German Phrases for Dummies

Informationen zum Autor Paulina Christensen has been working as a writer! editor! and translator for almost ten years. She holds a degree in English and German literature and has developed! written! and edited numerous German-language textbooks and teachers' handbooks for Berlitz International. Her work as a translator ranges from new media art to science fiction (Starlog magazine). She occasionally works as a court interpreter and does consulting and interpreting at educational conferences! as well as voice-overs for educational videos and CD-ROMs. Dr. Christensen received her M.A. and Ph.D. from Düsseldorf University! Germany! and has taught at Berlitz Language Schools! New York University! and Fordham University.Anne Fox has been working as a translator! editor! and writer for the past twelve years. She studied at Interpreters' School! Zurich! Switzerland! and holds a degree in translation. Her various assignments have taken her to outer space! hyperspace! and around the world. She has also taught at Berlitz Language Schools and worked as a legal and technical proofreader in the editorial departments of several law firms. Most recently she has been developing! writing! and editing student textbooks and teacher handbooks for Berlitz. Klappentext Hundreds of useful phrases at your fingertipsSpeak German - instantly!Traveling to Germany but don't know German? Taking German at school but need to kick up your conversation skills? Don't worry! This handy little phrasebook will have you speaking German in no time.Discover how to Get directions, shop, and eat out Talk numbers, dates, time, and money Chat about family and work Discuss sports and the weather* Deal with problems and emergencies Zusammenfassung Hundreds of useful phrases at your fingertips Speak German - instantly! Traveling to Germany but don't know German? Taking German at school but need to kick up your conversation skills? Don't worry! This handy little phrasebook will have you speaking German in no time. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction.About This Book.Conventions Used in This Book.Foolish Assumptions.Icons Used in This Book.Where to Go from Here.Chapter 1: I Say It How? Speaking German.Chapter 2: Grammar on a Diet: Just the Basics.Chapter 3: Numerical Gumbo: Counting of All Kinds.Chapter 4: Making New Friends and Enjoying Small Talk.Chapter 5: Enjoying a Drink and a Snack (or Meal!).Chapter 6: Shop 'til You Drop.Chapter 7: Making Leisure a Top Priority.Chapter 8: When You Gotta Work.Chapter 9: Getting Around: Transportation.Chapter 10: Finding a Place to Lay Your Weary Head.Chapter 11: Dealing with Emergencies.Chapter 12: Ten Favorite German Expressions.Chapter 13: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Like a Local.Index....

Auteur

Paulina Christensen, PhD, and Anne Fox are veteran language teachers.

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• Quick & easy approach gives you language fundamentals up front
• Words to Know section lets you find the right words fast

• Pronunciation key lets you talk the talk Hundreds of useful phrases at your fingertips Speak German - instantly! Traveling to Germany but don't know German? Taking German at school but need to kick up your conversation skills? Don't worry! This handy little phrasebook will have you speaking German in no time. Discover how to:
  Get directions, shop, and eat out
  Talk numbers, dates, time, and money
  Chat about family and work
  Discuss sports and the weather
  Deal with problems and emergencies Get Smart!www.dummies.com

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Résumé
Hundreds of useful phrases at your fingertips Speak German - instantly! Traveling to Germany but don't know German? Taking German at school but need to kick up your conversation skills? Don't worry! This handy little phrasebook will have you speaking German in no time. Discover how to Get directions, shop, and eat out Talk numbers, dates, time, and money Chat about family and work Discuss sports and the weather * Deal with problems and emergencies

Contenu

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 3

Icons Used in This Book 3

Where to Go from Here 4

Chapter 1: I Say It How? Speaking German 5

The German You Know 5

Friendly allies (perfect cognates) 5

Kissing cousins (near cognates) 7

False friends 9

Lenders and borrowers 11

Mouthing Off: Basic Pronunciation 13

Pronouncing vowels 14

Pronouncing umlauts 15

Pronouncing diphthongs 16

Pronouncing consonants 17

Identifying a new letter: ß 18

Pronouncing combinations of consonants 19

Using Popular Expressions 21

Chapter 2: Grammar on a Diet: Just the Basics 23

Looking at the Types of Words 23

Nouns 23

Adjectives 25

Verbs 26

Adverbs 27

Figuring Out Simple Sentence Construction 27

Arranging words in the right order 27

Independent clauses: Putting the verb in second place 28

Dependent clauses: Pushing the verb to the end 28

Forming questions 29

The Tenses: Present, Past, and Future 30

Looking at the present 30

Talking about the past: Using the perfect tense 31

Writing about the past: Using simple past tense 36

Talking about the future 37

Getting Funky: Reflexive and Separable Verbs 38

Right back at you: Reflexive verbs 38

Knowing when to separate your verbs 40

Putting the Language in the Right Case 41

Nominative case 41

Accusative case 42

Dative case 42

Genitive case 42

Why all these cases matter 42

Getting Formal or Informal 48

Chapter 3: Numerical Gumbo: Counting of All Kinds 49

1, 2, 3: Cardinal Numbers 49

The First, Second, Third, and So On 51

Telling Time 53

Telling time the "old-fashioned" way: From 1 to 12 54

Using the 24-hour routine: 0 to 24 55

Times of the day 56

Monday, Tuesday: Weekdays 56

Using the Calendar and Dates 58

Covering the units of the calendar 58

The basic names of the months 59

Describing events in specific months 59

Naming specific times in the months 60

Keeping track of dates 60

Money, Money, Money 62

Changing currency 63

Heading to the ATM 64

Chapter 4: Making New Friends and Enjoying Small Talk 67

Hello! Greetings and Introductions 67

Saying hello and good-bye 68

Asking "How are you?" 68

Replying to "How are you?" 69

Introducing yourself and others 70

So Where Are You From? 72

Asking people where they come from 73

Understanding nationalities 74

What Languages Do You Speak? 76

Talking about Yourself 78

Describing your work 78

Giving out your address and phone number 80

Talking about Your Family 81

Talking about the Weather 84

Chapter 5: Enjoying a Drink and a Snack (or Meal!) 85

Is It Time to Eat Yet? 85

Setting the Table 87

Going Out to a Restaurant 87

Distinguishing places to eat 88

Making reservations 89

Arriving and being seated 91

Deciphering the menu 92

Placing your order 96

Replying to "How did you like the food?" 97

Getting the Check 97

Chapter 6: Shop 'til You Drop 99

Heading Out on the Town 99

Getting around the store 100

Browsing with style 102

Getting assistance 102

Shopping politely 103

Shopping for Clothes 104

Color me German 105

Trying it on 107

Hitting the Markets 109

Finding what you need 110

Asking for amounts 111

Paying the Bill 113

Chapter 7: Making Leisure a Top Priority 115

Figuring Out What You Want to Do 115

Going to the movies 116

Going to the museum 118

Bringing down the (opera) house 118

How Was the Show? Talking about Entertainment 120

Going to a Party 122

Talking about Hobbies and Interests 124

Playing Sports 125

Exploring the Outdoors 127

Getting out and going 127

Things to see along t…