'Es' Definition

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

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The word 'Es' is a German word that can mean various things in English, such as 'it', 'it' or 'it'. Below are a few of the different meanings of the word 'Es', with examples sentences to help you understand how to use the word in context.

Definitions of 'Es' in English

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pronoun

The pronoun 'es' is used to refer to a previously mentioned or understood object or thing. It can be translated as 'it' in English.

💡 Silly memory trick! To remember 'es,' think of it as 'e' for 'entity' or 'thing.' It represents an unnamed object or thing in the sentence.

Es - It

pronoun

The pronoun 'Es' is used in German to refer to inanimate objects or to emphasize the existence or presence of something. It is often translated as 'it' in English.

Example Sentences:

  • Es gibt einen kleinen Bären namens Max. - There is a little bear named Max.

💡 Silly memory trick! To remember 'Es,' think of the letter 'E' as representing something 'Existing' or 'Existing thing.' This can help you remember that 'Es' is used to refer to something that exists or is present, like an object or situation.

- - -

pronoun

The pronoun 'Es' is used as the subject in a sentence to refer to something non-specific or previously mentioned. In this case, it translates to 'It' in English.

Example Sentences:

  • Es ist Sommer. - It is summer.

German Challenges

Beginner

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

Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.

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The correct form for "können" in the first person singular is "kann".
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Intermediate

Which form of the noun 'Geist' best completes the sentence?

Ich bin nicht sicher, ob das ein Geist ist.

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'Geist' in this context is a German noun that translates to 'ghost' or 'spirit' in English. The other options, like 'Geistes' (genitive singular), 'Geiste' (dative singular), or 'Geisten' (dative plural), do not fit the grammatical structure of the sentence.
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Beginner

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

Sie trinkt den Tee.

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In the given sentence, "Sie trinkt den Tee," the word "Tee" is a masculine noun. In German, "Tee" is "der Tee" in the nominative case. In the accusative case, for masculine nouns, the definite article changes from "der" to "den." Therefore, the correct sentence is "Sie trinkt den Tee," which translates to "She drinks the tea" in English. Remembering these definite article changes in the accusative case is crucial for accurate sentence construction. Practice using the correct article forms for masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns to improve your German language skills.
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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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Intermediate

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

Das Kind hat das ganze Eis aufgegessen.

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The verb 'essen' (to eat) usually requires 'haben' to form the perfect tense, as it's a transitive verb which means it requires an object for the action. Hence, 'Das Kind hat das ganze Eis aufgegessen', which means 'The child ate all the ice cream', is the correct sentence. The usage of 'haben' is key to accurately presenting this action in the past tense.
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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb 'sprechen' to mean 'to talk about'?

Sie spricht immer von ihrem Bruder

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The correct preposition to use with 'sprechen' to convey the meaning of 'to talk about' is 'von'. The phrase formed is 'sprechen von'. The sentence 'Sie spricht immer von ihrem Bruder' translates to 'She always talks about her brother.' The other prepositions cannot be used to express the concept of talking about something. Note that 'sprechen von' requires the dative case.
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Beginner

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the possessive pronoun 'mein' in the genitive case.

Das ist das Haus meiner Schwester.

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The genitive case form of the possessive pronoun 'mein' (my) corresponding to a feminine noun is 'meiner'. In the sentence, "Das ist das Haus meiner Schwester," the word 'meiner' is showcasing possession, translating to 'That is the house of my sister' in English.
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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "kaufen" to mean "to buy for"?

Ich kaufe ein Geschenk für meine Freundin

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The correct preposition to use with "kaufen" to convey the meaning of "to buy for" is "für", making the expression "kaufen für". The sentence "Ich kaufe ein Geschenk für meine Freundin" means "I am buying a gift for my girlfriend." The other prepositions cannot be used to express the act of buying something for someone. Remember: In German, prepositions can change the case of the noun that follows them. In the case of "kaufen für", the preposition "für" requires the noun to be in the accusative case.
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Beginner

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the personal pronoun 'ich' in the dative case.

Sie hat mir den Schlüssel gegeben

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The dative case form of the personal pronoun 'ich' (I) is 'mir'. In the sentence "Sie hat mir den Schlüssel gegeben," 'mir' is used as the indirect object, receiving the action of the verb. Here, the verb 'geben' (to give) requires an indirect object to indicate to whom the key is given. 'Ich' changes to 'mir' in the dative case to reflect its role as the recipient of the action in the sentence.
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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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