Glossary of Terms

Question 1

Define and translate the term: “accusative”

When is it used?

Answer 1

Akkusativ; Typically the CASE which shows the Direct Object of Transitive verbs: Ich sehe DEN Hund; Ich sehe IHN. It is also used after some prepositions: Ich gene durch DEN Wald, in DIE Stadt, and in some Adverbial constructions: Sie kommt jeden Tag

Question 2

Define and translate the term: “adjective”

Answer 2

Adjectiv; a word which qualifies, or describes a Noun: die Schöne Stadt, die Stadt ist schön.

Question 3

Define and translate the term: “adverb”

Answer 3

Adverb; a word which qualifies a Verb, an Adjective or a whole Clause, often giving extra information on now when where or why: Sie singt gut; Sie war sehr freundlich; Sie gong trotzdem nicht.

Question 4

Define and translate the term: “adverbial”

Answer 4

Adverbialbestimmung; any part of a Sentence which has the function of an Adverb. It can be a single word (an adverb), or a phrase, or a whole Clause; Sie sang gut; Sie sang kit diner bellen Stimme; Sie sang, ale sie ins Zimmer kam.

Question 5

Define and translate the term: “agreement”

Answer 5

Kongruenz; copying a grammatical feature from one word to another, so that some words have Endings according to the words they are use with or refer to. In German, Determiners, Adjectives and many Pronounns ‘agree’ with ther Noun for Gender, Number and Case: dieses Buch, mit meinem neuen Auto; Welchen Rock kaufst du? Den da. verbs also ‘agree with their Subject for Person and Number: icy singe, du singst, er/sie/es singt.

Question 6

Define and translate the term: “article”

Answer 6

Artikel; the most important of the Determiners. In German, like English, there is a definite article, der, die das etc. (= in English ‘the’), and an indefinite article ein, wine, etc. (=English ‘the’)

Question 7

Define and translate the term: “attributive adjective”

Answer 7

attribuatives Adjectiv; used before a Noun: die klassische CD, mien großer Zeh

Question 8

Define and translate the term: “auxillary verb”

Answer 8

a verb used in combination with the Infinitive or Past Participle of another verb, especially to form Compound Tenses and the Passive, e.g. Katrin hat einen Hund gekauft. The main auxiliary verbs in german are haben, seine, werden, and the Modal Auxiliaries, like können and mûssen

Question 9

Define and translate the term: “bracket”

Answer 9

Verbalklammer; the ‘bracket’ construction is typical of German Clauses, with most words and phrases in a clause bracketed between two parts of the Verb: Wir [KOMMEN um 17 Uhr in Innsbruck an]; Sie [Hat inn in der Stadt GESEHEN].

Question 10

Define and translate the term: “cardinal number”

Answer 10

Kardinalzahl; numerals used in counting: eins, zwei, hundert etc.

Question 11

Define and translate the term: “case”

Answer 11

Kasus/Fall; indicates the function of a Noun Phrase in the Clause (e.g. whether it is the Subject or Direct Object, or dependent on a particular Preposition) by using Endings. German has four cases: Nominative der Igel; Accusative den Igel; Genitive des Igels and Dative den Igel

Question 12

Define and translate the term: “central section”

Answer 12

Mittelfeld; the main part of a Main Clause, between the Brackets formed by the Finite Verb in second position and any other parts of the verb at the end of the clause; e.g. Bald wird Disney’s [Kult-Klassiker in den Kinos ein tolles Comeback\ feiern

Question 13

Define and translate the term: “clause”

Answer 13

Satz; a part of a Sentence with a Verb and its Complement. A Main Clause can stand on its own. A subordinate Clause is dependent on another clause in the sentence.

Question 14

Define and translate the term: “commands”

Answer 14

Befehle; use the Imperative mood of the Verb. The Finite Verb is in first position: Komm hirer! Steigen Sie bitte ein!

Question 15

Define and translate the term: “comparative”

Name some examples.

Answer 15

the form of an Adjective or Adverb used to express a comparison: schneller, höher, weiter

Question 16

Define and translate the term: “complement”

What types are there?

Answer 16

Ergänzung: an element in a Clause which is closely linked to the Verb and completes its meaning. The most important complements of the verb are its Subject and Objects, but german also has Direction Complements, Place Complements, and Predicative complements.

Question 17

Define and translate the term: “compound tense”

Answer 17

Kompositum; a Tense formed by using an Auxiliary Verb with the Infinitive or Past Participle of another verb. The main compound tenses in german are the Perfect: Sie hat geschlafen, the Pluperfect: SIe hatte geschlafen; Sie ist gekommen, the Pluperfect: Sie hate geschlafen; Sie war gekommen and the Future: Sie wird schlafen; Sie word kommen

Question 18

Define and translate the term: “compound word”

Answer 18

würde-Form; a compound form of Subjunctive II formed from the subjunctive II form of the Auxiliary Verb werden, i.e. würde, and the Infinitive of another Verb: Ich würde gehen, Die Kinder würden schlafe

Question 19

Define and translate the term: “conjugation”

Answer 19

Konjugation; the forms of a Verb, in particular the pattern of endings and/or vowel changes which indicate Agreement with the Subject, and show the various Tenses, the Mood, etc., e.g. icy kaufe, du kaufst; ich sehe, du siehst (first and second person singular, present, indicative)

Question 20

Define and translate the term: “copula”

Answer 20

Kopulaverb; a linking verb, which typically links the Subject with a Predicate Complement: an Adjective or a Noun in the Nominative case. The most frequent copulas in German are seine, warden and scheinen: Er its win gutter Lehrer, Die late Frau wurde glass; Das schist mir plausible.

Question 21

Dative

Answer 21

Dativ; A Case used to mark some Objects of the verb, especially the Indirect Object of a verb which also has a Direvt Object: Sie hat meaner Schwester die CD gegeben.

Some german verbs just have an object in the dative case (you have to learn these): Ich helfe meinem Bruder.

The dative case can also indicate possession: Sie zoo den Kind die Jacke aux. It is used after some Adjectives: Er sight meinem Vater ähnlich, and after many prepositions: Er will kit diesel Kindern spielen.

Question 22

Declension

Answer 22

Deklination; the pattern of Endings on a Noun, an Adjective or a Determiner which show Gender, Number and Case, e.g. der guts Hund (masculine singular nominative) den guten Hunden (masculine plural dative)

Question 23

demonstrative

Answer 23

Demonstrativpronomen; a Determiner or Pronoun, like English ‘this’ and ‘that’, which points to something specific, e.g. diesel, jener.

Question 24

determiner

Answer 24

Determinativ; a function word used with Nouns, including the Articles der and ein, the Demonstratives, like diese, the Possessives, like mien, and Indefinites like einige and viele. They typically come before Adjectives in the Noun Phrase.

Question 25

direct object

Answer 25

direktes Objekt; a verb Complement, typically a person or thing directly affected by the action. It is in the Accusative case. Der Löwe fraß den Esel.; Die böße Frau schlug den Hund.

Question 26

direction complement

Answer 26

Direktivergänzung; a typical Complement with verbs of motion, indicating where the Subject is going or where the Direct Object is being put: Sie fährt nach Prag; Er stellte den Besen in die Ecke.

Question 27

ending

Answer 27

Endung; a Suffix or a Noun, Verb or Adjective whcih helps to indicate the grammatical role of the word in the phrase or sentence: mit kaltem Wasser; Kommst du morgen? seit Jahren.

Question 28

feminine

Answer 28

Femininum; on of three Genders into which Nouns are divided, shown by the Ending of the Determiner and/or Adjective in the Noun Phrase: die Frau, eine kleine Lampe. A feminine thing is referred to by a feminine Pronoun, not the neuter pronoun es. e.g. Die Disketter … SIe is kaputt.

Question 29

finite verb

Answer 29

finites Verb; a form of the verb whcih has an Ending in Agreement with the Subject: Ich komme, Wir haben geschlafen, Sie wurden betrogen; Ihr koönnt gehen.

Question 30

future tense

Answer 30

Futur; a Tense which refers to the future or expresses a supposition. It is formed with Auxiliary verb werden and an Infinitive: Ich werde das Buch nicht lesem; Franz wird wieder Kranz sein.

Question 31

future perfect

Answer 31

Futur II; a tense formed with the Auxiliary Verb werden and a compound Infinitive, indicating what will have happened by a point in the future, or a supposition in the past: Sie wird das Buch gelesen haben.

Question 32

gender

Answer 32

Geschlect/Genus; a division of Nouns into three classes called Masculine, Feminine and Neuter. The gender of a noun is shown by the Ending of the Determiner and/or Adjective in the Noun Phrase: der Mann, diese Frau, klares Wasser.

Question 33

genitive

Answer 33

Genitiv; a Case which is mainly used to show possession or to link Nouns together: das Nuch meines Vaters; die Geschichte dieser Stadt. A few verbs have a genitive Object and it is used after a few Prepositions: trotz des Wetters.