By taking the time to understand how the German language works, you'll be able to speak German naturally, and read and write in German. We know this can be one of the more challenging parts of your course, and we’re here to help! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!
hi, when i started learning German i learned to use aber for but, now I see another way to say it. What is the difference?
2 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - March 5, 2024
Past participle of sehen in Lesson 9.8
This lesson is on irregularities the präteritum, and has a sentence in the perfect as a comparison. The sentence is:Sie hat die Leute wegfahren sehen. The translation is “She saw the people drive away.” with a literal translation “She has the people away...
2 replies - Last post by Peter--252 - February 10, 2024
Hi AllOnce again my brain is saying why.Ich war mit einer Freundin im Kino. I know that “in takes accusative or dative if there is movement. I am puzzled by the ”im" I can see it is dative, that I understand. But is there no movement in this case. As...
6 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - December 15, 2023
Hi All Once again these pesky cases. Why is “Zum Glueck” in dativeI feel I am never going to get this and when I speak am still going to be mangling the German language.Maxie
2 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - December 13, 2023
Hi All Found good comprehensive lessons on You Tube.Good for revision and for a beginner. Really good content and well explained in a fun, but understated way. Learn German with mister Ferguson. I like the way he explains, as it is logical with pictures ...
0 replies - Last post by Maxie - November 16, 2023
Have come across that glauben, antworten and gehoeren always take dative.Is this correct and are there any other verbs that only take dative?Are there verbs that just take Accusative or genitive? DankeMaxie
7 replies - Last post by Maxie - October 21, 2023
Hi AllYet another question. Wrote to my German friendSaid “Ich habe keine ahnung was er will machen.”She wrote back saying it should have been :ich habe keine Ahnung was er machen will.I always understood that the infinitive goes to the end with a modal ...
18 replies - Last post by gottahaveajava - October 21, 2023
Kein Problem. Einmal den Mund öffnen, bitte.
The following two phrases appear in Play the Part - A Perfect SmileKein Problem. Einmal den Mund öffnen, bitte.Könnten Sie Ihren Mund einmal weit öffnen, bitte? What is the function of einmal in these phrases and when should it be used? Simon
9 replies - Last post by Maxie - September 22, 2023
I know this very likely has something to do with cases. "In einer Stunde, okay?"I understand that things change, but I can't see why it is “einer” and not “eine”I also understand that “in” changes things and it can be a double preposition. If someone co...
11 replies - Last post by Maxie - September 13, 2023
Hi All In the lesson on Adjectives in the Nominative and Accusative. The lesson starts with Adjectives that come after the verb, don't change.In this sentence it does. Could someone please clarify this.Es ist ein großer schwarzer Koffer mit kleinen Räde...
10 replies - Last post by gottahaveajava - August 22, 2023
Hi AllLesson 17.2 “Punctuality”die eine Vorlesung an einer Universität später beginnt als offiziell angegeben. Why is this “der Universitaet”I know this has to do with the cases, but don't know which one and whyPlease ExplainMaxie
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - August 16, 2023
Can “I'm waiting for the train” use auf or für interchangeably?
Ich warte auf den Zug.Meaning, “I'm waiting for the train”. “für” always means “for”.“für” forces the noun to be accusative. “She is baking cookies for the family.”"Sie backt Kekse für die Familie." “auf” is a presposition that can mean on, to, in, at, o...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - May 30, 2023
In lesson 23.8, ‘Gehst du in die Kirche?’ is translated as ‘Do you go to church?’ How would you differentiate between ‘Do you go to church’ and ‘Are you going into the church’ i.e. attending a Christian religious service on a regular basis vs. walking int...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - May 30, 2023
Hi Allhave just discovered hundreds of YouTube programs produced by DW. I use Nico's Weg and others on line and get their newsletters, but the YouTube videos will take me to another level or rabbit hole I find this really exciting, as the possibilities a...
1 reply - Last post by James1 - May 26, 2023
Lesson 4.8, möchte & hätte chaos!
I am struggling to make any sense of when to use hätte and when to use möchte. The course materials says, that Ich hätte gern / gerne is followed by a noun, and Ich möchte is generally used with an infinitive verb. Can someone then explain to me why the f...
4 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - May 5, 2023
Oh my another question.In level 2 Dative lessonGehst du mit deinen Eltern ins Theater?Why deinen not deinem. I understood that mit takes Dative and the plural is deinem in the Dative.Could you please explain this.Maxie
5 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - April 18, 2023
HiIn lesson 9.4 Es ist ein großer schwarzer Koffer mit kleinen Rädern.WhenI looked up in translator it was Die Rader (") Why Radern (")I get the adjectives used, but not the plural of this noun Maxie
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - April 13, 2023
Hi AllIn lesson 7.2 Lena sitzt neben mir. In the previous sentence mich is used instead of mir. I believe neben takes dative in locationBoth sentences are translated as “me”Why the differenceMaxie
4 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - April 4, 2023
Hi AllIn lesson 4.9 the lesson gives specifics of which prepositions take the Accusative. Is there a lesson on Dative as specific as that? I see there are some in level 3, but is the a more comprehsive one?As always, thamksMaxie
5 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - March 10, 2023
Hello everyone, I've come across this sentence in lesson 9.4. I am wondering why it is “Es ist ein großer schwarzer Koffer…” and not “Er ist ein großer schwarzer Koffer…”. Is “es” here not a pronoun, and if not, what is it?
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - February 28, 2023
Hi allI use Coffee Break German. It is a subscription, but podcasts are free. Have just done Season 1 lesson 17. There they introduce Dative for the first time, with only 3 prepositions, so not overwhelming, but it gives you an understanding of Dative wit...
6 replies - Last post by gottahaveajava - February 24, 2023
Hi AllWas doing a revision on “Going Skiing”Noticed that with “neben” goes “dem”Knew it had something to do with the cases. Made a comment this wekk on Dative in the forum. Having listened to a podcast on Coffee Break made the connection with neben and da...
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - February 22, 2023
hallo alle ZusammenIn this sentence. Nicht viel. Ich war kurz in der Stadt. I know the der is dative, but why?has this got something to do with kurz as in time?As no explanation in the lessonDankeMaxie
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - February 2, 2023
Am so confused, againIn lesson 6.5 Der kleinere Mann ist mein Freund Michael.And the next sentence tooI can find no explanation for adjectives ending in re. er yes, in the lesson on adjectives in the nominative and accusative. Could someone please refer m...
7 replies - Last post by Maxie - January 28, 2023
What is the difference between geschlossen & schließen?
What is the difference between geschlossen & schließen? Can i say the door is close (schließen) & the door is closed (geschlossen) in german? would it mean the same thing?
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - December 28, 2022
I was doing an exercise in Survivla Kit level 2. Medical German. Was wondering how I was going to keep all the gender words in my memory. Further down the line I realized that because adjectives change at times due to gender and case, one can work out the...
5 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - December 27, 2022
All the fun of the fair. Play the part
HiI am not sure if I am missing something, once again.The sentence “Ich hab leider nur einen Zehneuroschein.”Is it meant to be hab or is this an error?Thanks Maxie
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - November 28, 2022
Hallo Zusammen There must be a logical explanation. Dieser Jahrezeit. I understood “er to be a masculine ending. Also understood that all compound words take on the gender of the last word. in other words ”Die Zeit" Probably something to do with the pesky...
14 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - November 28, 2022
In lesson 9.1Ich war mit einer Freundin im Kino. If it is a girl friend why is it not eine Freundin.Oh my am I ever going to understand the finer intricasies of German grammar.Sebongela
15 replies - Last post by gottahaveajava - November 17, 2022
Lesson 19.4 contains the sentence ‘Das Thema waren die Hoelenmenschen’. Why is it ‘waren’ and not ‘war’?
1 reply - Last post by sfpugh - October 19, 2022
1) I found this English to German translation that has me confused about when to use articles and prepositions.The movie theater is on the right.Das Kino ist rechts.In English ‘right’ is a noun describing a place.In German ‘rechts’ is an adverb.I’m not su...
2 replies - Last post by Tyler. - August 20, 2022
Conjugation of the infinitive "Regen"
I am currently in lesson 1.9 and am learning to properly conjugate verbs. All was going well until I noticed something that stumped me; the sentence “Es regnet.” From the rules that were given, the verb “Regen” when used with the pronoun “Es” would seemin...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - August 15, 2022
Hello AllIf anyone is finding some issues with understanding the Grammar explanations on Rocket and want more clarity I have found some books that are really good, with lots of exercises for practice.Some of them are by an author Ed Swick (Quite a few by ...
0 replies - Last post by Maxie - July 18, 2022
HiIn lesson 4.9 Auf is decribed as : of, to ,in (language)Could someone give me an example when "Auf is used with language. Thanks Sebongela
2 replies - Last post by Maxie - June 1, 2022
HalloAnother grammar question. When Nominative was explained “Sein” was mentioned as an equal sign. In lesson 6.5 When 2 things are being compared and “ist” is present is this why the things being compared are both in the nominative. EG. Die Couch and der...
2 replies - Last post by Maxie - May 17, 2022
I am struggling to make sense of when to use “ist es” and “es ist” in module 2.1 Can someone help me? Because just when I think I have understood when to use “ist es” and when to use “es ist”, I mess up :(
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - May 2, 2022
Hello, Why does the sentence ends with “zu tun” instead of “zu tut” “Er sucht etwas zu tun” Thank you and regards,Tina
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - April 25, 2022
HalloIn lesson 1.7 “Ich muss zum hotel. ”Why does it take a dative case as in zu and dem.? Or have I got this completely mixed up. Is das Hotel an indirect object then. I thought it would be a direct object. Talk about getting in a twist about this thanks...
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - April 14, 2022
What is the difference between reservieren and reservierung?
What is the difference between reservieren and reservierung? I'm a bit confuse on the usage.
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - April 12, 2022
HalloJust watched a video on YouTube. “ My German Teacher” Explaining when to use which one. Basically a beginners level, but he explains it simply (That is if it can be simple) Made some things less murky in my mind. My motto "All little bits help. Have ...
0 replies - Last post by Maxie - April 7, 2022
Oh my word, just looked at the grammar lesson on Adjectives in Nominative and accusative. Frankly just puts me into panic mode. In many ways am just tempted to look at grammar lessons as speaking practice and vocabulary, as keeping track of it when there ...
9 replies - Last post by sfpugh - March 28, 2022
“Bis zum Morgen grauen” is a funny phrase to demonstrate the preposition “bis” as Accusative, given that the ending on “zum” is clearly not Accusative. i know that “bis” is most often accompanied by another preposition ("bis zu", “bis auf”) or is used di...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - March 28, 2022
HiDU lasst (") mich hier. You leave me here. If one changes the tone into an accusatory voice is this the way you would say You left me here. As in anger or abandonment.DankeSebongelaBeen wondering about this for a while, as in English it would work.
2 replies - Last post by Maxie - March 7, 2022
possesive adjectives in the Accusative
I am looking for the lesson on Possessive Adjectives in the Accusative. Is there one? I use Babbel and their explanations aren't adequate and I'm sure Rocket has covered it, just can't find it.ThanksSebongela
5 replies - Last post by Maxie - March 1, 2022
The following two sentences seem to be very similar:Die Häuser sind hier alle so prachtvoll verziert.The houses here are all so beautifully decorated.andJedes Gebäude hier hat so viel Geschichte.Each building here has so much history. In the first sentenc...
15 replies - Last post by sfpugh - February 24, 2022
prepositions that take accusative
Trying to remember the prepositions that take the Accusative. Have used a mnemonic for the first six. Now will tackle the next ones that sometimes take the AccusativeFur (")OhneBis Makes FobGegenUmdurch Makes Gudhope this will help me remember Do...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - February 24, 2022
Sie sind in der Stadt lesson 1.7
HiI so frustrated by the grammar. Frankly why even bother! Call it a language course and then tell you to use text books would be more appropriate. I get that der Stadt has something to do with cases, but then there should be a note stating that Stadt is ...
17 replies - Last post by gottahaveajava - February 1, 2022
manche deutsche(n) Gruppen ? 15.1
“Ich mag U2 total gerne und auch manche deutsche Gruppen"I would have thought that, with “manche” being a “der” equivalent, that it should be “deutschen” and not “deutsche” .
8 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - January 20, 2022
Lesson 3.1 Extra Vocab - Now I see it
Very new to German. Lesson 3.1 is using the expression, “Now I see it.” to offer a lesson on how “it” changes with gender. In the sentence, “it” is referring to das Auto (neuter) so in German the expression is"Jetzt sehe ich esThey then ask how you woul...
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - January 17, 2022
seinen or seine Schlüssel accusative plural? Module 13.5
The sentence is: Thomas hat gestern seinen Schlüssel verloren. The translation is: Thomas lost his keys yesterday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------Shouldn't the translation be? Thomas lost his key yesterday. Or sh...
4 replies - Last post by gottahaveajava - December 15, 2021