Lessons for English speakers
Learn to read German
A short, active path into reading German: decode nine real words from a ten-rule sound table, learn where the verb goes and why der becomes den, then read a fable whose pronunciation and English begin hidden.
13 core sections · ≈ 33 min + 4 optional lookups · ≈ 53 min with everything
7
The little words in front of a thing — and when der becomes den
≈ 2 min
What you'll learn
- Three words for “the”, and every naming word owns one for life.
- “A” is einine, or eineINE-uh in front of a diedee-word.
- On the receiving end, exactly one changes: derdair → dendayn.
- Because the done-to word is marked, German can move words around and stay clear.
English has one word for “the”. German has three, and there is no rule worth learning about which noun takes which: store the little word glued to the big one, as if der Hunddair hoont were a single word. That is what German children do.
The three words for “the”, and the two for “a”
| “The” | “A” |
|---|---|
| der Hunddair hoont“the dog” | ein Hundine hoont“a dog” |
| die Katzedee KAT-suh“the cat” | eine KatzeINE-uh KAT-suh“a cat” |
| das Hausdass howss“the house” | ein Hausine howss“a house” |
All three mean exactly “the”; only the middle row takes the extra -e on “a”.
The doer, and the done-to
der Hunddair hoont“the dog” — doing
den Hunddayn hoont“the dog” — being done to
English shows the jobs by word order. German changes one little word instead.
ein Hundine hoont“a dog” — doing
einen HundINE-en hoont“a dog” — being done to
“A” grows an -en. diedee and dasdass do not change at all.
Who is doing, and who is being done to?
- Jetzt sieht der Fuchs den Vogel.
One little word changed shape — that one is receiving.
Show answer +Hide answer −
Jetzt sieht der Fuchs den Vogel.yetst zeet dair fooks dayn FOH-gul“Now the fox sees the bird.” - Which two little words stay the same on the receiving end?
Show answer +Hide answer −
diedee and dasdass.