'Aber' Definition

What is the meaning of the German word 'Aber'?

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The word 'Aber' is a German word that can mean 'But' in English. You can find example sentences below to help you understand how to use the word in context.

Definition of 'Aber' in English

Aber - But

conjunction

The conjunction 'aber' is commonly used in German to mean 'but.' It is used to contrast two ideas or statements.

Example Sentences:

  • Diese Entdeckung macht Niklas nervös, aber auch aufgeregt. - This discovery makes Niklas nervous, but also excited.

German Challenges

Beginner

Which coordinating conjunction fits best in this sentence?

Ich möchte Milch kaufen, denn ich habe keine zu Hause.

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The coordinating conjunction 'denn' is used to provide a reason or explanation for the action or state described in the main clause. In this case, the desire to buy milk is explained by the fact that there is no milk at home. Note - 'weil' can also fill this role, but doesn't fit in this sentence grammatically as the verb would need to move to the end.
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Beginner

Conjugate the modal verb "können" to fit the sentence below

Können wir zusammen essen gehen?

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The correct form for 'können' in the first person plural for a suggestion is 'können'. The full translation is "Can we go to eat together?"
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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 word correctly depicts the action of stealing in the past?

Deine Sachen wurden gestern vom Zimmer gestohlen.

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'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'.
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Beginner

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the definite article "the" in the accusative case for a Feminine noun.

Ich lese die Zeitung.

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In German, the accusative case form of "die" remains "die" when used with feminine nouns. For example, in the sentence "Ich lese die Zeitung" (I read the newspaper), "Zeitung" is a feminine noun and "die" is used as the article in both the nominative and accusative cases. This consistency applies to all feminine nouns in German, where the article "die" does not change in the accusative case. Remembering that neuter and feminine articles do not change in the accusative case can be very helpful. It means that every time you see "das" or "die" as an article for a single noun, it will remain the same in the accusative case. Keep practicing to understand these changes in the different cases!
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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.

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'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.
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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.

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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.
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Intermediate

Which word best completes the sentence to mean 'cabin'?

Im Wald gab es eine kleine Hütte, in der ein alter Mann lebte.

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In this sentence, 'Hütte' is the correct term to use in German to denote a 'cabin', 'hut', or 'cottage'. 'Hütt' doesn't exist in German, 'Hütten' would be the correct plural form, and 'Hüte' translates to 'hats', which doesn't make sense in this context.
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Intermediate

Which auxiliary verb correctly completes the sentence to fit the context given?

Mein Bruder ist gestern schwimmen gegangen.

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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

Conjugate the modal verb "müssen" to fit the sentence

Wir müssen früh aufstehen.

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The correct form for 'müssen' in the first person plural is 'müssen'. The full translation is "We have to (must) wake up early".
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