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Future Tense
The future tense is simple to form in German. Just use the present tense forms of werden and put the other infinitive to the end of the sentence. Note that German usually relies on the present tense to indicate the future (this is called implied future), and uses time expressions, such as tonight, tomorrow, etc. to do so. Wir gehen morgen nach Deutschland is translated as we are going to Germany tomorrow, and implies a future action, yet it uses the present tense, in both German and English. To express present or future probability, use wohl (probably) with the future tense.
Werden
| werde |
|
werden |
| wirst |
|
werdet |
| wird |
|
werden |
I will fly to Germany. Ich werde nach Deutschland fliegen.
You will help me! Du wirst mir helfen!
We will learn Latin. Wir werden Latein lernen.
My friend should be home now. Mein Freund wird jetzt wohl zu Hause sein. (Expresses probability)
Asking Questions
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Simply add a question mark
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Invert the verb and subject
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Use a question word + verb + subject
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Add nicht wahr to the end of the statement
Declensions of Adjectives
There are three types of declensions for adjectives: adjectives used with der words, adjectives used with ein words, and independent adjectives. Predicate adjectives (Das brot ist frisch. The bread is fresh.) are not declined and usually follow a form of sein.
Adjectives used after der words (Weak Endings)
|
Masc. |
Fem. |
Neu. |
Plural |
| Nom. |
der gute Wein |
die gute Milch |
das gute Brot |
die guten Freunde |
| Acc. |
den guten Wein |
die gute Milch |
das gute Brot |
die guten Freunde |
| Dat. |
dem guten Wein |
der guten Milch |
dem guten Brot |
den guten Freunden |
| Gen. |
des guten Weines |
der guten Milch |
des guten Brotes |
der guten Freunde |
Adjectives used after ein words (Weak Endings)
|
Masc. |
Fem. |
Neu. |
Plural |
| Nom. |
kein guter Wein |
keine gute Milch |
kein gutes Brot |
keine guten Freunde |
| Acc. |
keinen guten Wein |
keine gute Milch |
kein gutes Brot |
keine guten Freunde |
| Dat. |
keinem guten Wein |
keiner guten Milch |
keinem guten Brot |
keinen guten Freunden |
| Gen. |
keines guten Weines |
keiner guten Milch |
keines guten Brotes |
keiner guten Freunde |
The only difference between the adjectives used after der words and the adjectives used after ein words are the masculine and neuter nominative, and neuter accusative. The rest of the endings are the same. These types of attributive adjectives are the weak endings. The strong endings (below) are used on adjectives that have no preceding article. They are the same as the endings for the der words (with the exception of the masculine and neuter genitive.)
Independent Adjectives (Strong Endings)
|
Masc. |
Fem. |
Neu. |
Plural |
| Nom. |
guter Wein |
gute Milch |
gutes Brot |
gute Fruende |
| Acc. |
guten Wein |
gute Milch |
gutes Brot |
gute Fruende |
| Dat. |
gutem Wein |
guter Milch |
gutem Brot |
guten Fruenden |
| Gen. |
guten Weines |
guter Milch |
guten Brotes |
guter Fruende |
Note: Viele (many), wenige (few), andere (other), einige (some), and mehrere (several) are all plural expressions that do not act as limiting words. Adjectives that follow them take strong endings. In the singular, mancher (many a) and solcher (such) also use strong endings (when used with another adjective in the singular, they turn into manch ein and so ein), but in the plural they function as normal limiting words.
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