21.18. German Verb Conjugation: Verbs with Prepositions

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German verb conjugation is a fundamental aspect of learning the language. German verbs can be conjugated according to tense, mood, voice and number. Also, many German verbs are accompanied by prepositions, which can significantly change the meaning of the verb. In this chapter, we'll explore German verb conjugation, with a special focus on verbs with prepositions.

German verbs are divided into regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs follow a predictable conjugation pattern, while irregular verbs can vary. However, even irregular verbs follow certain tendencies that can be learned and applied.

German verb conjugation is done by changing the end of the verb according to the person (I, you, he/she, we, you, they) and tense (present, past, future). For example, the verb 'spielen' (play) is conjugated as follows in the present tense: ich spiele (I play), du spielst (you play), er/sie/es spielt (he/she/it plays), wir spielen (we play), ihr spielt (you play), sie/Sie spielen (they/they play, you play formal).

When a German verb is followed by a preposition, the meaning of the verb can change. For example, the verb 'denken' (to think) can be used with the preposition 'an' to form 'denken an', which means 'to think about'. Another example is the verb 'warten' (to wait), which can be used with the preposition 'auf' to form 'warten auf', which means 'to wait for'.

There are many German prepositions that can be used with verbs, and each has its own rules and exceptions. Some prepositions require the use of the accusative case, while others require the use of the dative case. For example, the preposition 'für' (for) always requires the accusative case, while the preposition 'mit' (with) always requires the dative case.

In addition, there are prepositions in German that may require both the accusative and dative case, depending on the context. For example, the preposition 'an' (in) may require the accusative case when it indicates a direction, and the dative case when it indicates a location.

In short, German verb conjugation is an important aspect of learning the language. Verbs can be conjugated according to person, tense, mood, and voice, and many verbs are followed by prepositions that can change the meaning of the verb. When learning the German verb conjugation, it's also important to learn the prepositions that can be used with the verbs, as well as the cases these prepositions require.

With practice and study, German verb conjugation and use of prepositions can become second nature. Remember, the key to mastering any language is constant practice and exposure to the language in a variety of contexts.

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7321.19. German Verb Conjugation: Verb Conjugation Exercises