German Language Notes: Lessons 14 to 21

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering regular and irregular present-tense German verb conjugations, adjective opposites, question phrases, nominative case usage, and definite, indefinite, and negative articles.

Regelmäßige Verben (Schwache Verben)

Regular or weak verbs whose verb stem (Verbstamm) does not change when conjugated in the present tense (Präsens).

Verbstamm

The verb stem to which grammatical personal endings are attached during conjugation.

Conjugation of stems ending in -s, -ß, or -z

A special conjugation rule where the second-person singular (du) ending drops the 's' and becomes only '-t' (e.g., du reist, du tanzt).

Conjugation of stems ending in -d or -t

A pronunciation rule where an extra '-e-' is inserted before the personal endings for 'du' (-est) and 'er/sie/es' or 'ihr' (-et) (e.g., du arbeitest, ihr wartet).

Unregelmäßige Verben (Starke Verben)

Irregular or strong verbs whose verb stem changes vowel sounds in the second-person singular (du) and third-person singular (er/sie/es) forms.

Vokalwechsel

The stem vowel change occurring in strong/irregular verbs during present-tense conjugation (such as e → i, e → ie, a → ä, and au → äu).

Wissen

An irregular verb meaning 'to know'; uniquely changes its stem vowel from 'i' to 'ei' and drops the ending in both first-person singular (ich weiß) and third-person singular (er/sie/es weiß).

Wohnen

A regular German verb meaning 'to live' or 'to reside.'

Machen

A regular German verb meaning 'to do' or 'to make.'

Arbeiten

A regular German verb meaning 'to work'; its stem ends in '-t', requiring the insertion of '-e-' in forms like 'du arbeitest' and 'er arbeitet.'

Warten

A regular German verb meaning 'to wait'; requires an inserted '-e-' in conjugated forms such as 'du wartest' and 'ihr wartet.'

Antworten

A regular German verb meaning 'to answer'; its stem ends in '-t', requiring an inserted '-e-' before personal endings.

Reisen

A regular German verb meaning 'to travel'; its stem ends in '-s', resulting in the 'du' form taking only '-t' (du reist).

Tanzen

A regular German verb meaning 'to dance'; its stem ends in '-z', resulting in the 'du' form taking only '-t' (du tanzt).

Sprechen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to speak'; undergoes an e → i vowel shift in 'du sprichst' and 'er/sie/es spricht.'

Nehmen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to take'; undergoes an e → i vowel shift in 'du nimmst' and 'er/sie/es nimmt.'

Treffen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to meet'; undergoes an e → i vowel shift in 'du triffst' and 'er/sie/es trifft.'

Geben

An irregular German verb meaning 'to give'; undergoes an e → i vowel shift in 'du gibst' and 'er/sie/es gibt.'

Essen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to eat'; undergoes an e → i vowel shift in 'du isst' and 'er/sie/es isst.'

Helfen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to help'; undergoes an e → i vowel shift in 'du hilfst' and 'er/sie/es hilft.'

Lesen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to read'; undergoes an e → ie vowel shift in 'du liest' and 'er/sie/es liest.'

Sehen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to see'; undergoes an e → ie vowel shift in 'du siehst' and 'er/sie/es sieht.'

Laufen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to walk' or 'to run'; undergoes an au → äu vowel shift in 'du läufst' and 'er/sie/es läuft.'

Fahren

An irregular German verb meaning 'to drive'; undergoes an a → ä vowel shift in 'du fährst' and 'er/sie/es fährt.'

Schlafen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to sleep'; undergoes an a → ä vowel shift in 'du schläfst' and 'er/sie/es schläft.'

Waschen

An irregular German verb meaning 'to wash'; undergoes an a → ä vowel shift in 'du wäschst' and 'er/sie/es wäscht.'

das Gegenteil / die Gegenteile

The German word for 'opposite / opposites.'

Groß / Klein

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'big (or tall) / small.'

Schnell / Langsam

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'fast / slow.'

Dunkel / Hell

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'dark / light.'

Glücklich / Traurig

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'happy / sad.'

Lang / Kurz

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'long / short.'

Warm / Kühl

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'warm / cool.'

Heiß / Kalt

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'hot / cold.'

Richtig / Falsch

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'correct (right) / wrong (false).'

Dick / Dünn

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'fat / thin.'

Alt / Neu

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'old / new.'

Alt / Jung

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'old / young.'

Arm / Reich

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'poor / rich.'

Doof / Intelligent

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'dumb / intelligent.'

Gut / Schlecht

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'good / bad.'

Schwer / Leicht

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'heavy / light.'

Teuer / Billig

German adjective antonym pair meaning 'expensive / cheap.'

Wer ist das?

German question meaning 'Who is that?', specifically used when asking about a person.

Was ist das?

German question meaning 'What is that?', specifically used when asking about an object or thing (Sache).

Nominativ

The nominative case in German, which functions as the subject (Subjekt) of the sentence.

Der

The definite article used for masculine singular nouns in the nominative case.

Die (Singular)

The definite article used for feminine singular nouns in the nominative case.

Das

The definite article used for neutral (neuter) singular nouns in the nominative case.

Die (Plural)

The definite article used for all plural nouns in the nominative case, regardless of gender.

Unbestimmter Artikel

Indefinite articles in German corresponding to 'a/an': 'ein' for masculine, 'eine' for feminine, and 'ein' for neuter. There is no plural form.

Negativartikel (Kein / Keine)

Negative articles in German used to negate nouns: 'kein' for masculine and neuter singular, and 'keine' for feminine singular and all plural forms.