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Would you like to learn more German?
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- Category: German grammar
The A1 or beginner's level of German is frequently underestimated in its importance for learning German.
Starting at the beginning is not only the only place to start, but it's the most important place to start to understand German grammar.
If you're my client you'll hear this often:
You can't build a house on sand, so build a strong foundation.
One of the hardest times for my A2 clients (or B1 or B2 for that matter) is when we start a new topic involving some kind of grammar and they discover there is a big, giant, gaping hole in their German foundation.
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- Category: German grammar
"Geheiratet." Nein. "Verheiratet." Ich weiss es nicht!
I know how it goes, these two can be really tricky, however they are similar enough to English that you can learn a couple of associations to help you keep them apart in your mind.
Sometimes you simply need rote memorization, and sometimes you need a way of remembering which one is which. Sometimes this is an Eselsbrücke (a "donkey-bridge" or a mnemonic device), sometimes you need an association, and sometimes you need a picture in your mind.
Read on to learn a few techniques to tell "geheiratet" and "verheiratet" apart and keep them apart!
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- Category: German grammar
If you learned German in college, chances are you learned both “woher” and “wohin” at the same time. Do you ever drive in reverse and forwards at the same time? I didn't think so. Why so many US textbook authors think this is a good idea is beyond me. In drivers education, first you learn to drive forwards, you get a feel for the car, and then you learn to drive in reverse.
It's not that hard, textbook authors!
*Nicole facepalms and sighs with exasperation.*
That's a really good way to get permanently tripped up. Im Ernst jetzt!
Here’s how to fail miserably at learning these two question words (or anything else, for that matter):
Step 1: Learn them both at the same time.
Das ist alles. (That’s it.)
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- Category: German grammar
"Zu..." no. "Nach..."
Wait! Which one do I use? GAH!
Have you said that before? I bet you have, as I’ve heard it from every beginning German learner I’ve worked with. And a lot of intermediate level speakers, too.
The difference is: with “zu” and “nach,” size makes a difference. But not how you might think.
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- Category: German grammar
This is a source of frustration for so many German learners. "Wann" and "wenn" are too similar and as a result, lots of people mix them up.
They both mean when, however when you use them is completely different.
Are you ready to learn which word to use when?
Los geht’s!
Which “when” is “when”?
First you need to clearly differentiate the two words “wann” and “wenn.”
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