German Basic Course 1732 Studios

German · Unit 7

Unit 7: Beim Einrichten

Volume 1

The Beckers are moving into their new house.

490 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    The Beckers are moving into their new house.

    BeckersBeckers
    ziehenmove
    inin Bonn
    ihrher
    neuesthat which is new
    Haushouse
    ein.one year
  2. 2

    Mr. and Mrs. Keller are helping them arrange the furniture.

  3. 3

    The only thing left now is the living room.

ein
he moves in
helfen
to help
Einrichten
the arranging (of the furniture)
Einrichten
in the process of arranging the furniture
Wohnzimmer
the living room
einrichten
to arrange (the furniture)
  1. 4

    Everything's in place in the other rooms.

anderen
other
alles
all, everything
Stelle
in place
  1. 5

    Good, let's begin with the rug.

  2. 6

    We'll lay it in the middle of the room.

  3. 7

    The Beckers are moving into their new house.

  4. 8

    Mr. and Mrs. Keller are helping them arrange the furniture.

  5. 9

    The only thing left now is the living room.

  6. 10

    Everything's in place in the other rooms.

  7. 11

    Good, let's begin with the rug.

  8. 12

    We'll lay it in the middle of the room.

an
he begins
legen
to lay, to put
Mitte
the middle

Basic Sentences II

  1. 13

    Where shall we put the little table?

hinstellen
to put (down)
  1. 14

    It will look good in front of the two easy-chairs.

Sessel
the easy-chair
  1. 15

    We can place the sofa over against the wall there.

  2. 16

    And where does the floor lamp go?

stellen
to put, to place
  1. 17

    Put it between the smoking table and the bookcase, please.

  2. 18

    The new desk matches your furniture very well.

  3. 19

    Where's it supposed to go?

  4. 20

    Let's put it in front of the big window for the time being.

  5. 21

    Where shall we put the little table?

  6. 22

    It will look good in front of the two easy-chairs.

  7. 23

    We can place the sofa over against the wall there.

  8. 24

    And where does the floor lamp go?

  9. 25

    Put it between the smoking table and the bookcase, please.

  10. 26

    The new desk matches your furniture very well.

  11. 27

    Where's it supposed to go?

  12. 28

    Let's put it in front of the big window for the time being.

vorläufig
for the time being, temporarily
Fenster
the window

Basic Sentences III

  1. 29

    Where shall I put the blankets?

  2. 30

    Just put them over the back of the chair for the moment please.

Wolldecken
the wool blanket
mal
for the moment
  1. 31

    The quilts are already in the bedroom on our beds.

  2. 32

    Shall I unpack the linen now?

  3. 33

    Yes, that'll be fine, and then I can take care of dishes in the meantime.

  4. 34

    Where shall I put the blankets?

  5. 35

    Just put them over the back of the chair for the moment please.

  6. 36

    The quilts are already in the bedroom on our beds.

  7. 37

    Shall I unpack the linen now?

  8. 38

    Yes, that'll be fine, and then I can take care of dishes in the meantime.

Steppdecken
the quilt
liegen
to lie
Schlafzimmer
the bedroom
Betten
the bed
Wäsche
the linen
auspacken
to unpack
inzwischen
in the meantime
Geschirr
the china, dishes

Basic Sentences IV

  1. 39

    I think, we could hang the big picture over the sofa.

  2. 40

    Is the crate with the pictures here yet anyhow?

könnten
could
hängen
to hang
überhaupt
at all, anyhow
  1. 41

    No, but the men are just bringing two big crates in.

  2. 42

    Perhaps it's in among them.

herauf
he brings in
Kisten
the crate
dabei
with them, among them
dabei
in among them, along with them
  1. 43

    They really did a good job of packing your things. ('The packing of your things was really well done.')

  2. 44

    I'm quite satisfied with it.

  3. 45

    The people took a lot of trouble.

  4. 46

    I think, we could hang the big picture over the sofa.

  5. 47

    Is the crate with the pictures here yet anyhow?

  6. 48

    No, but the men are just bringing two big crates in.

  7. 49

    Perhaps it's in among them.

  8. 50

    They really did a good job of packing your things. ('The packing of your things was really well done.')

  9. 51

    I'm quite satisfied with it.

  10. 52

    The people took a lot of trouble.

Verpackung
the packing
Sachen
the thing
ordentlich
neat, tidy, well done
recht
right, quite
zufrieden
satisfied
Leute
the people
Mühe
the effort, pains
Mühe
I take pains, I make an effort
gegeben
given, taken

Basic Sentences V

  1. 53

    I hope the freight arrives soon.

  2. 54

    I'll just give them a quick call.

  3. 55

    Where's the telephone book?

  4. 56

    It's there on the radiator under the newspapers.

an
he arrives
  1. 57

    Is the furnace all right, by the way?

  2. 58

    I hope so. At any rate the workmen were here yesterday.

  3. 59

    I hope the freight arrives soon.

  4. 60

    I'll just give them a quick call.

  5. 61

    Where's the telephone book?

  6. 62

    It's there on the radiator under the newspapers.

  7. 63

    Is the furnace all right, by the way?

  8. 64

    I hope so. At any rate the workmen were here yesterday.

Handwerker
the workman
jedenfalls
at any rate, in any case
gestern
yesterday
dagewesen
they were here

Basic Sentences VI

  1. 65

    I think it looks really comfortable [here] now.

  2. 66

    Yes! Why don't we sit down for a change?

aus
he looks, he appears
richtig
really
gemütlich
cozy, comfortable, inviting
endlich
at last
hinsetzen
to sit down
  1. 67

    Well, first we still have to get rid of the empty crates and trunks.

Na
well
erst
first
wegschaffen
to clear away
  1. 68

    And clean up a bit!

  2. 69

    The men can carry the crates down to the cellar.

sauber
clean
sauber
he cleans up
Keller
the basement, the cellar
tragen
to carry
  1. 70

    We'd best take the trunks right up to the attic.

  2. 71

    But after that we're going to eat something.

  3. 72

    I think it looks really comfortable [here] now.

  4. 73

    Yes! Why don't we sit down for a change?

  5. 74

    Well, first we still have to get rid of the empty crates and trunks.

  6. 75

    And clean up a bit!

  7. 76

    The men can carry the crates down to the cellar.

  8. 77

    We'd best take the trunks right up to the attic.

  9. 78

    But after that we're going to eat something.

bringen
to bring, to take (something somewhere)
Boden
the attic
Danach
after that

Basic Sentences VII

  1. 79

    Where shall we sit?

  2. 80

    We can sit down right here at the kitchen table.

  3. 81

    That's the easiest [thing].

sitzen
to sit
Küchentisch
the kitchen table
setzen
to sit down
einfachsten
easiest, simplest
  1. 82

    I'd like to have a kitchen like that too!

Solch
such, like that
Küche
the kitchen
  1. 83

    Yes, with such a large refrigerator and combination gas and electric range.

  2. 84

    And I like the many built-in cupboards especially well.

  3. 85

    Where shall we sit?

  4. 86

    We can sit down right here at the kitchen table.

  5. 87

    That's the easiest [thing].

  6. 88

    I'd like to have a kitchen like that too!

  7. 89

    Yes, with such a large refrigerator and combination gas and electric range.

  8. 90

    And I like the many built-in cupboards especially well.

so
such
Elektroherd
the electric range
besonders
especially

Basic Sentences VIII

  1. 91

    We have a big yard behind the house. Do you want to take a look at it?

  2. 92

    Gern. --- Der ist ja ideal für die Kinder zum Spielen!

    Yes, I'd like to. --- My, it's an ideal place for the children to play.

Garten
the garden
ansehen
to look at something
ideal
ideal
Kinder
the child
Spielen
the playing
Spielen
for playing
  1. 93

    It's really much nicer and quieter here in the suburbs than in the city.

  2. 94

    We're planning to rent a house soon too, by the way.

schöner
nicer
ruhiger
quieter
übrigens
by the way
mieten
to rent (from someone)
  1. 95

    Why don't you move to our neighborhood?

  2. 96

    There are still some nice houses for rent here.

  3. 97

    How are the rents out here?

  4. 98

    They're not high at all.

  5. 99

    We have a big yard behind the house. Do you want to take a look at it?

  6. 100

    Gern. --- Der ist ja ideal für die Kinder zum Spielen!

    Yes, I'd like to. --- My, it's an ideal place for the children to play.

  7. 101

    It's really much nicer and quieter here in the suburbs than in the city.

  8. 102

    We're planning to rent a house soon too, by the way.

  9. 103

    Why don't you move to our neighborhood?

  10. 104

    There are still some nice houses for rent here.

  11. 105

    How are the rents out here?

  12. 106

    They're not high at all.

ziehen
to move
Nachbarschaft
the neighborhood
vermieten
to rent (to someone)
vermieten
for rent
Mieten
the rent
draussen
outside, out here
garnicht
not at all
hoch
high

Basic Sentences IX

  1. 107

    Let's count from a hundred to a thousand.

  2. 108

    a hundred and one - a hundred and two - a hundred and three - a hundred and ten

  3. 109

    a hundred and twenty - a hundred and fifty - a hundred and seventy-five

  4. 110

    two hundred - three hundred - five hundred - a thousand and one - sixteen hundred

  5. 111

    Give the following numbers in German: 390, 578, 722, 333, 1480, 699, 1145, 1565, 1910, 616

  6. 112

    Let's count from a hundred to a thousand.

  7. 113

    a hundred and one - a hundred and two - a hundred and three - a hundred and ten

  8. 114

    a hundred and twenty - a hundred and fifty - a hundred and seventy-five

  9. 115

    two hundred - three hundred - five hundred - a thousand and one - sixteen hundred

  10. 116

    Give the following numbers in German: 390, 578, 722, 333, 1480, 699, 1145, 1565, 1910, 616

tausend
a thousand
Zahlen
(the) following numbers

Notes on Pronunciation: Vowels in Syllables Not Having Primary Stress

  1. 117

    Umweg - Autobus - Schreibmaschine - Heimatstadt - Wiedersehen

    Practice 1:

  2. 118

    Amerika - Museum - politisch - Verabredung - Spaziergang

    Practice 1:

  3. 119

    Konsulat - Amerikanerin - Universität - Sekretärin - Bibliothek

    Practice 1:

Notes on Pronunciation: Long Vowels and Diphthongs

  1. 120

    Kasten - kosten

    Practice 2: Kasten / kosten

  2. 121

    lachen - lochen

    Practice 2: lachen / lochen

  3. 122

    Tanne - Tonne

    Practice 2: Tanne / Tonne

  4. 123

    sieht - seht

    Practice 2: sieht / seht

  5. 124

    Wiesen - Wesen

    Practice 2: Wiesen / Wesen

  6. 125

    liegen - legen

    Practice 2: liegen / legen

  7. 126

    Augenblick - wahrscheinlich

    Practice 3: Augenblick / wahrscheinlich

  8. 127

    sickert - sichert

    Practice 3: sickert / sichert

  9. 128

    direkt - recht

    Practice 3: direkt / recht

  10. 129

    drückte - Süchte

    Practice 3: drückte / Süchte

  1. 130

    backen - machen

    Practice 3: backen / machen

  2. 131

    Doktor - Tochter

    Practice 3: Doktor / Tochter

  3. 132

    Akt - acht

    Practice 3: Akt / acht

  4. 133

    druckt - Sucht

    Practice 3: druckt / Sucht

  5. 134

    Tier - mehr - Paar - vor - Kur

    Practice 4: r

  6. 135

    wird - Herz - hart - Dorf - Durst

    Practice 4: r

  7. 136

    für - führt - höher - hört

    Practice 4: r

  8. 137

    viel - Mehl - mal - wohl - Pfuhl

    Practice 4: l

  9. 138

    hilft - Welt - halb - Golf - Schuld

    Practice 4: l

  10. 139

    Papiere - leere - Jahre - bohre - Fuhre

    Practice 5: r

  1. 140

    zufrieden - reden - rauchen - Büro - rufen

    Practice 5: r

  2. 141

    höre - Grösse - führe - berühmt - grüsse

    Practice 5: r

Adjectives - the adjective-noun sequence, 1 of 3

Adjective with no specifier

An attributive adjective can stand between a specifier and a noun: der gute französische Wein.

It can also stand directly before the noun, with no specifier: amerikanisches Generalkonsulat, mit so grossem Kühlschrank.

Endings with no specifier

An adjective directly before a noun always has an ending. The endings are -e, -em, -en, -er and -es.

They are the endings of the der-type specifiers. Der Tabak gives amerikanischer Tabak. Den Tabak gives amerikanischen Tabak. Dem Tabak gives amerikanischem Tabak.

The other nouns follow the same rule: deutsches Geld, gute Tinte, grosse Sessel.

Genitive forms are not listed. They occur only very rarely.

  1. 142

    American Consulate General.

  2. 143

    I have to write some business letters.

  3. 144

    Yes, with such a large refrigerator and combination gas and electric range.

  4. 145

    American tobacco is good.

  5. 146

    I like to smoke American tobacco.

  6. 147

    I only smoke cigarettes with American tobacco.

  7. 148

    Here is German money.

  8. 149

    Do you have German money?

  9. 150

    What can we do here with German money?

  10. 151

    Is this good ink here?

  11. 152

    Here you have good ink.

  12. 153

    One can write well with good ink.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 7, Notes on Grammar

A. ADJECTIVES - THE ADJECTIVE-NOUN SEQUENCE

I

Amerikanisches Generalkonsulat.
American Consulate General.

Ich muss einige Geschäftsbriefe schreiben.
I have to write some business letters.

Ja, mit so grossem Kühlschrank und kombiniertem Gas- und Elektroherd
Yes, with such a large refrigerator and combination gas and electric range.

In Unit 6 we discussed attributive adjectives in specifier-adjective-noun sequences. Attributive adjectives are not always preceded by specifiers however; they also occur in ADJECTIVE-NOUN sequences. Note the following examples from the basic sentences of this and preceding units:
A. ADJECTIVES - THE ADJECTIVE-NOUN SEQUENCE

II. Attributive adjectives in ADJECTIVE-NOUN sequences ALWAYS HAVE ENDINGS

Amerikanischer Tabak ist gut.
American tobacco is good.

Ich rauche gern amerikanischen Tabak.
I like to smoke American tobacco.

Ich rauche nur Zigaretten mit amerikanischem Tabak.
I only smoke cigarettes with American tobacco.

Hier ist deutsches Geld.
Here is German money.

Haben Sie deutsches Geld?
Do you have German money?

Was können wir hier mit deutschem Geld tun?
What can we do here with German money?

Ist das hier gute Tinte?
Is this good ink here?

Hier haben Sie gute Tinte.
Here you have good ink.

Mit guter Tinte kann man gut schreiben.
One can write well with good ink.

Hier sind grosse Sessel.
Here are big easy-chairs.

Ich suche grosse Sessel.
I'm looking for big easy-chairs.

Ich habe ein Wohnzimmer mit grossen Sesseln.
I have a living room with big easy-chairs.

Die Männer bringen gerade zwei grosse Kisten herauf.
The men are just bringing two big crates in.

Heute ist wirklich schönes Wetter.
It's really nice weather today.

Haben Sie deutsches Geld? Nein, ich habe nur amerikanisches.
Do you have any German money? No, I only have American [money].

Brauchen Sie einen grossen Teppich für das Wohnzimmer? Nein, ich möchte zwei kleine für das Schlafzimmer haben.
Do you need a large rug for the living-room? No, I'd like to have two small ones for the bedroom.

Trinken Sie lieber deutschen oder französischen Wein? Ich trinke lieber französischen.
Do you like German or French wine better? I like French [wine] better.

Hier sind noch einige nette Häuser zu vermieten.
There are still some nice houses for rent here.

Eine Küche mit so vielen eingebauten Schränken ist doch schön.
A kitchen with so many built-in cupboards really is nice.

Trinken Sie gern gutes deutsches Bier?
Do you like good German beer?

1. The adjective endings are -e, -em, -en, -er or -es: Nom Amerikanischer Tabak ist gut. Acc Ich rauche gern amerikanischen Tabak. Dat Ich rauche nur Zigaretten mit amerikanischem Tabak. (and so for deutsches Geld, gute Tinte, grosse Sessel)

2. No genitive forms are listed for the ADJECTIVE-NOUN sequence, as they occur only very rarely. Note that the adjective endings of the nominative, accusative and dative forms correspond throughout to the endings of the der-type specifiers.

3. Preceding adverbs or numerals do not affect the forms of the adjectives in ADJECTIVE-NOUN sequences.

4. The noun is not always present in a sequence when it can be understood from the context. The form of the adjective is the same whether the noun is present or not. Notice that we usually repeat the noun in English.

5. If there is more than one adjective in an ADJECTIVE-NOUN sequence, all have the same endings.

Adjectives - the adjective-noun sequence, 2 of 3

More about these endings

An adverb or a numeral before the adjective does not change its form: zwei grosse Kisten.

The noun can be left out when the context makes it clear. The adjective keeps the same form: Nein, ich habe nur amerikanisches. English usually repeats the noun.

When two adjectives stand together, both have the same ending: gutes deutsches Bier.

  1. 154

    Here are big easy-chairs.

  2. 155

    I'm looking for big easy-chairs.

  3. 156

    I have a living room with big easy-chairs.

  4. 157

    The men are just bringing two big crates in.

  5. 158

    It's really nice weather today.

  6. 159

    Do you have any German money? No, I only have American [money].

  7. 160

    Do you need a large rug for the living-room? No, I'd like to have two small ones for the bedroom.

  8. 161

    Do you like German or French wine better? I like French [wine] better.

  9. 162

    There are still some nice houses for rent here.

  10. 163

    A kitchen with so many built-in cupboards really is nice.

  11. 164

    Do you like good German beer?

Adjectives - the adjective-noun sequence, 3 of 3

Adjective nouns with no specifier

An adjective used as a noun can also stand without a specifier: Sie sind Deutscher. Meine Frau hat nette Verwandte.

It has the same endings as an adjective directly before a noun.

Its form changes when a specifier comes before it. Wir haben gute Bekannte, but Wir treffen unsere guten Bekannten.

An adjective before it has the same ending: nette Verwandte.

Which ending to use

With no specifier, the adjective has the same form as after an ein-type specifier with no ending. Ein and ihr have no ending here.

Guter französischer Wein and ein guter französischer Wein have the same adjective endings. So do gutes deutsches Geschirr and ihr gutes deutsches Geschirr.

After a specifier with an ending, the form is different: der gute französische Wein, das gute deutsche Geschirr.

  1. 165

    Is she an American or a German?

  2. 166

    You're German, aren't you?

  3. 167

    I didn't know that your wife has relatives here.

  4. 168

    Is she a German citizen?

  5. 169

    He's an American official.

  6. 170

    My wife has nice relatives in Berlin.

  7. 171

    We have good friends in Frankfurt.

  8. 172

    That's the American official.

  9. 173

    Tomorrow we're going to visit my wife's nice relatives in Berlin.

  10. 174

    We're meeting our good friends in Frankfurt.

  11. 175

    That's good French wine.

  12. 176

    That's a good French wine.

  13. 177

    Where's the good French wine?

  14. 178

    That's good German dinnerware.

  15. 179

    That's her good German dinnerware.

  16. 180

    Where's the good German dinnerware?

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 7, Notes on Grammar

A. ADJECTIVES - THE ADJECTIVE-NOUN SEQUENCE

III. Adjectives used as nouns often occur without a preceding specifier

Ist sie Amerikanerin oder Deutsche?
Is she an American or a German?

Sie sind Deutscher, nicht wahr?
You're German, aren't you?

Ich wusste nicht, dass Ihre Frau hier Verwandte hat.
I didn't know that your wife has relatives here.

Ist sie deutsche Staatsangehörige?
Is she a German citizen?

Er ist amerikanischer Beamter.
He's an American official.

Meine Frau hat nette Verwandte in Berlin.
My wife has nice relatives in Berlin.

Wir haben gute Bekannte in Frankfurt.
We have good friends in Frankfurt.

Das ist der amerikanische Beamte.
That's the American official.

Morgen besuchen wir die netten Verwandten meiner Frau in Berlin.
Tomorrow we're going to visit my wife's nice relatives in Berlin.

Wir treffen unsere guten Bekannten in Frankfurt.
We're meeting our good friends in Frankfurt.

1. Their endings are the same as those outlined above.

2. Note that adjectives used as nouns may be preceded by other adjectives. Both then have the same ending.

3. Note carefully the distinction in form between adjectives used as nouns when they are preceded by a specifier and when they are not.
A. ADJECTIVES - THE ADJECTIVE-NOUN SEQUENCE

IV. Adjectives in ADJECTIVE-NOUN sequences and in SPECIFIER-ADJECTIVE-NOUN sequences

Das ist guter französischer Wein.
That's good French wine.

Das ist ein guter französischer Wein.
That's a good French wine.

Wo ist der gute französische Wein?
Where's the good French wine?

Das ist gutes deutsches Geschirr.
That's good German dinnerware.

Das ist ihr gutes deutsches Geschirr.
That's her good German dinnerware.

Wo ist das gute deutsche Geschirr?
Where's the good German dinnerware?

1. Compare the following sentences: You will note that there is no difference in the form of adjectives in adjective-noun sequences and in sequences with the endingless ein-type specifiers. There is a difference between the form of these adjectives and adjectives in a specifier-adjective-noun sequence where the specifier also has an ending.

An irregular adjective - hoch

The stem hoh-

Hoch means high. As a predicate adjective, it is hoch: Die Mieten sind hier garnicht so hoch.

Before a noun, the stem is hoh-. It takes the regular adjective endings: sehr hohe Mieten, ein ganz hohes Etagenhaus.

  1. 181

    The rents here are not high at all.

  2. 182

    We have very high rents here.

  3. 183

    That's quite a high apartment building.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 7, Notes on Grammar

B. AN IRREGULAR ADJECTIVE - hoch

Die Mieten sind hier garnicht so hoch.
The rents here are not high at all.

Wir haben hier sehr hohe Mieten.
We have very high rents here.

Das ist ein ganz hohes Etagenhaus.
That's quite a high apartment building.

I. The adjective hoch has occurred in this unit only as a predicate adjective.

II. As an attributive adjective the stem form hoh- with regular adjective endings occurs.

Summary of two-way prepositions

Two-way prepositions

Nine prepositions can take the dative or the accusative: an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen.

The dative says where something is. The accusative says where something in motion ends up.

Die Steppdecken liegen auf unseren Betten: dative. Den Teppich legen wir in die Mitte des Zimmers: accusative.

The case decides

Verbs that describe a static situation occur with the dative: liegen, haben, ist. Verbs of action or motion occur with the accusative: stellen, legen, hängen.

With the accusative after a two-way preposition, the verb always implies motion. With the dative, the relationship is always static, even after a verb of motion.

Das grosse Bild hängt dort über dem Sofa. Das grosse Bild können wir über das Sofa hängen.

  1. 184

    We can place the sofa over against the wall there.

  2. 185

    The quilts are on our beds.

  3. 186

    We have a big yard behind the house.

  4. 187

    We'll lay the carpet in the middle of the room.

  5. 188

    Next to the palace on the right is the university.

  6. 189

    We could hang the big picture above the sofa.

  7. 190

    The telephone book is there under the newspapers.

  8. 191

    Let's put the desk in front of the big window.

  9. 192

    Put the lamp between the smoking table and the bookcase.

  10. 193

    The table fits the picture in front of the two easy-chairs (and therefore should end up in that location).

  11. 194

    The big picture is hanging there above the sofa.

  12. 195

    We can hang the big picture above the sofa.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 7, Notes on Grammar

C. SUMMARY OF TWO-WAY PREPOSITIONS

I

Das Sofa können wir dort an die Wand stellen.
We can place the sofa over against the wall there.

Die Steppdecken liegen auf unseren Betten.
The quilts are on our beds.

Wir haben einen grossen Garten hinter dem Haus.
We have a big yard behind the house.

Den Teppich legen wir in die Mitte des Zimmers.
We'll lay the carpet in the middle of the room.

Rechts neben dem Schloss ist die Universität.
Next to the palace on the right is the university.

Das grosse Bild könnten wir über das Sofa hängen.
We could hang the big picture above the sofa.

Das Telephonbuch liegt dort unter den Zeitungen.
The telephone book is there under the newspapers.

Stellen wir den Schreibtisch vor das grosse Fenster.
Let's put the desk in front of the big window.

Stellen Sie die Lampe zwischen den Rauchtisch und den Bücherschrank.
Put the lamp between the smoking table and the bookcase.

Der Tisch passt gut vor die beiden Sessel.
The table fits the picture in front of the two easy-chairs (and therefore should end up in that location).

Das grosse Bild hängt dort über dem Sofa.
The big picture is hanging there above the sofa.

Das grosse Bild können wir über das Sofa hängen.
We can hang the big picture above the sofa.

In Unit 3 it was noted that certain prepositions when followed by a dative form indicate where someone or something is to be found and when followed by an accusative form indicate where someone or something that is in motion is going to end up. We have now encountered the total inventory of TWO-WAY PREPOSITIONS, nine in all. Let us review some of the sentences in which they have occurred:

1. Note that there is a close link between the TWO-WAY PREPOSITION and the verbs in these sentences. In the sentences where a dative form follows the preposition verbs which indicate or describe a static situation occur: liegen, haben, ist. In the sentences where an accusative form follows the preposition verbs indicating action or motion occur: stellen, legen, hängen.

2. It is important to note however that two-way prepositions may be followed by an accusative form in a sentence where the verb by itself does not necessarily indicate motion. In association WITH THE ACCUSATIVE object of a two-way preposition the verb ALWAYS IMPLIES MOTION.

3. Likewise a DATIVE FORM following a two-way preposition ALWAYS IMPLIES A STATIC RELATIONSHIP, nonchanging, even when the verb is a verb of action or motion.

Verbs - legen, liegen, stehen and stellen

Lying, standing, putting

English usually says is or are for where a thing is. German often also says how it is placed.

Liegen means to be there lying flat. Stehen means to be there standing up. Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. Das Bild steht auf dem Schreibtisch.

Ist and sind also occur with a place.

German has no general verb for put. Legen puts a thing down lying. Stellen puts it down standing: Wir können das Sofa an die Wand stellen.

  1. 196

    The quilts are (lying) on our beds.

  2. 197

    The new desk is (standing) in front of the window.

  3. 198

    The book is on the table.

  4. 199

    The book is located on the table and is lying flat.

  5. 200

    The picture is on the desk.

  6. 201

    The picture is located on the desk but is in a standing frame or propped up against something.

  7. 202

    We can put the sofa up against the wall, where it is to stand.

  8. 203

    Where shall I put the woolen blankets, i.e., where shall I leave them lying?

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 7, Notes on Grammar

D. VERBS - legen, liegen, stehen and stellen

Die Steppdecken liegen auf unseren Betten.
The quilts are (lying) on our beds.

Der neue Schreibtisch steht vor dem Fenster.
The new desk is (standing) in front of the window.

Das Buch ist auf dem Tisch.
The book is on the table.

Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
The book is located on the table and is lying flat.

Das Bild ist auf dem Schreibtisch.
The picture is on the desk.

Das Bild steht auf dem Schreibtisch.
The picture is located on the desk but is in a standing frame or propped up against something.

Wir können das Sofa an die Wand stellen.
We can put the sofa up against the wall, where it is to stand.

Wo soll ich die Wolldecken hinlegen?
Where shall I put the woolen blankets, i.e., where shall I leave them lying?

I. In English we generally use the forms "is" and "are" to describe the location of a person or an object, and a form of the verb "to put" in describing the act of placing an object in a certain location. We can, however, make implicit reference to the shape of the object and to the position it is in: My brief-case is there on the table. / My brief-case is lying there on the table. You can put your brief-case on the table there. / You can lay your brief-case on the table there. OR His gun is over against the wall there. / His gun is standing over against the wall there. He puts his gun over against the wall there. / He stands his gun up against the wall there.

II. German usually makes more frequent reference to position than English. The verbs liegen and stehen, like English "to lie" and "to stand", besides giving the location of an object or a person, clearly imply his, or its position. In German also, however, the verb forms ist and sind occur with a location.

III. German has no non-specifying verb corresponding to the English verb "to put" and always describes the act of placing some object in a certain location in terms of its final position there, whether lying or standing, by using the verbs legen and stellen.

Verbs - review of present

Verbs in the present, by pattern

A tense is a set of verb forms that tells when something happens. The verbs here are listed in the present tense.

Most verbs keep one stem and add the endings of komm-e, komm-t, komm-en: machen, legen, stellen.

Some change the stem in the er-form, like geb-e, gib-t: lesen, liest. Nehmen, nimmt. Helfen, hilft.

A stem ending in -t or -d adds -e before the er-form ending: finden, findet. Mieten, mietet.

A few verbs end in -n in the wir-form: klingeln, tun. A verb with an accented adverb has the forms of the plain verb.

Verbs - review of present

  1. 204

    He begins.

  2. 205

    He helps.

  3. 206

    He reads.

  4. 207

    He takes.

  5. 208

    He sees.

  6. 209

    He carries.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 7, Notes on Grammar

E. VERBS - REVIEW OF PRESENT

Er fängt an.
He begins.

Er hilft.
He helps.

Er liest.
He reads.

Er nimmt.
He takes.

Er sieht.
He sees.

Er trägt.
He carries.

We have added more than fifty verbs to the inventory since the outline of the present tense was given in Unit 2. At that time two main patterns and one subsidiary pattern were noted, those of kommen, geben and arbeiten, as well as the irregular verb patterns. By way of review we present here a reference list of the verbs added in Units 3 - 7.

1. These verbs follow the pattern illustrated by komm-e, komm-t, komm-en:

brauchen, bringen, buchstabieren, danken, erreichen, fragen, freuen, (füllen) ausfüllen, hängen, hoffen, gewöhnen, grüssen, (heben) abheben, holen, hören, leben, legen, leihen, liegen, machen, (packen) auspacken, parken, passen, rauchen, rufen, schreiben, setzen, sitzen, stehen, stellen, stören, suchen, trinken, wählen, wiederholen, zählen, ziehen

2. These verbs follow the pattern illustrated by geb-e, gib-t, geb-en, in which a different stem occurs in the er-form:

anfangen - fängt ... an; helfen - hilft; lesen - liest; nehmen - nimmt; sehen - sieht; tragen - trägt

3. These verbs follow the subsidiary pattern illustrated bei arbeit-e, arbeit-e-t, arbeit-en, in which a connecting vowel -e- occurs before the er-form ending. Note that all have stems ending in -t- or -d-.

anbieten - bietet ... an; finden - findet; fürchten - fürchtet; mieten - mietet; vermieten - vermietet; melden - meldet; ausrichten - richtet ... aus; einrichten - richtet ... ein

4. A few verbs follow a second subsidiary pattern. An example is auswander-n, in which the wir-form ending is -n instead of -en. We have encountered only four other verbs which follow this pattern: klingel-n, kümmer-n, tu-n, wechsel-n

5. Please note that a number of verbs which differ from the above only in having additional accented adverbs associated with them have not been listed separately, since their forms and endings remain the same.

Substitution Drill

  1. 210

    How much does German wine cost?

  2. 211

    How much does good coffee cost?

  3. 212

    Many new houses belong to him.

  4. 213

    Do you have good German books?

  1. 214

    Do you have good German books?

  2. 215

    I'm still looking for some other pictures.

  3. 216

    I'm looking for good wine.

  4. 217

    Here is nice stationery.

  1. 218

    Here is nice stationery.

  2. 219

    Do you have German wine?

  3. 220

    There is a crate of French wine.

  4. 221

    In this house there is nice new furniture.

  1. 222

    In this house there is nice new furniture.

  2. 223

    This city has many beautiful parks.

  3. 224

    This city has no beautiful parks.

  4. 225

    There are beautiful pictures here.

  1. 226

    There are no beautiful pictures here.

  2. 227

    Do you have some beautiful pictures?

  3. 228

    We have no good books.

  4. 229

    That's a city with beautiful parks.

  1. 230

    That's a city with beautiful parks.

  2. 231

    That's a house with a small garden.

  3. 232

    In this city there are beautiful parks.

  1. 233

    In this city there are beautiful parks.

  2. 234

    This city has beautiful parks.

  3. 235

    He puts a chair in front of the desk.

  4. 236

    In front of the desk there is a chair.

  1. 237

    In front of the desk there is a chair.

  2. 238

    The wastebasket is behind the sofa.

  3. 239

    I'll put the wastebasket behind the sofa.

  1. 240

    I'll put the wastebasket behind the sofa.

  2. 241

    Please put the book next to the typewriter.

  3. 242

    The book is next to the typewriter.

  4. 243

    The letter is under the newspapers.

  1. 244

    She puts the letter under the newspapers.

  2. 245

    The picture is hanging over the sofa.

  3. 246

    Shall I hang the picture over the sofa?

Variation Drill

  1. 247

    We'll sit down in the big living room.

  2. 248

    We live next to the old post office.

  3. 249

    Please put the wastepaper basket under the desk.

  1. 250

    Please put the wastepaper basket under the desk.

  2. 251

    The newspaper is behind the lamp.

  3. 252

    That's a room with a lot of nice furniture.

  4. 253

    We have [some] good French newspapers.

  1. 254

    We have [some] good French newspapers.

  2. 255

    The big desk is on the rug.

  3. 256

    He puts the fountain pen and the stationery on the desk.

  1. 257

    Put the wastebasket under the table.

  2. 258

    The children are already in bed.

  3. 259

    Put the sofa over against the wall and the floor lamp next to it.

  1. 260

    Put the sofa over against the wall and the floor lamp next to it.

  2. 261

    Is the suitcase with my other luggage? Yes, it's [there] along with it.

Vocabulary Drill

  1. 262

    When are you moving in here?

  2. 263

    She's moving in today.

  3. 264

    We're planning to move in soon.

  4. 265

    I believe you can't move in yet.

  5. 266

    We're moving into our new house next week.

  6. 267

    He's moving into the apartment next door today.

  7. 268

    When are you planning to move into your new house?

  8. 269

    The Kellers are moving to a new ('different') apartment soon.

  9. 270

    We're setting up the furniture in our new house tomorrow.

  1. 271

    We'll fix up the other rooms today.

  2. 272

    She's fixing up her room with new furniture.

  3. 273

    When do you intend to fix up your apartment?

  4. 274

    We still have to unpack the crates.

  5. 275

    She's just unpacking her big suitcase.

  6. 276

    Shall we unpack the new linens right away?

  7. 277

    Please unpack the good dinnerware now.

  8. 278

    I hope the letter gets there soon.

  9. 279

    The new easy-chairs are supposed to come today.

  1. 280

    When does the freight get here?

  2. 281

    I believe the crates won't get here today.

  3. 282

    What does your new house look like?

  4. 283

    Your new furniture really looks very nice.

  5. 284

    Your car looks almost new.

  6. 285

    This apartment looks very clean.

  7. 286

    May I take a look at your beautiful pictures?

  8. 287

    We want to look at some new furniture today.

  9. 288

    They're just taking a look around our yard.

  1. 289

    He's looking at the little typewriter.

  2. 290

    Can we help you set up the furniture?

  3. 291

    She's helping him at the office today.

  4. 292

    Please help the secretary in the visa section.

  5. 293

    She's helping her father in the store today.

  6. 294

    That's a good place for the new easy-chair, there in the corner.

  7. 295

    This room is not the right place for the old furniture.

  8. 296

    That's a good place for the little table, beside the easy-chair.

  9. 297

    Is that the right place for this big lamp, on the desk?

  1. 298

    This new desk goes well with the furniture.

  2. 299

    The big easy-chairs don't match the little sofa.

  3. 300

    These chairs match the table very well.

  4. 301

    The bookcase is supposed to match the furniture.

  5. 302

    He's carrying the books to the library.

  6. 303

    Carry the big suitcases to the attic please.

  7. 304

    The men are carrying a few large crates to the cellar.

  8. 305

    You can carry the blankets into the bedroom for the moment.

  9. 306

    I have to rent a different room.

  1. 307

    The Kellers are renting a house in our neighborhood.

  2. 308

    He's planning to rent a car in Bonn.

  3. 309

    We're planning to rent a large apartment in Munich.

  4. 310

    He's planning to rent out the room on the third floor.

  5. 311

    Are there many large apartments for rent here?

  6. 312

    Mr. Becker is unfortunately not able to rent his house.

  7. 313

    Mr. Schulze wants to rent us his house.

  8. 314

    Please sit in this easy-chair.

  9. 315

    Now we can sit down at last.

  1. 316

    We're going to sit at the kitchen table.

  2. 317

    Don't you want to sit down?

  3. 318

    I'll sit on the sofa.

  4. 319

    Where can we sit?

  5. 320

    He sits down at the desk.

  6. 321

    He sits at his desk all day.

  7. 322

    I think she's sitting beside her father.

  8. 323

    Why don't we sit [out] in the yard today.

  9. 324

    She's sitting in her chair beside the window.

Translation Drill 1

  1. 325

    The Beckers have a new house in a suburb of Cologne.

  2. 326

    Behind the house there's a beautiful yard.

  3. 327

    It's [an] ideal [place] for the children to play.

  4. 328

    Their friends, Mr. and Mrs. Keller, want to rent a house for themselves soon too.

  5. 329

    Perhaps they'll move into the Becker's neighborhood.

  6. 330

    There are still a few nice houses for rent there.

  7. 331

    And the rent isn't very high either.

  8. 332

    The Beckers are moving into their house today.

  9. 333

    The furnace is all right now too.

  10. 334

    Mr. and Mrs. Keller are helping the Beckers arrange the furniture.

  11. 335

    They only have the living-room left to fix up.

  12. 336

    In the other rooms the furniture is already in place.

  13. 337

    They begin with the carpet.

Translation Drill 2

  1. 338

    They put it in the middle of the room.

  2. 339

    Then they put the round table in front of the two easy-chairs.

  3. 340

    They put the large sofa over against the wall.

  4. 341

    That's a good place for it.

  5. 342

    The floor lamp is supposed to be between the smoking table and the bookcase.

  6. 343

    The Beckers have a new desk.

  7. 344

    It matches the other furniture well.

  8. 345

    They put it in front of the big window for the time being.

  9. 346

    A few crates are still in the moving van.

  10. 347

    The men are just bringing two crates into the house.

  11. 348

    I hope the crate with the pictures is one of them.

  12. 349

    They want to hang the big picture over the sofa.

  13. 350

    The things are very well packed.

Translation Drill 3

  1. 351

    Mr. Becker is very well satisfied with it.

  2. 352

    Unfortunately the freight isn't there yet.

  3. 353

    Mr. Becker intends to call right away.

  4. 354

    But now he can't find the telephone book.

  5. 355

    Mrs. Becker looks [for it] and finds it.

  6. 356

    It's under the newspapers.

  7. 357

    Then Mrs. Becker takes care of the good dinnerware.

  8. 358

    Mrs. Keller intends to unpack the linen in the meantime.

  9. 359

    She lays the new woolen blankets over the back of the chair.

  10. 360

    The quilts are already on the beds in the bedroom.

  11. 361

    The empty crates and suitcases are still in the rooms.

  12. 362

    They have to get rid of them.

  13. 363

    The men are to carry the crates to the cellar.

Translation Drill 4

  1. 364

    Mr. Becker and Mr. Keller take the suitcases to the attic.

  2. 365

    Mrs. Keller wants to clean up a bit.

  3. 366

    Now everything looks quite cozy.

  4. 367

    At last they can relax in a chair.

  5. 368

    They sit down at the kitchen table and eat something.

  6. 369

    The kitchen is very nice, with [a] combination gas and electric range, large refrigerator and many built-in cupboards.

Response Drill 1

  1. 370

    What are the Beckers doing?

  2. 371

    They are moving into their new house.

  3. 372

    Who is helping them get settled?

  4. 373

    Mr. and Mrs. Keller are helping them arrange the furniture.

  5. 374

    Which room are they furnishing?

  6. 375

    They are furnishing the living room.

  7. 376

    Why aren't they furnishing the other rooms as well?

  8. 377

    Everything's in place in the other rooms.

  9. 378

    Where are they putting the rug?

  10. 379

    They put it in the middle of the room.

  11. 380

    What do they put in front of the armchairs?

  12. 381

    They put the small table in front of the armchairs.

  13. 382

    Where is the sofa?

  14. 383

    The sofa is against the wall.

  15. 384

    Where do they put the floor lamp?

  16. 385

    They put them between the coffee table and the bookcase.

  17. 386

    Do the Beckers have an old desk?

  18. 387

    No, they have a new one.

  19. 388

    Where should the desk go?

  20. 389

    It is supposed to stand in front of the large window.

  21. 390

    Where should Frau Keller put the wool blankets?

  22. 391

    She is supposed to lay it over the back of the chair.

  23. 392

    Where are the quilts?

  24. 393

    The comforters are on the beds in the bedroom.

  25. 394

    What is Frau Becker taking care of?

  26. 395

    She is taking care of the dishes.

Response Drill 2

  1. 396

    What does Mrs. Keller do in the meantime?

  2. 397

    She unpacks the linens.

  3. 398

    Where should the large picture go?

  4. 399

    They want to hang it over the sofa.

  5. 400

    Who carries the crates into the house?

  6. 401

    The men carry them into the house.

  7. 402

    What is the packaging like?

  8. 403

    The packing is good, and the Beckers are very pleased with it.

  9. 404

    Is the heating working properly?

  10. 405

    Yes; in any case, the workmen have been there.

  11. 406

    What does everything look like now?

  12. 407

    Now everything looks really cozy.

  13. 408

    What do they do with the empty crates and suitcases?

  14. 409

    They take the suitcases up to the attic, and the men carry the empty crates down to the basement.

  15. 410

    What do Frau Becker and Frau Keller want to do?

  16. 411

    They want to clean something.

  17. 412

    Where do they sit down later?

  18. 413

    They sit down at the kitchen table and eat something.

  19. 414

    What is the kitchen like?

  20. 415

    The kitchen is very nice.

  21. 416

    Why does Frau Keller like the kitchen so much?

  22. 417

    It is a kitchen with a large refrigerator, a combination gas and electric range, and many built-in cabinets.

  23. 418

    Where is the garden?

  24. 419

    It is behind the house.

  25. 420

    For whom is the garden ideal?

  26. 421

    It is ideal for the children to play in.

Response Drill 3

  1. 422

    Why does Mrs. Becker like living in the suburbs?

  2. 423

    It is much quieter in the suburbs than in the city.

  3. 424

    What do the Kellers want to do soon?

  4. 425

    They want to rent a house soon.

  5. 426

    Where else are there nice houses for rent?

  6. 427

    There are still a few nice houses for rent in the Beckers' neighborhood.

  7. 428

    What are the rents like?

  8. 429

    They are not very high at all.

Narrative

  1. 430

    Have you heard that the Smiths are moving today?

  2. 431

    Where to?

  3. 432

    Well, I think to Chicago.

  4. 433

    You want to know what they are doing with the furniture?

  5. 434

    They want to sell the study and dining-room furniture, as well as the new piano.

  6. 435

    They are taking only the rugs, pictures, books, and their beds with them.

  7. 436

    Why?

  8. 437

    Well, moving is terribly expensive, after all, and they can buy new furniture again in Chicago.

  9. 438

    Mrs. Smith would like to have a Danish-style sectional sofa anyway.

  10. 439

    You don't understand that?

  11. 440

    Is it different in Germany than it is here?

  12. 441

    Tell me about it.

  13. 442

    Take the Schröder family from Hamburg, for example.

  14. 443

    Mr. Schröder has been working in Munich for a year, and now he has finally found an apartment and his family can move.

  15. 444

    It is only a small apartment, but he still has to pay a construction-cost contribution of 3,000 marks for it.

  16. 445

    It is so difficult to find an apartment.

  17. 446

    So the moving van is coming today.

  18. 447

    All the furniture is coming along, even the old wardrobe and Uncle Fritz's little desk that was in the attic.

  19. 448

    Those are old family pieces, and one does grow attached to them!

  20. 449

    The new apartment is small, but they will find room for them somewhere.

  21. 450

    They can always put the things in the attic at first.

  22. 451

    And perhaps their dream of owning a home will come true someday after all.

Conversation Practice 1

  1. 452

    Where should this small table go?

  2. 453

    Over there next to the bookcase.

  3. 454

    And the lamp here?

  4. 455

    Please put it between the two windows.

  5. 456

    Should the armchair go there in the corner or next to the door?

  6. 457

    I think it fits well over there in the corner.

Conversation Practice 2

  1. 458

    How high are the rents for new apartments here?

  2. 459

    They're very high here in the city.

  3. 460

    I need an apartment with large rooms.

  4. 461

    There are some nice houses for rent in our neighborhood. Would you like to take a look at them?

  5. 462

    Yes, we'd prefer to live in the suburbs too.

Conversation Practice 3

  1. 463

    Where should I put the newspapers?

  2. 464

    You can put them on the small table. The telephone book is there too.

  3. 465

    Can I unpack the books now?

  4. 466

    Yes, please. And put them in the bookcase while you're at it.

Conversation Practice 4

  1. 467

    Where should we put the crates?

  2. 468

    How many crates are there?

  3. 469

    Four large ones and two small ones.

  4. 470

    Please put the large ones here in the living room and the two small ones in the kitchen.

Conversation Practice 5

  1. 471

    Excuse me, is there a room for rent here?

  2. 472

    I have two rooms for rent, one large and one small.

  3. 473

    May I take a look at the large room?

  4. 474

    Certainly. Right this way, please.

Situations

  1. 475

    Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are looking at a house in a suburb of Stuttgart.

  2. 476

    It belongs to Mr. Meyer, and he would like to rent it out.

  3. 477

    The Johnsons need a big house.

  4. 478

    They have four small children.

  5. 479

    Mr. Meyer shows them the rooms.

  6. 480

    The Johnsons like the house very much.

  7. 481

    The kitchen is very large, but unfortunately it has no refrigerator and only an old stove.

  8. 482

    Mr. Meyer intends to put a new refrigerator in the kitchen, though.

  9. 483

    Then he shows them the garden behind the house.

  10. 484

    Mr. Johnson would like to know how high the rent is.

  11. 485

    Mr. Meyer says 400 marks.

  12. 486

    The Johnsons rent the house.

  1. 487

    The teacher puts a chair beside, in front of and behind the table, or in the corner, in front of the door and against the wall.

  2. 488

    The teacher puts the wastebasket under the desk, lays his book on the table, under the newspaper, on the chair, and so on. The students say what the teacher is doing with the chair and the other things and where the chair and the other things are standing or lying.

  3. 489

    One student says what furniture is in his apartment and where it stands.

  4. 490

    The other draws on the blackboard what the apartment looks like.

The particulars

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