Vocabulary

Separable Verbs ✂️

Roslyn Green Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Grammar, Verbs, Vocabulary , , ,

Detachable Verbs: A Gentle Introduction

Published by Roslyn Green in December 2022

Recommended Video
Verb Shortlist
Quizzes
Related Page: A Day of Separable Verbs
Related Page: Separable Opposites

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

One Entity or Two

Just like a cup and saucer, the two parts of a German separable verb can appear as one entity or they can be detached and work as two separate parts. The dictionary entry is under the whole verb.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

  • Tee zubereiten – prepare tea
  • die Kerzen ausblasen – blow out the candles
  • den Kuchen aufessen – eat up the whole cake
  • die Tasse und Untertasse abwaschen – wash up the cup and saucer

Separable Verbs in the Present Tense

In a present tense sentence, the base verb is conjugated and placed second, while the detachable prefix is sent to the end of the sentence.

Sentence Patterns

Key: conjugated base verb ♦ detachable prefix

  • mitkommen – to come along: Ich komme gern mit. – I’d like to come along.
  • aufmachen – to open: Er macht die Tür auf. – He is opening the door.
  • aussehen – to look, appear: Du siehst hübsch aus. – You look lovely / pretty.
  • anfangen – to begin: Im Januar fängt sie ein neues Studium an. – In January she is starting a new course.

Image by Aline Dassel from Pixabay

Four Types of Sentences

vorlesen → to read aloud, read out

Present: Die Großmutter liest die Geschichte vor. → The grandmother reads out the story.

Future: Die Großmutter wird die Geschichte vorlesen. → The grandmother will read the story.

Add a Modal Verb: Die Großmutter möchte die Geschichte vorlesen. → The grandmother would like to read out the story.

Perfect Tense: Die Großmutter hat die Geschichte vorgelesen. → The grandmother (has) read out the story.

Image by Daniel Hannah from Pixabay

One Base Verb, Many Meanings

Base Verb: sehen – to see

The same base verb can have many separable prefixes. Here are just a few examples with sehen:

  • ansehen → to look at
  • aussehen → to look/appear
  • absehen → to foresee
  • fernsehen → to watch TV
  • hochsehen → to look up

Image by Petra from Pixabay

One Prefix, Many Meanings

Prefix: durch – through

The same prefix can be used to create many detachable verbs:

  • durchblättern – to leaf through, turn over pages  
  • durcharbeiten – to work through something, go through it thoroughly
  • durchdenken – to think something through, think something over
  • durchhalten – to hold on, stick it out, persevere

A Highly Recommended Video

Video: Trennbare Verben | Separable Verbs

Inap from Deutsch mit Inap provides a very clear introduction to separable verbs, working through many useful examples.

Thirty Useful Separable Verbs: A Shortlist

abfahren – to depart
wegfahren – to go, drive away
aufmachen – to open
zumachen – to close
Bilbo macht die Tür zu.
ausgehen – to go out
mitkommen – to come along
anmachen – to turn on
ausmachen – to turn off
  • abfahren – to depart (vowel-changer: Der Bus fährt bald up)
  • abholen – to fetch, to pick up
  • absetzen – to drop off
  • anfangen – to begin (vowel-changer: Du fängst mit dem Essen an; er/sie/es fängt an)
  • ankommen – to arrive
  • anmachen – to turn on
  • anrufen – to ring up
  • (sich) anziehen – to get dressed
  • aufhören – to stop
  • aufmachen – to open
  • aufräumen – to tidy up
  • aufstehen – to get up, to stand up
  • ausgehen – to go out
  • ausmachen – to turn off
  • aussehen – to look like, appear (vowel-changer: du siehst toll aus)
  • (sich) ausziehen – to undress
  • einkaufen – to shop, go shopping
  • einladen – to invite (vowel-changer: Wen lädst du zu deiner Party ein?)
  • glattgehen – to got smoothly, to go off without a hitch
  • mitbringen – to bring along
  • mitkommen – to come along
  • mitmachen – to take part, to participate, work together
  • schiefgehen – to go wrong (literally: to go crooked)
  • vorbereiten – to prepare
  • vorschlagen – to suggest (vowel-changer: Was schlägst du vor?)
  • wegfahren – to go away, drive away (vowel-changer: Fährst du in den Ferien weg?)
  • zubereiten – to prepare food
  • zumachen – to close
  • zurückbringen – to bring back
  • zurückkommen – to come back, to return

Quizzes

Drag and Drop Quiz: Separable Verbs in Present Tense Sentences

Construct present tense sentences by dragging and dropping words into the right spaces.

This quiz is based on the examples on the page titled A Day of Separable Verbs.

This Quiz as a PDF Worksheet: A Day of Separable Verbs

Quiz: Using Separable Verbs in Sentences About Appearance and Personality

Practise using separable verbs in present tense and perfect tense sentences as well as in sentences containing a modal verb.

Quiz: Trennbare Verben: Ein kurzer Überblick | Separable Verbs: A Brief Overview

This is a simple multiple choice quiz with examples to clarify how separable verbs work in various types of sentences.

Page Picture Acknowledgements:

COVID-19: A-Z 🦠

Roslyn Green A-Z, Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Quizzes, Vocabulary, Wortschatz , , , , ,

Published by Roslyn Green in December 2022

Talking about COVID-19 in German

Public domain picture of virus provided by CDC

When a world-changing event such as the Covid-19 pandemic takes place, speakers and writers naturally coin new words and word combinations. For a language nerd like me, their choices are intriguing.

The Germans, for instance, coopted the word Lockdown and made it masculine. On their children’s program, Die Sendung mit der Maus, there was a discussion about whether the word Virus is masculine or neuter. The answer was that it can be either, but never feminine. Now there’s one issue that the English-speaking world never has to consider. Jump to links and videos to find out more about Covid-19 in Germany and its impact on the German language.

But first, in the Bildlexikon below I’ve collected some essential wording for talking about life after the world changed.

Roslyn Green, November 2022

Jump to Quizzes
Jump to Links and Videos

Bildlexikon: Die Pandemie

Masculine Nouns ♦ Feminine Nouns ♦ Neuter Nouns ♦ Plural Nouns ♦ Verbs ♦ Adjectives

  • die Ansteckung – infection
  • sich anstecken – to be infected
  • ansteckend – infectious

Public domain picture from CDC

Ich habe mich mit dem Virus angesteckt.

→ I have caught or been infected with the virus.

Abstand halten – to keep one’s distance, to socially distance

Photo from Broken Hill, Australia

Wenn man einen Abstand von 1,5 Metern zu anderen Menschen hält, senkt das Risiko von einer Ansteckung mit Covid-19.

→ Keeping a distance of 1.5 metres from other people reduces the risk of contracting covid-19.

das Beatmungsgerät – respirator, ventilator | die (künstliche) Beatmung – artificial respiration

Schwerkranke Patienten benötigen möglicherweise eine künstliche Beatmung, um Sauerstoff zu bekommen und atmen zu können.

→ Seriously ill patients may require artificial respiration in order to gain oxygen and be able to breathe.

das neue Coronavirus – the novel coronavirus

Image by Ryan McGuire from Pixabay

Das Wort „Corona” stammt aus dem Lateinischen und bedeutet „Kranz” oder „Krone”.

→ The word Corona is derived from Latin and means “wreath” or “crown”.

die Dunkelziffer – number of unreported cases

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Die Dunkelziffer ist wahrscheinlich hoch, wenn der Anteil der positiven Tests mehr als 10% beträgt.

→ The number of unreported cases is probably high when the proportion of positive tests is more than 10%.

  • die Erkrankung – illness, disease, see also Krankheit
  • erkranken – to fall ill

Image by Aart Beijeman from Pixabay

Im Allgemeinen erkranken ältere Menschen schwerer an Covid-19 als jüngere Menschen.

→ In general, older people become more severely ill with Covid-19 than younger people.

  • der Fall (die Fälle) – case(s)
  • die Fallzahlen – case numbers

Image by Vinzenz Lorenz M from Pixabay

Wenn eine neue Covid-Variante entsteht, steigen oft die Fallzahlen wieder an.

→ When a new Covid variant emerges, the case numbers often rise.

der Fernunterricht – distance learning, learning from home

Image by Hatice EROL from Pixabay

In vielen Ländern waren die Schulen für eine Weile geschlossen. Viele Kinder haben durch Fernunterricht gelernt.

→ In many countries, the schools were closed for a while. Many children learned from home.

  • die Gesundheit – health
  • wieder gesund werden – to get better

Image by Silvia from Pixabay

Ich hoffe, du wirst bald wieder gesund.

→ I hope you get better soon.

  • die Halsschmerzen – sore throat
  • der Husten n. – cough
  • husten v.– to cough

Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay

Häufige Symptome einer Ansteckung mit Covid-19 sind Halsschmerzen und Husten.

→ Common symptoms of an infection with Covid-19 are a sore throat and a cough.

das Handdesinfektionsmittel – hand sanitiser

das Desinfektionsmittel – sanitiser

Handdesinfektionsmittel sind vor allem nützlich, wenn man unterwegs ist und sich die Hände nicht leicht waschen kann.

→ Hand sanitiser is especially useful when you are out and about and cannot easily wash your hands.

  • die Impfung – vaccination
  • die Impfpflicht – requirement to be vaccinated
  • impfen – to vaccinate
  • geimpft werden – to be vaccinated

Image by Silvia from Pixabay

Ich bin froh, dass ich meine Corona-Impfung endlich bekommen habe.

→ I’m glad that I’ve finally had my vaccination.

  • sich infizieren to be infected
  • jemanden infizieren – to infect someone
  • sich isolieren – to isolate oneself

Image by Mumtahina Rahman from Pixabay

Sie hat sich auf der Geburtstagsfeier infiziert.

→ She was infected at the birthday party.

  • die Intensivstation – intensive care
  • das Intensivbett – intensive care bed

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Schwerkranke Patienten müssen auf der Intensivstation behandelt werden.

→ Seriously ill patients must be treated in intensive care.

  • die Krankheit – illness, sickness
  • die Kopfschmerzen – headache

Image by SAIYED IRFAN A from Pixabay

Eines der häufigen Symptome der Krankheit ist Kopfschmerzen.

→ One of the common symptoms of the illness is a headache.

  • die Kontaktperson – anyone who has been in contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19
  • die Kontaktbeschränkungen – restrictions on social interaction between people

Image created from those by J’Von Jones and Yvette W from Pixabay

Aufgrund der Kontaktbeschränkungen durften sich einige Familienmitglieder nicht sehen.

→ Due to the social contact restrictions, some family members were not allowed to see each other.

die Kurve abflachen – flatten the curve

RCraig09, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Das Ziel war es, die Kurve abzuflachen, um das Gesundheitssystem nicht zu überfordern.

→ The aim was to flatten the curve so as not to overburden the health system.

der Lockdown – lockdown

Image by Bob McEvoy from Pixabay

Während des Lockdowns mussten die meisten Menschen zu Hause bleiben und sich von anderen isolieren.

→ During the lockdown, most people had to stay home and isolate themselves from others.

  • die Langzeitfolgen – long-term effects
  • Long Covid – usually without an article (feminine or neuter)

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Zu den Langzeitfolgen von Covid gehören Müdigkeit und Gedächtnisprobleme.

→ The long-term effects of Covid include fatigue and memory problems.

  • die Maske – mask
  • die Maskenpflicht – the requirement / obligation to wear a mask

Entry only with a mask: Image by S. Bartels from Pixabay

Eine Maske kann infektiöse Tröpfchen abfangen.

→ A mask can catch or intercept infectious droplets.

niesen – to sneeze

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Eine infizierte Person hat häufig Symptome wie Niesen, Husten, Halsschmerzen und Fieber.

→ An infected person frequently has symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, sore throat and fever.

die Pandemie – pandemic

Eine Pandemie betrifft die gesamte Welt, eine Epidemie hingegen nur Menschen in einem bestimmten Gebiet.

→ A pandemic affects the entire world; an epidemic, however, only people in a specific area.

die Quarantäne – quarantine

Image by Markus Distelrath from Pixabay

Die Infizierten stehen unter Quarantäne, das heißt, sie müssen sich zu Hause isolieren.

→ Those who are infected must go into quarantine, which means that they must isolate themselves at home.

  • die Riechstörung
  • riechen

Image by Julio César Velásquez Mejía from Pixabay

Infizierte Personen erleben manchmal Probleme mit dem Riechen und dem Schmecken.

→ Infected people sometimes experience problems with smelling and tasting.

  • der Schnelltest – rapid antigen test, RAT administered by professionals
  • der Selbsttest – RAT administered by oneself

Image by Tom from Pixabay

Durch einen Selbsttest kann man ein schnelles Ergebnis zu Hause erhalten.

→ By doing a RAT, you can gain a quick result at home.

das Tröpfchen – tiny droplets or aerosols that hang in the air

Image by Masum Ali from Pixabay

Wenn eine infizierte Person spricht, singt, niest oder hustet, atmet sie winzige infektiöse Tröpfchen oder Aerosole aus, die in der Luft schweben.

→ When an infected person talks, sings, sneezes or coughs, they exhale tiny infectious droplets or aerosols that float in the air.

  • der Verlauf → ein schwerer / milder Verlauf – course, progression (of the illness) → a severe form or course / a mild form or course
  • die Variante – variant, strain

Image by Willgard Krause from Pixabay

Bei einem schweren Covid-Verlauf muss man ins Krankenhaus gehen, aber die meisten Menschen haben eine relativ milde Erkrankung und können zu Hause bleiben.

→ If your COVID infection is severe, you have to go to hospital, but most people have a relatively mild illness and can stay at home.

der / die Wissenschaftlerin– scientist

der Wellenbrecher – literally wave-breaker; refers to all the measures taken to control the fourth Covid wave → Word of the Year | Wort des Jahres 2021

Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

Alle Maßnahmen, die wir gegen COVID-19 treffen, können wir als Wellenbrecher bezeichnen.

→ All the measures that we take against COVID-19 could be described as wave breakers.

Quizzes

Quiz: Describing the Pandemic in German

This quiz draws on the vocabulary presented above. Click on the lightbulb on the quiz screen to see a list of the vocabulary specific to the quiz.

Audio Quiz: Das erste Jahr der Pandemie

The story of a Year 12 student’s experience in Melbourne, 2020: Covid lockdowns, learning from home, taking one walk per day, missing friends – and sometimes even missing teachers. – Recorded by Charlotte Yates

Unser Corona-Sprach-Quiz
Pandemie, Schwarzer Tod und andere Plagen

Das Wetter A-Z ⛈️

Roslyn Green A-Z, Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Quizzes, Vocabulary, Wortschatz , , , , ,

German Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives for Describing the Weather 🌦️

Published by Roslyn Green in November 2022

Jump to Quizzes
Jump to Adjective Shortlist

Bildlexikon: Das Wetter

Masculine Nouns ♦ Feminine Nouns ♦ Neuter Nouns ♦ Plural Nouns ♦ Verbs ♦ Adjectives

Die Abkühlung naht. – The cool change is coming.

abkühlen – to cool down

Nach den hohen Temperaturen in den letzten drei Tagen kühlt es heute endlich ab. – After the high temperatures in the last three days, it will finally cool down today.

der Blitz – lightning

Image by PayPal.me/FelixMittermeier from Pixabay

Nach dem Blitz hört man den Donner. – After the lightning you hear the thunder.

der Bodennebel – ground fog, low-lying fog

Image by Aart Beijeman from Pixabay

Auf diesem Bild stehen die Kühe mitten im Bodennebel. – In this picture, the cows are standing in the middle of low-lying fog.

die Brise – breeze

eine leichte, frische oder steife Brise – a light, fresh or strong breeze

Image by Photo Mix from Pixabay

Eine leichte Brise weht vom Meer her. – A light breeze is blowing from the sea.

der Donner – thunder

Der Donner rollt oder kracht. – The thunder rolls or cracks.

Image by Elias Sch. from Pixabay

Bei einem Gewitter gibt es immer Blitz und Donner. – In a storm, there’s always lightning and thunder.

der Eisregen – freezing rain that causes icy roads and slippery paths

Image by blabla5 from Pixabay

Bei Eisregen bildet sich eine Eisschicht auf den Straßen und Wegen. – During freezing rain, a layer of ice forms on the roads and paths.

der Frost – frost

frostig – frosty

Image by Perez Vöcking from Pixabay

Es ist ein frostiger Tag. Die Temperatur liegt unter dem Gefrierpunkt. – It’s a frosty day. The temperature is below zero. (US: below freezing point)

frieren – to freeze, feel extremely cold

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

  • Ich friere an den Händen. – My hands are freezing.
  • Ich friere. / Mich friert es. – I’m freezing.
  • Es friert. – It’s freezing.

das Gewitter – (thunder)storm

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

– Heute gibt es bestimmt ein Gewitter. – Oh nein, der Donner wird dem armen Hund Angst machen. – There’s bound to be a thunderstorm today. – Oh no, the thunder will frighten the poor dog.

der Grad – degree

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

  • Es sind 39 Grad. – The temperature is 39 degrees.
  • Bei 12 Grad brauchst du mindestens einen Pulli, vielleicht auch eine Jacke. – With a temperature of 12 degrees, you need at least a jumper, maybe a jacket as well.

der Hagel – hail

hageln – to hail

Image by Hilde Stockmann from Pixabay

Es hagelt. – It’s hailing.

Der Hagel vernichtet die Ernte. – The hail is destroying the crop.

die Hitzewelle – heatwave

heiß – hot

Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay

Bei einer Hitzewelle in Deutschland dürfen Schüler manchmal zu Hause bleiben. Sie haben Hitzefrei*. – During a heatwave in Germany, students are sometimes allowed to stay home. They have a day off from school because of the heat.

*This is sadly becoming less common. Such a civilised idea.

die Jahreszeit – season

Die vier Jahreszeiten sind Sommer, Herbst, Winter und Frühling. – The four seasons are summer, autumn, winter and spring.

Im Sommer ist es normalerweise heiß. Im Winter ist es oft kalt. – In summer it is usually hot. In winter it is often cold.

kühl – cool | kalt – cold

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

  • Mir ist kalt. – I’m cold. Literally: To me it is cold.
  • Mir wird kalt. – I’m getting cold.
  • Mir is kühl. – I feel a bit chilly.
  • Ist dir kalt? – Are you (feeling) cold?

die Luftfeuchtigkeit – humidity, dampness

feucht – moist, humid (see also schwül below)

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Die feuchte Sommerhitze ist manchmal schwer zu ertragen. – The humid heat of summer is sometimes hard to bear.

Die Luftfeuchtigkeit in den Tropen ist hoch. – The humidity in the tropics is high.

das Matschwetter – weather leading to mud, slush and puddles

matschig – slushy, muddy

Image by Gundula Vogel from Pixabay

Bei Matschwetter sind die Landstraßen oft schlammig und es gibt viele Pfützen. – In this kind of slushy weather, the country roads are often muddy and there are lots of puddles.

der Nebel – fog

nebelig – foggy

Image by Markus Spiske from Pixabay

Bei dichtem Nebel müssen Autofahrer sehr vorsichtig sein. – In thick fog, drivers have to be very careful.

der Nieselregen – drizzle

nieseln – to drizzle

Image by Margarita Morales Esparza from Pixabay

  • Es nieselt. – It’s drizzling.
  • Bei diesem Nieselregen kann man nichts planen und keinen Spaß haben. – In this drizzling rain you can’t plan anything or have any fun.

der Regen, der Regenbogen, der Regentropfen – rain, rainbow, raindrop

regnerisch – rainy | regenarm – dry, lacking in rain

Image by chrini from Pixabay

Nach dem Regen entsteht oft ein Regenbogen. – After the rain, a rainbow often forms.

der Schnee – snow

schneien – to snow | schmelzen – to melt

schneebedeckt – covered with snow

Image by Anja from Pixabay

Es schneit. – It’s snowing.

Die Landschaft ist mit Schnee bedeckt. – The countryside / landscape is covered with snow.

schwül – humid, muggy, sultry

Image by Isabela Isa from Pixabay

Heute ist es furchtbar schwül*. Ich bin in Schweiß gebadet! Wollen wir schwimmen gehen? – It’s terribly muggy today. I’m dripping with sweat. Shall we go for a swim?

*To distinguish between schwül – humid and schwul – gay, think of the dots on the umlaut as drops of sweat.

der Sonnenschein – sunshine

scheinen – to shine

Image by Tim Hill from Pixabay

  • Die Sonne scheint. – The sun is shining.
  • Bei strahlendem Sonnenschein sieht die Landschaft schön aus. – In the radiant / glorious sunshine, the landscape looks beautiful.

die Temperatur – temperature

hoch – high ↔ niedrig – low

Image by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi from Pixabay

Bei hohen Temperaturen geht man gern schwimmen. Bei niedrigen Temperaturen sitzt man lieber am Kamin. – When temperatures are high, people like to go swimming. When temperatures are low, people prefer to sit by the fire.

das Unwetter – storm (see also das Gewitter above)

Image by Petra from Pixabay

Das Unwetter hat große Schäden verursacht. – The storm caused a great deal of damage.

der Wind – wind

wehen – to blow

windig – windy ↔ windstill – calm

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

Heute weht ein starker Wind. – A strong wind is blowing today.

die Wolke – cloud

wolkig – cloudy ↔ klar – clear

Image by Manie Van der Hoven from Pixabay

Der Himmel ist mit Wolken bedeckt. – The sky is covered with clouds.

der Zyklon – cyclone

Image by 0fjd125gk87 from Pixabay

Zyklone sind gewöhnlicher in den Tropen. – Cyclones are more common in the tropics.

A Shortlist of Adjectives

frostig – frosty 🧊 heiß – hot 🥵 herrlich – heavenly 🏝️
kalt – cold 🥶klar – clear 🔹kühl – cool 🔹
mild – mild 🙂regnerisch – rainy 🌧️schlecht – bad ⬇
schwül* – muggy 💦sommerlich – summery 🌻sonnig – sunny 🌞
strahlend – glorious 🌅stürmisch – stormy ⛈️warm – warm 🌡️

*The easiest way to distinguish schwül – humid, muggy from schwul – gay is to think of the dots on the umlaut as drops of sweat.

Quizzes

Multiple Choice Quiz: Das Wetter🌦️ | Weather

This quiz provides questions based on the vocabulary above. Click on the 💡 on the top left of the quiz screen to read a vocabulary list that you can copy for your notes, if desired.

Fill the Blank Quiz: Das Wetter beschreiben🌦️ | Describing the Weather

Practise using the adjectives for describing the weather. Click on the 💡 on the top left of the quiz screen to read a vocabulary list that you can copy for your notes, if desired.

Einheit: Weihnachten 🎄

Roslyn Green Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Einheiten, Quizzes, Units, Vocabulary , , , , , ,

Published by Roslyn Green in November 2022

Unit: Christmas

Jump to Links and Unit Booklet
Jump to Quizzes and Activities

Bildlexikon: Weihnachten

  • das Geschenk → present, gift
  • die Bescherung → the present-opening
    • Wann ist bei euch Bescherung? → When do you open your Christmas presents?
  • der Weihnachtsbaum → Christmas tree
  • den Weihnachtsbaum schmücken → to decorate the Christmas tree
  • die Weihnachtskugel oder die Kugel → bauble
    • Wir haben den Weihnachtsbaum mit Kugeln geschmückt. → We’ve decorated the Christmas tree with baubles.
  • der Nikolaustag
    • Am Nikolaustag stellen die Kinder ihre Schuhe vor die Tür. → On St Nicholas’ Day, the children put their shoes in front of their house door.

Useful Links

Weihnachten – Einheit November 2022Download

Online Activities

Match the Pin and Label Puzzle

The pins are based on the gender of the noun: blue for masculine nouns; red for feminine nouns; green for neuter nouns. Click on the ⓘ symbol on each label to hear the noun pronounced. For English translations of each expression, click on the lightbulb .

Kahoot: Weihnachten

This Kahoot is based on the vocabulary on pages 2-4 of the unit booklet. The quiz is entirely in German, but most of the questions are quite simple.

Quizizz: Mein Wunschzettel → paper version on right

This quiz focuses on the correct accusative endings after sentence starts such as:

  • Zu Weihnachten wünsche ich mir…
  • Ich hätte gern…
Mein Wunschzettel-Quizizz

A Word and Picture Quiz

This quiz provides many pictures to help you recall the Christmas-based vocabulary. It has some more challenging questions towards the end but there are several ⓘ symbols with translations.

Download PDF of Completed Quiz

Worksheet in PDF form: Weihnachten

This handout is based on a very simplified version of Annik Rubens’ excellent description of Christmas in Germany, which is embedded on the left.

You can read the full text of this podcast episode here .

WeihnachtsspielDownload

This game is best printed on an A3 piece of paper for each group of 2-3 students.

This is a set of more detailed instructions for students who can handle a range of sentences and are fairly independent.

A Christmas Board Game

Students can play this game with dice and buttons. Wherever they land, they must try to make up a sentence using the infinitive expression on that square.

Another option could be for the first student to ask a question based on that square’s expression. The second student could answer the question.

Umweltschutz: Verben A-Z 🌳

Roslyn Green Deutsch als Fremdsprache, German as a Foreign Language, Quizzes, Verbs, Vocabulary , , , , , ,

Verbs for Discussing Environmental Issues

This post was published by Roslyn Green in October 2022.

Sentence Patterns
Verbs A-Z
Quizzes and Activities

The Conjugated Verb as Sentence Anchor

German word order is delightfully fluid. The only immovable part is the conjugated verb, which is reassuringly anchored in the second position. In the examples below, the conjugated verb is a modal verb. Other elements can move around, as illustrated by the floating subject, which is usually placed first or third. In sentences with modal verbs, the other verb in the infinitive form generally goes to the end.

Sentence Patterns

Key: subject ♦ modal verb ♦ infinitive verb

  • Wir müssen sofort handeln. [act, take action]
  • Im Haushalt kann man den Müll leicht trennen. [separate, sort]
  • Im Supermarkt können wir immer Stofftüten benutzen. [use]
  • Bei uns zu Hause könnten wir sicher weniger heizen. [heat]
  • Morgen musst du deine alten Kleider aussortieren. [sort out]
  • Dann können wir sie zum Secondhandladen bringen. [take]
  • Die Regierung sollte bedrohte Tierarten schützen. [protect]
  • Wir müssen die Vielfalt der Natur für kommende Generationen bewahren. [preserve]
  • Die Politiker sollten erneuerbare Energien fördern. [promote]

Bildlexikon: Verben A-Z

It’s useful to focus on the verbs required to give advice and make suggestions about protecting the environment. Here’s a handy list.

das Licht ausmachen oder ausschalten – to turn out the light

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Stoff- oder Jutetaschen benutzen – to use cloth or jute bags

Image by Artur Konik from Pixabay

erneuerbare Energien erzeugen – to generate renewable energies

Image by Markus Distelrath from Pixabay

das Umweltbewusstsein fördern – to promote environmental awareness

Image by Dorothe from Pixabay

zu Fuß gehen statt mit dem Auto fahren – to walk instead of drive

Image by Lorraine Cormier from Pixabay

andere Menschen inspirieren – to inspire other people

David Attenborough from John Cairns, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

gegen die Klimakrise kämpfen – to fight against the climate crisis

Image by cubicroot from Pixabay

umweltfreundliche Produkte kaufen – to buy environmentally friendly products

Image by rodgersm222 from Pixabay

nachhaltiger leben – to live more sustainably

Image by Markus Spiske from Pixabay

einen Becher oder eine Trinkflasche mitbringen – to take a cup or water bottle with you

Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay

Bäume pflanzen – to plant trees

Image by Nico Wall from Pixabay

Papier und Karton recyceln – to recycle paper and cardboard

Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay

den CO2-Fußabdruck reduzieren – to reduce your carbon footprint

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

die Natur und die Umwelt respektieren – to respect nature and the environment

Image by homecare119 from Pixabay

Energie / Strom sparen – to save energy / electricity

Image by 0fjd125gk87 from Pixabay

Plastik vermeiden – to avoid plastic

Image by G J Whitby from Pixabay

Haushaltssachen wiederverwenden – to reuse household items

Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay

Fenster und Türen zumachen – to close windows and doors

Image by yeshimss from Pixabay

Quizzes and Activities

Quiz: Verbs for Discussing Environmental Issues

Practise using the verbs listed above, including in sentences with modal verbs.

Become more and more familiar with the pattern shown on the left.

Match Pins and Labels: Umweltschutz: Haushalt, Stadt, Welt | Protecting the Environment: Household, City, World

This quiz is quite difficult even though it is full of pictures. Click on the for translations of all the phrasing. Each picture must be matched with a phrase about taking environmentally friendly action.

Kahoot: Die Umwelt

Players are asked to choose between options that are friendly to the environment and actions that might lead to harm. The vocabulary includes the wording summarised on this page, some modal verbs, and the use of denn to give explanations.