'Ist' Definition

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

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

Definition of 'Ist' in English

Sein - To be

verb

The verb 'ist' is a conjugated form of 'sein,' which means 'to be' in German. It is used to indicate a state of being, existence, or identification.

Example Sentences:

  • Es ist Sommer. - It is summer.

💡 Silly memory trick! Think of the phrase 'Ist it' as 'Is it.' This can help you remember that 'ist' means 'is' in English.

Related Words

Ist Es Gestern

German Challenges

Intermediate

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the personal pronoun 'mein' in the genitive case.

Der Hund meines Nachbarn ist sehr freundlich

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The genitive case form of the possessive pronoun 'mein' (my) corresponding to a masculine or neuter noun is 'meines'. In the sentence 'Der Hund meines Nachbarn ist sehr freundlich', 'meines' is used to show possession, indicating that the neighbor is the owner of the dog. 'Mein' changes to 'meines' in the genitive case to express this possession.
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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "träumen" to mean "to dream of"?

Sie träumt jede Nacht von ihrem Urlaub

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The correct preposition to use with "träumen" to convey the meaning of "to dream of" is "von", making the expression "träumen von". The sentence "Sie träumt jede Nacht von ihrem Urlaub" means "She dreams about her holiday every night".
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Beginner

Conjugate the modal verb "dürfen" to fit the sentence below.

Ihr dürft nicht rauchen.

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The correct form for 'dürfen' in the third person plural for a negative statement is 'dürfen'. The full translation is "You (plural) may not smoke".
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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "warten" to mean "to wait for"?

Peter hat auf seine Freundin gewartet.

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The correct preposition to use with "warten" to convey the meaning of "to wait for" is "auf", making the expression "warten auf". The sentence "Peter hat auf seine Freundin gewartet" means "Peter waited for his girlfriend." The other prepositions cannot be used to express the act of waiting for someone. Did you know? Prepositions in German can change the case of the noun that follows them. In the case of "warten auf", the preposition "auf" requires the noun to be in the accusative case.
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Intermediate

Which word best completes the sentence to mean 'capture' or 'record'?

Ich hoffe, einige wunderschöne Landschaftsbilder aufnehmen zu können.

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'Aufnehmen' is the correct German verb to use in this context, which translates to 'to capture' or 'to record' in English. Specifically, it's referring to capturing or recording landscape images, perhaps with a camera. The other options ('einnehmen', 'unternehmen', 'nehmen') are other verbs that do not fit 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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Beginner

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

Er mag Wienerschitzel, es ist sein Lieblingsessen.

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The correct form for 'mögen' in the third person singular is 'mag'. For the sentence "Er mag Wienerschitzel, es ist sein Lieblingsessen.", the full translation is "He likes Wienerschitzel, it's his favourite food."
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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb 'achten' to mean 'to pay attention to'?

Wir achten auf die Details

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The correct preposition to use with 'achten' to convey the meaning of 'to pay attention to' is 'auf', forming the phrase 'achten auf'. The sentence 'Wir achten auf die Details' translates to 'We pay attention to the details.' The other prepositions cannot be used to express the concept of paying attention to something. Fun Fact: 'Achten auf' requires the accusative case.
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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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Intermediate

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

Ich habe einen Kuchen gebacken.

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'Backen' is a transitive action verb, hence it requires 'haben' to form the perfect past tense. So, the correct sentence is 'Ich habe einen Kuchen gebacken', which means 'I baked a cake'. 'Sein' is typically used with intransitive verbs which involve a change in state or movement, which is not the case with 'backen'. Understanding the differential usage of 'haben' and 'sein' is crucial to forming accurate sentences in German.
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