Buttertongue: Speak German like a native - Step 4 (B1-2)

Verbs that take Dativ objects

Some verbs take Dat. objects due to their meanings. Most of them are the ones that indicate doing something to someone. This ‘to someone’ is the dative object.

Verbs that take Akkusativ objects

For some verbs, if you know their meaning, it is easy to understand that they take Akk. objects. You can easily understand that the verbs suggested in the handouts such as 'lesen(read)', 'zählen(count)', 'trinken(drink)', 'kennen(know)' take Akk. objects, because the objects should be 'whom/what'.

When studying and memorizing, please separate the verbs that take Akk. objects without preposition from the verbs that take objects with prepositions.

General human being, 'man'

There is a word that indicates general human being: 'man'. Semantically, it is general human being, but grammatically it only works as a subject. There is no plural form of it. Moreover, just like personal pronouns, it is written in lowercase if it is not at the beginning of a sentence. Thus, it is a very special word. No other noun can only be used as a subject. German people use this word to describe things that happen in between the people in general. A translation would be “one”.

We can make nouns with verbs and adjectives

It is very simple to make a verb into a noun. We just need to use the infinitive form of a verb and write the first letter in capital. Then, 'reden' becomes 'Reden' just as read becomes reading.

We can also make an adjective into a noun. It’s a bit complicated because the ending of the adjective changes. However, if you know the inflection (change of endings) of adjectives well, it is not so difficult. If you are not clear with it, please review the inflection of adjectives.

We can make adjectives with verbs and nouns

In lesson 69, we learned how to make nouns with verbs and adjectives. In this lesson we are going to make adjectives with verbs and nouns. We will add a suffix into a verb stem or the root of a noun and make a word that works like an adjective. Studying how to change a part of speech is one of the most fun parts in learning German as a foreign language. It is because you learn the different usages and meaning of the words that you already know by changing them up just a little bit.

Flying to Germany with Mina

From lesson 71, you will meet a person who is going to Germany to study. Her name is ‘Mina’ and she is Korean. You will follow her journey to Germany and experience her path to getting settled in Germany. We will learn the applications of what we have learned throughout the lessons and how they are used in German daily lives. Moreover, you will get to know what situations you will be confronted with in Germany.

Today we are going to see the first episode of the journey, Mina talking with the one next to her seat in the airplane.

Be careful when taking the subway

Today, Mina takes the subway. In Germany, there are different kinds of subways and tickets in different cities. Usually there are monthly tickets, single ride tickets or you can get free rides with your student ID card. Single ride tickets have different prices depending on the distance you will be travelling. Each city has their own kind of tickets, so first time visitors should be careful. If you do not have a valid ticket and get caught by an undercover ticket inspector, you must pay the penalty. Even if you get caught because you didn’t know the rules, you still need to pay the penalty. Be careful!

Experience a university

Today, Mina looks for her classroom and takes a class. Mina is still in the language course to learn German, so she is not attending the class as a formal student. However, the place where she learns German is in the university, so she can experience a university in German while learning German.

An important thing to do to live in Germany – Going to the public office

To live in Germany, you have to visit the government office and do a lot of registrations. First, you find a place to live and do the residence registration in the city hall. Then, you have to do the declaration of change of visa or extend the validity of it in the foreign department (Ausländeramt). These are the common things that the foreign people should do to live in Germany. Most people would think it is difficult, especially for those who cannot speak German fluently. Think of this lesson as an instruction and memorize the words given.

Buying food and daily necessities

Yes again, essential things to do to live in Germany. This time, we buy things you need in a supermarket. In Germany, nothing special happens in a supermarket. The problem is that you need to know what expressions are used there. You have to know what the thing you want to buy is called, and what the basic verbs are that are used etc. Similar expressions are used, not only in a supermarket, but in any kind of store.

When you are sick and need to go to a clinic

Today, Mina goes to a clinic because she is sick. It seems like she is having a cold, so she is going to a clinic nearby, instead of a big hospital.

Going to a government office to deal with things related to your residence and stay, buying things in supermarket, taking transports are important. Likewise, being able to appeal your sickness and get help is also very important. Have a close look at how to express illnesses.

Going to the theater with a friend

Today is Saturday. Mina has an appointment to go to the theater with her friend Martin. Mina arrives at the meeting place and receives a message from Martin. It’s an apology for being late. Mina goes in to the theater first and buys the ticket for two...

Going to a department store to buy some clothes

Today, Mina is going to a department store to buy some clothes. The keywords of today are words that we need to know when buying clothes.

Cleaning day

The subtitle, 'Putztag' can be literally translated as 'Cleaning day'. The keywords of this lesson are the places in a house that need to be cleaned and the actions (verbs) and tools that are needed for cleaning.

Viel Erfolg!

Jetzt hast du alle Lektionen geschafft. Du hast viel gelernt und fleißig geübt. Genau wie Mina wirst du auch noch ganz viel durch das Deutschlernen erleben. Vielleicht kannst du ja auch ein Tagebuch schreiben? Schreib dir auf Deutsch alles auf, was du erlebst: wie es dir geht und was du dir wünschst und welche Fragen du hast. Mach dir keine Sorgen, wenn du viele Fehler machst. Die kannst du später ganz leicht berichtigen, wenn dein Deutsch noch besser geworden ist.