Daily Language Challenge
'Rätsel' Definition
What is the meaning of the German word 'Rätsel'?
The word 'Rätsel' is a German word that can mean 'Puzzle' in English. You can find example sentences below to help you understand how to use the word in context.
Definition of 'Rätsel' in English
Das Rätsel - The puzzle
noun , neuterRelated Words
VerschwundenenGerman Challenges
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 preposition correctly pairs with the verb "glauben" to mean "to believe in"?
Viele Kinder glauben an den Weihnachtsmann
You answered incorrectly.
The correct preposition to use with "glauben" to convey the meaning of "to believe in" is "an", making the expression "glauben an". The other prepositions cannot be used to express the act of believing in someone or something. The full sentence means "Many children believe in Father Christmas"
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Beginner
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the indefinite article "a/an" in the dative case for a neuter noun.
Ich gebe einem Kind ein Spielzeug.
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The sentence indicates the indirect object in the dative case. We are giving a toy to a child. The correct form of the indefinite article for neuter nouns in the dative case is "einem." Therefore, the sentence should be "Ich gebe einem Kind ein Spielzeug," which means "I give a toy to a child" in English.
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Advanced
Which is the correct form of the adjective 'geheimnisvoll' in the dative masculine case?
Er lebt in einem kleinen Dorf neben einem großen, geheimnisvollen Wald.
You answered incorrectly.
'Geheimnisvollen' is the correct adjective declination in this case. It is used in the masculine dative singular form of the adjective 'geheimnisvoll', which translates to 'mysterious' in English. The adjective is modified to express the gender, number, and case of the noun it is describing, in this case, 'Wald' (forest). Using other form are incorrect in this context.
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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
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the personal pronoun 'ihr' in the genitive case.
Das ist die Tasche ihrer Freundin.
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The genitive case form of the possessive pronoun 'ihr' (her) corresponding to a feminine noun is 'ihrer'. In the sentence 'Das ist die Tasche ihrer Freundin', 'ihrer' is used to show possession, indicating that the friend is the owner of the bag. 'Ihr' changes to 'ihrer' in the genitive case to express this possession.
Fun fact - if it was 'Ihrer' (with the first letter capitalized) then it would mean 'your' (format) not 'her'!
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Beginner
Which form of the verb 'fühlen' correctly completes the sentence?
Ich gehe heute nicht zur Arbeit, weil ich mich nicht gut fühle.
You answered incorrectly.
'Fühle' is the correct first-person singular form of the verb 'fühlen', which translates to 'feel' in English. In the context of this sentence, 'fühle' is used to express how the speaker is feeling physically. The other options are other forms of 'fühlen', but they are not correct in this context. 'Fühlt' is third-person singular, 'gefühlt' is the past participle used for perfect tense, and 'fühlte' is simple past tense.
Beginner
Which coordinating conjunction fits best in this sentence?
Es regnet, aber wir werden trotzdem spazieren gehen
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The coordinating conjunction that is used to show contrast is 'aber', which means 'but'. In this example "aber" introduces a contrasting statement to "Es regnet," showing an intention to act despite the rain.
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Beginner
Conjugate the modal verb "dürfen" to fit the sentence below
darf ich hier sitzen?
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The correct form for 'dürfen' in the first person singular for a question is 'darf'. The full translation is "May I sit here?.
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Intermediate
Which auxiliary verb correctly completes the sentence to fit the context given?
Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren.
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When using the verb 'fahren' in the German past tense, 'sein' is the correct auxiliary verb to indicate movement or travel, such as in 'Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren' which means 'I traveled to Berlin'. The choice of 'sein' over 'haben' is pivotal in such contexts because 'fahren' is an intransitive verb that implies a change of location, a state where 'sein' is appropriate to express the action. However, in the sentence 'Ich habe das Auto gefahren' ('I have driven the car'), it uses 'haben' because it emphasizes the action of driving a specific object – the car. Understanding the nuances of 'haben' and 'sein' helps in accurately conveying past actions and is essential for fluency in German.
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