Stop The Scrolling Header | Enable the Scrolling Header

Young Writers Society
News:  

The Top 25!

Favorite part of writing?
Username:    Password:      Log me on automatically each visit    
The Big Brother Story For Which I Apologize In Advance
The Big Brother Story For Which I Apologize In Advance

by Nate in Other Fiction
Young Writers Society Forum Index » Homework Help

This thread was created on July 7, 2008
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Digg It Del.icio.us

Related Items
Possible Related Items Follow:
Complicated German Sentence

German Past Tense

Topic ID: 32703
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Suzanne   View This User's Portfolio
won NaNoWriMo!
Writer of Legend

1754
Gender: Gender:Female
Age: 18
Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 7088
Reviews: 1754
Country: Riverbluff, MO
1160 Points

PostPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:38 pm    Post subject: German Past Tense Reply with quote

I'm taking a German II course through independent study. The problem is, sometimes my course book is lacking the best explanation of things.

I'm not completely dumb when it comes to the past tense, since I learned a bit in my first year, and it's also not far from French. The use of sein/haben and a past participle is easy. I'm just a bit lost. I have a list (a long list. I think I'm going to die learning it all) of verbs, as well as their "Präteritum", "Partizipperfekt" and the English translation.

From there, I understand it a bit. They explained some things to me in the text book, but not very well. Here's an easy verb example: to read.

Lesen, las, gelesen.

From what I understand, you would form these sentences (respectively):

Ich lese, Ich las, Ich habe gelesen.

Yes?

My big question is what is the difference between the first past tense, and the second past tense given...

I'm overwhelmed, to say the least. I have three long pages of verbs to learn, then I have to learn their past tense, as well as their "imperfect" (From my understanding, it's like the French imparfait) form. That's a lot to learn...

Does anyone have a good way to memorize which verbs go with sein?

_________________
I demand
you put my heart back in my hand,
and wipe it clean from the mess you made of me.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website AIM Address MSN Messenger
little tin fish   View This User's Portfolio
✖ Спутник
Master of the Forum

115
Gender: Gender:Female
Age: 19
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 1277
Reviews: 115
Country: England
380 Points

PostPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If I remember what my teacher said, verbs that go with sein are typically ones that involve either an action that involves movement or a change in state.

So things like ich bin geschwommen, or ich bin geschmolzen Smile

If that's not what you were after just let me know; I still have a lot of notes and books lying around from last year ^^

_________________
「Iriguchi, Deguchi, Taguchi desu!」
She fears the dead, but loves the way they dance
Got YWS?
[please grant me my small wish; (love me to the marrow of my bones)]
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website AIM Address MSN Messenger
Suzanne   View This User's Portfolio
won NaNoWriMo!
Writer of Legend

1754
Gender: Gender:Female
Age: 18
Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 7088
Reviews: 1754
Country: Riverbluff, MO
1160 Points

PostPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Notes on past tense would be great! I'm not sure how much more of an explanation my course is going to give me. ><

_________________
I demand
you put my heart back in my hand,
and wipe it clean from the mess you made of me.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website AIM Address MSN Messenger
Display posts from previous:   
This thread was created on July 7, 2008
Post new topic   Reply to topic
   Young Writers Society Forum Index » Homework Help All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
This thread was created on July 7, 2008

Graphics By Bobo | YWS Sword & Shield Logo by Bobo
Bartemius says, Only the suppressed word is dangerous. - Ludwig B?rne
Contact | Memberlist | Copyright Policy | YWS Store | Site Map
Facebook |  Goodreads |  Live Journal |  MySpace |  Wikipedia

© 2004 - 2008 The Young Writers Society