Beware of false friends 10 common errors for English speakers learning German

Posted on June 7, 2011

Given some of the similarities that exist between the German and the English language it is easy to believe that everything that sounds alike will also have the identical meaning. Needless to say this isnt always the case. Below find a list of some of the most commonly made errors for English language speakers learning German. (Or for that matter for German language speakers learning English!) der After The fact that this word is capitalised and preceded by a der should already help to identify that this is a masculine noun and that therefore the meaning will not be identical to the English after. The German term is the proper medical term for the, ahem, anus. Given that we are talking posteriors here, this should at least help to create some kind of mnemonic connection between those words. das Gift In German Gift actually means poison. If you wanted to refer to a present you would instead use das Geschenk. bekommen This does not mean to become, but to receive, to get, i.e. Ich bekomme ein Geschenk. I am getting a present. (You did remember that Geschenk was gift/present, didnt you?) (ich, er sie, es) will In German will does not describe the future tense, but indicates that either I (ich) or he/she/it (er/sie/es) wants something. It is derived from the irregular German verb wollen. For the record, the relevant forms of the verb are: ich will, du willst, er/sie/es will, wir wollen, ihr wollt, sie wollen In order to express the future tense in German you would want to use forms of werden, e.g. ich werde, du wirst, er/sie/es wird, wir werden, ihr werdet, sie werden

sensible Easily confused with sensible, but it actually means sensitive. das Handy A relatively new term that you likely didnt learn in school if you first learned German more than 10-15 years ago, das Handy means mobile phoneand has nothing to do with being handy or a handyman. The connection is with die Hand, i.e. a phone you carry in your hand, and yes, quite obviously a really dreadful Anglicism. Incidentally in German you wouldnt txt or text, but simsen, i.e. send an SMS (SiMS, geddit?) message. And a portable (house) telephone is a Mobiltelefon. das Rezept If you fancy a receipt, go and ask for die Quittung. If you are asking for a Rezept you would like a recipe for a meal. and possibly also for a linguistic disaster if you get it wrong and mixed up. der Chef In German this is a very common term for boss. (Though you could also say der Boss or more formal der/die Vorgesetzte). If you rather talk about a chef/cook, use the term der Koch or die Kchin (for a female chef). eventuell This means possibly or maybe. Eventually on the other hand is schlielich or letztendlich. In a similar vein, aktuell does not mean actual or actually, but current, up to the minute. Use eigentlich or tatschlich to translate actual(ly). There are scores more of these false friends in the German language, but make sure to remember these ten as they are some of the most common ones that, make no mistake, you will confuse at least a few times when first learning the language.

TY PE ==> Case PERSON Nom inative Accu sative Dati ve Geni tive

After DER-words

After EIN-words P

Unprece ded P P M er en e e es es e FLN e -

M e e en e en en e e

F -

LN en en en en er en en en e e

M -

F LN es es en en en en en en

en

en en

en en

- em er em en - er en er

en

en

ADJECTIVE ENDINGS Three Simple Rules Strong declension: The rule of strong declension
der => -er die => -e das => -es den => -en dem => -em des => -en

Table 1.1 Strong declension singular

SG. Masculinum Feminum Neutrum

der Wein Nominativ kalter Wein

die Wurst

das Bier

kalte Wurst

kaltes Bier

des Weines Genitiv kalten Weines

der Wurst

des Biers

kalter Wurst

kalten Biers

dem Wein Dativ kaltem Wein

der Wurst

dem Bier

kalter Wurst

kaltem Bier

den Wein Akkusativ kalten Wein

die Wurst

das Bier

kalte Wurst

kaltes Bier

Table 1.2 Strong declension plural

PL. Masculinum die Weine Nominativ kalte Weine kalte Wrste kalte Biere Feminum die Wrste Neutrum die Biere

Genitiv

der Weine

der Wrste

der Biere

kalter Weine

kalter Wrste

kalter Biere

den Weinen Dativ kalten Weinen

den Wrsten

den Bieren

kalten Wrsten

kalten Bieren

die Weine Akkusativ kalte Weine

die Wrste

die Biere

kalte Wrste

kalte Biere

Weak declension: The rule of weak declension

If the article has the form like in the Nominative then the S ending is -e. G. Otherwise the ending is -en. P L.

The ending is -en

Table 2.1 Weak declension singular

SG. Masculinum der Wein der kalte Wein des Weines Genitiv des kalten Weine s Feminum die Wurst die kalte Wurst der Wurst der kalten Wurs t Neutrum das Bier das kalte Bier des Biers des kalten Bie rs

Nomin ativ

dem Wein Dativ dem kalten Wein

der Wurst der kalten Wurs t

dem Bier dem kalten Bi er

Akkus ativ

den Wein

die Wurst

das Bier

den kalten Wein

die kalte Wurst

das kalte Bier

Table 2.2 Weak declension plural

PL. Masculinum Feminum Neutrum

Nomi nativ Geniti v

die kalten Weine

die kalten Wrste

die kalten Biere

der kalten Weine

der kalten Wrste

der kalten Biere

Dativ

den kalten Weine n n

den kalten Wrste en

den kalten Bier

Akkus ativ

die kalten Weine

die kalten Wrste

die kalten Biere

Mixed declension: The rule of mixed declension

If the article is ein or eine then the ending is like in Strong S declension. G. Otherwise the ending is -en. P The ending is -en.

L.

Table 3.1 Mixed declension singular

SG. Masculinum Feminum Neutrum

kalter Wein Nomi nativ ein kalter Wein

kalte Wurst

kaltes Bier

eine kalte Wurst

ein kaltes Bier

kalten Weines Genit iv eines kalten Wein es

kalter Wurst

kalten Biers

einer kalten Wu rst

eines kalten Bi ers

kaltem Wein Dativ einem kalten Wei n

kalter Wurst

kaltem Bier

einer kalten Wu rst

einem kalten Bier

kalten Wein Akku sativ einen kalten Wei n

kalte Wurst

kaltes Bier

eine kalte Wurst

ein kaltes Bier

Table 3.2 Mixed declension plural

PL. Masculinum Feminum Neutrum

Nomi nativ Genit iv e

keine kalten Weine

keine kalten Wrste

keine kalten Biere

keiner kalten Wein

keiner kalten Wrste

keiner kalten Bier e keinen kalten Bier en

Dativ

keinen kalten Wein en en

keinen kalten Wrst

Akku sativ

keine kalten Weine

keine kalten Wrste

keine kalten Biere

Holgers patented 5 step programme to learning German adjectives Before we start a word about this study approach. The best way to study these steps is by doing so one step at a time. Try and fully comprehend and practise the steps before going on to the next. So before trying to digest Step #2 make sure you have spent time using Step #1 and are fully aware of it. Then wash, rinse, repeat and move on to the next step. The first three steps are fairly straight forward, the last two a bit more complex. Step 1 German adjectives with a definite article only ever have the endings -e or -en. Got that? Pretty simple, isnt it. Of course this rule doesnt yet tell you when to use the -e or -en ending but at least you now know that the next time you say something like Ich traue dem altem Mann nicht you better give yourself a little slap on the wrist as you just used an -em ending when you damn well know by now that this ending doesnt exist for adjectives with definite articles. (For the record the correct form is: Ich traue dem altenMann nicht.= I dont trust the old man.) At this stage dont worry too much about the correct use of the endings -e and en and just accept that no other endings should be used in this case. Once you

understood this rule and practised with it, move on to the next step where we will give an explanation when to actually use which of those endings. Step 2 With definite articles the -e is used in the Nominative (singular) and in all singular forms where the article looks like the Nominative. Just to clarify: When does the definite article look like the Nominative? In the Accusative for the feminine (die) and neuter (das) forms where the articles dont change. They remain die or das. (In contrast the masculine der changes to a den in the Accusative.) In all other instances the definite articles change and require the adjective ending -en. And yes, the -en is also automatically used in all plural forms. So: If its the Nominative (singular) or looks like it, its an -e. In all other cases an -en. Examples: Der alte Mann schaut auf das Meer. (The old man looks at the sea.) This is a Nominative form, hence the -e. Die Frau kauft das elegante Kleid. (The woman buys the elegant dress.) This is an Accusative form (das) where the Nominative and Accusative look identical, hence the -e. Kennst du den frechen Jungen? (Do you know the naughty boy?) den doesnt look like the Nominative, hence the -en Ich spreche mit der netten Lehrerin. (I am talking with the nice [female] teacher.) The feminine form die has changed to a der, therefore it is not identical with the Nominative and is -en. Mercedes baut die besten Autos. (Mercedes builds the best cars.) This is a plural form so no need to even think about the case. It is by default an en Got it? Congratulations! You have just mastered all the adjective endings for definite articles. You can now move on to the next step.

And for the record: These two steps are represented in the following diagram from my initial source: Table 2.1 Weak declension singular SG. Masculinum der Wein Nomi nativ Feminum die Wurst Neutrum das Bier das kalte Bier des Biers des kalten Biers der Wurst der kalten Wurst den Wein Akku sativ in den kalten We die Wurst die kalte Wurst Table 2.2 Weak declension plural PL. No Masculinum die kalten W Feminum die kalten W Neutrum die kalten B Bier das Bier das kalte Bier dem Bier dem kalten

die der kalte Wein kalte Wurst des Weines der Wurst der kalten Wurst dem Wein

Geni tiv ines

des kalten We

Dati v ein

dem kalten W

minativ Gen itiv Dati v Akk usativ

eine der kalten W eine den kalten W einen die kalten W eine

rste der kalten W rste den kalten W rsten die kalten W rste

iere der kalten B iere den kalten Bieren die kalten B iere

Step 3 With indefinite articles (incl. all forms of kein, mein, dein etc) the ending is -en in exactly the cases where we also have an -en with definite articles (see Rule #2). Couldnt be simpler. If you have an -en in Rule #2 you also have an -en with the indefinite articles. Examples: Ich spreche mit einer netten Lehrerin. (I speak with a nice [female] teacher.) Fiat baut keine guten Autos. (Fiat doesnt build good cars.) In both of these examples we have similar situations to Step #2 but instead of a definite article we now used an indefinite article. Again, take as long as you need to fully understand and practise this rule. Only then move on to the next one. Step 4 Heres where it starts getting trickier though by now you have already mastered the majority of the forms and the finish line is near. Most of the adjective endings for indefinite articles have been covered in Step #3. What is left are the three Nominative endings and the feminine and neuter Accusative forms. In other words examples such as these:

Das ist ein alter Mann. Das ist eine junge Frau. Das ist ein kleines Kind. Ich sehe eine junge Frau. Ich sehe ein kleines Kind. So why is it ein alter Mann but ein kleines Kind or eine junge Frau? The best way to help you memorise these endings is to take a step back and remember what the definite articles in this case would have looked like: der Mann, die Frau, das Kind Do you notice the similarities (in bold) between those definite articles and the correct adjective ending? Or to make it more obvious: dER Mann => ein altER Mann diE Frau => eine jungE Frau daS Kind => ein kleinES Kind So if unsure about the ending, just try and remember what the definite article would look like and choose an ending that reminds you of it. Steps #3 and 4 are represented in diagram 3.1. (Until youve mastered Step 5 only look at the second lines that actually feature an indefinite article.) Step 5 I hope youre still with me. So far you have learned the adjective endings for all the definite and indefinite articles in four steps. We now come to the last scenario: Adjective endings when we do not have any article at all, e.g.Ich mag roten Wein. These endings are the trickiest but the good news is that in reality these scenarios are also the rarest to come across in practical German. The endings you are already familiar with for the definite and indefinite articles are by far more common in everyday speech than the endings in this final step. So the easier the adjective rule the more often youll come across it in real life.

The rule of thumb for these is similar to what you already learned in Step #4. In other words, if unsure about what the correct ending needs to be, remember what the definite article in question would look like and then take a similar ending: der => -er die => -e das => -es den => -en dem => -em des => -en But hold on! What is this I see? des => -en This refers effectively to the masculine and neuter forms of the Genitive (singular) and yes, all our rules of thumb are thrown across board. There is no visible relation between the definite article and the ending. You just gotta remember that the Genitive is an exception that needs to be learned separately. It also is a form that you are only ever going to use in the rarest of circumstances so you really dont need to waste too much time focusing on it. In the big scheme of things knowing the first couple of steps properly is far more important than mastering this last piece of the puzzle. So here you are: You have worked your way through three relatively simple and two slightly trickier rules and by now have mastered what was initially a very complex and daunting aspect of the German grammar. Rather than learn 72 (or at least 48) different endings you only have to remember a set of five rules. So give yourself a very well deserved pad on the back. N.B. While I was writing this I came across this article that also takes a similar approach to mine for the learning of the adjective endings and is well worth reading.

Adjective Endings in German

A Different Approach A guest article by Prof. Eckhard Kuhn-Osius Hunter College, CUNY Here is a different way of approaching adjective endings in German an approach that avoids thinking in terms of charts and complicated rules. This method has worked well for me and my students. Perhaps it will also work for you. This approach only requires you to ask yourself two simple questions. The basic premise is to separate thinking about CASES (nominative, accusative, etc.) from thinking about ADJECTIVE ENDINGS, since most learners tend to get confused when they have to combine the two. While this approach may not magically transform you into a spontaneous master of adjective endings, it takes the fear out of adjective endings and eliminates some of the frustrations of German grammar. First, can you fill in the correct endings in the following seven-sentence exercise? If you are uncertain about which adjective endings go in the blanks, then proceed to Question One below. 1. Ich kenne einen deutsch__ Studenten. 2. Der deutsch__ Student heit Rudi. 3. Rudi hat ein interessant__ Hobby. 4. Das interessant__ Hobby ist Ostereiermalen. ['decorating Easter eggs'] 5. Rudi hat schon viel__ schoen__ Eier angemalt. 6. Rudi hat sie seinen gut__ Freunden geschenkt. 7. Die schoenst__ Eier hat Rudi seiner best__ Freundin Hanna gegeben. (Answer key below, but NO peeking!) QUESTION ONE: For each adjective, ask yourself this question: Is there a form of the article with an obvious ending in front of the adjective?

If YES, ask yourself... QUESTION TWO: Is the ending on the article the original "-r, -e, -s" (i.e., "der, die, das, eine" -- the "dictionary entry" gender)? Can you "see" the gender in the article? If the ARTICLE ending is ORIGINAL, then... ...THE ADJECTIVE ENDING is -e. Which of the seven sentences above is in this category? (answers below) If the answer to Question Two is NO, then we have a changed ("non-dictionary") article ending, such as "den, des, dem, eines, einem" or "die" in the plural. If the ARTICLE ending is CHANGED, then... ...THE ADJECTIVE ENDING is -en. Which of the seven sentences above is in this category? If the answer to Question One is NO ARTICLE ENDING AT ALL, (either because there is no article or because the article is "ein"), then... ... you have to think about gender and case and add the ending that "der, die, das" would normally have to the ADJECTIVE. This includes endings such as: -es (das), -er (der), -em (dem), -e (die, plural). Which of the seven sentences above is in this category? We may also look at this as a flow chart...

This approach, while not perfect, removes the necessity of thinking at length about most routine adjective endings. Mostly, this approach avoids a chart with 88 article and adjective endings in all their random combinations. Instead, it lets you rely on a chart you already (or should) know: the definite ("the") and indefinite ("a, an") articles in their various cases.

Purists may object, but the approach outlined above enables my students to fill in most adjective endings correctly. While there are in fact cases that do not readily fall into this system: unpreceded genitive singular ("ein Kenner guten Weins"), genitive plural forms of masculine nouns that don't change in the plural ("das Gerusch der rollenden Wagen"), they are relatively rare. I personally have happily settled for an approach that leads to higher student satisfaction and usually results in correct sentences at least 90 percent of the time. In my experience the total number of mistakes and total degree of frustration have decreased drastically. I am willing to run the risk that students will miss a few of the genitive endings that are outside the scope of this "system" because the payoff is that they get the majority of common endings right and are not scared to use them. Prof. Kuhn-Osius is working on a textbook for German that will incorporate the approach mentioned here (and others). For more information you can contact him at:ekuhnos@shiva.hunter.cuny.edu MORE > Adjective Endings in German (German for Beginners)

ANSWER KEY: Category 1 (Yes to Question 2, original article, "-e" ending): 2, 4 Category 2 (No to Question 2, changed article, "-en" ending): 1, 6, 7 Category 3 (No to Quest. 1, no article ending, different endings): 3 (-es), 5 (-e)