Introduction
The German language, like any other, has a variety of verbs that are used in everyday situations. This chapter of our e-book, "Complete Basic German Course", will focus specifically on the verbs of thanks. Saying thank you is an essential part of communication, and knowing how to express gratitude in German can help build stronger, more respectful relationships.
Verbs of Thanks
Thank you verbs are used to express gratitude or thanks to someone. Here are some of the most common verbs you can use:
Danken
The verb "danken" is the German equivalent of the verb "agrader" in Portuguese. This is the most common verb used to express thanks. For example, "Ich danke dir" means "I thank you".
Bedanken
"Bedanken" is another verb used to say thank you, but it is usually used in a more formal context. For example, "Ich möchte mich bei Ihnen bedanken" means "I would like to thank you".
Sich erkenntlich zeigen
This is a compound verb that literally means "show recognition". It is used when you want to express your gratitude in a deeper way. For example, "Ich möchte mich erkenntlich zeigen" means "I would like to show my gratitude".
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Sich bedanken
"Sich bedanken" is similar to "bedanken", but is more often used when you are thanking someone for something specific. For example, "Ich bedanke mich für Ihre Hilfe" means "I thank you for your help".
Conjugation of Verbs of Thanks
As in any language, German verbs need to be conjugated according to the subject of the sentence. Here are the conjugations for the thank you verbs we mentioned:
Danken
Ich danke, du dankst, er/sie/es dankt, wir danken, ihr dankt, sie/Sie danken
Bedanken
Ich bedanke mich, du bedankst dich, er/sie/es bedankt sich, wir bedanken uns, ihr bedankt euch, sie/Sie bedanken sich
Sich erkenntlich zeigen
Ich zeige mich erkenntlich, du zeigst dich erkenntlich, er/sie/es zeigt sich erkenntlich, wir zeigen uns erkenntlich, ihr zeigt euch erkenntlich, sie/Sie zeigen sich erkenntlich
Sich bedanken
Ich bedanke mich, du bedankst dich, er/sie/es bedankt sich, wir bedanken uns, ihr bedankt euch, sie/Sie bedanken sich
Conclusion
Expressing gratitude is an important part of communication in any language. By learning to use these German thank you verbs correctly, you will be able to express your gratitude respectfully and appropriately. Remember, practice is the key to mastering any new skill, so keep practicing and you'll become proficient at saying thank you in German in no time!
