Frame description

In this frame, an Agent engages in personal body care. An Instrument (e.g. a wash cloth) can be used in this process as well as a Medium (e.g. soap and water).

Examples:

1. Ich schrubbe mir mit der Handbürste gründlich die Hände, bevor ich esse.1. I scrub with the hand brush thoroughly my hands before I eat.
2. Du musst dich mit heißem Wasser und Seife waschen.2. You have to wash yourself with hot water and soap.
3. Ich denke, Ende Februar werde ich zum Frisör gehen.3. I think at the end of February I will get a haircut.

 

 

 

Read more ...

In this frame, an Agent engages in personal body care (of either themself or someone else; the Patient is the one being groomed). Sometimes, a specific Body Part of the Patient is mentioned. An Instrument (e.g. a wash cloth) can be used in this process as well as a Medium (e.g. soap and water).

Examples:

1. Ich schrubbe mir mit der Handbürste gründlich die Hände, bevor ich esse.1. I scrub with the hand brush thoroughly my hands before I eat.
2. Du musst dich mit heißem Wasser und Seife waschen. 2. You have to wash yourself with hot water and soap.
3. Ich denke, Ende Februar werde ich zum Frisör gehen.3. I think at the end of February I will get a haircut.

Display columns:
Details
Examples
Grammar Notes
Sentence Templates
Alternate Forms

Frame Elements

Frame Element descriptions (on hover):

Agent

The Agent is the person who does the grooming. 

Framey(AGENT) badet seinen Hund und sein Schwein(PATIENT).

Body_part

This is the region of the body that gets groomed.

Zuletzt bürstet er(AGENT) sich(PATIENT) (und dem Hund, PATIENT) die Haare(BODYPART).

Patient

The Patient is the person / entity who gets groomed. 

Nachher muss er(AGENT) sich(PATIENT) duschen.

Instrument

The Instrument is a tool that aids the Agent in grooming.

Medium

The material, typically water, soap, toothpaste, etc. that the Agent uses for grooming.

Details
Examples
Grammar Notes
Sentence Templates
Alternate Forms
See All Information
baden verb to bathe

Details:

to bathe, to take a bath

Like its English equivalent, "baden" means that an Agent is submerged into water in order to clean or refresh themselves. With this verb, the Patient can be realized with a reflexive pronoun (in accusative), e.g. "Ich bade mich" ("I bathe myself"). Unlike some of the other verbs of the Grooming frame, however, the dative reflexive pronoun is not typically used when the Body_part is mentioned.

Note that German does not use the phrase "take a bath" ("ein Bad nehmen") as commonly as English. Instead, they often use the verb "baden," e.g. "Ich bade" ("I bathe").

Das Kleinkind sitzt in der Badewanne und badet. / The toddler sits in the bathtub and takes a bath.

Pixabay license, via Pixabay.com

Further details:

Word formation:

"der Bademantel" ("bathrobe"), "das Badezimmer" ("bathroom"), "die Badematte" ("bathmat"), "das Badetuch" ("bath towel"), "das Schaumbad" ("bubble bath"), "die Badewanne" ("bathtub"), 

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

„baden“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/baden>, abgerufen am 08.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A1.

TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Example Sentences:

  1. Anne badete und ging ins Bett.
  2. Die Mutter badet ihr Baby jeden Abend.
  3. Mein Bruder hat sich bei uns gebadet, als er uns besucht hat.
  4. Am Abend badet Sabine ihre   Füße.
  5. Ich bade nicht so gern, ich dusche lieber.
  6. Beim Schminken bade ich meine Füße in kaltem Wasser.
  7. Kleine Kinder können in reinem Wasser baden - ein Badezusatz ist in der Regel nicht nötig.
  1. Anne took a bath and went to bed.
  2. The mother bathes her baby every evening.
  3. My brother bathed himself at our place when he visited us.
  4. In the evening Sabine bathes her   feet.
  5. I don't like to bathe, I rather take a shower.
  6. When putting on make-up, I bathe my feet in cold water.
  7. Small children can bathe in pure water - a bath additive is normally not necessary.
TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Grammar:

German vs. English

Frames: 
Grooming

When it comes to Grooming, English differs from German in two respects. First, instead of using a simple verb like German "duschen," English often uses a phrasal verb, where a meaningful noun ("shower," "bath") combines with a 'light' verb ("take").

"I take several showers a day." - "Ich dusche mich mehrmals am Tag."

Second, while German expresses the Patient as though it is directly affected by the verb (as a direct or indirect object), English construes this participant more as a possessor of the body part (with a possessive pronoun).

"I brush my teeth." – "Ich putze mir die Zähne."

"I brush his teeth." – "Ich putze ihm die Zähne."

Proper German and Spoken German

Frames: 
Grooming

While proper grammar requires the use of these reflexive pronouns for a number of verbs, Germans frequently omit them in colloquial language, and even go so far as to say it like English, "ich putze meine Zähne."

Ich dusche.
Ich putze die Zähne.
Ich putze meine Zähne.

Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns

Verbs that are used reflexively often carry a reciprocal meaning or the meaning that the subject is performing the action of the verb on themself, although some abstract verbs are used reflexively without such meanings. In any case, the reflexive pronouns and word order are the same. As a general rule, the reflexive pronoun should appear just after the subject, although the V2 rule trumps this one, so in a basic sentence, you will find: subject, verb, reflexive (e.g. "Er verliebt sich in Melanie," "He is falling in love with Melanie"). For further examples, consult the Examples sections of reflexive verbs. Click here for further explanation.

NominativAkkusativDativ
ichmichmir
dudichdir
er/sie/essichsich
wirunsuns
ihreucheuch
sie/Siesichsich
TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. AGENT badet.
  2. AGENT badet PATIENT.
  3. AGENT badet BODY_PART.
  4. AGENT badet in MEDIUM.
  5. AGENT badet BODY_PART in MEDIUM.
  1. AGENT takes a bath.
  2. AGENT bathes PATIENT.
  3. AGENT bathes BODY_PART.
  4. AGENT bathes in MEDIUM.
  5. AGENT bathes  BODY_PART in MEDIUM.
TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Details:

to bathe, to take a bath

Like its English equivalent, "baden" means that an Agent is submerged into water in order to clean or refresh themselves. With this verb, the Patient can be realized with a reflexive pronoun (in accusative), e.g. "Ich bade mich" ("I bathe myself"). Unlike some of the other verbs of the Grooming frame, however, the dative reflexive pronoun is not typically used when the Body_part is mentioned.

Note that German does not use the phrase "take a bath" ("ein Bad nehmen") as commonly as English. Instead, they often use the verb "baden," e.g. "Ich bade" ("I bathe").

Das Kleinkind sitzt in der Badewanne und badet. / The toddler sits in the bathtub and takes a bath.

Pixabay license, via Pixabay.com

Further details:

Word formation:

"der Bademantel" ("bathrobe"), "das Badezimmer" ("bathroom"), "die Badematte" ("bathmat"), "das Badetuch" ("bath towel"), "das Schaumbad" ("bubble bath"), "die Badewanne" ("bathtub"), 

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

„baden“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/baden>, abgerufen am 08.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A1.

TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Alternate Forms:

(er) badet, badete, hat gebadet
TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL
Bürste, die noun brush

Details:

brush

"Die Bürste" is like its English equivalent an Instrument that the grooming Agent uses clean and / or straighten certain Body_Parts. It has bristles ("die Borsten") that are attached to a handle or block. It is used as in English.

die Handbürste / hand brush

Jeuwre, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Zwei Haarbürsten / two hairbrushes

Mith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Bambuszahnbürste / bamboo toothbrush

Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Zahnbürste" ("toothbrush"), "die Bartbürste" ("beard brush"), "die Haarbürste" ("hairbrush"), "die Handbürste" ("hand brush"), "bürsten" ("to brush"), among others

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

„Bürste“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/B%C3%BCrste>, abgerufen am 22.11.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat B1.

TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Example Sentences:

  1. Katja putzt ihre Zähne mit einer elektrischen Zahnbürste.
  2. Er reinigt seine Fingernägel mit einer Bürste.
  3. Sie nimmt die Bürste und kämmt ihm die Haare.
  4. Für den Bart benutzt Karl eine spezielle Bürste.
  5. Harte Bürsten reinigen die Zähne besser, verletzen bei zu kräftigem Putzen aber auch schnell das Zahnfleisch.
  6. Corinna kämmt mit der harten Bürste die Mähne und den Schweif des Pferdes.
  7. Er schrubbt einem Elefanten mit einem Eimer Wasser und einer riesigen Bürste die Stoßzähne.
  8. Im Bad gibt es Massagen mit weichen Bürsten.
  1. Katja brushes her teeth with an electric toothbrush.
  2. He cleans his fingernails with a brush.
  3. She takes the brush and combs his hair.
  4. For the beard, Karl uses a special brush.
  5. Hard brushes clean the teeth better, but they injure also quickly the gums when brushing too hard.
  6. Corinna combs with the hard brush the mane and the tail of the horse.
  7. He scrubs the tusks of an elephant with a bucket of water and a giant brush.
  8. In the spa there are massages with soft brushes.
TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. AGENT putzt / schrubbt / reinigt BODY_PART mit Bürste.
  2. AGENT benutzt / nimmt eine Bürste.
  1. AGENT cleans / scrubs / cleans BODY_PART with brush.
  2. AGENT uses / takes, uses a brush.
TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Details:

brush

"Die Bürste" is like its English equivalent an Instrument that the grooming Agent uses clean and / or straighten certain Body_Parts. It has bristles ("die Borsten") that are attached to a handle or block. It is used as in English.

die Handbürste / hand brush

Jeuwre, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Zwei Haarbürsten / two hairbrushes

Mith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Bambuszahnbürste / bamboo toothbrush

Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Zahnbürste" ("toothbrush"), "die Bartbürste" ("beard brush"), "die Haarbürste" ("hairbrush"), "die Handbürste" ("hand brush"), "bürsten" ("to brush"), among others

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

„Bürste“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/B%C3%BCrste>, abgerufen am 22.11.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat B1.

TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Alternate Forms:

(pl.) die Bürsten
TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL
bürsten (die Haare bürsten) verb to brush (hair)

Details:

to brush (one's hair)

The verb "bürsten" in this frame is used when an Agent runs a brush through one's hair in order to smooth it, to remove tangles, or to arrange it. While English uses the same word for brushing your teeth and brushing your hair, this is not so with German. This verb is used with hair only (for cleaning teeth, German uses the verb "putzen").

Sie bürstet sich die Haare. / She brushes her hair.

Pixabay license, via Pixabay.com

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Bürste" ("brush"), "durchbürsten" ("to brush through," "to brush thoroughly")

Synonyms:

"frisieren," "kämmen"

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

„bürsten“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/b%C3%BCrsten>, abgerufen am 08.02.2022.

TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Example Sentences:

  1. Sie bürstet die Haare.
  2. Er hat seine Haare nach hinten gebürstet.
  3. Bevor man ausgeht, bürstet man sich die Haare.
  4. Sie bürstet das Haar mit einer weichen Bürste.
  5. Wer früh und abends die Füße mit kaltem Wasser bürstet, bekommt keine kalten Füße.
  1. She brushes her hair.
  2. He brushed his hair back.
  3. Before one goes out, one brushes one's hair.
  4. She brushes the hair with a soft brush.
  5. Who brushes in the mornings and evenings the feet with cold water doesn't get cold feet.
TOP OF PAGE | COLLAPSE ALL

Grammar:

The Grammar of Grooming

Frames: 
Grooming

The verbs in the Grooming frame are interesting from a German-English perspective, because German commonly uses a reflexive pronoun to specify that the Agent is washing her/himself, and thus that the Agent and the Patient are the same entity.

When a Body Part is not mentioned, the reflexive pronoun is in the accusative.
   Ich dusche mich. – I shower (myself).

When a Body Part is mentioned, the reflexive pronoun is in the dative, and the Body Part is in the accusative.
   Ich putze mir die Zähne. – I brush (myself) the teeth.

The grammar note entitled "Reflexive Pronouns" contains a chart with both dative and accusative forms; visit Grimm Grammar for more information (http://coerll.utexas.edu/gg/gr/vrf_01.html).


If the Patient is a different person than the Agent, then the dative and accusative cases are used as normal.
   Ich kämme dem Kind/ihm die Haare.

German vs. English

Frames: 
Grooming

When it comes to Grooming, English differs from German in two respects. First, instead of using a simple verb like German "duschen," English often uses a phrasal verb, where a meaningful noun ("shower," "bath") combines with a 'light' verb ("take").

"I take several showers a day." - "Ich dusche mich mehrmals am Tag."

Second, while German expresses the Patient as though it is directly affected by the verb (as a direct or indirect object), English construes this participant more as a possessor of the body part (with a possessive pronoun).

"I brush my teeth." – "Ich putze mir die Zähne."

"I brush his teeth." – "Ich putze ihm die Zähne."

Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns

Verbs that are used reflexively often carry a reciprocal meaning or the meaning that the subject is performing the action of the verb on themself, although some abstract verbs are used reflexively without such meanings. In any case, the reflexive pronouns and word order are the same. As a general rule,