German Basic Course, Unit 10: Im Gasthof "Zum Weissen Hirsch"

Basic Sentences I

1
Place: A resort in the mountains.
Ort:place
Einone year
Kurortthe resort
inin Bonn
denthe
Bergen.mountain
2
Time: The fourth of July, at noon during a thunder shower.
3
Cast: The Wilsons, the Beckers, a waiter.
4
There's the White Stag Inn.

vierten: fourth
Juli: the fourth of July
während: during
Hirsch": at the (sign of) the White Stag

5
It looks pretty good.
6
Shall we have lunch there?
7
All right, and later, if it's not raining any longer perhaps we could take a walk.
8
This is really a charming dining room!

wenn: if, whenever
Gastzimmer: the dining room (of an inn)

9
Shall we sit here by the window?
10
Yes, why don't we?
11
What a pity the weather's so bad.
12
Otherwise I'm sure there's a beautiful view from this table.
13
The Beckers and the Wilsons look over the menu and make their orders.
14
Place: A resort in the mountains.
15
Time: The fourth of July, at noon during a thunder shower.
16
Cast: The Wilsons, the Beckers, a waiter.
17
There's the White Stag Inn.
18
It looks pretty good.
19
Shall we have lunch there?
20
All right, and later, if it's not raining any longer perhaps we could take a walk.
21
This is really a charming dining room!
22
Shall we sit here by the window?
23
Yes, why don't we?
24
What a pity the weather's so bad.
25
Otherwise I'm sure there's a beautiful view from this table.
26
The Beckers and the Wilsons look over the menu and make their orders.

schade: what a pity
aus: from this table
bestellen: to order

Basic Sentences II

27
Waiter, please bring me calf's liver with mashed potatoes and apple sauce.
28
The special for today for me please, but without the soup.

Kalbsleber: calf's liver
Kartoffelpüree: mashed potatoes
Apfelmus: apple sauce

29
I'd like steak with fried potatoes.
30
And I'll take the blue trout with melted butter.
31
Would you care for something to drink? ('Would the ladies and gentlemen care for something to drink?')
32
I'd like a glass of apple juice.

Röstkartoffeln: fried potatoes
Butter: the butter
Butter: melted butter
Herrschaften: the ladies and gentlemen
Apfelsaft: apple juice

33
Bring me one too, please.
34
A light beer, please.
35
I'd like a glass of Moselle wine.
36
Waiter, please bring me calf's liver with mashed potatoes and apple sauce.
37
The special for today for me please, but without the soup.
38
I'd like steak with fried potatoes.
39
And I'll take the blue trout with melted butter.
40
Would you care for something to drink? ('Would the ladies and gentlemen care for something to drink?')
41
I'd like a glass of apple juice.
42
Bring me one too, please.
43
A light beer, please.
44
I'd like a glass of Moselle wine.

Moselwein: Moselle wine

Basic Sentences III

45
What time is it anyway?
46
It's exactly quarter past one.
47
Do you always eat at this time?
48
Usually not later than one o'clock, since I generally go home at noon.

Uhr: what time
viertel: quarter
immer: always
Meistens: usually, mostly
da: since

49
Don't most people anyway in Germany eat their main meal at noon?
50
Not necessarily.
51
It depends on [the] job and working hours.
52
If you yourselves eat your main meal at noon do you then have a warm meal again in the evening?

meisten: most (pl)
Hauptmahlzeit: the main meal
unbedingt: necessarily, definitely
von: to depend on
abends: in the evening

53
Only occasionally. Usually we have rye bread, butter, cold cuts and cheese.
54
And we have tea with it.
55
What time is it anyway?
56
It's exactly quarter past one.
57
Do you always eat at this time?
58
Usually not later than one o'clock, since I generally go home at noon.
59
Don't most people anyway in Germany eat their main meal at noon?
60
Not necessarily.
61
It depends on [the] job and working hours.
62
If you yourselves eat your main meal at noon do you then have a warm meal again in the evening?
63
Only occasionally. Usually we have rye bread, butter, cold cuts and cheese.
64
And we have tea with it.

manchmal: sometimes, occasionally
Aufschnitt: the cold cuts
Käse: the cheese

Basic Sentences IV

65
Now I still have room for a piece of cake and a cup of coffee.
66
Yes, I would too.
67
Shall we order something more too?
68
No, thank you, nothing more for me.

Appetit: appetite
Kuchen: the cake

69
I prefer to have my coffee later.
70
I think, we'll have the best opportunity for that afterward during the concert.
71
Now I still have room for a piece of cake and a cup of coffee.
72
Yes, I would too.
73
Shall we order something more too?
74
No, thank you, nothing more for me.
75
I prefer to have my coffee later.
76
I think, we'll have the best opportunity for that afterward during the concert.

Basic Sentences V

77
Well, that's a surprise! The sun's shining again!
78
Then we can go.
79
Waiter, the check please!
80
Is there a concert in the resort here every day, can you tell me?

also: well, that's a surprise!
Sonne: the sun
zahlen: to pay
täglich: daily

81
Yes, I just don't know whether it's going to be in the park or in the Kurhaus today.
82
Do you happen to know at what time it begins?
83
I think it's at four.
84
What time is it now?

ob: if, whether

85
Quarter to three.
86
Then we still have enough time to take a look around the place.
87
And I can buy a couple of picture postcards too at the same time.
88
We have to leave at five-thirty at the latest, though.
89
Well, that's a surprise! The sun's shining again!
90
Then we can go.
91
Waiter, the check please!
92
Is there a concert in the resort here every day, can you tell me?
93
Yes, I just don't know whether it's going to be in the park or in the Kurhaus today.
94
Do you happen to know at what time it begins?
95
I think it's at four.
96
What time is it now?
97
Quarter to three.
98
Then we still have enough time to take a look around the place.
99
And I can buy a couple of picture postcards too at the same time.
100
We have to leave at five-thirty at the latest, though.

Dreiviertel: three-quarters
genug: enough
Ansichtskarten: the picture postcard
sechs: half past five
spätestens: at the latest
abfahren: to leave

Word order in larger sentences, 1 of 2

Words that join sentences

The finite verb is the second element of a statement. Three small words can stand in front of a statement and not count as its first element: und, aber and oder.

A sentence connector is a word that joins a sentence to the one before it. Und, aber and oder are sentence connectors. Their traditional name is coordinating conjunctions.

A conjunction is a word that joins sentences or parts of sentences.

In Und ich nehme Forelle blau, ich is the first element and nehme is second. Und does not count.

Two sentences made into one

A sentence connector can join two simple sentences into one larger sentence.

Each part keeps its own word order. A statement has the verb second. A yes-no question has the verb first.

Ich wohne in München, aber ich fahre sehr oft nach Frankfurt means I live in Munich, but I go to Frankfurt very often. Both parts have the verb second.

The connector stands between the two sentences, not in either one.

A sentence inside a sentence

One sentence can be built into another as a part of it. That part is a clause.

A clause introducer is a word that begins a clause. Their traditional name is subordinating conjunctions.

In these sentences the clause introducers are wo, wie, dass and ob. Ich wusste garnicht, dass Ihre Frau hier Verwandte hat means I didn't know at all that your wife has relatives here.

The verb goes last

In a clause the finite verb is last. This is the difference between normal word order and clause word order.

Ihre Frau hat Verwandte hier has the verb second. In dass Ihre Frau hier Verwandte hat, the verb hat is last.

The rule holds for a short clause and a long one. It holds when the finite verb stands alone and when it is part of a verb phrase.

Verb phrases at the end of a clause

In wo ich ein Visum beantragen kann, the finite verb kann is last. The infinitive beantragen comes right before it.

A verb phrase with an accented adverb is written as one word at the end of a clause.

In Findet es heute im Park oder im Kurhaus statt, findet and statt stand apart. In ob es heute im Park oder im Kurhaus stattfindet, they are one word.

101
And I'll take the blue trout with melted butter.
102
And we have tea with it.
103
But it's also cooler up here.
104
But in the winter we quite often go to the mountains to ski.
105
Or we go to the Black Forest.
106
I live in Munich, but I go to Frankfurt very often.
107
The Beckers have a new car, and in the summer we often go to the mountains with them.
108
Do you always eat at this time, or do you sometimes eat later too?
109
Can you tell me where I can apply for a visa?
110
As I see, you have a fine library, Mr. Wilson.
111
I didn't know at all that your wife has relatives here.
112
I don't know whether it's taking place in the park or in the Kurhaus today.
113
... wo ich ein Visum beantragen kann?
114
... dass Ihre Frau hier Verwandte hat.
115
... ob es heute im Park oder im Kurhaus stattfindet.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 10, Notes on Grammar

A. WORD ORDER IN LARGER SENTENCES

I.1. Sentence Connectors

Und ich nehme Forelle blau mit zerlassener Butter.
And I'll take the blue trout with melted butter.

Und dazu trinken wir Tee.
And we have tea with it.

Aber es ist auch kühler hier oben.
But it's also cooler up here.

Aber im Winter fahren wir öfters in die Berge zum Skilaufen.
But in the winter we quite often go to the mountains to ski.

Oder wir fahren in den Schwarzwald.
Or we go to the Black Forest.

1. It was noted in Unit 3 that the finite verb is the second element of statements. In Unit 8 we noted that an introductory phrase such as ich glaube may be considered to be a separate item and not the first element of a statement. We have also encountered three little words which in a similar way may precede a sentence but are not counted as its first element.

Und, aber and oder actually connect these sentences to preceding utterances. We will call them SENTENCE CONNECTORS. In traditional terminology they are referred to as COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS.

A. WORD ORDER IN LARGER SENTENCES

I.2

Ich wohne in München, aber ich fahre sehr oft nach Frankfurt.
I live in Munich, but I go to Frankfurt very often.

Beckers haben ein neues Auto, und im Sommer fahren wir öfters mit ihnen in die Berge.
The Beckers have a new car, and in the summer we often go to the mountains with them.

Essen Sie immer um diese Zeit, oder essen Sie manchmal auch später?
Do you always eat at this time, or do you sometimes eat later too?

2. Simple sentences may thus be joined together by Sentence Connectors into larger, compound sentences:

Notice that the word order of both parts of these compound sentences is similar: the verb is the second element of statements, or the first element of yes-no questions, regardless of whether or not a sentence connector precedes. Grammatically speaking, sentence connectors occur between sentences, not in them.

A. WORD ORDER IN LARGER SENTENCES

II.1. Clauses and Clause Introducers

Können Sie mir sagen, wo ich ein Visum beantragen kann?
Can you tell me where I can apply for a visa?

Wie ich sehe, haben Sie eine schöne Bibliothek, Herr Wilson.
As I see, you have a fine library, Mr. Wilson.

Ich wusste garnicht, dass Ihre Frau hier Verwandte hat.
I didn't know at all that your wife has relatives here.

Ich weiss nicht, ob es heute im Park oder im Kurhaus stattfindet.
I don't know whether it's taking place in the park or in the Kurhaus today.

1. Two or more sentences joined together by sentence connectors are not the only type of larger sentences we have encountered, however. Sometimes one sentence is built into another as a subordinate part of it. Note the following examples:

The underlined parts of the above sentences are Clauses. They are sentences which are incorporated into the larger sentences as subordinate parts of them. Notice that they are introduced in every case by special little words (wo, wie, dass, ob) which we will call CLAUSE INTRODUCERS. In traditional terminology they are referred to as SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS.

A. WORD ORDER IN LARGER SENTENCES

II.2-3

Wo kann ich ein Visum beantragen?
... wo ich ein Visum beantragen kann?

Ihre Frau hat Verwandte hier.
... dass Ihre Frau hier Verwandte hat.

Findet es heute im Park oder im Kurhaus statt?
... ob es heute im Park oder im Kurhaus stattfindet.

2. Notice the order of words following the clause introducers above. The clause may be very short, consisting only of the clause introducer, subject pronoun and verb, or it may be quite long. The finite verb may be by itself (sehe, hat), or it may be part of a verb phrase with an infinitive (beantragen kann) or accented adverb (stattfindet). In every case however THE FINITE VERB IS LAST WITHIN THE CLAUSE.

3. Now compare NORMAL WORD ORDER with CLAUSE WORD ORDER. Note especially the position of the FINITE VERB:

Notice now too that a verb phrase with an accented adverb is written as one word when it occurs at the end of a clause.

Word order in larger sentences, 2 of 2

The clause introducers so far

Many clause introducers are words already known. All the question words are among them.

The clause introducers so far are da, dass, ob, wann, warum, was, welcher, wenn, wer, wie, wieviel and wo.

Da means since. Dass means that. Ob means whether. Wenn means if or when.

A clause introducer and clause word order go together. After the introducer, the finite verb is last.

The same word in two uses

Some clause introducers sound like other words that are not clause introducers. The position of the verb shows which one it is.

In Da wollen wir unseren Freund Meyer besuchen, da means there. The verb wollen is second.

In Da wir unseren Freund Meyer besuchen wollen, da means since. The verb wollen is last.

Wie können Sie das verstehen is a question with wie. In Wie ich sehr gut verstehen kann, wie means as and begins a clause.

Find the first element

Most difficulty with larger sentences has two causes. The first is the position of the verb: second in a statement, last in a clause.

The second is the first element. It is everything in front of the finite verb.

A clause can come at the start, in the middle or at the end of a larger sentence. Within the clause the verb is last.

What can come first

The first element can be a subject pronoun, a noun phrase, a preposition and its object, or an adverb. It can also be an adverb and a clause, or a clause alone.

In Im Sommer fahren wir an die Ostsee, a preposition and its object come first. In Meistens essen wir schon um ein Uhr, an adverb comes first.

When a clause comes first, two finite verbs stand side by side: Wenn Sie selbst mittags Ihre Hauptmahlzeit essen, essen Sie dann abends nochmal warm.

116
since - that - whether - when - why - what
117
what, which - if, when, whenever - who, whom - as, how - how much, how many - where
118
There we're planning to visit our friend Meyer.
119
Since we're planning to visit our friend Meyer, we're also going to go to Frankfurt.
120
We have to do that tomorrow.
121
I know that we have to do that tomorrow.
122
How can you understand that?
123
As I can very well understand, he simply doesn't want to work there any more.
124
In the summer we go to the Baltic, but in the winter we stay here in Munich.
125
Mr. Müller already knows that we now live on Ludwigstrasse.
126
Usually we eat as early as one o'clock, since I generally go home at noon.
127
In half an hour, when my wife comes back, we'll unpack the crates.
128
Later, if it's not raining any more, perhaps we could take a walk.
129
If you yourselves eat your main meal at noon, do you then have a warm meal again in the evening?

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 10, Notes on Grammar

A. WORD ORDER IN LARGER SENTENCES

II.4

da - dass - ob - wann - warum - was
since - that - whether - when - why - what

welcher (welches, welche, etc.) - wenn - wer (wen, etc.) - wie - wieviel (wieviele, etc.) - wo
what, which - if, when, whenever - who, whom - as, how - how much, how many - where

Da wollen wir unseren Freund Meyer besuchen.
There we're planning to visit our friend Meyer.

Da wir unseren Freund Meyer besuchen wollen, fahren wir auch nach Frankfurt.
Since we're planning to visit our friend Meyer, we're also going to go to Frankfurt.

Das müssen wir morgen machen.
We have to do that tomorrow.

Ich weiss, dass wir das morgen machen müssen.
I know that we have to do that tomorrow.

Wie können Sie das verstehen?
How can you understand that?

Wie ich sehr gut verstehen kann, will er einfach nicht mehr dort arbeiten.
As I can very well understand, he simply doesn't want to work there any more.

4. The list of Clause Introducers includes a number of words you are already familiar with (all the question words, for instance) plus several others. We give here only the ones which have been encountered up to this point.

Notice that some of these words sound just like other words which are not clause introducers. Remember that CLAUSE INTRODUCERS AND CLAUSE WORD ORDER GO TOGETHER.

A. WORD ORDER IN LARGER SENTENCES

III. Difficulties with Larger Sentences

Im Sommer fahren wir an die Ostsee, aber im Winter bleiben wir hier in München.
In the summer we go to the Baltic, but in the winter we stay here in Munich.

Herr Müller weiss schon, dass wir jetzt in der Ludwigstrasse wohnen.
Mr. Müller already knows that we now live on Ludwigstrasse.

Meistens essen wir schon um ein Uhr, da ich mittags gewöhnlich nach Hause gehe.
Usually we eat as early as one o'clock, since I generally go home at noon.

Wir werden in einer halben Stunde, wenn meine Frau zurückkommt, die Kisten auspacken.
In half an hour, when my wife comes back, we'll unpack the crates.

Später, wenn es nicht mehr regnet, könnten wir vielleicht noch einen Spaziergang machen.
Later, if it's not raining any more, perhaps we could take a walk.

Wenn Sie selbst mittags Ihre Hauptmahlzeit essen, essen Sie dann abends nochmal warm?
If you yourselves eat your main meal at noon, do you then have a warm meal again in the evening?

Most of the difficulties students have with larger sentences result from a) failure to remember the cardinal observations that Germans place the verb second in statements last in clauses, and b) failure to recognize what constitutes an element, i.e., what the first element of the sentence is. Let us examine some more of the sentences we have encountered, plus a few additional examples, and observe the arrangement of their elements.

1. In each of the above sentences the finite verb is the second element. Everything that precedes the finite verb then is the first element.

2. The first element may thus be: a subject pronoun (d), a noun phrase (b), a preposition and its object (a), an adverb (c), an adverb plus a clause (e), or a clause by itself (f).

3. A clause may come at the beginning (e,f), middle (d), or end (b,c) of a larger sentence. It may be an element by itself (f) or part of another element (e).

4. Within the clause itself the verb is last.

5. When a clause comes at the beginning of a sentence, two finite verbs will occur next to each other (e,f).

Ordinal numerals, 1 of 2

Numbers that take endings

A cardinal numeral is a counting number, such as eins, zwei or drei. German cardinal numerals normally have no endings, except eins. They are not adjectives.

The words for first, fourth, twentieth and so on are adjectives. They take endings. They are ordinal numerals.

Am vierten Juli means the fourth of July. Vierten is built from vier, then the stem-lengthener -t-, then the adjective ending -en.

A cardinal and its ordinal

Each cardinal numeral has an ordinal numeral. In zehn Tagen means in ten days. Am zehnten Tag means on the tenth day.

The ordinal is an adjective. It takes the ending the phrase needs: mein erster Sommer, die dritte Zeitung, seinen fünften Sohn.

The ordinal stands between the specifier and the noun.

130
The fourth of July, at noon during a thunder shower.
131
(on) the fourth of July
132
Wir werden am zehnten Tag unserer Reise ankommen.
133
Das zweite Konzert fängt um acht Uhr an.
134
Das ist mein erster Sommer im Gebirge.
135
Die dritte Zeitung lese ich abends.
136
Das zwanzigste Konzert war am schönsten.
137
Kennen Sie seinen fünften Sohn?
138
In der achten Woche unserer Reise fahren wir nach Berlin.
139
Das ist ihr siebtes (siebentes) Kind.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 10, Notes on Grammar

B. ORDINAL NUMERALS

I

Am vierten Juli, mittags während eines Gewitters.
The fourth of July, at noon during a thunder shower.

am vier-t-en Juli
(on) the fourth of July

I. We have already noted that German numbers, except for eins, normally have no endings. They are not adjectives, although they may occur within the specifier-adjective-noun sequence. There are however number-like adjectives in German which do have endings. We have had one such example in this unit:

These number-like adjectives, the words for "first, fourth, twentieth, etc." are called ORDINAL NUMERALS. Note how the numeral above is formed:

The number is followed by a stem-lengthener -t- and then the regular adjective ending.

B. ORDINAL NUMERALS

II

Wir fahren in zehn Tagen nach Amerika.
Wir werden am zehnten Tag unserer Reise ankommen.

Hier sind täglich zwei Konzerte.
Das zweite Konzert fängt um acht Uhr an.

Ein Sommer im Gebirge ist sehr schön.
Das ist mein erster Sommer im Gebirge.

Ich lese jeden Tag drei Zeitungen.
Die dritte Zeitung lese ich abends.

Im Sommer finden hier zwanzig Konzerte statt.
Das zwanzigste Konzert war am schönsten.

Kennen Sie seine fünf Söhne?
Kennen Sie seinen fünften Sohn?

Wir fahren in acht Wochen nach Berlin.
In der achten Woche unserer Reise fahren wir nach Berlin.

Das sind ihre sieben Kinder.
Das ist ihr siebtes (siebentes) Kind.

II. Look at some more examples of NUMBERS and ORDINAL NUMERALS:

Ordinal numerals, 2 of 2

First to nineteenth

Most ordinals through nineteenth are the cardinal numeral, the stem-lengthener -t- and an adjective ending: zehn-t-en, zwei-t-e, fünf-t-en.

Three ordinals are irregular. Erst-er means first, dritt-e means third and acht-en means eighth.

One ordinal has a second, irregular form. Her seventh child is ihr siebt-es Kind or ihr sieben-t-es Kind.

Twentieth and above

From twentieth on, the stem-lengthener is -st-. The ordinal is the cardinal numeral, -st- and an adjective ending.

Das zwanzig-st-e Konzert is the twentieth concert.

Ordinals in dates

German and English both use ordinals for dates. English has three ways to say a date. German has one.

On the fourth of July, on July the fourth and on July fourth are all am vierten Juli. The ordinal always comes right before the name of the month.

A date has the forms of der Tag, a der-noun, but Tag is not said: Heute ist der sechste Mai.

The case of a date

A date in a sentence has the case the sentence needs. Am vierten Juli is dative.

In writing, a period after the numeral marks an ordinal: Am 16. September komme ich wieder zurück.

A date that stands alone, as at the head of a letter, is accusative: Bremen, den 31. Mai 1951.

140
on the tenth day
141
the second concert
142
seinen fünf-t-en Sohn
his fifth son
143
mein erst-er Sommer
my first summer
144
die dritt-e Zeitung
the third newspaper
145
der acht-en Woche
the eighth week
146
ihr siebt-es Kind (ihr sieben-t-es Kind)
her seventh child
147
das zwanzig-st-e Konzert
the twentieth concert
148
On the fourth of July (On July the fourth, On July fourth) we're going to visit my aunt.
149
Today is the sixth of May (May the sixth, May sixth).
150
On September 16th I'm coming back again.
151
The 21st of June is the longest day of the year.
152
I'm looking forward to the thirty-first!
153
We're leaving on the afternoon of the 18th.
154
Bremen, den 31. Mai 1951
Bremen, May 31, 1951

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 10, Notes on Grammar

B. ORDINAL NUMERALS

II.1-3

am zehn-t-en Tag
on the tenth day

das zwei-t-e Konzert
the second concert

seinen fünf-t-en Sohn
his fifth son

mein erst-er Sommer
my first summer

die dritt-e Zeitung
the third newspaper

der acht-en Woche
the eighth week

ihr siebt-es Kind (ihr sieben-t-es Kind)
her seventh child

das zwanzig-st-e Konzert
the twentieth concert

1. Most Ordinal Numerals through "nineteenth" have the NUMBER plus STEM-LENGTHENER -t- plus ADJECTIVE ENDINGS.

2. Three Ordinal Numerals are irregular and one has an alternate, irregular form.

3. The Ordinal Numerals from "twentieth" on up have the NUMBER plus STEM-LENGTHENER -st- plus ADJECTIVE ENDINGS.

B. ORDINAL NUMERALS

III

Am vierten Juli besuchen wir meine Tante.
On the fourth of July (On July the fourth, On July fourth) we're going to visit my aunt.

Heute ist der sechste Mai.
Today is the sixth of May (May the sixth, May sixth).

Am 16. September komme ich wieder zurück.
On September 16th I'm coming back again.

Der 21. Juni ist der längste Tag des Jahres.
The 21st of June is the longest day of the year.

Ich freue mich auf den einunddreissigsten!
I'm looking forward to the thirty-first!

Wir fahren am Nachmittag des 18. ab.
We're leaving on the afternoon of the 18th.

Bremen, den 31. Mai 1951
Bremen, May 31, 1951

III. Ordinal Numerals are used for dates in both German and English. There are some differences in the way they are used, however:

In English we have three choices; in German there is only one. Note that the date is always a der-sequence, although the noun (der Tag) is not expressed, and that the ordinal always immediately precedes the name of the month when it occurs. Here are some more examples:

When they occur in sentences, dates have whatever form (Nominative, Accusative, Dative, Genitive) the structure of the sentence may require. Notice that in the German writing system the ordinal may also be identified by a period placed after the Arabic numeral. When a date stands alone, as for example at the head of a letter, it has the Accusative form.

Prepositions with the genitive

A preposition with the genitive

The prepositions so far take the dative or the accusative. Während is the first that takes the genitive.

Während means during. Während des Konzerts means during the concert. Des Konzerts is genitive.

Only a very small group of prepositions takes the genitive.

155
We'll have the best opportunity for that afterward during the concert.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 10, Notes on Grammar

C. PREPOSITIONS WITH THE GENITIVE

Dazu haben wir nachher während des Konzerts die beste Gelegenheit.
We'll have the best opportunity for that afterward during the concert.

Numerous examples of prepositions with dative and/or accusative objects have occurred and have been discussed. In this unit we encounter the first example of a preposition followed by a genitive form:

The preposition während is one of a very small group of prepositions which are customarily followed by a genitive object. We will note the others as they occur.

Telling time, 1 of 2

Asking the time

German has two equally common ways to ask the time: Wie spät ist es and Wieviel Uhr ist es.

Uhr means o'clock. As in English, the word for o'clock can be said or left out.

The word for one is ein before Uhr and eins without it: Wir essen meistens um ein Uhr. Es ist genau viertel nach eins.

Minutes, and quarter past

Minutes can be named directly: zehn Uhr dreissig, zwanzig Minuten nach fünf.

Viertel can go with nach and vor, like English quarter past and quarter to. Viertel nach eins is 1:15. Viertel vor drei is 2:45.

Counting toward the next hour

Viertel, halb and dreiviertel can also stand without a preposition. They then mean a quarter, a half or three-quarters of the way through the hour.

The hour named is the next hour, the one that has not yet struck. The hour from one to two is the second hour.

Viertel zwei is 1:15. Halb zwei is 1:30. Dreiviertel zwei is 1:45.

One time, several names

Most clock times have more than one German name.

1:15 is ein Uhr fünfzehn, viertel nach eins or viertel zwei.

1:30 is ein Uhr dreissig or halb zwei. 1:45 is ein Uhr fünfundvierzig, viertel vor zwei or dreiviertel zwei.

156
What time is it now?
157
What time is it anyway?
158
It's exactly quarter past one.
159
We usually eat at one o'clock.
160
The concert begins at four o'clock.
161
I'll be at your office at ten-thirty.
162
We have to leave at half past five at the latest.
163
It's a quarter to three.
164
It's a quarter to three.
165
Quarter past one.
166
Quarter past one.
167
1:00 ein Uhr
eins
168
1:15 ein Uhr fünfzehn - viertel nach eins
viertel zwei
169
1:30 ein Uhr dreissig
halb zwei
170
1:45 ein Uhr fünfundvierzig - viertel vor zwei
dreiviertel zwei

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 10, Notes on Grammar

D. TELLING TIME

I

Wie spät ist es denn jetzt?
What time is it now?

Wieviel Uhr ist es eigentlich?
What time is it anyway?

Es ist genau viertel nach eins.
It's exactly quarter past one.

Wir essen meistens um ein Uhr.
We usually eat at one o'clock.

Das Kurkonzert fängt um vier Uhr an.
The concert begins at four o'clock.

I. We have had several references to time by the clock. Let us examine a few of them.

There are two ways of asking the time in German; both are equally common. In German as in English time expressions the word for "o'clock" may or may not occur. Notice, however, that the word for "one" is ein when followed by Uhr but is eins when the word Uhr does not occur.

D. TELLING TIME

II

Ich werde um zehn Uhr dreissig bei Ihnen sein.
I'll be at your office at ten-thirty.

Um halb sechs müssen wir spätestens abfahren.
We have to leave at half past five at the latest.

Es ist viertel vor drei.
It's a quarter to three.

Es ist dreiviertel drei.
It's a quarter to three.

Viertel nach eins.
Quarter past one.

Viertel zwei.
Quarter past one.

II. There are different ways of telling time in German. Here are some more examples:

Time between the hours may be designated with reference to the number of minutes involved (zehn Uhr dreissig, zwanzig Minuten nach fünf). This presents no problem. The use of fractions is a little more complicated, however.

1. The word viertel may be used with the prepositions nach and vor (viertel nach eins, viertel vor drei). This is just like the English use of "quarter past" or "quarter to".

2. The words viertel, halb and dreiviertel also occur WITHOUT PREPOSITIONS. They then mean "a quarter", "a half" or "three-quarters" of the way through the hour, and the reference point is the hour which has not yet struck. You may, for instance, think of the hour from one o'clock to two o'clock as the second hour and the hour from two o'clock to three o'clock as the third hour. At 1:15 you are one-fourth of the way through hour number two (viertel zwei); at 1:30 you are halfway through the hour (halb zwei); at 1:45 you are three-quarters of the way through the hour (dreiviertel zwei).

D. TELLING TIME

III

1:00 ein Uhr
eins

1:15 ein Uhr fünfzehn - viertel nach eins
viertel zwei

1:30 ein Uhr dreissig
halb zwei

1:45 ein Uhr fünfundvierzig - viertel vor zwei
dreiviertel zwei

III. Here is a tabular presentation of the different ways of telling time in German:

Telling time, 2 of 2

Parts of the day

Four adverbs name a general time of day. Morgens means in the morning, mittags at noon, nachmittags in the afternoon and abends in the evening.

They often go with a clock time: Wir kommen um acht Uhr morgens.

They can name something that happens regularly, or one point on one day. Nachmittags bin ich immer im Büro means in the afternoons I'm always in the office.

171
I usually go home at noon.
172
Do you eat a warm meal again in the evening?
173
We'll come at eight o'clock in the morning.
174
In the afternoons I'm always in the office.
175
We always hear the weather report at seven in the evening.
176
What do you have planned for twelve noon?

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 10, Notes on Grammar

D. TELLING TIME

IV

Ich gehe mittags gewöhnlich nach Hause.
I usually go home at noon.

Essen Sie abends nochmal warm?
Do you eat a warm meal again in the evening?

Wir kommen um acht Uhr morgens.
We'll come at eight o'clock in the morning.

Nachmittags bin ich immer im Büro.
In the afternoons I'm always in the office.

Abends um sieben hören wir immer den Wetterbericht.
We always hear the weather report at seven in the evening.

Was haben Sie mittags um zwölf Uhr vor?
What do you have planned for twelve noon?

IV. We have had three words referring to the general time of day: abends, mittags, nachmittags. These are adverbs and often occur together with a reference to clock time. There is one more which is of frequent occurrence: the word morgens. Here are further examples of their use:

Note that these expressions for the time of day may be used BOTH to refer to something which takes place regularly or habitually AND to refer to a specific point of time on a particular day.

The superlative stem meist-

Meist- before a noun

Meist- is the irregular superlative stem for most. English says most, the most or most of the.

Before a noun, a form of meist- always comes after a specifier: die meiste Zeit, das meiste Geld.

The noun can be left out. Die meisten sagen gar nichts means most people don't say anything at all.

Am meisten

Am meisten is a special predicate phrase. It means the most.

Herr Köhler raucht am meisten means Mr. Köhler smokes the most. Abends lese ich am meisten means I read most in the evenings.

Meisten and meistens

Meisten always occurs in a phrase: die meisten, am meisten. Meistens is never part of a phrase.

Meistens is an adverb. It means usually or mostly.

Die meisten sagen nichts means most say nothing. Meistens sagen sie nichts means mostly they say nothing.

Am meisten lese ich abends means I read most in the evenings. Meistens lese ich abends means usually I read in the evenings.

177
Don't most people eat their main meal at noon?
178
Most of the time he doesn't work at all.
179
Most of the china I intend to buy in Germany.
180
Of all of us he has the most money.
181
Most [people] don't say anything at all.
182
Mr. Köhler smokes the most.
183
I read most in the evenings.
184
Of all [our] relatives my aunt visits us the most.
185
We usually eat at one o'clock.
186
He writes mostly novels.
187
In the summer we usually go to the mountains.
188
Most say nothing.
189
Mostly they say nothing.
190
I read most in the evenings.
191
Usually I read in the evenings.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 10, Notes on Grammar

E. THE SUPERLATIVE STEM MEIST-

1. As attributive adjectives, forms of the stem meist- occur in the specifier-adjective-noun sequence

Essen nicht die meisten Leute mittags ihre Hauptmahlzeit?
Don't most people eat their main meal at noon?

Die meiste Zeit arbeitet er überhaupt nicht.
Most of the time he doesn't work at all.

Das meiste Geschirr will ich in Deutschland kaufen.
Most of the china I intend to buy in Germany.

Von uns allen hat er das meiste Geld.
Of all of us he has the most money.

Die meisten sagen gar nichts.
Most [people] don't say anything at all.

Meist- was noted as an irregular superlative stem in Unit 9. We have encountered some of the forms in which it occurs and will now add a few more examples in order to present a summary of its forms and their uses.

Notice that in English we say "most", "the most", or "most of the ...". The forms of meist- in an attributive phrase in German are always preceded by a specifier. The noun can be omitted however.

E. THE SUPERLATIVE STEM MEIST-

2. The special predicate phrase am meisten

Herr Köhler raucht am meisten.
Mr. Köhler smokes the most.

Abends lese ich am meisten.
I read most in the evenings.

Von allen Verwandten besucht uns meine Tante am meisten.
Of all [our] relatives my aunt visits us the most.

E. THE SUPERLATIVE STEM MEIST-

3. The adverb meistens

Wir essen meistens um ein Uhr.
We usually eat at one o'clock.

Er schreibt meistens Romane.
He writes mostly novels.

Im Sommer fahren wir meistens ins Gebirge.
In the summer we usually go to the mountains.

Die meisten sagen nichts.
Most say nothing.

Meistens sagen sie nichts.
Mostly they say nothing.

Am meisten lese ich abends.
I read most in the evenings.

Meistens lese ich abends.
Usually I read in the evenings.

Compare the sentences above and note the different meanings given by the forms of meist-. Note especially, however, the difference in the way the two forms meisten and meistens are used: Meisten ALWAYS OCCURS IN A PHRASE. Meistens NEVER IS PART OF A PHRASE.

Substitution Drill

192
I don't know when Mr. Meyer is coming.
193
Do you know that he's going to England?
194
The concert takes place in a week.
195
In the evening I sometimes visit the Beckers.

196
In the evening I sometimes visit the Beckers.
197
I'd like to order a cup of coffee.
198
That depends on his job.
199
I think that he lives in Munich.

200
I think that he lives in Munich.
201
Do you know when he usually comes home?
202
Do you really believe that Mr. Jones can speak German?
203
We don't know whether she arrives today or tomorrow.

204
We don't know whether she arrives today or tomorrow.
205
Today is the eighteenth of May.
206
He's coming on the twentieth of April.
207
I'm looking forward to the second of May.

208
I'm looking forward to the second of May.
209
The twenty-third of May is a Wednesday.
210
On the sixth of June we want to go to Bonn.

211
On the sixth of June we want to go to Bonn.
212
The theater begins at eight fifteen.
213
We usually eat at half past twelve.
214
It's exactly a quarter to seven.

215
It's exactly a quarter to seven.

Variation Drill

216
I hear that you're planning to go to Germany.
217
From this table there's a beautiful view.
218
Please bring me a glass of Moselle wine.

219
Please bring me a glass of Moselle wine.
220
I have to go home, since it's already very late.
221
Do you know if he's coming today?
222
He's sitting there at the third table to the left.

223
He's sitting there at the third table to the left.
224
At what time do you usually eat?
225
Is the conference going to be in the morning or in the afternoon?
226
Do you know that Mr. Becker is coming today?

227
Do you know that Mr. Becker is coming today?
228
Do you know why Mr. Becker isn't coming today?
229
In a little while, if the sun is shining again, we plan to drive down town.

Transformation Drill

230
We're going to the mountains next month.
231
The sun is shining beautifully today.
232
I don't know what we should do.
233
We go shopping together when my husband comes home.
234
We'll come to your place on Sunday if we have time.
235
Unfortunately we won't be able to see his wife any more.
236
We usually eat at one, since I go home at noon.
237
I usually order steak with fried potatoes when I go to a restaurant.
238
We always eat at this time.
239
We don't know him, but [we know] her.
240
I don't have the money for a big trip.
241
My colleague has a new car. We often go to the mountains together.
242
I'd very much like to visit him. He lives too far from here.
243
I'd like to buy the lamp. I have no money.

244
You can take a taxi. You can go in your car.
245
Are you having steak? Would you rather eat calf's liver?
246
The vice-consul gives her a form. She fills it out.
247
My wife feels like bratwurst with sauerkraut. I'd rather eat blue trout.
248
Mr. Becker picks up the receiver. The secretary answers.
249
When is Mr. Becker moving in?
250
When does Mr. Becker arrive?
251
Whom is Mr. Becker calling?
252
How much does Mr. Becker spend?
253
Why is Mr. Becker leaving?
254
What is Mr. Becker filling out right now?
255
Whom is Mr. Becker picking up?
256
What is Mr. Becker wrapping up?
257
To whom is Mr. Becker introducing the gentlemen?

258
At whose door is Mr. Meyer ringing?
259
Whom is Mr. Meyer talking to?
260
What is Mr. Meyer looking forward to?
261
Whom is Mr. Meyer writing to?
262
Whom is Mr. Meyer going to see?
263
Next to whom does Mr. Meyer live?

Vocabulary Drill

264
I don't like to take the car during a thunder shower.
265
During her visit she wants to take a lot of pictures.
266
During the concert (in the resort) we can have a cup of coffee.
267
He meets Mr. Meyer while he's out walking ('during a walk').
268
You're ('one is') not supposed to smoke during the conference.
269
In the summer we usually go to the Baltic Sea.
270
We eat mostly at this hotel.
271
We usually eat as early as one o'clock.
272
At four in the afternoon we usually have a cup of coffee.

273
From here you usually have a good view.
274
Most people in America eat their main meal in the evening.
275
Most of the concerts in the resort are held in the park.
276
In most American restaurants they have German beer too.
277
In most small cars you can go very fast.
278
You get the most food at the restaurant on 'Schubertstrasse'.
279
We buy the most at this store.
280
We do most of our driving in the Volkswagen.
281
We often go to the movies, but we go to the theater most.

282
We all smoke a lot, but Mr. Becker smokes the most.
283
My wife and I read a lot; my son reads the most, however.
284
I'd like a glass of apple juice.
285
Would you like a piece of cake?
286
We'd like three cups of coffee.
287
He'd like a steak with fried potatoes.
288
Would you like some cheese with it?
289
What would you like to order?
290
I think I'll order a glass of beer.

291
He orders the special for the day but without soup.
292
No thanks, I don't care to order anything more.
293
Order me a glass of Moselle wine, please.
294
I have room for a piece of cake.
295
He feels like a steak.
296
I still have room for some applesauce.
297
What do you feel like eating today?
298
She feels like calve's liver with mashed potatoes.
299
Our trip depends on the weather.

300
That depends on the quality of the material.
301
It depends on his working hours, whether he can come and see us today.
302
I think that will depend on his job.
303
That depends on our visit to ('in') Germany.
304
What a pity that you can't come today!
305
It's a pity that it's raining again.
306
Too bad that we can't go for a walk!
307
Isn't it a pity that the concert is not being held?
308
It's a pity that they don't have any good Moselle wine here.

309
Can you tell me when the concert in the resort is going to be?
310
The trip is going to be in three weeks.
311
In what month is the summer clearance sale being held?
312
The conference is supposed to be in half an hour.
313
Can you tell me when the bus leaves?
314
In ten minutes we have to leave.
315
When is he leaving, today or tomorrow morning?
316
We're going to leave when the weather is better.
317
She's leaving on the third of March.

Translation Drill 1

318
It's the fourth of July.
319
The Wilsons and the Beckers are at a resort in the mountains.
320
During the thunder shower they intend to go to a restaurant and eat lunch (there).
321
The White Stag Inn looks pretty good.
322
They drive into the parking lot of the inn in their car and then they go into the dining room.
323
In the charming dining room they find a table by the window.
324
They hope that they'll have a good view from the table.
325
The waiter brings the menu and Mrs. Becker orders calve's liver with mashed potatoes and applesauce.
326
Mrs. Wilson takes the special for the day, but she'd like not to have the soup with it.
327
The waiter is to bring Mr. Wilson steak with fried potatoes.
328
Mr. Becker orders blue trout with melted butter.
329
He's especially fond of trout.
330
The waiter asks if they want to have something to drink.

Translation Drill 2

331
Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Becker would like a glass of apple juice.
332
Mr. Wilson prefers beer to apple juice.
333
Mr. Becker orders a glass of Moselle wine, since that goes better with trout.
334
Mr. Wilson asks Mr. Becker what time it is.
335
It's quarter past one.
336
The Beckers usually eat lunch not later than one o'clock.
337
Mr. Becker's office is in the vicinity of his apartment, and at noon he usually goes home for lunch.
338
Mr. Wilson would like to know if most Germans eat their main meal at noon.
339
Mr. Becker says that that depends on [the] job and working hours.
340
The Beckers eat their main meal at noon, but then they don't have a warm meal again in the evening.
341
Usually they have ('there is at their house') rye bread, butter, cold cuts and cheese.
342
They usually have a cup of tea with it.
343
Mrs. Wilson still has room for ('is still hungry for') a piece of cake.

Translation Drill 3

344
The Beckers don't want anything more to eat.
345
They'd rather have a cup of coffee later on.
346
At last the sun is shining again.
347
Mr. Becker calls the waiter [the bill].
348
Since the weather is nice now, they want to take a walk through the resort.
349
They hear that there's a concert in the resort daily. ('a concert takes place ... ')
350
If the weather is good, it takes place in the park, otherwise in the 'Kurhaus'.
351
Mr. Wilson would like to know when the concert begins.
352
The waiter thinks it begins at four o'clock.
353
They still have enough time to look around the city.
354
Mrs. Wilson would like to buy a few picture postcards.
355
At four o'clock they want to have a cup of coffee in the 'Kurhaus'.
356
They plan to leave at half past five.

Response Drill 1

357
Where are the Wilsons and the Beckers?
358
They are at a resort in the mountains.
359
What day is it?
360
It's the fourth of July.
361
What is the weather like?
362
The weather is bad; it is raining, and there is supposed to be a thunderstorm.
363
What do they want to do during the thunderstorm?
364
During a thunderstorm they want to have lunch at an inn.
365
What time is it?
366
It is a quarter past one.
367
Which inn do they go to?
368
They go to the inn called Zum Weissen Hirsch.
369
What kind of impression does this inn make?
370
He makes a very good impression.
371
What do they want to do after the meal?
372
If it stops raining, they want to take a walk after the meal.
373
How do they like the dining room?
374
They like the dining room very much; it is very cozy.
375
Which table do they sit at?
376
They sit down at a table by the window.
377
Why do they want to sit by the window?
378
They think they will have a beautiful view when the weather gets better again.
379
What does the waiter bring them?
380
The waiter brings them the menu.
381
What do the ladies order?
382
Frau Wilson orders the daily special without soup. Frau Becker would like calf's liver with mashed potatoes and applesauce.

Response Drill 2

383
And what do the gentlemen order?
384
Mr. Becker would like poached trout with melted butter. Mr. Wilson orders rump steak with fried potatoes.
385
What do the Wilsons and the Beckers drink with it?
386
The ladies drink apple juice, Herr Wilson drinks a glass of beer, and Herr Becker a glass of Moselle wine.
387
What time do the Beckers usually eat lunch?
388
They usually eat as early as one o'clock.
389
Why are they eating as early as one o'clock?
390
Herr Becker usually goes home at noon.
391
When do most people in Germany eat their main meal, at noon or in the evening?
392
That depends on one's occupation and working hours.
393
What do the Beckers eat in the evening when they have their main meal at noon?
394
Then the Beckers usually eat rye bread, butter, cold cuts, and cheese.
395
What do they drink with it?
396
They usually drink tea with it.
397
What else are Herr and Frau Wilson in the mood for?
398
They still feel like having a piece of cake and a cup of coffee.
399
When do the Beckers prefer to have their coffee?
400
The Beckers prefer to have their coffee a little later.
401
When will they have an opportunity to do that?
402
They may have an opportunity to do so later during the concert.
403
What is the weather like after the meal?
404
The weather is good; the sun is shining again.
405
Why does Herr Becker call the waiter?
406
He would like to pay.
407
On which days are spa concerts held at the resort?
408
The spa concerts take place daily.

Response Drill 3

409
Where are the concerts held when the weather is good?
410
When the weather is good, the concerts take place in the park.
411
And where are they held when the weather is bad?
412
Then they take place in the spa building.
413
When is the spa concert supposed to begin?
414
The waiter thinks it starts at four o'clock.
415
What do the Beckers and the Wilsons want to do beforehand?
416
They want to look around the resort.
417
What would Frau Wilson like to buy?
418
She would like to buy some postcards.
419
What is the latest time they want to leave?
420
They want to leave by five-thirty at the latest.

Narrative

421
Mr. and Mrs. Burke arrive at the airport in Frankfurt on July 10.
422
They are in Germany for the first time.
423
Their friends pick them up, and since it is lunchtime, they first go to a restaurant.
424
The waiter brings the menu, and the Burkes are glad that their friends can help them.
425
Mrs. Burke does have a small dictionary, but reading a menu is rather difficult.
426
They enjoy the food very much.
427
But they are surprised that the waiter does not bring them any ice water.
428
Salt, pepper, and mustard are on the table.
429
Later, they order a piece of cake for dessert.
430
Mrs. Wilson tells the Burkes that many Germans go to a café in the afternoon to eat cake and drink coffee, provided they can afford the money and time.
431
Mrs. Burke notices that the people at the next table never put down their knives while eating.
432
They hold their forks in their left hands and use their knives to push the vegetables, meat, and potatoes onto their forks.
433
They always keep both hands on the table.
434
Well, different countries, different customs!

Conversation Practice 1

435
Would you like to go to the Alps with us?
436
When are you leaving?
437
On July third, if it doesn't rain!
438
I'd very much like to come along, but unfortunately I have to be in Munich by June 25.
439
What a shame!

Conversation Practice 2

440
Is it still raining?
441
No, the sun is shining again already.
442
I'd like to take a walk and look around the town. Would you like to come along?
443
Yes, please. Is there a store nearby where I can buy postcards?
444
I think you can even get them here in the restaurant.

Conversation Practice 3

445
When do you usually eat your main meal, Mr. Meyer?
446
Usually at seven in the evening, when I get home from the office.
447
Do you have a hot meal at lunchtime too?
448
No, then I usually eat some rye bread with cold cuts and cheese and have a glass of beer with it.
449
I can go home for lunch, and we usually have a hot meal.

Conversation Practice 4

450
What are you ordering?
451
I'll ask the waiter if they have trout here.
452
I think I'll have the rump steak with fried potatoes.
453
Would you like a glass of wine with that?
454
No, I prefer beer.

Situations

455
Mr. Becker and Mr. Jones are sitting in a restaurant.
456
The waiter brings them the menu and they order.
457
The two gentlemen are talking together.
458
Mr. Becker says that he and his wife will be going to Bonn on the tenth of August.
459
Mr. Jones would like to know whether they are driving and how long they want to stay in Bonn.
460
Mr. Becker and Mr. Jones talk about the food in several restaurants, what they like to eat and what they do not like to eat.
461
Then Mr. Becker orders a second glass of beer.
462
The waiter asks Mr. Jones whether he may bring him another glass of beer too.
463
But Mr. Jones would rather have a cup of coffee and wants to eat a piece of cake with it.
464
Mr. Jones asks Mr. Becker when he usually has lunch and whether he has a cold or a hot supper in the evening.
465
Mr. Becker tells him, and later he asks Mr. Jones when he usually has his main meal.
466
He does not know that in America people often have a hot meal at noon and in the evening both.

467
Mr. Jones calls the waiter, he would like to pay.
468
His meal costs five marks thirty-five.
469
He gives the waiter ten marks and the waiter makes change and gives him four marks sixty-five back.
470
Then Mr. Becker pays for his meal.