German Basic Course 1732 Studios

German · Unit 2

Unit 2: In München

Volume 1

Mr. Becker meets Mr. and Mrs. Allen in Munich.

486 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    Mr. Becker meets Mr. and Mrs. Allen in Munich.

    HerrMr. Becker
    BeckerMr. Becker
    triffthe meets
    HerrnMr.
    undand
    FrauMrs.
    AllenAllen
    inin Bonn
    München.Munich
  2. 2

    The Allens are Americans. Mr. Allen is a Foreign Service Officer.

trifft
he meets
in
in
München
Munich
Allens
the Allens
Amerikaner
the American
Amerikaner
Americans
Diplomat
the diplomat (used loosely to designate any Foreign Service Officer abroad)
Diplomat
a diplomat, a Foreign Service Officer

Basic Sentences II

  1. 3

    Hello, Mr. Becker. How are you?

  2. 4

    Fine, thanks.

  3. 5

    Mary, you know Mr. Becker, don't you?

denn
(No English equivalent. Unstressed particle expressing polite interest or concern.)
kennst
you know (speaking to family or intimate friends)
doch
(no exact equivalent. Here: unstressed particle stressing an obvious fact.)
  1. 6

    Yes, of course. We haven't seen you for a long time, Mr. Becker.

natürlich
of course
Wir
we
haben
we have
lange
for a long time
gesehen
seen
  1. 7

    I was in Bonn for two months.

  2. 8

    How long are you staying here in Munich?

  3. 9

    Probably for one year.

  4. 10

    Mr. Becker meets Mr. and Mrs. Allen in Munich.

  5. 11

    The Allens are Americans. Mr. Allen is a Foreign Service Officer.

  6. 12

    Hello, Mr. Becker. How are you?

  7. 13

    Fine, thanks.

  8. 14

    Mary, you know Mr. Becker, don't you?

  9. 15

    Yes, of course. We haven't seen you for a long time, Mr. Becker.

  10. 16

    I was in Bonn for two months.

  11. 17

    How long are you staying here in Munich?

  12. 18

    Probably for one year.

war
I was
Monate
for two months
Bonn
Bonn
lange
how long
bleiben
to stay, remain
Wahrscheinlich
probably
Jahr
the year
Jahr
one year

Basic Sentences III

  1. 19

    How do you like it in Munich, Mrs. Allen?

  2. 20

    We like it here very much. Munich is a beautiful city.

gefällt
it pleases
Ihnen
you like it
Frau
(polite way of addressing a married woman. Here: 'Mrs. Allen')
uns
we like it
Stadt
the city
Stadt
a beautiful city
  1. 21

    Do you live in the vicinity of the consulate?

  2. 22

    Yes, in the Bayrischen Hof.

  3. 23

    It's very nice there.

  4. 24

    How do you like it in Munich, Mrs. Allen?

  5. 25

    We like it here very much. Munich is a beautiful city.

  6. 26

    Do you live in the vicinity of the consulate?

  7. 27

    Yes, in the Bayrischen Hof.

  8. 28

    It's very nice there.

Wohnen
to live, dwell
Nähe
the vicinity, 'nearness'
Nähe
in the vicinity, near
Konsulat
the consulate
Konsulat
of the consulate
Hof
in the Bayrischen Hof (Hotel)
nett
nice

Basic Sentences IV

  1. 29

    What do you plan to do now?

  2. 30

    We're planning to go and eat.

  3. 31

    Don't you want to come along?

  4. 32

    I'd be very glad to. Where are you going to eat?

vor
you plan to do
jetzt
now
wollen
to want or intend (to)
wollen
we want, we intend (to)
gehen
to go and eat
mitkommen
to come along
  1. 33

    Do you know the restaurant on Ludwigstrasse?

  2. 34

    The food is very good there.

  3. 35

    What do you plan to do now?

  4. 36

    We're planning to go and eat.

  5. 37

    Don't you want to come along?

  6. 38

    I'd be very glad to. Where are you going to eat?

  7. 39

    Do you know the restaurant on Ludwigstrasse?

  8. 40

    The food is very good there.

Ludwigstrasse
on Ludwigstrasse
Essen
the food

Basic Sentences V

  1. 41

    I wonder who the lady over there is?

Wer
who
eigentlich
actually, really
Dame
the lady
  1. 42

    She's just talking to the waiter.

  2. 43

    That's Miss Adams.

  3. 44

    Don't you know her?

spricht
she is speaking, talking
gerade
just
mit
with
Ober
the waiter
Ober
with the waiter
  1. 45

    No, I don't believe so.

  2. 46

    I often go to the movies with her.

glaube
I believe
gehe
I go
oft
often
Kino
to the movies
  1. 47

    Is she an American or a German?

  2. 48

    She's an American.

  3. 49

    Do you speak English or German with her?

  4. 50

    She can speak German very well.

  5. 51

    I wonder who the lady over there is?

  6. 52

    She's just talking to the waiter.

  7. 53

    That's Miss Adams.

  8. 54

    Don't you know her?

  9. 55

    No, I don't believe so.

  10. 56

    I often go to the movies with her.

  11. 57

    Is she an American or a German?

  12. 58

    She's an American.

  13. 59

    Do you speak English or German with her?

  14. 60

    She can speak German very well.

oder
or
Amerikanerin
the American (lady)
Amerikanerin
an American (lady)
Deutsche
the German (lady)
Deutsche
a German (lady)
deutsch
German
englisch
English
kann
she can

Basic Sentences VI

  1. 61

    Where are you going today?

  2. 62

    I'm planning to go to Schwabing and then to Tölz.

fahren
to go, ride (in a vehicle)
hin
to that place
heute
today
will
I intend, I plan
dann
then
nach
to, toward
  1. 63

    Who are you going to visit there?

  2. 64

    Mr. Keller's parents.

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    You know Mr. Keller, don't you?

  4. 66

    I believe he works at the consulate too.

besuchen
to visit
Eltern
the parents
von
of
arbeitet
he works
  1. 67

    Yes, as a matter of fact I know him very well.

  2. 68

    He lives quite near me now.

  3. 69

    I often ride home with him.

sogar
even, as a matter of fact
wohnt
he lives
ganz
quite
Nähe
in my vicinity, near me
fahre
I go, I ride
ihm
with him
Hause
home
  1. 70

    Can you give me his new address?

  2. 71

    Gladly.

  3. 72

    Where are you going today?

  4. 73

    I'm planning to go to Schwabing and then to Tölz.

  5. 74

    Who are you going to visit there?

  6. 75

    Mr. Keller's parents.

  7. 76

    You know Mr. Keller, don't you?

  8. 77

    I believe he works at the consulate too.

  9. 78

    Yes, as a matter of fact I know him very well.

  10. 79

    He lives quite near me now.

  11. 80

    I often ride home with him.

  12. 81

    Can you give me his new address?

  13. 82

    Gladly.

Sie
can you
Adresse
the address
Adresse
his new address
geben
to give

Basic Sentences VII

  1. 83

    May I see your passport?

  2. 84

    Here you are.

  3. 85

    What is your name, Bauer or Brauer?

  4. 86

    My name is Brauer.

ich
may I
Pass
the passport
sehen
to see
heissen
to be called, named
heissen
you are called, your name is
heisse
I am called, my name is
  1. 87

    Have you ever been in Germany before?

  2. 88

    No, not yet.

  3. 89

    Where are you going (to)?

  4. 90

    To Frankfurt.

Sie
were you, have you been
schon
already, before
einmal
once (Here: 'ever'.)
Deutschland
Germany
noch
still, yet
nicht
not yet
Frankfurt
Frankfort
  1. 91

    Well, then you still have to [go] to the customs office.

  2. 92

    Where is the customs office?

  3. 93

    Over there, do you see (it)?

  4. 94

    Yes, thanks.

  5. 95

    May I see your passport?

  6. 96

    Here you are.

  7. 97

    What is your name, Bauer or Brauer?

  8. 98

    My name is Brauer.

  9. 99

    Have you ever been in Germany before?

  10. 100

    No, not yet.

  11. 101

    Where are you going (to)?

  12. 102

    To Frankfurt.

  13. 103

    Well, then you still have to [go] to the customs office.

  14. 104

    Where is the customs office?

  15. 105

    Over there, do you see (it)?

  16. 106

    Yes, thanks.

Also
well
müssen
to have to
Zoll
the customs office
Zoll
to the customs office

Basic Sentences VIII

  1. 107

    Where do you come from?

  2. 108

    I come from America.

  3. 109

    Do you have anything to declare?

  4. 110

    I don't believe so.

kommen
to come
her
from that place
aus
out of, from
Amerika
America
verzollen
to declare
verzollen
to declare, to be declared
  1. 111

    Show me your luggage, please.

  2. 112

    Here.

  3. 113

    Who does this suitcase here belong to?

  4. 114

    That one doesn't belong to me.

Gepäck
the baggage, luggage
Gepäck
your baggage, luggage
Zeigen
to show
gehört
he, it belongs
Koffer
the suitcase
Koffer
this suitcase
Der
that one
  1. 115

    I only have these two suitcases.

  2. 116

    Thanks very much.

  3. 117

    Everything's in order.

  4. 118

    [Have] a good trip!

  5. 119

    Where do you come from?

  6. 120

    I come from America.

  7. 121

    Do you have anything to declare?

  8. 122

    I don't believe so.

  9. 123

    Show me your luggage, please.

  10. 124

    Here.

  11. 125

    Who does this suitcase here belong to?

  12. 126

    That one doesn't belong to me.

  13. 127

    I only have these two suitcases.

  14. 128

    Thanks very much.

  15. 129

    Everything's in order.

  16. 130

    [Have] a good trip!

nur
only
Koffer
these two suitcases
Alles
everything
Ordnung
the order
Ordnung
in order
Reise
the trip
Reise
a good trip

Notes on Pronunciation: Long and short vowels.

  1. 131

    ihn - in

    Practice 1: ihn / in

  2. 132

    bieten - bitten

    Practice 1: bieten / bitten

  3. 133

    Lied - litt

    Practice 1: Lied / litt

  4. 134

    mieten - mitten

    Practice 1: mieten / mitten

  5. 135

    Beet - Bett

    Practice 1: Beet / Bett

  6. 136

    beten - Betten

    Practice 1: beten / Betten

  7. 137

    den - denn

    Practice 1: den / denn

  8. 138

    Sehne - Senne

    Practice 1: Sehne / Senne

  9. 139

    Staat - Stadt

    Practice 1: Staat / Stadt

  10. 140

    wate - Watte

    Practice 1: wate / Watte

  1. 141

    Wahn - wann

    Practice 1: Wahn / wann

  2. 142

    bahne - banne

    Practice 1: bahne / banne

  3. 143

    bog - Bock

    Practice 1: bog / Bock

  4. 144

    wohne - Wonne

    Practice 1: wohne / Wonne

  5. 145

    lohte - Lotte

    Practice 1: lohte / Lotte

  6. 146

    Ofen - offen

    Practice 1: Ofen / offen

  7. 147

    Mus - muss

    Practice 1: Mus / muss

  8. 148

    Pute - Putte

    Practice 1: Pute / Putte

  9. 149

    bucht - Bucht

    Practice 1: bucht / Bucht

  10. 150

    Muhme - Mumme

    Practice 1: Muhme / Mumme

  1. 151

    König - können

    Practice 1: König / können

  2. 152

    Höhle - Hölle

    Practice 1: Höhle / Hölle

  3. 153

    böge - Böcke

    Practice 1: böge / Böcke

  4. 154

    Goethe - Götter

    Practice 1: Goethe / Götter

  5. 155

    Hüte - Hütte

    Practice 1: Hüte / Hütte

  6. 156

    fühle - fülle

    Practice 1: fühle / fülle

  7. 157

    müder - Mütter

    Practice 1: müder / Mütter

  8. 158

    Lüge - Lücke

    Practice 1: Lüge / Lücke

Notes on Pronunciation: Long Vowels and Diphthongs

  1. 159

    mein - Wein - nein - leider

    Practice 2: ei

  2. 160

    Haus - Maus - auch - glaube

    Practice 2: au

  3. 161

    neu - neun - deutsch - Leute

    Practice 2: eu

  4. 162

    diese - dieser

    Practice 3: diese / dieser

  5. 163

    eine - einer

    Practice 3: eine / einer

  6. 164

    Liebe - lieber

    Practice 3: Liebe / lieber

  7. 165

    Ode - oder

    Practice 3: Ode / oder

  8. 166

    Miete - Mieter

    Practice 3: Miete / Mieter

  9. 167

    Alte - Alter

    Practice 3: Alte / Alter

  10. 168

    bitte - bitter

    Practice 3: bitte / bitter

  1. 169

    welche - welcher

    Practice 3: welche / welcher

  2. 170

    älter - Eltern

    Practice 3: älter / Eltern

  3. 171

    Vetter - Vettern

    Practice 3: Vetter / Vettern

  4. 172

    Kinder - Kindern

    Practice 3: Kinder / Kindern

  5. 173

    Gästen - gestern

    Practice 3: Gästen / gestern

  6. 174

    locken - lockern

    Practice 3: locken / lockern

  7. 175

    fetten - Vettern

    Practice 3: fetten / Vettern

  8. 176

    hier - Bier - wir

    Practice 4: long vowel + r

  9. 177

    sehr - mehr - her

    Practice 4: long vowel + r

  10. 178

    Uhr - fuhr - nur

    Practice 4: long vowel + r

  1. 179

    Ohr - Tor - Mohr

    Practice 4: long vowel + r

  2. 180

    her - Herr

    Practice 4 (pairs): her / Herr

  3. 181

    wir - wirr

    Practice 4 (pairs): wir / wirr

  4. 182

    Star - starr

    Practice 4 (pairs): Star / starr

  5. 183

    Mark - Park - darf - hart

    Practice 4 (r + consonant): ar

  6. 184

    dort - Dorf - Wort - Kork

    Practice 4 (r + consonant): or

  7. 185

    Herrn - gern - herb - Kerl

    Practice 4 (r + consonant): er

  8. 186

    Furt - Durst - Wurm - Kurve

    Practice 4 (r + consonant): ur

  9. 187

    Wirt - First - Schirm - Birne

    Practice 4 (r + consonant): ir

  10. 188

    noch - doch - nach - auch

    Practice 5: ch

  1. 189

    lachen - pochen - tauchen

    Practice 5: ch

  2. 190

    Dachau - Bochum - Bucholz

    Practice 5: ch

  3. 191

    Frau - fragen - froh

    Practice 6: fr

  4. 192

    Trost - traute - treffen

    Practice 6: tr

  5. 193

    Prost - prall - Preis

    Practice 6: pr

  6. 194

    Krone - Kragen - krumm

    Practice 6: kr

Pronouns - forms and functions, 1 of 2

Pronouns that change form

Most English pronouns have two forms: I and me, he and him, she and her. In I know him and he knows me, the speaker is I first and me second.

You and it have only one form in English.

Some German pronouns have two forms, like Sie and Ihnen. Many have three, like ich, mich and mir.

A case is a form of a word that shows its job in the sentence. German pronouns have three cases: nominative, accusative and dative.

Reading the pronoun table

Each column is one pronoun. Read down a column for its three forms: nominative, then accusative, then dative.

The English word at the top of a column matches the nominative. The English word at the bottom matches both the accusative and the dative.

Some forms repeat. Uns is both accusative and dative. Es is both nominative and accusative.

Wer and was are used only in questions. Familiar forms are for a friend or a child. The familiar du and ihr are not in the table.

Pronouns - forms and functions

  1. 195

    Do you understand me?

  2. 196

    Yes, I understand you well.

  3. 197

    How goes it with-regard-to-you? (How are you?)

  4. 198

    He speaks English with me.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 2, Notes on Grammar

A. PRONOUNS - FORMS AND FUNCTIONS.

I. Forms

Verstehen Sie mich?
Do you understand me?

Ja, ich verstehe Sie gut.
Yes, I understand you well.

Wie geht es Ihnen?
How goes it with-regard-to-you? (How are you?)

Er spricht englisch mit mir.
He speaks English with me.

1. In the following English sentences the pronouns are underlined. Note their forms.

I know him and he knows me. Do you know her? She knows you.

Most English pronouns have two different forms: I-me, he-him, she-her, etc. Some, like the pronouns you and it, have only one form however.

2. Note the forms of the German pronouns in the following sentences.

Some German pronouns have two different forms, like Sie and Ihnen above. Many German pronouns however have three different forms like ich, mich and mir above.

3. The following table gives the forms of the most common German pronouns:

'I' 'we' 'he' 'it' 'she' 'they' 'you' 'who?' 'what?'
a. NOMINATIVE forms: ich, wir, er, es, sie, sie, Sie, wer, was
b. ACCUSATIVE forms: mich, uns, ihn, es, sie, sie, Sie, wen, was
c. DATIVE forms: mir, uns, ihm, ihm, ihr, ihnen, Ihnen, wem, ---
'me' 'us' 'him' 'it' 'her' 'them' 'you' ('whom?') 'what?'

The English forms at the top of the table correspond to the set of German forms above the line. Those at the bottom of the table correspond to the two sets of German forms below the line. The pronouns wer and was are used only in questions. The pronouns for familiar address, du and ihr, will be taken up later.

Pronouns - forms and functions, 2 of 2

What each case does

A sentence names an actor and an action. The actor is the subject. A pronoun for the subject is nominative: in Ich kenne ihn sehr gut, ich is nominative.

The object is the person or thing the action is aimed at. A pronoun for the object is usually accusative. In the same sentence, ihn is the object.

A pronoun for the person to whom or for whom the action is done is dative. This person is sometimes called the indirect object.

In Sie müssen ihm Ihren Pass zeigen, ihm is dative: you have to show your passport to him.

A pronoun after mit is always dative: mit ihr, mit ihm. This rule has nothing to do with the indirect object.

  1. 199

    I understand very well.

  2. 200

    He lives quite near me.

  3. 201

    We're just planning to go and eat.

  4. 202

    I know him very well.

  5. 203

    Do you understand me?

  6. 204

    We're meeting them (or her) there.

  7. 205

    Can you give me his address?

  8. 206

    You have to show your passport to him.

  9. 207

    How are you? (How goes it with-regard-to-you?)

  10. 208

    Do you like it in Munich? (Is it pleasing to you in Munich?)

  11. 209

    The suitcase doesn't belong to me.

  12. 210

    Do you speak English with her?

  13. 211

    I often ride home with him.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 2, Notes on Grammar

A. PRONOUNS - FORMS AND FUNCTIONS.

II. Functions

Ich verstehe sehr gut.
I understand very well.

Er wohnt ganz in meiner Nähe.
He lives quite near me.

Wir wollen gerade essen gehen.
We're just planning to go and eat.

Ich kenne ihn sehr gut.
I know him very well.

Verstehen Sie mich?
Do you understand me?

Wir treffen sie dort.
We're meeting them (or her) there.

Können Sie mir seine Adresse geben?
Can you give me his address?

Sie müssen ihm Ihren Pass zeigen.
You have to show your passport to him.

Wie geht es Ihnen?
How are you? (How goes it with-regard-to-you?)

Gefällt es Ihnen in München?
Do you like it in Munich? (Is it pleasing to you in Munich?)

Der Koffer gehört mir nicht.
The suitcase doesn't belong to me.

Sprechen Sie englisch mit ihr?
Do you speak English with her?

Ich fahre oft mit ihm nach Hause.
I often ride home with him.

1. The NOMINATIVE form: In German, as in English, the basic sentence structure is an ACTOR-ACTION pattern: somebody doing something. The ACTOR is called the SUBJECT of the sentence, and in German a pronoun designating the ACTOR always has the NOMINATIVE form.

2. The ACCUSATIVE form: In many sentences in both English and German there is another element, the GOAL or OBJECT of the action, the person or thing toward which the action is aimed. In German a pronoun designating the OBJECT of an action is usually in the ACCUSATIVE form.

3. The DATIVE form: The third form of the German pronoun is used to designate the INTERESTED BYSTANDER, the person to whom or for whom or with regard to whom the action of the sentence is being performed. In some cases this is referred to as the INDIRECT OBJECT.

4. Another use of the DATIVE form is illustrated by the following sentences you have learned:

Sprechen Sie englisch mit ihr? Do you speak English with her?
Ich fahre oft mit ihm nach Hause. I often ride home with him.

The DATIVE forms ihr and ihm are used here because they follow the word mit, and that's all there is to it. Any pronoun that follows mit has the DATIVE form, always and without fail. This has nothing to do with the INTERESTED BYSTANDER usage; it's something entirely different.

The Principle of Substitution

Replacing one form with another

An element is one part of a sentence. One element can replace another only if both fit the same place.

A pronoun can be replaced only by a form from the same row of the pronoun table. In Er kennt mich, mich is accusative. Only accusative forms fit there: uns, ihn, es, sie, Sie, wen.

In Ich gehe oft ins Kino mit ihr, ihr is dative. Only dative forms fit there: ihm, ihnen.

In the question Kennen Sie Herrn Becker, Sie is nominative. Only nominative forms fit there: wir, sie.

  1. 212

    He knows me.

  2. 213

    I often go to the movies with her.

  3. 214

    Do you know Mr. Becker?

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 2, Notes on Grammar

B. The Principle of Substitution.

Er kennt mich.
He knows me.

Ich gehe oft ins Kino mit ihr.
I often go to the movies with her.

Kennen Sie Herrn Becker?
Do you know Mr. Becker?

1. Languages, like automobiles, are made up of replaceable parts; but the part you substitute must fit the frame into which it is put. For example, in the frame Er kennt mich 'He knows me', the Accusative form mich may be replaced only by other Accusative forms -- that is, forms from the same horizontal line in the table of pronoun forms as mich, the line labeled 'ACCUSATIVE forms'.

Er kennt mich. (uns, ihn, es, sie, sie, Sie, wen?) He knows me. (us, him, it, her, them, you, who (m)?)

2. Similarly, Dative forms must be replaced by other Dative forms, and Nominative forms by other Nominative forms.

Ich gehe oft ins Kino mit ihr. (ihm, ihnen) I often go to the movies with her. (him, them)
Kennen Sie Herrn Becker? (wir, sie) Do you know Mr. Becker? (we, they)

Verb forms and functions - the present, 1 of 3

The verb fits the subject

When the subject changes, the verb sometimes changes with it.

English adds -s for he, it and she: I sing, he sings.

Almost every German verb has three forms. Ich takes the ending -e: komme. Er, es and sie take -t: kommt. Wir, sie and Sie take -en: kommen.

The part of the verb before the ending is the stem.

Verbs that differ

Some verbs change the vowel of the stem in the er-form: gebe, gibt, geben. No simple rule says which verbs do this.

After t or d, an e comes before the ending -t, so that the ending is heard: er arbeitet, er kostet.

Seven verbs have no ending in the forms for ich and er. Four of them are kann, darf, muss and will. The forms for wir are können, dürfen, müssen, wollen.

Haben and sein have patterns found in no other verb: habe, hat, haben and bin, ist, sind. Möchte is a special form: möchte, möchte, möchten.

Verb forms and functions - the present

  1. 215

    He gives.

  2. 216

    He works.

  3. 217

    I can.

  4. 218

    He gives. He's giving. He does give.

  5. 219

    Is he giving? Does he give?

  6. 220

    Please speak slowly.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 2, Notes on Grammar

C. VERB FORMS AND FUNCTIONS - THE PRESENT

I. Forms

Er gibt.
He gives.

Er arbeitet.
He works.

Ich kann.
I can.

1. In German, and in English, when you substitute one Nominative form for another, that is, change the SUBJECT in a sentence, you sometimes have to change the form of the verb as well. The subject and the verb have to fit together. Note the following English forms:

I, you, we, they: sing, do (no ending)
he, it, she: sings, does (ending -s)

2. All but a very few German verbs have the following forms:

ich: komme, gebe (ending -e)
er, es, sie: kommt, gibt (ending -t)
wir, sie ('they'), Sie: kommen, geben (ending -en)

Note that German verbs have a special form with the pronoun ich. Otherwise the pronouns and verbs are grouped as they are in English: er, es, sie occur with one verb form just as 'he, it and she' and wir, sie, Sie with another verb form just as 'we, they, you.' Notice that the vowel in the STEM of geben appears as i in the er-form: er gibt. This is something like the English says or does [sez, duz] versus say or do, except that in German the vowel-change is shown even more clearly in the writing system. There are several verbs in German that have this kind of irregular er-form, but unfortunately there is no simple way of determining which verbs they are. They are not very numerous however, and we'll point them out to you as we encounter them.

3. Two German verbs you have encountered show a very slight modification in the er-form. They are arbeiten and kosten.

er, es, sie: arbeitet (connecting vowel -e- and ending -t)

After a -t- (or a -d-) a connecting vowel -e- occurs before the ending -t so that the ending is heard distinctly.

4. We have four verbs so far that exhibit the following pattern:

'can, be able to' / 'may, be allowed to' / 'must, have to' / 'want to'
ich, er, es, sie: kann, darf, muss, will (no ending)
wir, sie, Sie: können, dürfen, müssen, wollen (ending -en)

There are three more verbs with the same pattern, making a total of seven in all. Notice that the English equivalents of the verbs listed above have no -s ending in the he form: He can, he may, he must, and he will (in the sense of he insists.)

5. The following forms of haben "to have", sein "to be" and möchte(n) "would like to" complete the inventory:

ich: habe, bin, möchte
er, es, sie: hat, ist, möchte
wir, sie, Sie: haben, sind, möchten

The patterns of the first two of these verbs are unique and are found in no other German verbs. The forms möchte and möchten are special forms which we will deal with somewhat later.

6. Here is a table of verb forms:

A: komme, kommt, kommen
B: treffe, trifft, treffen
(7): kann, kann, können
(1): habe, hat, haben
(1): bin, ist, sind
special form: möchte, möchte, möchten
(rows: ich / er, es, sie / wir, sie, Sie)

All verbs in German follow pattern A or pattern B except the nine indicated in the table and one more that is still to come.
C. VERB FORMS AND FUNCTIONS - THE PRESENT

II. Functions

Er gibt.
He gives. He's giving. He does give.

Gibt er?
Is he giving? Does he give?

Bitte sprechen Sie langsam.
Please speak slowly.

Zeigen Sie mir bitte Ihr Gepäck.
Show me your luggage please.

Ich möchte gern Wasser haben.
I'd like to have water.

Können Sie mich gut verstehen?
Can you understand me well?

Darf ich Ihren Pass sehen?
May I see your passport?

Sie müssen zum Zoll gehen.
You have to go to the customs office.

1. English uses a verb form with the ending -ing very freely: he's singing, we're waiting, it's raining. German has no corresponding form and uses the simple form of the verb for such expresssions.

2. For COMMANDS, German uses the verb form with the ending -en, followed by the pronoun Sie. The German form is like Biblical English: 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel...'

3. Two verb forms can be used together in German or in English as a VERB PHRASE. Although German doesn't have verb phrases like is going or does believe, it has others, as follows:

The second part of the German verb phrase comes at the end of the sentence, and is called the INFINITIVE. It is the form with the ending -en, but it never has a subject and is unaffected by any change of subject: Ich kann gehen. Wir können gehen. There is only one irregular infinitive in German: sein 'to be'; the infinitive of every other verb is the same as the wir-form.

Verb forms and functions - the present, 2 of 3

One form, many English meanings

German has no form like the English ending -ing. Er gibt means he gives, he is giving and he does give.

A command uses the -en form followed by Sie: Zeigen Sie mir bitte Ihr Gepäck.

A verb phrase is two verb forms used together. The second form is the infinitive. It comes at the end of the sentence.

The infinitive ends in -en and does not change with the subject: Ich kann gehen. Wir können gehen.

The infinitive is the same as the wir-form. The only exception is sein: wir sind, but the infinitive is sein.

  1. 221

    Show me your luggage please.

  2. 222

    I'd like to have water.

  3. 223

    Can you understand me well?

  4. 224

    May I see your passport?

  5. 225

    You have to go to the customs office.

Verb forms and functions - the present, 3 of 3

A list of verbs by pattern

The list sorts verbs into two groups. Each entry gives the forms for ich, er and wir, in that order.

In the first group the stem stays the same: komme, kommt, kommen.

In the second group the stem vowel changes in the er-form: gebe, gibt, geben.

List of verbs in units 1 and 2

  1. 226

    I work. He works. We work.

  2. 227

    I eat. He eats. We eat.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 2, Notes on Grammar

C. VERB FORMS AND FUNCTIONS - THE PRESENT

III. List of verbs in units 1 and 2:

Ich arbeite. Er arbeitet. Wir arbeiten.
I work. He works. We work.

Ich esse. Er isst. Wir essen.
I eat. He eats. We eat.

1. Pattern A

arbeite, arbeitet, arbeiten
besuche, besucht, besuchen
bleibe, bleibt, bleiben
gehe, geht, gehen
gehöre, gehört, gehören
glaube, glaubt, glauben
heisse, heisst, heissen
kenne, kennt, kennen
komme, kommt, kommen
(koste), kostet, kosten
sage, sagt, sagen
verstehe, versteht, verstehen
wohne, wohnt, wohnen
zeige, zeigt, zeigen

Pattern B

esse, isst, essen
gebe, gibt, geben
sehe, sieht, sehen
spreche, spricht, sprechen
treffe, trifft, treffen
fahre, fährt, fahren
gefalle, gefällt, gefallen

Hin and her

Where to and where from

A question word is a word that asks for information, such as wo, wer or was. Wo by itself means where, in the sense of in what place.

Her added to wo asks where from. Hin added to wo asks where to. The questions are Wo kommen Sie her and Wo gehen Sie hin.

Hin and her usually stand at the end. They can also stand at the start, written as one word with wo: woher, wohin.

Hin joins dort in writing: Wir fahren dorthin.

  1. 228

    Where do you live?

  2. 229

    Where do you come from?

  3. 230

    Where are you going (to)?

  4. 231

    Where are you going today?

  5. 232

    We are going (to) there.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 2, Notes on Grammar

D. Hin and her

Wo wohnen Sie?
Where do you live?

Wo kommen Sie her?
Where do you come from?

Wo gehen Sie hin?
Where are you going (to)?

Wo fahren Sie heute hin? Wohin fahren Sie heute?
Where are you going today?

Wir fahren dorthin.
We are going (to) there.

1. Wo by itself means 'where?' in the sense of 'in what place?'. To give it the meaning 'where from?' the little word her is added; to give it the meaning 'where to?' the little word hin is added.

2. The position of hin and her is usually at the end of the sentence or question. They may occur alternately however at the beginning after wo. The writing system joins hin and her to the preceding question word or adverb. Woher? 'Where from?'; Wohin? 'Where to?'; dahin, dorthin 'to there'

Substitution Drill

  1. 233

    I understand you very well.

  2. 234

    She meets him in Frankfurt.

  3. 235

    Can you give me his address?

  1. 236

    Can you give me his address?

  2. 237

    He comes from America.

  3. 238

    I only have these two suitcases.

  4. 239

    Don't you know her?

  1. 240

    Don't you know her?

  2. 241

    I can't understand him well.

  3. 242

    How are you? (How goes it with you?)

  4. 243

    How long are you staying here in Munich?

  5. 244

    Does Mrs. Becker live in the vicinity of the consulate?

  1. 245

    Does Mrs. Becker live in the vicinity of the consulate?

  2. 246

    Mr. and Mrs. Allen meet him at the consulate.

  3. 247

    Do you know Mr. Keller?

  1. 248

    Do you know Mr. Keller?

  2. 249

    What would you like to eat?

  3. 250

    I often ride home with him.

  4. 251

    Where are you eating today?

  1. 252

    Where are you eating today?

  2. 253

    We like it here very much.

  3. 254

    Then you still have to go to the customs office now.

  4. 255

    But she can speak German well too.

  1. 256

    But she can speak German well too.

  2. 257

    May I come along?

  3. 258

    He works at the consulate too.

  4. 259

    Where are you going (to)?

  5. 260

    We're just planning to go and eat.

  1. 261

    We're just planning to go and eat.

  2. 262

    Where's the airport?

  1. 263

    Where's the airport?

  1. 264

    Where's the airport?

  1. 265

    Where's the airport?

Variation Drill

  1. 266

    I'm coming.

  2. 267

    Is she staying?

  3. 268

    We work there.

  4. 269

    Can they come?

  1. 270

    Can they come?

  2. 271

    He intends to meet her.

  3. 272

    Allens are Americans.

  4. 273

    Where are you going today? I'm going to Munich.

  1. 274

    I think he knows you.

  2. 275

    We'd like to stay here.

  3. 276

    Where do you come from? I come from America.

Vocabulary Drill

  1. 277

    He's meeting Mr. Allen in Bonn.

  2. 278

    I'm meeting her in Munich.

  3. 279

    We meet Mr. and Mrs. Keller in America.

  4. 280

    Are you meeting Miss Schneider today?

  5. 281

    She meets Mrs. Bauer in Frankfurt.

  6. 282

    How do you like it in Munich?

  7. 283

    Do you like it in Germany?

  8. 284

    We like it very much here.

  9. 285

    I like it in Bonn very much.

  1. 286

    She likes it very much here too.

  2. 287

    Do you know Mr. Becker?

  3. 288

    We know him well.

  4. 289

    Do you know Mrs. Bauer, too?

  5. 290

    No, I don't know her.

  6. 291

    You know him too, don't you?

  7. 292

    Do you live in the vicinity of the consulate?

  8. 293

    Does he live in Munich too?

  9. 294

    He lives here in the vicinity.

  1. 295

    Where do you live?

  2. 296

    I live in the Bayrischen Hof.

  3. 297

    I'm going to the movies.

  4. 298

    Are you going to the movies too?

  5. 299

    No, I'm not going to the movies today.

  6. 300

    Who's she going to the movies with?

  7. 301

    She's going to the movies with us today.

  8. 302

    Who is the lady there?

  9. 303

    Who lives in the Bayrischen Hof?

  1. 304

    Who knows Mr. and Mrs. Allen?

  2. 305

    Who can speak German here?

  3. 306

    Who wants to go to the movies today?

  4. 307

    I often speak English with her.

  5. 308

    We often speak German with him.

  6. 309

    He often speaks English with us.

  7. 310

    Please speak German with me often.

  8. 311

    Does she often speak English with you too?

  9. 312

    What is your name?

  1. 313

    His name is Fritz Keller.

  2. 314

    Her name is Elizabeth, isn't it?

  3. 315

    My name is Heinz Becker.

  4. 316

    Is your name Bauer or Brauer?

  5. 317

    Who are you planning to visit there?

  6. 318

    Who are you visiting in Bonn?

  7. 319

    He's planning to visit us today.

  8. 320

    We're planning to visit Mr. and Mrs. Allen.

  9. 321

    Who's she visiting in Germany?

  1. 322

    The passport belongs to me.

  2. 323

    Does this suitcase here belong to you?

  3. 324

    Who do the matches belong to?

  4. 325

    I believe the luggage belongs to her.

  5. 326

    He says the cigars don't belong to him.

  6. 327

    What do you plan to do today?

  7. 328

    We have a lot planned for today.

  8. 329

    Do you already have something planned for today?

  9. 330

    What does Miss Kunze plan to do?

  1. 331

    What are Mr. and Mrs. Allen planning to do?

  2. 332

    You live on 'Ludwigstrasse', don't you?

  3. 333

    She's driving to Tölz today, isn't she?

  4. 334

    He's a Foreign Service Officer, isn't he?

  5. 335

    You'll give him the address, won't you?

  6. 336

    The consulate is here in the vicinity, isn't it?

Translation Drill 1

  1. 337

    Mr. Becker was in Bonn for two months.

  2. 338

    Now he is in Munich.

  3. 339

    He's probably going to stay there for a year.

  4. 340

    He meets Mr. and Mrs. Allen in Munich.

  5. 341

    He knows them very well.

  6. 342

    They are Americans.

  7. 343

    Mr. Allen works at the consulate.

  8. 344

    He is a Foreign Service Officer.

  9. 345

    The Allens live at the Bayrischen Hof.

  10. 346

    The hotel is very nice.

  11. 347

    It is in the vicinity of the consulate.

  12. 348

    The Allens like it in Munich very much.

  13. 349

    It's very nice at the Bayrischen Hof too.

Translation Drill 2

  1. 350

    Mr. Becker and the Allens go and eat.

  2. 351

    The restaurant is on Ludwigstrasse.

  3. 352

    There is Miss Adams, says Mr. Becker.

  4. 353

    Who is Miss Adams?

  5. 354

    Mrs. Allen doesn't know her.

  6. 355

    However, Mr. Becker knows her well.

  7. 356

    She is an American.

  8. 357

    Can she speak German too?

  9. 358

    Yes, she speaks German very well in fact.

  10. 359

    The Allens want to go and eat.

  11. 360

    Mr. Becker wants to come along.

  12. 361

    Then he likes to go to Schwabing.

  13. 362

    Mr. Keller's parents live there.

Translation Drill 3

  1. 363

    He wants to visit them.

  2. 364

    Mr. Keller works at the consulate too.

  3. 365

    Mr. Allen knows him.

  4. 366

    He often rides home with him.

  5. 367

    Mr. Becker would like to have Mr. Keller's new address.

  6. 368

    Mr. Allen gives it to him.

  7. 369

    He lives in the vicinity.

  8. 370

    Mr. Brauer comes from America.

  9. 371

    He's not familiar with Germany yet.

  10. 372

    Where does he intend to go?

  11. 373

    He intends to go to Frankfort.

  12. 374

    He has to show his passport.

  13. 375

    The official says: "Everything's in order."

Translation Drill 4

  1. 376

    Then Mr. Brauer has to go to the customs office.

  2. 377

    He shows the baggage there.

  3. 378

    How many suitcases belong to him?

  4. 379

    He only has two suitcases.

  5. 380

    The official says: "Have a good trip!"

Response Drill 1

  1. 381

    Whom does Mr. Becker meet?

  2. 382

    Mr. Becker meets Mr. and Mrs. Allen.

  3. 383

    Where does Herr Becker meet Herr and Frau Allen?

  4. 384

    He meets her in Munich.

  5. 385

    Are the Allens Americans or Germans?

  6. 386

    Allens are Americans.

  7. 387

    What does Mr. Allen do?

  8. 388

    Herr Allen is a diplomat.

  9. 389

    Does Frau Allen know Herrn Becker?

  10. 390

    Yes, Mrs. Allen knows Mr. Becker.

  11. 391

    How long was Mr. Becker in Bonn?

  12. 392

    He was in Bonn for two months.

  13. 393

    How long is Herr Becker staying in Munich?

  14. 394

    He will probably stay in Munich for a year.

  15. 395

    How does Mrs. Allen like Munich?

  16. 396

    She likes it there very much.

  17. 397

    Where do Herr and Frau Allen live?

  18. 398

    They are staying at the Bayerischer Hof.

  19. 399

    What are the Allens planning to do?

  20. 400

    They want to go out to eat and then go to the movies.

  21. 401

    Where is the restaurant?

  22. 402

    The restaurant is on Ludwigstrasse.

  23. 403

    How is the food there?

  24. 404

    The food is very good there.

  25. 405

    Who is the lady there?

  26. 406

    That's Miss Adams.

Response Drill 2

  1. 407

    Who is she talking to right now?

  2. 408

    She's just talking to the waiter.

  3. 409

    Does Frau Allen know Fräulein Adams?

  4. 410

    No, Frau Allen does not know Fräulein Adams.

  5. 411

    Is Miss Adams German?

  6. 412

    No, she is American.

  7. 413

    Can she speak German too?

  8. 414

    Yes, she can speak German well, too.

  9. 415

    Where is Herr Becker going today?

  10. 416

    He wants to go to Schwabing.

  11. 417

    Who wants to go to Schwabing?

  12. 418

    Herr Becker wants to drive there.

  13. 419

    Whom does Herr Becker want to visit in Schwabing?

  14. 420

    He wants to visit Mr. Keller's parents.

  15. 421

    Does Mr. Allen know Mr. Keller?

  16. 422

    Yes, he even knows him very well.

  17. 423

    Where does Herr Keller work?

  18. 424

    He works at the consulate.

  19. 425

    Who often rides home with him?

  20. 426

    Herr Allen often rides home with him.

  21. 427

    What does the official at passport control say?

  22. 428

    The official says, "May I see your passport?"

  23. 429

    Is the gentleman's name Bauer or Brauer?

  24. 430

    His name is Brauer.

  25. 431

    Has he ever been to Germany before?

  26. 432

    No, he has not been to Germany yet.

Response Drill 3

  1. 433

    Where does Mr. Brauer want to go?

  2. 434

    He intends to go to Frankfort.

  3. 435

    Where else does Herr Brauer have to go now?

  4. 436

    He still has to go through customs now.

  5. 437

    Where is customs?

  6. 438

    Customs is over there.

  7. 439

    Where does Herr Brauer come from?

  8. 440

    Mr. Brauer comes from America.

  9. 441

    Does Herr Brauer have anything to declare?

  10. 442

    No, I don't believe so.

  11. 443

    What does the customs official say?

  12. 444

    The customs officer says, "Please show me your luggage."

  13. 445

    How many suitcases does Herr Brauer have?

  14. 446

    He has two suitcases.

Conversation Practice 1

  1. 447

    Do you know Mr. Allen?

  2. 448

    Where does he work?

  3. 449

    He works at the consulate. He is a diplomat.

  4. 450

    No, I don't think I know him.

Conversation Practice 2

  1. 451

    What do you plan to do today?

  2. 452

    We want to go to Munich and visit the Kellers.

  3. 453

    Isn't Frau Keller American?

  4. 454

    Yes, she comes from Washington.

Conversation Practice 3

  1. 455

    We haven't seen you in a long time, Herr Becker. How are you?

  2. 456

    Fine, thank you. I was in America for four months.

  3. 457

    How long will you be staying here in Bonn now?

  4. 458

    Probably only one year.

  5. 459

    Where are you staying here?

  6. 460

    I live in the Bayrischen Hof.

  7. 461

    Do you like it there?

  8. 462

    Yes, it's very nice there.

Conversation Practice 4

  1. 463

    I'd like to go out to eat now. Would you like to come along?

  2. 464

    Where do you eat?

  3. 465

    On Ludwigstrasse. Do you know the restaurant there?

  4. 466

    No, I don't know that place. How is the food there?

  5. 467

    It's very good.

  6. 468

    Good, I'd be glad to come along, and then we can go to the movies.

Conversation Practice 5

  1. 469

    Do you know the lady over there?

  2. 470

    Where is she?

  3. 471

    Over there. She's talking to the waiter right now.

  4. 472

    Yes, that's Fräulein Adams. She's American.

  5. 473

    Can she speak German?

  6. 474

    In fact, she speaks German very well.

Conversation Practice 6

  1. 475

    Do you have anything to declare?

  2. 476

    No, I don't believe so.

  3. 477

    Show me your luggage please.

  4. 478

    Certainly. These suitcases here are mine.

  5. 479

    Does that luggage over there belong to you too?

  6. 480

    No, I only have these three suitcases.

  7. 481

    Good, everything is in order. Goodbye!

Conversation Practice 7

  1. 482

    Where do Mr. Keller's parents live?

  2. 483

    They live in Munich.

  3. 484

    Can you give me her address?

  4. 485

    Gladly; would you like to visit them?

  5. 486

    Yes. I have to go to Schwabing today, and I want to visit them while I'm there.

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.