German For Dummies
You’ll find German spoken all over the world – German tourists are famously intrepid – and especially across much of Europe, including (besides Germany, of course) Austria, Switzerland, northern Italy, the Czech Republic, and several other countries. Whether you’re taking a trip to Germany or just want to surprise your German neighbor with a “hi-how-are-you,” learning this language will help you see the world and yourself from an entirely different perspective.\ German For...
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Your survival guide for everyday words and expressionsThe renowned Berlitz? approach with a fun and friendly twistThis unintimidating guide from the experts at Berlitz? will help you start speaking German right a way, whether you're a student, a traveler, or you just want pick up the language.All this on the audio CDPick up German the Berlitz? way - through actual conversations* Listen to the dialogues from the book* Hear how native speakers say the words* Practice your own pronunciationDiscover how to:* Have everyday conversations in German* Make sense of German grammar* Improve your pronunciation* Get a handle on verb conjugations* Use idioms and popular expressions
Introduction1About This Book1Conventions Used in This Book2Foolish Assumptions3How This Book Is Organized3Icons Used in This Book4Where to Go from Here5Part IGetting Started7Chapter 1You Already Know a Little German9The German You Know9Friendly allies (perfect cognates)9Kissing cousins (near cognates)11False friends12Lenders and borrowers14Using Popular Expressions16Mouthing Off:Basic Pronunciation17Dealing with stress in German17Learning the German alphabet17Pronouncing vowels18Pronouncing umlauts19Pronouncing diphthongs19Pronouncing consonants20Learning a new letter: [beta]21Pronouncing combinations of consonants22Chapter 2The Nitty Gritty: Basic German Grammar25Types of Words26Nouns26Adjectives26Verbs27Adverbs28Simple Sentence Construction28Arranging words in the right order29Putting the verb in second place29Pushing the verb to the end30Forming questions30The Tenses: Past, Present, and Future31Looking at the present31Talking about the past: using the perfect tense32Writing about the past: using simple past tense34Talking about the future34Putting the Language in the Right Case35Nominative case36Accusative case36Dative case36Genitive case36Why all these cases matter36Numbers41Chapter 3Guten Tag! Hallo! Greetings and Introductions43Getting Formal or Informal43Discovering Common Greetings and Salutations44Asking "How are you?"44Replying to "How are you?"46Introducing Yourself and Your Friends48Introducing your friends48Introductions for special occasions49Introducing yourself51Talking about Cities, Countries, and Nationalities52Telling people where you come from52Sein: the being verb53Asking people where they come from54Kommen: to come55Learning about nationalities56What languages do you speak?57Saying Good-Bye58Part IIGerman in Action63Chapter 4Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk65Talking about Yourself65Describing your work65Giving somebody your address and phone number67Nouns and their articles69Possessive pronouns71Talking about Your Family72Talking about the Weather75What's it like out there?75Talking about the temperature76Casting your vote on the day's weather77Chapter 5Guten Appetit! Dining Out and Going to the Market81Is It Time to Eat Yet?81All about Meals83Getting Set for the Table83Going Out to a Restaurant84Distinguishing places to eat84Making reservations85Arriving and being seated88Deciphering the menu89Placing your order92Using the conjunctive93Using modals94Ordering something special95Replying to "How did you like the food?"96Getting the check96Shopping for Food98Finding what you need99Measurements and weights101Chapter 6Shopping Made Easy105Places to Shop the Town105Finding Out about Opening Hours106Getting around the Store106Asking Nicely107Saying please108Saying excuse me108Browsing with Style108Getting Assistance109Shopping for Clothes110Color me German111Knowing your size112Trying it on113Paying the Bill115Comparatively Speaking117Chapter 7Going Out on the Town119Telling Time119Asking for the time120Telling time the "old-fashioned" way: From 1 to 12120Using the 24-hour routine: 0 to 24121Times of the day122Days of the week122What Would You Like to Do?124Going to the Movies124Getting to the show125Purchasing tickets126What Was That? The Simple Past Tense of Sein128Going to the Museum129Talking about Action in the Past131Forming the past participle131Using haben in the perfect tense133Using sein in the perfect tense134Bringing Down the House135How Was It? Talking about Entertainment137Asking your opinion137Telling people what you think137Going to a Party139Getting an invitation139Talking about a party140Chapter 8Recreation and the Outdoors143Talking about Hobbies and Interests143Collecting143Telling people about your hobby144Getting Reflexive144Accusing your pronouns145Some common reflexive verbs146Playing Sports148Playing around with the verb spielen148With some sports, it's the verb149Inviting someone to play149Exploring the Outdoors151Getting out and going151Things to see along the way151Going to the mountains153Going to the country155Going to the sea156Chapter 9Talking on the Phone and Sending Mail159Phoning Made Simple159Asking for your party160Making the connection161Making Appointments163Leaving Messages165A Few Words about Dative Pronouns165Sending a Letter, Fax, or E-Mail167Sending a letter or postcard167Sending a fax169Sending an e-mail169Chapter 10At the Office and Around the House173Renting an Apartment or House173Describing what you want173Deciphering newspaper ads174Asking the right questions175Talking about an apartment176Sealing the deal176Getting Around at the Office178Mastering your desk and supplies179Elsewhere in the office...180Commanding the Command Form181Speaking of This183Part IIIGerman on the Go185Chapter 11Money, Money, Money187Changing Currency187Heading to the ATM190Getting Imperative191Knowing the Various Currencies192Chapter 12Asking for Directions197Asking for Help with Directions197How Far Is It?199Going Here and There200Asking "How Do I Get There?"201Using "in"201Using "nach"202Using "zu"203Describing a Position or Location203Going Right, Left, North, South, East, and West206Left and right206The cardinal points207Getting on the Move207The First, Second, Third, and So On208Traveling by Car or Another Vehicle212Chapter 13Staying at a Hotel215Finding a Hotel215Reserving Rooms216Saying when and how long you want to stay217Specifying the kind of room you want217Asking about the price218Finalizing the reservation219Checking In: Names, Addresses, and Room Numbers220How long are you staying?221Filling out the registration form221Understanding the key game222Asking about amenities and facilities223Checking Out and Paying the Bill226Asking for your bill226Asking about special charges227Parting shots at the hotel227Chapter 14Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, and Buses231At the Airport231Picking up your ticket232Checking in232Going through immigration235Going through customs236Traveling in a Car237Renting a car237Reading maps and road signs240At the Train Station241Reading train schedules242Getting information242Buying tickets243Knowing When to Separate Your Verbs245Navigating Buses, Subways, and Taxis246Catching the bus246Getting a taxi249Chapter 15Planning a Trip251Getting Help from a Travel Agency251Planning Ahead: Using the Future Tense254Using the Calendar and Dates255Learning the units of the calendar255The basic names of the months256Describing events in specific months256Naming specific times in the months256Dates257Dealing with Passports and Visas259Your passport259Inquiring about visas260Chapter 16Handling Emergencies265Asking for Help with Accidents and Emergencies265Shouting for help265Reporting a problem266Asking for English-speaking help266Going to the Doctor or Hospital267Describing what ails you268Announcing any special conditions269Getting an examination269Specifying parts of the body270Getting the diagnosis271Getting treatment273Talking to the Police275Describing what was stolen276Answering questions from the police277Protecting your rights abroad278Part IVThe Part of Tens281Chapter 17Ten Ways to Pick Up German Quickly283Looking Things Up in the Dictionary283Compiling Lists of Words that Go Together283Writing Shopping Lists284Celebrating German Day!284Using Language Tapes and CDs284Listening to German Radio and Watching German Television284Trying a CD-ROM285Watching German Movies285Reading German Publications285Surfing the Net285Chapter 18Ten Things Never to Say287Knowing When to Use the Formal or Informal287Addressing Service People Correctly287Hot or Cold?288I'm Not Loaded288Speaking of the Law with Respect288The Gymnasium Is for School, Not Sports288Knowing the Appropriate Form of Know289
