| Essential German, Book 4 Chapter One Es ist noch There is | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Words | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Grammar Narrative past: In Book * * * * * Regular verbs (verbs that retain their stem in all forms) form
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| Every German verb has at least three principal parts: the present infinitive, the first-person singular narrative past, and the past participle; and if the verb has a vowel change in the present tense, the third-person singular present is included among the principal parts. The principal parts of sagen are sagen, sagte, gesagt, and of wollen are wollen (will), wollte, gewollt. It is most important that the student of German learn not only the meanings of verbs but their principal parts as well. * * * * * Of the verbs that you have encountered so far in this book, the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Note: If the stem ends Narrative-past forms of separable verbs are separated in main Er räumte sein Zimmer auf. Die Mutter freute sich, weil ihr Sohn sein Zimmer aufräumte. The principal parts of the first three words in the above list are as
The student can deduce the narrative past of the remaining verbs in * * * * * Narrative past
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| Da-compounds: With many German prepositions, when the English object is "it" or a neuter "them," i.e., more than one it, one does not use a personal-pronoun object; instead, da- (if the preposition ends with a consonant) or dar- (if the preposition begins with a vowel) is prefixed to the preposition. Examples: dafür (for it, for them) damit (with it, with them) darüber (about it, about them; over it, over them) davon (about it, about them; from it, from them) Such da-compounds für ihn (for him) von ihm mit ihnen (with über sie [about them] her, about them) * * * * * Like the modals, * * * * * Derselbe, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reading | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Studentin P: Du, Studentin G: Was denn? Studentin P: Ich habe dir schon einmal von meinem Studentin G: Ja, Petra, schon ein paar Mal. Ich Studentin P: Also, heute wollte er am Ende der Studentin G: Lass mich raten! Er bringt doch Studentin P: Falsch geraten. Alle bemerkten schon Studentin G: Was sollte das bedeuten? Hat er also Studentin P: Genau. Er hatte--und wir suchten--dieselbe Brille. Studentin G: Wie nett von ihm! Jetzt hast du Studentin P: Eine gute Idee. Aber...siehst du meine Brille | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercises A. Rewrite each 1. Er erinnert sich daran. Er hat ein gutes Gedächtnis. 2. Sie hat gar nichts bemerkt. 3. Sie sind mehr als fünf Kilometer gerannt. Danach 4. Niemand wird es wissen. 5. Alle hatten sich zuerst darüber gefreut. 6. Er hat es ihnen erlaubt, in den Wagen zu steigen 7. Bald werden wir den Fluss erreichen. 8. Sie hat einen amerikanischen Wein probiert. 9. Der Briefträger dreht sich langsam um. Er atmet 10. Die Eltern wollen nicht länger leben als ihre B. Express in German. 1. The professor (f.) noticed the gratitude of her 2. The professor (m.) needed the help of his class in 3. You (s.) wore a new blouse yesterday, didn't you? 4. He forgot that I had given him the old CDs. He was 5. A good friend of my brother has at least 6. That was definitely the longest trip I have taken 7. Your (pl.) mother is probably as young as or 8. The forgetful boy misplaced his pencil again. Can no one find it? 9. The Americans attempted to answer politely instead 10. The French exchange student (f.) finally met her 11. Where were you on August 18? (n.p.) / How should 12. Let's drive back so that we arrive between four 13. They all worked hard because they wanted to C. Rewrite, altering 1. Wir hatten alle schon einmal auf dem Berg 2. Die kleine Maus hat ein Loch in der Wand gefunden, 3. Ich kaufte einen roten Regenschirm und spazierte 4. Trotz des Verkehrs haben wir das Flugzeug erreicht 5. Ich habe diese Zigaretten gefunden und weiß 6. Die Bücher des vergesslichen Professors liegen 7. Unsere Freunde kommen am Sonntag zu Besuch. Wir 8. Unser Leben auf der Erde dauert höchstens hundert 9. Manche Leute glauben, dass Gott uns gerettet hat und dass wir mit 10. Niemand kann beweisen, dass es ein ewiges Leben D. Express 1. Do we have a German assignment? / I don't know. 2. Although she had promised to write me a letter 3. Did you (pl.) usually understand your teachers 4. The wine festival begins on Friday, and I'm going 5. Look! (s.) The shy girl over 6. After the other children had left the room, the 7. After a while she noticed that she had almost no 8. Which season do you like best? / Nature is always 9. My grandmother is afraid of airplanes. When she 10. I'm curious. Is that the professor with the round 11. I'm hungry and I'm freezing. Actually, I need 12. When the train stops, your (s.) cousin (f.) will | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Supplementary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Exercises | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A. Express in German. 1. We wanted to say something, but we had to be 2. The gentleman with the gray beard looks like a 3. What's wrong? / Nothing. One learns by experience. 4. The child was disappointed although his parents had given him many 5. We are both very enthusiastic about old buildings. 6. It's no secret: The influence of their good mother 7. During the break the teacher had remained at his 8. Since the student had an extraordinarily good 9. The joy of the boys and girls was great when they 10. That's an excellent idea; I'm very enthusiastic 11. Because of the dark clouds in the sky, and 12. Why are there wars? And why do some wars last 13. The socks don't go with the shirt. / You're crazy. I 14. The German assignment for Monday is on page 15. This evening there is music in the park, or we B. Answer 1. Haben Sie die Schachtel gesehen, die vor einer 2. Wann hat das Schweigen eines Menschen einen Einfluß 3. Du hast viele Geschenke bekommen, aber du scheinst 4. Hat der Professor in unserem Lesestück wirklich 5. Warum haben die Eltern den Jungen und Mädchen 6. Sie interessieren sich für Italien, nicht wahr? 7. Ich bewundere die außerordentliche Schönheit 8. Die Bäume sind schön, aber warum haben Sie sie 9. Wie ist es möglich, die ganze Seite auswendig zu 10. Warum liegt der Regenmantel auf dem Bett? 11. Wann fliegen die Enten und die anderen Vögel nach Süden? Und | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Translation of Reading Student P: Hey, Gisela, I Student G: What? Student P: I've already Student G: Yes, Petra, a Student P: Well today at Student G: Let me guess. He Student P: Wrong. Everyone Student G: What was that Student P: Exactly. He Student G: How nice of him. Student P: A good idea.
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Answers to Exercises A. 1. B. C. D. 1. A. B. |
This article was used with permission from:
Gene Moutoux
