German Basic Course 1732 Studios

German · Unit 15

Unit 15: Besuch in Berlin

Volume 2

Mr. Bauer and Mr. Allen meet (each other) on the 'Kurfürstendamm' [to go] for a little drive.

477 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    Mr. Bauer and Mr. Allen meet (each other) on the 'Kurfürstendamm' [to go] for a little drive.

    HerrMr.
    BauerBauer
    undand
    HerrMr.
    AllenAllen
    treffenmeet
    sichto get used (to something)
    ambest
    KurfürstendammKurfürstendamm (Berlin boulevard)
    zuto be declared
    einera (dative)
    kleinenlittle
    Autofahrt.the automobile trip
  2. 2

    Mr. Allen, I'm glad to see you (again) here in Berlin.

  3. 3

    How was your trip?

  4. 4

    Everything worked out fine.

  1. 5

    I didn't have any trouble.

  2. 6

    Have you been able to look around town a bit yet?

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    Yes, last night I ('already') got a first impression of the 'Kurfürstendamm'.

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    It's a fascinating street.

Schwierigkeiten
the difficulty
  1. 9

    Can you imagine that from the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century there was a bridle path here?

  2. 10

    Too bad that it's no longer in existence.

  3. 11

    You sometimes long for the old days when you see the hustle and bustle today.

Betrieb
the activity, comings and goings, hustle and bustle
  1. 12

    Here Elector Joachim the Second of Brandenburg even used to ride to his hunting lodge in the 'Grunewald' to visit his ladylove.

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    The love of adventure and the spirit of enterprise no doubt were always present in the Berlin air.

  3. 14

    Mr. Bauer and Mr. Allen meet (each other) on the 'Kurfürstendamm' [to go] for a little drive.

  4. 15

    Mr. Allen, I'm glad to see you (again) here in Berlin.

  5. 16

    How was your trip?

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    Everything worked out fine.

  7. 18

    I didn't have any trouble.

  8. 19

    Have you been able to look around town a bit yet?

  9. 20

    Yes, last night I ('already') got a first impression of the 'Kurfürstendamm'.

  10. 21

    It's a fascinating street.

  11. 22

    Can you imagine that from the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century there was a bridle path here?

  12. 23

    Too bad that it's no longer in existence.

  13. 24

    You sometimes long for the old days when you see the hustle and bustle today.

  14. 25

    Here Elector Joachim the Second of Brandenburg even used to ride to his hunting lodge in the 'Grunewald' to visit his ladylove.

  15. 26

    The love of adventure and the spirit of enterprise no doubt were always present in the Berlin air.

Grunewald
the 'Grunewald' (forest on the outskirts of Berlin)
Berliner
Berlin (as adjective)
Luft
the air

Basic Sentences II

  1. 27

    At the end of the street you see the Memorial Church.

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    Was it damaged this ('so') badly during the war?

stark
strong, violent, severe
beschädigt
to damage
worden
was damaged
  1. 29

    Yes, and the ruins are now to be left standing as a solemn reminder.

  2. 30

    I just saw a sign "To the Zoo".

nun
now
  1. 31

    Is the 'Tiergarten' near here then?

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    I suspect you are confusing the 'Tiergarten' with the Zoological Gardens.

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    This is the zoo here.

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    The 'Tiergarten' is a park that borders on the zoo.

der
which, that
  1. 35

    Why is it called "animal garden" then?

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    It was formerly a wooded area in which there was game ('also').

  3. 37

    And when did it become a park? ('when did a park grow out of it').

genannt
to call, name
genannt
is called, named
dem
in which
Wild
the game
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    That was in Frederick the Great's time. -

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    Here we are in the 'Tiergarten' now, looking toward the Victory Column.

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    I see some people up on the platform.

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    There's certainly a good view from there today.

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    Do you feel like climbing up, or shall we drive on to the Brandenburg Gate first?

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    At the end of the street you see the Memorial Church.

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    Was it damaged this ('so') badly during the war?

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    Yes, and the ruins are now to be left standing as a solemn reminder.

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    I just saw a sign "To the Zoo".

  10. 47

    Is the 'Tiergarten' near here then?

  11. 48

    I suspect you are confusing the 'Tiergarten' with the Zoological Gardens.

  12. 49

    This is the zoo here.

  13. 50

    The 'Tiergarten' is a park that borders on the zoo.

  14. 51

    Why is it called "animal garden" then?

  15. 52

    It was formerly a wooded area in which there was game ('also').

  16. 53

    And when did it become a park? ('when did a park grow out of it').

  17. 54

    That was in Frederick the Great's time. -

  18. 55

    Here we are in the 'Tiergarten' now, looking toward the Victory Column.

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    I see some people up on the platform.

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    There's certainly a good view from there today.

  21. 58

    Do you feel like climbing up, or shall we drive on to the Brandenburg Gate first?

Sicht
the view
Haben
to have the desire, to feel like
Brandenburger
Brandenburg (as adjective)

Basic Sentences III

  1. 59

    Let's drive on first.

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    Everyone has to see the Brandenburg Gate. ('One has to have seen the Brandenburg Gate').

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    On the far side of it the street 'Unter den Linden' begins.

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    I've been told that was at one time one of the most beautiful streets in the center of town.

Jenseits
on the far side, beyond
Linden
the linden tree
erzählt
to tell
gewesen
it was, used to be
Innenstadt
the center of town
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    Yes, but a lot of things have changed since then.

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    Many of the old buildings were destroyed during the war. ('... became a victim of the war').

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    The big linden trees, too, that still can be seen in old pictures?

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    The trees were removed even before the war.

geändert
to change
Opfer
the victim, sacrifice
Bauten
the building
die
which, that
sehen
to be seen
entfernt
to remove
entfernt
it was removed
  1. 67

    The parliament building ('Reichstag') is on this side of the Brandenburg Gate, isn't it?

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    Yes. They didn't begin to rebuild it until after the war.

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    Was it destroyed during the war?

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    Nein, schon 1933 durch den berüchtigten Reichstagsbrand.

    No, back in 1933, by the notorious Reichstag fire.

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    Let's drive on first.

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    Everyone has to see the Brandenburg Gate. ('One has to have seen the Brandenburg Gate').

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    On the far side of it the street 'Unter den Linden' begins.

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    I've been told that was at one time one of the most beautiful streets in the center of town.

  9. 75

    Yes, but a lot of things have changed since then.

  10. 76

    Many of the old buildings were destroyed during the war. ('... became a victim of the war').

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    The big linden trees, too, that still can be seen in old pictures?

  12. 78

    The trees were removed even before the war.

  13. 79

    The parliament building ('Reichstag') is on this side of the Brandenburg Gate, isn't it?

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    Yes. They didn't begin to rebuild it until after the war.

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    Was it destroyed during the war?

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    Nein, schon 1933 durch den berüchtigten Reichstagsbrand.

    No, back in 1933, by the notorious Reichstag fire.

Erst
not until
zerstört
to destroy
zerstört
it was destroyed
durch
by, as a result of

Basic Sentences IV

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    Now I'd like to see the Congress Hall too.

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    Das war doch Amerikas Beitrag zur Internationalen Bauausstellung 1957.

    That was America's contribution to the International Architectural Exposition in 1957.

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    It's a very boldly conceived structure.

gern
I would like
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    Do you want to go through the meeting rooms?

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    Be glad to.

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    Afterwards we can drive back through the Hansa Section.

Hinterher
afterwards
  1. 89

    The apartment houses in this section were designed by famous architects from different countries, weren't they?

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    Yes. In addition to many German [architects] numerous foreign architects also participated in the project, from Brazil, Finland, Austria, Switzerland and other countries.

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    Now I'd like to see the Congress Hall too.

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    Das war doch Amerikas Beitrag zur Internationalen Bauausstellung 1957.

    That was America's contribution to the International Architectural Exposition in 1957.

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    It's a very boldly conceived structure.

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    Do you want to go through the meeting rooms?

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    Be glad to.

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    Afterwards we can drive back through the Hansa Section.

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    The apartment houses in this section were designed by famous architects from different countries, weren't they?

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    Yes. In addition to many German [architects] numerous foreign architects also participated in the project, from Brazil, Finland, Austria, Switzerland and other countries.

von
by
Architekten
the architect
Brasilien
Brazil
Finnland
Finland
Österreich
Austria
Schweiz
Switzerland

Verbs. The passive phrase, 1 of 2

Werden with a past participle

Haben or sein with a past participle makes the perfect. Werden with a past participle makes a different verb phrase.

A passive phrase is a form of the auxiliary werden and a past participle.

This question has a passive phrase: Wurde es im Krieg zerstört. Was it destroyed during the war.

The subject receives the action

The perfect and the pluperfect always refer to past time. A passive phrase can refer to present, past or future time.

In an active sentence the subject does the action. In a passive sentence the subject is in most cases the person or thing acted upon.

Der Bericht wird gerade geschrieben. The report is being written. Das Reichstagsgebäude wurde vor dem Kriege zerstört. The parliament building was destroyed before the war.

Who or what did it

An agent is the person who does the action. An instrument is a thing, not a person, that causes it.

A passive sentence can name the agent or the instrument, or name neither.

German usually puts von and a dative form before the agent: von dem Betriebsleiter.

It always puts durch and an accusative form before the instrument: durch den berüchtigten Reichstagsbrand.

The form of werden gives the time

Werden is the passive auxiliary and also the future auxiliary. A form of werden with a past participle is first of all passive.

A present form of werden can refer to present or future time: Das Gepäck wird gerade abgeholt. Das Gepäck wird nächste Woche abgeholt.

With werden twice, the phrase refers only to the future: Das Gepäck wird sicher abgeholt werden.

Past time in the passive

For past time, the passive uses wurde, or a perfect or pluperfect phrase.

That perfect phrase always has sein. The past participle of the passive auxiliary is worden: Die Wohnhäuser in diesem Viertel sind von bekannten Architekten entworfen worden.

When werden is not the passive auxiliary, its past participle is geworden: Jetzt ist es wieder kühler geworden.

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    Why is it called "animal garden" then?

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    Was it destroyed during the war?

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    The suitcases will be taken to the baggage checkroom tomorrow.

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    The parliament building was destroyed before the war.

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    The report is just being written.

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    The report is just being written by the plant manager.

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    The parliament building was destroyed by the notorious Reichstag fire before the war.

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    The suitcases will be taken to the baggage checkroom by the men tomorrow.

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    The baggage is just being picked up.

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    The baggage is going to be picked up next week.

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    The baggage will certainly be picked up.

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    Was the church damaged this badly during the war?

  13. 111

    The apartment houses in this section were designed by famous architects.

  14. 112

    Now it has become cooler.

  15. 113

    His wife has become an American [citizen].

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 15, Notes on Grammar

A. VERBS. THE PASSIVE PHRASE.

I

Warum wird er dann "Tiergarten" genannt?
Why is it called "animal garden" then?

Wurde es im Krieg zerstört?
Was it destroyed during the war?

In Units 12 and 14 we noted the occurrence of past participles in verb phrases with the auxiliary verbs haben and sein. In this unit we have encountered a number of sentences in which past participles occur with various forms of the auxiliary verb werden:

The phrase consisting of a form of the auxiliary verb werden and a past participle is called the PASSIVE PHRASE.
A. VERBS. THE PASSIVE PHRASE.

II

Die Koffer werden morgen zur Gepäckaufgabe gebracht werden.
The suitcases will be taken to the baggage checkroom tomorrow.

Das Reichstagsgebäude wurde vor dem Kriege zerstört.
The parliament building was destroyed before the war.

Der Bericht wird gerade geschrieben.
The report is just being written.

The PASSIVE PHRASE is not restricted to a particular time of action as are the perfect and pluperfect phrases, which always refer to past time. Passive phrases may refer to present, past or future time. They differ from the actor-action-goal, or subject-verb-object pattern familiar to us in that the subject itself is in most cases the goal of action, the person or thing acted upon.
A. VERBS. THE PASSIVE PHRASE.

III

Der Bericht wird gerade von dem Betriebsleiter geschrieben.
The report is just being written by the plant manager.

Das Reichstagsgebäude wurde durch den berüchtigten Reichstagsbrand vor dem Kriege zerstört.
The parliament building was destroyed by the notorious Reichstag fire before the war.

Die Koffer werden morgen von den Männern zur Gepäckaufgabe gebracht werden.
The suitcases will be taken to the baggage checkroom by the men tomorrow.

In a PASSIVE PHRASE the AGENT or INSTRUMENT responsible for the action may or may not be indicated. In the sentences above it is not. We read only that the action occurred, is occurring or will occur. The AGENT or INSTRUMENT may however be expressed:

Note that German usually introduces the AGENT, or person responsible for the action by the preposition von, always followed by a dative form. The INSTRUMENT, the non-personal cause or instigator of the action, is introduced by the preposition durch, which is always followed by an accusative form.
A. VERBS. THE PASSIVE PHRASE.

IV

Das Gepäck wird gerade abgeholt.
The baggage is just being picked up.

Das Gepäck wird nächste Woche abgeholt.
The baggage is going to be picked up next week.

Das Gepäck wird sicher abgeholt werden.
The baggage will certainly be picked up.

Ist die Kirche im Kriege so stark beschädigt worden?
Was the church damaged this badly during the war?

Die Wohnhäuser in diesem Viertel sind von bekannten Architekten entworfen worden.
The apartment houses in this section were designed by famous architects.

Jetzt ist es wieder kühler geworden.
Now it has become cooler.

Seine Frau ist Amerikanerin geworden.
His wife has become an American [citizen].

Reference to present, past or future time is indicated by the form of the PASSIVE AUXILIARY werden. Since werden is also the future auxiliary it is necessary to distinguish carefully between the two. Whenever a form of werden occurs with a past participle the implication is first of all passive. Remember, however, that Germans often use the present to talk about the future, and a passive phrase with a present tense form of werden may refer either to present or future time, depending on the context. A phrase in which a form of werden occurs twice refers of course only to future time.

Reference to past time may be indicated either by the simple past form wurde, as we have seen above, or by a perfect (or pluperfect) phrase.

Notice the special past participle form of the passive auxiliary, worden. When the verb werden is not functioning as the passive auxiliary, its past participle is geworden.

A perfect phrase with werden ALWAYS has the auxiliary verb sein, however.

Verbs. The passive phrase, 2 of 2

The dative stays dative

Some verbs take a dative indirect object or complement. In a passive phrase that dative form stays.

Often there is no nominative subject at all. Mir wurde gesagt, dass er ein guter Tennisspieler ist. I was told that he is a good tennis player.

Ihm konnte nicht geholfen werden. He could not be helped.

A passive that begins with es

A passive phrase often follows es at the start of the sentence. Sometimes a real subject comes later: Es wird "Die Zauberflöte" von Mozart gespielt.

Sometimes there is no subject at all. The passive phrase then says only that an action is going on.

Es wurde viel geredet. There was a lot of talking. Da wurde gegessen und getrunken bis spät in die Nacht.

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    I was told that he's a good tennis player.

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    He could not be helped.

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    The children were not believed.

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    Mozart's "Magic Flute" is playing.

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    There was a lot of talking.

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    People work hard there.

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    There was eating and drinking far into the night.

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    Then things were unpacked and furniture was arranged and the cleaning up was done.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 15, Notes on Grammar

A. VERBS. THE PASSIVE PHRASE.

V

Mir wurde gesagt, dass er ein guter Tennisspieler ist.
I was told that he's a good tennis player.

Ihm konnte nicht geholfen werden.
He could not be helped.

Den Kindern ist nicht geglaubt worden.
The children were not believed.

A number of German verbs occur with a dative indirect object or complement. The dative form remains when these verbs occur in PASSIVE PHRASES. In many cases no nominative subject form occurs at all.
A. VERBS. THE PASSIVE PHRASE.

VI

Es wird "Die Zauberflöte" von Mozart gespielt.
Mozart's "Magic Flute" is playing.

Es wurde viel geredet.
There was a lot of talking.

Es wird dort schwer gearbeitet.
People work hard there.

Da wurde gegessen und getrunken bis spät in die Nacht.
There was eating and drinking far into the night.

Dann wurde ausgepackt und eingerichtet und saubergemacht.
Then things were unpacked and furniture was arranged and the cleaning up was done.

The PASSIVE PHRASE is often introduced by es in German. Sometimes it is followed by a true grammatical subject, sometimes not, and in some cases no subject at all appears in the sentence. The PASSIVE PHRASE then merely indicates that some action is going on.

The infinitive phrase with sein

Sein with zu and an infinitive

German uses sein with an infinitive with zu where English uses a passive. Its word order is that of any infinitive phrase.

The phrase often means that something can, must or ought to be done.

Die Lindenbäume sind noch auf alten Bildern zu sehen. The linden trees still can be seen in old pictures. Danach ist ein Bericht zu schreiben. After that a report must be written.

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    The linden trees still can be seen in old pictures. ('... are still to be seen ... ')

  2. 123

    After that a report is to be written. ('... must be written ... ')

  3. 124

    There's still a lot to be done in the store tonight.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 15, Notes on Grammar

B. THE INFINITIVE PHRASE WITH sein

I

Die Lindenbäume sind noch auf alten Bildern zu sehen.
The linden trees still can be seen in old pictures. ('... are still to be seen ... ')

Danach ist ein Bericht zu schreiben.
After that a report is to be written. ('... must be written ... ')

Heute abend ist im Geschäft noch viel zu tun.
There's still a lot to be done in the store tonight.

The INFINITIVE PHRASE after the verb sein follows the pattern outlined and described in Unit 14. It has a special implication however.

The infinitive with zu occurs after the verb sein in German where a passive phrase is used in English. This construction often implies possibility, necessity or obligation, i.e., something "can, must or ought to" be done.

The indefinite pronoun man

Man: one or you

An indefinite pronoun refers to no particular person. Man is an indefinite pronoun. It means one or you.

German uses man often. American English rarely uses one. It prefers you or they.

Von diesem Tisch aus hat man eine schöne Aussicht. There is a beautiful view from this table.

Other forms of man

Man is the nominative. The dative is einem and the accusative is einen. The possessive word is sein.

Dann fällt es einem ein has the dative. Die Beamten fragen einen immer has the accusative.

Man kann seine Hemden dort aufbügeln lassen has sein. You can get your shirts pressed there.

Man refers back to man

An antecedent is the word that a later word refers back to.

When the antecedent is man, German always refers back to it with a form of man.

Man wird oft von den Beamten gefragt, ob man Zigaretten bei sich hat. English says: one is often asked by the officials if he has cigarettes with him.

Man in place of a passive

A sentence with man often means the same as a passive phrase. Either can be used when the sentence names no agent and no instrument.

Die hat man vor dem Kriege entfernt and Die sind vor dem Kriege entfernt worden mean the same.

So do Man sagt, dass and Es wird gesagt, dass.

  1. 125

    How do you say "good bye" in German?

  2. 126

    There's a beautiful view from this table.('You have a beautiful view... ').

  3. 127

    Then one remembers that one still has to go to the bank.

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    The officials always ask you if you have coffee or cigarettes with you.

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    You can get your shirts pressed there. ('One can get one's ... ')

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    One is often asked by the officials if he has cigarettes with him.

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    Die sind vor dem Kriege entfernt worden.

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    Warum wird dieser Park "Tiergarten" genannt?

  9. 133

    Es wird gesagt, dass Kurfürst Joachim II. hier zu seiner Geliebten ritt.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 15, Notes on Grammar

C. THE INDEFINITE PRONOUN man

I

Wie sagt man "good bye" auf deutsch?
How do you say "good bye" in German?

Von diesem Tisch aus hat man eine schöne Aussicht.
There's a beautiful view from this table.('You have a beautiful view... ').

We have encountered a number of sentences in which the word man "one, you" occurs.

The construction with man occurs frequently in German, although American English only rarely uses the indefinite pronoun "one". We generally prefer to say "we", "you" or "they".
C. THE INDEFINITE PRONOUN man

II

Dann fällt es einem ein, dass man noch zur Bank muss.
Then one remembers that one still has to go to the bank.

Die Beamten fragen einen immer, ob man Kaffee oder Zigaretten bei sich hat.
The officials always ask you if you have coffee or cigarettes with you.

Man kann seine Hemden dort aufbügeln lassen.
You can get your shirts pressed there. ('One can get one's ... ')

Other forms of the indefinite pronoun also occur in German:

The dative and accusative forms of the indefinite pronoun are einem and einen; the possessive word is sein.
C. THE INDEFINITE PRONOUN man

III

Man wird oft von den Beamten gefragt, ob man Zigaretten bei sich hat.
One is often asked by the officials if he has cigarettes with him.

Note that Germans consistently use a form of the indefinite pronoun to refer back to an indefinite pronoun antecedent.
C. THE INDEFINITE PRONOUN man

IV

Die hat man vor dem Kriege entfernt.
Die sind vor dem Kriege entfernt worden.

Warum nennt man diesen Park "Tiergarten"?
Warum wird dieser Park "Tiergarten" genannt?

Man sagt, dass Kurfürst Joachim II. hier zu seiner Geliebten ritt.
Es wird gesagt, dass Kurfürst Joachim II. hier zu seiner Geliebten ritt.

The German construction with man is often equivalent to and interchangeable with the PASSIVE PHRASE, when no specific agent or instrument is indicated.

Prepositions: diesseits, jenseits

Place names before a noun in English

English can put a place name before a noun to modify it: the New York telephone directory, the Washington Post, his Connecticut home.

The name keeps its form and its spelling.

Place names with -er

Some German place names take a special form before a noun. They add the suffix -er, sometimes with an umlaut, and take no other ending.

Das Brandenburger Tor, die Berliner Luft, die Schwarzwälder Häuser. Münchner and Bremer are irregular.

Most are city names. Some are names of larger districts, such as Schwarzwald. Berlin, Garmisch and Wiesbaden take -er in the same way.

These forms are capitalized. The adjectives deutsch, französisch and englisch are not capitalized, and they take adjective endings.

This side and the other side

Diesseits means on this side of. Jenseits means on the other side of.

Both are prepositions. They are normally followed by the genitive: diesseits des Brandenburger Tores, jenseits der Alpen.

Diesseits and jenseits with von

Diesseits and jenseits can also take von and a dative phrase: diesseits vom Tiergarten.

They can also take davon: Jenseits davon beginnt die Strasse Unter den Linden.

These forms occur mostly with geographic names.

  1. 134

    The parliament building is on this side of the Brandenburg Gate, isn't it?

  2. 135

    On the other side of the Alps it's warmer than it is here.

  3. 136

    On the other side of it the street 'Unter den Linden' begins.

  4. 137

    The 'Hansaviertel' is this side of the 'Tiergarten'.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 15, Notes on Grammar

D. PLACE NAMES AS MODIFIERS

I

Place names in English can be used to modify following nouns in such phrases as "the New York telephone directory", "The Washington Post", "his Connecticut home", etc. The proper name does not change its form or spelling when used in this way.
D. PLACE NAMES AS MODIFIERS

II

Some German place names have a special form when they occur in a phrase modifying a noun:

Notice that the above place names used as modifiers all have a suffix -er and sometimes umlaut of the stem vowel but have no endings. A few are irregular in formation (Münchner, Bremer). Notice also that most of them are city names, although some names of larger districts (Schwarzwald) are also used as modifiers in this way. They are capitalized in the writing system. This special modifier form is not to be confused with the adjectives deutsch, französisch, bayrisch, englisch, amerikanisch, etc., which are not capitalized in the writing system and which may all occur with adjective endings. The following place names which have occurred in our text can be used as modifiers with the suffix -er.

Forms: Das Brandenburger Tor muss man ja gesehen haben., Abenteuerlust und Unternehmungsgeist lagen schon immer in der Berliner Luft., Ich halte die "Frankfurter Allgemeine"., Ich trinke lieber Würzburger (Bier)., Mir gefallen die Schwarzwälder Häuser., Ich halte eine Münchner Zeitung., Er hat in einem Bremer Geschäft gearbeitet., Berlin Bremerhaven Garmisch Schwabing Schweiz Tölz Wiesbaden
E. PREPOSITIONS: diesseits, jenseits

I

Das Reichstagsgebäude ist doch diesseits des Brandenburger Tores, nicht wahr?
The parliament building is on this side of the Brandenburg Gate, isn't it?

Jenseits der Alpen ist es wärmer als hier.
On the other side of the Alps it's warmer than it is here.

In this unit two new prepositions have occurred, diesseits and jenseits. They are normally followed by GENITIVE forms.
E. PREPOSITIONS: diesseits, jenseits

II

Jenseits davon beginnt die Strasse Unter den Linden.
On the other side of it the street 'Unter den Linden' begins.

Das Hansaviertel ist diesseits vom Tiergarten.
The 'Hansaviertel' is this side of the 'Tiergarten'.

Diesseits and jenseits may also be followed by the preposition von and a dative phrase or the form davon.

Note that these forms occur principally with geographic names.

Substitution Drill

  1. 138

    That is often done.

  2. 139

    That has been done.

  3. 140

    That will be done soon.

  4. 141

    That was done.

  1. 142

    That was done.

  2. 143

    That is done at the beginning of the week.

  3. 144

    One has to have seen that.

  4. 145

    He has just arrived.

  1. 146

    We didn't find that out.

  2. 147

    How was that done?

  3. 148

    We often went there.

  4. 149

    That has already been tried.

  1. 150

    That has already been tried.

  2. 151

    Do we have time for a short discussion?

  3. 152

    That's an interesting street.

  1. 153

    That's an interesting street.

  2. 154

    Yesterday I got a first impression of the Kurfürstendamm.

  3. 155

    I got a detailed report from him.

  4. 156

    That was a fascinating exhibition.

  1. 157

    That was a fascinating exhibition.

  2. 158

    He spoke of an interesting exhibition.

  3. 159

    I have visited several well-known spas.

  4. 160

    He told me that there are many churches there.

  1. 161

    He told me that there are many churches there.

  2. 162

    I suspect you're confusing this building with the Reichstag building.

  3. 163

    This church was designed by a well-known architect.

  1. 164

    This church was designed by a well-known architect.

  2. 165

    He spoke of various reports.

  3. 166

    I looked at several exhibitions.

Variation Drill

  1. 167

    Was the room reserved?

  2. 168

    The suit has been pressed.

  3. 169

    Has she written the letter yet?

  1. 170

    Has she written the letter yet?

  2. 171

    The letter was written by his secretary.

  3. 172

    The letter to the Chamber of Commerce is just being dictated.

  4. 173

    This report was written by the Danish consul.

  1. 174

    This report was written by the Danish consul.

  2. 175

    The Reichstag building was destroyed by the notorious Reichstag fire.

  3. 176

    The laundry isn't washed yet.

  4. 177

    There's too much smoking (being done) in this room.

  1. 178

    There's too much smoking (being done) in this room.

  2. 179

    I was told that he's spending his vacation in the mountains.

  3. 180

    Shall we drive on to the Brandenburg Gate?

  4. 181

    They didn't begin to rebuild it until after the war.

  1. 182

    They didn't begin to rebuild it until after the war.

  2. 183

    The students have to be made to spell in German too.

  3. 184

    Customs officials can make a lot of trouble for a person.

  4. 185

    The ringing of the telephone often can disturb you at work.

  1. 186

    Can one place his work above his family?

  2. 187

    The plant manager can no longer be reached.

Conversion Drill I

  1. 188

    He writes the letter.

  2. 189

    He has written the letter.

  3. 190

    He wrote the letter.

  4. 191

    He will write the letter.

  5. 192

    He cleans the shoes.

  6. 193

    He has cleaned the shoes.

  7. 194

    He cleaned the shoes.

  8. 195

    He will clean the shoes.

  1. 196

    She writes the letter.

  2. 197

    She has written the letter.

  3. 198

    She wrote the letter.

  4. 199

    She will write the letter.

  5. 200

    Mr. Schmidt fills out the registration blank.

  6. 201

    Mr. Schmidt has filled out the registration blank.

  7. 202

    Mr. Schmidt filled out the registration blank.

  8. 203

    Mr. Schmidt will fill out the registration blank.

  1. 204

    They view the conference rooms.

  2. 205

    They have viewed the conference rooms.

  3. 206

    They viewed the conference rooms.

  4. 207

    They will view the conference rooms.

  5. 208

    The employment office processes the application.

  6. 209

    The employment office has processed the application.

  7. 210

    The employment office processed the application.

  8. 211

    The employment office will process the application.

  1. 212

    Our architects design the new buildings.

  2. 213

    Our architects have designed the new buildings.

  3. 214

    Our architects designed the new buildings.

  4. 215

    Our architects will design the new buildings.

Conversion Drill II

  1. 216

    The plant manager has called me in the meantime.

  2. 217

    The secretary has written the letter.

  3. 218

    Mr. Meyer has translated the article.

  4. 219

    Professor Albers gave the lecture yesterday.

  5. 220

    Has Mr. Müller taken care of the work?

  6. 221

    The hotel has reserved a room for Mr. Allen.

  7. 222

    My secretary bought the ticket yesterday.

  8. 223

    Mr. Meyer accompanied Mr. Allen to the train.

  1. 224

    The men picked up the damaged car.

  2. 225

    Mr. Schneider took the suitcases to the baggage checkroom.

  3. 226

    Mrs. Meyer pressed the suit.

  4. 227

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

  5. 228

    The union official gave out with long-winded explanations.

  6. 229

    Mr. Martin called up Mrs. Köhler.

  7. 230

    She connects me with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  8. 231

    He's just trying on the brown suit.

  1. 232

    The consul dictates a letter to the secretary.

  2. 233

    Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are just unpacking the crates.

  3. 234

    She turns on the radio.

  4. 235

    The porter carried the big suitcase into the compartment.

  5. 236

    Who wrote the beginning?

  6. 237

    I accompany her down town.

  7. 238

    The bellhop has brought your luggage up to your room.

  8. 239

    The foreign architects are viewing the Reichstag building today.

  9. 240

    At the hotel Mr. Meyer put the shoes outside the room door.

Conversion Drill III

  1. 241

    The destroyed buildings are being rebuilt.

  2. 242

    The destroyed buildings have been rebuilt.

  3. 243

    The destroyed buildings were rebuilt.

  4. 244

    The destroyed buildings will be rebuilt.

  5. 245

    The building exhibition was closed at the beginning of the month already.

  6. 246

    The linden trees were removed before the war already.

  7. 247

    Many architects were expected at the building exhibition.

  8. 248

    The application will be processed soon.

  1. 249

    The big suitcases have been taken to the station.

  2. 250

    The report has been translated at the embassy.

  3. 251

    The new apartments are being rented now.

  4. 252

    The table by the window was reserved for us.

  5. 253

    The suitcases were mixed up at the baggage checkroom.

  6. 254

    The exhibition will be closed soon.

  7. 255

    The fire was seen too late.

Vocabulary Drill

  1. 256

    Thereport has gotten to be much too long.

  2. 257

    After the thunderstorm the weather turned nice again.

  3. 258

    The old houses on the outskirts of the town were victims of the fire.

  4. 259

    His new novel became famous in many countries.

  5. 260

    The traffic on the 'Autobahn' got very heavy in the evening.

  6. 261

    The little place has turned into a well-known resort.

  7. 262

    What became of your brother?

  8. 263

    The bridle path turned into a big street.

  9. 264

    The trip turned into an adventure.

  1. 265

    Nothing will come of my trip to Brazil this year.

  2. 266

    The hunting lodge was turned into a museum.

  3. 267

    He told us why the ruins of the Memorial Church are to be left standing as a solemn reminder.

  4. 268

    They told me that the Victory Column formerly was located in the vicinity of the Reichstag building.

  5. 269

    She told us a lot about a meeting in the Congress Hall.

  6. 270

    You were going to tell me why the park is called "Tiergarten".

  7. 271

    I still have to tell you about the party at the Beckers'.

  8. 272

    What (kind of an) impression did you get of the exhibition?

  9. 273

    Did Mr. Becker make a good impression on you?

  1. 274

    That didn't make much of an impression on the Berliners.

  2. 275

    It was my impression that he wasn't planning to come until next week.

  3. 276

    Don't you also have the impression that Berlin is a fascinating city?

  4. 277

    Did you go through the ruins of the old palace?

  5. 278

    Shall we go through the new building today?

  6. 279

    Is it worthwhile going through the hunting lodge in the Grunewald?

  7. 280

    Can you go through the cathedral any day?

  8. 281

    We still want to go through the German Museum [of science and industry] in Munich.

  9. 282

    When he spoke of the "Tiergarten" I knew that he was confusing the park with the Zoological Gardens.

  1. 283

    The porter mistook me for another gentleman.

  2. 284

    In school I was often mistaken for my brother.

  3. 285

    At the last conference the plant manager was mistaken for the union secretary.

  4. 286

    The customs official suspected [there was] coffee in my suitcase.

  5. 287

    I suspect he's an American.

  6. 288

    When he didn't come right away we suspected trouble at the passport checkpoint.

  7. 289

    I suspect the church was not built until after the war.

  8. 290

    I didn't suspect that.

  9. 291

    We were glad to be able to show your (fam pl) children the Berlin Zoo at last.

  1. 292

    Was Mr. Allen glad that you (fam sg) got him a ticket in the parquet?

  2. 293

    She's glad her parents have so much spirit of enterprise [as] to take a long trip.

  3. 294

    They are glad that they can take their vacation as early as June.

  4. 295

    I believe the weather's going to change soon.

  5. 296

    Nothing has changed here.

  6. 297

    Has there been much change in your department?

  7. 298

    Mr. Meyer will have to change his ways.

  8. 299

    No, I'm not going to change!

  9. 300

    The spirit of Bayreuth hasn't changed.

  1. 301

    Did you imagine the Hansa Section [to be] so modern?

  2. 302

    I can't imagine that the street 'Unter den Linden' was once one of the most beautiful streets in Berlin.

  3. 303

    We didn't imagine the activity here [was] like that.

  4. 304

    Just imagine! My son can go to America as an exchange student.

  5. 305

    I pictured the meeting rooms [as being] larger [than this].

  6. 306

    They met in front of the hotel [to go] for a little drive.

  7. 307

    Where shall we meet after the opera?

  8. 308

    I met Mr. Becker at the Memorial Church to go to the exhibition with him.

  9. 309

    He's going to meet her in front of the Congress Hall at three o'clock.

  1. 310

    Er hat sein erstes Buch schon 1920 geschrieben.

    He wrote his first book back in 1920.

  2. 311

    People were riding to the Grunewald here as much as 400 years ago.

  3. 312

    Schon 1881 gab es in Berlin Telephone.

    As early as 1881 there were telephones in Berlin.

  4. 313

    Er wollte schon 1939 nach Amerika auswandern.

    He wanted to emigrate to America back in 1939.

  5. 314

    The conference was supposed to take place back in August.

  6. 315

    Do you feel like doing some shopping with me today on the 'Kurfürstendamm?

  7. 316

    This year my parents didn't feel like going to the Baltic with us.

  8. 317

    I really feel like going to the 'Grunewald' today.

  9. 318

    In that inclement ('bad') weather we had no desire to go to the zoo.

  1. 319

    Does one of you (fam pl) feel like looking over the old palace with me tomorrow?

  2. 320

    Our school borders on a large park.

  3. 321

    The Hansa Section borders on the 'Tiergarten'.

  4. 322

    The apartment project ('colony') on the outskirts of town borders on a wooded area.

  5. 323

    Germany borders in the south on Switzerland and Austria and in the north on Denmark.

  6. 324

    Do you know which countries were included in the industrial exposition?

  7. 325

    We had no part in the project.

  8. 326

    Was the Vechta Company included in the formation of the combine?

  9. 327

    Switzerland did not participate in the war.

Translation Drill 1

  1. 328

    Mr. Allen had come to Berlin by train to spend his leave there.

  2. 329

    Mr. Bauer lives in Berlin and is a good friend ('acquaintance') of his.

  3. 330

    Mr. Allen met him [to go] for a little drive.

  4. 331

    He was very glad that Mr. Bauer wanted to show him the city.

  5. 332

    Mr. Bauer inquired how his trip was, and he heard that Mr. Allen had not had any trouble.

  6. 333

    He had arrived in the morning and [had] gone right to the hotel in a taxi.

  7. 334

    On the way there he had already gotten his ('a') first impression of the 'Kurfürstendamm'.

  8. 335

    Mr. Bauer told him that there was a bridle path here formerly.

  9. 336

    Elector Joachim the Second of Brandenburg used to have a hunting lodge in the 'Grunewald'.

  10. 337

    He used to ride there often to visit his beloved.

  11. 338

    First Mr. Bauer showed Mr. Allen the Memorial Church.

  12. 339

    It was badly damaged in the war.

  13. 340

    The ruins are to be left standing as a solemn reminder.

Translation Drill 2

  1. 341

    During the drive Mr. Allen saw a sign "To the Zoo".

  2. 342

    He asked his friend:" Is that the 'Tiergarten'?"

  3. 343

    Perhaps he was confusing the 'Tiergarten' with the zoo.

  4. 344

    Mr. Bauer told Mr. Allen that the 'Tiergarten' had once been a wooded area.

  5. 345

    At the time of Frederick the Great it was made into a park.

  6. 346

    Today this park is called "Tiergarten".

  7. 347

    It borders on the zoo by the way.

  8. 348

    From the 'Tiergarten' they saw the Victory Column.

  9. 349

    On the platform people were standing.

  10. 350

    Since the weather was good they undoubtedly ('certainly') had a good view.

  11. 351

    Mr. Allen didn't feel like climbing up, as he first wanted to go to the Brandenburg Gate.

  12. 352

    On the far side of the Brandenburg Gate the street 'Unter den Linden' begins.

  13. 353

    Once that was one of the most beautiful streets in ('of') the center of town.

Translation Drill 3

  1. 354

    Unfortunately much has changed in the meantime.

  2. 355

    The big old linden trees were removed back before the war.

  3. 356

    Many of the old buildings became victims ('a victim') of the war.

  4. 357

    Later Mr. Bauer showed Mr. Allen the [old German national] parliament building too.

  5. 358

    1933 wurde es durch den berüchtigten Reichstagsbrand zerstört.

    In 1933 it was destroyed by the notorious Reichstag fire.

  6. 359

    Not until after the war did they begin to rebuild it.

  7. 360

    Then the two ('both') gentlemen took a look at the Congress Hall.

  8. 361

    Die Kongresshalle war Amerikas Beitrag zur Internationalen Bauausstellung 1957.

    The Congress Hall was America's contribution to the International Architectural Exposition in 1957.

  9. 362

    After they had inspected the meeting rooms they drove back through the Hansa Section.

  10. 363

    Mr. Allen thought the modern buildings and apartment houses [were] very fine.

  11. 364

    He had heard that they had been designed by famous German and foreign architects.

Response Drill 1

  1. 365

    Where did Mr. Bauer and Mr. Allen meet?

  2. 366

    They met on the Kurfürstendamm.

  3. 367

    What did they want to do?

  4. 368

    They wanted to take a short drive to see Berlin.

  5. 369

    What did Mr. Allen say about his trip?

  6. 370

    Everything went smoothly, and he had no difficulties.

  7. 371

    Which street made a particular impression on Herrn Allen?

  8. 372

    The Kurfürstendamm made a particular impression on him.

  9. 373

    And why?

  10. 374

    Because the Kurfürstendamm is a fascinating street.

  11. 375

    From when until when was there a bridle path there?

  12. 376

    From the sixteenth century until the beginning of the twentieth century, there was a bridle path there.

  13. 377

    Who rode to his hunting lodge there?

  14. 378

    Kurfürst Joachim the Second rode there to his hunting lodge.

  15. 379

    Did he ride there only to hunt?

  16. 380

    No, he also visited his mistress there.

  17. 381

    What do the gentlemen see at the end of the street?

  18. 382

    They see the Gedächtniskirche, which stands there.

  19. 383

    When was it so badly damaged?

  20. 384

    It was damaged so severely during the war.

  21. 385

    Why is the ruin still standing?

  22. 386

    It is to remain standing as a memorial.

  23. 387

    Why does Herr Bauer assume that Herr Allen is confusing the Tiergarten with the zoo?

  24. 388

    Because Mr. Allen saw a sign saying "To the Zoo" and asked, "Is the Tiergarten nearby?"

  25. 389

    Why is the park bordering the zoo called Tiergarten?

  26. 390

    It was formerly a wooded area in which there was game ('also').

Response Drill 2

  1. 391

    When was this wooded area turned into a park?

  2. 392

    That was during the reign of Friedrich the Great.

  3. 393

    What are the gentlemen looking at when they are in the Tiergarten?

  4. 394

    They are looking at the Victory Column.

  5. 395

    What do they see from the platform above?

  6. 396

    They see people there.

  7. 397

    What does Mr. Allen suppose when he sees the people there?

  8. 398

    He assumes that in fine weather there must be a good view from there.

  9. 399

    What does Herr Allen say about the Brandenburg Gate?

  10. 400

    You have to see it.

  11. 401

    Which street begins on the far side of the Brandenburg Gate?

  12. 402

    On the far side of the Brandenburg Gate the street 'Unter den Linden' begins.

  13. 403

    What has Mr. Allen heard about this street?

  14. 404

    It was once one of the most beautiful streets in the city center.

  15. 405

    Why does the street look different today than it does in old pictures?

  16. 406

    A great deal has changed in the meantime.

  17. 407

    What was done with the old linden trees?

  18. 408

    They were removed before the war.

  19. 409

    Is the Reichstag building also on the other side of the Brandenburg Gate?

  20. 410

    No, it stands on this side of the Brandenburg Gate.

  21. 411

    What destroyed it, and when?

  22. 412

    Es wurde 1933 durch den berüchtigten Reichstagsbrand zerstört.

    It was destroyed in 1933 by the infamous Reichstag fire.

  23. 413

    When did they begin rebuilding it?

  24. 414

    They did not begin rebuilding it until after the war.

  25. 415

    What else did Mr. Allen want to see?

  26. 416

    He also wanted to see the Kongresshalle.

Response Drill 3

  1. 417

    When was the Kongresshalle built?

  2. 418

    Als Beitrag zur Internationalen Bauausstellung 1957.

    As a contribution to the 1957 International Building Exhibition.

  3. 419

    What did the gentlemen want to see in the Congress Hall?

  4. 420

    They wanted to tour the conference rooms.

  5. 421

    What area did they want to drive through on the way home?

  6. 422

    On the way home, they wanted to drive through the Hansaviertel.

  7. 423

    Who designed the buildings in the Hansaviertel?

  8. 424

    They were designed by well-known architects from various countries.

  9. 425

    Which countries were involved in this project?

  10. 426

    Besides Germany, other countries also participated in this project, such as Finland, Austria, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and so on.

Narrative

  1. 427

    Elector Joachim II

  2. 428

    von Brandenburg wurde am 13. Januar 1505 geboren; er starb am 3. Januar 1571.

    of Brandenburg was born on January 13, 1505; he died on January 3, 1571.

  3. 429

    His contemporaries judged him in very different ways.

  4. 430

    Some praised him as a pious, God-fearing man; others accused him of ruining the country's finances through his senseless extravagance.

  5. 431

    One of his admirers wrote: The Lord Elector is popular as a very merry fellow; he loves to joke and play pranks, but he also looks after the people and religion.

  6. 432

    Banquets are often held at his court, and he hunts deer, roe deer, bears, wild boars, highwaymen, and pretty women.

  7. 433

    The most feared highwaymen of that time were the robber barons, noble lords who robbed travelers of everything they had.

  8. 434

    Once, they pinned a note to the Elector's bedroom door, on which was written: Little Joachim, little Joachim, beware, If we catch you, we'll hang you there!

  9. 435

    In the early years of his reign, before the hunting lodge in Grunewald had been built, he often stayed at his hunting lodge in Köpenick.

  10. 436

    At that time, he fell in love with the widow of a bell founder named Sydow.

  11. 437

    She was called the beautiful Sydow woman, or the beautiful bell founder's widow.

  12. 438

    To avoid offending the people, his wife, and his children, he installed his beautiful mistress in a small house on Klosterstrasse that lay hidden in a large garden.

  13. 439

    The Elector's attitude toward the Reformation was ambivalent.

  14. 440

    Am 1. November 1539 trat er zur Reformation über, aber als 1546 der Schmalkaldische Krieg ausgebrochen war, unterstützte er den Kaiser gegen die Protestanten.

    On November 1, 1539, he converted to the Reformation, but when the Schmalkaldic War broke out in 1546, he supported the emperor against the Protestants.

Situations

  1. 441

    Mr. Jones has to go to München for a conference.

  2. 442

    He has never been there and calls his acquaintance, Mr. Becker, at the consulate general in München.

  3. 443

    He tells him that he wants to come on the 15th of May and asks whether he has time to show him the city.

  4. 444

    Mr. Becker is looking forward to it and would like to know whether he feels like going to the theater with him on the 16th.

  5. 445

    He wants to try to get another theater ticket.

  6. 446

    Mr. Jones wants to call from the hotel when he has arrived.

  1. 447

    The two gentlemen meet at the hotel and Mr. Becker asks whether Mr. Jones had a good trip.

  2. 448

    Unfortunately he had a flat tire on the way, but fortunately there was a gas station nearby and he was able to have the tire changed right away.

  3. 449

    Now the gentlemen want to see the city.

  4. 450

    First they drive to the Frauenkirche and Mr. Becker tells Mr. Jones that this church dates from the 15th century.

  5. 451

    Unfortunately it was destroyed in the war, but it was rebuilt soon after the war.

  6. 452

    The city hall is nearby; Mr. Jones had often seen it in pictures.

  7. 453

    Then they drive to Schloss Nymphenburg and take a walk in the park.

  8. 454

    They talk about the conference and about an interesting exhibition in the city.

  9. 455

    Since the weather is so beautiful and they still have enough time, they want to see the Tierpark Hellabrunn too.

  10. 456

    They have a glass of beer in the garden restaurant of the zoo and later drive back to the hotel.

  1. 457

    Mr. Allen is picked up at the hotel by Mr. Bauer.

  2. 458

    Mr. Bauer is glad to see Mr. Allen again and would like to know how his family is.

  3. 459

    Mrs. Allen and the children are fine.

  4. 460

    Everything went well on his trip.

  5. 461

    Mr. Bauer asks when Mr. Allen left America and what countries he has visited in the meantime.

  6. 462

    Mr. Allen has been traveling for a month already.

  7. 463

    First he visited Finland, where his friends happened to be having a hunt.

  8. 464

    Finland has a great deal of game, you know.

  9. 465

    Then he looked over a few plants of the paper industry.

  10. 466

    That was very interesting for him.

  11. 467

    Mr. Bauer wants to know whether he went from there to Norway.

  12. 468

    Mr. Allen spent a few days there and then went on to Sweden.

  13. 469

    He liked it there.

  14. 470

    The people were very nice, the cities are clean and modern.

  15. 471

    The large forest areas are beautiful too.

  16. 472

    They are very important for industry in Sweden.

  17. 473

    Mr. Bauer would like to know whether Mr. Allen came to Berlin directly from Sweden.

  18. 474

    Mr. Allen had made a side trip to Denmark first.

  19. 475

    That country made a very clean and orderly impression too.

  20. 476

    He especially enjoyed a drive to the Baltic. Mr. Bauer asks whether Mr. Allen was also in the well known Tivoli Park in Copenhagen.

  21. 477

    Mr. Allen had no time left for that, he had to go to Hamburg for a convention.

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.