Frame description

The words and phrases in this frame describe a conflict between two Sides (Side_1 and Side_2) who disagree on some Issue. The conflict results in a verbal argument. The Arguing frame involves only a verbal conflict and does not entail any physical altercation.

Examples:

1. Annette und Hans streiten sich  über politische Fragen.1. Annette and Hans argue about political questions.
2.  Carla hatte einen heftigen Streit mit ihrer Freundin.2. Carla had an altercation with her (female) friend.
3. Torsten zankt sich mit seinem Mitbewohner ums Saubermachen.3. Torsten argues with his roommate about the cleaning. 

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Examples
Grammar Notes
Sentence Templates
Alternate Forms

Frame Elements

Frame Element descriptions (on hover):

Side_1

Someone who is arguing (typically realized as the grammatical subject).

Side_2

The other person involved in the argument, who is against Side_1.

Sides

The two opposing parties involved in the argument.

Issue

An unresolved question over which the two Sides are in disagreement and about which they are arguing.

Details
Examples
Grammar Notes
Sentence Templates
Alternate Forms
See All Information
aneinandergeraten verb to quarrel, to fight (verbally)

Details:

to quarrel with one another, to fight, to tangle with 

This verb means "to clash (with someone)." It is used to describe Sides having angry disputes about an Issue. As a result, physical conflict may occur, although it is not necessarily implied with the use of this verb.

When conjugated, this verb behaves like a separable prefix verb, similar to "kennenlernen" ("to meet") in the Personal Relationship frame. 

Die Eishockeyspieler geraten beim Spiel aneinander. / The hockey players fight during the match.

 

Die Frau ist mit ihrem Freund aneinandergeraten. / The woman got into a quarrel with her friend.

Further details:

Synonyms:

"in Streit geraten," "einen Streit beginnen / anfangen," "einen Streit vom Zaune brechen" (fig.), "sich in die Haare kriegen" (coll., fig.), "(sich) in die Wolle kriegen / geraten" (coll., fig.)

More information in DWDS, the digital dictionary of the German language:

„aneinandergeraten“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/aneinandergeraten>, abgerufen am 23.09.2021.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Die Ehefrau und die Liebhaberin geraten aneinander.
  2. Die Beiden gerieten aneinander.
  3. Die Länder sind über Grenzstreitigkeiten wiederholt aneinandergeraten. 
  4. Der Schauspieler  geriet in New York mit Fotografen  aneinander. 
  5. Die beiden Schüler waren im Unterricht aneinandergeraten. 
  1. The wife and the mistress  are fighting.
  2. The two  fought.
  3. The countries  fought  over border disputes repeatedly.
  4. The actor fought in New York with photographers.
  5. The two students had in class fought.
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Grammar:

Verbs with Separable Prefixes

Some verbs have a prefix that moves around in the sentence, depending on what form the verb takes. You can expect the prefix to appear at the end of the sentence or clause, but whether the verb appears there with it depends on the rest of the sentence (tense, presence of a modal verb, etc.). In the infinitive form, the prefix is attached, like "ausgehen" ("to go out"). If the verb is conjugated (in present or simple past tense), the prefix appears at the end of the clause, as in "Ich gehe heute Abend aus" ("I am going out tonight"). The chart below shows several structural variants for these kinds of verbs. For more information, see the examples for individual verbs in the G-FOL or read these explanations from Grimm Grammar: present tense, conversational past tense (Perfekt).

Die erste Stelle (first position)V2 (verb 2nd)Rest (the rest of the info)am Ende (at the end)
Am Samstagabendgeheich mit Freundenaus.
Ichgingam Samstagabend mit Freunden aus.
Mit Freundenbinich am Samstagabendausgegangen.
Wanngeheich mit Freundenaus?
Ichkannnicht am Samstagabend mit Freunden ausgehen.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. SIDES geraten aneinander.
  2. SIDES geraten aneinander wegen ISSUE.
  3. SIDE_1 gerät mit SIDE_2 aneinander.
  4. SIDES geraten über ISSUE aneinander.
  1. SIDES fight.
  2. SIDES fight because of ISSUE.
  3. SIDE_1 fights with SIDE_2.
  4. SIDES fight about ISSUE.
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Details:

to quarrel with one another, to fight, to tangle with 

This verb means "to clash (with someone)." It is used to describe Sides having angry disputes about an Issue. As a result, physical conflict may occur, although it is not necessarily implied with the use of this verb.

When conjugated, this verb behaves like a separable prefix verb, similar to "kennenlernen" ("to meet") in the Personal Relationship frame. 

Die Eishockeyspieler geraten beim Spiel aneinander. / The hockey players fight during the match.

 

Die Frau ist mit ihrem Freund aneinandergeraten. / The woman got into a quarrel with her friend.

Further details:

Synonyms:

"in Streit geraten," "einen Streit beginnen / anfangen," "einen Streit vom Zaune brechen" (fig.), "sich in die Haare kriegen" (coll., fig.), "(sich) in die Wolle kriegen / geraten" (coll., fig.)

More information in DWDS, the digital dictionary of the German language:

„aneinandergeraten“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/aneinandergeraten>, abgerufen am 23.09.2021.

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Alternate Forms:

(er) gerät aneinander, geriet aneinander, ist aneinandergeraten
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angreifen verb to attack

Details:

to attack

As in English, this verb can be used to describe an act of agression in a heated verbal argument between Sides over an Issue, although it can also evoke the Fighting frame (which would imply a violent altercation).

Er greift die Frau verbal an. / He attacks the woman verbally.

 

Der Hund greift den Mann von hinten an. / The dog attacks the man from behind.

Further details:

Word formation:

"der Angriff" ("attack"), "der Angreifer" ("attacker"), "angreifbar" ("vulnerable"), among others. The past participle "angegriffen" is often used as a synoym for "erschöpft" ("exhausted"), "abgespannt" ("drawn," "jaded"), or "müde" ("tired"), and when someone says "meine Gesundheit ist angegriffen" (lit. "my health is being attacked") it means that "I'm in poor condition," "I'm unsound," "I'm not being in good health." 

More information in DWDS, the digital dictionary of the German language:

„angreifen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/angreifen>, abgerufen am 23.09.2021.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Er greift die Kritiker mit den Worten an. 
  2. Das Publikum griff den Redner heftig an.
  3. In der Zeitung hat man  den Politiker scharf angegriffen.
  4. Niemand wird den Schauspieler persönlich angreifen.
  5. Er kann die Presse nicht frontal angreifen.
  6. Die beiden Politiker haben sich gegenseitig angegriffen.

 

Tatsächlich will Tesla den Marktführer VW mit einem Elektro-Kleinwagen frontal angreifen.

  1. He  attacks the critics with words.
  2. The public attacked the speaker fiercely.
  3. In the newspaper, one attacked the politician sharply.
  4. Nobody will attack the actor personally.
  5. He cannot attack the press head-on.
  6. The two politicians attacked each other.
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Grammar:

Verbs with Separable Prefixes

Some verbs have a prefix that moves around in the sentence, depending on what form the verb takes. You can expect the prefix to appear at the end of the sentence or clause, but whether the verb appears there with it depends on the rest of the sentence (tense, presence of a modal verb, etc.). In the infinitive form, the prefix is attached, like "ausgehen" ("to go out"). If the verb is conjugated (in present or simple past tense), the prefix appears at the end of the clause, as in "Ich gehe heute Abend aus" ("I am going out tonight"). The chart below shows several structural variants for these kinds of verbs. For more information, see the examples for individual verbs in the G-FOL or read these explanations from Grimm Grammar: present tense, conversational past tense (Perfekt).

Die erste Stelle (first position)V2 (verb 2nd)Rest (the rest of the info)am Ende (at the end)
Am Samstagabendgeheich mit Freundenaus.
Ichgingam Samstagabend mit Freunden aus.
Mit Freundenbinich am Samstagabendausgegangen.
Wanngeheich mit Freundenaus?
Ichkannnicht am Samstagabend mit Freunden ausgehen.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. SIDE_1 greift SIDE_2 an.
  2. SIDE_1 greift SIDE_2 wegen ISSUE an.
  3. [SIDE_2 scharf / frontal / gezielt / heftig / verbal / persönlich angreifen]
  4. SIDES greifen sich gegenseitig an.
  1. SIDE_1 attacks SIDE_2.
  2. SIDE_1 attacks SIDE_2 because of ISSUE.
  3. [to attack SIDE_2 scathingly / frontal, head-on / systematically / fiercely / verbally / personally]
  4. SIDES attack each other.
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Details:

to attack

As in English, this verb can be used to describe an act of agression in a heated verbal argument between Sides over an Issue, although it can also evoke the Fighting frame (which would imply a violent altercation).

Er greift die Frau verbal an. / He attacks the woman verbally.

 

Der Hund greift den Mann von hinten an. / The dog attacks the man from behind.