The verb kennenlernen ("to get to know," "to make the acquaintance of," "to meet") is without a doubt an important one, but it's a bit tricky. For our beginners and anyone who needs a review, let's look at various conjugations of this separable verb as we look at some sentences from Yabla German.
First of all, here it is again in the infinitive. Note that kennenlernen is one word:
Der Vermieter möchte uns kennenlernen.
The landlord would like to meet us.
Caption 42, Mein Weg nach DeutschlandL Auf Wohnungssuche
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In this next example, kennenlernen is used in the present tense, and more specifically in the third person singular. You'll note that lernen gets conjugated, whereas kennen remains in the infinitive but moves to the end of the sentence:
Man lernt mehr Leute kennen.
One gets to know more people.
Caption 37, Anna Am Strand: in Mexiko
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The same thing, which is normal for separable verbs, happens in the simple past tense:
Und so lernte die Prinzessin ihren Ehemann kennen.
And this is how the Princess met her husband.
Caption 35, Märchen - Sagenhaft: König Drosselbart
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In the following phrases, which you will most certainly need to know, kennenlernen is integrated into a subordinate clause with zu:
Schön, dich kennenzulernen. -Schön, dich kennenzulernen.
Nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you.
Caption 10, Paula & Heide: aus Berlin
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Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen. -Hallo.
Pleased to meet you. -Hello.
Caption 16, Nicos Weg: Feste und Feiertage
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Nun, ich freue mich, Sie dann kennenzulernen.
So, I am looking forward to meeting you then.
Caption 49, Berufsleben: das Vorstellungsgespräch
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In the present perfect, which is often used to talk about the past in German, we see the participle of the verb:
Ich habe diesen netten Kerl kennengelernt.
I met this nice guy.
Caption 35, Die Wohngemeinschaft: Die Verabredung
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And this example also refers to what has already happened:
Aber ich find's nett, Sie kennengelernt zu haben.
But I think it's nice to have met you.
Caption 36, Die Pfefferkörner: Alles auf Anfang
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Further Learning
There's no shortage of examples on Yabla German, so have a look and practice telling people it was nice to meet them, or talking about when you first met various people you know.
In a recent lesson, we looked at the verbs ansprechen, aussprechen, vorsprechen, nachsprechen, besprechen, and versprechen. However, there are many verbs related to speaking that do not contain the verb sprechen.
The verb sich unterhalten refers in particular to the art of conversation. Here it stands alone, but you will often see the construction sich mit jemanden unterhalten.
So kannst du auf natürliche Weise lernen, dich auf Deutsch zu unterhalten.
This is how you can naturally learn to converse in German.
Captions 10-11, Deutsch mit Eylin: Fragewörter
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The verb reden is interesting because it can be used for both serious and less serious conversations. In terms of prepositions, you'll often see über etwas reden ("to discuss something") or mit jemandem reden ("to talk with someone"), and if someone tells you Wir müssen reden ("We need to talk"), it could be very serious indeed.
Als Nächstes möchte ich über die Geschichte Berlins reden.
Next, I'd like to talk about the history of Berlin.
Caption 16, Bundesländer und ihre Rezepte: Bundesland Berlin
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Hast du nicht gesehen, wie sie die ganze Nacht mit dem Typen geredet hat?
Did you not see how she was talking to that guy all night?
Caption 22, Die Wohngemeinschaft: Die Verabredung
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The verb diskutieren is less ambiguous. Beware: it is stronger than "to discuss" in English and can even be translated as "to debate," "to dispute," or "to argue."
Am siebenundzwanzigsten Juli wollen sie das Thema im Gemeinderat diskutieren.
On the twenty-seventh of July they want to discuss the topic in the city council.
Caption 38, Online-Flashmob: "Bud-Spencer-Tunnel" in Gmünd
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The verb quatschen is quite informal, and refers to chatting or conversation that isn't restrained by time or formalities. You might remember that the noun der Quatsch means nonsense, but the use of quatschen doesn't necessarily mean that the topic is nonsense, just maybe not so serious or important. The verb plaudern has a similarly informal meaning, while the verb labern does indicate a lack of sense or importance.
Ich dachte, wir quatschen mal eine Runde.
I thought we could chat for a bit.
Caption 2, Großstadtrevier: Nicht mit mir
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Was quatschen die da hinten?
What are they chattering about back there?
Caption 19, Nena: Besser geht's nicht
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Und auch ein bisschen, äh, die Spieler noch mal zu treffen, mit denen so ein bisschen zu plaudern...
And also to meet the players a little bit again, to chat with them a little bit...
Captions 44-45, Mercedes Benz: Michael Schumacher und Nico Rosberg bei der Nationalmannschaft
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Der laberte irgendwas von Blüten.
He was babbling something about blossoms.
Caption 62, Die Pfefferkörner: Endspurt
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Further Learning
You'll find many examples with these verbs on Yabla German. Make sure you review their conjugations as well.
For our beginners, we are devoting this week's newsletter to expressing probability, or the likelihood that something will occur or be the case. There is a range of adverbs that can help you express this in German.
When something is certain, common adverbs used are definitiv, sicher, or bestimmt. "Definitely" is also among the common translations of the phrase auf jeden Fall.
Für Kerber steht fest,
For Kerber it is certain
dass sie die Abstiegsrunde im April definitiv spielen wird.
that she will definitely play at the relegation round in April.
Caption 19, Angelique Kerber - Fotoshooting mit Porsche
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Na ja, es wird sicher kein Problem sein,
Well, it will certainly not be a problem
den Internetbetreiber zu zwingen, den Film zu löschen.
to compel the internet provider to delete the movie.
Captions 6-7, Die Pfefferkörner - Gerüchteküche
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Die Kündigung hat bestimmt andere Gründe.
The layoff surely has other reasons.
Caption 30, Berufsleben - Probleme mit Mitarbeitern
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Oh, wow! Dann wirst du ihn auf jeden Fall wiedersehen, oder?
Oh, wow! Then you will definitely see him again, right?
Caption 47, Die Wohngemeinschaft - Die Verabredung
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The best translation of "likely" and "unlikely" or "probable" and "improbable" in German is wahrscheinlich and unwahrscheinlich.
Wahrscheinlich brauchen wir noch ein bisschen Nachhaltigkeitsunterstützung.
We likely still need a little bit of support with sustainability.
Caption 77, Angela Merkel - beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat
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Dass der Winter noch mal in voller Wucht zu uns zurückkommt,
That winter will return to us in full force
ist im Moment aber ohnehin eher unwahrscheinlich.
is, momentarily, however, without a doubt rather improbable.
Captions 41-42, Rheinmain im Blick - Frühling im Zoo
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Like wahrscheinlich, the word wohl as an adverb also signifies that something is likely or probable. Eventuell, vielleicht and möglicherweise are used when something is possible but can't be guaranteed.
Und das wird wohl auch erst mal so bleiben.
And it will first also likely stay like that.
Caption 19, Andreas Bourani - Startet durch
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Es kann sein, dass wir eventuell etwas Milch brauchen.
It could be that we'll maybe need some milk.
Caption 12, Sallys Tortenwelt und Kochwelt - Apfelkuchen mit Marzipan und Mandelsplittern
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Vielleicht wird's morgen für mich regnen.
Maybe it will rain for me tomorrow.
Caption 15, Andreas Bourani - Eisberg
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Das Kartengerät ist möglicherweise schon seit Wochen angezapft.
The card reader was possibly tapped for weeks.
Caption 44, Großstadtrevier - Neben der Spur
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Just as auf jeden Fall means definitely, auf keinen Fall means that something definitely will not occur, by no means.
Na, du wirst auf gar keinen Fall arbeiten.
Well, you won't work in any case.
Caption 45, Küss mich, Frosch - Für immer Frosch?
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Further Learning
Create your own sentences in which you describe how likely certain events are to happen, from the definite or most likely to the most improbable. If you need more guidance, you can find many more examples of these adverbs in use on Yabla German.
That's a bad idea at the moment, best not to. But it doesn't hurt to remember better times. The late American president Ronald Reagan once told the United Nations General Assembly, "I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside of this world." Now that we're facing a threat from within this world, we can only hope that it will help people and nations get along better and create a more caring society.
It's very strange to be watching television — and that's probably the main leisure activity of most of us most of the time in these COVID-19 days — and see people in large gatherings greeting each other with hugs. It's almost as if we're watching a science fiction movie or some historical drama where people behaved completely differently than they are allowed to now.
In the spirit of better times and in the hope that when things return to "normal," it'll be better than before, let's focus this week on the German noun die Party. It's a loanword from English and in this case takes on the sixth definition listed in the Merriam-Webster dictionary: "a social gathering."
Letzte Nacht haben sie mich zu einer Party mitgenommen mit all ihren Freunden.
Last night they took me to a party with all their friends.
Caption 9, Die Wohngemeinschaft - Die Verabredung
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War die Party gut?
Was the party good?
-Sehr gut. Die Party war super.
-Very good. The party was super.
Caption 3, Nicos Weg - A1 Folge 20: Andere Länder
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Viele machen sich's gemütlich zu Hause oder sie gehen auf eine Party.
Many people will make themselves comfortable at home or they will go to a party.
Caption 93, Silvester - Vorsätze für das neue Jahr - Linkenheim
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Die größte Party ist natürlich wie jedes Jahr im Piratenland.
The biggest party is, of course, in Pirate Land as it is every year.
Caption 23, Die Insel Fehmarn - Surffestival
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With eine Party, you have to be careful with the plural. German, unlike English, does not have the rule that "y" becomes "ie" when "s" is added for the plural form of the word. In German, "s" is simply added after the "y." The plural die Partys looks like a misspelling or something from a Shakespeare play, but in German it's quite correct:
Wie hält man so viele Shows und Partys nonstop eine Woche lang durch?
How do you keep up with so many shows and parties non-stop for a whole week?
Caption 45, Modewoche in Berlin - Halbzeit für Fashion-Fans
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Hier gibt es ein Café, eine Sporthalle und viele Partys.
Here there is a café, a gymnasium and many parties.
Caption 17, Universität - Karlsruhe
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Further Learning
Be sure you don't mix die Party up with another noun, die Partei, as the latter means a political party—not the fun kind. Watch the full videos listed above on Yabla German to get into the party spirit and see the word used in a context that we hope will be more like the "real world" soon. You can also read this Zwiebelfisch article about German Partys vs. English "parties." And when you're done, read this article on Psychology Today about the possible positive effects of an alien invasion and see if some of it might apply to our current situation. Staying positive is one of the most important things of all!
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.
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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