20.10. Basic German Verbs: Verbs with Prepositions

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20.10. Basic German Verbs: Verbs with Prepositions

German verbs are essential elements for building sentences and expressing actions, states and occurrences. They are the backbone of any conversation or written text. This chapter explores basic German verbs, with a special focus on verbs with prepositions.

Understanding verbs with prepositions

In German, many verbs are followed by specific prepositions. These are called "verbs with prepositions" (Verben mit Präpositionen). The preposition that accompanies the verb can significantly change the meaning of the verb. For example, the verb "denken" (to think) can be followed by "an" (in), "über" (over) or "nach" (after), each giving a different meaning to the verb.

Some basic verbs with prepositions

Let's look at some basic German verbs with prepositions:

• Achten auf: It means "pay attention to". For example, "Ich achte auf meine Gesundheit" (I pay attention to my health).
• Denken an: It means "to think about". For example, "Ich denke an dich" (I think of you).
• Freuen sich auf: Means "looking forward to". For example, "Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub" (I'm looking forward to the holidays).
• Warten auf: It means "wait for". For example, "Ich warte auf den Bus" (I'm waiting for the bus).

Rules for verbs with prepositions

There are a few rules you should remember when using verbs with prepositions in German. First, the preposition always follows the verb. Second, the object of the verb (the thing or person the action is affecting) always follows the preposition. Ultimately, the preposition and object together form a prepositional phrase, which can often be moved to different parts of the sentence without changing the meaning.

Conjugating verbs with prepositions

The conjugation of verbs with prepositions in German follows the same rules as the conjugation of other verbs. The only difference is that the preposition does not change. For example, the conjugation of the verb "achten auf" (pay attention to) would be "Ich achte auf, du achtest auf, er/sie/es achtet auf, wir achten auf, ihr achtet auf, sie/Sie achten auf".< /p>

Verbs with prepositions and cases

An important thing to note about verbs with prepositions is that the preposition can determine the case of the object that follows it. Some German prepositions require the accusative case, others require the dative case, and some may use both depending on the context.

In summary, verbs with prepositions are an important part of German grammar. They allow you to express a variety of actions and states and are essential for effective communication in German. With a little practice, you'll get comfortable using these verbs in your German conversations and texts.

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