GRAMMAR TERMS = grammatische Termini (der Terminus)

ACCUSATIVE = der Akkusativ / der Wenfall

The DIRECT OBJECT case in German.

ACTIVE VOICE = das Aktiv / die Tatform

As opposed to the PASSIVE, the VOICE or form of a verb whose subject is the AGENT or cause of the verb's action.

ADJECTIVE = das Adjektiv / das Eigenschaftswort

A word or phrase that modifies or describes a noun. When a German adjective precedes a noun, it must have an ending that agrees in NUMBER, GENDER and CASE.

ADVERB = das Adverb / das Umstandswort

A word or phrase that modifies a verb or an adjective, telling how, where, why, or when.

AGENT = das Agens

A person or thing (noun) that performs an action or brings about a result.

AGREEMENT = die Übereinstimmung

When a word agrees with another in gender, case, person, or some other category. For instance, adjectives must agree with nouns in GENDER and CASE.

ANTECEDENT = das Bezugswort

The noun to which a RELATIVE PRONOUN refers in a RELATIVE CLAUSE.

APPOSITION = die Apposition / der Beisatz

Placing a word next to or near another word of the same meaning or function.

ARTICLE = der Artikel / das Geschlechtswort

A word (a/an/the) that indicates the GENDER of a NOUN. Articles can be DEFINITE (the) or INDEFINITE (a/an).

AUXILIARY VERB = das Hilfsverb

A verb that "helps" or is used with another verb, usually haben or sein in COMPOUND TENSES.

CAPITALIZATION = die Großschreibung

German is the only language that requires that all nouns be capitalized.

CARDINAL NUMBER = die Kardinalzahl

A number or amount such as 1, 2, 3; 153 or 5,280. Also see ORDINAL NUMBERS.

CASE = der Kasus / der Fall

A German noun or pronoun can be in one of four cases (ACCUSATIVE, DATIVE, GENITIVE or NOMINATIVE), depending on its function in a sentence. PREPOSITIONS and VERBS also govern a certain case for nouns or pronouns.

CLAUSE = der Teilsatz

Part of a sentence that can be CONDITIONAL, DEPENDENT or RELATIVE, usually set apart by a comma. Such clauses can affect the word order of a sentence.

COGNATE = urverwandtes Wort

A COGNATE is a word that has the same original source as a similar word in another language and is therefore related to that word. The German word Haus is a cognate related to the English word "house." A FALSE COGNATE is a word that may appear to be a cognate but is not (e.g., bald or fast in German).

COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE = die Umgangssprache

Common, everyday language or vocabulary, as opposed to elevated or refined usage. Also see REGISTER.

COMMANDS (IMPERATIVE) = der Imperativ / die Befehlsform

A verb CONJUGATION used for indicating commands. German has both FORMAL and FAMILIAR command forms.

COMPARISON = die Komparation / die Steigerung

Adjectives and adverbs can be in one of three comparative forms, as in "good" (positive), "better" (comparative) or "best" (superlative).

COMPOUND = das Kompositum / die Zusammensetzung

The combining of two or more words or phrases to form a new word, a verb tense or a compound sentence (die Satzreihe).

CONDITIONAL = der Konditional / der Bedingungssatz

A sentence (Bedingungssatz), CLAUSE or verb form used to express a conditional situation, often with "if" (wenn) and "would" (würde). Also see the SUBJUNCTIVE.

CONJUNCTION = die Konjunktion / die Bindewörter

There are two types of conjunctions: COORDINATING and SUBORDINATING. German conjunctions like aber, oder, und or weil link words, phrases, clauses or sentences.

CONJUGATION = die Konjugation

A VERB used in a sentence must have certain endings or forms in order to agree with the SUBJECT. German VERBS fall into three main conjugation groups: WEAK, STRONG and MIXED.

CONTRACTIONS = die Kontraktion

Words or combinations of words that have been shortened by dropping certain letters, sounds, or elements. Examples include "I'm" for "I am" in English, or im for in dem in German.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTION = nebenordene Konjunktion

A CONJUNCTION that joins two independent and equal CLAUSES or sentences. The most common German coordinating conjunctions are aber, denn, oder, and und. Also see SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION.

DATIVE CASE = der Dativ / der Wemfall

The INDIRECT OBJECT case in German.

DECLINATION DECLINE = die Deklination / die Beugung

German NOUNS and PRONOUNS are declined to reflect the CASE in which they are being used. Declination is indicated by different endings or forms for the noun or pronoun itself, plus any article, or adjective used with a noun/pronoun. Examples of DECLINATION: nom. der becomes acc. den; nom. ich becomes dat. mir.

DEFINITE ARTICLE = bestimmter Artikel

Refers to a particular person or thing (noun), rather than just any item - the tree, as opposed to a tree. German has three basic forms of the definite article (the): der, die, das, reflecting the three noun GENDERS, and DECLINED to agree with the German CASES. Also see INDEFINITE ARTICLE, DER- and DIESER-WORDS.

DEMONSTRATIVE = demonstrativ / hinweisend

ADVERBS, ARTICLES or PRONOUNS used to point out a particular thing, as in "that one" or "this one." Also see DER- and DIESER-WORDS.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE = der Nebensatz

A dependent clause is also called a SUBORDINATE CLAUSE. It is set apart by a comma and introduced by a SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION.

DER-WORDS = der-Wörter

When DEFINITE ARTICLES are used as DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS, they are referred to as der-words. Example: "Ich will das Buch, nicht dieses." (I want that book, not this one.)

DETERMINER = das Bestimmungswort

A determiner is an ARTICLE (a/the), DIESER-WORD (this/that) or EIN-WORD (his/my) that indicates (determines) the gender and case of a noun. Determiners are often used together with ADJECTIVES, and this affects which endings should be used for both the determiner and the adjective.

DIACRITIC / DIACRITICAL = diakritisch

Denoting a mark or sign added above, below, or through a letter to indicate a change in its pronunciation compared to the normal form of that letter. In German the two-dot DIACRITICAL mark (¨) placed over a vowel is called an Umlaut (ä, ö, ü). Other diacritical marks include accents (é), the tilde (ñ), the cedilla (ç), and the Danish Ø.

DIAERESIS DIERESIS = die Diärese / das Trema / der Umlaut

The two-dot DIACRITICAL mark (¨) placed over a vowel to indicate a certain pronunciation. See UMLAUT.

DIALECT = der Dialekt / die Mundart

All German-speakers learn standard German (Hochdeutsch) in school, but there are hundreds of regional, local, and group-related German dialects in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and other parts of Europe. The grammar and vocabulary of dialects often differ greatly from that of Hochdeutsch.

DIESER-WORDS = dieser-Wörter

German dieser-words ("this"-words) are a form of DETERMINER used with nouns and adjectives. They include alle, dieser, jeder, jener, and welcher. Example: "Welches Buch willst du?" (Which book do you want?)

DIPHTHONG = der Diphthong

A pair of vowels (eu, ie, etc.) pronounced as a gliding single vowel sound, as the oy-sound in "boy" or "toy" ("eu" in German "euch"). In some languages a diphthong can appear in the form of a so-called ligature: œ (oe), æ (ae).

DIRECT OBJECT = der Akkusativ / der Wenfall

A direct object is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that receives the action of a TRANSITIVE (action) verb. In German this is called the accusative case. A basic example of a direct object is the word "ball" in the sentence "John hit the ball," in which "ball" receives the action of the verb "hit."

EIN-WORDS = ein-Wörter

Besides their use as an INDEFINITE ARTICLE (a/an), ein-words are used as POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. Examples of ein-words: dein, euer, kein, mein, ihr - "Hast du dein neues Heft?" (Do you have your new notebook?)

EMPHASIS = die Betonung

Emphasis or stress can be applied to a syllable within a word, as well as to a word or word-phrase in a sentence. The placement (e Stellung) of a word or phrase at the beginning of the German sentence often serves to emphasize or call greater attention that element.

ENDING/SUFFIX = die Endung / das Suffix / die Nachsilbe

German word meaning is often indicated by endings or suffixes. Endings in German are more important than in English because they indicate CASE, GENDER, NUMBER and other meanings. Their correct use is vital for avoiding confusion.

FAMILIAR = familiär / vertraut

Unlike English, the German forms of address (you) can be FORMAL or INFORMAL (familiar). It is important to learn the correct use of the PERSONAL PRONOUNS du/ihr (familiar) and Sie (formal).

FEMININE = das Femininum / weiblich

One of the three German noun GENDERS. The feminine articles are die (DEFINITE) and eine (INDEFINITE).

FINITE VERB = finites Verb

When a VERB is CONJUGATED, i.e., has its proper form/endings, it is called a finite verb - as opposed to the INFINITIVE. Example: haben (infinitive of "have"), er hat ("he has," a finite form of "have").

FIRST PERSON = erste Person

The PERSONAL PRONOUNS are categorized into three "persons." The first person singular is "I" (ich). The first person plural is "we" (wir).

FORMAL = formell

See FAMILAR above: Sie und du

FUTURE TENSE = das Futur / die Zukunft

The German future tense is formed with werden plus the INFINITIVE of the verb. But the future tense is used less frequently in German, since the PRESENT TENSE can be used instead when an adverb makes the meaning obvious. Examples: pres. tense - "Morgen fahren wir nach Berlin." (Tomorrow we're driving/we'll drive to Berlin.); future tense - "Er wird wohl das Geld finden." (He'll surely find the money.)

GENDER = das Genus / das Geschlecht

In addition to the natural gender for persons and PERSONAL PRONOUNS, German has three genders for nouns: MASCULINE (der), FEMININE (die), and NEUTER (das). You must learn the gender of each noun.

GENITIVE = das Genitiv / der Wesfall

The POSSESSIVE case in German. The genitive is most often seen in the form of an ARTICLE in that case. For instance, des (a form of das or der) means "of the."

GERUND = das Gerundium

In English, a verbal noun ending in -ing (smoking, talking). In German, the same function is served by a nominalized INFINITIVE (das Rauchen, das Sprechen). When the PRESENT PARTICIPLE is in an adverbial phrase, it is called der Gerundivum or der Nezessativ in German (zu lobend).

HELPING VERB = das Hilfsverb

German has three helping or auxiliary verbs: haben, sein, and werden. Each may be used with another verb to form a compound tense (pres. perfect, future, etc.).

HIGH GERMAN = HOCHDEUTSCH = das Bühnendeutsch

The standard German language that all German-speakers learn in school, no matter which DIALECT they may speak at home. Hochdeutsch is used in the German-language media and is spoken by all educated people in German Europe.

IDIOM/IDIOMATIC = das Idiom / idiomatisch

A common expression or phrase whose meaning should not be taken literally. Idiomatic expressions, such as "he hit the nail on the head," express a meaning that is more colorful and expressive than a literal phrase would be. An idiom is also the characteristic dialect or language of a region or class.

IMPERATIVE = der Imperativ / die Befehlsform

The command form of a verb. In German there are three command forms for "you" (Kommen Sie mit!, Komm mit! (du), Kommt mit! (ihr)), plus the "we" command (Gehen wir!, "Let's go.").

IMPERFECT/PRETERITE = das Präteritum / das Imperfekt

The simple (one-word) past tense (preterite). WEAK VERBS in the preterite end in -te (sagte, machte), while STRONG VERBS are STEM-CHANGING (ging, sprach). Also known as the NARRATIVE PAST, the preterite is most often used in written German. In some languages, the term IMPERFECT also implies an aspect of uncompleted or continuing action, while PERFECT implies an action completed in the past. However, in German this is usually not a key consideration.

INDEFINITE ARTICLE = unbestimmter Artikel

Refers to a person or thing (noun) in general, rather than a particular item - a tree, as opposed to the tree. German has two basic forms of the indefinite article (a/an): ein and eine, reflecting the noun GENDERS, and DECLINED to agree with the German CASES. Also see DEFINITE ARTICLE and EIN-WORDS.

INDEFINITE PRONOUN = das Indefinitpronomen / unbestimmtes Fürwort

A PRONOUN that refers to something or some things in general. Examples include irgendein (some), jemand (someone), mancher (many a), niemand (no one).

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE = unabhängiger Satzteil

A clause within a sentence that can stand on its own or as a complete sentence by itself.

INDICATIVE = der Indikativ / die Wirklichkeitsform

The normal MOOD of a standard DECLARATIVE sentence stating a real fact, as opposed to the less common SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD (contrary to reality).

INDIRECT OBJECT = der Dativ / der Wemfall

A NOUN, noun phrase, or PRONOUN (usually a person) that receives the DIRECT OBJECT or is the object of a DATIVE verb. The DATIVE case in German. Examples: Ich gab ihm das Buch. ("I gave him the book.)- Antworten Sie mir! ("Answer me!)

INFINITIVE = der Infinitiv / die Grundform des Zeitworts

The basic, unconjugated form of a VERB. The "to" form found in the dictionary (gehen, probieren, sagen, sein). A CONJUGATED VERB is an infinitive with the proper endings added or in put into the form that agrees with the subject.

INFLECTION = die Flexion / die Beugung

The practice of altering the form of an ARTICLE, a NOUN, a VERB, or other word to indicate its CASE (noun DECLINATION), its GENDER (article), or its CONJUGATION (verb). Examples: der > dem, dem Herrn (article/noun); ich bin (verb).

INFORMAL = informell / vertraut

Unlike English, the German forms of address (you) can be FORMAL or INFORMAL. It is important to learn the correct use of the PERSONAL PRONOUNS du/ihr (informal/familiar) and Sie (formal).

INTERJECTION = die Interjektion / das Ausrufewort

An exclamation (a word of surprise, pain, or comment) inserted into a sentence without any grammatical connection. Examples: ach!, autsch!, haha!, pfui!

INTERROGATIVE = der Interrogativ / die Frageform

A question word, such as an interrogative pronoun (Interrogativpronomen, "who?"). Examples: was?, wer?, wie viel?, was für ein?

INTRANSITIVE VERB = intransitives Verb / nichtzielendes Zeitwort

A verb that does not require a DIRECT OBJECT. Examples: Es regnet. (It's raining.); Sie schläft. (She's sleeping.)

LITERARY GERMAN = literarisches Deutsch

German and other languages have varying levels or REGISTERS that are appropriate for various business, social, spoken, or written situations. Linguists refer to R1, R2, or R3 registers, with varying stylistic and vocabulary levels from casual (R1) to formal or literary (R3). Also see COLLOQUIAL.

LINKING VERB = die Kopula

A VERB that connects a SUBJECT and a PREDICATE COMPLEMENT. Such verbs (be, appear, seem, become) can often be considered as an equal sign, as in Mein Vater ist Architekt. (My father is an architect. father = architect)

MAIN CLAUSE = der Hauptsatz

The INDEPENDENT CLAUSE in a COMPOUND sentence. A clause that can stand alone as a sentence. Also see DEPENDENT CLAUSE.

MASCULINE = das Maskulinum / männlich

One of the three German noun GENDERS. The masculine articles are der (DEFINITE) and ein (INDEFINITE).

MIXED VERB FORM = das Mischverb

An almost regular Verbform, except that it has a vowel change (brennen, brannte, gebrannt).

MODAL AUXILIARY or MODAL VERB = s Modalverb / s Imperfekt

German modal verbs modify and are used with other verbs, although they can also stand alone. The modals include dürfen (may, be permitted), können (can, be able), and müssen (must, have to).

MOOD = der Modus / die Aussageweise

German has three moods: INDICATIVE, IMPERATIVE and SUBJUNCTIVE (I & II).

NARRATIVE PAST / PRETERITE = der Präteritum / einfache Vergangenheit

German has two past tense forms, the SIMPLE PAST (preterite, narrative past) and the COMPOUND PAST (perfect). There are regional variations in their use, but there is virtually no difference in meaning between the two forms. In general, the narrative past is used more in writing and in books, magazines and newspapers.

NEGATION = die Negation / die Verneinung

The use of certain words to deny or negate a statement or question. Common words of negation include nicht (not) and kein(e) (none, not a).

NEUTER = das Neutrum / sächlich

One of the three German noun GENDERS. The neuter articles are das (DEFINITE) and ein (INDEFINITE).

NOMINATIVE = der Nominativ / der Werfall

The CASE of the SUBJECT or PREDICATE COMPLEMENT in a German sentence.

NOUN = das Substantiv /das Hauptwort / das Nomen

A word representing a person, place or thing. In German, all nouns are CAPITALIZED and have one of three possible GENDERS.

NUMBER = der Numerus / die Zahl

The SINGULAR or PLURAL form of a noun, pronoun, or a verb form used with a noun or pronoun.

OBJECT / OBJECTIVE = das Objekt / die Ergänzung

A NOUN, noun phrase, or PRONOUN that is the object of (acted on by) a VERB or a PREPOSITION. In German an object is in either the accusative, dative, or genitive CASE. Examples: Wir finden ihn. (acc.), Gib ihr das Geld. (dat.), mit meinem Bruder (prep.).

ORDINAL NUMBER = die Ordinalzahl / die Ordnungszahl

A ranked number such as 1st (first), 2nd (second), 3rd (third) or 15th (fifteenth) indicating the order of an item. Ordinal numbers in German end in -te or -ten (der erste, der 1.) and are used in dates (am vierten Mai, am 4. Mai). Also see CARDINAL NUMBERS.

PARTICIPLE = das Partizip

A VERB form that can be either a PRESENT PARTICIPLE (das Partizip Präsens) or a PAST PARTICIPLE (das Partizip Perfekt). Examples of present participles: auffallend, sprechend, zitternd. Examples of past participles: gefahren, gemacht, gesprochen.

PARTICLE = die Partikel

A word that can not be DECLINED. Some particles (aber, denn, ja) are often inserted into a sentence for emphasis, stylistic reasons, or to modify the meaning in some way.

PASSIVE VOICE = das Passiv / die Leideform

As opposed to the ACTIVE, the passive VOICE is the form of a verb whose subject is the recipient of (acted on by) the verb's action. Example: Das Haus wurde gebaut. (The house was built.)

PAST TENSE = die Vergangenheit

German has two past tense forms, the SIMPLE PAST (preterite, narrative past) and the COMPOUND PAST (perfect). Also see NARATIVE PAST.

PAST PARTICIPLE = das Partizip Perfekt

The form of a VERB form used to form the PAST PERFECT (das Plusquamperfekt), PRESENT PERFECT (das Perfekt), or the FUTURE PERFECT TENSE (das Futur II). Examples of past participles: gefahren, gemacht, gesprochen.

PAST PERFECT = das Plusquamperfekt / vollendete Vergangenheit

A German COMPOUND PAST TENSE indicating a past event completed prior to another more recent past event.

PAST SUBJUNCTIVE = der Konjunktiv II

This German MOOD is better referred to as the SUBJUNCTIVE II because it has very little to do with TENSE and more to do with "contrary to reality" or "wishful thinking" situations.

PERSON = die Person / die Numeri

Verbs are CONJUGATED according to the person and NUMBER of the SUBJECT. There are three grammatical PERSONS: first (I, we), second (you), and third (he, she, it; they), each of which can also be SINGULAR or PLURAL. Also see PERSONAL PRONOUN below.

PERSONAL PRONOUN = das Personalpronomen / persönliches Fürwort

A PRONOUN that refers to a person (he, they, I). In German the personal pronouns include: ich/mich/mir, du/dich/dir, sie/ihr, and Sie/Ihnen.

PLURAL = der Plural / die Mehrzahl

More than one. German nouns form their plural forms in at least seven different ways. Verbs must be CONJUGATED to reflect a SINGULAR or plural SUBJECT. ADJECTIVES must also be DECLINED to reflect the singular or plural noun they modify. Also see NUMBER (Numerus).

POSSESSIVE PRONOUN = das Possessivpronomen / Besitz anzeigendes Fürwort

An EIN-WORD that indicates to whom something belongs. Examples: dein (your), mein (my), sein (his), ihr (her/their), unser (our), and euer (your). Karl, ich habe deinen Bleistift. - Meine CDs sind in deinem Auto. Also see ADJECTIVES.

PREDICATE = das Prädikat / der Satzkern / die Satzaussage

The VERB or verbal phrase in a sentence that asserts something about the SUBJECT - usually all of the sentence other than the subject and a PREDICATE COMPLEMENT (see below).

PREDICATE ADJECTIVE or PREDICATE COMPLEMENT or PREDICATE NOMINATIVE = das Prädikatsadjektiv / das Prädikatsnomen / die Gleichsetzung

A word or phrase in the PREDICATE that is equal to or related to the SUBJECT. A predicate complement can be an ADJECTIVE/adjective phrase, a NOUN/noun phrase, or a PRONOUN/pronoun phrase. Examples: Er ist mein Bruder. - Er wird alt. Also see LINKING VERB.

PREFIX = das Präfix / die Vorsilbe

A word, SYLLABLE or group of syllables attached to the front of a word to create a new word. The word "prefix" (Vorsilbe) is a good example in both languages: pre + fix = prefix (vor + Silbe = Vorsilbe). Other common German prefixes include: ab-, an-, er-, pro-, un-, and zer-. Verb prefixes can be SEPARABLE or INSEPARABLE. Also see ENDING/SUFFIX.

PREPOSITION = die Präposition / das Verhältniswort

A word that connects two or more elements in a sentence and indicates their relationhip, direction, location, or function. Common prepositions in English/German include: in/in, to/zu, for/für, and with/mit. German prepositions fall into four categories, each governed by a particular CASE or cases: ACCUSATIVE, DATIVE, dual (acc. or dat.), and GENITIVE. Examples of prepositional phrases: auf dem Tisch (on the table), fürs Geld (for the money), im Wasser (in the water), mit seiner Mutter (with his mother).

PRESENT TENSE = das Präsens / die Gegenwart

The verb TENSE that indicates action or conditions in the present. However, German can use the present tense with certain PREPOSITIONS to refer to events that began in the PAST and are continuing into the present (the PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE in English). Example: Er wohnt seit fünf Jahren in Hamburg. (He has been living in Hamburg for five years.)

PROGRESSIVE = die Verlaufsform

A VERB TENSE indicating ongoing or continuing action or conditions, as in the phrase "she is sleeping" or "we are working." German does not have a progressive form, using the PRESENT TENSE plus modifiers to indicate a progressive condition. Example: Er arbeitet immer noch. = He is still working.

PRONOUN = das Pronomen / das Fürwort

A word that stands for or refers back to a NOUN. Examples: he, who, which, they, I, you, himself. Both English and German pronouns fall into several classes: INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS, PERSONAL PRONOUNS, POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS, RELATIVE PRONOUNS, REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS, etc.

PUNCTUATION = die Interpunktion / die Zeichensetzung

The use of commas, colons, dashes, exclamation marks, question marks, periods, and other marks of punctuation to set off or indicate various elements or meanings of a sentence.

QUOTATION MARK = das Anführungszeichen / die Gänsefüßchen (Plural)

German QUOTATION MARKS are slightly different from those in English and can take several forms. Examples: „lower and upper“ and »chevron style«.

QUOTATIVE = die indirekte Rede

A German SUBJUNCTIVE verb form that indicates indirect speech, most commonly in the third PERSON singular. Example: Er sagte, er habe kein Geld. = He says he has no money. The term QUOTATIVE may also refer to expressions such as the youth slang "und ich so/und er so" that resemble English "and I'm like/and he's like" to indicate what someone has said.

RECIPROCAL PRONOUN = das reziproke Pronomen

A RECIPROCAL PRONOUN is one that indicates an exchange between two people. In German, it can be a REFLEXIVE PRONOUN or einander (each other). The latter is preferred because it makes the relationship clear. Examples: Sie nickten sich zu. - Sie nickten einander zu.

REFLEXIVE PRONOUN = das Reflexivpronomen

A REFLEXIVE PRONOUN is one that reflects back to the SUBJECT of a sentence, usually as part of a REFLEXIVE VERB. In German, reflexives can be in the ACCUSATIVE or DATIVE CASE. Examples: Ich habe mir ein Buch gekauft. - Er freut sich auf Weihnachten.

REFLEXIVE VERB = das reflexive Verb

A VERB used with a REFLEXIVE PRONOUN (above). Some verbs are exclusively reflexive, while others can be reflexive or not. Examples: sich amüsieren (to enjoy oneself), sich wohl fühlen (to feel good), sich die Zähne putzen (to brush one's teeth).

REGISTER = die Textsorte

A language variety or VARIANT ranging from vulgar/informal to literary. Any language, including German, has various levels of REGISTER which concern the appropriate use of grammar and vocabulary in various situations. One system of categorizing register ranges from R1 (informal) to R3 (literary). Register can also reflect regional variations of German. Also see VARIANT.

RELATIVE CLAUSE = der Relativsatz

Same as a DEPENDENT CLAUSE or SUBORDINATE CLAUSE (der Nebensatz). A clause, usually introduced by a CONJUNCTION, that modifies and is related to another clause in a sentence. In German, the FINITE VERB is placed at the end of a relative clause. Example: Als wir ankamen, war es schon dunkel.

RELATIVE PRONOUN = das Relativpronomen

A PRONOUN (who, that, which) that introduces a RELATIVE or SUBORDINATE CLAUSE describing a noun (ANTECEDENT), and refers back to that noun. In German, the relative prounoun is usually a form of der, die, or das. Example: Der Mann, den ich gestern sah, war nicht jung.

SEMANTIC = semantisch

Adjective - having to do with the meaning of words and language. From Greek semantikos, significant. Semantics is also one of the three divisions of SEMIOTICS (below).

SEMIOTICS = die Semiotik

The study of signs, words and their relationships. From Greek semeiotikos/semeion, sign. SEMIOTICS is generally divided into the fields of semantics, syntactics, and pragmatics.

SEPARABLE VERB = das trennbare Verb

A German verb with a stressed PREFIX that separates from the VERB STEM when the verb is conjugated. Example: ankommen - Wann kommt er an? = When is he arriving? Also see: Separable and Inseparable Prefixes

SIMPLE PAST = einfache Vergangenheit / das Präteritum

Also called the PRETERITE or NARRATIVE PAST, the simple past is so called because it is a SIMPLE TENSE formed with the verb alone, as opposed to a compound tense using a helping verb. Examples: backte, baked; fiel, fell; gab, gave; machte, made; war, was.

SIMPLE TENSE = einfache Zeitform

German has two simple tenses: the PRESENT (Präsens) and the PRETERITE (Präteritum) or SIMPLE PAST. The other six German tenses are all COMPOUND TENSES formed with more than one word.

SINGULAR = die Einzahl / der Singular

One in number. German NOUNS, PRONOUNS, and VERBS must agree in number, either SINGULAR or PLURAL, indicated by their ENDINGS or FORMS.

STRESS = die Betonung

In its language sense, STRESS refers to how the syllables, PREFIXES, or other elements in a word are pronounced, either STRESSED or UNSTRESSED. In any word of more than one syllable, one is stressed. This can have grammatical implications. For instance, a stressed verb prefix is SEPARABLE, while an unstressed prefix is INSEPARABLE.

STRONG ENDING = die starke Endung

A German ADJECTIVE in front of a NOUN takes an ending. A STRONG ENDING is used when there is no ARTICLE to indicate the GENDER and CASE of the noun. Examples: guter Wein, gute Suppe, gutes Bier.

STRONG VERB = starkes Verb / unregelmäßiges Verb

A verb that forms its principal parts (PRETERITE and PAST PARTICIPLE) in an irregular way, often with a stem vowel change. Its PAST PARTICIPLE ends in -en. Examples: beginnen/begann/begonnen, finden/fand/gefunden, schreiben/schrieb/geschrieben

SUBJECT = das Subjekt

A NOUN or PRONOUN in the NOMINATIVE CASE which determines the ending of the VERB in a sentence. Example: Er kommt heute um zehn Uhr. = He is coming today at ten o'clock.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD = der Konjunktiv

A VERB form used in conditional sentences and to indicate INDIRECT SPEECH in German. German has two subjunctive forms known as SUBJUNCTIVE I and SUBJUNCTIVE II.

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE = der Nebensatz

Same as a DEPENDENT CLAUSE or RELATIVE CLAUSE (der Relativsatz). A clause, usually inroduced by a CONJUNCTION, that modifies and is related to another clause in a sentence. In German, the FINITE VERB is placed at the end of a relative clause. Example: Als wir ankamen, war es schon dunkel.

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION = unterordnende Konjunktion

There are two types of conjunctions: COORDINATING and SUBORDINATING. German subordinating conjunctions include dass, wenn, and weil. Conjunctions link words, phrases, clauses or sentences. > Word Order 2

SUFFIX = die Nachsilbe / das Suffix

An element added to the end of a word or root of a word. Some German examples: Gesundheit, Zeitung, sagte

SUPERLATIVE = der Superlativ

One of the three forms of COMPARISON. Adjectives and adverbs can be in one of three comparative forms, as in "good" (positive), "better" (comparative) or "best" (superlative). Also see: Comparison in German

SYNTAX = die Wortstellung

In grammar, the arrangement and ordering of words and phrases in a sentence; sentence structure. German word order or SYNTAX often differs from that of English and other languages. Also see: Word Order in German and Word Order in German 2

TENSE = die Zeit / das Tempus

The time and sometimes the duration of an action or state expressed by a given verb. German verbs indicate tense by their endings (-te = -ed in English) or conjugated form ("hat gesagt" = pres. perfect tense).

PRESENT TENSE = die Gegenwart

One off the three main tenses or times for German verbs. In contrast to English, German has no present progressive tense ("he is going").

PAST TENSE = die Vergangenheit

One off the three main tenses or times for German verbs. It has two basic past tenses (Imperfekt + Perfekt)

FUTURE TENSE = die Zukunft

One off the three main tenses or times for German verbs. ("I will live in Berlin for five years.")

TRANSITIVE = transitiv

A transitive verb carries its action over to a direct object ("hit the ball," "buy a car"). In German a direct object is in the accusative case. An intransitive verb does not take a direct object (to be, to die).

UMLAUT = der Umlaut

Literally the "transformed sound" and also the two-dot diacritical mark (¨, also known as a diaeresis) placed over a vowel to indicate the changed pronunciation. In German the Umlaut is an abbreviated form of the letter "e" that used to be placed over the vowels a, o, and u to form a diphthong. The umlauted letters ä, ö and ü are considered separate letters in the German alphabet and they are pronounced differently than un-umlauted a, o, or u. The umlauted letters also have their own keys on a German keyboard. > Das Abc

VARIANT = die Textsorte

A language variety or VARIANT ranging from vulgar/informal to literary. Any language, including German, has various levels of REGISTER which concern the appropriate use of grammar and vocabulary in various situations. One system of categorizing register ranges from R1 (informal) to R3 (literary). Register can also reflect regional variations of German.

VERB = das Verb

A word which acts to show action (go, show, eat).

WEAK ENDING = schwache Endung

A German ADJECTIVE in front of a NOUN takes an ending. A WEAK ENDING is used when there is a DEFINITE ARTICLE to indicate the GENDER and CASE of the noun. Examples: der gute Wein, die gute Suppe, das gute Bier.

WEAK NOUN or N-NOUN = schwacher Nomen

A masculine Noun which takes an -n or -en in every case except Nominative (der Herr, den Herrn, der Elephant, den Elephanten). Certain suffixes always require this action: -ant, -ent, -ist, -ot, oph.

WEAK VERB = schwaches Verb / regelmäßiges Verb

A verb that forms its principal parts (PRETERITE and PAST PARTICIPLE) in an regular way, with no stem vowel change, except for one category of mixed forms (brennen, brannte, gebrannt). Its PAST PARTICIPLE ends in -t.

WORD ORDER = die Wortstellung

The correct word placement in a sentence. A sentence usually as the Verb in second postion, if not a Command or a Question.