German Basic Course 1732 Studios

German · Unit 19

Unit 19: In der Visa-Abteilung

Volume 2

Vice-Consul Thompson. Mr. Schuster, an applicant in the Visa Section.

384 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    Vice-Consul Thompson. Mr. Schuster, an applicant in the Visa Section.

    Vize-Konsulvice consul
    Thompson.Thompson
    HerrMr.
    Schuster,shoemaker
    einone year
    Antragstellerapplicant
    inin Bonn
    derthe airport
    Visa-Abteilung.visa section
  2. 2

    My name is Schuster. I'd like to emigrate to America. Is this the right place? ('Am I at the right place here?')

  3. 3

    Yes, please sit down. Are you a German citizen?

  4. 4

    Yes, I'm a refugee from the Eastern Zone and would like to build up a new life for myself over there.

Antragsteller
the applicant
  1. 5

    Do you know someone in the States who would act as sponsor for you?

  2. 6

    Yes, I have an uncle who's an American citizen and who would be my sponsor.

  3. 7

    What's your profession?

  4. 8

    Mechanic. At present I'm employed as an auto mechanic at the Volkswagen distributor's here.

  5. 9

    Vice-Consul Thompson. Mr. Schuster, an applicant in the Visa Section.

  6. 10

    My name is Schuster. I'd like to emigrate to America. Is this the right place? ('Am I at the right place here?')

  7. 11

    Yes, please sit down. Are you a German citizen?

  8. 12

    Yes, I'm a refugee from the Eastern Zone and would like to build up a new life for myself over there.

  9. 13

    Do you know someone in the States who would act as sponsor for you?

  10. 14

    Yes, I have an uncle who's an American citizen and who would be my sponsor.

  11. 15

    What's your profession?

  12. 16

    Mechanic. At present I'm employed as an auto mechanic at the Volkswagen distributor's here.

jemand(en)
somebody, someone
Staaten
the state
Onkel
the uncle
Mechaniker
the mechanic
Autoschlosser
the automobile mechanic

Basic Sentences II

  1. 17

    First of all I'd like to note down your name and address and other personal particulars.

Zunächst
first of all
  1. 18

    Surname, given names, date and place of birth?

  2. 19

    Andreas Paul Schuster, geboren am 11.6.33 in Leipzig.

    Andreas Paul Schuster, born in Leipzig 6/11/33.

geboren
born
  1. 20

    And your family status? Are you single, married, divorced or widowed?

  2. 21

    Single.

  3. 22

    Have you ever been convicted of a crime?

  4. 23

    No.

Familienstand
the family status
ledig
single
geschieden
divorced
verwitwet
widowed
vorbestraft
previously convicted
  1. 24

    Were you a member of a party or political organization in the Eastern Zone?

  1. 25

    Yes, I was formerly in the Free German Youth and then a probational party member in the Socialist Unity Party.

  2. 26

    Why did you want to join the Socialist Unity Party?

  3. 27

    I wish I had never become a probational party member.

  4. 28

    But if I hadn't become one it would have been very difficult for me ('I would have had great difficulties') even back then to keep my business going.

  5. 29

    First of all I'd like to note down your name and address and other personal particulars.

  6. 30

    Surname, given names, date and place of birth?

  7. 31

    Andreas Paul Schuster, geboren am 11.6.33 in Leipzig.

    Andreas Paul Schuster, born in Leipzig 6/11/33.

  8. 32

    And your family status? Are you single, married, divorced or widowed?

  9. 33

    Single.

  10. 34

    Have you ever been convicted of a crime?

  11. 35

    No.

  12. 36

    Were you a member of a party or political organization in the Eastern Zone?

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    Yes, I was formerly in the Free German Youth and then a probational party member in the Socialist Unity Party.

  14. 38

    Why did you want to join the Socialist Unity Party?

  15. 39

    I wish I had never become a probational party member.

  16. 40

    But if I hadn't become one it would have been very difficult for me ('I would have had great difficulties') even back then to keep my business going.

wollte
I wish, would that
geworden
had become
gehabt
would have had
damals
then, at that time

Basic Sentences III

  1. 41

    Did you occupy any positions at all as a party official?

  2. 42

    No. In the meantime my business in the Eastern Zone has become a state-controlled enterprise.

Zone
the (Eastern Occupation) Zone
Betrieb
the state-controlled enterprise
  1. 43

    When did you come across the border?

  2. 44

    Three months ago, in the black of night.

Nebel
the fog, mist
Nebel
in the black of night
  1. 45

    I would have run away before that if I hadn't had hopes that conditions would change.

  2. 46

    Have you been officially recognized as a political refugee?

  3. 47

    Yes.

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    Stehen Sie noch mit SED- oder FDJ-Mitgliedern in Verbindung?

    Are you still in contact with Socialist Unity Party or Free German Youth members?

  5. 49

    No.

  6. 50

    Did you occupy any positions at all as a party official?

  7. 51

    No. In the meantime my business in the Eastern Zone has become a state-controlled enterprise.

  8. 52

    When did you come across the border?

  9. 53

    Three months ago, in the black of night.

  10. 54

    I would have run away before that if I hadn't had hopes that conditions would change.

  11. 55

    Have you been officially recognized as a political refugee?

  12. 56

    Yes.

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    Stehen Sie noch mit SED- oder FDJ-Mitgliedern in Verbindung?

    Are you still in contact with Socialist Unity Party or Free German Youth members?

  14. 58

    No.

geflohen
to flee, run away
geflohen
would have run away
eher
sooner, rather
gehabt
had had

Basic Sentences IV

  1. 59

    Do you have any immediate relatives left in the Eastern Zone?

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    No, I have no relatives there and no other connections over there any more either.

  3. 61

    Are you willing to have us send for the summary of your record of court convictions?

  4. 62

    Of course.

einverstanden
in agreement, willing
  1. 63

    Then sign here please.

  2. 64

    Furthermore we need your record of police court actions, which you must apply for to your police headquarters.

  3. 65

    Is that all I have to have?

ferner
furthermore
  1. 66

    No, you have to have a valid passport too, your birth certificate, the letter of sponsorship and four photographs.

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    Can I send everything to you by mail, and to whom must it be addressed?

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    Don't send anything by mail.

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    Benachrichtigen Sie uns, sobald Sie alle Papiere beisammen haben, dann teilen wir Ihnen mit, wann Sie sie bringen können.

    Notify us as soon as you've got all the papers together; then we'll let you know when you can bring them.

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    Do you have any immediate relatives left in the Eastern Zone?

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    No, I have no relatives there and no other connections over there any more either.

  7. 72

    Are you willing to have us send for the summary of your record of court convictions?

  8. 73

    Of course.

  9. 74

    Then sign here please.

  10. 75

    Furthermore we need your record of police court actions, which you must apply for to your police headquarters.

  11. 76

    Is that all I have to have?

  12. 77

    No, you have to have a valid passport too, your birth certificate, the letter of sponsorship and four photographs.

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    Can I send everything to you by mail, and to whom must it be addressed?

  14. 79

    Don't send anything by mail.

  15. 80

    Benachrichtigen Sie uns, sobald Sie alle Papiere beisammen haben, dann teilen wir Ihnen mit, wann Sie sie bringen können.

    Notify us as soon as you've got all the papers together; then we'll let you know when you can bring them.

Photos
the photograph
per
by
Post
the mail
sobald
as soon as
Papiere
the official paper
beisammen
(collected) together

Basic Sentences V

  1. 81

    How long will it be in your opinion before ('until') I can emigrate?

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    That depends on our investigations.

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    I'm afraid that sounds as if it could take quite a long time.

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    Yes, some time can elapse until we have collected all the information, because you came from the Eastern Zone only a short time ago.

Erachtens
in your opinion
Ermittlungen
the investigation
ob
as if, as though
  1. 85

    What do I have to do about ('how is it with') a vaccination and medical examination?

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    The vaccination is something you'll have to have done by a German doctor.

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    Before you get your visa you'll be examined and x-rayed at the Consulate General.

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    Is there a charge for that?

Impfen
the vaccinating, vaccination
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    The charge for the examination is forty marks and for the visa a hundred marks.

  2. 90

    Thank you very much.

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    How long will it be in your opinion before ('until') I can emigrate?

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    That depends on our investigations.

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    I'm afraid that sounds as if it could take quite a long time.

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    Yes, some time can elapse until we have collected all the information, because you came from the Eastern Zone only a short time ago.

  7. 95

    What do I have to do about ('how is it with') a vaccination and medical examination?

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    The vaccination is something you'll have to have done by a German doctor.

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    Before you get your visa you'll be examined and x-rayed at the Consulate General.

  10. 98

    Is there a charge for that?

  11. 99

    The charge for the examination is forty marks and for the visa a hundred marks.

  12. 100

    Thank you very much.

The unreal or subjunctive - present and past possibility

Unreal forms about now

Present possibility is an action or state that can still come true now.

The unreal marks it. The verb is a simple unreal form such as hätte or wäre. Or it is könnte or würde with an infinitive.

Es wäre kein Problem, das neue Auto zu kaufen, wenn wir mehr Geld hätten. Wäre and hätten are simple unreal forms. Buying the new car is still possible now.

A conditional sentence about present possibility is sometimes called a present conditional sentence.

Unreal forms about the past

Past possibility is a possibility that existed in the past and no longer exists. Sentences about it are also called contrary to fact.

Past possibility always has a past participle and an unreal form of the auxiliary.

In Ich wäre schon eher geflohen, the unreal auxiliary is wäre and the past participle is geflohen. It means I would have run away before that.

Two ways to say past possibility

Würde with haben or sein means the same as hätte or wäre. This is also true with a past participle.

Er hätte ihr einen Brief geschrieben. Er würde ihr einen Brief geschrieben haben. Both mean he would have written her a letter.

The choice of the longer würde form is a matter of style. Speakers differ a lot.

In a conditional sentence the würde form can stand in either clause, but usually not in both.

  1. 101

    I wish she'd have herself examined by a specialist.

  2. 102

    If you'd bring the boy right to the office now the doctor could treat him immediately.

  3. 103

    Buying the new car would be no problem if we had more money.

  4. 104

    I wish I had never become a probational party member.

  5. 105

    If I hadn't become one it would have been very difficult for me even back then to keep my business going.

  6. 106

    I would have run away before that if I hadn't had hopes that conditions would change.

  7. 107

    He would have written her a letter if he had known her address.

  8. 108

    He would have written her a letter if he had known her address.

  9. 109

    We would have gone earlier if the Neumanns hadn't come too.

  10. 110

    We would have gone earlier if the Neumanns hadn't come too.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 19, Notes on Grammar

A. THE UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE - PRESENT AND PAST POSSIBILITY

I

Ich wünschte, sie würde sich von einem Spezialisten untersuchen lassen.
I wish she'd have herself examined by a specialist.

Wenn Sie den Jungen jetzt gleich in die Sprechstunde bringen würden, könnte ihn Herr Doktor sofort behandeln.
If you'd bring the boy right to the office now the doctor could treat him immediately.

Es wäre kein Problem, das neue Auto zu kaufen, wenn wir mehr Geld hätten.
Buying the new car would be no problem if we had more money.

The UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE was discussed in Unit 18, where we noted that it expresses possible, not actual states or actions. Let us look again at some of the examples:

In these examples reference is to actions or states which are possible of fulfillment at the present time. We say that reference is to PRESENT POSSIBILITY. Note that PRESENT POSSIBILITY is marked by simple UNREAL forms (hätte or wäre) or by phrases with an infinitive plus könnte or würde. Conditional sentences expressing PRESENT POSSIBILITY are sometimes called PRESENT CONDITIONAL sentences.
A. THE UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE - PRESENT AND PAST POSSIBILITY

II

Ich wollte, ich wäre nie Kandidat geworden.
I wish I had never become a probational party member.

Wäre ich es nicht geworden, hätte ich schon damals grosse Schwierigkeiten gehabt, meinen Betrieb zu halten.
If I hadn't become one it would have been very difficult for me even back then to keep my business going.

Ich wäre schon eher geflohen, wenn ich nicht die Hoffnung gehabt hätte, dass sich die Zustände ändern würden.
I would have run away before that if I hadn't had hopes that conditions would change.

In the present unit we have encountered additional sentences with the UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE. Note the following examples:

These sentences express a possibility which existed at some time in the past. We say that reference is to PAST POSSIBILITY. Because this is a possibility which no longer exists we sometimes refer to sentences of this kind as CONTRARY TO FACT. Note that PAST POSSIBILITY is always marked by a verb phrase containing a past participle and an UNREAL form of the auxiliary verb. Conditional sentences expressing PAST POSSIBILITY are also called PAST CONDITIONAL or PAST CONTRARY-TO-FACT CONDITIONAL sentences.
A. THE UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE - PRESENT AND PAST POSSIBILITY

III

Er hätte ihr einen Brief geschrieben, wenn er ihre Adresse gewusst hätte.
He would have written her a letter if he had known her address.

Er würde ihr einen Brief geschrieben haben, wenn er ihre Adresse gewusst hätte.
He would have written her a letter if he had known her address.

Wir wären früher gegangen, wenn nicht noch Neumanns gekommen wären.
We would have gone earlier if the Neumanns hadn't come too.

Wir wären früher gegangen, wenn nicht noch Neumanns gekommen sein würden.
We would have gone earlier if the Neumanns hadn't come too.

In Unit 18 we noted that the phrases würde ... haben and würde ... sein are equivalent to the simple UNREAL forms hätte and wäre. They also occur with past participles in expressing PAST POSSIBILITY. Note the following sentence pairs:

The use or avoidance of the longer phrase with würde in sentences expressing PAST POSSIBILITY is a matter of style, subject to considerable individual variation. In conditional sentences it may occur in either the wenn-clause or the main clause, although usually not in both, i.e., not twice in the same sentence.

The special conditional clause

A condition without wenn

A special conditional clause is a wenn-clause with the wenn left out.

It begins with the finite verb. The subject comes next.

Wäre ich nicht Kandidat geworden means the same as Wenn ich nicht Kandidat geworden wäre. Both mean had I not become a probational party member.

The finite verb wäre moves from the end of the clause to the start.

Where the clause goes

The special conditional clause can come first or last in the sentence.

Wären die Zustände in der Ostzone besser, würde es weniger Flüchtlinge geben. This means: if conditions in the Eastern Zone were better there would be fewer refugees.

English does the same in formal style: had he not been an official. German does it much more often, and not only in formal speech.

  1. 111

    Had I not become a probational party member it would have been difficult for me to keep my business going.

  2. 112

    If I had not become a probational party member it would have been difficult for me to keep my business going.

  3. 113

    He would have been recognized officially as a political refugee, had he not been an official of the SED.

  4. 114

    He would have been recognized officially as a political refugee if he had not been an official of the SED.

  5. 115

    If conditions in the Eastern Zone were better there would be fewer refugees.

  6. 116

    If conditions in the Eastern Zone were better there would be fewer refugees.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 19, Notes on Grammar

B. THE SPECIAL CONDITIONAL CLAUSE

I

Wäre ich nicht Kandidat geworden, hätte ich grosse Schwierigkeiten gehabt, meinen Betrieb zu halten.
Had I not become a probational party member it would have been difficult for me to keep my business going.

Wenn ich nicht Kandidat geworden wäre, hätte ich grosse Schwierigkeiten gehabt, meinen Betrieb zu halten.
If I had not become a probational party member it would have been difficult for me to keep my business going.

In place of the wenn-clause in conditional sentences a SPECIAL CONDITIONAL CLAUSE may occur, in which the clause introducer is omitted and the clause begins with the finite, or inflected verb form followed by the subject:
B. THE SPECIAL CONDITIONAL CLAUSE

II

Man hätte ihn als politischen Flüchtling anerkannt, wäre er nicht Funktionär der SED gewesen.
He would have been recognized officially as a political refugee, had he not been an official of the SED.

Man hätte ihn als politischen Flüchtling anerkannt, wenn er nicht Funktionär der SED gewesen wäre.
He would have been recognized officially as a political refugee if he had not been an official of the SED.

Wären die Zustände in der Ostzone besser, würde es weniger Flüchtlinge geben.
If conditions in the Eastern Zone were better there would be fewer refugees.

Wenn die Zustände in der Ostzone besser wären, würde es weniger Flüchtlinge geben.
If conditions in the Eastern Zone were better there would be fewer refugees.

The SPECIAL CONDITIONAL CLAUSE may occur in either position in the sentence. Here are additional examples:

Note that English, too, sometimes omits the clause introducer and inverts subject and verb in formal style. The construction is much more frequent in German however and is not limited to specifically formal situations.

Unreal wishes - present and past

Wishes about now and about the past

An unreal wish can be about present possibility or about past possibility.

It can open with wünschte or with wollte. The plurals are wünschten and wollten. Either verb can be used. Here ich wollte means I wish.

Wir wünschten, er hätte mehr Zeit für uns. This wish is about now. Hätte is a simple unreal form.

Ich wollte, ich wäre nie Kandidat geworden. This wish is about the past: I wish I had never become a probational party member. Wäre with geworden is past possibility.

A wish that stands alone

An unreal wish can also be a wenn-clause or a special conditional clause with nothing before it. It usually has nur or bloss, meaning only.

Wenn es nur regnen würde means if only it would rain.

Wäre ich bloss schon zu Hause means if I were only home already. It is a special conditional clause standing alone.

  1. 117

    I wish I had never become a probational party member.

  2. 118

    I wish I had never become a probational party member.

  3. 119

    We wish he had more time for us.

  4. 120

    We wish he had more time for us.

  5. 121

    If only it would rain!

  6. 122

    If only we hadn't bought the house!

  7. 123

    If we had only emigrated at that time!

  8. 124

    If I were only home already!

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 19, Notes on Grammar

C. UNREAL WISHES - PRESENT AND PAST

I

Ich wollte, ich wäre nie Kandidat geworden.
I wish I had never become a probational party member.

Ich wünschte, ich wäre nie Kandidat geworden.
I wish I had never become a probational party member.

Wir wünschten, er hätte mehr Zeit für uns.
We wish he had more time for us.

Wir wollten, er hätte mehr Zeit für uns.
We wish he had more time for us.

Notice that an UNREAL WISH may express past as well as present possibility and may be introduced by either of the special forms wünschte (wünschten) or wollte (wollten) interchangeably.
C. UNREAL WISHES - PRESENT AND PAST

II

Wenn es nur regnen würde!
If only it would rain!

Hätten wir das Haus bloss nicht gekauft!
If only we hadn't bought the house!

Wenn wir nur damals schon ausgewandert wären!
If we had only emigrated at that time!

Wäre ich bloss schon zu Hause!
If I were only home already!

Another type of UNREAL WISH, which has not occurred in our basic sentences, consists of a wenn-clause or special conditional clause standing alone, usually with the words nur or bloss:

The unreal after als ob

The unreal after als ob

Als ob means as if or as though. The clause after it often has an unreal form.

Das hört sich leider so an, als ob es sehr lange dauern könnte. This means: I'm afraid that sounds as if it could take quite a long time.

German speakers do not always use the unreal here. The same sentence also occurs with kann in place of könnte.

Als ob after many verbs

The clause before als ob often has the word so. So points ahead to the als ob clause.

Als ob can follow many different verbs. Its clause can be about present possibility or past possibility.

Er ass, als ob er nicht genug bekommen könnte. He ate as if he couldn't get enough. Könnte is a simple unreal form.

Sie parkte so, als ob sie noch nie einen Wagen gefahren hätte. She parked as if she had never driven a car before. Hätte with gefahren is past possibility.

  1. 125

    I'm afraid that sounds as if it could take quite a long time.

  2. 126

    I'm afraid that sounds as if it may take quite a long time.

  3. 127

    It looks as though it were about to rain.

  4. 128

    He talks as if he no longer had any hopes that circumstances would change.

  5. 129

    He worked as if he had been a plumber for years.

  6. 130

    He forgot everything I told him as quickly as if it hadn't been at all important.

  7. 131

    He ate as if he couldn't get enough.

  8. 132

    She parked as if she had never driven a car before.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 19, Notes on Grammar

D. THE UNREAL AFTER als ob

I

Das hört sich leider so an, als ob es sehr lange dauern könnte.
I'm afraid that sounds as if it could take quite a long time.

Das hört sich leider so an, als ob es lange dauern kann.
I'm afraid that sounds as if it may take quite a long time.

The UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE has occurred in another situation in this unit:

In clauses introduced by als ob "as if, as though" UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE forms are often encountered. German speakers do not consistently use the UNREAL here however, and you will often hear the sentence as:
D. THE UNREAL AFTER als ob

II

Es sieht so aus, als ob es gleich regnen würde.
It looks as though it were about to rain.

Er spricht, als ob er keine Hoffnung mehr hätte, dass sich die Zustände ändern würden.
He talks as if he no longer had any hopes that circumstances would change.

Er arbeitete so, als ob er schon Jahre lang Klempner wäre.
He worked as if he had been a plumber for years.

Alles, was ich ihm sagte, vergass er so schnell, als ob es gar nicht wichtig gewesen wäre.
He forgot everything I told him as quickly as if it hadn't been at all important.

Er ass, als ob er nicht genug bekommen könnte.
He ate as if he couldn't get enough.

Sie parkte so, als ob sie noch nie einen Wagen gefahren hätte.
She parked as if she had never driven a car before.

Clauses introduced by als ob are frequently preceded by the anticipating word so in the main clause. They may occur after a number of different verbs, and reference may be to either present or past possibility. Here are some additional examples:

Indefinite pronouns- einer, jemand, niemand

Somebody, someone, nobody

Man is an indefinite pronoun. Einer, jemand and niemand are three more.

Einer means somebody. Jemand means someone. Niemand means nobody.

Hier kümmert sich niemand ums Parken means nobody bothers about parking here.

Endings on jemand and niemand

Jemand and niemand sometimes take the dative ending em and the accusative ending en. The forms are jemandem and niemanden.

In speech Germans freely use the forms with no ending. Ich habe dort niemand gesehen and Ich habe dort niemanden gesehen both mean I saw no one there.

The genitive forms jemandes and niemandes occur only very rarely in speech.

The other forms of man and einer

Man and einer have the same dative form and the same accusative form. The dative is einem. The accusative is einen.

Es wird einem immer gesagt, dass man viel arbeiten muss. One is always told that one has to work a lot. Here einem is the dative of man.

Mit einem gesprochen means talked to someone. Here einem is the dative of einer.

  1. 133

    With a family as large as ours there's somebody sick all the time.

  2. 134

    Do you know someone in the States who would act as a sponsor for you?

  3. 135

    Nobody bothers about parking here.

  4. 136

    I saw no one there.

  5. 137

    We were helping someone.

  6. 138

    He would like to be friends with somebody.

  7. 139

    One is always told that one has to work a lot.

  8. 140

    At the Town Hall I talked to someone who gave me this information.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 19, Notes on Grammar

E. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS- einer, jemand, niemand

I

Bei unserer grossen Familie ist alle Augenblicke einer krank.
With a family as large as ours there's somebody sick all the time.

Kennen Sie jemand(en) in den Staaten, der für Sie bürgen würde?
Do you know someone in the States who would act as a sponsor for you?

Hier kümmert sich niemand ums Parken.
Nobody bothers about parking here.

In Unit 15 we discussed the pronoun man. Since then we have encountered three other, similar pronouns - einer, jemand, and niemand.

All four of these pronouns are called INDEFINITE PRONOUNS.
E. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS- einer, jemand, niemand

II

Ich habe dort niemand (or niemanden) gesehen.
I saw no one there.

Wir haben jemand (or jemandem) geholfen.
We were helping someone.

Er möchte gern jemandes Freund sein.
He would like to be friends with somebody.

The pronouns jemand and niemand sometimes have the dative and accusative endings -em and -en. Note, however, that Germans freely use the endingless forms in speech. The genitive forms jemandes and niemandes occur only very rarely in speech.
E. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS- einer, jemand, niemand

III

Es wird einem immer gesagt, dass man viel arbeiten muss.
One is always told that one has to work a lot.

Auf dem Rathaus habe ich mit einem gesprochen, der mir diese Auskunft gab.
At the Town Hall I talked to someone who gave me this information.

The dative and accusative forms of the pronoun man and einer are identical: einem and einen.

Omission of the specifier

No specifier before a profession

German leaves out the specifier when it names someone by profession, nationality, or membership in a party or organization. English keeps it.

Ich bin Ostzonenflüchtling means I'm a refugee from the Eastern Zone. German has no ein here.

Zur Zeit bin ich hier als Autoschlosser angestellt means at present I'm employed as an auto mechanic.

When the specifier stays

The specifier stays when the sentence does not stress that someone is a member of a group.

Er war Mechaniker von Beruf names his profession. Er war ein guter Mechaniker says how good he was, so ein stays.

Gestern kam wieder ein Ostzonenflüchtling über die Grenze tells what happened. It does not name what someone is, so ein stays.

  1. 141

    Wasn't he in America as an exchange student?

  2. 142

    Wasn't your daughter also abroad? Yes, in Norway as a physical education teacher.

  3. 143

    I'm a refugee from the Eastern Zone.

  4. 144

    At present I'm employed as an auto mechanic.

  5. 145

    I have an uncle who's an American citizen.

  6. 146

    Were you a member of a (political) party?

  7. 147

    He was a mechanic by profession.

  8. 148

    He was a good mechanic.

  9. 149

    She is a refugee from the Eastern Zone.

  10. 150

    Yesterday another refugee from the Eastern Zone came over the border.

  11. 151

    My uncle is an American citizen.

  12. 152

    Only an American citizen can be your sponsor.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 19, Notes on Grammar

F. OMISSION OF THE SPECIFIER

I

Ist er nicht als Austauschstudent in Amerika gewesen?
Wasn't he in America as an exchange student?

War Ihre Tochter nicht auch im Ausland? Ja, als Sportlehrerin in Norwegen.
Wasn't your daughter also abroad? Yes, in Norway as a physical education teacher.

Ich bin Ostzonenflüchtling.
I'm a refugee from the Eastern Zone.

Zur Zeit bin ich hier als Autoschlosser angestellt.
At present I'm employed as an auto mechanic.

Ich habe einen Onkel, der amerikanischer Staatsangehöriger ist.
I have an uncle who's an American citizen.

Waren Sie Mitglied einer Partei?
Were you a member of a (political) party?

It was noted in a footnote to Unit 4 that many nouns referring to nationality, profession or membership in a group, occur without a specifier in German.

The specifier is omitted in German in identifying people according to profession, nationality or political or organizational affiliation. Note that English does not omit the specifier here.
F. OMISSION OF THE SPECIFIER

II

Er war Mechaniker von Beruf.
He was a mechanic by profession.

Er war ein guter Mechaniker.
He was a good mechanic.

Sie ist Ostzonenflüchtling.
She is a refugee from the Eastern Zone.

Gestern kam wieder ein Ostzonenflüchtling über die Grenze.
Yesterday another refugee from the Eastern Zone came over the border.

Mein Onkel ist amerikanischer Staatsangehöriger.
My uncle is an American citizen.

Ihr Bürge kann nur ein amerikanischer Staatsangehöriger sein.
Only an American citizen can be your sponsor.

The specifier is not omitted in German when no emphasis is given to establishing an individual's identity as a member of a group.

Word order - nouns and pronouns

A pronoun object before a noun object

A verb can have two objects. When one is a pronoun and one is a noun, the pronoun comes first.

The noun object follows with its specifier and its modifiers.

In Ich habe es dem Arzt gesagt, the pronoun es comes before dem Arzt. It means I told the doctor about it.

A pronoun object before a noun subject

A pronoun object can also come before a noun subject. This happens when the sentence begins with the verb or with a word that is not the subject.

Deshalb interessierte mich der Wiederaufbau means that's why the reconstruction interested me.

Mich is the object. Der Wiederaufbau is the subject, but it comes after mich.

Two pronoun objects

When both objects are pronouns, the accusative pronoun usually comes before the dative pronoun.

Sie leiht sie Ihnen sicher gern means she'll be glad to lend it to you. The second sie is accusative. Ihnen is dative.

Pointing words are an exception when both objects follow the verb. A pointing word generally comes after the other pronoun.

In Er hat Ihnen das schon gestern gebracht, the pointing word das comes after Ihnen.

Two noun objects

When both objects are nouns, the dative noun object comes first.

The accusative noun object follows with its specifier and its modifiers.

Herr Becker diktierte seiner Sekretärin einen langen Brief means Mr. Becker dictated a long letter to his secretary. Seiner Sekretärin is dative. Einen langen Brief is accusative.

  1. 153

    Take fifteen drops three times a day of something I'll give you a prescription for.

  2. 154

    Couldn't you still hurry and get him a couple of newspapers before the train left?

  3. 155

    Please remember me to Mrs. ...

  4. 156

    My eight year-old son [fell and] scraped his knee.

  5. 157

    I said it to the doctor. (I told the doctor about it.)

  6. 158

    If you'd bring the boy right to the office now the doctor could treat him immediately.

  7. 159

    Did you have any time left for [your own] private interests?

  8. 160

    That's why the reconstruction interested me.

  9. 161

    By the way a gentleman from the British Embassy wanted to talk to you.

  10. 162

    Wieviel kostet der Anzug? ... Gut, packen Sie ihn mir bitte ein. (8)

    How much does the suit cost? ... All right; wrap it up for me please.

  11. 163

    I think Miss Bruce has one. I'm sure she'll be glad to lend it to you.

  12. 164

    He brought you that yesterday already.

  13. 165

    I didn't show them to him.

  14. 166

    Mr. Becker dictated a long letter to his secretary.

  15. 167

    Dr. Buchner prescribed treatment at Bad Nauheim for my wife.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 19, Notes on Grammar

G. WORD ORDER - NOUNS AND PRONOUNS

I

Nehmen Sie täglich dreimal je fünfzehn Tropfen von der Medizin, für die ich Ihnen jetzt ein Rezept gebe. (18)
Take fifteen drops three times a day of something I'll give you a prescription for.

Konnten Sie ihm nicht noch schnell ein paar Zeitungen holen, ehe der Zug abfuhr? (14)
Couldn't you still hurry and get him a couple of newspapers before the train left?

Empfehlen Sie mich bitte Ihrer Frau Gemahlin. (4)
Please remember me to Mrs. ...

Mein achtjähriger Sohn hat sich das Knie aufgeschlagen. (18)
My eight year-old son [fell and] scraped his knee.

Ich habe es dem Arzt gesagt.
I said it to the doctor. (I told the doctor about it.)

Up to now in talking about word order we have been mainly concerned with the position of the finite, or inflected verb in the sentence. Let us now examine the place of noun and pronoun objects in the following sentences, most of which have occurred in the preceding units:

In sentences in which a direct and indirect object (or an object and an interested bystander) occur, you will notice that the PRONOUN OBJECT consistently PRECEDES the NOUN OBJECT with its specifier and modifiers.
G. WORD ORDER - NOUNS AND PRONOUNS

II

Wenn Sie den Jungen jetzt gleich bringen würden, könnte ihn Herr Doktor sofort behandeln. (18)
If you'd bring the boy right to the office now the doctor could treat him immediately.

Blieb Ihnen noch Zeit für private Interessen? (16)
Did you have any time left for [your own] private interests?

Deshalb interessierte mich der Wiederaufbau. (16)
That's why the reconstruction interested me.

Übrigens wollte Sie ein Herr von der englischen Botschaft sprechen. (11)
By the way a gentleman from the British Embassy wanted to talk to you.

Now note the following examples:

Here it can be seen that a PRONOUN OBJECT MAY PRECEDE a NOUN SUBJECT with its specifier and modifiers in sentences beginning with the verb or with another word than the subject.
G. WORD ORDER - NOUNS AND PRONOUNS

III

Wieviel kostet der Anzug? ... Gut, packen Sie ihn mir bitte ein. (8)
How much does the suit cost? ... All right; wrap it up for me please.

Ich glaube, Fräulein Bruce hat eine (Schreibmaschine). Sie leiht sie Ihnen sicher gern. (5)
I think Miss Bruce has one. I'm sure she'll be glad to lend it to you.

Er hat Ihnen das schon gestern gebracht.
He brought you that yesterday already.

Ich habe sie dem nicht gezeigt.
I didn't show them to him.

Note also these examples:

When both objects of a verb are pronouns the ACCUSATIVE PRONOUN usually PRECEDES THE DATIVE PRONOUN. Note that pointing words, however, generally follow other pronouns when both objects follow the verb.
G. WORD ORDER - NOUNS AND PRONOUNS

IV

Herr Becker diktierte seiner Sekretärin einen langen Brief.
Mr. Becker dictated a long letter to his secretary.

Dr. Buchner hat meiner Frau eine Kur in Bad Nauheim verordnet.
Dr. Buchner prescribed treatment at Bad Nauheim for my wife.

Here are a few sentences in which both objects of the verb are nouns:

In sentences of this type DATIVE NOUN OBJECTS PRECEDE ACCUSATIVE NOUN OBJECTS with their specifiers and modifiers.

Substitution Drill

  1. 168

    I know someone who would vouch for me.

  2. 169

    She has an uncle who would be her sponsor.

  3. 170

    Er ist am 11.6.33 geboren.

    He was born on June 11, 1933.

  1. 171

    Er ist am 11.6.33 geboren.

    He was born on June 11, 1933.

  2. 172

    He is employed at the Volkswagen general agency.

  3. 173

    Our plant in the Zone has become a state-owned enterprise.

  1. 174

    Our plant in the Zone has become a state-owned enterprise.

  2. 175

    He is just signing the form.

  3. 176

    Is the passport still valid?

  1. 177

    Is the passport still valid?

  2. 178

    Send the papers by mail.

  3. 179

    That sounds as if the investigations would take a long time.

  1. 180

    That sounds as if the investigations would take a long time.

  2. 181

    Several days may pass before we have that taken care of.

  3. 182

    Did you come out of the Zone only a short time ago?

  1. 183

    Did you come out of the Zone only a short time ago?

  2. 184

    Can I be examined here?

  1. 185

    Can I be examined here?

  2. 186

    That depends on our investigations.

  3. 187

    He used to have a small business.

  1. 188

    He used to have a small business.

  2. 189

    Are you a member of a political organization?

  3. 190

    Are you a German?

  1. 191

    Are you a German?

  2. 192

    I'd like to go to America.

  1. 193

    I'd like to go to America.

  2. 194

    I am a refugee.

  1. 195

    I am a refugee.

  2. 196

    Is he married?

  3. 197

    Those are the regulations in force.

  1. 198

    When did you join the party?

  2. 199

    I wish I had never become a probational party member.

  3. 200

    I wish I had become a doctor.

  1. 201

    I wish I had become a doctor.

  2. 202

    He has requested his birth certificate.

  3. 203

    I wish I had fled sooner.

  1. 204

    I wish I had fled sooner.

  2. 205

    Stehen Sie mit SED-Mitgliedern in Verbindung?

    Are you in contact with SED members?

  3. 206

    Notify us as soon as you have all the papers together.

  1. 207

    Wir teilen Ihnen mit, wann Sie die Unterlagen bringen können.

    We'll let you know when you can bring the papers.

  2. 208

    How long will it be in your opinion before ('until') I can emigrate?

  3. 209

    In my opinion that will take a long time.

  1. 210

    In my opinion that will take a long time.

  2. 211

    Some time may pass before we have gathered all the information.

Variation Drill

  1. 212

    If we were to go to Germany this year, we could bring a Volkswagen back with us.

  2. 213

    We'd go to the sailing regatta in Kiel if you were to come along.

  3. 214

    If he had had all the papers together earlier he would have gotten his visa already.

  4. 215

    If it hadn't been so cold we would have stayed longer on the Baltic seacoast.

  1. 216

    If it hadn't been so cold we would have stayed longer on the Baltic seacoast.

  2. 217

    If he hadn't had difficulties with ('on account of') his business he wouldn't have joined the Socialist Unity Party.

  3. 218

    If he hadn't just come from the [Eastern] Zone a short time ago he would have gotten his visa more quickly.

  4. 219

    If the letter had been written early enough it would have got to Berlin ('arrived in Berlin') in time.

  1. 220

    If he had already written the report it would have been translated too.

  2. 221

    I'm a mechanic by trade.

  3. 222

    That sounds as if it could take quite a long time.

  4. 223

    It sounded as though someone had rung the bell.

  1. 224

    It sounded as though someone had rung the bell.

  2. 225

    I wish Dr. Buchner's office weren't so far away.

  3. 226

    I wish I had never become a probational party member in the Socialist Unity Party.

  4. 227

    I wish the conference had not been put off for so long.

  1. 228

    I wish the conference had not been put off for so long.

  2. 229

    If we had a bigger car we could take my parents with us.

  3. 230

    If we had gone to Kiel we would have taken a look at the sailing regatta.

  4. 231

    Mr. Keller needs a record of police court actions. Have they sent it to him yet?

  1. 232

    Mr. Keller needs a record of police court actions. Have they sent it to him yet?

  2. 233

    Please give the applicant the necessary forms.

Vocabulary Drill

  1. 234

    This morning somebody was asking for you.

  2. 235

    I heard from someone in the office that the Beckers are planning to put off their departure.

  3. 236

    Are you planning to visit someone in Austria?

  4. 237

    Has anyone seen Mr. Keller?

  5. 238

    Can some of you (fam pl) repair that?

  6. 239

    You'll have to tell that to someone in the Economic Section, not (to) me.

  7. 240

    Do you know anybody in Tölz?

  8. 241

    It must have been somebody.

  9. 242

    What you don't know won't hurt you. ('What one doesn't know doesn't make one hot or bothered'.)

  1. 243

    This weather is enough to ('can') make a person sick.

  2. 244

    You can only tell that to someone who wasn't there while it was happening. (s. Unit 17, "dabei".)

  3. 245

    It really makes you feel sorry for him. ('One really feels sorry for him'.)

  4. 246

    In the Visa Section no one answers.

  5. 247

    Nobody visited me yesterday.

  6. 248

    I didn't see anyone there.

  7. 249

    In the shipyard unfortunately I don't know anyone.

  8. 250

    Sie hat es niemand(em) erzählt.

    She didn't tell (it to) anybody.

  9. 251

    Nobody bothers about his uncle.

  1. 252

    Ich kann den Brief niemand(em) hier diktieren.

    I can't dictate the letter to anyone here.

  2. 253

    Can you name the countries for me in which we have agencies?

  3. 254

    Meyer and Co. now has an agency in Brazil, too.

  4. 255

    How many (diplomatic) posts does the United States have actually?

  5. 256

    Do you have any American agencies in your country, too?

  6. 257

    What party did he want to join?

  7. 258

    When he became an auto mechanic he joined the union.

  8. 259

    Why did he join this political organization?

  9. 260

    In order to be able to attend the university he joined the Free German Youth.

  1. 261

    One of our sons became an architect, one a foreign service officer and the third is still studying at the university.

  2. 262

    Mr. Becker has been made plant manager.

  3. 263

    He wanted to be a dentist.

  4. 264

    Why didn't you (fam sg) learn how to be an auto mechanic if you like to fix automobiles so much?

  5. 265

    In this part of town he wasn't able to keep his business going.

  6. 266

    With the new plant manager perhaps he'll be able to keep the plant going.

  7. 267

    If you (fam pl) can't keep the store going you ought to sell it as soon as possible.

  8. 268

    She has been a widow ('widowed') for a year; however in spite of that has been able to keep her husband's stationery store going.

  9. 269

    The police are looking for the man who ran away yesterday.

  1. 270

    Only a few people can escape from the [Eastern] Zone now.

  2. 271

    I wish my relatives had fled from the [Eastern] Zone right after the war.

  3. 272

    Wissen Sie, wieviele Ärzte und Lehrer seit 1945 aus der Ostzone geflohen sind?

    Do you know how many doctors and teachers have fled from the Eastern Zone since 1945?

  4. 273

    What condition is your old car in?

  5. 274

    He gave the book back to me in good condition.

  6. 275

    The building was already in poor condition before the fire.

  7. 276

    When will (the) conditions in this plant change?

  8. 277

    He was not ready to accept your (fam sg) suggestion.

  9. 278

    Is it all right with you if we reserve you a room without a bath?

  1. 279

    My parents are willing for me to spend the week end at your (fam pl) house.

  2. 280

    Is it all right with you (fam sg) if I go ahead and buy a whole case of this wine?

  3. 281

    He filled out the form and forgot to sign [it].

  4. 282

    Have you signed the letter yet?

  5. 283

    The applicant still has to sign these forms.

  6. 284

    What all do I have to sign?

  7. 285

    How long is the passport good for?

  8. 286

    These import regulations are only valid for another month.

  9. 287

    Your identification card is no longer valid.

  1. 288

    My ticket is only good for four days.

  2. 289

    Have you notified the police of the accident?

  3. 290

    My uncle informed me that he would act as my sponsor.

  4. 291

    Please notify me when you've gotten the papers together.

  5. 292

    The specialist let her know the result(s) of the examination today.

  6. 293

    In Germany when you move to another city you have to notify the police.

  7. 294

    In Germany when you move to another city you have to inform the police [of] your new address.

  8. 295

    Send me the report as soon as possible.

  9. 296

    Do you have any idea whether he sent a report to the Ministry too?

  1. 297

    I'll send you a porter.

  2. 298

    Did you (fam sg) send the letter to his new address?

  3. 299

    The desk clerk sent the maid to him.

  4. 300

    You don't need to send the catalogue to me.

Translation Drill 1

  1. 301

    Andreas Schuster went to the American Consulate General to apply for a visa.

  2. 302

    He had been told that he was to go to one of the consuls.

  3. 303

    He introduced himself to Vice-Consul Thompson who asked him to sit down.

  4. 304

    Schuster had come from the Eastern Zone three months ago and wanted to build up a new life for himself in America.

  5. 305

    He had an uncle in the States who was willing to act as a sponsor for him.

  6. 306

    Vice-Consul Thompson got a form and noted down Schuster's name and address and other personal particulars.

  7. 307

    Thompson asked Schuster about his family status too.

  8. 308

    Schuster was single.

  9. 309

    Vice-Consul Thompson also had to know whether the applicant had ever been convicted of a crime [and] whether he was a member of a political party.

  10. 310

    He had not been previously convicted.

  11. 311

    As a boy he had been a member of the Free German Youth and later a probational party member in the Socialist Unity Party.

  12. 312

    He had only become a probational party member in order not to get [into] any trouble with his business.

  13. 313

    He had never occupied a position as a party official however.

Translation Drill 2

  1. 314

    His business had now become a state-controlled enterprise, and Schuster had fled in the black of night.

  2. 315

    He would have run away before that if he hadn't had hopes that conditions would change.

  3. 316

    He was no longer in contact with members of the Free German Youth or Socialist Unity Party, and he had no immediate relatives in the [Eastern] Zone.

  4. 317

    Vice-Consul Thompson wanted to send for the summary of Schuster's record of court convictions.

  5. 318

    Schuster was willing for that [to be done].

  6. 319

    He also needed his record of police court actions, a valid passport, his letter of sponsorship, four photographs and his birth certificate.

  7. 320

    As soon as he had all the papers together he was to notify the Consulate.

  8. 321

    How long it would be ('last') before he could emigrate Vice-Consul Thompson didn't know.

  9. 322

    It would take some time to collect the necessary information.

  10. 323

    Schuster was supposed to have his vaccination done later on by a German doctor, and before he would get his visa he would have to be examined and x-rayed at the Consulate General.

Response Drill 1

  1. 324

    Who was Mr. Schuster?

  2. 325

    Schuster was a refugee from the Soviet Zone.

  3. 326

    Why did he go to the visa section of the American consulate?

  4. 327

    He wanted to emigrate to America.

  5. 328

    If Schuster had relatives in America, would they be able to sponsor him without difficulty?

  6. 329

    Not automatically. They must be American citizens.

  7. 330

    What was Herr Schuster's occupation?

  8. 331

    He was a mechanic.

  9. 332

    Where did he work after he fled?

  10. 333

    He was employed as an auto mechanic at the Volkswagen general dealership.

  11. 334

    What did Vice Consul Thompson ask Herrn Schuster when he wanted to record his personal details?

  12. 335

    His surname, given names, date of birth, and place of birth.

  13. 336

    Was Schuster married, divorced, or widowed?

  14. 337

    He was single.

  15. 338

    Did he have a criminal record?

  16. 339

    No.

  17. 340

    Was he a member of an organization or political party?

  18. 341

    Yes, he used to belong to the FDJ and was a candidate for membership in the SED.

  19. 342

    Why had Schuster become a candidate in the first place?

  20. 343

    Otherwise he would have had difficulty keeping his business going.

  21. 344

    Was his business still privately owned?

  22. 345

    No, it had become a state-owned enterprise.

  23. 346

    When had Schuster crossed the border?

  24. 347

    Three months ago.

  25. 348

    Why had Schuster not fled earlier?

  26. 349

    Because he hoped that conditions would change.

Response Drill 2

  1. 350

    Stand er noch mit SED und FDJ-Mitgliedern in Verbindung?

    Was he still in contact with members of the SED and the FDJ?

  2. 351

    No, he no longer had any connections with people in the Eastern Zone.

  3. 352

    Do we know where Schuster's family members live?

  4. 353

    No, we only know that he no longer has any family members in the Zone.

  5. 354

    What important document did the consulate have to request?

  6. 355

    The extract from the criminal record had to be requested.

  7. 356

    What was Schuster supposed to apply for himself?

  8. 357

    The police certificate of good conduct.

  9. 358

    What other papers did he still need?

  10. 359

    He had to have a valid passport, a birth certificate, the affidavit of support, and four photographs.

  11. 360

    To whom was he supposed to send his papers?

  12. 361

    He was not supposed to send them; he was to notify the consulate as soon as he had everything together.

  13. 362

    Do we know how long Schuster had to wait for his visa?

  14. 363

    No, we don't know.

  15. 364

    What did it depend on?

  16. 365

    It depended on the consulate's investigation.

  17. 366

    What about the vaccinations and the medical examination?

  18. 367

    He had to be vaccinated by a German doctor; he was examined and X-rayed at the consulate general.

  19. 368

    Did he have to pay for it?

  20. 369

    Yes, the examination cost about forty marks and the visa one hundred marks.

Narrative

  1. 370

    If you ever visit Berlin, you will immediately sense that it is an unusual city, a divided city, divided into East and West Berlin by two different political systems.

  2. 371

    Bis zum Jahre 1961 konnte man innerhalb der gespaltenen Stadt ungehindert hin- und herfahren.

    Until 1961, people could travel back and forth freely within the divided city.

  3. 372

    People could also live in the East and work in the West, or vice versa.

  4. 373

    People could visit family members on one side or the other, exchange ideas, and make comparisons; this, however, led more and more people from the East to seek a way to the West through Berlin.

  5. 374

    They fled and left their homeland; they did not want to submit to the harsh living conditions and the political pressure of the system under which they lived.

  6. 375

    Der Flüchtlingsstrom war im Laufe der Jahre etwa auf vier Millionen angestiegen, und es wären gewiss noch viele geflohen, wenn nicht am 13. August 1961 die Mauer gebaut worden wäre, die heute ungefähr sechzehn Millionen Deutsche von der westlichen Welt trennt.

    Over the years, the stream of refugees had risen to about four million, and many more would certainly have fled had the Wall not been built on August 13, 1961, the Wall that today separates approximately sixteen million Germans from the Western world.

  7. 376

    On one side of the Wall, people are despondent, desperate, and hopeless; on the other, they are distressed, embittered, and not without fear.

  8. 377

    But the people of West Berlin do not give up.

  9. 378

    The blockade alone would have been reason enough to destroy all hope of a normal life and reconstruction.

  10. 379

    If you had seen Berlin then, or perhaps just after the war, you would be amazed at how, despite so much uncertainty, people have since been able to plan, design, experiment, and build on such a generous scale.

  11. 380

    Life in West Berlin now pulses once again as it did in the twenties. Unlike West Berliners, visitors who come from the Federal Republic or from abroad can go to East Berlin for a day.

  12. 381

    In special cases, you can even obtain permission to enter the GDR in order to visit relatives or attend the Leipzig Trade Fair.

  13. 382

    Dem DDR-Bewohner dagegen ist das Reisen in den Westen nicht gestattet.

    Residents of the GDR, on the other hand, are not permitted to travel to the West.

  14. 383

    Nur für Leute, die arbeitsunfähig sind, oder das 70. Lebensjahr erreicht haben, besteht die Möglichkeit, einen Antrag auf Familienzusammenführung zu stellen und auf diese Weise die DDR legal verlassen zu können.

    Only people who are unable to work or who have reached the age of seventy have the option of applying for family reunification and thus leaving the GDR legally.

  15. 384

    Today, only a few individuals still risk reaching the West illegally, and they do so at the risk of their lives.

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.
App StoreGoogle Play
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.