

hübsch pretty

nebenan next to it

links nebenan next to it on the left

das Gästezimmer (-)

guest room

unordentlich untidy

das macht nichts that doesn't matter

das Möbel (-) piece of furniture

weich soft

das Einzelbett (-en) single bed

geräumig spacious

der Kleiderschrank (pl. -schränke)

wardrobe

kompakt compact

das Bücherregal (-e)

bookshelf

die Stehlampe (-n) standard lamp

bequem comfortable

der Sessel (-) armchair

der Winkel (-) corner

der Nachttisch (-e) This means "bedside table". Be careful not to misspell this as "der Nachtisch"

which means "dessert"!

gepolstert upholstered

der Stuhl (pl. - Stühle)

chair

viereckig This adjective can either mean "square" or "rectangular". It literally means "having four corners".

der Schreibtisch (-e)

desk

die Lampe (-n) lamp

darauf on it

der Wecker (-) alarm clock

der Computer (-) computer

trotz (+ Gen.) This preposition means "despite" and takes the genitive case.

die Wand (pl. - Wände)

wall

aufziehen (sep.) to open (curtains)

der Vorhang (pl. -hänge)

carpet

sich setzen (ref.) This is a reflexive verb meaning "to sit down". "Setz dich" is the imperative form when speaking to a "du" (see earlier chapter).

12.7 The future tense

Formation of the future tense The German future tense is formed by using the present tense of the auxiliary verb "werden" followed by the infinitive of the verb in question:

Grammar 1: Future tense of "kaufen" (= to buy)

Singular

ich werde kaufen I will buy

du wirst kaufen Sie werden kaufen

You will buy (informal/formal)

er/sie/es wird kaufen He/she/it will buy

Plural

wir werden kaufen We will buy

ihr werdet kaufen Sie werden kaufen

You will buy (informal/formal)

sie werden kaufen They will buy

Notes on word order 1. The infinitive of the main verb in the future tense should always be placed at the end of a clause or sentence.

• Aber sie wird nicht mehr hier sein. (But she won't be here any more.)

• Marlene wird Mitte Oktober ausziehen. (Marlene will be moving out in the middle of October.)

2. When a clause is "inverted" - i.e. in a question or when an adverb is the first element -, the auxiliary verb "werden" precedes the subject and the infinitive is again placed at the end of the clause.

• Wann wirst du einziehen? (When will you move in?)

• Natürlich wird Marlene den Wecker und den Computer mitnehmen. (Of course Marlene will take the alarm clock and the computer with her.)

• Ab dem kommenden Semester werde ich hier Jura studieren. (From this term onwards I shall be studying law here.)

3. It is not necessary to repeat the auxiliary verb "werden" when the same noun is the subject of two or more future verbs in the same sentence.

• Sie wird heiraten und dann in ein Zweifamilienhaus umziehen. (She will get married and will then move into a semi-detached house.)

The future tense and the present tense In practice, the future tense is used much less frequently in German than it is in English. As we have seen in previous chapters, the present tense is often used indicate a future action, especially when an adverb already shows that the event takes place in the future:

• Wir kommen morgen. (We will be coming tomorrow.)

• Übermorgen fährt er nach Hause. (He'll be going home the day after tomorrow.)

• Ich bin gleich fertig. (I'll be ready in a moment.)

• Ich gehe in die Küche und mache Kaffee. (I'll just go into the kitchen and make some coffee.)

• Heute Abend schreibe ich den Brief. (I'll write the letter this evening.)

The future tense is mainly used to refer to the future if the present tense could be misunderstood.

• Ich werde keine Antwort bekommen. ("I won't get an answer". The present tense might imply that you "aren't getting an answer".)

• Kai wird wieder bei der Post arbeiten. ("Kai will be working for the post office". Using the present tense would imply that Kai "is working for the post office again".)

The future tense can also indicate probability:

• Ich bekomme keine Antwort. Sie wird wohl nicht da sein. (I'm not getting a reply. She's probably not in.)

Modal verbs and the future tense Take care to distinguish between "werden" and "wollen" when expressing the future tense - English "will" is not the same as German "will"! Whereas the auxiliary verb "werden" should be used to translate a future action, "wollen" should only be used to translate what a person "plans" or "intends" to do.

• Wir werden jetzt nach Italien fahren. (We are going to go to Italy now.)

• Wir wollen jetzt nach Italien fahren. (We intend to go to Italy now.)

• Wir möchten jetzt nach Italien fahren. (We would like to go to Italy now.)

In first person plural questions "wollen" has the sense of English "Shall we...?":

• Wollen wir eine Tasse Kaffee trinken? (Shall we have a cup of coffee?)

• Was wollen wir heute machen? (What shall we do today?)

Distinguishing between different forms of "werden" As we have seen in the previous chapter, the auxiliary verb "werden" can be used to indicate a number of different tenses and moods in German. You should take care to distinguish between the future (= werden + Infinitive) and the passive (werden + Past Participle).

• Wird Lutz die Wohnung sanieren? (Will Lutz renovate the flat?)

• Die Wohnung wird schon saniert! (The flat is already being renovated.)

Note too that when "werden" is used with an adjective it means "to become":

• Wir werden ausziehen und unsere Wohnung wird bald frei. (We will move out and our flat will soon become free.)

12.8 Formation of the genitive case

Formation of the genitive case The genitive is the fourth and final German case that we shall encounter. It is used

primarily to denote possession and also after certain prepositions. The genitive endings of nouns in the singular and plural are listed below along with the genitive endings of the definite article:

Grammar 2: Genitive case of nouns and definite articles

Singular Plural

Masculine des Mannes (of the man)

der Männer (of the men)

Feminine der Frau (of the woman)

der Frauen (of the women)

Neuter des Mädchens (of the girl)

der Mädchen (of the girls)

The basic rules for genitive endings 1. No endings are added to feminine singular nouns or to any plural nouns in the genitive case. The definite article in both of these cases is "der". 2. Masculine and neuter nouns in the singular add either "-s" or "-es". The definite article in both of these cases is "des".

Genitive singular endings: "-s" or "-es"? How do you decide whether you should add "-s" or "-es" to the genitive singular of masculine and neuter singular nouns? "-es" should be added:

• with nouns ending in "-s", "-ss/-ß", "-x" or "-z" • (usually) with nouns ending in "-sch", "-st" or "-zt" • with neuter nouns ending in "-nis": the ending then becomes "-nisses"

Grammar 3: Genitive endings involving "-es"

Nominative Genitive

"-s" das Haus (the house)

des Hauses (of the house)

"-ss/-ß" das Erdgeschoss (the ground floor)

des Erdgeschosses (of the ground floor)

das Maß (the measure)

des Maßes (of the measure)

"-x" der Reflex (the reflex)

des Reflexes (of the reflex)

"-z" der Platz (the square)

des Platzes (of the square)

"-nis" das Ereignis (the event)

des Ereignisses (of the event)

N.B. Foreign nouns ending in "-s" or "-x" usually have no ending in the genitive - e.g. "des Organismus" (= of the organism), "des Rhythmus" (= of the rhythm), "des Index" (= of the index). However some key foreign words such as "der Bus" and "der Kongress" are now deemed to have been assimilated into the German language and thus add "-es" in the genitive - "des Busses" (= of the bus), "des Kongresses" (= of the congress). "-s" should be added:

• with nouns ending in a vowel (but not adjectival nouns and weak masculine nouns)

• with nouns ending in a vowel + "-h" • with proper names • with foreign names that do not end in "-s", "-x" or "-z" • with nouns of more than one syllable ("polysyllabic nouns") where the stress is not on

the final syllable

Grammar 4: Genitive endings involving "-s"

Nominative Genitive

Vowel der Schnee (the snow)

des Schnees (of the snow)

Vowel + -h der Schuh (the shoe)

des Schuhs (of the shoe)

Names Goethe (Goethe)

Goethes (of Goethe)

Klinsmann (Klinsmann)

Klinsmanns (of Klinsmann)

Foreign nouns

das Hotel (the hotel)

des Hotels (of the hotels)

der Klub (the club)

des Klubs (of the club)

Unstressed polysyllabic nouns

der Abend (the evening)

des Abends (of the evening)

Other nouns There are no clearcut rules for the large number of nouns that do not fall into the groupings listed above. The choice between "-s" and "-es" is governed by such unclassifiable factors as style, rhythm and ease of pronunciation. It is thus highly likely that you will find both endings used for certain masculine and neuter nouns when they are in the genitive case. As a very rough guideline, "-es" is more likely to be found:

• in monosyllabic words • in words where the stress falls on the final syllable • in words ending with two consonants • in formal written German

Using the dictionary As the choice of genitive endings for masculine and neuter nouns can prove difficult for beginners, try looking up the correct ending in a dictionary. A good English-German dictionary will normally list the genitive ending after the gender and before the nominative plural ending for a noun. For example:

• der Biss m "-es" -e (m = masculine) (genitive = des Bisses) (plural = Bisse)

• das Mädchen nt "-s" - (nt = neuter) (genitive = des Mädchens) (plural = Mädchen)

• das Kind nt "-(e)s" -er (n = neuter) (genitive = des Kinds or des Kindes) (plural = Kinder)

12.9 The genitive case - possession

Usage of the genitive case The main usage of the genitive case is to link nouns or noun phrases where English would normally use "of". It often indicates possession or ownership:

Grammar 5: The genitive case indicating possession

die Wohnung des Arztes ("the (male) doctor's flat")

die Wohnung der Ärztin ("the (female) doctor's flat")

der Keller des Hauses ("the cellar of the house")

das Zimmer der Kinder ("the children's room")

The genitive can also be used in German to link nouns or noun phrases where English would normally use "of":

Grammar 6: The genitive case meaning "of"

die Abfahrt des Zuges ("the departure of the train")

die Farbe des Fernsehers ("the colour of the TV set")

die Sanierung des Hauses ("the renovation of the house")

ein Strahl der Hoffnung ("a ray of hope")

Genitive: before or after? As you will see from the above examples, the German genitive usually follows the noun on which it depends - e.g. "die Wohnung des Arztes" (= the doctor's flat). The only exception to this is that proper names and personal names in the genitive case usually come first. Unlike in English, there is no apostrophe before the genitive "-s" on personal names. Names ending in "-s", "-x" and "-z" usually add an apostrophe after the final letter of the name in the genitive case:

Grammar 7: The genitive of proper names

No apostrophes

das ist Marlenes Toaster ("that's Marlene's toaster")

links nebenan ist Marlenes Zimmer ("Marlene's room is next to it on the left")

Goethes Bücher ("Goethe's books")

Deutschlands Grenzen ("Germany's borders")

das ist Andreas Stereoanlage ("this is Andrea's stereo system")

BUT:

das ist Andreas' Stereoanlage ("this is Andreas's stereo system")

das ist Fritz' Schwester ("this is Fritz's sister")

12.10 The genitive case - prepositions

Prepositions taking the genitive case The following prepositions are normally written with the genitive case in formal written German:

Grammar 8: Prepositions taking the genitive case

Preposition Example

(an-)statt (instead of)

statt der Diele (instead of the hall)

auf Grund (as a result of)

auf Grund des Regens (as a result of the rain)

inklusive (including)

inklusive der Kosten (including the costs)

trotz (despite)

trotz der Wände (despite the walls)

während (during)

während der Ferien (during the holidays)

wegen (because of)

wegen des Zimmers (because of the room)

Notes 1. The preposition meaning "instead of" can either be written as "statt" or "anstatt". 2. You may also find the preposition "auf Grund" written as one word "aufgrund". 3. All of the above prepositions take the genitive in formal written German, but in conversational German you will often hear them used with the dative case. In Switzerland and Austria, "trotz" takes the dative case in formal written German as well as in conversational German. 4. The genitive of the personal pronoun is now deemed to be archaic, and the dative form of these pronouns is used after genitive prepositions in both spoken and written German - e.g. "trotz ihnen" (= despite them), "wegen ihm" (= because of him), "statt ihr" (= instead of her).

Prepositions of direction The following prepositions indicating compass direction can also be followed by the genitive case:

Grammar 9: Prepositions of compass direction

nördlich (north of)

nordöstlich (north-east of)

östlich (east of)

südöstlich (south-east of)

südlich (south of)

südwestlich (south-west of)

westlich (west of)

nordwestlich (north-west of)

Examples

• Die Wohnung befindet sich südlich der Elbe und nordöstlich des Rathauses. (The flat is south of the River Elbe and north-east of the town hall.)

• Das Hotel liegt östlich der Stadt. (The hotel is situated to the east of the city.)

• Wir wohnen westlich des Stadtzentrums. (We live to the west of the city centre.)

The genitive is also used after "in der Nähe" (= near) and "am Ende" (= at the end of):

• Das schwarze Brett befindet sich in der Nähe der Mensa. (The notice board is situated near the refectory.)

• In der Nähe des Ladens gibt es eine Bushaltestelle. (There is a bus stop near the shop.)

• Hier vorne am Ende des Flurs ist die Wohnküche. (Up here at the end of the hall is the combined kitchen and living room.)

Genitive or "von"? The use of the genitive to link nouns is more common in written and formal German. In everyday speech however, a phrase with "von" followed by the dative is often used rather than a genitive. The use of "von" should nevertheless be avoided where possible in formal and written German.

Grammar 10: Genitive or "von"?

das Haus meines Vaters (= written) das Haus von meinem Vater (= spoken) ("my father's house")

die Wohnung meiner Eltern (= written) die Wohnung von meinen Eltern (= spoken) ("my parents' flat")

in der Nähe des Bahnhofs (= written) in der Nähe vom Bahnhof (= spoken) ("near the station")

südlich der Stadt (= written) südlich von der Stadt (= spoken) ("south of the city")

Notes 1. A construction with "von" is not possible after the genitive prepositions auf Grund, inklusive, statt, trotz, während and wegen. 2. The genitive cannot be used however to translate "of" followed by the personal pronoun - i.e. "of him", "of her" etc. For these instances "von" followed by the dative case must be used:

• jeder von uns (each of us)

• ein Freund von mir (a friend of mine)

3. "Von" (+ Dative) should also be used if a noun stands by itself, without an article or any other word with an ending to show the case:

• nordwestlich von Dresden (north-west of Dresden)

• südöstlich von Luzern (south-east of Lucerne)

• der Preis von zwölf Eiern (the price of twelve eggs)

• die Sanierung von Altbauten (the renovation of old buildings)

12.11 The genitive case - articles and determiners

Genitive endings on the definite article We can now construct the full case endings tables for the articles and determiners that we have encountered so far. Below are the case endings for the definite article for the three genders - masculine (masc.), feminine (fem.), neuter (neut.) - and for the plural:

Grammar 11: Case endings of the definite article

Masc. Fem. Neut. Plural

Nominative der die das die

Accusative den die das die

Genitive des der des der

Dative dem der dem den

Case endings for the indefinite article The genitive endings for the indefinite article "ein" are the same as those for the definite article. There is of course no plural form.

Grammar 12: Case endings of the indefinite article

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nominative ein eine ein

Accusative einen eine ein

Genitive eines einer eines

Dative einem einer einem

Remember that "kein" (= not a) declines in the same way as "ein":

Grammar 13: Case endings of "kein"

Masc. Fem. Neut. Plural

Nominative kein keine kein keine

Accusative keinen keine kein keine

Genitive keines keiner keines keiner

Dative keinem keiner keinem keinen

Examples Note the endings on the indefinite articles in the following sentences:

• Wir wohnen im Seitenflügel eines Altbaus. (We live in the side wing of an old building.)

• Statt einer neuen Straße gibt es hundert neue Bahnhöfe. (Instead of one new street there are a hundred new train stations.)

• Sport ist die Lösung keines Problems. (Sport is not the solution to any problem.)

The endings of possessive determiners When used as determiners, the possessives ("mein", "dein", "sein", "ihr", "Ihr" etc.) have the same endings as the indefinite article. The table below gives the endings for "ihr" (= her; their):

Grammar 14: Case endings of "mein"

Masc. Fem. Neut. Plural

Nominative ihr ihre ihr ihre

Accusative ihren ihre ihr ihre

Genitive ihres ihrer ihres ihrer

Dative ihrem ihrer ihrem ihren

Examples Note the endings on the possessives in the following sentences:

• Während meines Sommerkurses habe ich ein Zimmer im Wohnheim. (During my summer course I have a room in the halls of residence.)

• Das Zimmer ist wegen ihres Auslandaufenthalts zu vermieten. (The room is available due to her stay abroad.)

• Hier ist der Couchtisch seiner Freundin. (This is his girlfriend's coffee table.)

The "-er" of "unser" (= our) and "euer" (= your) is part of the stem and not an ending. The endings are attached to this stem as in the table below:

Grammar 15: Case endings of "unser" (= our)

Masc. Fem. Neut. Plural

Nominative unser unsere unser unsere

Accusative unseren unsere unser unsere

Genitive unseres unserer unseres unserer

Dative unserem unserer unserem unseren

When "euer", the informal version of the second person plural "you", has endings, the "-e-" of the stem is usually dropped in both spoken and written German.

Grammar 16: Case endings of "unser" (= our)

Masc. Fem. Neut. Plural

Nominative euer eure euer eure

Accusative euren eure euer eure

Genitive eures eurer eures eurer

Dative eurem eurer eurem euren

Examples Note the endings on the possessives in the following sentences:

• Statt unserer Wohnung hat er ein Atelier gekauft. (He bought a studio instead of our flat.)

• Das ist das Schlafzimmer unseres Sohnes. (This is our son's bedroom.)

• Trotz eures unordentlichen Zimmers dürft ihr Fußball spielen. (You can play football despite your untidy room.)

• In eurer Garage gibt es im Moment kein Auto. (There isn't a car in your garage at the moment.)

"dieser" and other determiners The "-er" of "dieser" (= this) is an ending and not part of the stem and not an ending. It thus declines as in the table below:

Grammar 17: Case endings of "dieser" (= this)

Masc. Fem. Neut. Plural

Nominative dieser diese dieses diese

Accusative diesen diese dieses diese

Genitive dieses dieser dieses dieser

Dative diesem dieser diesem diesen

Other determiners that form endings in a similar way are jener (= that), welcher (= which?), jeder (= each) and the plural determiners alle (= all) and viele (= many):

• Wegen dieser langen Wartezeiten werde ich langsam verrückt. (I'm gradually going mad due to these long waiting times.)

• Trotz dieses Wetters fahren wir in den Urlaub. (We're going on holiday despite this weather.)

• Trotz aller Probleme freuen sie sich auf die Zukunft. (Despite all their problems they are looking forward to the future.)

• Wegen vieler Schwierigkeiten ist das nicht mehr möglich. (Due to a number of difficulties that is no longer possible.)

12.12 The imperative of reflexive verbs

Prepositions taking the genitive case In Chapter 7, we examined how to form the imperative for normal German verbs. Reflexive verbs form the imperative in a similar way, but also require the inclusion of a reflexive pronoun:

Grammar 18: Imperative of reflexive verbs

Person Imperative Imperative

du setz(e) dich! (sit down!)

melde dich! (get in touch!)

ihr setzt euch! (sit down!)

meldet euch! (get in touch!)

Sie (polite)

setzen Sie sich! (sit down!)

melden Sie sich! (get in touch!)

wir setzen wir uns! (let's sit down!)

melden wir uns! (let's get in touch!)

Notes 1. The pronoun is included in the polite "Sie" and "wir" forms of the imperative, but not in the informal "du" and "ihr" forms. 2. As the stem of the verb "melden" ends in "-d-" it retains the "-e" ending in the "du" form of the imperative. This "-e" ending is optional with the "du" imperative of the verb "setzen".

Imperative of reflexive verbs with a dative object Both "sich setzen" and "sich melden" are reflexive verbs where the reflexive pronoun is in the accusative case (see Chapter 10.8). The table below shows the imperative for reflexive verbs that take a dative reflexive pronoun using the separable verb "sich vorstellen" (see Chapter 10.10).

Grammar 19: Imperative with dative reflexive pronouns

Person Imperative

du stell(e) dir vor!

(imagine!)

ihr stellt euch vor! (imagine!)

Sie (polite)

stellen Sie sich vor! (imagine!)

wir stellen wir uns vor! (let's imagine!)

As the table above indicates, the prefix of an separable verb goes to the end of a clause in the imperative. This is true for non-reflexive verbs as well as reflexive verbs:

Grammar 20: Imperative with a separable verb

Person Imperative

du leg(e) deinen Mantel ab! (take your coat off!)

ihr legt euren Mantel ab (take your coat off!)

Sie (polite)

legen Sie sich Ihren Mantel ab! (take your coat off!)

(Note that in the above examples "der Mantel" remains singular even when the imperative refers to more than one person. This is because in German each person is deemed to only have one coat each.)

Imperative of reflexive verbs with a dative and accusative object In Chapter 10.10 we looked at reflexive verbs where the reflexive pronoun is in the dative case whilst another object is in the accusative case. The imperative of such verbs is indicated in the following table.

Grammar 21: Imperative of "to listen to a CD"

Person Imperative

du hör(e) dir die CD an! (listen to the CD!)

ihr hört euch die CD an! (listen to the CD!)

Sie (polite)

hören Sie sich die CD an! (listen to the CD!)

wir hören wir uns die CD an! (let's listen to the CD!)

12.13 Unusual German adjectives

Adjectives formed from towns and cities Adjectives expressing the names of German towns and cities are formed by adding "-er" to the name of the place. In some instances such as Dresden and München, the final vowel in the name of the city disappears in the adjectival form. Other city adjectives such as those derived from the Eastern German cities of Halle and Jena need to be learned separately.

Grammar 22: City adjectives

City Adjective City Adjective

Berlin Berliner Köln Kölner

Frankfurt Frankfurter Leipzig Leipziger

Hamburg Hamburger Wien Wiener

BUT:

Dresden Dresdner Bremen Bremer

München Münch(e)ner Halle Hallenser

Zürich Zürcher Jena Jenenser

Notes 1. All adjectives formed from towns and cities start with a capital letter. 2. Only one country also forms an adjective in this way: the adjective "Schweizer" (= Swiss) comes from adding "-er" to "die Schweiz". A second Swiss adjective "schweizerisch" also exists - this word does not start with a capital letter (see below). The full list of adjectives of nationality can be found in Chapter 7.8.

No adjective endings on city adjectives Adjectives formed from the names of cities and towns do not add adjectival endings - i.e. they always end in "-er" regardless of the gender of the noun to which it refers and the case that this noun is in.

• Wir wohnen in einem ruhigen Dresdner Vorort. (We live in a quiet Dresden suburb.)

• Ihr werdet euch am Kölner Hauptbahnhof treffen. (You will meet each other at Cologne central station.)

• Die Stuttgarter Kneipen sind immer voll. (The pubs in Stuttgart are always full.)

• Du redest mit einem Berliner Studenten. (You are speaking to a student from Berlin.)

Care must therefore be taken when translating the adjective "Swiss" into German. Whilst the adjective "Schweizer" does not "decline" i.e. take adjective endings, the normal adjective "schweizerisch" does.

• Essen Sie gerne Schweizer Käse? Essen Sie gerne schweizerischen Käse? (Do you like eating Swiss cheese?)

• Die Schweizer Fußballmannschaft spielt heute. Die schweizerische Fußballmannschaft spielt heute. (The Swiss football team is playing today.)

• Was trägt ein Schweizer Arbeiter zur Arbeit? Was trägt ein schweizerischer Arbeiter zur Arbeit? (What does a Swiss worker wear to work?)

Adjectives that ending in "-el" Adjectives that end in "-el" drop this final "-e" when they "inflect" i.e. when they add adjective endings. We have seen this with the adjective "dunkel" at the end of the conversation in Chapter 12.6 but it also affects adjectives such as eitel (= vain), übel (= bad; evil), miserabel (= miserable), sensibel (= sensitive) or flexibel (= flexible).

• Das Zimmer ist ein bisschen dunkel, findest du nicht? (The room is a little dark, don't you think?)

• Trotz der dunklen Wände ist es eigentlich ganz hell. (Despite the dark walls it's actually quite bright.)

• Ist das Angebot akzeptabel? (Is the offer acceptable?)

• Ja, das ist ein akzeptables Angebot. (Yes, that is an acceptable offer.)

• Ist Herr Schäfer ein eitler Mensch? (Is Mister Schäfer a vain man?)

• Nein, er ist überhaupt nicht eitel! (No, he's not vain at all!)

Similarly the adjective "hoch" drops its "-c-" when it has adjectival endings:

• Ist die Decke hoch? (Is the ceiling high?)

• Ja, das ist eine sehr hohe Decke. (Yes, the ceiling is very high.)

• Wie hoch sind die Mieten in München? (How high are the rents in Munich?)

• In München gibt es sehr hohe Mieten. (There are very high rents in Munich.)

12.14 New German adverbs

Adverbial superlatives ending in "-stens" In the accommodation advertisements in this chapter you will have noted a number of adverbs ending in "-stens". These were originally "superlatives" (i.e. they implied that something was "the most..."), but now they mainly have an idiomatic function. The most commonly used adverbs of this type are listed below.

Grammar 23: Adverbs ending in "-stens"

bestens meistens spätestens

(very well) (mostly) (at the latest)

frühestens (at the earliest)

mindestens(at least)

strengstens (strictly)

höchstens (at the most)

nächstens (shortly)

wärmstens (most warmly)

längstens (at the longest)

schnellstens(as quickly as possible)

wenigstens (at least)

Examples

• Ich suche ein helles Zimmer, mindestens 19 Quadratmeter. (I'm looking for a bright room, at least 19 square metres.)

• ab frühestens Dezember 2002 bis mindestens Juni 2003. (from December 2002 at the earliest until at least June 2003.)

• Bitte meldet euch bis spätestens 30. November 2002 (Please get in touch by 30th November 2002 at the latest.)

• Der Kurs wird höchstens / längstens zwanzig Tage dauern. (The course will last twenty days at the most.)

• Ein Student muss wenigstens achtzehn Jahre alt sein. (A student must be at least eighteen years old.)

• Katja steht meistens früh auf. (Katja usually gets up early.)

• Elektroherde sind wärmstens zu empfehlen. (Electric cookers are most warmly recommended.)

• Rauchen ist strengstens verboten. (Smoking is strictly forbidden.)

• Schnellstens zu verkaufen! (Must be sold very quickly!)

Other adverbial superlatives We have already met some other adverbial superlatives ending in "-st":

• Die Wohnungssituation in Dresden ist äußerst wichtig. (The accommodation situation in Dresden is extremely difficult.)

• Suche Zimmer in Dresden. Möglichst zentral gelegen. (I'm looking for a room in Dresden. Situated as centrally as possible.)

• Diese Frage ist höchst kompliziert. (This question is extremely complicated.)

"Not yet" and "no longer" In German, "not yet" is translated by "noch nicht" and "no more" by "nicht mehr". As the negative "nicht" is contained in both of these adverbial phrases, there is no need to make the verb in such sentences negative - unlike in English.

• Das Frühstück ist noch nicht fertig. (Breakfast isn't ready yet.)

• Diese Altbauten sind noch nicht saniert. (These old buildings have not been renovated yet.)

• Marlene wird nicht mehr hier sein. (Marlene won't be here any more.)

• Ich kann diese Zeitung nicht mehr lesen! (I can't read this newspaper any more!)

12.15 Miscellaneous grammar points

"zu" + infinitive In a number of the accommodation advertisements in this chapter you will have noted the use of "zu" followed by the infinitive to indicate the passive. In other sentences "zu" and the infinitive are used in combination with the verb "sein" to translate "can be". These are constructions commonly found in advertisements and commercial German.

Grammar 24: "Zu" + infinitive

3-Zimmer-Wohnung an eine Frau zu vermieten! ("three room flat to let to a woman")

Einfamilienhaus zu verkaufen! ("detached house for sale")

die Wohnung ist sofort zu beziehen ("the flat can be occupied immediately")

ich bin unter 65 44 23 zu erreichen ("I can be reached at telephone number 65 44 23")

Prepositions with "sich freuen" The meaning of the verb "sich freuen" depends upon the preposition with which it is used. If the verb is followed by "auf" and the accusative case, it means "to look forward to". But if "sich freuen" is followed by "über" and the accusative case, then it means "to be happy about":

Grammar 25: Prepositions after "sich freuen"

"auf" + Accusative

Meine Kinder freuen sich schon auf das Wochenende. ("My children are already looking forward to the weekend.")

Ich freue mich auf eine schnelle Nachricht von euch. ("I look forward to a prompt response from you.")

"über" + Accusative

Ich freue mich über eine E-Mail oder einen Anruf! ("I'll be pleased to receive any e-mails or

phone-calls.")

Jutta freut sich über das Geschenk. ("Jutta is pleased about the present.")

Note that "hoffen" the German verb meaning "to hope for something" also takes "auf" and the accusative case as this verb too implies "looking forward to something":

• Ich hoffe auf baldige Antwort von Ihnen. (I look forward to receiving a prompt response from you.)

• Sie hoffen auf eine schöne Zukunft. (We hope for a good future.)

The usage and omission of prepositions Note the German prepositions used to the following key phrases:

Grammar 26: Prepositions in key phrases

Meldet euch unter 2 14 65 39 ("Call me on the number 2 14 65 39.")

Bitte meldet euch bei mir! ("Please get in contact with me!")

Nebenkosten 121 Euro bei 2 Personen. ("Additional costs: 121 euros if there are two people.")

Das Studentenwerk ist gleich um die Ecke. ("The student administration is just round the corner.")

Besichtigung nach Vereinbarung. ("Viewing by arrangement.")

Die Wohnfläche besteht aus... ("The living area consists of...")

Anfragen bitte per E-Mail. ("Enquiries please by e-mail.")

Was studierst du an der Uni? ("What are you studying at university?")

dank dem Wasserboiler ("thanks to the water boiler")

In the following time-phrases however, note how German omits both the prepositions and the articles that are present in the English version.

Grammar 27: Beginning, middle and end

Anfang Januar ("At the beginning of January")

Mitte September ("In the middle of September")

Ende Februar ("At the end of February")

12.16 Accommodation vocabulary (1)

Listed below for you to add to your "Vokabelheft" (= vocabulary book) is a two-page guide to words and phrases to describe the house and home. On this page you will find vocabulary for types of housing, words you might need when renting or buying a flat as well as general accommodation phrases. On the next page you will find vocabulary for parts of the house, rooms, types of heating systems as well as furniture and decorations. As ever, plurals of nouns are given in brackets.

Vocabulary 1: Types of housing

der Altbau (pl. - Altbauten) old building

die Altbauwohnung (-en) flat in an old building

das Appartement (-s) apartment

das Atelier (-s) studio

das Doppelhaus (pl. -häuser) semi-detached house

die Dreizimmerwohnung (-en) der Dreiraumwohnung (-en)

three-room flat

die Eigentumswohnung (-en) owner-occupied flat

das Einfamilienhaus (pl. -häuser) detached house

das Einzelappartement (-s) one-person apartment

die Einzimmerwohnung (-en) die Einraumwohnung (-en)

one-room flat

das Grundstück (-e) plot of land

das Haus (pl. - Häuser) house

die Maisonette (-n or -s) maisonette

die Maisonettewohnung (-en) maisonette flat

die Mietwohnung (-en) rented flat

der Neubau (pl. - Neubauten) new building

die Neubauwohnung (-en) newly-built flat

das Reihenhaus (pl. -häuser) terraced house

das Studentenwohnheim (-e) student halls of residence

die Studentenwohnung (-en) student flat

die WG (-s) shared flat / house

der Wohnblock (-s) block of flats

die Wohngemeinschaft (-en) shared flat / house

das Wohnheim (-e) halls of residence

die Wohnung (-en) flat

das Zweifamilienhaus (pl. -häuser)

semi-detached house

die Zweizimmerwohnung (-en) die Zweiraumwohnung (-en)

two-room flat

Vocabulary 2: Renting vocabulary

auf Zeit for a fixed period

bei 2 Personen if there are two people

die Betriebskosten (pl.) service costs

betragen to come to; to amount

die Bleibe (-n) somewhere to stay

circa approximately

dazurechnen (sep.) to add on

die Elektrizität electricity

frühestens at the earliest

das Gas (-e) gas

gratis free of charge

die Heizkosten (pl.) heating costs

die Hypothek (-en) mortgage

inklusive (+ Gen.) inclusive

insgesamt in total

kalt excluding heating costs

die Kaltmiete (-n) rent excluding heating costs

die Kaution (-en) deposit

die Kosten (pl.) costs

maximal 200 Euro a maximum of 200 Euros

die Miete (-n) rent

der Mietvertrag (pl. -verträge) lease; contract

die Mietvorauszahlung (-en) rent to be paid in advance

mindestens at least

der Mitbewohner (-) housemate (male)

die Mitbewohnerin (-innen) housemate (female)

der Mitwohnzentrale (-n) accommodation agency

monatlich / im Monat per month

die Monatsmiete (-n) month's rent; monthly rent

der Nachmieter (-) follow-on tenant

die Nebenkosten (pl.) additional costs

die Provision (-en) commission

das Quadratmeter (-) square metre

der Strom electricity

die Untermiete subtenancy

- ein Zimmer zur Untermiete - a room to be sublet

der Untermieter (-) subtenant (male)

die Untermieterin (-innen) subtenant (female)

vermieten (insep.) to rent out

- Wohnung zu vermieten - flat to rent

- an eine Frau zu vermieten - to be let to a woman

die Vermietung renting out; letting out

warm including heating costs

die Warmmiete (-n) rent including heating costs

der Wohnberechtigungsschein (-e) der WBS

permit for subsidised housing

die Zahlung (-en) payment

- die einmalige Zahlung - one-off payment

zuzüglich plus

Vocabulary 3: Accommodation phrases

ich freue mich auf eine schnelle Nachricht von euch

I look forward to hearing from you soon

bei Interesse ruft mich an

Give me a call if you are interested!

am besten sofort

if possible immediately

ich bin WG-erprobt

I have experience of living in a shared flat

ich brauche wenig Platz

I don't require a great deal of space

ich freue mich über eine E-Mail

I am pleased to receive an E-mail

die Kaltmiete beträgt � 490

rent excluding heating costs amounts to 490 euros

ab 30.09.2002 zu beziehen

can be occupied from 30.09.2002

an der Elbe gelegen

situated on the River Elbe

Wohnung zu vermieten!

flat for let

Besichtigung nach Vereinbarung

viewing by arrangement

Mitbewohner/in dringend gesucht!

we're desperately looking for a flatmate

wir benutzen gemeinschaftlich...

we have communal usage of...

bitte meldet euch bei mir

please contact me...

ich bin unter 298889 zu erreichen

I can be reached on the telephone number 298889

wo liegt die Wohnung?

where is the flat?

wie liegt die Wohnung?

how is the flat situated?

ist das Zimmer noch frei? ist das Zimmer schon vergeben?

is the room still available?

ich zeige Ihnen die Wohnung

I'll show you round the flat

die Küche ist gut ausgestattet

the kitchen is well-equipped

wie ist das Zimmer?

What's the room like?

ich rufe wegen des Zimmers an

I'm ringing up about the room

wie groß ist das Zimmer?

how big is the room?

das Zimmer verfügt über (+ Acc.)

the room has...

was für ein Haus ist das?

what sort of house is it?

hier muss ein Irrtum vorliegen

there must be some kind of mistake

wie viele Zimmer hat die Wohnung?

how many rooms does the flat have?

von unserem Fenster aus kann man X sehen

you can see X from our window

wann kann ich einziehen?

when can I move in?

wie viele Leute wohnen hier?

how many people live here?

ich ziehe in eine Wohnung um

I'm moving into a flat

wie hoch ist die Monatsmiete?

how high is the rent each month?

Sie müssen 65 Euro dazurechnen

you have to add on another 65 euros

kann ich mir die Wohnung ansehen?

may I have a look round the flat?

12.17 Accommodation vocabulary (2)

On the second page of your "Vokabelheft" on housing vocabulary, you will find vocabulary for parts of the house, rooms, types of heating systems as well as furniture and decorations. Go back to the previous page to find vocabulary for types of housing, words you might need when renting or buying a flat as well as general accommodation phrases.

Vocabulary 4: Parts of the house

der Abstellraum (pl. -räume)

storeroom

das Arbeitszimmer (-) study

das Bad (pl. - Bäder) das Badezimmer (-)

bathroom

der Balkon (-s or -e) balcony

das Dachgeschoss (-e) attic

die Decke (-n) ceiling

die Diele (-n) hall

die Einbauküche (-n) fitted kitchen

das Erdgeschoss (-e) ground floor

das Esszimmer (-) dining room

der Fahrstuhl (pl. -stühle) lift

das Fenster (-) window

der Flur (-e) hall

der Fußboden (pl. -böden) floor

die Garage (-n) garage

der Garten (pl. - Gärten) garden

das Gästezimmer (-) guest room

der Grillplatz (pl. -plätze) barbecue area

das Hinterhaus (pl. -häuser)

building behind the courtyard

der Hof (-e) courtyard

der Holzboden (pl. -böden) wooden floor

der Kamin (-e) fireplace; hearth

der Keller (-) cellar

das Kellerabteil (-e) cellar compartment

das Kinderzimmer (-) child's bedroom

die Kochecke (-n) kitchen / cooking area

die Kochnische (-n) kitchenette

die Küche (-n) kitchen

die Loggia (pl. - Loggien) balcony

die Mansarde (-n) attic room

das Obergeschoss (-e) floor (above ground level)

das Parkett (-e) parquet flooring

der Parkettboden (pl. -böden)

parquet flooring

der Raum (pl. - Räume) room; space

das Schlafzimmer (-) bedroom

der Seitenflügel (-) side wing

das Souterrain (-s) basement

die Terrasse (-n) terrace

die Tiefgarage (-n) underground car park

die Tür (-en) door

das Vorderhaus (pl. -häuser)

front-facing house

das Vorzimmer (-) anteroom / hall

die Wand (pl. - Wände) wall

die Wohnküche (-n) combined kitchen and living room

die Wohnungstür (-en) door to the flat

das Wohnzimmer (-) living room

das Zimmer (-) room

Vocabulary 5: Types of heating

die Elektroheizung electric heating

die Etagenheizung heating system for one floor

die Fernwärme district heating

die Fußbodenheizung underfloor heating

die Heizung heating

die Nachtspeicherheizung night-storage heating

die Ofenheizung coal oven heating

das Warmwasser warm water

der Wasserboiler (-) hot water tank

die Zentralheizung central heating

Vocabulary 6: Furniture and equipment

die Ausstattung furnishings

der Backofen (pl. -öfen) oven

das Bad (pl. - Bäder) bath

die Badewanne (-n) bath tub

das Bett (-en) bed

das Bidet (-s) bidet

das Bücherregal (-e) bookshelf

der Couchtisch (-e) coffee table

das Doppelbett (-en) double bed

die Dusche (-n) shower

die Duschkabine (-n) shower cubicle

das Einzelbett (-en) single bed

der Elektroherd (-e) electric cooker

der Esstisch (-e) dining table

die Garderobe (-n) coat-rack; hall-stand

die Gardine (-n) curtain

der Gefrierschrank (pl. -schränke) freezer

der Geschirrspüler (-) dishwasher

der Herd (-e) cooker

die Kaffeemaschine (-n) coffee machine

der Kleiderschrank (pl. -schränke) wardrobe

der Kühlschrank (pl. -schränke) fridge

die Lampe (-n) lamp

der Mikrowellenherd (-e) microwave oven

das Möbel (-) (piece of) furniture

möbliert furnished

der Nachttisch (-e) bedside table

der Radiowecker (-) radio alarm clock

der Rollladen (pl. -läden) shutters

der Schrank (pl. Schränke) cupboard; wardrobe

die Schrankwand (pl. -wände) wall unit

der Schreibtisch (-e) desk

der Sessel (-) armchair

das Sofa (-s) sofa

der Spiegel (-) mirror

die Stehlampe (-n) standard lamp

die Stereoanlage (-n) stereo system

der Stuhl (pl. - Stühle) chair

teilmöbliert partially furnished

der Teppich (-e) carpet

der Teppichboden wall-to-wall carpeting

der Toaster (-) toaster

unmöbliert unfurnished

der Videorecorder (-) video recorder

der Vorhang (pl. -hänge) curtain

das Wannenbad (pl. -bäder) bath

das Waschbecken (-) wash-basin

die Waschmaschine (-n) washing machine

die Wasserboiler (-) hot-water tank

der WC (-s) toilet

der Wecker (-) alarm clock

12.18 Housing in Germany

Inside and outside German houses and flats show a number of differences from English dwellings. For one thing, many (particularly old) German flats are located in courtyards (der Hof) (see picture left) that lie back from the main road. When reading accommodation adverts for such buildings, you must note whether the flat is located in the building that faces the road (das Vorderhaus), the building behind the courtyard (das Hinterhaus) or in one of the side wings of the building (der Seitenflügel). A large number of residences also have roll-down shutters (der Rollladen) (note the three l's in the middle of the word!) outside the windows which provide added security and also serve to insulate the property. The British fixation with wall-to-wall carpeting is not replicated in Germany. Instead parquet flooring (das Parkett; der Parkettboden) is much more common, as are wooden floors. In keeping with the Germans' pronounced environmental awareness, energy-saving measures are widely-used. Thus a number of residences employ under-floor heating and have a high standard of insulation. You may well see buildings (and even bus-stops!) with solar panels on their roof in an attempt to harness solar energy (die Solarenergie). And a major difference that you cannot "see" but definitely need to be aware of is the difference in voltage between Britain and Germany. All electrical power points in Germany are designed for 220 volts, 50 Hz. AC and two-point plugs. Any adapters you may need can be bought in electrical shops either in Britain or in Germany.

To rent or to own? It is still largely the case that an Englishman's home is his castle: 60% of British people live in their own house or flat, which is only a slightly lower percentage than in the United States (64%). In Germany however, the majority of people live in rented accommodation, with only 39% living in their own house or flat. There are a number of reasons for this. With house prices remaining high, renting is often a cheaper option and one that offers greater flexibility. It can also be quite complicated to obtain a mortgage (die Hypothek) in Germany. Furnished flats are as a rule not as common as they are in Britain, and remember that unfurnished in Germany really does mean unfurnished. You'll invariably have to supply your own lights, lighting fixtures, tables, chairs, cooker etc. And furnished flats are much more expensive than unfurnished accommodation. The German housing market is also different in that a much higher percentage of Germans live in flats (die Wohnung) and appartments (das Appartement) than their

British counterparts. These can either be flats that they own (die Eigentumswohnung) or more commonly rented flats (die Mietwohnung). The housing market is changing quite quickly however. Both in the countryside and in towns and cities, Germans are buying plots of land (das Grundstück) and have their own house built on it. This explains why a single German street may have detached houses (das Einfamilienhaus) with a wide diversity of designs. Semi-detached houses (das Doppelhaus; das Zweifamilienhaus) are less common in German-speaking countries than in Britain but there has recently been an increase in the number of terraced houses (das Reihenhaus).

Shared accommodation Many young people choose to live in shared flats or houses - "die WG" which is short for "eine Wohngemeinschaft" (literally: "a living community"). This means that two or more flatmates share an apartment including a communal kitchen and bathroom. It is standard practice for the existing flatmates to choose the new inhabitant themselves, so a lot of vacancies are filled by word of mouth. "WGs" (note the plural!) are particularly popular with students as they provide a relatively cheap option to halls of residence where space is in any case strictly limited.

Der Wohnberechtigungsschein (WBS) The "Wohnberechtigungsschein (WBS)" is a permit for subsidised housing issued by a town, city or community to any single person earning less than 12,000 euros per year or a couple earning less than 18,000 euros per year. The WBS permit is valid for one year and entitles the recipient to rent subsidised housing at a rent well below average for the free housing market. You can apply for a WBS permit at the local housing authority (Amt für Wohnungswesen).

12.19 Student accommodation

Halls of residence (der Studentenwohnheim) All students in Germany soon become familiar with one piece of vocabulary - "die Wohnungsnot" or "the shortage of accommodation". For the absence of suitable student accommodation in German university towns and cities is becoming more acute each year. Places in halls of residence are strictly limited and in some places waiting lists of several semesters mean that new students (der Studienanfänger) have little or no chance of getting a room in them on their arrival. In the summer of 2002 there were only 9,700 rooms available in Munich's halls of residence for the city's 65,000 students. Of the 14,000 new students arriving for the winter term, only 700 would receive a place in a Studentenwohnheim and the waiting list was as long as four university semesters (das Semester). The problem is particularly difficult for students with children, as student residences offer only a restricted number of places for families. On the whole they offer single and double rooms with several students sharing a kitchen and possibly bathroom facilities, too. Other universities also offer short-term accommodation in university guest-houses, but this is hardly a long-term solution to the problem. In the past few years universities such as Dresden have even had to resort to placing mattresses in gyms and setting up "cities of tents" (die Zeltstadt) to accommodate

students in the first few weeks of a new term (normally in September and February). In Munich, authorities were forced to set up Big Brother-style living containers (der Wohncontainer) and even so-called living cubes (der Wohnwürfel) to house students, with women sleeping on top and men at the bottom!

The private accommodation market (der private Wohnungsmarkt) Looking for accommodation on the private accommodation market is much harder is some locations than in others. Accommodation is particularly scarce in large cities in what used to be West Germany, with Munich, Stuttgart and Hamburg being severe accommodation black spots. Yet in smaller university towns (die Universitätsstadt) with large student populations such as Marburg, Göttingen and Würzburg, lack of rooms mean that students may be forced to live as far away as thirty of forty kilometres from the university itself. This is particularly true in Tübingen in Baden-Württemberg where 25,000 of the town's population of 85,000 are students. As a consequence rents are soaring, with unscrupulous landlords charging up to 250 euros a month for unfurnished and often ramshackle rooms and one-room flats (die Einzimmerwohnung). At first glance the situation may appear less drastic in the former GDR. Students in Erfurt and Leipzig have a better chance of getting a room in a hall of residence than many students in Western Germany. Yet in other cities university accommodation is strictly limited, with halls of residence is urgent need of renovation (die Sanierung). Private rooms in old buildings (der Altbau) are relatively cheap but there are not many private landlords in Eastern Germany. In Berlin, Potsdam, Leipzig, Dresden, and Magdeburg blocks of apartments have now been built but they are not subject to rent control and are severely over-priced.

Student administration organisations have noted that foreign students are at a particular disadvantage. Not only is Germany a comparatively expensive place to stay for many overseas students, but they can receive prejudicial treatment from landlords on racial grounds. And so whilst Germany is investing millions of euros in promoting an international exchange programmes for students, many students are forced to cancel their exchange and leave Germany without having found a room.

Finding solutions In 2001, the Deutsches Studentenwerk (DSW), the organisation for German student affairs, demanded the creation of an additional 21,000 rooms in student halls of residence across the country - but to little effect. Protest measures including setting up student living containers in front of key public buildings may have highlighted the students' plight, but concrete improvements are thin on the ground.

Local student organisations have come up with imaginative campaigns to mobilise the local population. In Freiburg, the project "Wohnen für Hilfe" (= accommodation for help) has been launched aims to encourage senior citizens to offer rooms to students in (partial) exchange for help and support. In Heidelberg, another university city in the south-west of Germany, posters have been printed bearing the legend "Student sucht Zimmer" (= student looking for a room) and depicting a student desperately clutching a house (see graphic left). Students were allowed to paste over general election posters in Heidelberg once voting had been concluded in September 2002 and the campaign logo also appears on postcards and beer mats.

Accommodation agencies for students At a number of further education institutions, student services have produced brochures with useful advice for students who are "auf der Wohnungssuche" (= looking for somewhere to stay). Some of these services have also founded student accommodation agencies. Here you will be required to put down a financial deposit and then be given three contact addresses offering accommodation. The deposit will be returned when the student returns to the agency the next day to report on the progress that has been made.

Quite a few private accommodation agencies (die Mitwohnzentrale) have also sprung up in recent years. For a commission which can be quite high, they will put you in contact with individuals or companies offering accommodation. These private agencies may prove your last resort in areas where houses, flats and rooms are particularly scarce. There are a number of organisations that can assist overeas students in the search for "eine Bleibe" (= somewhere to stay). Most universities will have a Foreign Student Office that can inform overseas students about vacancies in student accommodation and advise on application procedures. Some Foreign Student Offices are able to put you in contact with private landlords if students have passed on the name and address at the end of their research period.

In addition the Deutsches Studentenwerk (DSW) has put together a service package for overseas students to ensure that students from abroad are able to manage the essential items of their cost of living during their stay at economical prices. It also aims to help them come to terms and find their way around their host country.

Advice for accommodation-seekers Should you wish to study at a German university yourself and need to find accommodation, don't despair but do allow yourself plenty of time and plan in advance! Contact the aforementioned organisations well in advance and if you do need to travel to the place itself to find somwhere to stay, time your visit wisely. A good time is at the end of the semester (i.e. in February and July) when those who have completed their studies leave town. This might mean that you might have to pay rent a couple of months in advance, but you run the risk otherwise that the accommodation market will become ever more saturated the closer it gets to the start of the following term.

As we have seen in this chapter, advertisements on student notice boards (das schwarze Brett) are a common way of finding somewhere to stay. Many university web-sites also have online notice boards for accommodation. Local newspapers and listings magazines also carry useful adverts.

12.20 Advertisements for accommodation

Deciphering advertisements German accommodation advertisements do not refer to the number of bedrooms in flats and houses, but to square metres of floor space (das Quadratmeter; m²). Floor

space is also the means by which most rents for rooms in "Wohngemeinschaften" are usually calculated. You might for example see a phrase such as "65m² Wohnfläche", which means "65 square metres of living space". This living space normally comprises living room, dining room and bedroom(s). Adverts may also refer to the total number of rooms in a residence - excluding the bathroom, hall and kitchen. So if you want a flat with a living room, a dining room and two bedrooms, then look for adverts with (4 Zimmer), or as the abbreviation in advertisements would have it (4Zi). Note too the distinction between between "kalt" and "warm" when referring to rent. This has nothing to do with how warm or cold the building is, but instead whether the rent includes heating bills (warm) or excludes them (kalt). Make sure that you are aware of how much rent you are patying and what your rights and responsibilities are before you sign the lease (der Mietvertrag).

Advertisement abbreviations The abbreviations used in accommodation advertisements are often as confusing to Germans as they are to non-native speakers. Below is a table of the most common abbreviations:

Vocabulary 7: Advertisement abbreviations

AB Altbau (old building)

Abstand Abstand (money paid for renovation done by previous tenant)

Ap. Appartement (apartment)

At. Atelier (studio)

B. Bad (bathroom)

Balk. Balkon (balcony)

BK Betriebskosten (service costs)

ca. circa (approximately)

DG Dachgeschoss (attic)

DI Diele (hall)

3er-WG Dreier-Wohngemeinschaft (three-person shared flat)

Du. Dusche (shower)

EBK Einbauküche

(fitted kitchen)

EFH Einfamilienhaus (detached house)

EG Erdgeschoss (ground floor)

erford. erforderlich (required)

F Fahrstuhl (lift)

FbH Fußbodenheizung (underfloor heating)

Ga. Garten (garden)

Gar. Garage (garage)

gemütl. gemütlich (comfortable)

gepfl. gepflegt (well looked after)

gfl. gefliest (tiled)

HH Hinterhaus (building behind courtyard)

Hk. Heizkosten (heating costs)

Ka. Kamin (fireplace)

Kab. Kabel-TV (cable television)

kalt Kaltmiete (excluding heating costs)

KDB Küche, Dusche, Bad (kitchen, shower, bath)

kft. komfortabel (comfortable)

Kl. Keller (cellar)

KM Kaltmiete (rent excluding heating costs)

KN Kochnische (kitchenette)

Kt. Kaution (deposit)

Kü. Küche (kitchen)

m² Quadratmeter (square metre)

max. maximal (a maximum of)

mind. mindestens (at least)

MM Monatsmiete (month's rent)

Mn. Maisonette (maisonette)

möbl. möbliert (furnished)

mtl. monatlich (monthly)

MVZ Mietvorauszahlung (rent to be paid in advance)

NB Neubau (new building)

NK Nebenkosten (additional costs)

NR Nichtraucher (non-smoker)

od. oder (or)

(2.) OG. (zweites) Obergeschoss (second) floor

OH Ofenheizung (coal oven heating)

Öl. Ölheizung (oil heating)

Pk. Parkettboden (parquet flooring)

Prov. Provision (commission)

qm. Quadratmeter (square metre)

ren. renoviert (renovated)

RH Reihenhaus (terrace house)

Rm. Raum (room)

ruh. ruhig (quiet)

SFL Seitenflügel (side wing of building with courtyard)

son. sonnig (sunny)

Sou. Souterrain (basement)

Tel. Telefon (telephone)

Tep. Teppichboden (wall-to-wall carpet)

Terr. Terrasse (terrace)

TG Tiefgarage (underground car park)

t-möb. teilmöbliert (partially furnished)

verm. vermieten (to let)

vg. verkehrsgünstig (close to public transport)

VH Vorderhaus (building with street frontage)

v-möb. voll möbliert (fulliy furnished)

vorh. vorhanden (present; available)

warm Warmmiete (including heating costs)

W-B Wannenbad (bath tub)

WBS Wohnberichtigungsschein (permit for subsidised housing)

Wfl. Wohnfläche (living space)

WG Wohngemeinschaft (shared flat / house)

Whg. Wohnung (flat)

WM Warmmiete (rent including heating costs)

Wm. Waschmaschine (washing machine)

ZH Zentralheizung (central heating)

Zi. Zimmer (room)

2 Zi.-Whg.

Zweizimmerwohnung (two-room flat)

2 ZKDB Zwei Zimmer, Küche, Diele, Bad (two rooms, kitchen, hall, bathroom)

2er-WG Zweier-Wohngemeinschaft (two-person shared flat)

zzgl. zuzüglich (plus)

Other advertisement vocabulary Here is a list of further words and phrases that you may encounter in reader German advertisements. Whether the accommodation itself lives up to the description is a separate matter!

Vocabulary 8: General advertisement vocabulary

das Angebot (-e) offer

ausziehen (sep.) to move out

baldig quick; early

bequem comfortable

die Besichtigung (-en) viewing

bestens excellently; very well

beziehen (insep.) to occupy

biete... I'm offering...

dringend urgently

eingerichtet furnished

einziehen (sep.) to move in

gefliest tiled

gelegen situated

gemeinschaftlich communal

gemütlich comfortable; friendly

gepflegt well looked after

geräumig spacious

gesellig sociable

gratis free of charge

günstig reasonably priced

hell bright

das Hochparterre upper ground floor

- im Hochparterre - on the upper ground floor

hochwertig high-quality

komfortabel comfortable

die Kontaktperson (-en) person to contact

die Lage (-n) location

- Lage egal - location unimportant

sich melden to get in touch

möbliert furnished

modern modern

nach Möglichkeit if possible

nett nice

der Nichtraucher (-) non-smoker

optimal optimal; perfect

preiswert reasonably-priced

renovieren to renovate

renoviert renovated

ruhig quiet

sanieren to renovate

saniert renovated

sonnig sunny

die Studentenwohnung (-en)

student flat

suche... I'm looking for...

teilen to share

teilmöbliert partially furnished

umgänglich friendly; sociable

Uni-Nähe near the university

umziehen (sep.) to move (house)

unmöbliert unfurnished

die Verkehrsanbindung (-en)

transport connection

verkehrsgünstig convenient for transport

vorhanden present; available

WG-erprobt experienced in living in a shared flat

WG-geeignet suitable for a shared flat

die Wohnanlage (-n) location

die Wohnfläche (-n) living space

der Wohnungsmarkt housing market

zentral central

- möglichst zentral - as central as possible