'Helfen' Definition

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

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

Definitions of 'Helfen' in English

Helfen - To help

verb

The verb 'helfen' means 'to help' in German. It is a commonly used verb to offer assistance or support.

💡 Silly memory trick! To remember 'helfen,' think of it as 'help' with an 'H' twist. The 'H' can stand for 'help' and 'helfen' in German.

Helfen - To help

verb

The verb 'helfen' means 'to help' in German. It is commonly used to express assisting someone or something in need.

Example Sentences:

  • Niklas beschließt, dem Wald zu helfen, und beginnt sein Abenteuer. - Niklas decides to help the forest and begins his adventure.

💡 Silly memory trick! To remember 'helfen,' think of 'helping' a friend 'helfen' with their 'helfen' homework. The repetition can make it easier to remember.

German Challenges

Beginner

Which word best fits the sentence to mean 'onto'?

Sie legen das Buch auf den Tisch.

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In this context, 'auf' is a German preposition that translates to 'on' or 'onto' in English. It is used to describe the position of something in relation to a surface or a place. 'Auf' is the only option that fits the sentence's context and works grammatically. Other options ('an', 'aus', und 'ein') don't fit the context or are grammatically incorrect.
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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "liegen" in this sentence?

Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch

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The correct preposition to use with "liegen" is "auf", making the expression "liegen auf". The sentence "Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch" means "The book is on the table". Did you know? Prepositions in German can change the case of the noun that follows them. In the case of "liegen auf", the preposition "auf" requires the noun to be in the dative case.
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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.

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'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

Which adjective correctly describes the feminine noun in the nominative case?

Er fand eine alte, verfallene Hütte

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The adjective 'alte' is the correct word to use here because it is in the nominative case, feminine form. This adjective describes the noun 'Hütte', which is a feminine noun. 'Alt', the base form of the adjective, 'alten', the masculine or dative plural form, and 'altes', the neutral form, would all be incorrect in this context because they do not match the gender of the noun being described.
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Intermediate

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

Könntest du mir bitte das Salz reichen?

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The dative case form of the personal pronoun 'ich' (you) is 'mir'. In the sentence "Könntest du mir bitte das Salz reichen?" ('Could you please me pass the salt?'), 'mir' is used as the indirect object, receiving the action of the verb. Here, the verb 'reichen' (to pass) requires an indirect object to indicate to whom the salt is passed. 'Ich' changes to 'mir' in the dative case to reflect this role.
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Beginner

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the possessive pronoun 'mein' in the dative case.

Ich schreibe meinem Onkel einen Brief

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The dative case form of the possessive pronoun 'mein' (my) when used with a masculine noun is 'meinem'. The definitive masculine noun 'Onkel' changes the possessive pronoun 'mein' to 'meinem' in the dative case to reflect its role as the recipient of the action in the sentence 'Ich schreibe meinem Onkel einen Brief', translating to 'I write a letter to my uncle' in English.
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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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Beginner

What is the correct form of the definite article "the" in the genitive case for a Feminine noun?

Die Idee der Frau ist sehr gut.

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The phrase indicates possession, using the genitive case. The correct definite article for feminine nouns in the genitive case is "der." Hence, the sentence should be "Die Idee der Frau ist gut," which means "The woman's idea is very good" in English.
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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "denken" to mean "to think of"?

Ich denke an dich.

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The correct preposition to use with "denken" to convey the meaning of "to think of" is "an", forming the phrase "denken an". The sentence "Ich denke an dich" translates to "I am thinking of you." The other prepositions are not used to express the concept of thinking of someone or something. Fun Fact: "Denken an" requires the accusative case, as it typically involves a direct object – the thing or person being thought of.
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Intermediate

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

Er hat einen Brief geschrieben.

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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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