'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 "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

Which word correctly identifies the subject of the sentence?

Er öffnet das Buch und beginnt die komplizierten Texte zu lesen.

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In this context, 'Er' is a personal pronoun used in the nominative case, indicating the subject of the sentence, translated as 'He' in English. The pronoun 'Er' is essential here as it refers to a specific male subject who is performing the action. All the other options are personal pronouns as well but in different forms such as 'Ihr' (You - formal), 'Du' (You - informal) and 'Es' (It), and would not fit in this sentence gramatically.
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Beginner

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb 'laufen' to mean 'to run through'?

Er läuft durch den Park

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The correct preposition to use with 'laufen' to convey the meaning of 'to run through' is 'durch', forming the phrase 'laufen durch'. The sentence 'Er läuft durch den Park' translates to 'He is running through the park.' The other prepositions are not used to express the concept of running through a place. Fun Fact: 'Laufen durch' requires the accusative case, as it typically involves a direct object – the place being run through.
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Intermediate

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

Die Schlüssel hängen am Kleiderhaken

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The correct preposition to use with "hängen" is "an", resulting in "hängen an". Therefore, "Die Schlüssel hängen am Kleiderhaken" means "The keys are hanging on the clothes hook". Note that "an dem" gets shortened to "am".
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Beginner

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

Sie müssen das Buch lesen, es ist unglaublich.

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The correct form for 'müssen' in the third person formal or plural is 'müssen'. For the sentence "Sie müssen das Buch lesen, es ist unglaublich.", the full translation is "You have to (must) read the book, it is incredible"
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Intermediate

Which preposition correctly pairs with the verb "treffen" to mean "to meet with"?

Sie trifft sich mit ihren Freunden

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The correct preposition to use with "treffen" to convey the meaning of "to meet with" is "mit", making the expression "treffen mit". The sentence "Sie trifft sich mit ihren Freunden" means "She is meeting with her friends". The other prepositions are not suitable to express the act of meeting with someone.
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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 personal pronoun 'wir' in the dative case.

Der Lehrer hat uns die Hausaufgaben aufgegeben

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The dative case form of the personal pronoun 'wir' (we) is 'uns'. In the sentence "Der Lehrer hat uns die Hausaufgaben aufgegeben," 'uns' is used as the indirect object, receiving the action of the verb. Here, the verb 'aufgeben' (to assign) requires an indirect object to indicate to whom the homework is assigned. 'Wir' changes to 'uns' 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 '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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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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