Although they look similar, the words above have distinct meanings and contexts in which they are used.

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It is easiest to begin with the reflexive verb sich bedanken, which is used as a more formal way to say "thank you": 

Ich bedanke mich für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit.

Thank you for your attention.

Caption 34, Nicos Weg B1: Analog oder digital?

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Die haben sich nicht mal für die Torte bedankt.

They didn't even say thank you for the cake.

Caption 58, Tiere bis unters Dach: Hundeherz

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Die Gedanken has nothing to do with gratitude and is the plural form of der Gedanke, which means "the thought." The expression sich Gedanken machen means "to consider."

Doch die Gedanken kommen und fliegen

But the thoughts come and take flight

Caption 11, Andreas Bourani: Alles nur in meinem Kopf

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Sehr gut. Ich werde mir Gedanken über deine Note machen .

Very good. I'm going to consider your grade.

Caption 55, Bundesländer und ihre Rezepte: Rheinland-Pfalz

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The noun die Bedenken is mostly used in its plural form to signal doubts or reservations. The verb bedenken means "to keep in mind" or "to consider." 

Nee, Angst nicht direkt, eher Bedenken, aber Angst?

No, fear, not exactly, more reservations, but fear?

Caption 19, Summer Cheergirl: Fotoshooting mit Alligatoren

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Der Automobil-Club gibt dabei aber zu bedenken: Man sollte nicht nur auf das Modell achten.

The Automobile Club offers for consideration, however: you should not only pay attention to the model.

Captions 19-20, Rhein-Main-TV Veränderungen: für das Autofahrerjahr 2015

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To talk about commemorating or honoring someone or something, we use gedenken, which takes the genitive case. The noun das Gedenken has a related meaning.

Sie gedenken der Opfer des KZ-Außenlagers [KZ: Konzentrationslager] Katzbach in Frankfurt.

They are honoring the memory of the victims of Katzbach Sub-Concentration Camp in Frankfurt.

Caption 5, Rheinmain im Blick: Gedenken an KZ-Außenlager in Frankfurt

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Mit dem namentlichen Gedenken möchte Architektin Barbara Willecke ...

With memorialization by name, architect Barbara Willecke would like...

Caption 65, Holocaust-Gedenktag Gedenkstätte am Michelsberg

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Further Learning
Try using the verbs and nouns mentioned in this lesson and look for additional examples on Yabla German.

Und Piggeldy fühlte, wie er immer kleiner und kleiner wurde und Frederick immer größer.

And Piggeldy felt that he was becoming smaller and smaller and Frederick bigger and bigger.

Captions 28-29, Piggeldy und Frederick: Sprichwörter

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When we talk about the size, number, or extent of something changing, there are a number of verbs we can use in order to not always just say kleiner werden or größer werden. The German verbs we pick often depend on whether the verb is transitive or intransitive. An intransitive verb doesn't require an object; something is simply happening almost as if on its own. The verbs above, and the verbs in the next examples are intransitive, and you can note that no cause is mentioned that is making the growth happen. 

Der Bedarf an Flugreisen wird mit der Zeit immer größer, und die Anzahl der Flugzeuge wird stark zunehmen.

The need for air travel will increase over time, and the number of planes will rise sharply.

Captions 34-35, Die Welt in der Zukunft: Flugzeuge im Jahr 2050

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Der Anteil der Kinder mit Migrationshintergrund in dieser Gruppe wird ansteigen.

the percentage of children with migration backgrounds in this group will rise.

Caption 9, Angela Merkel: beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat

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If you want to describe humans, animals, or objects that are growing in size, wachsen is quite often the appropriate verb to use. It should be noted that the verb for plants growing is wachsen, but this is only intransitive. If you are growing flowers or vegetables, your activity "to grow something" is etwas anbauen or etwas züchten. 

„Du malst die blauen Blumen, die im grünen Wald wachsen“, sagte Frederick.

“You paint the blue flowers that grow in the green forest," Frederick said.

Caption 17, Piggeldy und Frederick: Malen

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Now let's look at some examples with transitive verbs, in which something is being done by someone. In these sentences, that which is increasing or rising is an object:

Dies hat uns dazu genötigt, unsere Preise stark anzuheben.

This has made it necessary for us to increase our prices significantly.

Caption 20, Berufsleben: Probleme mit Mitarbeitern

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Ziel der Aktion: die Attraktivität der Innenstadt erhöhen.

The aim of the campaign: to increase the attractiveness of the city center

Caption 9, Rheinmain im Blick Stadtmomente: Wiesbaden

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Um die Attraktivität der Elektrofahrzeuge zu steigern, wird es ab Mitte zweitausendfünfzehn zwei Dinge geben.

In order to increase the attractiveness of electric vehicles, there will, starting in the middle of two thousand fifteen, be two things.

Captions 5-6, Rhein-Main-TV: Veränderungen für das Autofahrerjahr 2015

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Further Learning

We'll be back soon with a lesson on verbs that describe decreasing, shrinking, and falling. In the meantime, try to make your own sentences with the verbs above or do a search on Yabla.