'Sondern' Definition

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

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The word 'Sondern' 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 'Sondern' in English

Sondern - But

conjunction

The conjunction 'sondern' is used to introduce the second part of a negative proposition or contrasting statement. It is often translated as 'but' in English.

Example Sentences:

German Challenges

Beginner

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

Die Mutter kauft mir ein Geschenk

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The dative case of the personal pronoun 'ich' (I) is 'mir'. In the sentence "Die Mutter kauft mir ein Geschenk," 'mir' is used as the indirect object, receiving the action of the verb. Here, the verb 'kaufen' (to buy) requires an indirect object to indicate to whom the gift is bought. '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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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb 'sparen' to mean 'to save for'?

Ich spare für meine Reise

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The correct preposition to use with 'sparen' to convey the meaning of 'to save for' is 'für', forming the phrase 'sparen für'. The sentence 'Ich spare für meine Reise' translates to 'I am saving for my trip.' The other prepositions are not used to express the concept of saving for something. Fun Fact: 'Sparen für' requires the accusative case, as it typically involves a direct object – the thing or goal being saved for.
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Beginner

Which coordinating conjunction fits best in this sentence?

Ich konnte nicht schlafen, denn ich hatte viel Kaffee getrunken.

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The coordinating conjunction 'denn' is used to give an explanation or reason for a stated fact or action. Therefore, in this context 'denn' is the best fit as it explains why the person couldn't sleep (because they had a lot of coffee).
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Beginner

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

Er muss nach Hause gehen.

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The correct form for 'müssen' in the third person singular is 'muss'. For the sentence "Er muss nach Hause gehen", the full translation is "He has to (must) go home."
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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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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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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb 'arbeiten' to mean 'to work on'?

Er arbeitet an einem neuen Projekt

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The correct preposition to use with 'arbeiten' to convey the meaning of 'to work on' is 'an', forming the phrase 'arbeiten an'. The sentence 'Er arbeitet an einem neuen Projekt' translates to 'He is working on a new project.' The other prepositions are not used to express the concept of working on something. Fun Fact: 'Arbeiten an' requires the dative case.
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Beginner

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

Mein Freund kommt aus den USA

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The correct preposition to use with "kommt" is "aus" when indicating a geographical origin. Thus, "Mein Freund kommt aus den USA" translates to "My friend comes from the U.S."
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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.

Ich esse den Apfel.

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In the given sentence, "Ich esse den Apfel," the word "Apfel" is a masculine noun. In German, "Apfel" is "der Apfel" in the nominative case. In the accusative case, for masculine nouns, the definite article changes from "der" to "den." Therefore, the correct sentence is "Ich esse den Apfel," which translates to "I eat the apple" in English. Remember that the nominative masculine definite article "der" changes to "den" in the accusative. This is crucial for constructing correct sentences in German. Keep practicing to familiarize yourself with these changes.
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Beginner

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

Ich sehe das Auto.

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In the given sentence, "Ich sehe das Auto," the word "Auto" is a neuter noun. In German, "Auto" is "das Auto" in the nominative case. Since neuter nouns do not change their article in the accusative case, "das" remains "das" even when it is the direct object of the verb "sehen" (to see). Therefore, the correct sentence is "Ich sehe das Auto," which translates to "I see the car" in English. 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 get the hang of these changes in the different cases!
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