German Phrases For Dummies (eBook)

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

German Phrases 3
About the Authors 5
Introduction 13
About This Book 13
Conventions Used in This Book 14
Foolish Assumptions 15
Icons Used in This Book 15
Where to Go from Here 16
Chapter 1: I Say It How? Speaking German 17
The German You Know 17
Mouthing Off: Basic Pronunciation 25
Using Popular Expressions 33
Chapter 2: Grammar on a Diet: Just the Basics 35
Looking at the Types of Words 35
Figuring Out Simple Sentence Construction 39
The Tenses: Present, Past, and Future 42
Getting Funky: Reflexive and Separable Verbs 50
Putting the Language in the Right Case 53
Getting Formal or Informal 60
Chapter 3: Numerical Gumbo: Counting of All Kinds 61
1, 2, 3: Cardinal Numbers 61
The First, Second, Third, and So On 63
Telling Time 65
Monday, Tuesday: Weekdays 68
Using the Calendar and Dates 70
Money, Money, Money 74
Chapter 4: Making New Friends and Enjoying Small Talk 79
Hello! Greetings and Introductions 79
So Where Are You From? 84
What Languages Do You Speak? 88
Talking about Yourself 90
Talking about Your Family 93
Talking about the Weather 96
Chapter 5: Enjoying a Drink and a Snack ( or Meal!) 97
Is It Time to Eat Yet? 97
Setting the Table 99
Going Out to a Restaurant 99
Getting the Check 109
Chapter 6: Shop ’ til You Drop 111
Heading Out on the Town 111
Shopping for Clothes 116
Hitting the Markets 121
Paying the Bill 125
Chapter 7: Making Leisure a Top Priority 127
Figuring Out What You Want to Do 127
How Was the Show? Talking about Entertainment 132
Going to a Party 134
Talking about Hobbies and Interests 136
Playing Sports 137
Exploring the Outdoors 139
Chapter 8: When You Gotta Work 143
Phoning Made Simple 143
Making Appointments 148
Sending a Letter, Fax, or E-Mail 149
Getting Around at the Office 152
Chapter 9: Getting Around: Transportation 155
On the Move: Types of Transportation 155
Dealing with Passports, Visas, and Customs 164
Asking for Help with Directions 167
Going Here and There 168
Asking “ How Do I Get There?” 169
Describing a Position or Location 169
Going Right, Left, North, South, East, and West 171
Getting on the Move 172
Driving Around in German 173
Chapter 10: Finding a Place to Lay Your Weary Head 177
Scoping Out a Hotel 177
Reserving Rooms 178
Checking In: Names, Addresses, and Room Numbers 180
Checking Out and Paying the Bill 185
Chapter 11: Dealing with Emergencies 187
Asking for Help with Accidents 187
Going to the Doctor or Hospital 189
Talking to the Police 195
Chapter 12: Ten Favorite German Expressions 199
Alles klar! 199
Geht in Ordnung. 199
Kein Problem. 200
Guten Appetit! 200
Deine Sorgen möchte ich haben! 200
Das darf doch wohl nicht wahr sein! 200
Mir reicht’s! 201
Wie schön! 201
Genau. 201
Stimmt’s? 201
Chapter 13: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Like a Local 203
Das ist ja toll! 203
Ruf mich an! /Rufen Sie mich an! 203
Was ist los? 204
Keine Ahnung. 204
Gehen wir! 204
Nicht zu fassen! 204
Du hast Recht! /Sie haben Recht! 204
Auf keinen Fall! 205
Nicht schlecht! 205
Das ist mir ( völlig) egal. 205
Index 207