'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

Conjugate the modal verb "wollen" to fit the sentence.

Ihr wollt tanzen lernen

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The correct form for 'wollen' in the second person plural is 'wollt'. The full translation is "You (plural) want to learn to dance".
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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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Beginner

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

Ich helfe ihm immer, wenn er Hilfe braucht.

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The dative case form of the personal pronoun 'er' (he) is 'ihm'. In the sentence, 'ihm' is used as the indirect object, receiving the action of the verb. 'Er' changes to 'ihm' in the dative case to reflect its role as the recipient of the action in the sentence.
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Intermediate

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

Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren.

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When using the verb 'fahren' in the German past tense, 'sein' is the correct auxiliary verb to indicate movement or travel, such as in 'Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren' which means 'I traveled to Berlin'. The choice of 'sein' over 'haben' is pivotal in such contexts because 'fahren' is an intransitive verb that implies a change of location, a state where 'sein' is appropriate to express the action. However, in the sentence 'Ich habe das Auto gefahren' ('I have driven the car'), it uses 'haben' because it emphasizes the action of driving a specific object – the car. Understanding the nuances of 'haben' and 'sein' helps in accurately conveying past actions and is essential for fluency in German.
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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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Beginner

What is the correct form of the definite article "the" in the dative case for a Neuter noun.

Ich gebe dem Kind das Spielzeug.

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The sentence "Ich gebe _________ Kind das Spielzeug" uses the dative case to indicate that "Kind" is the indirect object of the verb "geben" (to give). The correct definite article for neuter nouns in the dative case is "dem," so the sentence reads "Ich gebe dem Kind das Spielzeug," translating to "I give the toy to the child" in English.
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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

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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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "erinnern" to mean "to remember"?

Erinnern Sie sich an meinen Namen?

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The correct preposition to use with "erinnern" to convey the meaning of "to remember" is "an", making the expression "sich erinnern an". The sentence "Erinnern Sie sich an meinen Namen" means "Do you remember my name".
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Beginner

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the personal pronoun 'er' in the accusative case.

Siehst du ihn da drüben?

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The accusative form of the personal pronoun 'er' (he) is 'ihn'. In the sentence "Siehst du ihn da drüben?" 'ihn' is used as the direct object, being the person seen (the one affected by the action of the verb). Here, the verb 'sehen' (to see) requires a direct object to complete its sense. 'Er' changes to 'ihn' in the accusative case to reflect this role.
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