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1500 questions
15
votes
2 answers
How to say "I see" in German
"I see" is a phrase that's used very often in a conversation in English.
A: How much does the book cost?
B: 50 dollars.
A: I see.
Is there an equivalent in German? I'm quite sure it's not ich sehe. And ich verstehe doesn't seem appropriate when…
Mika H.
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15
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8 answers
What is the most fitting translation of "Try me!"?
Is there an equivalent for the English phrase "Try me!" in German?
The only translations I could find/come up with are:
Wetten?
Wetten, dass?
I can't help but feel like this is not the best phrasing possible.
"Try me!" is a more direct challenge…
tmh
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15
votes
2 answers
What word did the Germans use for "Buchstabe" before print was invented?
I've often wondered about this. "Buchstabe" obviously(?) derives from the letters used in the early printing presses (think Gutenberg). What did they call a letter before Gutenberg?
update
Seems my assumption was wrong and it wasn't obvious after…
stevenvh
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15
votes
3 answers
How to differentiate Sie (they) or Sie (you)?
Sie haben meine Brieftasche.
This sentence has 2 different meanings -
They have my wallet.
or
You have my wallet.
How can I know which is intended?
mihirjoshi
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15
votes
2 answers
Word order with modal verbs in complex tenses
If in the present tense I can simply say, Ich kann kommen (no double infinitive), why can't I follow the same rule when I use the future tense, and say, Ich werde können kommen?
Why do I have to say (at least according to my grammar), Ich werde…
indoxica
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15
votes
2 answers
Why is it "vielen Dank" if it is plural?
I am confused with the grammar of the expression vielen Dank, because if Dank is a noun, and we have vielen, I would expect something like vielen Danken, or vielen Danke, or even vielen danke, for "many thanks" instead of "many thank".
Can you…
Carlos Pinzón
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15
votes
2 answers
What is the difference between “um” and “am”?
What is the difference between um and am when used with times in German?
e.g.
um 8 Uhr
vs
am 8 Uhr
alvas
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15
votes
3 answers
Should one necessarily learn, when a verb goes with a dative object and when with accusative one?
Should one necessarily learn, when a verb goes with a dative object and when with an accusative one, or can it be deduced?
How to determine if a verb in question induces *accusative or dative? If there are direct objects and indirect objects, they…
c.p.
- 30,753
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15
votes
4 answers
When does one use "von" and when "durch" to form the passive?
I've learnt that, to form a passive sentence from an active one, one uses "von" and then one mentions the Subjekt of the aktiv sentence:
Hans isst den Apfel. → Der Apfel wird von Hans gegessen.
(Stylistically not very nice, but grammatically OK,…
c.p.
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15
votes
3 answers
Nouns with 2 genitive forms (-s/-es). When to use each?
Wiktionary lists 2 genitive forms for a lot of nouns (e.g. Berg, Brauch), -es and -s.
For these words and others, are these forms interchangeable or are they regional? Or is one more poetic sounding than the other? Basically, when should one be used…
Voriki
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15
votes
5 answers
Unexpected use of 'Kater' instead of 'Katze'
According to the answers given here, you'd normally use Katze instead of Kater in normal conversation, even for a male cat. The only time you'd use Kater is a) if you're a veterinarian or breeder who has a professional interest in the sex of the…
RDBury
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15
votes
3 answers
Was bedeutet „Fleisch“ in „Fleischwurst“?
Es gibt viele verschiedene Wursttypen, z.B. Rohwurst, Kochwurst und Fleischwurst. Alle Würste beinhalten Fleisch, aber nicht alle sind Fleischwürste. Was bedeutet „Fleisch“ in „Fleischwurst“? Warum heißen sie so?
Tim
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15
votes
7 answers
What is the difference between "Dom", "Kathedrale" and "Münster"
"Dom", "Kathedrale" and "Münster" all translate as "cathedral" in English. When I searched online, all explanations were in German and I could not quite understand them.
Is there any difference in meaning between these three words, or is it just a…
fluffy
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15
votes
3 answers
How can I deal with "Eigennamen" when they conflict with the grammar of the sentence?
Imagine a street being named "Alte Straße". Which of the following sentences is correct?
"Ein Haus in der Alten Straße"
"Ein Haus in der Alte Straße"
The first one seems more intuitive, as it is grammatically consistent, but it changes the…
MechMK1
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15
votes
1 answer
What's the German term for friends that you know from your childhood?
I once read a nice term that's used to describe friends that you've known ever since you were very little. It was something like "Sandbeckenkamaraden", but not exactly. Can anyone help me out here?
Henry Firth
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