Daily Language Challenge
'Fall' Definition
What is the meaning of the German word 'Fall'?
The word 'Fall' is a German word that can mean 'Case' in English. You can find example sentences below to help you understand how to use the word in context.
Definition of 'Fall' in English
Der Fall - The case
noun , masculineRelated Words
EichendorfGerman Challenges
Intermediate
Which word correctly depicts the action of stealing in the past?
Deine Sachen wurden gestern vom Zimmer gestohlen.
You answered correctly!
'Gestohlen' is the past participle of the German verb 'stehlen', which means 'to steal' in English. The past participle is used in this sentence to depict an action that has been done in the past - here, the stealing of the things. The other options are not recognized words in the German language or are the incorrect form of the verb 'stehlen'.
Intermediate
Which auxiliary verb correctly completes the sentence to fit the context given?
Mein Bruder ist gestern schwimmen gegangen.
You answered incorrectly.
Since 'schwimmen' can imply motion when combined with 'gehen,' 'sein' is used as the auxiliary verb in 'Mein Bruder ist gestern schwimmen gegangen,' translating to 'My brother went swimming yesterday.' This usage of 'sein' is due to the motion indicated by 'gegangen.' Understanding when to use 'haben' or 'sein' with verbs like 'schwimmen' in different contexts is key for German fluency.
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Beginner
What is the correct form of the definite article "the" in the dative case for a Feminine noun.
Ich helfe der Frau
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In German, the dative case form of the feminine article "die" is "der." For example, in the sentence "Ich helfe der Frau," which translates to "I help the woman" in English, the word "Frau" (woman) is in the dative case as the indirect object of the verb "helfen" (to help), so the article changes from "die" to "der."
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Beginner
Conjugate the modal verb "dürfen" to fit the sentence below
Du darfst das Fenster öffnen.
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The correct form for "dürfen" in the second person singular is "darfst". In German, the verb "dürfen" (to be allowed to, can) is conjugated differently depending on the subject. For the second person singular, such as when addressing someone directly with "you" in English, "dürfen" is conjugated as "darfst." This form applies in sentences like "Du darfst das machen" (You are allowed to do that). This conjugation is part of the pattern in German where most verbs change their endings based on the subject's person and number, ensuring that the verb agrees with its subject. Remembering these conjugation patterns is crucial for correctly constructing sentences in German.
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Intermediate
Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb 'hoffen' to mean 'to hope for'?
Er hofft auf einen Sieg
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The correct preposition to use with 'hoffen' to convey the meaning of 'to hope for' is 'auf', forming the phrase 'hoffen auf'. The sentence 'Er hofft auf einen Sieg' translates to 'He hopes for a victory.' The other prepositions cannot be used to express the concept of hoping for something.
Fun Fact: 'Hoffen auf' requires the accusative case.
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Intermediate
Which word best completes the sentence to mean 'little'?
Er hat nur wenig Geld in seiner Tasche.
You answered correctly!
In this context, 'wenig' is used as a pronoun that means 'little' in English. The word 'wenig' does not change based on declination in this context. When used with countable objects in a negative context, 'wenig' typically indicates a smaller than expected quantity. The other options are grammatically incorrect declinations of 'wenig' and do not fit in this particular sentence.
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Intermediate
Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb 'fahren' to mean 'to drive to'?
Er fährt zu seiner Arbeit
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The correct preposition to use with 'fahren' to convey the meaning of 'to drive to' is 'zu', forming the phrase 'fahren zu'. The sentence 'Er fährt zu seiner Arbeit' translates to 'He is driving to his work.' The other prepositions are not used to express the concept of driving to a place.
Fun Fact: 'Fahren zu' requires the dative case, as it typically involves a direction or destination – the place being driven to.
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Intermediate
Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "kämpfen" to mean "to fight for"?
Er kämpft um seine Rechte.
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The correct preposition to use with "kämpfen" to convey the meaning of "to fight for" is "um", making the expression "kämpfen um". The sentence "Er kämpft um seine Rechte" means "He is fighting for his rights." The other prepositions are not suitable to express the act of fighting for something.
An alternative that also works is "für" - "Er kämpft für seine Rechte".
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Advanced
Which word best completes the sentence to mean 'supplies'?
Es ist wichtig, genügend Vorräte für den langen Winter zu haben.
You answered incorrectly.
In this context, 'Vorräte' is the plural form of the noun 'Vorrat', which means 'supplies' or 'provisions' in English. This noun is commonly used to refer to food, drink, or other necessary items for survival or specific purposes, and it often implies a state of preparedness or readiness for a future event or period of time. The other options are either singular ('Vorrat') or decline incorrectly in the plural ('Vorräten', 'Vorrätes') according to the rules of German grammar.
Intermediate
Which auxiliary verb correctly completes the sentence to fit the context given?
Er hat einen Brief geschrieben.
You answered correctly!
For the verb 'schreiben' (to write), 'haben' is the correct auxiliary verb in the past tense, not 'sein'. So the correct sentence is 'Er hat einen Brief geschrieben' which means 'He has written a letter'. When you use 'schreiben', it is about an action that has been done, in this case, writing a letter, thus 'haben' is used. Understanding this distinction is crucial in conveying the intended action in the German language.
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