German Basic Course, Unit 5: Herr Allen klingelt bei Herrn Wilson

Basic Sentences I

1
The Wilsons have an apartment on the second floor of an apartment house in Frankfurt.
WilsonsWilsons
habenhave
eineone Mark
Wohnungapartment
imon the second floor
erstenon the second floor
Stockon the second floor
einesof an apartment house
Etagenhausesof an apartment house
inin Bonn
Frankfurt.Frankfurt

Stock: the floor, the story
Stock: on the second floor
Etagenhauses: of an apartment house

2
Mr. Allen rings Mr. Wilson's doorbell. (... 'at Mr. Wilson's apartment.')
3
Mr. Wilson opens the door.

klingelt: he rings
bei: at, with
Wilson: at Mr. Wilson's house (or apartment)
auf: open
auf: he opens

4
Excuse me for disturbing you, Mr. Wilson. ('Excuse that I disturb, Mr. Wilson.')
5
You're not disturbing me at all, Mr. Allen.
6
Won't you come in?
7
Thank you.

Sie: excuse me
Sie: excuse me
nicht: not at all
hereinkommen: to come in

8
My paper didn't come today.
9
May I borrow yours?
10
Yes, indeed. I get two papers, the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" and "Die Welt".
11
Which one would you like to have?
12
The "Frankfurter Allgemeine", please.
13
The Wilsons have an apartment on the second floor of an apartment house in Frankfurt.
14
Mr. Allen rings Mr. Wilson's doorbell. (... 'at Mr. Wilson's apartment.')
15
Mr. Wilson opens the door.
16
Excuse me for disturbing you, Mr. Wilson. ('Excuse that I disturb, Mr. Wilson.')
17
You're not disturbing me at all, Mr. Allen.
18
Won't you come in?
19
Thank you.
20
My paper didn't come today.
21
May I borrow yours?
22
Yes, indeed. I get two papers, the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" and "Die Welt".
23
Which one would you like to have?
24
The "Frankfurter Allgemeine", please.

gekommen: came, did come
leihen: to borrow
mir: I borrow

Basic Sentences II

25
Won't you sit down, Mr. Allen?
26
Thank you, but only for a minute.

nehmen: to sit down ('take a seat')
Platz: he sits down
Augenblick: the minute, the moment

27
I've got to go to the post office and get [some] stamps.
28
I'm driving by there in a little while. Do you want to ride with me?
29
I'd be glad to. Are you going down town?

Post: the post office
Briefmarken: the postage stamp
holen: to go and get
nachher: afterward, in a little while
vorbei: by, past

30
Yes, I have to pick up my wife in half an hour.
31
She's at her aunt's today.

Stunde: in half an hour
abholen: to pick up

32
I didn't know that your wife had relatives here.
33
Yes, my wife's family lives here.
34
Won't you sit down, Mr. Allen?
35
Thank you, but only for a minute.
36
I've got to go to the post office and get [some] stamps.
37
I'm driving by there in a little while. Do you want to ride with me?
38
I'd be glad to. Are you going down town?
39
Yes, I have to pick up my wife in half an hour.
40
She's at her aunt's today.
41
I didn't know that your wife had relatives here.
42
Yes, my wife's family lives here.

wusste: I knew
Verwandte: relatives
Angehörigen: the (members of the) family
leben: to live

Basic Sentences III

43
I see you have a fine library, Mr. Wilson. ('As I see, you have...')
44
Yes, I like to read very much.
45
My books are still on the way unfortunately.

Wie: as
Bibliothek: a fine library
unterwegs: on the way, en route

46
Would you like to borrow one of mine? (...'one of my books')
47
Thank you, I would.
48
Here's a good novel by the French author Cocteau for instance.
49
Are you acquainted with the book?

Bücher: one of my books
Roman: a good novel
Schriftstellers: by the French author

50
No, but I'd like to read it sometime.
51
Take it right along with you.
52
Thank you.
53
I see you have a fine library, Mr. Wilson. ('As I see, you have...')
54
Yes, I like to read very much.
55
My books are still on the way unfortunately.
56
Would you like to borrow one of mine? (...'one of my books')
57
Thank you, I would.
58
Here's a good novel by the French author Cocteau for instance.
59
Are you acquainted with the book?
60
No, but I'd like to read it sometime.
61
Take it right along with you.
62
Thank you.

mal: sometime
mit: he takes along

Basic Sentences IV

63
Say, Mr. Allen, do you by any chance have a typewriter?
64
Mine is out of order.
65
I'm sorry, I don't have one.

zufällig: by chance
kaputt: out of order

66
That's too bad. I have to write some business letters.

einige: a few
Geschäftsbriefe: the business letter
schreiben: to write

67
I don't like to write them in longhand.
68
I think Miss Bruce has one.
69
I'm sure she'll be glad to lend it to you. ('She'll certainly lend it to you gladly.')
70
Miss Bruce? Isn't she our colleague Smith's new secretary?
71
Yes. She lives here on the third floor.
72
Say, Mr. Allen, do you by any chance have a typewriter?
73
Mine is out of order.
74
I'm sorry, I don't have one.
75
That's too bad. I have to write some business letters.
76
I don't like to write them in longhand.
77
I think Miss Bruce has one.
78
I'm sure she'll be glad to lend it to you. ('She'll certainly lend it to you gladly.')
79
Miss Bruce? Isn't she our colleague Smith's new secretary?
80
Yes. She lives here on the third floor.

Hand: by hand
leiht: he lends
sicher: surely, certainly
Sekretärin: the new secretary
Etage: on the third floor

Basic Sentences V

81
When does the post office close actually?
82
At five. We'd best go right away or else we'll get there too late.
83
Is it really not out of your way?

Wann: when
zu: closed, shut
zu: he closes
besten: we had best go
sonst: or else, otherwise
spät: late

84
No, I have to go to a stationery store anyway.

sowieso: anyway

85
You see, I need some ink, stationery and pencils.

nämlich: you see (specifying)
Briefpapier: the stationery
Bleistifte: the pencil

86
There's a stationery store right next to the post office.
87
Where is the wastebasket?
88
Where are the wastebaskets?
89
Where is the fountain pen?

Direkt: directly, right

90
Where are the fountain pens?
91
Where is the house?
92
Where are the houses?
93
Where is the mother?

94
Where are the mothers?
95
Where is the father?
96
Where are the fathers?
97
Where is the brother?

98
Where are the brothers?
99
Where is the sister?
100
Where are the sisters?
101
Where is the daughter?
102
Where are the daughters?
103
When does the post office close actually?
104
At five. We'd best go right away or else we'll get there too late.
105
Is it really not out of your way?
106
No, I have to go to a stationery store anyway.
107
You see, I need some ink, stationery and pencils.
108
There's a stationery store right next to the post office.
109
Where is the wastebasket?
110
Where are the wastebaskets?
111
Where is the fountain pen?
112
Where are the fountain pens?
113
Where is the house?
114
Where are the houses?
115
Where is the mother?
116
Where are the mothers?
117
Where is the father?
118
Where are the fathers?
119
Where is the brother?
120
Where are the brothers?
121
Where is the sister?
122
Where are the sisters?
123
Where is the daughter?
124
Where are the daughters?

Notes on Pronunciation: German sch

125
schon - Scheck - Schiff
Practice 1: sch
126
schnitt - Schlot - schrieb
Practice 1: sch
127
Böschung - Wäsche - Mischung
Practice 1: sch
128
lutschen - wünschen - fälschen
Practice 1: sch
129
Mensch - falsch - Klatsch
Practice 1: sch
130
losch - Tisch - Fleisch
Practice 1: sch
131
Stadt - steht
Practice 2: s
132
Spass - Spiel
Practice 2: s
133
streng - Strasse
Practice 2: s
134
springen - Spross
Practice 2: s

Notes on Pronunciation: Long Vowels and Diphthongs

135
des - Schmiss - Hotels - Klops
Practice 3: (voiceless) s
136
Busse - Wasser - schupse - essen
Practice 3: (voiceless) s
137
wusste - Liste - Mast - schupst
Practice 3: (voiceless) s
138
wies - Mus - Autos - Boots
Practice 3: (voiceless) s
139
Musse - schösse - hiessen - Rätsel
Practice 3: (voiceless) s
140
wüst - weist - grast - lotst
Practice 3: (voiceless) s
141
Sohn - sende
Practice 4: (voiced) s
142
besondere - Thesen
Practice 4: (voiced) s
143
singen - Sieg
Practice 4: (voiced) s
144
Muse - Losung
Practice 4: (voiced) s

145
lotsen - Bozen - Rätsel - Brezel - miedst - siezt
Practice 5a: z
146
Klotz - Sitz - März - ganz
Practice 5: z
147
Litze - Münze - Heizung - Bolzen
Practice 5: z
148
Arzt - heizt - putzt - tanzt
Practice 5: z
149
zehn - Zug - Ziel - Zorn
Practice 5: z
150
zwei - Zwerg - Zwang - zwölf
Practice 5: z
151
zusammen - Zickzack - Zimmers - Zeche
Practice 5: z

Nouns and specifiers, 1 of 3

Six kinds of plural

English forms most plurals by adding s. German has six kinds of plural.

The noun can stay the same: der Koffer, die Koffer. It can add -e: Brief, Briefe. It can add -er: Geld, Gelder. It can add -en, -n or -s: Frau, Frauen, Zigarre, Zigarren, Auto, Autos.

Umlaut is a change in the stem vowel, as in Buch, Bücher and Pass, Pässe. In writing, the vowel takes two dots.

Umlaut occurs without a fixed rule, so learn the plural with each noun. With the plural -er, a stem vowel a, o or u always takes umlaut.

Reading a plural entry

A word list shows the plural after the noun. Der Brief, -e means die Briefe. Der Pass, ¨e means die Pässe: the two dots mark umlaut. Der Koffer, -- means no change.

The plural specifier is the same for der-nouns, das-nouns and die-nouns: die Briefe, die Bücher, die Frauen.

In the dative plural, a noun adds -n if its plural has no ending, or ends in -e or -er. A plural in -n or -en already ends in n. A plural in -s adds nothing.

152
The cigars cost two marks.
153
I have only these two suitcases.
154
Mr. Allen introduces the gentlemen.
155
My books are still on the way, unfortunately.
156
I have to write some letters.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 5, Notes on Grammar

A. NOUNS and SPECIFIERS

I. Plural Forms

Die Zigarren kosten zwei Mark.
The cigars cost two marks.

Ich habe nur diese zwei Koffer.
I have only these two suitcases.

Herr Allen stellt die Herren vor.
Mr. Allen introduces the gentlemen.

Meine Bücher sind leider noch unterwegs.
My books are still on the way, unfortunately.

Ich muss einige Briefe schreiben.
I have to write some letters.

1. It is very simple to form the plural of most English nouns; we simply "add an s". There are a few exceptional forms, like feet, and mice and sheep, but generally we have the s-plural.

2. German, unfortunately for the student, has half a dozen different noun plural forms. Here are some examples from the basic sentences you have memorized. If we now compare the singular forms of the above nouns, we can show what is changed or added to distinguish the plural:

Zigarre - Zigarren: -n has been added to the singular.
Koffer - Koffer: Nothing has been added or changed.
Herr - Herren: -en has been added to the (nominative) singular. (We recall that there is also a non-nominative singular form Herrn with the distinctive ending -n.)
Buch - Bücher: -er has been added to the singular, and there is a change in the stem vowel.
Brief - Briefe: -e has been added to the singular.

An additional common plural form which has not occurred in the basic sentences is given below:

Auto - Autos: -s has been added to the singular.

3. Note that in some cases a change in the stem vowel has taken place. This is similar to the change in the stem vowel of some verbs noted in Unit 2: ich fahre, but er fährt. Germans call this kind of sound change UMLAUT, and you will frequently hear it referred to by the German term.

4. Note also that there is no differentiation in the plural between der-nouns, das-nouns and die-nouns. The plural SPECIFIER forms are the same regardless of whether they occur with a der-noun, das-noun or die-noun (see Units 3 and 4).

5. We can now re-arrange and expand the list to include all the noun plural types of frequent occurrence. We shall add the specifiers and also show how the plural is usually indicated in vocabulary listings.

a) No change from the singular (often with umlaut of stem vowel): der Koffer, die Koffer, listed der Koffer, --; der Flughafen, die Flughäfen, listed der Flughafen, ¨-
b) Add -e to the singular (often with umlaut of stem vowel): der Brief, die Briefe, listed der Brief, -e; der Pass, die Pässe, listed der Pass, ¨e
c) Add -er to the singular (often with umlaut of stem vowel): das Geld, die Gelder, listed das Geld, -er; das Buch, die Bücher, listed das Buch, ¨er
d) Add -en to the (nominative) sing: die Frau, die Frauen, listed die Frau, -en. (Some nouns also add -n or -en to form the non-nominative sing) der Herr, die Herren, listed der Herr, -n, -en
e) Add -n to the (nominative) sing: die Zigarre, die Zigarren, listed die Zigarre,-n
f) Add -s to the singular: das Auto, die Autos, listed das Auto, -s

6. An -n is added to the dative plural form of all nouns in groups a), b) and c). Nouns in groups d) and e) already have a final -n and nouns in group f) do not add an -n.

7. Umlaut of the stem vowel occurs rather haphazardly, so that you are going to have to learn the plural for each noun as you encounter it. However, in group c) we can say that umlaut will occur with every noun whose stem vowel is -a-, -o- or -u-.

8. Nouns with the final syllable -in double the -n- before the plural ending -en in group d).

9. A very few foreign words have irregular plural endings. Das Museum drops the final -um and replaces it by the -en ending of group d): die Museen. Das Visum has the plural die Visen or die Visa. Der Neubau inserts a -t- before the -en ending of group d).

10. Here is a list of nouns which have occurred in the first five units grouped according to the way their plurals are formed:

a) plural --: der Amerikaner, der Koffer, der Füller, der Wagen, der Ober, der Morgen, der Wachtmeister, der Ratskeller, der Fragebogen, der Bremer, der Raucher, der Schriftsteller, das Essen, das Theater; plural ¨-: der Flughafen, der Bruder, der Vater, die Mutter, die Tochter
b) plural -e: der Tag, der Brief, der Monat, der Bleistift, der Besuch, der Omnibus (Omnibusse), der Wein, der Augenblick, der Autobus (Autobusse), der Dom, der Abend, der Sonntag, der Geschäftsbrief, der Roman, der Pfennig, der Umweg, der Ausweis, das Geschäft, das Jahr, das Konsulat, das Brot, das Bier, das Formular, das Papiergeschäft, das Generalkonsulat; plural ¨e: der Pass, der Bahnhof, der Platz, der Stadtplan, der Sohn, der Spaziergang, der Zoll, der Parkplatz, der Antrag, der Papierkorb, der Markt, die Stadt, die Hand
c) plural -er: das Geld; plural ¨er: das Buch, das Haus, das Glas, das Rathaus, das Schloss, das Streichholz, das Etagenhaus, der Mann
d) plural -en: der Diplomat, der Herr, der Polizist, der Staat, der Neubau (die Neubauten), das Museum (die Museen), das Visum (die Visen or die Visa), die Frau, die Botschaft, die Wohnung, die Strassenbahn, die Bank, die Zeitung, die Abteilung, die Tür, die Bibliothek, die Amerikanerin, die Universität, die Verabredung, die Gemahlin, die Sekretärin
e) plural -n: der Konsul, der Vizekonsul, der Beamte, der Bekannte, der Deutsche, der Kollege, der Angehörige, die Dame, die Strasse, die Adresse, die Ecke, die Briefmarke, die Schreibmaschine, die Reise, die Woche, die Minute, die Stunde, die Pfeife, die Deutsche, die Zigarre, die Zigarette, die Kontrolle, die Taxe, die Seite, die Haltestelle, die Idee, die Tante, die Etage, die Schwester
f) plural -s: der Park, der Portier, das Auto, das Café, das Kino, das Restaurant, das Hotel

Nouns and specifiers, 2 of 3

The fourth case

The genitive is the fourth case of nouns and specifiers. It shows a possessive relationship, like English 's or of.

A der-noun or a das-noun in the genitive adds -s or -es: des Hauses, des Schriftstellers. Its specifier ends in -s or -es: des, dieses, eines, unseres.

A few der-nouns add -n or -en instead: unseres Kollegen, des Herrn.

Genitive of die-nouns and plurals

A die-noun or a plural noun has the same form as in the nominative. Its specifier ends in -er: meiner Frau, meiner Bücher.

The genitive usually follows the noun it belongs to: die Angehörigen meiner Frau, my wife's family.

A name adds -s and usually comes first: Peters Frau, Marias Wagen.

Wer, who, has a genitive form: wessen, whose.

Genitive of der-nouns

Genitive of das-nouns

Genitive of die-nouns

157
The Wilsons have an apartment on the second floor of an apartment house in Frankfurt.
158
My wife's family lives here.
159
Would you like to borrow one of my books?
160
Here is a novel of the French author Cocteau.
161
Isn't she our colleague Smith's new secretary?
162
Do you know Peter's wife?
163
Is that Mr. Becker's car?
164
No, that's Mary's car.
165
Whose car is that?
166
Whose son do you know?

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 5, Notes on Grammar

A. NOUNS and SPECIFIERS

II. Genitive Forms

Wilsons haben eine Wohnung im ersten Stock eines Etagenhauses in Frankfurt.
The Wilsons have an apartment on the second floor of an apartment house in Frankfurt.

Die Angehörigen meiner Frau leben hier.
My wife's family lives here.

Möchten Sie sich mal eins meiner Bücher leihen?
Would you like to borrow one of my books?

Hier ist ein Roman des französischen Schriftstellers Cocteau.
Here is a novel of the French author Cocteau.

Ist das nicht die neue Sekretärin unseres Kollegen Smith?
Isn't she our colleague Smith's new secretary?

Kennen Sie Peters Frau?
Do you know Peter's wife?

Ist das Herrn Beckers Wagen?
Is that Mr. Becker's car?

Nein, das ist Marias Wagen.
No, that's Mary's car.

Wessen Auto ist das?
Whose car is that?

Wessen Sohn kennen Sie?
Whose son do you know?

1. In addition to the plural in this unit we have encountered some other new forms of nouns and specifiers: The underlined forms of the noun and specifier in the above sentences are called GENITIVE forms. They indicate possessive relationships -- the kind of relationships that are designated in English by the -'s (or -s') ending, and by the preposition of. The GENITIVE is the fourth form, along with Nominative, Accusative and Dative forms, which German nouns and specifiers can have. There are no other distinctive forms of nouns and specifiers.

2. Let us compare the Genitive forms in the above sentences with the corresponding Nominative forms and see what features distinguish them:

a) eines Etagenhauses / ein Etagenhaus: The specifier and the noun both have the ending -es added to the Nominative form.
b) meiner Frau / meine Frau: The specifier has the ending -er instead of -e; the noun has the same form as the Nominative.
c) meiner Bücher / meine Bücher: The specifier has the ending -er instead of -e; the noun has the same form as the Nominative.
d) des Schriftstellers / der Schriftsteller: The specifier ends in -s instead of -r; -s is added to the noun.
e) unseres Kollegen / der Kollege: The specifier has the ending -es added to the Nominative form; -n is added to the noun.

3. Note that in three cases - a), d) and e) above - the NOUN has a distinct Genitive form which differs from the Nominative form. In two cases - b) and c) above - the NOUN has the same form.

4. Note that in a), d) and e) the SPECIFIER has the ending -s (or es). In b) and c) the SPECIFIER has the ending -er.

5. Let us now summarize what we have observed about Genitive forms:

a) SPECIFIERS with der-nouns and das-nouns in the Genitive have the ending -s (or es). Both the der-type and the ein-type Specifiers have the same endings: des, dieses, eines, unseres.
b) der-NOUNS and das-NOUNS in the Genitive have the ending -s or -es: Hauses, Schriftstellers. A few der-nouns have the ending -n or -en: Kollegen, Herrn, Diplomaten, Polizisten, Beamten, Bekannten.
c) The SPECIFIERS of die-nouns and plural nouns have the ending -er in place of the Nominative ending -e (or -ie): der, dieser, meiner, ihrer.
d) die-NOUNS and plural NOUNS in the Genitive have the same form as in the Nominative: Frau, Bank, Banken, Bücher, Bleistifte.

6. Here for reference and comparison are some typical Genitive forms:

a) Genitive of der-nouns: des Platzes / der Plätze; des Omnibusses / der Omnibusse; dieses Polizisten / dieser Polizisten; meines Briefes / meiner Briefe
b) Genitive of das-nouns: des Jahres / der Jahre; des Konsulats / der Konsulate; dieses Hauses / dieser Häuser; ihres Buches / ihrer Bücher
c) Genitive of die-nouns: der Dame / der Damen; dieser Bank / dieser Banken; unserer Schwester / unserer Schwestern

7. Note that der- and das-nouns ending in the sounds [s], [ts], [z] and [š] have the ending -es, as for example des Passes, des Platzes, des Hauses and des Tisches. Note also that the writing system requires the sound [s] to be written -ss- when non-final: Omnibusses, Omnibusse.

8. Otherwise, der- and das-nouns of more than one syllable have -s, as for example: des Konsulats, while monosyllabic der- and das-nouns have either -s or -es, whichever the speaker prefers; you will hear both des Domes and des Doms, des Staats and des Staates.

9. Proper names have an -s (or -es) ending: Peters Haus, Marias Tochter, Herrn Meyers Wagen.

10. You will note that the Genitive form of the specifier and noun generally follow the noun or pronoun with which a possessive relationship is indicated, as in the examples of paragraph 1: im ersten Stock eines Etagenhauses 'on the second floor of an apartment house'; die Angehörigen meiner Frau 'my wife's family'; ein Roman des französischen Schriftstellers 'a novel of the French author'.

Proper names in the Genitive, however, usually precede the noun designating the thing possessed: Kennen Sie Peters Frau? Ist das Herrn Beckers Wagen? Nein, das ist Marias Wagen.

11. There is one personal pronoun which has a Genitive form: wer? "who" has the Genitive form wessen? "whose".

Nouns and specifiers, 3 of 3

All the specifier forms

Every specifier now has four case forms, in the singular and in the plural: der Sohn, den Sohn, dem Sohn, des Sohnes.

Some forms repeat. With a das-noun or a die-noun, the nominative and the accusative are the same: welches Theater, diese Wohnung. In the plural they are also the same: die Söhne.

With a die-noun, the dative and the genitive are the same: dieser Wohnung.

In the dative plural the noun adds -n: den Söhnen, welchen Theatern.

Forms with no noun

An ein-type specifier can stand before a noun, as in sein Brief, or alone, as in seiner.

Most of its forms are the same either way. Two are special and occur only when no noun follows: seiner, for der Brief, and ihrs, for das Auto.

With der-type specifiers

167
That is the colleague's son.
168
Where are the sons?

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 5, Notes on Grammar

A. NOUNS and SPECIFIERS

III. Summary of Specifier Forms

Das ist der Sohn des Kollegen.
That is the colleague's son.

Wo sind die Söhne?
Where are the sons?

1. We have now encountered all the Specifier forms, both the ein-type and the der-type. The following gives a complete summary of the forms:

a) With der-type specifiers
Nom der Sohn / die Söhne; Acc den Sohn / die Söhne; Dat dem Sohn / den Söhnen; Gen des Sohnes / der Söhne
Nom welches Theater / welche Theater; Acc welches Theater / welche Theater; Dat welchem Theater / welchen Theatern; Gen welches Theaters / welcher Theater
Nom diese Wohnung / diese Wohnungen; Acc diese Wohnung / diese Wohnungen; Dat dieser Wohnung / diesen Wohnungen; Gen dieser Wohnung / dieser Wohnungen

b) With ein-type specifiers
Nom sein Brief / seine Briefe; Acc seinen Brief / seine Briefe; Dat seinem Brief / seinen Briefen; Gen seines Briefes / seiner Briefe
(Referring to der Brief) Nom seiner / seine; Acc seinen / seine; Dat seinem / seinen; Gen seines / seiner
Nom ihr Auto / ihre Autos; Acc ihr Auto / ihre Autos; Dat ihrem Auto / ihren Autos; Gen ihres Autos / ihrer Autos
(Referring to das Auto) Nom ihrs / ihre; Acc ihrs / ihre; Dat ihrem / ihren; Gen ihres / ihrer
Nom unsere Botschaft / unsere Botschaften; Acc unsere Botschaft / unsere Botschaften; Dat unserer Botschaft / unseren Botschaften; Gen unserer Botschaft / unserer Botschaften
(Referring to die Botschaft) Nom unsere / unsere; Acc unsere / unsere; Dat unserer / unseren; Gen unserer / unserer

2. The ein-type specifiers are listed both with and without a following noun. The SPECIAL ein-type specifier forms which occur only when no noun follows the specifier are underlined (seiner, ihrs).

Reflexive pronouns

A pronoun for the same person

Sometimes the object of a verb is the same person as the subject. In English: Mr. Wilson introduced himself.

A suffix is a part added to the end of a word. English adds the suffix -self to the object pronoun: himself, herself.

A reflexive pronoun is an object that refers to the same person as the subject.

In Meine Frau kann sich nicht an das Klima gewöhnen, the object sich is the wife. In the question Darf ich mir mal Ihre leihen, the indirect object mir is ich.

Sich

German has one reflexive pronoun, sich. It means himself, herself, itself, yourself, yourselves or themselves.

Sich occurs when the subject is er, sie, Sie or es, or a noun that one of these can replace. Herr Allen kann sich nicht an das Klima gewöhnen.

Sich can be the object or the indirect object: Er möchte sich ein Buch leihen.

It also follows a preposition: Er spricht immer nur von sich.

Ich and wir

When the subject is ich or wir, German uses the ordinary forms mich, mir and uns.

Ich kann mich nicht an das Klima gewöhnen. Wir möchten uns gern einige Bücher leihen.

The same is true after a preposition: Ich spreche nicht gern von mir.

169
My wife can't get ('herself') used to the climate.
170
May I borrow ('lend myself') yours?
171
Would you like to borrow one of my books?
172
Mr. Allen can't get ('himself') used to the climate.
173
Mr. Allen and his wife can't get ('themselves') used to the climate.
174
Can't you get ('yourself') used to the climate?
175
Would you like to borrow ('lend yourself') a book?
176
He would like to borrow ('lend himself') a book.
177
I can't get ('myself') used to the climate.
178
My wife and I can't get ('ourselves') used to the climate.
179
May I borrow ('lend myself') your newspaper?
180
We'd like to borrow ('lend ourselves') some books.
181
He always talks only about himself.
182
I don't like to talk about myself.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 5, Notes on Grammar

B. REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

I

Meine Frau kann sich nicht an das Klima gewöhnen.
My wife can't get ('herself') used to the climate.

Darf ich mir mal Ihre leihen?
May I borrow ('lend myself') yours?

Möchten Sie sich mal eins meiner Bücher leihen?
Would you like to borrow one of my books?

In many sentences the object of the verb, the thing or person acted upon, is the same as the subject or actor. We say, for example, in English: Mr. Wilson introduced himself. or She thinks a good deal of herself, doesn't she? The identity of subject and object in English is indicated by adding the suffix -self to the pronoun designating the object. Pronouns of this kind are called REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS.

II. The German Reflexive Pronoun. 1. In German, as in English, the subject and object of a verb may be the same. Note the following examples from your basic sentences: In sentence a) the object of the verb refers to the same person as the subject and has the form sich. In sentence b) the interested bystander or indirect object of the verb is the same person as the subject and has the form mir. In sentence c) the indirect object of the verb is the same person as the subject and has the form sich.

B. REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

II. The German Reflexive Pronoun

Herr Allen kann sich nicht an das Klima gewöhnen.
Mr. Allen can't get ('himself') used to the climate.

Herr Allen und seine Frau können sich nicht an das Klima gewöhnen.
Mr. Allen and his wife can't get ('themselves') used to the climate.

Können Sie sich nicht an das Klima gewöhnen?
Can't you get ('yourself') used to the climate?

Möchten Sie sich ein Buch leihen?
Would you like to borrow ('lend yourself') a book?

Er möchte sich ein Buch leihen.
He would like to borrow ('lend himself') a book.

Ich kann mich nicht an das Klima gewöhnen.
I can't get ('myself') used to the climate.

Meine Frau und ich können uns nicht an das Klima gewöhnen.
My wife and I can't get ('ourselves') used to the climate.

Darf ich mir Ihre Zeitung leihen?
May I borrow ('lend myself') your newspaper?

Wir möchten uns gern einige Bücher leihen.
We'd like to borrow ('lend ourselves') some books.

Er spricht immer nur von sich.
He always talks only about himself.

Ich spreche nicht gern von mir.
I don't like to talk about myself.

2. German has only one REFLEXIVE PRONOUN, the form sich, meaning 'himself' herself, itself, yourself, yourselves, themselves'. It occurs wherever the subject of the verb is er, sie, Sie, or es or is a noun which can be replaced by er, sie, Sie, or es.

3. The REFLEXIVE PRONOUN sich may function either as the object or as the interested bystander in a sentence. We might say it can have either an Accusative or Dative function. Compare the sentences in 2 above with the following: Möchten Sie sich ein Buch leihen? Er möchte sich ein Buch leihen.

4. Wherever the subject of the sentence is ich or wir or is a noun which can be replaced by ich or wir German uses the regular pronoun forms mich, mir and uns.

5. The object of a preposition can also refer to the same person as the subject in a sentence.

6. Whenever the subject of the sentence is er, sie, Sie or es or is a noun which can be replaced by er, sie, Sie or es the REFLEXIVE PRONOUN form sich occurs as a prepositional object referring to the same person as the subject.

7. Wherever the subject of the sentence is ich or wir or is a noun which can be replaced by ich or wir German uses the regular pronoun forms mich, mir and uns after prepositions in order to refer to the same person as the subject.

Substitution Drill

183
Where is the novel?

184
Where is the novel?

185
Where is the novel?
186
I'll go and get the wastebasket.

187
I'll go and get the wastebasket.
188
He's talking about the novel.
189
I only have one book, but Mr. Keller has two books.

190
I only have one book, but Mr. Keller has two books.
191
That's my pencil; your pencils are over there.

192
That's my pencil; your pencils are over there.
193
Where are the pencils?

194
Where are the pencils?
195
Here are our cigarettes.

196
Here are our cigarettes.
197
I'm looking for the newspapers. Where are they?

198
I'm looking for the newspapers. Where are they?
199
We're just talking about the stores in Germany.

200
We're just talking about the stores in Germany.
201
How many theaters are there in Germany?

202
How many theaters are there in Germany?
203
How many restaurants are there in this city?

204
How many restaurants are there in this city?
205
That's the American's car.

206
That's the American's car.

207
That's the American's car.

208
That's the American's car.
209
Do you know the consul's address?

210
Do you know the consul's address?

211
Do you know the consul's address?

212
Do you know the consul's address?
213
Where is this hotel's car?
214
I'll give you the address of a Foreign Service Officer in Munich.

215
I'll give you the address of a Foreign Service Officer in Munich.
216
Isn't that your brother's typewriter?

217
Isn't that your brother's typewriter?
218
Would you like to have our hotel's address?
219
We live in my mother's house.

220
We live in my mother's house.
221
Do you have your colleagues' passports?
222
Here is one of the pencils.

223
Here is one of the pencils.

224
Here is one of the pencils.
225
I'd like to have one of the pens.

226
I'd like to have one of the pens.

227
I'd like to have one of the pens.
228
My wife borrows her aunt's newspaper.

229
My wife borrows her aunt's newspaper.
230
She can't get used to the climate.

Variation Drill

231
Hier ist ein Polizist. Hier ist einer. Hier sind die Polizisten. Hier ist einer der Polizisten. Hier ist einer unserer Polizisten.
Here is a policeman. (and the four variations)

232
Hier ist ein Polizist. Hier ist einer. Hier sind die Polizisten. Hier ist einer der Polizisten. Hier ist einer unserer Polizisten.
Here is a policeman. (and the four variations)

233
Hier ist ein Polizist. Hier ist einer. Hier sind die Polizisten. Hier ist einer der Polizisten. Hier ist einer unserer Polizisten.
Here is a policeman. (and the four variations)

234
Wo ist ein Füller? Wo ist einer? Wo sind die Füller? Wo ist einer der Füller? Wo ist einer seiner Füller?
Where is a pen? (and the four variations)

235
Wo ist ein Füller? Wo ist einer? Wo sind die Füller? Wo ist einer der Füller? Wo ist einer seiner Füller?
Where is a pen? (and the four variations)

236
Wo ist ein Füller? Wo ist einer? Wo sind die Füller? Wo ist einer der Füller? Wo ist einer seiner Füller?
Where is a pen? (and the four variations)

237
Ich kenne einen Wachtmeister. Ich kenne einen. Ich kenne die Wachtmeister. Ich kenne einen der Wachtmeister. Ich kenne einen unserer Wachtmeister.
I know a police sergeant. (and the four variations)

238
Ich kenne einen Wachtmeister. Ich kenne einen. Ich kenne die Wachtmeister. Ich kenne einen der Wachtmeister. Ich kenne einen unserer Wachtmeister.
I know a police sergeant. (and the four variations)

239
Ich kenne einen Wachtmeister. Ich kenne einen. Ich kenne die Wachtmeister. Ich kenne einen der Wachtmeister. Ich kenne einen unserer Wachtmeister.
I know a police sergeant. (and the four variations)

240
Das Auto gehört einem Kollegen. Das Auto gehört einem. Das Auto gehört dem Kollegen. Das Auto gehört einem der Kollegen. Das Auto gehört einem meiner Kollegen.
The car belongs to a colleague. (and the four variations)

241
Das Auto gehört einem Kollegen. Das Auto gehört einem. Das Auto gehört dem Kollegen. Das Auto gehört einem der Kollegen. Das Auto gehört einem meiner Kollegen.
The car belongs to a colleague. (and the four variations)

242
Das Auto gehört einem Kollegen. Das Auto gehört einem. Das Auto gehört dem Kollegen. Das Auto gehört einem der Kollegen. Das Auto gehört einem meiner Kollegen.
The car belongs to a colleague. (and the four variations)

Vocabulary Drill

243
My sisters live in Germany.
244
My father's brother doesn't live here.
245
Are your grandparents still living?
246
My mother lives in Frankfurt.
247
What floor do you live on?
248
He lives on the outskirts of town.
249
She lives at her aunt's house.
250
My parents live in an apartment house.
251
Do you like novels?

252
He's just reading the newspaper.
253
This book I'd like to read.
254
She likes to read, and she reads a lot.
255
Excuse me, I have to write a letter now.
256
We'll write you soon.
257
Does he write to her actually?
258
Are you writing the letter in longhand?
259
He lends me his ink.
260
Can you lend me your pen for a minute?

261
Which book do you want to lend him?
262
I'll be glad to lend you my typewriter.
263
Do you need stamps too?
264
Now I just need some stationery.
265
What else do you need, some ink?
266
He doesn't need a visa for his trip.
267
Open the door please!
268
He opens the suitcases.
269
Shall I open the letters?

270
My father opens the store.
271
I'll pick you up at four o'clock from the station.
272
He's going to pick us up on Sunday.
273
Can I pick you up in an hour?
274
We want to pick up our mother now.
275
You can take the typewriter right along (with you).
276
He's taking his daughter along.
277
Excuse me, may I just take this newspaper along (with me)?
278
I'll take your letters along (with me) to the post office.

279
He borrows three books.
280
Can we borrow your typewriter?
281
She wants to borrow a newspaper.
282
Excuse me, can I just borrow your pencil for a minute?
283
Shall I get you some stamps?
284
Get me some ink, please.
285
He's just gone to get a newspaper.
286
May I go and get the book for myself now?
287
Do you want to come along? I'm driving down town anyway.

288
Shall I change the money for you? Thanks, but I have to go to the bank still anyway.
289
Can you lend me your typewriter? Yes indeed, I don't need it now anyway.
290
Mr. Köhler has to go to the post office anyway. He can get you the stamps.
291
Please give me your pencil; mine's broken, you see.
292
I'm sorry, I can't come; you see, I have an engagement in an hour.
293
I'm going to the stationery store; I need some ink too, you see.
294
We'll have to go now; otherwise we'll be late, you see.
295
I'm going right to the station.
296
The post office is right next to the cigar store.

297
He's coming directly from town.
298
You can go right through the park, that's not a roundabout route.
299
The post office is only open until 6.
300
Are the stores closed yet?
301
The museum isn't open today.
302
Unfortunately the bank is already closed.

Translation Drill 1

303
The Allens and the Wilsons are Americans.
304
Mr. Allen and Mr. Wilson are Foreign Service Officers.
305
They work at the Consulate General in Frankfurt.
306
Mrs. Wilson's relatives live in Germany.
307
She still has two brothers and two sisters.
308
Mr. Allen has to go to the post office and get some stamps.
309
First, however, he rings Mr. Wilson's doorbell.
310
Mr. Wilson opens the door.
311
Mr. Allen would like to borrow the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" from Mr. Wilson.
312
Mr. Wilson gets the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" and "Die Welt".
313
He's glad to lend them to Mr. Allen.
314
The Wilsons have a beautiful library.
315
Mr. Allen's books are unfortunately still en route.

Translation Drill 2

316
Mr. Wilson is very willing to lend Mr. Allen some of his books.
317
Mr. Allen would like to read a novel by ('of') the author Cocteau.
318
Mr. Wilson has to write some business letters.
319
Unfortunately his typewriter is out of order, and Mr. Allen doesn't have one.
320
But Miss Bruce has one.
321
She's your colleague Smith's new secretary.
322
Miss Bruce has an apartment on the third floor of the apartment house.
323
The post office is only open until five o'clock.
324
Mr. Allen has to go, or else it will close.
325
Mr. Wilson is going down town too.
326
He has to pick up his wife, you see.
327
She's at one of her aunts' today.
328
Before that he has to go to a stationery store.

Translation Drill 3

329
He needs ink, pencils and a pen.
330
He thinks he'd better write his letters in longhand after all.
331
There's a stationery store next to the post office.
332
Mr. Wilson takes Mr. Allen along to the post office.
333
It's not out of his way.

Response Drill 1

334
Where do the Wilsons live?
335
The Wilsons live in an apartment building.
336
What floor do they live on?
337
They live on the second floor.
338
Why does Herr Allen go to see Herr Wilson?
339
Herr Allen wants to borrow something.
340
What would he like to borrow from him?
341
He would like to borrow a newspaper from him.
342
How many newspapers does Herr Wilson subscribe to, and which ones?
343
Herr Wilson subscribes to two newspapers, the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" and "Die Welt."
344
Which one would Mr. Allen like?
345
Mr. Allen would like the Frankfurter Allgemeine.
346
How long does Herr Allen want to stay with Herr Wilson?
347
He only wants to stay a moment.
348
Why can he stay for only a moment?
349
He still has to go to the post office.
350
Why does he want to go to the post office?
351
He has to get stamps.
352
Why does Mr. Wilson also have to go downtown?
353
Mr. Wilson has to pick up his wife in town.
354
Who is his wife visiting?
355
His wife is at her aunt's.
356
When does he want to pick them up?
357
He wants to pick her up in half an hour.
358
Is his wife American or German?
359
His wife is German.

Response Drill 2

360
Where do her relatives live?
361
They live in Frankfurt.
362
Where are Herr Allen's books?
363
They are still on their way.
364
Which book would he like to read sometime?
365
Mr. Allen would like to read a novel by Cocteau.
366
What would Herr Wilson like to borrow from Herr Allen?
367
Herr Wilson would like to borrow his typewriter.
368
Doesn't he have a typewriter?
369
Yes, but his typewriter is broken.
370
Where does Fräulein Bruce live?
371
She lives on the second floor.
372
Where does she work?
373
She works at the consulate.
374
Whose secretary is she?
375
She is Herrn Smith's secretary.
376
When does the post office close?
377
It closes at five o'clock.
378
Why does Herr Wilson want to go to a stationery store?
379
He needs ink, writing paper, and pencils.
380
Where is the store?
381
The store is next to the post office.
382
Does he want to write his letters by hand?
383
Yes, Herr Wilson wants to write his letters by hand.

Narrative

384
Mr. Wilson is driving to the consulate.
385
But first he wants to buy two ballpoint pens, an eraser, and a ruler for his children at the stationery store.
386
He asks the salesman where the illustrated magazines are.
387
The salesman shows them to him, and Mr. Wilson buys one for his wife.
388
He meets Mr. Meyer on the street.
389
They know each other well.
390
Mr. Meyer tells Mr. Wilson that he has to make a business trip to America.
391
He is going to New York next month.
392
The two gentlemen drive to the consulate together.
393
Mr. Meyer wants to pick up his visa there.
394
Mr. Wilson asks him to visit his parents-in-law in New York.
395
They will certainly be happy to show Mr. Meyer the city.
396
He gives him the address, and then the two gentlemen say goodbye.

Conversation Practice 1

397
I'd like a fountain pen.
398
Certainly. How do you like this one?
399
Let me see, yes, I can write well with this one. I also need two pencils and some writing paper.
400
Here you are.
401
Do you also have stamps?
402
Unfortunately not, but the post office is right next door.

Conversation Practice 2

403
Herr Müller, may I borrow your typewriter?
404
Do you need them right away?
405
No.
406
I just want to finish writing a letter; then you're welcome to have it.
407
Thank you.

Conversation Practice 3

408
Do you happen to have relatives in Germany?
409
Yes, my wife's parents live there.
410
Oh, then your wife is German? Does she have any brothers and sisters?
411
Yes, one sister and two brothers.

Conversation Practice 4

412
Am I disturbing you, Mr. Wilson?
413
No, you're not disturbing me at all, Herr Allen. Please have a seat.
414
Thank you, just for a moment. I have to go into town shortly.
415
Are you going to the post office too?
416
Yes; would you like to come along?
417
I'd be glad to. I need stamps, as a matter of fact.

Situations

418
Mr. Keller goes into Mrs. Schulze's stationery store.
419
He wants a fountain pen, six pencils and ink.
420
Mrs. Schulze knows him well.
421
He says his typewriter is broken and he has to write a few letters by hand.
422
Mr. Jones comes in; he would like to get some stamps.
423
Mrs. Schulze does not have any, he has to go to the post office in town.
424
Mr. Keller is driving into town anyway.
425
He is glad to take Mr. Jones along.

426
Mr. Allen rings Mr. Schneider's bell on the second floor.
427
He would like to borrow Mr. Schneider's typewriter.
428
The fact is he has to write a few letters and his own typewriter is still on the way.
429
Mr. Schneider is glad to lend him the typewriter, but wouldn't Mr. Allen like to come in for a moment?
430
Mr. Schneider works at the consulate too and would like to know what section Mr. Allen works in.
431
He also asks him where he comes from, where his home town is, and so on. The Allens like it very much in Frankfurt, and Mr. Allen likes his work too.
432
Then he says good bye; he can take the typewriter right along with him.

433
Mr. Jones rings the bell at his acquaintance Mr. Becker's.
434
He would like to borrow a newspaper.
435
Unfortunately Mr. Becker does not have one, he is just about to go get one himself.
436
Does Mr. Jones want to come along?
437
On the way they meet Mr. Keller.
438
Mr. Keller shows them a few books.
439
One of the books is a novel by Cocteau.
440
Mr. Jones and Mr. Becker do not know the novel.
441
Mr. Keller reads a great deal.
442
He offers Mr. Becker one of his books, but Mr. Becker does not like to read novels.
443
He would rather read newspapers.
444
Mr. Jones, however, would like to borrow a book from Mr. Keller.