When it comes to sending an SMS, mailing a package, or even sending a person to do something, there are so many verbs that come up. Schicken, verschicken, senden, versenden... What is the difference? And what about abschicken? 

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The differences can be subtle. While senden can be quite informal, versenden implies a more organized sending process or action, and is often used in a business context. But both still simply mean "to send." 

Frau Hoffmann, es war Ihre Verantwortung, diese Information zu versenden.

Ms. Hoffmann, it was your responsibility to send this information.

Caption 40, Berufsleben: Probleme mit Mitarbeitern

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It is also possible to use senden for something immaterial:

Darum sende ich euch Liebe und Respekt.

So I send you love and respect.

Caption 48, Golo: Smile

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Die Herbstfeuer senden ihre Rauchsignale in den Himmel

The autumn fires send their smoke signals into the sky

Caption 34, Die letzten Paradiese: Die Schönheit der Alpen 2

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Furthermore, the verb senden can also mean "to broadcast":

Wir senden vegan und glutenfrei.

We broadcast in a vegan and gluten-free way.

Caption 60, extra 3: Nachhaltig oder Greenwashing?

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Out of schicken, verschicken, and abschicken, schicken is the most general verb and can be used in most contexts. 

Kein Thema. Dann schicken Sie bitte ein Foto, einen Lebenslauf, ein kurzes Anschreiben an diese Adresse.

No problem. Then please send a photo, a CV, a short cover letter to this address.

Caption 54, Mein Weg nach Deutschland: Auf Arbeitssuche

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Sie schicken eine Streife? Vielen Dank.

You're sending a patrol car? Thank you very much.

Caption 18, Die Pfefferkörner: Alles auf Anfang

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Like versenden, verschicken once again often implies a more organized or continuous effort, whereas abschicken emphasizes the act of dispatching and is often used for a singular action.

Haben Sie die Bewerbung denn auch abgeschickt?

Did you also send off the application?

Caption 6, Nicos Weg: Jobsuche

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Further Learning
You'll find many more examples of these verbs used in context on Yabla German.

The words "somebody," "someone," "anybody," and "anyone" are indefinite pronouns that are usually translated as jemand in German. The indefinite pronoun jemand is similar to the definite pronouns I (ich), you (Sie or du), we (wir), or they (sie), but is referring to an indefinite rather than specific person.

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Just like the definite pronouns in German, jemand is also subject to changing its form when used in the dative case after prepositions like nach, zu, mit or von. In the dative case, jemand gets an additional -em ending:

Sie suchen nach jemandem für ihre Marketingabteilung.

They're looking for someone for their marketing department.

Caption 8, Berufsleben - das Vorstellungsgespräch

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Es ist lange her, dass ich so eine Verbindung zu jemandem gespürt habe.

It's been a long time since I felt such a connection to anyone.

Caption 53, Die Wohngemeinschaft - Die Verabredung

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Habt ihr mit jemandem Probleme, sagt's ihm ins Gesicht

If you have problems with someone, tell him to his face

Caption 57, Golo - Smile

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Der Vorschlag müsste von jemandem kommen.

The proposal would have to come from someone.

Caption 46, Pastewka - Neue Serie für Kessler

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This is also true when the sentence structure requires the dative case, such as when you give somebody something:

Jemandem einen Korb geben.

To give someone a basket.

Caption 17, Eva erklärt - Sprichwörter

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The above expression usually is an idiom that means you are rejecting something that has been offered. Another figure of speech that you may already know is:

Und wenn ich jemandem die Daumen drücke,

And if I press my thumbs for someone,

dann wünsche ich der Person ganz viel Glück.

then I'm wishing the person a whole lot of luck.

Captions 28-29, Eva erklärt - Redewendungen

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Further Learning
Look for other examples of how jemandem is used in a real-world context on Yabla German and try devising some sentences of your own using jemandem and have a fellow student check your work! If you're feeling brave you can explore the related expressions irgendjemandem and irgendwem!

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