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!
Interchangeable use of an esszett?
In lesson 1.6 of German Rocket Premium, esszett is explained as representing two "s"s. Additionally, the word "tschüss" is introduced. Why does one use "ss" as opposed to an esszett? Are there certain rules discussed further along in the course or can ...
4 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - September 24, 2012
The following was written to me recently by a friend in Germany: "SInd das Kängurus im Hintergrund?" Should this not be Sind sie Kängurus as we are discussing a pleural noun?
4 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - July 15, 2012
ok can someone PLEASE explain to me German word order? its so confusing! Im really good at learning new words but I can't use them because I dont know how to build a sentence longer then 5 words in German because of the weird order they place their words!...
15 replies - Last post by mikeguy - July 8, 2012
difference between alle und alles
4 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - June 28, 2012
really I lost in german adjectives endings and it worse with (viel,viele ,wenig und wenige),why we do say:Vieles Gute kommt vom Herzen ,Vieler scho"ner Schnee ,Viel Gutes,Viel Spass. thanks for help.
6 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - June 28, 2012
difference between alle und alles
difference between alle und alles
2 replies - Last post by wasmy-- - June 15, 2012
How to say "I agree" in German
I understand that this can be said in several ways including: Ich bin damit einverstanden Ich stimme zu Ich bin Ihrer Meinung Which is best/more correct and in which circumstances are they used? Finally, why is Ihrer and not Ihre used before the feminine...
2 replies - Last post by John-M25 - June 11, 2012
There could be something further along in the lessons but might there be a small chart showing when to use all these distinctions? Thought I got until I saw some differing forms. Like zum meaning something other than to the. Otherwise, I am enjoying t...
4 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - May 14, 2012
Hi Paul, In lesson 15.1 Mathias tells Sandra the ages of his niece and nephew.....Die Große is acht Jahre alt, und der Kleine ist fünf. Sarah explains that you can tell that the elder child is a girl because of the article used and the ending. So why ...
5 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - May 5, 2012
Hi Paul, Is there a rule of thumb for forming compound words? Some seem to be just two words joined together (Sprachwissenshaft) while others have an "s" between the two words being joined up (Hochzeitskleid). Is it purely a matter of ease of pronunciat...
3 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - April 21, 2012
Hi Paul What is the difference between würde and möchte to express future events?
3 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - April 18, 2012
Hi Paul, Re Lesson 14.6 Auxiliary and Modal Verbs Another question: "Ich wolllte mir die Haare schneiden lassen". (I wanted to get my hair cut) Does it mean I wanted to be allowed to get my hair cut? or that I wanted to get it cut by someone else? Co...
3 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - April 18, 2012
I just wanted to clarify which noun the article is attached to if there are two nouns. In English for example, 'a packet of flour', in Deutsch, 'eine Packung Mehl'. Is the article attached to the first noun or the second? Or does 'packung' become an ad...
2 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - April 18, 2012
When I was listening to this, and then read the translation, I knew the word yesterday was not in the German.Woche is week --is this an error or just another way to interpret? I know I am lousy with grammar." Jonas hat letzte Woche seinen Führerschein gem...
1 reply - Last post by Paul-Weber - April 17, 2012
Sie sollen mir sagen. You should tell me. With this sentence, why is it that the dative "mir" is used? I see Sie (subject), sagen (verb) and mir as the direct object. But apparently I am wrong and mir is correct. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Kyle
5 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - April 12, 2012
Hi Paul In 12.2 ...."Der Strafzettel" the word Strafzettel is sometimes spelled Straftzettel (with a "t"). "Ich muss zweihundert Euro für einen Straftzettel bezahlen". "Heute geht es um das leidige Thema Straftzettel". But "Nur wegen einem lächerli...
1 reply - Last post by Paul-Weber - April 3, 2012
Why isn't it Guter Morgen? I'm guessing this is the accusative form, am I right? Why not the nominative form?
1 reply - Last post by Paul-Weber - April 2, 2012
Hi Paul Now I'm stuck on the Adjective Endings section: In the "My Level" section the answer "Ich trage einen blauen Pullover" was correct ....this makes sense. In the Language quiz section of the lesson (question #9) the correct answer for a similar s...
3 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - April 1, 2012
Hi! well I have more questions... Here in "Ich fühle mich nicht wohl. Mir ist übel und schwindelig"... why after "Mir" is used "ist" instead of "bin" if we are talking about "me" (mir). In the sentence "Ja, er müsste noch in der Tüte sein. " why the ver...
1 reply - Last post by Paul-Weber - March 28, 2012
Greetings, I was wondering if anyone has ever found any German television programs to watch and/or download. I think this would be a wonderful way to help immerse one's self in the language. I would really like to view some of their ad...
7 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - March 24, 2012
Nathalie, Consider the following sentence: Folgen Sie mir! / Follow me! Mir is the appropriate pronoun. Mich is not, because folgen is a dative verb. Consider the following sentence: Koennen wir Sie/Ihnen folgen? Some say Sie is the appropriate pr...
4 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - March 22, 2012
i read that "am" means "At the" and "im" means "in the" ....my question is i also read you can also just plain say in the or at the (in german)....how do i know when to use "am" and "im". my ...
7 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - March 22, 2012
Was wondering if it matters what order time and place come in. For example, the sentence "Wollen sie auf mich morgan hier warten, bitte?" or is the other way "Wollen sie auf mich hier morgan warten, bitte?" better? I know the second verb comes at the end ...
2 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - March 22, 2012
Hello, was wondering if anybody can tell me if these sentences are gramatically in the right order as far as syntax goes? Does 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 both mean the same thing or is something being stressed more? I know that the language is a more flexible on...
1 reply - Last post by Paul-Weber - March 22, 2012
Hi, Does anyone know of any good and accurate German translating website? I need something that will translate whole paragraphs, not just a word at a time. Thanks Alberto.
13 replies - Last post by berro-- - January 22, 2012
Foreign Language Institute German
This is a great resouce to help you learn Deutsch. It is dated but is still worth the price. Free! It is the same material that Barrons Mastering Germany uses with their course at a cost of $60.00. The mp3s can be download with a right click and then use ...
5 replies - Last post by Brad-- - July 15, 2011
I like the list of verbs that were listed by Nathalie in 2007..is there a way to get this all on one post so it can be printed so one does not have to print each page separately? I used to teach English Grammar and a chart like that is very useful in lear...
0 replies - Last post by mikeguy - June 18, 2011
Why isn't it Guter Morgen? I'm guessing this is the accusative form, am I right? Why not the nominative form? Please do not answer this if you are not one of the Rocket German teachers. I know you mean to be kind but I'm tired of not getting replies from...
2 replies - Last post by RAFIK-- - May 23, 2011
Does gerade mean: now, at the moment? When does one use it? I understand its use in: Sie horen gerade Musik, and Ich lerne gerade Deutsch but.... Ich besuche meine Tante jetzt gerade nicht, or sie öffnen jetzt gerade nicht die Türen , I do not underst...
2 replies - Last post by Davida-S - April 10, 2011
In the sentence: Ja, wenn das möglich ist würde ich gerne ein Doppelzimmer in der Woche danach buchen. Yes if it possible is, i would like a Double room on the next week to book. (close as i can get word-word) Yes, if it is possible I would like to bo...
6 replies - Last post by Prussian-Turtle - March 22, 2011
5.1. Eine Flasche Wein Kaufen question
The position of "wir" in this sentence is driving me crazy. :?: "Normalerweise verkaufen wir keine ungeöffneten Flaschen" and NOT "Normalerweise wir verkaufen keine ungeöffneten Flaschen??" I thought Wir always goes at t...
3 replies - Last post by tink - February 4, 2011
I am just beginning so maybe I have missed something, or am not there yet, but back in 1.2 the article before Kaffee was einen kaffee. Now in lesson 1.9 der kaffee is ein kaffee. Where did the einen come from and how do I know when to use which??
2 replies - Last post by tink - December 28, 2010
Hi Not too clear on the above: Section 2.1 shows" Aber es gibt eine ......" and translates as but there is!!! Section 2.2 shows "Gibt es dort Toiletten" ..... and translates Is there a toilet there. Why is es (is) before gibt on the f...
6 replies - Last post by tink - December 28, 2010
Hello All, I need a table of tenses. I have created one, however, I am not 100% sure if it is fully correct. Please amend it if required. :-) * **************** Singular ********************************************************************* Ich habe ----...
1 reply - Last post by mikeguy - December 12, 2010
Nathalie, Consider the verbs luegen (to lie) and anluegen (to lie to). Either one can be used to ask the following question: 1. Warum hast du (zu) deinem Vater gelogen? (Why have you lied to your father?) 2. Warum hast du dienen Vater angelogen? (Wh...
2 replies - Last post by SRA11 - October 10, 2010
Why do we say Guten Morgen in German?
Why isn't it Guter Morgen? I'm guessing this is the accusative form, am I right? Why not the nominative form?
1 reply - Last post by Abhishek - October 10, 2010
Him I am from India and have been having fun learning from your courses. I would like to know how the passiv voice is formed. Does it mean using the 'sein' verb for all Present Perfect forms (even where the same are not supposed to form their PP forms wit...
2 replies - Last post by Abhishek - October 10, 2010
Was möchtest du? Or Was möchten Sie?
What is the correct way to say "What would you like"? The course audio and written text teach's "Was möchtest du"? but the quiz at the end insists on saying "Was möchten Sie"? as the correct answer. Can you tell me which on...
2 replies - Last post by Forres - October 6, 2010
How to write perfect past and simple past biography?
Hello, I need to figure out how to write a biography introduction of myself in perfect past form and simple past form. My name is Jeremiah, I am from America. I am 26 years old. I enjoy doing martial arts and writing. I am studying graphic design. ...
2 replies - Last post by Byron-K21 - September 6, 2010
I see there are 2 ways to form passive voice sentences with modals 1) Conujugation of a modal plus a present passive infinitive 2) Conjugation of sich lassen and a present active infinitive #1 can become very awkward, especially in the future perfect w...
0 replies - Last post by SRA11 - May 29, 2010
I'm interested in something my German friend said to me. He said that he studied Shakespeare at college in Germany. I'm confused. I cannot understand how Shakespeare can be translated into German because it would lose the essence of Shakespeare's writing ...
4 replies - Last post by Reinhard - May 16, 2010
7.7 Language and Culture - Talking about something negative
I think there might be some errors in feminine and plural forms of KEIN. Shouldn't it be : * Feminine* : Nominative : Keine Accusative : Keine Dative : Keiner Genitive : Keiner (and NOT *Keine* as shown) *Plural *: Nominative : Keine Accusative : Keine...
1 reply - Last post by Paul-Weber - May 6, 2010
How do I know which verb to use when saying "I would like---"
2 replies - Last post by walleyenorth - March 24, 2010
Hi Paul, Can you tell me in the section why it says" Das Museum Ist es geschlossen" rather than "Das Museum es ist geschlossen" Following the verb structure etc I would have thought the latter was logical. Thanks Richard
2 replies - Last post by lekkman - March 21, 2010
I am newly returned to RG via the just released series. This may be the wrong section for this question. In the opening lesson, you use the familiar du/dir, etc, and say that will be a primary usuage. My impression heretofore has been that in general u...
3 replies - Last post by Mitschuler - February 27, 2010
It seems that most words ending with "e" are pronounced (ah), but some words have a silent "e". Is there any rule as to how this final "e" should be pronounced? Danke!
0 replies - Last post by Kuckucksuhr - February 9, 2010
In lesson 3.7, it states that it is uncommon to use the equivelent of "Do You" when asking questions. Would anyone be good enough to elaborate on that? How then would you ask: Do you have a car? Do you need a taxi? etc. etc. Thanks
2 replies - Last post by Kuckucksuhr - February 5, 2010
hi. it is interesting to know, how is better to pronounce such words, as Lehrer for example? because in the south of Germany they pronounce R in the middle of the word, but in the northern Germany they are not. and not only this word and letter. there are...
5 replies - Last post by Paul-Weber - February 2, 2010
Grammar question in section 1.11
In lesson 1.1 (Advanced Numbers) in the section "Useful Expressions" there is the example "Wieviel kostes das?" Is this grammatically correct? Shouldn't the phrase be "Wieviel kostet das?"?
1 reply - Last post by Paul-Weber - January 29, 2010