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Learn German with Stress Free German

Learn German with Stress Free German

Learn German with Stress Free German

Learn German with the Stress Free German Podcast. Learn to speak German quickly and easily with modern language learning techniques such as Contextual Learning and Pattern Recognition for grammar.

20 - Stress Free German Ep: 20 Putting it All Together
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  • 20 - Stress Free German Ep: 20 Putting it All Together

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    Welcome to Lesson #20 of Stress Free German, and congrats on reaching the final lesson of Volume 1. I know how much time and effort you put in to make it here, so I hope you keep your momentum going by joining me in Volume II. Just head over to StressFreeGerman.com and click on the banner.

    Let’s start by recalling this phrase: We are going to the movies.

    Wir gehen ins Kino.

    I’m going to the museum.

    Ich gehe ins Museum.

    And why are they saying “ins?” As we learned back in Lesson 10, it’s a contraction of in and das.

    Okay, but what about a masculine location? Hit pause and take a guess on how we might say:

    I’m going to the park.

    Ich gehe in den Park.

    Why is it in den? Because going towards something counts as doing something to it.

    Usually. Back in Lesson 14 I mentioned that there was one common exception to this idea, and now is the time to talk about it. It’s this little word zu.

    Because you can also say:

    Ich gehe zum Park. zum…zu dem..zum

    Here’s the difference between the two. When he says…Ich gehe in den Park.

    …he enters the park itself. Take a moment and see that scene. A man walking to the park and actually entering it. Ok. But when he says: Ich gehe zum Park. …he might not actually enter the park. Maybe he’s meeting friends by the entrance. Let’s try it again with another masculine location.

    Der Supermarkt.

    So given the phrase: I’m going to the supermarket. she might say….

    Ich gehe in den Supermarkt.

    …or…

    Ich gehe zum Supermarkt.

    With the first one, in den, she is entering the store itself. With the second one, zum, she might not actually enter the store. Maybe she’s going fairly late and the store might be closed.

    Another way to visualize this is to draw an arrow piercing the location. The arrow goes into the place. That’s the German word “in.” Then imagine an arrow that ends right in front of the place itself. That would be zu.

    (music)

    So imagine a bank and a post office next door to each other, and an elderly woman standing outside, as if deciding which place to enter. The presence of the woman tells us that in German these two locations are both feminine. Listen…

    Die Bank, Die Post

    Hey…wait! Isn’t Bank the word for a bench? It is. German, too, has homonyms…words that sound the same but have different meanings. At least they’re both feminine, right?

    So let’s say Thomas is going to the post office. Maybe he wants to mail something in one of the boxes outside. Or maybe he’s meeting a friend outside the building. He says…

    Ich gehe zur Post.

    Right? Our mental arrow ends just outside of the building. But if he intended to go inside and buy stamps, or go in and pick up a package…

    Ich gehe in die Post.

    Now our arrow pierces the door and goes inside. Same with the bank. Lisa is meeting a friend outside the bank. So as she heads out she informs her roommate…

    Ich gehe zur Bank. zu der…zur

    But if she intends to go in and make a deposit?

    Ich gehe in die Bank.

    Let’s try train station. You’re going there because there’s a guy who sells awesome preztels from a little cart just outside the station. So you tell your roommate…

    Ich gehe zum Bahnhof.

    But if you intend on going inside to buy tickets, or to wait inside for a friend’s arrival…

    Ich gehe in den Bahnhof.

    Normally when we say we’re going to the movies, we mean we intend to end up inside it, watching a movie.

    Wir gehen ins Kino.

    But if your arrow takes you only to the building itself, maybe to meet friends outside it? What would we say?

    Wir gehen zum Kino.

    Let’s change topics here for a bit and add a new verb. So, your friend comes over in a great mood. She shows you a train ticket and says…

    Ich fahre nach London!

    Clearly she’s going to London, but why didn’t she use the other version we learned:

    Ich gehe…

    Well, the verb fahren also conveys the idea of going somewhere, but it implies by some kind of vehicle. Car, bus, train…even a bike. So she’s saying, I’m traveling to London.

    You try it. Say: I’m traveling to France.

    Ich fahre nach Frankreich.

    We are traveling to Austria.

    Wir fahren nach Österreich.

    My brother is traveling to Germany.

    Mein Bruder fährt nach Deustchland.

    Ask a friend: Are you traveling to Berlin?

    Fährst du nach Berlin?

    Maybe we can combine these two main concepts we’re working on. How might you say…

    I’m going (by vehicle) to the supermarket.

    Ich fahre zum Supermarkt.

    I’m going inside the supermarket.

    Ich gehe in den Supermarkt.

    How about: I now am inside the supermarket.

    Ich bin jetzt im Supermarkt.

    Excellent. Back in a bit…

    TIP OF THE DAY

    If you think of your vocabulary in a language as a big pot of stew, then the tip today is to remember to constantly stir deep down into the pot. Keep churning the language, mixing old vocab with new. Because, as the saying goes, use it or lose. But the problem is, unless you have an unlimited amount of time, it becomes increasingly more challenging to properly stir one’s growing vocabulary stew. The trick is to choose wisely. Focus on reviewing those words which are inherently more challenging to recall. This is something we do here in this course, and will continue to do in the lessons ahead.

    Speaking of which, I hope you’ll continue your journey with the team here at Stress Free German. I may be the voice of the course, but there are a lot of people who’ve come together to make this happen. Thanks need to go out to the tech guys in Hiroshima, Japan, our language partners in western Ukraine and Germany, our graphics team downin Crimea…even the financial guys in the U.S. We’re a small company but we have big ambitions: To help people realize that even the most challenging languages can be easy, even fun to learn.

    (music)

    Time for some review.

    Try to say: Today we’re shopping in the supermarket.

    Heute wir kaufen im Supermarkt ein.

    At the bakery department of the store ask for: One wholegrain bread.

    Einmal Vollkornbrot.

    Your friend is always late. Tell him: Your clock is broken!

    Deine Uhr ist kaputt.

    As you head out to go camping, say:

    I’m taking a knife with. …implying with me.

    Ich nehme ein Messer mit.

    Ask a friend: Are you taking his book with?

    Nimmst du sein Buch mit?

    I’m buying a new garbage bin.

    Ich kaufe eine neue Mülltonne.

    He is standing on the chair.

    Er steht auf dem Stuhl.

    Grandma is making a beautiful rug.

    Oma macht einen schönen Teppich.

    Your friend is wearing a new jacket with the logo of a German bank on it.

    Ask: Do you work in a bank?

    Arbeitest du in einer Bank?

    Tell your boss: I give you, sir, my word.

    Ich gebe Ihnen mein Wort.

    We know that phrase. But now let’s try it with reported speech. So how will his wife repeat to him:

    He is giving you his word.

    Er gibt dir sein Wort.

    We need a new cutting board.

    Wir brauchen ein neus Brett.

    (swell)

    Thomas is meeting a friend outside the bank. As he heads out he informs his wife…

    Ich gehe zur Bank. zu der…zur

    Lisa is going to the train station to buy a newspaper at one of the kiosks outside it.

    So she says…

    Ich gehe zum Bahnhof.

    There’s a good choice of cafes inside the train station, so as Hans heads out he says…

    I’m going into the train station.

    Ich gehe in den Bahnhof.

    Katherine needs to make a deposit at the bank so she says…

    Ich gehe in die Bank.

    Let’s add one word into the mix that you likely already know. Wann

    For example: A friend tells you that there’s a free jazz concert in the park tonight. Having to work until seven in the evening you ask:

    Wann ist das Konzert?

    How would you translate this next phrase?

    Wann fahren wir nach Berlin?

    When are we traveling to Berlin?

    You try it. Ask: When are we traveling to Dublin?

    Wann fahren wir nach Dublin?

    When are we going shopping?

    Wann gehen wir einkaufen?

    When are you going to the post office? (implying going in, to mail something)

    Wann gehst du in die Post?

    Alright. And for our last little topic today, let’s work with…with. Well, the German version: mit

    Spelled m-i-t…mit

    What do you think Karl is saying here?

    Ich fahre nach Hamburg mit dem Bus. mit…dem…Bus

    I’m traveling to Hamburg with the bus. We’ve encountered the word dem before. For example:

    Your key is on the table.

    Dein Schlüssel ist auf dem Tisch.

    Or: I’m in the museum.

    Ich bin im Museum. Im is a contraction of in dem

    Try to say: We’re traveling with the train.

    Wir fahren mit dem Zug.

    Of course in normal English, we’d use the word “by”. I’m going by train.

    Take a moment, use that pause button, and try to think of how you’d say:

    I ride a bike to school.

    Ich fahre mit dem Fahrrad zur Schule.

    We use zu here because when we’re on the bike, our arrow of movement only goes up to the school. You’re not riding inside it, are you? And why was it zur? Because she’s contracting zu und der…zur.

    A key takeaway here is that normally, motion towards a place is considered this (FIST / PALM), right? It’s considered doing something to the place. Usually. But not when zu is involved.

    Try that phrase again: I ride a bike to school. Lit: travel with the bike…

    Ich fahre mit dem Fahrrad zur Schule.

    I traveling by train to work.

    Ich fahre mit dem Zug zur Arbeit.

    My friend rides a bike to work.

    Mein Freund fährt mit dem Fahrrad zur Arbeit.

    We’re riding the bus home.

    Wir fahren mit dem Bus nach Hause.

    Ask your boss: Are you traveling by car or by bus?

    Fahren Sie mit dem Auto oder mit dem Bus?

    Ask your sister: Are you traveling by bus or by train?

    Fährst du mit dem Bus oder mit dem Zug?

    Guys, fantastic job….of course on finishing this lesson, but mostly for making it all the way through Volume 1 of this course. It says something about a person when they can choose a goal and stick with it to the end. Of course, in some ways this was only the beginning. Up next, in the first lesson of Volume II, we’re going to talk about our family and friends as we begin to tell our story. I hope to see you there, but if your path takes you down a different road I wish you all the best in your pursuit of the language.

    Tschuss!

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    Fri, 12 May 2023 - 23min
  • 19 - Stress Free German Ep: 19 German Verbs Mastered

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    Welcome to Lesson #19 of Stress Free German. We start today with a neuter image which has four new elements. So imagine a loaf of bread on a cutting board. The board is on a shelf, and behind it are some books and a large, shiny carving knife. So the shelf is our neuter anchor. And again, our four new concrete nouns are…

    bread, knife, board, book

    Brot, Messer, Brett, Buch

    The first and last are fairly easy. Brot is bread and Buch is book.

    Let’s try a phrase with each. You’re not sure if the bread near you on the table is yours.

    Ask: Is this my bread?

    Ist das mein Brot?

    Where is my book?

    Wo ist mein Buch?

    Those words fit nicely with our philosophy of being flexible: From bread to Brot. From book to Buch. Unfortunately the German words for knife and board aren’t so obvious:

    Messer, Brett

    That is a small knife.

    Das ist ein kleines Messer.

    Admiring the smooth, hardwood cutting board, you say:

    This is a good board.

    Das ist ein gutes Brett.

    Let’s try one more round. In the bakery say:

    I would have with pleasure one bread.

    Ich hätte gerne ein Brot.

    to a friend: Your book is on the shelf.

    Dein Buch ist auf dem Regal.

    Looking to do some cooking in your friend’s kitchen, ask:

    Do you have a board?

    Hast du ein Brett?

    Alright! Armed with some new words, we’re ready to head outside. So Lisa stands up and opens the door…

    Gehen wir jetzt in die Bäckerei?

    Warum nicht?

    In the bakery, after the greetings and the How can I help you exchange, Lisa points to a dark, dense-looking loaf of bread. Then holds up one finger…

    Einmal Vollkornbrot, bitte.

    Well, she ordered some kind of bread, I caught that. When you think about it, it makes sense that we’d encounter variations on that word. I mean, there are all sorts of breads in the world. Dark bread, white bread, rye bread, and so on.

    Maybe you heard the relation between full and voll. Full grain….Vollkorn.

    So she asked for a full-grain or “whole wheat” bread. Vollkornbrot

    Einmal Vollkornbrot, bitte.

    And then Thomas orders by pointing to a loaf of whitebread and holding up one finger.

    Einmal Weißbrot.

    Is he saying “white”? Weiß

    Whitebread…. Weißbrot

    Okay. I get that now. But what’s up with that word einmal? We’ll ponder in a moment….

    (MUSIC)

    So einmal is obviously functioning here as “one.” Right? One bread, please. But more literally, what you’re really saying is “one time,” “one instance” or even just “once” of bread. And if we want two loaves?

    Zweimal Vollkornbrot, bitte.

    Two whitebreads, please.

    Zweimal Weißbrot, bitte.

    Imagine we’re in a bakery in Salzburg, where they sell bread and Mozartkugels.

    Listen to Lisa’s order:

    Einmal Sonnenblumenkernbrot, bitte. Und zwei Mozartkugeln.

    Hmm….Be flexible, right? So the German word Sonnen sounds like sun. Blume…well that’s flower. So Sonnenblume is sunflower? And kern…sounds like kernel, which is a seed. So, ah!

    Sunflower seed bread!

    Sonnenblumenkernbrot

    I am totally ordering that the next time I’m in a bakery.

    (swell)

    Try to say: The bread is on the table.

    Das Brot ist auf dem Tisch.

    Your book is on the floor.

    Dein Buch ist auf dem Boden.

    I love this cutting board.

    Ich liebe dieses Brett.

    I love this knife.

    Ich liebe dieses Messer.

    Back in the bakery, try to say the following:

    I would have with pleasure two loaves of white bread.

    Ich hätte gerne zweimal Weißbrot.

    Any guess on how to say “three” of something? Count with us to three… eins zwei drei

    Dreimal

    Listen as Tanya orders for five people:

    Zweimal Orangensaft bitte, und dreimal Tee.

    You try it: We want to order: Two OJs and three teas. Literally we’ll say…

    Twice orangejuice please, and three-times tea.

    Zweimal Orangensaft bitte, und dreimal Tee.

    Last one before we switch to a new topic. So, do you think you can say:

    I would have with pleasure one Sunflower seed bread.

    Ich hätte gerne einmal Sonnenblumenkernbrot.

    Awesome!

    (MUSIC)

    So, a new verb today and it’s our first look at something called a separable verb. Fow now, imagine you’re with a friend in a grocery store. Her cellphone rings, and she tells the caller…

    Ich kaufe im Supermarkt ein.

    The verb she used is actually einkaufen. But when Germans conjugate it, the front part separates and gets added to the end of the sentence. You try it:

    I’m shopping in the supermarket.

    Ich kaufe im Supermarkt ein.

    English kind of does this, with something called phrasal verbs. Think of the phrase: I cleaned the whole room up. The verb is “to clean up”, but we often separate “clean” from “up.” Or:I paid all my friends back. The verb is “to pay back”, but we separate “pay” from “back.” So, English sometimes does this. But German does it more often, and more strictly.

    Ask your friend: Are you shopping in the supermarket?

    Kaufst du im Supermarkt ein?

    We are shopping in the supermarket.

    Wir kaufen im Supermarkt ein.

    The only time that “ein” part does not get separated is when you use what we call the infinitive.

    So, as Thomas heads out the door, he announces to his roommates:

    I’m going shopping.

    Ich gehe einkaufen.

    But again, once Thomas is there in the store, he now tells people:

    I am shopping.

    Ich kaufe ein.

    TIP OF THE DAY

    We’re almost at the end of Volume 1 of this course. And while we’re going to take a moment to reflect on what you’ve accomplished, the tip will lie in how you should navigate the road ahead. The goal in these first twenty lessons has been to give an overview of how German works. To know that nouns have gender, and they have supporting words…and these supporting words can be affected when we do something to the noun. We also looked at some fundamental verbs–needing, wanting, searching for, and so on–and covered nearly all the “persons.”Ineed,youwant,she’ssearching for, etc.

    Looking ahead, one of the things you should start working on is learning to tell your story. I mean, what else do we really talk about, right? So where are you from? What do you do? What are your plans? People tend to ask a specific set of questions. So, we might as well start practicing our responses. In Volume II of this course, learning to tell your story is our main goal. Before we get there, though, we need to get back to today’s main topic….

    (MUSIC)

    Say: I’m shopping in the supermarket.

    Ich kaufe im Supermarkt ein.

    How about: Mom is shopping in the market.

    Mama kauft im Supermarkt ein.

    Again, the verb itself is einkaufen, but when they conjugate the verb, the first bit, that “ein” goes at the very end of the sentence. The next time you watch a C/I video, keep an ear out for sentences ending with auf, or ein, or aus. It’s probably the prefix of a separable verb.

    Let’s look at another useful one.

    Ich nehme meinen Pass mit.

    The verb she used is mitnehmen. But when Germans conjugate it, thefrontpart separates and gets added to the end. You try it:

    I’m taking a key with. (implying with me)

    Ich nehme einen Schlüssel mit.

    And yes, the verb is obviously related to the one we learned back in Lesson 12. So we can also say:

    I’m taking the key.

    Ich nehme den Schlüssel.

    They’re similar, but the implications are different. By using “mitnehmen”, you’re implying that you will have a key with you. In the other one, it simply means you are taking it. Maybe someone left the key for you on the table. Maybe you just put the key in your pocket and that’s it.

    I’m taking his book with…implying taking it with me.

    Ich nehme sein Buch mit.

    Listen to the word order on this next one:

    Are we taking a bag with?

    Nehmen wir eine Tasche mit?

    Are we taking his watch with?

    Nehmen wir seine Uhr mit?

    Ask a friend: Are you taking the knife?

    Nimmst du das Messer mit?

    (swell)

    And for our last new concept, let’s add a new possessive adjective.

    unser

    Imagine you’re at a pizzeria. You and a friend ordered a peperoni pizza and later go wash up. You come back to the table and see that everyone else has their pizza. But your spot on the table is empty. So you ask…

    Wo istunserePizza?

    If you were instead expecting a basket of bread, you’d ask…

    Wo istunserBrot?

    Or if you were expecting a basket..umm..of cheese?

    Wo istunserKäse?

    Can you say those?

    Where is our pizza?

    Wo istunserePizza?

    Where is our bread?

    Wo istunserBrot?

    Where is our cheese?

    Wo istunserKäse?

    How about: Our wardrobe is very old.

    Unser Schrank ist sehr alt.

    Our bathroom is very beautiful.

    Unser Badezimmer ist sehr schön.

    Our lamp is broken.

    Unsere Lampe ist kaputt.

    I was watching the Simspons in German once, and there was a scene where Homer hugged their refrigerator and said: I love our fridge.

    Ich liebe unseren Kühlschrank.

    Did you remember to add an “en” sound to the end of unser….unseren…Because, of course, the supporting words change when we do something to a masculine noun.

    I was going on a picnic with some relatives in Vienna. Before heading out, my cousin picked up their new puppy and told everyone:

    I’m taking our new little friend here with.

    Ich nehme unseren kleinen Freund hier mit.

    (MUSIC)

    End with some review? Try to say..

    We’re looking for a pastry shop.

    Wir suchen eine Konditorei.

    I love chocolate.

    Ich liebe Schokolade!

    Tell the waitress: I would have with pleasure a coffee.
    Ich hätte gerne Kaffee.

    …but then your friend walks in, so you change your order:

    Two instances, please.

    Zweimal, bitte.

    I’m taking his bread.

    Ich nehme sein Brot.

    Compare that with: I’m taking his bread with (me).

    Ich nehme sein Brot mit.

    The check, please!

    Die rechnung, bitte.

    Those “ung” nouns. Always feminine, right? Say…

    We’re looking for a new apartment.

    Wir suchen eine neue Wohnung.

    I am shopping.

    Ich kaufe ein.

    He has our cutting board.

    Er hat unser Brett.

    Cool. And I’ll cut things right there. Remember, Volumes 2 and 3 of this course are now available, so please visit StressFreeGerman.com and then click the banner to see what’s inside. So please go check that out, and I’ll see you in Lesson 20… the end of Volume 1!

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    Wed, 03 May 2023 - 27min
  • 18 - Stress Free German Ep: 18 Leverage Your Knowledge of Noun Gender

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    Welcome to Lesson #18 of Stress Free German. Do you recall the image from the last lesson? Where they bake bread and cakes? Right….

    Die Bäckerei.

    Let’s envision a similar, and equally popular kind of shop. It’s called a Konditorei. Your nose draws you inside…the smell of dark chocolate and sweet pastries. The bell jingles as you walk in, and your eyes are drawn to the display case full of chocolates, pralines, and especially…Mozartkuglen.

    What would you call such a shop in English? Maybe a Chocolate Shop? A Pastry Shop? Or to use the related word: A confectionery. Call it what you want in English, but in German it’s a Konditorei.

    A place where you can buy Schokolade, or a Praline, or my favorite, a Mozartkugel.

    Let’s try those again. The place is called a… Konditorei. And inside you can buy

    eine Schokolade oder eine Praline, oder eine Mozartkugel.

    Can you guess the gender of eveything in today’s picture? Right. Feminine. So as you gesture to the many shops surrounding the old town square, ask your tour guide:

    Is there a pastry shop here?

    Gibt es hier eine Konditorei?

    A customer tells you: The chocolate is very tasty.

    Die Schokolade ist sehr lecker.

    to a friend: Your praline is on the table. “standing” on the table

    Deine Praline steht auf dem Tisch.

    Where is my Mozartkugel?

    Wo ist meine Mozartkugel?

    If you’ve never had one, a Mozartkugel is a small, round chocolate made of pistachio and marzipan. They’re a specialty of Salzburg, Mozart’s hometown. Anyway, of course, when we do something to feminine nouns, their supporting words?….right…they do not change. So try to say:

    I’m looking for a pastry shop.

    Ich suche eine Konditorei.

    I’m taking his praline.

    Ich nehme seine Praline.

    I want your Mozartkugel.

    Ich will deine Mozartkugel.

    I love my chocolate.

    Ich liebe meine Schokolade!

    (swell)

    So, if you’ve done any research into how to determine the gender of nouns, I’m sure you found articles telling you to pay attention to noun endings. Like, certain noun endings tend to indicate certain genders. And they’re right. The problem is, their approach is all backward: They’re asking you to memorize word lists and genders before you know any of the words. Not good. That’s why we waited all the way until Lesson 18. Because now that you know the words and their gender, we can point out their endings. Like today’s new word. What’s a pastry shop called again?

    Konditorei And a bakery? Bäckerei And they’re both feminine. So, any guess on the gender of this word? Metzgerei You got it. Feminine.

    Try to make the connection to “meats”….a meats-gerei. Metzgerei…is a butcher shop.

    So ask: Is there a butcher shop here?

    Gibt es hier eine Metzgerei?

    Did you say “eine”? Excellent. Then ask:

    Where is the butcher shop?

    Wo ist die Metzgerei?

    And how about this place? Listen: Schuhmacherei

    Schuh…is shoe….macher….is maker….rei…makes it a place or a shop.

    Schuhmacherei

    Ask: Where is the shoe-maker’s-shop?

    Wo ist die Schuhmacherei?

    I bet you instinctively used die because you felt it was following the pattern of those other “rei” locations. And that’s the point: If you know the gender of certain words, then very often other words with the same ending will be of the same gender.

    (MUSIC)

    Do you recall the picture of the bench in front of the church? Do you recall what was on the bench?

    Try to see the picture and those items. Eine Tasche und eine Zeitung

    It’s that second one, Die Zeitung I want to look at. Because there are literally thousands of nouns in German that end with “u-n-g” and virtually all of them are feminine. Here’s one of the most useful.

    (SFX – Cafe) Imagine you’re finishing your meal in a cafe. You get the waiter’s attention, and ask him for…

    Die Rechnung, bitte.

    Why did she say Die? Because like nearly all “ung” nouns, Zeitung is feminine. And can you hear the similarity between Rechnung and the English verb “to reckon?” Listen again:

    the reckoning

    Die Rechnung

    “Oh, miss, may I have the reckoning, please?”

    or in normal English: The check, please!

    Die rechnung, bitte.

    Another example of a “u-n-g” noun, perhaps the most common, is this: Wohnung.

    I met a friend the other day in a cafe. She and her roommate were online, looking at apartments for rent. Off my curious glance she explained:

    Wir suchen eine neue Wohnung.

    A month later, there I was at their move-in party. Their new pad was a two-bedroom penthouse with hardwood floors, leather furniture, nice art on the walls. I told them…

    What a beautiful apartment!

    Was für eine schöne Wohnung!

    Try to say: I’m searching for a new apartment.

    Ich suche eine neue Wohnung.

    The takeaway here isn’t so much these new words, but rather the idea that, as we progress through the course, I’ll be pointing out particularly useful endings which will then help you absorb the gender of many, many more nouns.

    (MUSIC)

    Now a little review of recent vocab.

    It’s cold in the pastry shop.

    Es ist kalt in der Konditorei.

    It is warm in the apartment.

    Es ist warm in der Wohnung.

    Your friends are playing a new game. (video game SFX)

    If you ask how they like it, what might they say?

    Es macht Spaß!

    Let’s say your shoes have worn thin from all the walking you’ve been doing lately. Ask your neighbor: Is there a shoemaker around here?

    Gibt es hier eine Schuhmakerei?

    Tell your friend: I’m making for you a big cake.

    Ich mache dir eine große Torte.

    Your elderly neighbor has come over to introduce himself. Tell him…

    I’m making for you an orange juice.

    Ich mache Ihnen einen Orangensaft.

    TIP OF THE DAY

    Today’s tip? Sometimes we need to train our ear. So let’s do some more minimal pairs. The second one in each pair will have an umlaut vowel. Listen closely and repeat…

    Herren …hören

    Ohr…Öl

    Morgen mögen

    Losung…Lösung

    Boro….Büro

    Kuchen….Küche

    Mutter….müde

    Groner….grüner

    Last one…listen close:

    hatte…. hätte

    Before getting back to work, I just wanted to let you guys know that Volumes 2 and 3 of Stress Free German are now available so be sure to visit the site, StressFreeGerman.com and look for the banner that says, Volume II… get it here.

    Alright, back to it. Now, we’ve got all these various shops that we know, right? The bakery, the pastry shop, and so on. So let’s take things to the next logical step and actually try to order something. There’s the door….(SFX bells jingle) The lady at the counter waves…

    For now, let’s just listen as your friend Thomas makes an order:

    Guten Morgen!

    Guten Morgen.

    Was darf es sein?

    Ich hätte gerne eine Torte.

    You wander over to check out the cake he ordered, but suddenly a second salesperson smiles at you: Kann ich Ihnen helfen?

    Kann…ich…Ihnen…helfen?

    Wait, I wasn’t expecting this. I try to parse the words she said, to make sense of it. Kann ich maybe that’s “Can I?” And then she said “Ihnen”… “to you”, and…helfen? Is that just the German word for “help”? Can I helfen you? is she just saying, Can I help you?

    Well, there’s a delicious pizza under a heat lamp. Luckily, Thomas sees me and comes to the rescue…

    Ich hätte gerne eine Pizza.

    Listen to his first three words again: Ich…hätte…gerne

    Literally: I would have with pleasure

    This is a great phrase you can use when ordering things. So try to say:

    I would have with pleasure a coffee.

    Ich hätte gerne einen Kaffee.

    The woman hands you a To-Go cup and you hand her the money. Cool! Your first official purchase in German. In fact, you’re so excited about it, you tell Thomas:

    Now let’s go to the pastry shop.

    Gehen wir jetzt in die Konditorei.

    (SFX jingle)

    This time the baker, a man in his forties, greets you…

    Guten Morgen.

    Guten Morgen!

    Was darf es sein?

    Tell him: I would like a Mozartkugel.

    Ich hätte gerne eine Mozartkugel.

    He makes a quizzical look and raises one finger:

    Nur eine??

    Tell him: Yes, only one. Thanks.

    Ja, nur eine. Danke.

    After you leave the shop, you see a kiosk where they sell hot drinks. You’re not even thirsty, but you’re so psyched about your progress, you run up and order tea. What do you say?

    Ich hätte gerne einen Tee.

    And again, how does that literally translate? I would have with pleasure a tea.

    Later, at the bar, tell the bartender: I would have with pleasure a beer.

    Ich hätte gerne ein Bier.

    If you said einen Tee (because tea is masculine) and “ein Bier” because beer is neuter and the supporting words don’t change, then I authorize you to give yourself an A+.

    (music)

    Let’s end with some review.

    Try to say: My friend works in the pastry shop.

    Mein Freund arbeitet in der Konditorei.

    Make that my female friend:

    Meine Freundin arbeitet in der Konditorei.

    My grandma works in this butcher shop.

    Meine Oma arbeitet in dieser Metzgerei.

    My grandpa works in the shoemaker’s shop.

    Mein Opa arbeitet in der Schumacherei.

    Is there a cashier here?

    Gibt es hier eine Kasse?

    My cellphone is broken.

    Mein Handy ist kaputt.

    Sir, your key is on the table.

    Ihr Schlüssel ist auf dem Tisch

    (to a friend) I’m giving you my Mozartkugel.

    Ich gebe dir meine Mozartkugel.

    Mmm! Danke! Sehr lecker! Aber….nur eine?

    Don’t you just love totally random review? It hurts the brain a little, but in a good way. Just a few more….

    I’m standing out on the balcony.

    Ich stehe auf dem Balkon.

    What a beautiful cake!

    Was für eine schöne Torte!

    (to your boss) How goes it?

    Wie geht es Ihnen?

    Alles gut, danke. Und dir?

    The obvious follow up here is to tell her:

    I’m making you a big apple juice.

    Ich mache Ihnen einen großen Apfelsaft.

    She says….

    Mmm! Thanks! Delicious! But… just one?

    Mmm! Danke! Sehr lecker! Aber….nur einen?

    Did you say “nur einen” there? Because she’s implying, you only made me just one? And juice is masculine? Even when we’re just playing around and having some fun with review, you need to keep an ear out for the patterns.

    See you next lesson!

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    Fri, 28 Apr 2023 - 26min
  • 17 - Stress Free German Ep: 17 German Grammar Can Be Easy

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    Welcome to Lesson #17 of Stress Free German. Today’s image has three new elements. So, we are inside a bakery. Shelves lined with loaves of bread and rolls. There’s a big cake on the counter. And an elderly woman wearing glasses at the cash register. Both the woman and the glasses remind us that the following are feminine nouns: The bakery, the cake, and the cash register.

    Bäckerei, Torte, Kasse

    Bäckerei, is obviously the bakery. The thing to note is that the second letter is an “a” with two dots over it. What they call an umlaut. Let’s do a quick “minimal pair” for this.

    Imagine the letters B-A-C-K, no dots over the A

    Back

    And now with the dots: Bäck

    Again, Back Bäck

    Baaaaack…Bääääck

    And one more time: Bakery?

    Bäckerei

    Next we heard: Torte In English we say torte, and in German? Torte. The distinguishing feature of a torte, in either language, is it has layers. So although you do bake it, some of the layers are added after baking, like the jam and such. Torte

    Mmm! Sehr lecker!

    And finally we heard Kasse. You can hear the relation to the English word cashier. It’s the place where you pay.

    So let’s try those words in some realistic phrases. Stop someone on the street and say…

    I’m looking for a bakery.

    Ich suche eine Bäckerei.

    You chose a birthday cake and are not sure where to pay.

    Ask: Where is the checkout?

    Wo ist die Kasse?

    Having bought the cake and brought it home, you wonder now where it is.

    Your sister says: The cake is on the table. literally is standing on the table…

    Die Torte steht auf dem Tisch.

    My Grandma works in a bakery.

    Meine Oma arbeitet in einer Bäckerei.

    Wait..where’d that birthday cake go? Ask:

    Where is my cake?

    Wo ist meine Torte?

    Your cake stands in the refrigerator.

    Deine Torte steht im Kühlschrank.

    We’re looking for the checkout.

    Wir suchen die Kasse.

    (swell)

    Sorry, one second…It’s warm in here. It seems like a good idea to open the window, but I can’t because it’s raining. Why do we say It? It’s warm. It’s raining. It’s wierd! Well, It is basically a placeholder for the subject that comes later. And these dummy pronouns, as they’re called, are just as common in German. Listen…

    Es ist warm.

    Nein. Es ist kalt.

    Say: It is warm in the cafe.

    Es ist warm im Café. in dem….im

    It is cold in the restaurant.

    Es ist kalt im Restaurant. in dem…im

    (SFX – rain) Es regnet.

    Say that again: Es regnet.

    Always try to be flexible. In English we say “raining” and in German: regnet.

    If you think back to lesson 11, we already encountered this dummy pronoun. Right? After greeting your boss, we ask: How goes it for you?

    Wie geht es Ihnen?

    Let’s look at it in another common phrase. So, imagine that you and your friends go running outside to splash around in the rain. A kid might say:

    Es macht Spaß!

    Literally: It makes fun! Say that again? Es macht Spaß!

    These dummy pronouns, though, are just a lead in to our main topic. So, imagine we’re back in that bakery, and it’s one of those huge ones you find, like in Vienna. So you found a cake, but you’re not sure where to pay. You’re looking around…it doesn’t seem like there’s a cashier anywhere in the place. So you ask…

    Gibt es hier eine Kasse?

    Literally: It gives here a cashier?

    I know. Kind of a weird way to phrase it, but it’s correct. Let’s try it again. Maybe you’re walking around some large open square, in the old town of a city. Ask…

    Is there a restaurant here?

    Gibt es hier ein Restaurant?

    You pop inside a hotel and ask the desk clerk…

    Is there a cafe here?

    Gibt es hier ein Café?

    Maybe you’re considering an apartment to rent. Ask the landlady..

    Is there a table here?

    Gibt es hier einen Tisch?

    Giving a table counts as doing something to it, so the supporting words change. Ein becomes einen.

    Pop into an establishment and ask the worker: Excuse me…Is there a restroom here?

    Entschuldigung…Gibt es hier eine Toilette?

    I know. I was sneaking in a new word there, but I figure you’ve probably encountered Toilette in your other studies. Try that same phrase again?

    Entschuldigung…Gibt es hier eine Toilette?

    Are you enjoying the lesson? Then say:

    This is fun!

    Es macht Spaß!

    (MUSIC)

    So we were working with the “it” form of “to give.” So let’s expand and try some other conjugations. Tell your dear friend: I’m giving you a gift.

    Ich gebe dir ein Geschenk.

    I’m giving you my old watch.

    Ich gebe dir meine alte Uhr.

    How would that go if we were giving the watch to our boss? What one word would have to change?

    If that is stumping you, just think back to our basic greetings. Ask your friend: How goes it for you?

    Wie geht’s dir? Then ask your boss: Wie geht es Ihnen?

    So, I’m giving you my old watch, sir.

    Ich gebe Ihnen meine alte Uhr.

    How about the “we” form? Try to say…

    Sir, we are giving you the key.

    Wir geben Ihnen den Schlüssel…. den Schlüssel

    Did you remember to change der to den ? Masculine…(Fist/Palm)…supporting words change.

    Excellent. Then try to ask your friend:

    Are you giving me the key? (Hit pause and see if you can work it out.)

    Gibst du mir den Schlüssel?

    How would you translate this phrase. Listen…

    Gibst du mir deine Handynummer?

    Are you giving me your cell number? You could also interpret that as, “Will you give me…”

    Try that with “address”

    Gibst du mir deine Adresse?

    We’re hearing the supporting word deine…feminine. dein-ne

    Let’s try it with a neuter object. How about: Are you giving me your bike?

    Gibst du mir dein Fahrrad?

    How would you translate this phrase?

    Gibst du mir dein Wort?

    Are you giving me your word? Cool phrase!

    Maybe your boss wants you to write a quick email to someone on her behalf. You gesture to her laptop and gently suggest: Are you giving me your computer?

    Geben Sie mir Ihren Computer?

    Next, let’s review today’s new feminine nouns. Can you see the image first?

    This is a big bakery.

    Das ist eine große Bäckerei.

    Is there a cashier here?

    Gibt es hier eine Kasse?

    I love my cake!

    Ich liebe meine Torte!

    How about: It is cold in the house.

    Es ist kalt im Haus.

    But listen to our native speaker say: It is warm in Berlin.

    Es ist warm in Berlin. …in…

    Did she say just “in”? Indeed she did. So what’s going on? Why didn’t she say “in dem” or “im”? Because Berlin and Munich…these are proper nouns. They’re basically names. So need no for an article. We do the same thing in English. We say, I’m in the gym. THE. But I’m in New York.

    No “the.”

    So try to say: It is cold in Munich.

    Es ist kalt in München. …in…

    Excellent. This is fun!

    Es macht Spaß!

    (thunder) Oh no…It’s raining!

    Es regnet.

    (MUSIC)

    So, for our last topic of this lesson, we’re going to revisit that verb from last time: to do or to make.

    Remember how to say: I’m doing a German course.

    Ich mache einen Deutschkurs.

    We then used the verb to talk about things we were making. So let’s try similar phrases, but this time add a recipient. For example, I enter the kitchen and my Austrian Aunt tells me:

    Ich mache dir einen Tee mit Milch.

    Not a fan of tea, I frown. Nein, danke.

    Okay, dann … mache ich dir Kaffee.

    Could you follow that? She was saying: I’m making you a tea with milk. But when I frowned, she said: Okay, then I’m making you coffee. Literally: making for you…ich mache dir

    Tell your friend: I’m making for you a torte..

    Ich mache dir eine Torte.

    Your elderly neighbor has come over to introduce herself. Tell her…

    I’m making for you lemonade.

    Ich mache Ihnen eine Limonade.

    Your mom is making you a salad. When Dad calls asking if he should buy lunch, tell him, No…

    Mama macht mir einen Salat.

    Tell your roommate that you’re going to the bakery…

    Ich gehe in die Bäckerei.

    Sidenote: There is another very common way to say that phrase, using ZU. We will work with it soon. …oder zur Bäckerei

    He says: I’m making you a list.

    Ich mache dir eine Liste.

    He’s making you an orange juice.

    Er macht dir einen Orangensaft.

    (swell)

    Great. Let’s end with some review of recent material. So…

    Ask a friend: Are you giving me your key?

    Gibst du mir deinen Schlüssel?

    Are you giving me, or Will you give me your cell number?

    Gibst du mir deine Handynummer?

    Are you giving me a bike?

    Gibst du mir ein Fahrrad?

    Your son is looking for his towel. Tell him…

    Your towel is in the bathroom.

    Dein Handtuch ist im Badezimmer.

    So he goes in there to look for it. He reaches for the light switch…(SFX click click)

    How does he say: Mama, the lamp in the bathroom is broken!

    Mama, die Lampe im Badezimmer ist kaputt!

    Tell the salesperson…My friend needs a new wash-basin.

    Mein Freund braucht ein neues Waschbecken.

    His brother works in a pub.

    Sein Bruder arbeitet in einer Kneipe.

    In someone’s home, and needing to wash your hands. What might you ask?

    Wo ist das Badezimmer?

    In their bathroom they have a beautiful picture of the snowcapped Alps. What might you say?

    Was für ein schönes Bild!

    Two kids are comparing what they have in their rooms. One says…

    I have a mirror.

    Ich habe einen Spiegel.

    Me, too.

    Ich auch.

    I have a beautiful rug.

    Ich habe einen schönen Teppich.

    Me, too.

    Ich auch.

    Cool, isn’t it?

    Cool, oder?

    Alright. See you next lesson.

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    Wed, 19 Apr 2023 - 24min
  • 16 - Stress Free German Ep: 16 German Vocabulary is Easy to Expand

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    Hold on, guys…I’m not quite ready. I’m cleaning this bathroom window. And now I need to wash my hands. As you can hear, right now I’m in the Badezimmer, standing over the Waschbecken. Alright, now I just need a Handtuch to dry my hands. Hmm…this Bild on the wall is a little crooked. (scrape) There we go. Okay, now I’m ready…

    (INTRO)

    Welcome to Lesson #16 of Stress Free German. Let me describe again today’s image. These are all neuter, which is why I mentioned the window. That’s our anchor. So, as we heard, I was in the bathroom. Literally the room where the bath is. I washed my hands at the sink. I dried them with a towel. And I adjusted a crooked picture on the wall. So those four neuter elements are: Bathroom, the sink, the towel, and the picture. Let’s look first at…

    Badezimmer und Waschbecken

    Those two words are what we call compounds…basically two words jammed together. Like “toothbrush” in English. So Bade…zimmer is bath-room. And Wasch…becken is a wash-basin.

    On its own, Zimmer refers to any kind of room. And Becken refers to any kind of basin.

    Ask: Is this my room?

    Ist das mein Zimmer?

    Where is the bathroom? think of it as the room where you bathe and clean

    Wo ist das Badezimmer?

    In Europe, many homes have separate rooms for this. That is, one room has just the toilet and perhaps a tiny sink. And then there’s the room where the bathtub and shower are. It’s where you’d brush your teeth, as well. The Badezimmer.

    Imagine you’re seeing one of these tiny sinks for the first time. Let’s comment:

    What a small washbasin!

    Was für ein kleines Waschbecken!

    Let’s visualize our bathroom image again. Can you see the other two elements? I washed my hands, and…then what? Right. I used a towel, and I adjusted a picture.

    Handtuch, Bild

    Handtuch is another compound word. Basically hand-towel. So you could have a bath-towel… Badetuch and so on.

    Ask the restroom attendent: Do you have a towel?

    Haben Sie ein Handtuch?

    And our last word was: Bild . A picture.

    Say: What a beautiful picture!

    Was für ein schönes Bild!

    Do you remember how to say: I’m in the restaurant.

    Ich bin im Restaurant. im…which is short for in dem

    So try to say:

    I’m in the bathroom.

    Ich bin im Badezimmer.

    So if you knew that this word…Gästezimmer…refers to the guest room, then you could say:

    We are in the guest room.

    Wir sind im Gästezimmer.

    Important side note here: The gender of a compound word is derived from the final element. So since Badezimmer is neuter, the word Zimmer itself must also be neuter.

    (MUSIC)

    Some review now. So, imagine you have a guest staying over, and he’s looking for the towel you gave him. Say…

    Your towel is in the wardrobe.

    Dein Handtuch ist im Schrank.

    But now imagine the towel as sitting on top of the wardrobe. What would you say?

    Dein Handtuch ist auf dem Schrank.

    Imagine Oskar’s father enters the bathroom. He sees something and calls out to the boy…

    Oskar, warum liegt dein Handtuch auf dem Boden?

    What was he asking? Oskar, why is your hand-towel lying on the floor?

    In this next one, take your time and be careful with the supporting words. Tell the store clerk:

    I’m looking for a large mirror and a large picture.

    Ich suche einen großen Spiegel und ein großes Bild.

    If that was tricky, you can have another shot at the idea with this next phrase:

    We are looking for a small rug and a small wash-basin.

    Wir suchen einen kleinen Teppich und ein kleines Waschbecken.

    Do you see how we’re mixing our new vocabulary with older, most established words and constructions? This is another key technique. Technically it’s known as Novel Usage…that is, every time you’re being prompted to recall something, it’s in some new way. It’s not a rote phrase. You have to build it. That’s a very important technique.

    Anyway, my son is looking for his water bottle. I tell him…

    Your bottle is in the bathroom.

    Deine Flasche ist im Badezimmer.

    So he goes in there to look for it. He reaches for the light switch…(SFX click click)

    He calls out: Papa, die Lampe im Badezimmer ist kaputt!

    We say kaputt in English, too. A lot of people don’t even realize that we simply borrowed it straight from German. Try that again. The lamp in the guestroom is kaputt…or broken.

    Die Lampe im Gästezimmer ist kaputt.

    Fumbling in the dark guestroom, your friend spills his drink. He doesn’t want to waste a bunch of paper towels, so he asks: Do you have an old hand-towel?

    Hast du ein altes Handtuch?

    Tell the salesperson…We need a new wash-basin.

    Wir brauchen ein neues Waschbecken.

    One more, and then a quick break. Try: My brother works in this pub.

    Mein Bruder arbeitet in dieser Kneipe.

    You hanging in there? Good!

    TIP OF THE DAY

    Obviously this course takes a very visual approach to learning. There’s no way around that. But sounds and sound effects can also be very helpful…which is something we tried to incorporate today. We heard light switches flicking, and water running. Or take for example the word: Zug.

    Hopefully the image of a train comes to mind, but you can fill things out even more by imagining the sounds of a train. (SFX)

    We call these “soundscapes.” For example, where are we now? (beach SFX)

    Wir sind am Strand.

    And now? (Street SFX)

    Ich stehe auf der Straße.

    Now? (Train station SFX)

    Ich bin im Bahnhof.

    We always want to visualize things, and see the scenario we’re describing. But when it’s helpful, try imagining the sound of the place or the thing as well. So as we transition back to the lesson, let’s try that. Let’s prompt using sound effects.

    brushingteeth and sink SFX..Which room am I in?

    Du bist im Badezimmer.

    What’s this little area right in front of me. (water on and off) Washbecken

    I’m drying my hands with this…Handtuch

    On the wall is hanging a beautiful….bild

    Okay, so not everything has a sound effect.

    (MUSIC)

    So, today we’re going to try and pick up a new verb from a typical conversation. The set up is that Maria and Tony met the other day at a party, and bump into each other now in the lobby of a language school.

    For now just listen, and keep your ear out forIch mache

    Hallo, Maria, wie geht’s?

    Hey, Tony! Danke, gut. Und dir?

    Auch gut. Maria, kommst du aus Amerika?

    Ich? Nein. Ich komme aus Kanada. Und du?

    Ich komme aus Italien.

    Du lernst Deutsch, oder?

    Ja, ich mache einen Deutschkurs.

    Ich mache auch einen Deutschkurs.

    So in this context, ich mache translates as I am doing. So He said: I am doing a German course.

    Ich mache einen Deutschkurs.

    I say “in this context” because in other situations the verb functions more like “to make.”

    Like, I’m making pizza. For now, though, let’s stick with “to do” or “be doing”. For example:

    What are you doing here?

    Was machst du hier?

    Tell him: I’m taking a German course.

    Ich mache einen Deutschkurs.

    And what do we know about the word for “course”? It must be…masculine, because “taking” a course counts as doing something to it, and the supporting word has an “en” ending. Right?

    She said…einen

    There were two other new-ish words in that conversation. Maybe you caught them? Maria asks Tony…Du lernst Deutsch, oder?

    You’re learning German, aren’t you?

    So that’s how “oder” is functioning in this context. Basically, it’s seeking confirmation.

    A kid shows you his new robot. He might ask…

    Cool, isn’t it?

    Cool, oder?

    Then she adds…

    Ich mache auch einen Deutschkurs.

    auch usually translates as “also”, but as always, it depends on context. Imagine two kids with messy hands. One says…

    I need the sink.

    Ich brauche das Washbecken.

    The other kid just says: Ich auch.

    So here we’d translate that as “Me, too.” Or if you prefer more literal: I also…implying, I also need the sink.

    Next, imagine that you’re marveling at a painting in a museum. Your friend wanders over, also taking it in. Seeking confirmation, you say: A beautiful picture, isn’t it?

    Ein schönes Bild, oder?

    She nods, then leads you over to the next masterpiece…

    Ja. Und das ist auch ein schönes Bild.

    Do you remember how to say: I’m going to Stuttgart.

    Ich gehe nach Stuttgart.

    Tell her: Me, too.

    Ich auch.

    Doing great, guys! And now…Hier machen wir eine Pause

    (MUSIC)

    So my son was playing in the kitchen the other day. Into a glass he poured some yoghurt, then some orange juice, then he added some mustard, and then ground pepper…then offered his concoction to his sister when she came in. Ewww! she said, wrinkling her nose. Ekelhaft!

    Once, we were at my Uncle’s farm in the Austrian alps. My son was feeding a young cow some grass and the cow slobbered all over his hand. Strings of slime dripping from his hand as he pulled away. Eww, I said, wrinkling my face. Ekelhaft!

    How would you translate that into English? I guess Gross…or Disgusting. I mean, it sounds like Icky!, doesn’t it? I say I guess because it’s not a concrete idea. Words like this are fun, and if you don’t sprinkle them into a course now and then, learning a language can become a bit stale. Anyway, let’s get back to our new verb for today.

    Say: We are doing a German course.

    Wir machen einen Deutschkurs.

    But remember, it’s also used to indicate the act of creating or producing something. For example:

    We are making a gift.

    Wir machen ein Geschenk.

    He is making a hamburger.

    Er macht einen Hamburger.

    She is making a salad.

    Sie macht einen Salat.

    For bonus points, what’s the gender of Salat?

    Yes, masculine! And hamburger, too, if you caught it.

    I’m making a pizza.

    Ich mache eine Pizza.

    Same question. What gender? Right. Feminine.

    Just to keep our grammar sharp, let’s add an adjective in there.

    He is making a small salad.

    Er macht einen kleinen Salat.

    She is making a big pizza.
    Sie macht eine große Pizza.

    Imagine you come back from vacation to discover that the fridge is broken. Say..

    The refrigerator is broken.

    Der Kühlschrank ist kaputt.

    And when you open it, you see the milk has curdled into thick yellowish lumps. You pour it out…wrinkle your nose and say…? Ekelhaft!

    Fun to say, isn’t it?

    How about this: The garbage bin is disgusting!

    Die Mülltonne ist ekelhaft.

    Again, notice how this is a new phrase for us. It’s a novel usage. And we’re mixing new with words were more solid on.

    Your boss asked you to purchase a picture for him. He swings by to pick it up. First greet him:

    Good evening, Mr. Schania.

    Guten Abend, Herr Schania.

    Then tell him: Your new picture is on the balcony….literally standing on the balcony

    Ihr neues Bild steht auf dem Balkon.

    Great job, guys. See you in the next lesson.

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    Thu, 13 Apr 2023 - 25min
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