Modal Particles

How can the modal particle 'aber' be used?

In statements to express a surprised reaction.

(Der Kaffee ist aber heiß!)

Within a clause to express contradiciton, like 'though'.

(Mein Freund kam aber nicht.)

At the start of exclamations; sound scolding or reassuring.

(Hast du was dagegen? Aber nein!

Aber, aber! Was soll diese Aufregung?)

How is the modal particle 'allerdings' used?

Within a clause to express contradiciton (soft)

(Wir haben uns im Urlaub gut erholt, das Wetter war allerdings nicht sehr gut.)

In answer to a question, when you speak with your eyes.

(Kennst du die Ria? Allerdings! (I sure do....yikes))

Difference in using 'aber' and 'ja' to express surprise

Use the sentence 'Der Kaffee ist heiß'.

Der Kaffee ist aber heiß= oh damn, hotter than I expected!

Der Kaffee ist ja heiß= Oh, I was expecting cold cofee! (The coffee's actuallyreally hot.)

Difference in using 'allerdings' and 'aber' for a contradiction

Aber is very blunt, allerdings is a softer contradiction.

(Es ist ein gutes Buch, aber seine anderen gefallen mir besser.

Es ist ein gutes Buch, allerdings gefallen mir seine anderen besser.)

Uses of the modal particle 'also'

Within a clause, it requests confirmation of what the other person has just said.

(Du wirst mir also helfen können. (So,you'll be able to help me, then))

To introduce a question, statement or exclamation.

(Also, gut! Also, besuchst du uns morgen?)

Uses of the modal aprticle 'auch'

In statements: to correct a false impression.

(Gerhard sieht heute schlecht aus. 'Er ist (ja) auch lange krank gewesen'.)

Asks for confirmation in Y/N questions.

(Kann ich mich auch darauf verlassen? Bist du auch glücklich mit ihm?)

Turns W- questions into rhetorical questions. Nothing else could be expected.

(Was kann man auch dazu sagen?)

What is the meaning of the modal particle 'bloß'?

Only, merely or simply. An informal equivalent to nur.

(Störe mich bloß nicht bei der Arbeit. =You'd better not disturb me while I'm working.)

Uses of the modal particle 'denn'

To tone down a question. Less blunt, more obliging.

(Hast du denn die Lily gesehen? / Wie bist du denn gekommen?)

If there's a negative element in the Q, denn expects a justification rather than an answer.

(Bist du denn blind?)

How is 'denn noch' used?

To recall a fact.

(Wie heißt er denn noch? = What's his name again?)

Uses of the modal particle 'doch'

In statements to disagree with what was said.

(Ich habe doch Recht gehabt)

In commands, to add a note of impatience/urgency.

(Mach doch nicht so ein Gesicht! Don't keep making faces like that!)

In W- questions, to confirm an answer or repetiton of info. Like 'again?'.

(Wer war das doch? Wie heißt doch euer Hund?)

Differences between the stressed and unstressed doch.

Stressed: singnals contradiciton.

Unstressed: appeals more politely for agreement or confirmation.

(Ich habe doch Recht gehabt. Vs. Ich habe doch Recht gehabt *right?*)

Unstressed also acts like '...oder?'.

(Das hat ihr doch Sandra gesagt).

Uses of the modal particle 'eben'

-Statements: inescapable conclusion. (well, that's how it is.)

-Commands: no real alternative. (dann, bleib eben im Zug sitzen!)

-Sense of exactly, precicesly, just. Like 'genau'.

-Adverb. 'just now'. Like 'gerade'.

Use of the modal particle 'eh'

Like English 'anyway' or 'in any case'.

(Wenn ich arbeite, brauche ich eh immer mehr zum Essen)

Uses of the modal aprticle 'eigentlich'

-Questions: sense of English 'actually'.

-W questions: implies that the questions hasn't been fully or satisfactoraly answered.

-Statement: signals that something actually is the case, despite appearances. (He seems lazy, but he actually works really hard).

Einfach used as a particle and an adverb

-Particle: Equivalent to the English 'simply' or 'just'.

Ich bin einfach weggegangen.

-Adverb: means 'simply'. 'In a simple manner'.

Erst used in statements and exclamations

Signals that something has reached the absolute limit and is perhaps more than expected or desired.

Das konnte sie erst recht nicht. = That she really couldn't manage.

Erst used as a focus particle before numbers or time expressions

-Numbers: corresponds to 'only'. Ich habe erst zehn Seiten geschrieben.

-Time: implies that it's later than expected or desirable. 'only', 'not before', or 'not until'. wenn er erst zu Hause ist...

Differences between using 'erst' and 'nur'

-Numbers or quantities: erst= implies that there are more to follow. nur= sets a clear limit. No more.

-Time expressions: erst= 'not before'. Nur= on that one occasion.

Uses of the modal particle 'etwa'

-Y/N questions: implies sth is undesirable, that the answer should be no. Like English 'don't tell me that...'

-Negative sentences: intensifies the negation.

-Conditional sentences: stresses the idea of a possibility. (Wenn der Zug etwa verspätet sein sollte...)

Uses of 'etwa' as a focus particle

-Before a number or quantity= signals approximation.

-Before a noun or list of nouns= suggests a possibility. (Bist du sicher, dass du Jürgen gesehen hast, und nicht etwa seinen Bruder Thomas?)

Uses of the modal particle 'freilich'

-Admittedly, all the same.

-In answer to a question: stresses the answer is yes!

Uses of the modal particle 'gar'

-To instensify negatives (gar nicht, gar keine)

-Intensify 'so' or 'zu' with an adjective. (Du darfst das nicht gar so ernst nehmen).

-Less frequent alternative to 'sogar' in literary registers.

Use of the modal particle 'gleich'

Used in W-questions to politely request the repetition of information. Was hast du gleich gesagt?

Uses of the modal particle 'halt'

-Statements: stresses that sth is the case. (Das ist halt so, da kann man halt nichts machen).

-Commands: stresses that there is no other alternative. (Fahr halt etwas langsamer!)

What does the modal particle 'immerhin' mean?

Indicates that something didn't come up to expectations, but it was just about acceptable.

Like the English 'even so' or 'all the same'.

(Wir haben uns immerhin einen neuen Playstation anschaffen können= even so, we were able to buy a new Playstation.)

Uses of the modal particle 'ja'

-Statements: the speaker insists that what they're saying is correct. (wir haben ja gestern davon gesprochen).

-Always assumes that the speaker and listener agree.

-Exclamations: expresses surprise.

-Intensifies a command. (Bleib ja hier!)

-Focus particle: emphasises the importance of the noun it's placed before. Even, indeed. (Er war ein Erfolg, ja ein Triumph).

Explain the difference in meaning between these two sentences:

- Die Milch ist ja/doch sauer!

- Die Milch ist aber/vielleicht sauer!

-Ja/doch= surprised because you expected the milk to be fresh.

-Aber/vielleicht= surprised at how sour the milk is.

Uses of the modal particle 'jedenfalls'

-Statements: 'at least', 'at any rate'. (Vielleicht ist sie krank, sie sieht jedenfalls schlecht aus= perhaps she's ill, at least, she doesn't look well).

-Commands: something should be done in any event. (Bring jedenfalls deinen Badeanzug mit).

Use of the modal particle 'lediglich'

Used before another word to indicate a restriction or a limit. 'only', 'no more than'. Formal register.

(Ich verlange lediglich mein Recht).