German, like any other language, has a number of verbs that are fundamental to basic communication. In this chapter 20.24 of our German course for beginners, we will focus on opinion verbs. These verbs are essential for expressing thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Let's get started!
Opinion Verbs
Opinion verbs are used to express what we think or feel about something. Here are some of the most common opinion verbs in German:
- Glauben (to believe): This verb is used to express a belief or opinion. For example, "Ich glaube, dass das richtig ist" (I believe this is correct).
- Meinen (mean, think): This verb is used to express an opinion or thought. For example, "Ich meine, dass das falsch ist" (I think this is wrong).
- Finden (find, find): This verb is used to express an opinion or feeling about something. For example, "Ich finde das Buch interesting" (I find the book interesting).
- Denken (to think): This verb is used to express a thought or idea. For example, "Ich denke, dass er nett ist" (I think he's cool).
Conjugation of Opinion Verbs
Like all German verbs, opinion verbs also need to be conjugated according to the subject of the sentence. Here are the conjugations of the opinion verbs we just learned:
- Glauben: ich glaube, du glaubst, er/sie/es glaubt, wir glauben, ihr glaubt, sie/Sie glauben.
- Meinen: ich meine, du meinst, er/sie/es meint, wir meinen, ihr meint, sie/Sie meinen.
- Finden: ich finde, du findest, er/sie/es findet, wir finden, ihr findet, sie/Sie finden.
- Denken: ich denke, du denkst, er/sie/es denkt, wir denken, ihr denkt, sie/Sie denken.
Use of Opinion Verbs in Sentences
Opinion verbs in German are usually followed by a subordinate clause beginning with the conjunction 'dass' (that). Here are some examples:
- Ich glaube, dass du recht hast. (I believe you are right.)
- Er meint, dass das Wetter gut ist. (He thinks the weather is fine.)
- Sie findet, dass das Essen lecker ist. (She thinks the food is delicious.)
- Wir denken, dass das eine gute Idee ist. (We think this is a good idea.)
These opinion verbs are a crucial part of the German vocabulary and are used frequently in everyday communication. Practice the conjugation and usage of these verbs to improve your German conversation skills.
We hope that this chapter has given you a clear understanding of German opinion verbs. Keep practicing and you'll surely become more confident expressing your opinions in German!
In the next chapter, we'll explore more German verbs and their conjugations. Until then, keep practicing!
