German Basic Course 1732 Studios

German · Unit 13

Unit 13: Unterhaltungen auf und nach einer Gesellschaft

Volume 2

Conversations at and after a party

428 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    Have you been to the Paul Klee exhibition yet?

    Warenwere you
    Siewere you
    schonalready, before
    inin Bonn
    derthe airport
    PaulPaul (Paul Klee)
    KleeKlee (Paul Klee, painter)
    Ausstellung?exhibition
  2. 2

    No, up to now I haven't had time to go.

  3. 3

    On weekdays I have too much to do.

hatte
had
bisher
up to now
hinzugehen
to go (to some place)
Wochentags
on weekdays
  1. 4

    And on Sundays it is closed, isn't it?

  2. 5

    No, as far as I know it's open every day.

  3. 6

    My wife and I have already been there twice.

  4. 7

    We liked the exhibition extremely well.

  5. 8

    Have you been to the Paul Klee exhibition yet?

  6. 9

    No, up to now I haven't had time to go.

  7. 10

    On weekdays I have too much to do.

  8. 11

    And on Sundays it is closed, isn't it?

  9. 12

    No, as far as I know it's open every day.

  10. 13

    My wife and I have already been there twice.

  11. 14

    We liked the exhibition extremely well.

sonntags
on Sundays
geschlossen
closed
weiss
as far as I know
täglich
daily, every day
geöffnet
open
zweimal
twice
Uns
we liked it
ausgesprochen
extraordinarily, extremely

Basic Sentences II

  1. 15

    I thought you were still on leave.

  2. 16

    We came back yesterday afternoon.

  3. 17

    Waren Sie die ganze Zeit in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

    Were you in Garmisch-Partenkirchen the whole time?

  4. 18

    Yes, and we liked it there very much.

dachte
thought
wären
you would be, you were
Urlaub
on leave
zurück
came back
  1. 19

    Were you lucky as far as the weather was concerned?

  2. 20

    When we arrived it was raining (to be sure), but the rest of the week was very nice.

Als
when
ankamen
arrived
regnete
was raining
zwar
to be sure
Rest
the rest, remainder
  1. 21

    Did you go on hikes in the mountains, too?

  2. 22

    Yes, we went on several as a matter of fact.

  3. 23

    And where did you spend your vacation?

Machten
made, did
Bergtouren
the hike in the mountains
mehrere
several
verbrachten
spent
  1. 24

    We went to take the waters at Bad Pyrmont.

  2. 25

    On the way back we took a side trip to Hannover, in order to visit the industrial exposition.

  3. 26

    I thought you were still on leave.

  4. 27

    We came back yesterday afternoon.

  5. 28

    Waren Sie die ganze Zeit in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

    Were you in Garmisch-Partenkirchen the whole time?

  6. 29

    Yes, and we liked it there very much.

  7. 30

    Were you lucky as far as the weather was concerned?

  8. 31

    When we arrived it was raining (to be sure), but the rest of the week was very nice.

  9. 32

    Did you go on hikes in the mountains, too?

  10. 33

    Yes, we went on several as a matter of fact.

  11. 34

    And where did you spend your vacation?

  12. 35

    We went to take the waters at Bad Pyrmont.

  13. 36

    On the way back we took a side trip to Hannover, in order to visit the industrial exposition.

fuhren
went
Rückreise
the return trip
Rückreise
on the way back
Abstecher
the side trip

Basic Sentences III

  1. 37

    Were you at the Ministry of Economic Affairs for the conference yesterday?

  2. 38

    No, unfortunately I couldn't go, since I had an urgent conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  3. 39

    Too bad; it was very interesting, you see.

Wirtschaftsministerium
the Ministry of Economic Affairs
konnte
was able, could
Amt
the (German) Ministry of Foreign Affairs
interessant
interesting
  1. 40

    Mr. Schumann gave a report on new combines being formed and cartel questions.

gab
gave
Konzernbildungen
the formation of a combine or combines
Kartellfragen
the cartel question
  1. 41

    There was (already) an article about that in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" the other day.

  2. 42

    Yes, but it wasn't very complete.

  3. 43

    Did a discussion arise afterwards?

  4. 44

    There wasn't sufficient time, unfortunately.

  5. 45

    There was a union official there who gave out with long-winded explanations in answer to a question raised by a plant manager.

  6. 46

    Were you at the Ministry of Economic Affairs for the conference yesterday?

  7. 47

    No, unfortunately I couldn't go, since I had an urgent conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  8. 48

    Too bad; it was very interesting, you see.

  9. 49

    Mr. Schumann gave a report on new combines being formed and cartel questions.

  10. 50

    There was (already) an article about that in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" the other day.

  11. 51

    Yes, but it wasn't very complete.

  12. 52

    Did a discussion arise afterwards?

  13. 53

    There wasn't sufficient time, unfortunately.

  14. 54

    There was a union official there who gave out with long-winded explanations in answer to a question raised by a plant manager.

stand
stood, was
neulich
the other day
bereits
already
ausführlich
detailed, complete
aus
was sufficient
der
who
anwesend
present
Erklärungen
the explanatory statement
abgab
gave out (with)

Basic Sentences IV

  1. 55

    Mr. Martin calls up Mrs. Köhler on the morning after the party.

  2. 56

    Mrs. Köhler, I'd like to express my thanks [to you] again for the pleasant evening.

  3. 57

    My husband and I were very glad that you could come.

  4. 58

    Too bad that your wife wasn't with us too.

  1. 59

    Yes, but she'll be back again in a week, and then I hope we'll be seeing you here at our house very soon.

  2. 60

    We'll be very glad to come.

  3. 61

    Please give my regards to Mr. Köhler.

  4. 62

    Thank you. Good-bye, Mr. Martin.

  5. 63

    Good-bye, Mrs. Köhler.

  6. 64

    Mr. Martin calls up Mrs. Köhler on the morning after the party.

  7. 65

    Mrs. Köhler, I'd like to express my thanks [to you] again for the pleasant evening.

  8. 66

    My husband and I were very glad that you could come.

  9. 67

    Too bad that your wife wasn't with us too.

  10. 68

    Yes, but she'll be back again in a week, and then I hope we'll be seeing you here at our house very soon.

  11. 69

    We'll be very glad to come.

  12. 70

    Please give my regards to Mr. Köhler.

  13. 71

    Thank you. Good-bye, Mr. Martin.

  14. 72

    Good-bye, Mrs. Köhler.

Empfehlung
the commendation, regards
Gemahl
your husband, Mr. ...

Verbs. The past tense forms

Two classes of past tense form

The past tense form is one German device for past time. The perfect phrase is another.

Past tense forms fall into two classes. One class ends in -te or -ten: machten, reichte. Die Zeit reichte nicht aus.

The other class has no such ending: fuhren, gab, stand. Wir fuhren nach Bad Pyrmont.

Weak verbs and strong verbs

A weak verb has a past tense in -te or -ten and a past participle in -t. All three forms keep one stem: mach-en, mach-te, ge-mach-t.

So the past tense of a weak verb gives its participle, and the participle gives the past tense. The infinitive does not show that a verb is weak.

A strong verb has a past tense stem that differs from the present stem. Its participle ends in -n: geb-en, gab, ge-geb-en.

Some strong verbs have four stems: nehm-en, nimm-t, nahm, ge-nomm-en. These stems cannot be predicted. Learn all of them.

English has the same two classes: live, live-d, live-d and give, gave, given.

Past tense of weak verbs

Most weak verbs add -te, -test, -ten or -tet to the present stem: ich machte, du machtest, wir machten, ihr machtet.

A stem that ends in -d or -t takes a connecting -e- before the ending: arbeitete, meldete. So does a stem in a consonant plus -m or -n: öffnete.

A stem in l or r plus -m or -n takes no -e-. The verbs that take the -e- here also take it in the present du-form and er-form.

A few weak verbs change their stem: denken, dachte, gedacht. The past stem is the participle stem. The one exception is haben, hatte, gehabt.

Past tense of strong verbs

There are a little over a hundred strong verbs, and many of them are very common.

The past stem takes these endings: none for ich and er, -st for du, -en for wir and sie, -t for ihr. Ich gab, du gabst, wir gaben, ihr gabt.

These are not the endings of weak verbs.

If the past stem ends in -d or -t, -e- is sometimes added before -st: du standst or du standest. It is always added before -t: ihr standet.

The past of werden is ich wurde, du wurdest, wir wurden, ihr wurdet.

How to read the verb list

The list gives every verb taught so far, with the forms to learn. The weak verbs come first, then the strong verbs.

Each line gives the infinitive, the er-form of the past tense, the past participle and the English meaning: arbeiten, arbeitete, gearbeitet, work.

Ist before a participle marks a verb whose perfect phrase takes sein: fahren, fuhr, ist gefahren, go.

Dots mark the place of other words between the two parts of a verb: abholen, holte ... ab, abgeholt, pick up.

  1. 73

    Did you go on hikes in the mountains too?

  2. 74

    We went to Bad Pyrmont.

  3. 75

    Mr. Schumann gave a report.

  4. 76

    There was an article about that in the paper.

  5. 77

    There wasn't sufficient time.

  6. 78

    reich-en, reich-te, ge-reich-t

  7. 79

    geb-en, gab, ge-geb-en; steh-en, stand, ge-stand-en

  8. 80

    steh-en, steh-t, stand, ge-stand-en (2)

    fahr-en, fähr-t, fuhr, ge-fahr-en (3)

  9. 81

    nehm-en, nimm-t, nahm, ge-nomm-en (4)

  10. 82

    ich, er mach-te; du mach-test; wir, sie mach-ten; ihr mach-tet

    hör-te, hör-test, hör-ten, hör-tet; freu-te, freu-test, freu-ten, freu-tet

  11. 83

    ich, er arbeit-e-te; du arbeit-e-test; wir, sie arbeit-e-ten; ihr arbeit-e-tet

    meld-e-te, meld-e-test, meld-e-ten, meld-e-tet; öffn-e-te, öffn-e-test, öffn-e-ten, öffn-e-tet

  12. 84

    denk-en, dach-te, ge-dach-t

    kenn-en, kann-te, ge-kann-t; müss-en, muss-te, ge-muss-t; hab-en, hat-te, ge-hab-t

  13. 85

    ich, er gab; du gab-st; wir, sie gab-en; ihr gab-t

    fuhr, fuhr-st, fuhr-en, fuhr-t; nahm, nahm-st, nahm-en, nahm-t

  14. 86

    du stand-st or stand-e-st; ihr stand-e-t

    du bat-st or bat-e-st; ihr bat-e-t

  15. 87

    wir, sie wurden; ihr wurdet

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 13, Notes on Grammar

A. VERBS. THE PAST TENSE FORMS

I.1

Machten Sie auch Bergtouren?
Did you go on hikes in the mountains too?

Wir fuhren nach Bad Pyrmont.
We went to Bad Pyrmont.

Herr Schumann gab einen Bericht.
Mr. Schumann gave a report.

Darüber stand ein Artikel in der Zeitung.
There was an article about that in the paper.

Die Zeit reichte nicht aus.
There wasn't sufficient time.

I. In Unit 12 we were concerned with only two of the devices for talking about past time in German: the PERFECT PHRASE and the construction using a PRESENT TENSE form of the verb plus an expression of time. We noted however that both German and English have a special verb form which is also used to talk about past time. This is the PAST TENSE form.

1. Notice the following examples from the basic sentences of this unit:

You will see that the PAST TENSE forms in the above sentences can be divided into two form-classes, verbs which end in -te or -ten and those which do not have these endings: machten reichte vs. fuhren gab stand
A. VERBS. THE PAST TENSE FORMS

I.2-5

mach-en, mach-te, ge-mach-t
reich-en, reich-te, ge-reich-t

fahr-en, fuhr, ge-fahr-en
geb-en, gab, ge-geb-en; steh-en, stand, ge-stand-en

steh-en, steh-t, stand, ge-stand-en (2)
fahr-en, fähr-t, fuhr, ge-fahr-en (3)

trink-en, trink-t, trank, ge-trunk-en (3)
nehm-en, nimm-t, nahm, ge-nomm-en (4)

2. The verbs above whose PAST TENSE forms end in -te (er-form) and -ten (wir-form) are WEAK VERBS. It was noted in Unit 12 that WEAK VERBS have PAST PARTICIPLES which end in -t. If we list the INFINITIVE, PAST TENSE ich- or er-form, and PAST PARTICIPLE of these verbs together, it will be seen that the STEM (the INFINITIVE or wir-form of the PRESENT minus the ending -en) in every case is the same. These verbs are often called REGULAR VERBS. The PAST TENSE form can always be predicted from the PAST PARTICIPLE and vice versa, and both forms can be derived from the PRESENT STEM by adding the endings indicated. However, it is not possible to tell by looking at the INFINITIVE or PRESENT STEM that a particular verb is a WEAK VERB. This fact must be known.

3. The verbs above whose PAST TENSE forms do not end in -te or -ten are STRONG VERBS. We noted in Unit 12 that STRONG VERBS have PAST PARTICIPLES ending in -n and incorporating arbitrary changes in the STEM. If we list the INFINITIVE, PAST TENSE ich- or er-form, and PAST PARTICIPLE of these verbs together, it will be seen that in every case the PAST TENSE STEM (equivalent to the er-form of the PAST in STRONG VERBS) is different from the INFINITIVE or PRESENT TENSE STEM. Notice that the PAST TENSE STEM sometimes differs from the PARTICIPLE STEM also. Because of the completely arbitrary changes in the form of the STEM in these verbs they are often called IRREGULAR VERBS.

4. In some verbs the PRESENT STEM, the PAST TENSE STEM and the PARTICIPLE STEM are all different. If these verbs also happen to have two different forms of the PRESENT STEM we have a total of four different stem forms. In most cases it is only the STEM VOWEL which varies, but there may be other changes as well. These forms are not predictable and cannot be derived from the INFINITIVE or PRESENT STEM. They must all be memorized.

5. The two form-classes have close parallels in English regular and irregular verbs: live, live-d, live-d; reach, reach-ed, reach-ed vs. give, gave, given; take, took, taken.
A. VERBS. THE PAST TENSE FORMS

II. Weak Verbs

ich, er mach-te; du mach-test; wir, sie mach-ten; ihr mach-tet
hör-te, hör-test, hör-ten, hör-tet; freu-te, freu-test, freu-ten, freu-tet

ich, er arbeit-e-te; du arbeit-e-test; wir, sie arbeit-e-ten; ihr arbeit-e-tet
meld-e-te, meld-e-test, meld-e-ten, meld-e-tet; öffn-e-te, öffn-e-test, öffn-e-ten, öffn-e-tet

denk-en, dach-te, ge-dach-t
kenn-en, kann-te, ge-kann-t; müss-en, muss-te, ge-muss-t; hab-en, hat-te, ge-hab-t

1. This group comprises the great majority of German verbs. The PAST TENSE can in most cases be derived from the PRESENT STEM simply by adding the endings: -te, -test, -ten, -tet.

2. Verbs whose PRESENT STEM ends in -d or -t or in a consonant plus -m or -n (except the combination of -l or -r plus -m or -n) require a connecting vowel between stem and ending. Note that these are the same verbs which require a connecting vowel in the du- and er-forms of the PRESENT.

3. There are a few IRREGULAR WEAK VERBS which change their stem before adding the endings of the PAST TENSE. Note that with the single exception of haben the stem of the PAST TENSE always corresponds to that of the PAST PARTICIPLE.
A. VERBS. THE PAST TENSE FORMS

III. Strong Verbs

ich, er gab; du gab-st; wir, sie gab-en; ihr gab-t
fuhr, fuhr-st, fuhr-en, fuhr-t; nahm, nahm-st, nahm-en, nahm-t

du stand-st or stand-e-st; ihr stand-e-t
du bat-st or bat-e-st; ihr bat-e-t

ich, er wurde; du wurdest
wir, sie wurden; ihr wurdet

1. The STRONG VERBS are a little over 100 in number and include a large number of very common verbs. We noted above that the PAST TENSE of these verbs has a different STEM form from the PRESENT. The PAST TENSE endings are: --, -st, -en, -t. Note that these endings are not the same as the endings of weak verbs in the PAST TENSE.

2. In verbs whose PAST STEM ends in -d or -t the connecting vowel -e- is sometimes inserted before the du-form ending. It is always inserted before the ihr-form ending.

3. The PAST TENSE of the verb werden has the following forms: ich, er wurde; du wurdest; wir, sie wurden; ihr wurdet.
A. VERBS. THE PAST TENSE FORMS

IV. Verb List

The following is a complete list of all verbs covered in Units 1 - 13. The first half contains all WEAK VERBS and gives the INFINITIVE, the er-form of the PAST TENSE, and the PAST PARTICIPLE together with the English meaning of each verb. The second half contains all STRONG VERBS and gives the INFINITIVE, the er-form of the PRESENT TENSE whenever this has a stem vowel change, the er-form of the PAST TENSE, and the PAST PARTICIPLE.

Weak verbs

abholen · holte ... ab · abgeholt: pick up
anmelden · meldete ... an · angemeldet: place a telephone call
anprobieren · probierte ... an · anprobiert: try on
anstellen · stellte ... an · angestellt: turn on
arbeiten · arbeitete · gearbeitet: work
auflegen · legte ... auf · aufgelegt: hang up
aufmachen · machte ... auf · aufgemacht: open
ausfüllen · füllte ... aus · ausgefüllt: fill out
auspacken · packte ... aus · ausgepackt: unpack
ausreichen · reichte ... aus · ausgereicht: be sufficient
ausrichten · richtete ... aus · ausgerichtet: tell, give a message
auswandern · wanderte ... aus · ist ausgewandert: emigrate
beantragen · beantragte · beantragt: apply for something
bearbeiten · bearbeitete · bearbeitet: process
bedanken sich · bedankte · bedankt: express one's thanks
beeilen sich · beeilte · beeilt: hurry
besohlen · besohlte · besohlt: sole
besorgen · besorgte · besorgt: attend to, take care of
bestellen · bestellte · bestellt: order
besuchen · besuchte · besucht: visit, attend
bezahlen · bezahlte · bezahlt: pay
brauchen · brauchte · gebraucht: need
buchstabieren · buchstabierte · buchstabiert: spell
danken · dankte · gedankt: thank
diktieren · diktierte · diktiert: dictate
einleben sich · lebte ... ein · eingelebt: get settled
einpacken · packte ... ein · eingepackt: wrap up
einrichten · richtete ... ein · eingerichtet: arrange (the furniture)
entschuldigen · entschuldigte · entschuldigt: excuse
erkundigen sich · erkundigte · erkundigt: inquire, ask
erreichen · erreichte · erreicht: reach
erwarten · erwartete · erwartet: expect
es fehlt mir · fehlte · gefehlt: I need it
fragen · fragte · gefragt: ask
freuen sich · freute · gefreut: look forward to, be glad
fühlen · fühlte · gefühlt: feel
fürchten · fürchtete · gefürchtet: fear, be afraid
gehören · gehörte · gehört: belong
gewöhnen sich · gewöhnte · gewöhnt: get used to, get accustomed
glauben · glaubte · geglaubt: believe
grüssen · grüsste · gegrüsst: greet
hängen · hängte · gehängt: hang
es handelt sich um · handelte ... um · gehandelt: it is about, the matter at hand is
hinsetzen sich · setzte ... hin · hingesetzt: sit down
hinstellen · stellte ... hin · hingestellt: put (down)
hoffen · hoffte · gehofft: hope
holen · holte · geholt: go and get
hören · hörte · gehört: hear
kämmen · kämmte · gekämmt: comb one's hair
kaufen · kaufte · gekauft: buy
kennenlernen · lernte ... kennen · kennengelernt: meet
klingeln · klingelte · geklingelt: ring
kosten · kostete · gekostet: cost
kümmern sich um · kümmerte ... um · gekümmert: bother (about something), take care
leben · lebte · gelebt: live
legen · legte · gelegt: lay, put
leisten sich etwas · leistete ... etwas · geleistet: be able to afford something
es lohnt sich · lohnte · gelohnt: it is worthwhile
lösen · löste · gelöst: solve, settle
machen · machte · gemacht: make, do
meinen · meinte · gemeint: mean
melden sich · meldete · gemeldet: answer
mieten · mietete · gemietet: rent
öffnen · öffnete · geöffnet: open
parken · parkte · geparkt: park
passen · passte · gepasst: fit, (go with), suit
rauchen · rauchte · geraucht: smoke
regnen · regnete · geregnet: rain
reinigen · reinigte · gereinigt: clean
sagen · sagte · gesagt: say, tell
saubermachen · machte ... sauber · saubergemacht: clean up
setzen sich · setzte · gesetzt: sit down
stellen · stellte · gestellt: put, place
stören · störte · gestört: disturb
studieren · studierte · studiert: study (at a university)
suchen · suchte · gesucht: look for
übersetzen · übersetzte · übersetzt: translate
umschalten · schaltete ... um · umgeschaltet: switch from one line to another
verheiraten sich · verheiratete · verheiratet: get married
vermieten · vermietete · vermietet: rent (to someone)
verpassen · verpasste · verpasst: miss
verzollen · verzollte · verzollt: declare
vorstellen · stellte ... vor · vorgestellt: introduce
wählen · wählte · gewählt: dial
wechseln · wechselte · gewechselt: change
wegschaffen · schaffte ... weg · weggeschafft: clear away
wiederholen · wiederholte · wiederholt: repeat
wohnen · wohnte · gewohnt: live, dwell
zahlen · zahlte · gezahlt: pay
zählen · zählte · gezählt: count
zeigen · zeigte · gezeigt: show
zumachen · machte ... zu · zugemacht: close

Strong verbs and irregular weak verbs

abfahren · fährt ... ab · fuhr ... ab · ist abgefahren: leave
abgeben · gibt ... ab · gab ... ab · abgegeben: give out with
abhängen von · hing ... ab · abgehangen: depend on
abheben · hob ... ab · abgehoben: withdraw
abnehmen · nimmt ... ab · nahm ... ab · abgenommen: take off
anbieten · bot ... an · angeboten: offer
anfangen · fängt ... an · fing ... an · angefangen: begin, start
anhaben · hat ... an · hatte ... an · angehabt: have on
ankommen · kam ... an · ist angekommen: arrive
anrufen · rief ... an · angerufen: call up
ansehen · sieht ... an · sah ... an · angesehen: look at
anstehen · stand ... an · angestanden: stand in line
anziehen · zog ... an · angezogen: put on
ausgeben · gibt ... aus · gab ... aus · ausgegeben: spend
aussehen · sieht ... aus · sah ... aus · ausgesehen: look, appear
behalten · behält · behielt · behalten: keep
bekommen · bekam · bekommen: get
bitten · bat · gebeten: ask, request
bleiben · blieb · ist geblieben: stay
bringen · brachte · gebracht: bring, take something somewhere
da sein · ist da · war da · ist dagewesen: be present, be there
denken · dachte · gedacht: think
dürfen · darf · durfte · (gedurft): be allowed
einziehen · zog ... ein · ist eingezogen: move in
empfehlen · empfiehlt · empfahl · empfohlen: commend, remember
essen · isst · ass · gegessen: eat
fahren · fährt · fuhr · ist gefahren: go, ride
finden · fand · gefunden: find, think
frieren · fror · gefroren: freeze
geben · gibt · gab · gegeben: give
gefallen · gefällt · gefiel · gefallen: please
gehen · ging · ist gegangen: go
haben · hat · hatte · gehabt: have
halten · hält · hielt · gehalten: stop, get by subscription
hängen · hing · gehangen: hang
heissen · hiess · geheissen: be called, named
helfen · hilft · half · geholfen: help
heraufbringen · brachte ... herauf · heraufgebracht: bring up, bring in
hereinkommen · kam ... herein · ist hereingekommen: come in
hingehen · ging ... hin · ist hingegangen: go (there)
hinkommen · kam ... hin · ist hingekommen: go, belong in a certain place
kennen · kannte · gekannt: know, be acquainted with
kommen · kam · ist gekommen: come
können · kann · konnte · (gekonnt): be able
lassen · lässt · liess · (gelassen): get, have
laufen (Ski) · läuft · lief · ist gelaufen: run, (to ski)
leihen (sich) · lieh · geliehen: lend, borrow
lesen · liest · las · gelesen: read
liegen · lag · gelegen: lie
mitfahren · fährt ... mit · fuhr ... mit · ist mitgefahren: go (with someone)
mitkommen · kam ... mit · ist mitgekommen: come along
mitnehmen · nimmt ... mit · nahm ... mit · mitgenommen: take along
müssen · muss · musste · (gemusst): have to
nehmen · nimmt · nahm · genommen: take
rufen · rief · gerufen: call
scheinen · schien · geschienen: shine
schliessen · schloss · geschlossen: close
schneiden · schnitt · geschnitten: cut
schreiben · schrieb · geschrieben: write
sehen · sieht · sah · gesehen: see
sein · ist · war · ist gewesen: be
sitzen · sass · gesessen: sit, fit
sollen · sollte · (gesollt): be supposed to
sprechen · spricht · sprach · gesprochen: speak
stattfinden · fand ... statt · stattgefunden: take place
stehen · stand · gestanden: stand
tragen · trägt · trug · getragen: carry
treffen · trifft · traf · getroffen: meet, encounter
treiben Sport · trieb · getrieben: engage in athletics
trinken · trank · getrunken: drink
tun · tat · getan: do
unterhalten sich · unterhält · unterhielt · unterhalten: converse
verbinden · verband · verbunden: connect
verbringen · verbrachte · verbracht: spend (time)
vergessen · vergisst · vergass · vergessen: forget
verschlafen · verschläft · verschlief · verschlafen: oversleep
verstehen · verstand · verstanden: understand
vorbeikommen · kam ... vorbei · ist vorbeigekommen: come by
vorhaben · hat ... vor · hatte ... vor · vorgehabt: plan to do
waschen · wäscht · wusch · gewaschen: wash
werden · wird · wurde · ist geworden: become (future auxiliary)
wissen · weiss · wusste · gewusst: know
wollen · will · wollte · (gewollt): want, intend
ziehen · zog · ist gezogen: move
zurückkommen · kam ... zurück · ist zurückgekommen: come back

Past tense. Usage

The tense for telling a story

In conversation, the perfect phrase is the most frequent device for past time.

The past tense narrates an episode, when several events follow one another. It is the tense for telling a story. It is also frequent in descriptive writing.

Endlich sah sie ein kleines Haus. Sie klopfte an die Tür. Die Männer öffneten.

Past tense or perfect phrase in conversation

In conversation the past tense and the perfect phrase can often replace each other. This is most true of sein and haben.

Ich hatte bisher noch keine Zeit hinzugehen and Ich habe bisher noch keine Zeit gehabt hinzugehen mean the same.

Es gefiel uns dort sehr gut and Es hat uns dort sehr gut gefallen also mean the same. A German speaker feels no difference. English allows less choice.

Past tense after als, da and weil

In conversation, a clause that begins with als, da or weil takes the past tense more often than the perfect phrase.

Als wir ankamen, regnete es. Ich konnte nicht hingehen, da ich eine Besprechung im Auswärtigen Amt hatte.

The perfect phrase also occurs in such a clause: Weil das Auto nur 2000.-- DM gekostet hat, kauften wir es auf der Stelle.

  1. 88

    At last she saw a little house. At the window were three little men.

  2. 89

    She knocked at the door, for she was freezing. The men opened, she said "Good day" to them and went into the room.

  3. 90

    Then she sat down on the bench by the stove and warmed herself. So she sat and ate her breakfast.

  4. 91

    The little men were hungry too and asked her for some bread. She gave it to them gladly.

  5. 92

    Have you been to the Paul Klee exhibition yet?

  6. 93

    Have you been to the Paul Klee exhibition yet?

  7. 94

    Up to now I haven't had time to go.

  8. 95

    Up to now I haven't had time to go.

  9. 96

    We liked it there very much.

  10. 97

    We liked it there very much.

  11. 98

    When we arrived it was raining.

  12. 99

    I couldn't go, since I had a conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  13. 100

    Weil das Auto nur 2000.-- DM kostete, haben wir es auf der Stelle gekauft.

    Because the car only cost 2000.-- DM we bought it on the spot.

  14. 101

    Weil das Auto nur 2000.-- DM gekostet hat, kauften wir es auf der Stelle.

    Because the car only cost 2000.-- DM we bought it on the spot.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 13, Notes on Grammar

B. PAST TENSE. USAGE.

I

Endlich sah sie ein kleines Haus. Am Fenster waren drei kleine Männer.
At last she saw a little house. At the window were three little men.

Sie klopfte an die Tür, denn sie fror. Die Männer öffneten, sie sagte "Guten Tag" zu ihnen und ging ins Zimmer.
She knocked at the door, for she was freezing. The men opened, she said "Good day" to them and went into the room.

Dann setzte sie sich auf die Bank am Ofen und wärmte sich. So sass sie und ass ihr Frühstück.
Then she sat down on the bench by the stove and warmed herself. So she sat and ate her breakfast.

Die kleinen Männer waren auch hungrig und baten sie um etwas Brot. Sie gab es ihnen gern.
The little men were hungry too and asked her for some bread. She gave it to them gladly.

I. In Unit 12 we noted that the PERFECT PHRASE is the most frequent device used in conversation for talking about past time. The PAST TENSE is used more specifically in narrating an episode, when several consecutive events or occurences are described. It is the "story-telling" tense. It also occurs frequently in descriptive passages in written prose. - From one of Grimm's Fairy Tales -
B. PAST TENSE. USAGE.

II

Waren Sie schon in der Paul Klee Ausstellung?
Have you been to the Paul Klee exhibition yet?

Sind Sie schon in der Paul Klee Ausstellung gewesen?
Have you been to the Paul Klee exhibition yet?

Ich hatte bisher noch keine Zeit hinzugehen.
Up to now I haven't had time to go.

Ich habe bisher noch keine Zeit gehabt hinzugehen.
Up to now I haven't had time to go.

Es gefiel uns dort sehr gut.
We liked it there very much.

Es hat uns dort sehr gut gefallen.
We liked it there very much.

II. However, the use of the PAST TENSE in German is not restricted to telling a story. We already noted in Unit 12 that it often occurs interchangeably with the PERFECT PHRASE in conversation. This is particularly true where the verbs sein and haben are concerned:

The German speaker does not feel any difference at all between the PAST TENSE and the PERFECT PHRASE in the above sentences and could use either one without hesitation. Note that the speaker of English is considerably more restricted in his choice of verb form in these sentences!
B. PAST TENSE. USAGE.

III

Als wir ankamen, regnete es.
When we arrived it was raining.

Ich konnte nicht hingehen, da ich eine Besprechung im Auswärtigen Amt hatte.
I couldn't go, since I had a conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Weil das Auto nur 2000.-- DM kostete, haben wir es auf der Stelle gekauft.
Because the car only cost 2000.-- DM we bought it on the spot.

Weil das Auto nur 2000.-- DM gekostet hat, kauften wir es auf der Stelle.
Because the car only cost 2000.-- DM we bought it on the spot.

III. There is one situation in conversational usage where the PAST TENSE is used even more frequently than the PERFECT PHRASE in German, although the latter also occurs. This is in a SUBORDINATE CLAUSE introduced by als, da, or weil:

Past participles as adjectives and adverbs

A participle as an adjective

A past participle can be an adjective or an adverb. It is then not part of a verb phrase.

Das Haus ist schon vermietet. The house is already rented. Jetzt ist sie verheiratet. Now she is married.

Many participles occur more often as adjectives than in a verb phrase.

A participle before a noun or an adjective

A participle can be a predicate adjective: Die Ausstellung ist sonntags geschlossen.

It can also be an attributive adjective, between the specifier and the noun: eine geschlossene Aufführung, seine verheiratete Tochter. English does the same.

A participle can also be an adverb before another adjective or adverb. In Sie gefiel uns ausgesprochen gut, ausgesprochen makes gut stronger: extremely well.

  1. 102

    The exhibition is closed on Sundays.

  2. 103

    Now she's married.

  3. 104

    Are the shoes soled yet?

  4. 105

    The house is already rented.

  5. 106

    It was a private (closed) performance.

  6. 107

    His married daughter lives in Berlin.

  7. 108

    We liked it extremely well.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 13, Notes on Grammar

C. PAST PARTICIPLES AS ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

I.1

Die Ausstellung ist sonntags geschlossen.
The exhibition is closed on Sundays.

Jetzt ist sie verheiratet.
Now she's married.

Sind die Schuhe schon besohlt?
Are the shoes soled yet?

Das Haus ist schon vermietet.
The house is already rented.

I. We have seen that the PERFECT PHRASE, used in German to talk about past time, is made up of an AUXILIARY VERB plus a PAST PARTICIPLE. In addition to this function PAST PARTICIPLES may also be used as ADJECTIVES or ADVERBS without being part of a verb phrase. Note the following examples from the basic sentences of this and preceding units:

The above forms have been introduced in the basic sentences only as adjectives, although you will have no difficulty now in recognizing them as participles. Very often a participle occurs more frequently as an adjective than as part of a verb phrase. Many of the verbs you have encountered however have participles which also function as adjectives.
C. PAST PARTICIPLES AS ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

I.2-3

Es war eine geschlossene Aufführung.
It was a private (closed) performance.

Seine verheiratete Tochter wohnt in Berlin.
His married daughter lives in Berlin.

Sie gefiel uns ausgesprochen gut.
We liked it extremely well.

2. In the above examples the PARTICIPLES all occur as PREDICATE ADJECTIVES. They may also appear as ATTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVES in the SPECIFIER - ADJECTIVE - NOUN sequence. You will note that German closely parallels English usage here.

3. PARTICIPLES may also function as ADVERBS, as attributives to other adjectives or adverbs.

Derivative adjectives and adverbs, 1 of 2

Adjectives with -isch

German makes adjectives and adverbs from other words. A past participle becomes an adjective with no change of form.

Most such words add a suffix. A few nouns add -isch, sometimes with an umlaut: der Franzose, französisch. Das Telephon gives telephonisch, by telephone.

English has -ish and -ic, as in girl-ish and diplomat-ic.

Adjectives with -lich from nouns

Many nouns add -lich to make an adjective or adverb, sometimes with an umlaut. English -ly is similar, as in hour-ly.

Der Tag gives täglich, daily. Die Natur gives natürlich, naturally.

The new word does not always keep the meaning of the noun. Das Gemüt, feelings, gives gemütlich, cozy. Der Name gives nämlich, namely.

Endlich, nämlich, stündlich and wöchentlich are slightly irregular.

  1. 109

    Frenchman - French

  2. 110

    telephone - by or on the telephone

  3. 111

    feelings - cozy

  4. 112

    nature - naturally, of course

  5. 113

    day - daily, every day

  6. 114

    circumstance - involved, complicated

  7. 115

    end - finally

  8. 116

    name - to be specific, namely

  9. 117

    hour - hourly

  10. 118

    week - weekly

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 13, Notes on Grammar

D. DERIVATIVE ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

II.1

der Franzose - französisch
Frenchman - French

das Telephon - telephonisch
telephone - by or on the telephone

In Unit 11 we called attention to a number of DERIVATIVE NOUNS, that is, nouns formed from verbs, adjectives and other nouns. I. The use of the PAST PARTICIPLE as an adjective or adverb discussed above represents the simplest type of DERIVATIVE ADJECTIVE formation. There is no change in FORM from PARTICIPLE to ADJECTIVE or ADVERB. This is similar to the use of the infinitive as a noun noted in Unit 11. II. Most DERIVATIVE ADJECTIVES and ADVERBS however are formed by the addition of a suffix to other parts of speech.

1. A few German adjectives and adverbs are formed from nouns by the addition of the suffix -isch, sometimes with umlaut. Compare the English suffixes: -ish, and -ic: girl-ish, diplomat-ic. Following this pattern form adjectives or adverbs from these nouns: der Diplomat, das Kind, die Stadt (umlaut).
D. DERIVATIVE ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

II.2

das Gemüt - gemütlich
feelings - cozy

die Natur - natürlich
nature - naturally, of course

der Tag - täglich
day - daily, every day

der Umstand - umständlich
circumstance - involved, complicated

das Ende - endlich
end - finally

der Name - nämlich
name - to be specific, namely

die Stunde - stündlich
hour - hourly

die Woche - wöchentlich
week - weekly

2. Many German adjectives and adverbs are formed from nouns by the addition of the suffix -lich, sometimes with umlaut of the stem vowel. Compare the English suffix -ly: man-ly, hour-ly. Notice that the derived forms do not always resemble the original noun closely in meaning. Following the pattern established above form adjectives or adverbs from the following nouns which have occurred in your basic sentences: der Beruf, der Bruder (umlaut), der Freund, der Monat, der Sommer, der Staat, der Zahnarzt (umlaut), das Bild, das Geschäft, das Haus (umlaut), das Jahr (umlaut), die Hand, die Wirtschaft, die Heimat, die Person (umlaut). The following derivatives are slightly irregular: endlich, nämlich, stündlich, wöchentlich.

Derivative adjectives and adverbs, 2 of 2

Words with -lich from adjectives, and -ig

A few adjectives also add -lich, sometimes with an umlaut: blau, bläulich. Kurz gives kürzlich, recently.

Many nouns add -ig, as English adds -y in rain-y: der Durst, durstig. Die Zeit gives zeitig, on time.

Sometimes the stem vowel takes an umlaut. Sometimes a final unstressed syllable drops: die Farbe, farbig.

  1. 119

    blue - bluish

  2. 120

    glad, happy - merry, merrily

  3. 121

    short, brief - recently

  4. 122

    new - recently

  5. 123

    thirst - thirsty

  6. 124

    color - colored, colorful

  7. 125

    das Wasser - wäss(e)rig

    water - watery

  8. 126

    time - timely, on time

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 13, Notes on Grammar

D. DERIVATIVE ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

II.3-4

blau - bläulich
blue - bluish

froh - fröhlich
glad, happy - merry, merrily

kurz - kürzlich
short, brief - recently

neu - neulich
new - recently

der Durst - durstig
thirst - thirsty

die Farbe - farbig
color - colored, colorful

das Wasser - wäss(e)rig
water - watery

die Zeit - zeitig
time - timely, on time

3. A few German adjectives and adverbs are formed from other adjectives in the same way. Compare the English suffix -ly in such formations as brief-ly, recent-ly. According to this pattern form adjectives or adverbs from the following adjectives: bekannt, ganz (umlaut), grün, schwer.

4. A number of German adjectives and adverbs are formed from nouns by the addition of the suffix -ig, sometimes with umlaut of the stem vowel and elision of a final unstressed syllable. Compare the English suffix -y in words such as rain-y, wind-y. According to this pattern form adjectives or adverbs from the following nouns which have occurred in your basic sentences: der Hunger, der Käse, das Gespräch, das Gebirge, die Milch, die Wolke.

Time expressions

Days and times with -s

The days of the week and the general times of the day have a form that ends in -s.

Sonntags means on Sundays. Wochentags means on weekdays. Abends, mittags, morgens and nachmittags are the same kind of word.

These forms start with a small letter.

How many times: -mal

A word that ends in -mal tells how many times. Ein gives einmal, once. Zwei gives zweimal, twice. Manch- gives manchmal, sometimes.

Any number can take -mal: dreimal, fünfmal, zehnmal, hundertmal, zehntausendmal.

  1. 127

    on weekdays

  2. 128

    on Sundays

  3. 129

    one - once, one time

  4. 130

    some, many - sometimes

  5. 131

    two - twice, two times

  6. 132

    three times - five times - ten times - a hundred times - ten thousand times

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 13, Notes on Grammar

E. TIME EXPRESSIONS

I. Time words in -s

wochentags
on weekdays

sonntags
on Sundays

In Unit 10 we noted the expressions abends, mittags, morgens, nachmittags. Two similar forms have occurred in this unit. The names of all the days of the week and the general times of the day thus have a special form ending in -s. Note that the writing system does not capitalize them. Derive these forms from the following nouns: der Freitag, der Mittwoch, der Vormittag, der Donnerstag.
E. TIME EXPRESSIONS

II. Time words in -mal

ein - einmal
one - once, one time

manch- - manchmal
some, many - sometimes

zwei - zweimal
two - twice, two times

dreimal - fünfmal - zehnmal - hundertmal - zehntausendmal
three times - five times - ten times - a hundred times - ten thousand times

We have so far encountered three words ending in -mal, all referring to time. Notice their meanings and how they are formed. Time words of this kind can be formed from any number by adding -mal to it.

Substitution Drill

  1. 133

    We've been to the opera once this year.

  2. 134

    On Sundays the library is closed.

  3. 135

    The exhibition is closed on weekdays.

  1. 136

    The exhibition is closed on weekdays.

  2. 137

    I thought you were still on leave.

  3. 138

    We went to Frankfurt.

  4. 139

    I said something about it yesterday.

  5. 140

    He writes her daily.

  1. 141

    She works for this combine.

  2. 142

    Please give my regards to Mr. Köhler.

  3. 143

    It was raining when I came home.

  4. 144

    When we arrived the sun was shining.

  1. 145

    When we arrived the sun was shining.

  2. 146

    We knew that he works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  3. 147

    He lent her the book.

  1. 148

    He lent her the book.

  2. 149

    She didn't want to go to the exhibition.

  3. 150

    Mr. Schumann gave a report.

Variation Drill

  1. 151

    He went to the mountains for a week.

  2. 152

    I couldn't go, as I had a conference.

  3. 153

    When I got to the [bus] stop the bus was just leaving.

  1. 154

    When I got to the [bus] stop the bus was just leaving.

  2. 155

    When my brother was here we went to the exhibition.

  3. 156

    I didn't call him up because I didn't have time.

  4. 157

    Since it rained all day Sunday we stayed home.

  1. 158

    She wasn't able to go along because she already had an appointment.

  2. 159

    Are the shoes already soled?

  3. 160

    It was a private ('closed') performance.

  1. 161

    It was a private ('closed') performance.

  2. 162

    We liked the exhibition extremely well.

Conversion Drill I

  1. 163

    Do you know the consul?

  2. 164

    He gets a book.

  3. 165

    He offers her a cigarette.

  4. 166

    I ask him for his address.

  5. 167

    Why are you staying home?

  6. 168

    He always eats at the White Stag.

  7. 169

    When does the conference begin?

  8. 170

    I can't find the article.

  1. 171

    Does the bus stop here?

  2. 172

    The picture hangs in my room.

  3. 173

    Is he lending you the money?

  4. 174

    I think he doesn't see me.

  5. 175

    The report is lying on the desk.

  6. 176

    She's writing him a letter.

  7. 177

    They're sitting at the third table on the left.

  8. 178

    He's talking about the new combines being formed.

  1. 179

    She drinks coffee.

  2. 180

    Do you understand him well?

  3. 181

    She's washing her hands.

  4. 182

    He's putting on his coat.

  5. 183

    My brother goes in for a lot of sports.

  6. 184

    We're helping them arrange the furniture.

  7. 185

    He's carrying two big suitcases.

  8. 186

    The union official is coming today.

  1. 187

    The Schusters are moving into their new apartment.

  2. 188

    She's coming back today.

  3. 189

    I want to buy myself a new car.

  4. 190

    The children aren't allowed to go to the movies.

  5. 191

    Can you talk to the plant manager about it?

  6. 192

    She has to go to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

  7. 193

    I'm supposed to be at the conference at ten o'clock.

  8. 194

    He works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  1. 195

    Miss Becker is applying for a visa.

  2. 196

    I think so too.

  3. 197

    I'm putting the application on your desk.

  4. 198

    The employment office doesn't answer.

  5. 199

    He opens the letter.

  6. 200

    He runs fast to the bus.

  7. 201

    He always forgets the camera.

  8. 202

    He expects you at five o'clock in his office.

Conversion Drill II

  1. 203

    He's in town today.

  2. 204

    I'll be at your place at five o'clock.

  3. 205

    Unfortunately I don't have any cigarettes with me.

  4. 206

    He won't have any time.

  5. 207

    She doesn't know either when he's coming.

  6. 208

    She'll know it.

  7. 209

    I like the pictures.

  8. 210

    The children will like the film.

  1. 211

    We're taking her to the hotel.

  2. 212

    The secretary will bring you the papers.

  3. 213

    I'm just reading a long report.

  4. 214

    I'll read the article.

  5. 215

    I'll come by your place shortly before eight.

  6. 216

    When will she come to Berlin?

  7. 217

    He's taking the German camera.

  8. 218

    I'll take the grey suit.

  1. 219

    He goes to the office at nine o'clock.

  2. 220

    Will you often go to the theater?

  3. 221

    Today we're going on a hike in the mountains.

  4. 222

    What are you going to do in town today?

  5. 223

    Mr. Schreiner is going to Germany.

  6. 224

    The union official will go to Washington for the conference.

  7. 225

    Mr. and Mrs. Bergmann are looking at the new houses.

  8. 226

    I'll take a look at the exhibition.

  1. 227

    I hear that you were in Bad Pyrmont.

  2. 228

    We'll hear the lecture at noon today.

  3. 229

    The students are taking great pains.

  4. 230

    The secretary will give him the papers.

  5. 231

    There's a detailed article about it in the paper today.

  6. 232

    How long will the car stand here?

  7. 233

    He'll probably miss the bus.

  8. 234

    Too bad that I'll miss the concert.

  1. 235

    She's expressing her thanks for the books.

  2. 236

    I'll express my thanks for the letter.

  3. 237

    Mrs. Seiffert is very much looking forward to the opera.

  4. 238

    My wife will be very glad about the letter.

  5. 239

    Mrs. Becker is calling up her acquaintances.

  6. 240

    I'll call you up at noon today.

  7. 241

    We don't like this modern furniture.

  8. 242

    He'll like it in Berlin.

  1. 243

    Mr. Walter meets an acquaintance.

  2. 244

    He'll meet her in town.

  3. 245

    My acquaintance's son is studying in Marburg.

  4. 246

    My brother will study abroad.

  5. 247

    I have to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

  6. 248

    She'll have to stand in line a long time.

  7. 249

    He shows the consul general the report.

  8. 250

    I'll show him the book.

  1. 251

    Please tell me what it's about.

  2. 252

    I don't know what it will be about.

  3. 253

    I'm glad to do that for him.

  4. 254

    I'll be glad to do that for you.

  5. 255

    Mr. Ullrich is talking with his wife about the exhibition.

  6. 256

    I'll talk with him about the trip.

Vocabulary Drill

  1. 257

    The Köhlers are [away] on vacation; they won't be coming back until next week.

  2. 258

    When we were on [our] vacation we got to know an American couple.

  3. 259

    When you are [away] on leave I'll take care of your house.

  4. 260

    On [our] vacation we were able to go skiing every day.

  5. 261

    We were on [our] vacation just when the exhibition took place.

  6. 262

    Is the industrial exposition open all year?

  7. 263

    On Mondays the exhibition is closed, isn't it?

  8. 264

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is open from nine to five.

  9. 265

    Is the Ministry of Economic Affairs closed on Saturdays?

  1. 266

    Some stores in town are open daily until seven o'clock.

  2. 267

    The swimming pool is closed today, unfortunately.

  3. 268

    Do you want to spend your vacation on the Baltic this year?

  4. 269

    I don't know how they spend their time.

  5. 270

    Den Sommer hat sie in Garmisch-Partenkirchen verbracht.

    She spent the summer in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

  6. 271

    He spent a whole year in Germany.

  7. 272

    She spent the whole afternoon down town.

  8. 273

    She was at the reception at the consul general's recently, wasn't she?

  9. 274

    The other day Mr. Bauer called up and asked for information about the import regulations.

  1. 275

    Who among ('of') you read the report about the labor unions recently?

  2. 276

    We were at the Paul Klee exhibition the other day.

  3. 277

    Were you at the conference in the Ministry of Economic Affairs the other day, too?

  4. 278

    In which newspaper was the report on ('about') Mr. Schumann's lecture?

  5. 279

    In his last letter there was nothing about his trip.

  6. 280

    Mr. Meyer's address is in the telephone book.

  7. 281

    On what page was the article about the combines and cartels?

  8. 282

    It says in the paper today that the concert by ('of') the Berlin Philharmonic is going to be on the 22nd.

  9. 283

    We got a detailed report on his trip.

  1. 284

    I had a lengthy conversation with Mr. Bauer after the conference.

  2. 285

    He gave out with a detailed explanation.

  3. 286

    She wrote a lengthy article for the "Frankfurter Allgemeine".

  4. 287

    His last letter wasn't very complete.

  5. 288

    If our money holds out we want to stay in Germany for six weeks.

  6. 289

    If there's enough time we can still go to the exhibition.

  7. 290

    There wasn't enough wool for the sweater.

  8. 291

    Unfortunately there wasn't quite enough stationery.

  9. 292

    For a [course of] treatment at Bad Pyrmont two weeks were not enough.

  1. 293

    There are approximately twenty people in the bus.

  2. 294

    There were too many people in the bank; I couldn't wait.

  3. 295

    The consul general, the Landrat and the plant manager spoke at ('in') the conference.

  4. 296

    There was an article about the cartel questions in the newspaper.

  5. 297

    A couple of friends went along in addition.

  6. 298

    No one stayed long at their house.

  7. 299

    No one could come on that evening.

  8. 300

    There were thirteen people present.

  9. 301

    When we were at the conference yesterday the plant manager was not there.

  1. 302

    Who else was there (too)?

  2. 303

    The union secretary was not present Wednesday.

  3. 304

    At this conference all teachers must be present.

Translation Drill 1

  1. 305

    Mr. Keller and Mr. Bruce are carrying on a conversation about an exhibition.

  2. 306

    Mr. and Mrs. Keller have been to this exhibition twice already.

  3. 307

    They liked it extremely well.

  4. 308

    Mr. Bruce hasn't been there yet since he has too much to do on weekdays.

  5. 309

    He didn't know that the exhibition is open on Sundays.

  6. 310

    Herr und Frau Jones waren in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

    Mr. and Mrs. Jones were in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

  7. 311

    They liked it there very much.

  8. 312

    They were lucky as far as the weather was concerned.

  9. 313

    It rained at first to be sure, but then the rest of the week was very nice.

  10. 314

    They were even able to take several hikes in the mountains.

  11. 315

    The Bergmanns spent their vacation in Pyrmont.

  12. 316

    They went there to take the waters.

  13. 317

    On their way back they drove through ('over') Hannover.

Translation Drill 2

  1. 318

    They visited the industrial exposition there.

  2. 319

    Mr. Meyer was at an interesting conference at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

  3. 320

    Mr. Keller had an important conference at the (German) Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  4. 321

    He unfortunately didn't have any time left to go to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

  5. 322

    In the newspaper the other day there was an article about new combines being formed and cartel questions.

  6. 323

    Mr. Schumann talked about that at the conference yesterday, too.

  7. 324

    Unfortunately a discussion did not arise afterwards as there wasn't enough time.

  8. 325

    There were a few plant managers there too.

  9. 326

    A union official gave out with long-winded explanations.

  10. 327

    Mr. Martin called up Mrs: Köhler.

  11. 328

    He expressed his thanks for a pleasant evening at the Köhlers' house.

  12. 329

    Since Mrs. Martin was still away on her vacation she wasn't able to go to the Köhlers'.

  13. 330

    She is coming back in a week however.

  14. 331

    The Köhlers are to visit the Martins soon too.

Response Drill 1

  1. 332

    Which exhibition did Herr Keller go to?

  2. 333

    He was at the Paul Klee exhibition.

  3. 334

    Why wasn't Mr. Bruce there?

  4. 335

    He has not had time to go there yet.

  5. 336

    When does he have too much to do?

  6. 337

    He has too much to do on weekdays.

  7. 338

    When is the exhibition open?

  8. 339

    It is open daily.

  9. 340

    How many times have Herr and Frau Keller been to the exhibition?

  10. 341

    They have already been there twice.

  11. 342

    How did they like the exhibition?

  12. 343

    They liked it extremely well.

  13. 344

    When did Herr and Frau Jones return from vacation?

  14. 345

    They came back yesterday.

  15. 346

    Where were they?

  16. 347

    Sie waren in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

    They were in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

  17. 348

    How did they like it there?

  18. 349

    They liked it there very much.

  19. 350

    What was the weather like?

  20. 351

    When they arrived, it was raining, but the rest of the week was very nice.

  21. 352

    Did Herr and Frau Jones take many walks?

  22. 353

    Yes, they even went on several mountain hikes.

  23. 354

    Where did the Bergmanns spend their vacation?

  24. 355

    They went to Bad Pyrmont for a health cure.

  25. 356

    Why did they make a detour to Hanover on the return trip?

  26. 357

    They wanted to see the industrial fair.

Response Drill 2

  1. 358

    Where did the conference take place?

  2. 359

    It took place at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

  3. 360

    Why didn't Herr Keller go?

  4. 361

    He had an urgent meeting at the Foreign Office.

  5. 362

    What did Mr. Schumann give a report on?

  6. 363

    He gave a report on the formation of new combines and cartel issues.

  7. 364

    Which newspaper recently carried a report about it?

  8. 365

    In the Frankfurter Allgemeine.

  9. 366

    Why was there no discussion after the conference?

  10. 367

    There wasn't sufficient time, unfortunately.

  11. 368

    Why wasn't there enough time?

  12. 369

    A union official gave out with long-winded explanations.

  13. 370

    When did Herr Martin call Frau Köhler?

  14. 371

    He called her the morning after the party.

  15. 372

    Why did he call her?

  16. 373

    He wanted to thank them for the pleasant evening.

  17. 374

    When is Frau Martin coming back?

  18. 375

    She will be back in eight days.

  19. 376

    Whom should the Köhlers visit soon?

  20. 377

    They are supposed to visit the Martins soon.

Narrative

  1. 378

    You wanted to know why Mrs. Martin was not at the party at the Köhlers' house?

  2. 379

    She had won a round-trip ticket in a contest and was traveling through the Federal Republic at the time.

  3. 380

    After ten years of marriage, she was spending a vacation alone for the first time.

  4. 381

    Since her husband was not with her, she was finally free to do what she liked and did not have to do any of the things he always wanted.

  5. 382

    The bus covered the route from its starting point in Stuttgart via Heidelberg to Frankfurt very quickly.

  6. 383

    Die anderen Reiseteilnehmer besichtigten die historische Paulskirche, wo 1848 - 1849 die erste Deutsche Nationalversammlung tagte, und nahmen dann einen halben Tag lang andere berühmte Bauten in Augenschein.

    The other members of the tour visited the historic St. Paul's Church, where the first German National Assembly met in 1848–1849, and then spent half a day looking at other famous buildings.

  7. 384

    Meanwhile, she took a side trip to Offenbach.

  8. 385

    She was more interested in the elegant leather handbags and modern jewelry for which the city is famous.

  9. 386

    From Frankfurt they went to Bonn, where she did not visit the Ministry of Economic Affairs, where a distant relative of her husband's works in the press archive.

  10. 387

    She preferred to visit Beethoven's birthplace.

  11. 388

    In Cologne, near the cathedral, she discovered a building of great importance to her, where the famous Kölnisch Wasser, or eau de cologne, is made.

  12. 389

    In Hamburg, she did not join those who toured the port facilities, but rather those who went for a stroll along the Reeperbahn.

  13. 390

    Why shouldn't she?

  14. 391

    Her husband had told her that he had taken a stroll along the Reeperbahn the previous year, purely on the occasion of a conference in Hamburg, of course!

  15. 392

    Well, she did it on the occasion of a tour!

  16. 393

    So there was, after all, one attraction that interested them both.

  17. 394

    From Hamburg they went to Hanover, where she steered clear of the industrial fair.

  18. 395

    Über Kassel fuhr man dann weiter nach Nürnberg, wo die anderen das berühmte Albrecht-Dürer-Haus besichtigten, während sie die berühmten Nürnberger Lebkuchen an Ort und Stelle einkaufen konnte.

    They then continued via Kassel to Nuremberg, where the others toured the famous Albrecht Dürer House while she was able to buy the famous Nuremberg gingerbread right where it was made.

  19. 396

    Endstation war München, wo gerade eine Paul-Klee-Ausstellung stattfand, die sie ausser Acht liess, weil ihr von allen modernen Malern Paul Klee am wenigsten gefällt.

    The final stop was Munich, where a Paul Klee exhibition was being held, which she ignored because, of all modern painters, Paul Klee is the one she likes least.

Situations

  1. 397

    Mr. Wilson would like to see the Paul Klee exhibition, but he does not know the city very well, since he has not been living there long.

  2. 398

    He asks Mr. Becker whether he would not like to come along.

  3. 399

    Mr. Becker has already been there, but he is glad to go again; the fact is he liked the exhibition exceptionally well.

  4. 400

    He wants to take his car and pick Mr. Wilson up at three o'clock this afternoon.

  5. 401

    He asks whether he can show him the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Economics, the new theater and perhaps a museum as well afterward.

  6. 402

    Mr. Wilson would like to see all of that.

  7. 403

    Later the two gentlemen want to have a glass of beer.

  8. 404

    Mr. Wilson has to be home again at six o'clock, since he wants to go to the opera with some acquaintances.

  1. 405

    Mr. Jones and Mr. Bergmann have not seen each other for a long time.

  2. 406

    Mr. Jones asks Mr. Bergmann whether he has been on vacation, where he went and whether he saw a lot.

  3. 407

    Mr. Bergmann was with his wife first for a week in München and then for a week in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

  4. 408

    The weather was very nice, it only rained twice.

  5. 409

    From Garmisch-Partenkirchen they made several trips into the mountains.

  6. 410

    Unfortunately they did not have a good view from the Zugspitze, since the weather was bad.

  7. 411

    On the way back they stayed another day in Heidelberg, in order to see the city.

  8. 412

    They came back a week ago.

  9. 413

    Mr. Jones had been on vacation in the meantime too.

  10. 414

    He and his wife went to Bad Pyrmont this year.

  11. 415

    They stayed there three weeks for a cure.

  12. 416

    They took a great many walks and since they had beautiful weather, they were able to sit outdoors a lot.

  13. 417

    They also made a side trip to Hannover, in order to see the industrial fair there.

  14. 418

    Since Mrs. Jones has relatives in Hannover, they were able to stay with them.

  1. 419

    Mr. Müller says that he called Mr. Neumann yesterday morning.

  2. 420

    Unfortunately he was not able to reach him at his office, though.

  3. 421

    He wanted to know whether his secretary had told him that a conference was being held at the Ministry of Economics yesterday afternoon.

  4. 422

    Unfortunately Mr. Neumann was not able to come to the conference.

  5. 423

    First he had to go to an important discussion at the Foreign Office.

  6. 424

    Then he drove to the consulate to pick up his visa and had to attend to some other things too.

  7. 425

    He has to make a business trip to America next week.

  8. 426

    Mr. Müller tells Mr. Neumann that the conference was very interesting.

  9. 427

    Mr. Schumann gave a report on the new mergers and cartel questions.

  10. 428

    Unfortunately it did not come to a discussion afterward, since there was not enough time left.

The particulars

The course
Foreign Service Institute, German Basic Course, Washington, 1961. Public domain. The teaching pages, the glosses and the narration of lines the tape lacks are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The app
The course on your phone, with the drills, your place kept and the audio offline.
The book
New Poems, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.