Frame description

Awareness is when a Cognizer has a piece of Content in their mental model of the world; they are aware of it. The Cognizer may become aware of the Content through direct perception, but usually awareness comes through deduction based on other things the Cognizer has perceived.

Examples:

1. Lucas vermutet, dass wir es nicht ganz schaffen werden.1. Lucas presumes, that we will not completely make it.
2. Aber Bruno wurde nicht für seinen Glauben an Außerirdische getötet.2. But Bruno was not killed for his belief in aliens.
3. Ältere Leute haben einfach wenig Ahnung von Computersicherheit.3. Older people just have little sense of computer security.

This frame is distinct from the Certainty frame, in that it does not profile the relationship of the Cognizer to the Content (i.e. how certain they are that it is true), but rather presupposes it (the Cognizer in Awareness knows or assumes the Content to be true and includes it in their view of the world; their certainty of it is not at issue).

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Examples
Grammar Notes
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Frame Elements

Frame Element descriptions (on hover):

Cognizer

The person who is (or is not) aware of a phenomenon. Typically expressed as the grammatical subject.

Content

The object or fact that the Cognizer is aware of (and which is thus added to the Cognizer's mental model of the world).

Topic

A more general designation of what the Cognizer is aware of.

Expressor

The body part or action by a body part that conveys the mental state of the Cognizer to an observer.

Degree

The Degree indicates how aware of the Topic or Content the Cognizer is.

Details
Examples
Grammar Notes
Sentence Templates
Alternate Forms
See All Information
ahnen verb to suspect, to anticipate, to have an idea of

Details:

to suspect, to anticipate, to have an idea of, to sense

German "ahnen" is used to say that a Cognizer feels or knows something in advance, or that they apprehend something. This verb's meaning is broader than the English terms that can serve as translations. It is sometimes even used like English "to guess" as in "Das kann man nur ahnen!" ("That, one can only guess!"). Typically, however, it can be translated as "to suspect" or "to anticipate." A dependent clause headed by "dass" ("that") is frequently used to encode the Content, although this FE can also appear as the direct object. See examples 2-4.

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Ahnung" ("hunch," "foreboding"), "erahnen," "vorausahnen" (both: "to surmise," "to barely perceive," "to forefeel sth.")

Synonyms:

"eine dunkle Ahnung haben," "voraussehen," "vorhersehen," "spüren," "wittern"

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

„ahnen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/ahnen>, abgerufen am 16.02.2022.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Das konnte ich nicht ahnen!
  2. Hilde scheint zu ahnen, dass ihre Worte nicht wirklich überzeugen.
  3. Vielleicht ahnte er da schon, dass es zu Ende geht.
  4. Ahnt er  Gefahr?
  5. Was sich in der Provinz abspielt, kann man nur ahnen.
  1. That  I could not anticipate!
  2. Hilde seems to suspect that her words aren't really convincing.
  3. Maybe he suspected there already that it's ending.
  4. Does he  suspect danger?
  5. What is playing out in the province can one only suspect.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER ahnt CONTENT.
  2. COGNIZER ahnt, dass CONTENT.
  1. COGNIZER suspects CONTENT.
  2. COGNIZER suspects that CONTENT.
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Details:

to suspect, to anticipate, to have an idea of, to sense

German "ahnen" is used to say that a Cognizer feels or knows something in advance, or that they apprehend something. This verb's meaning is broader than the English terms that can serve as translations. It is sometimes even used like English "to guess" as in "Das kann man nur ahnen!" ("That, one can only guess!"). Typically, however, it can be translated as "to suspect" or "to anticipate." A dependent clause headed by "dass" ("that") is frequently used to encode the Content, although this FE can also appear as the direct object. See examples 2-4.

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Ahnung" ("hunch," "foreboding"), "erahnen," "vorausahnen" (both: "to surmise," "to barely perceive," "to forefeel sth.")

Synonyms:

"eine dunkle Ahnung haben," "voraussehen," "vorhersehen," "spüren," "wittern"

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

„ahnen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/ahnen>, abgerufen am 16.02.2022.

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Alternate Forms:

(er) ahnt, ahnte, hat geahnt
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Ahnung, die noun idea, notion, sense

Details:

idea, notion, inkling, sense

This noun comes from the verb "ahnen" ("to sense," "to suspect," or "to have an idea of something;" see entry in this frame). While its meaning is more similar to "sense" or "inkling," the common phrase "Ich habe keine Ahnung!" is best translated in English as "I have no idea!" It is typically used in the singular.

Further details:

Word formation:

"ahnungslos" ("unsuspecting," "naive"), "die Vorahnung" ("foreboding," "hunch"), among others

Synonyms:

"das Vorgefühl," "das Bauchgefühl," "die Eingebung," "das Gespür," "der Instinkt," "die Intuition," "der sechste / siebente Sinn," "die Befürchtung"

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

„Ahnung“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Ahnung>, abgerufen am 16.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A2.

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Example Sentences:

  1. "Keine Ahnung", sagt Magnus, "Aber es wird eine andere Eröffnung geben, da bin ich mir ziemlich sicher."
  2. Ich hatte keine Ahnung, dass die ganze Welt sich das anschauen würde.
  3. Haben Sie eine Ahnung, was das verursacht hat?
  4. Diese Beispiele geben uns eine Ahnung von der nahen Zukunft.
  5. Lily hat offenbar Ahnung von Golf.
  6. Ältere Leute haben einfach wenig Ahnung von Computersicherheit.
  7. Der Bericht vermittelt eine Ahnung davon, was damals passierte.
  8. Ich hatte keine Ahnung, dass du heute Geburtstag hast.
  9. Wie spät ist es? - Ich habe keine Ahnung.
  1. "No idea," says Magnus, "But there will be another opening, of that am I fairly sure."
  2. I had no idea that the whole world would look at that.
  3. Do you have an idea who caused that?
  4. These examples give us a sense of the near future.
  5. Lily has obviously a sense of golf.
  6. Older people just have little sense of computer security.
  7. The report conveys a sense of it, what back then happened.
  8. I had no idea that you have your birthday today.
  9. What is the time? - I have no idea.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER hat eine Ahnung.
  2. COGNIZER hat eine Ahnung, CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER hat keine Ahnung.
  4. COGNIZER hat (eine) Ahnung von TOPIC.
  1. COGNIZER has an inkling.
  2. COGNIZER has an idea, CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER has no idea.
  4. COGNIZER has a sense of TOPIC.
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Details:

idea, notion, inkling, sense

This noun comes from the verb "ahnen" ("to sense," "to suspect," or "to have an idea of something;" see entry in this frame). While its meaning is more similar to "sense" or "inkling," the common phrase "Ich habe keine Ahnung!" is best translated in English as "I have no idea!" It is typically used in the singular.

Further details:

Word formation:

"ahnungslos" ("unsuspecting," "naive"), "die Vorahnung" ("foreboding," "hunch"), among others

Synonyms:

"das Vorgefühl," "das Bauchgefühl," "die Eingebung," "das Gespür," "der Instinkt," "die Intuition," "der sechste / siebente Sinn," "die Befürchtung"

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

„Ahnung“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Ahnung>, abgerufen am 16.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A2.

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Alternate Forms:

(pl.) die Ahnungen
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denken verb to think

Details:

to think

This sense of "denken" has to do with how something is represented in the Cognizer's mental model of the world. Often, that just means the Cognizer is expressing how they "think" the world is, i.e. they have a particular belief or opinion.

In an example like "ich denke, Melina ist Anwältin" ("I think Melina is an attorney") they mean that in their own mental model of the world, Melina is an attorney. Whether that Content is correct or not is a different story! This kind of usage often appears in the context of reporting what someone else said they think, and therefore requires Konjunktiv I because it is reported speech (as in example 3). See Grimm Grammar for details.

"Denken" in the Awareness frame can also be used to indicate what the Cognizer is aware of, as in "du denkst nur an dich selbst" ("you are only thinking of yourself"). In this case, the preposition "an" ("of," "about") is used with the accusative case to introduce the Topic.

Remember that some uses of "denken" ("to think") do not fall within the scope of the Thinking: Awareness frame; see Thinking: Opinion and Thinking: Pondering for different senses of this verb.

Further details:

Word formation:

"der Denkanstoß" ("thought-provoking impulse," "food for thought"), "der Denker" ("thinker"), "die Denkfalte" ("thinking wrinkle"), "der Denkfehler" ("error in reasoning," "fallacy"), "denkfaul" ("too lazy to think"), "die Denkfreiheit" ("freedom of thought"), "denkbar" ("possible," "conceivable," "imaginable"), "die Denkschrift" ("memorandum"), "das Denkspiel" ("brain game," "puzzle game"), "ausdenken / sich etwas ausdenken" ("to think of something"), "durchdenken" ("to think something through"), "gedenken" ("to remember sth. / so."), "mitdenken" (lit. "to think along," "to participate intellectually," "to be mentally present"), "nachdenken" ("to think about sth." "to reflect on sth."), "überdenken" ("to reconsider sth."), among others

Synonyms:

"überlegen," "erwägen," "reflektieren," "annehmen," "erwarten," "glauben," "meinen," "vermuten," "schätzen," among others

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

„denken“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/denken>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A2.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Die Jugendlichen denken, dass es normal ist.
  2. Jeder denkt nur an sich und seine nächsten Angehörigen.
  3. Jannik dachte, sie sei schon gestorben.
  4. Jeder fühlte und dachte wie die anderen.
  5. Ich denke, du hast recht.
  6. Ich denke oft an meine Freundin.
  7. Wahrscheinlich dachte ich damals (wenn man das schon denken nennen konnte), dass es wohl der natürlichste Zustand war, nackt in einer Nussschale auf dem offenen Meer einem ohrenbetäubenden Tosen entgegenzutreiben.
  1. The youths think that it is normal.
  2. Each thinks only of himself and his nearest kin.
  3. Jannik thought she had already died.
  4. Each felt and thought like the others.
  5. I think you are right.
  6. I often think of my girlfriend.
  7. Probably I thought back then (if one could even call it thinking), that it was likely the most natural state of being, naked in a small boat on the open sea drifting toward an ear-deafening bluster.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER denkt an TOPIC.accusative.
  2. COGNIZER denkt, CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER denkt, dass CONTENT.
  1. COGNIZER thinks of TOPIC.
  2. COGNIZER thinks, CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER thinks that CONTENT.
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Details:

to think

This sense of "denken" has to do with how something is represented in the Cognizer's mental model of the world. Often, that just means the Cognizer is expressing how they "think" the world is, i.e. they have a particular belief or opinion.

In an example like "ich denke, Melina ist Anwältin" ("I think Melina is an attorney") they mean that in their own mental model of the world, Melina is an attorney. Whether that Content is correct or not is a different story! This kind of usage often appears in the context of reporting what someone else said they think, and therefore requires Konjunktiv I because it is reported speech (as in example 3). See Grimm Grammar for details.

"Denken" in the Awareness frame can also be used to indicate what the Cognizer is aware of, as in "du denkst nur an dich selbst" ("you are only thinking of yourself"). In this case, the preposition "an" ("of," "about") is used with the accusative case to introduce the Topic.

Remember that some uses of "denken" ("to think") do not fall within the scope of the Thinking: Awareness frame; see Thinking: Opinion and Thinking: Pondering for different senses of this verb.

Further details:

Word formation:

"der Denkanstoß" ("thought-provoking impulse," "food for thought"), "der Denker" ("thinker"), "die Denkfalte" ("thinking wrinkle"), "der Denkfehler" ("error in reasoning," "fallacy"), "denkfaul" ("too lazy to think"), "die Denkfreiheit" ("freedom of thought"), "denkbar" ("possible," "conceivable," "imaginable"), "die Denkschrift" ("memorandum"), "das Denkspiel" ("brain game," "puzzle game"), "ausdenken / sich etwas ausdenken" ("to think of something"), "durchdenken" ("to think something through"), "gedenken" ("to remember sth. / so."), "mitdenken" (lit. "to think along," "to participate intellectually," "to be mentally present"), "nachdenken" ("to think about sth." "to reflect on sth."), "überdenken" ("to reconsider sth."), among others

Synonyms:

"überlegen," "erwägen," "reflektieren," "annehmen," "erwarten," "glauben," "meinen," "vermuten," "schätzen," among others

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

„denken“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/denken>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A2.

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Alternate Forms:

(er) denkt, dachte, hat gedacht
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Glaube, der noun belief

Details:

belief

"Der Glaube" refers like its English equivalent to the firm, inner conviction of a Cognizer that things or phenomena are real / true although they are not objectively proven. Most instances of this LU fall within the Awareness frame, although as with the related LU "glauben" ("to believe"), some instances may evoke the Opinon or Certainty frames, as explained below. Note that this noun does not have a plural form.  

"Der Glaube" in the Awareness frame includes uses where the Cognizer has a particular belief in their mental model of the world. This differs from "der Glaube" in the Opinion frame in that the Cognizer holds the Topic or Content not as an Opinion, but as part of their subjective reality. Some ambiguity between these senses is possible. However, the preposition "an" ("in") is a clear sign that the Awareness frame is at play. Saying that a person believes "in" something implies that they hold that concept as part of their subjective reality. Thus the prepositional phrase with "an" ("in") is used to express the Content (the concept that the Cognizer believes in), as in example 7.

The Awareness sense of "der Glaube" can also overlap with the Certainty frame. The difference is that in the Certainty frame, there is a stronger emphasis on the implication that the Content (the belief) is correct or accurate, rather than a part of the Cognizer's subjective world view.

Further details:

Word formation:

"das Glaubensbekenntnis" ("creed," "profession of faith," "statement of belief"), "die Glaubensfreiheit" ("religious freedom"), "die Glaubensgemeinschaft" ("denomination," "community of faith"), "die Glaubensrichtung" ("denomination," "creed," "persuation"), "gläubig" ("religious," "believing"), "der Aberglaube" ("superstition"), "der Fortschrittsglaube" ("(naive) belief in progress"), among others

Synonyms:

"das Vertrauen," "die Überzeugung," "die Zuversicht," "das Bekenntnis," "die Konfession," among others

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

„Glaube“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Glaube>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Mario lebte in dem Glauben, dass alle Menschen nett sind.
  2. Juden, Muslime und Christen hätten doch mehr gemeinsam, als sie trenne, nämlich den Wunsch, nach ihrem Glauben zu leben.
  3. Kurz: Der Glaube sei nur Betrug oder Selbstbetrug.
  4. "Es war mir wichtig, dass ihr Kinder zumindest ein bisschen Glauben mitbekommt," sagte sie.
  5. Das Schöne am Glauben ist seit je: Wer auf den Zug aufgesprungen ist, muss sich keine Sorgen über die Wirklichkeit mehr machen.
  6. Islamkritik ist keine pauschale Ablehnung des islamischen Glaubens.
  7. Aber Bruno wurde nicht für seinen Glauben an Außerirdische getötet.
  1. Mario lived in the belief that all people are nice.
  2. Jews, Muslims and Christians would have more in common, than separates them, namely the wish, to live according to their belief.
  3. In short: belief is only deception or self-deception.
  4. "It was to me important, that you children at least a little belief learn," she said.
  5. The beauty of belief has always been: whoever onto the train has jumped, must not worry about reality any more.
  6. Critique of Islam is no sweeping rejection of Islamic belief.
  7. But Bruno was not killed for his belief in aliens.
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Grammar:

Weak Nouns

Frames: 
Age - not published
People by Age
Buying and Selling
People
Personal Relationship
Thinking: Awareness
Thinking: Certainty
Thinking: Pondering
Thinking: Opinion
Family & Relatives

All so-called "weak" nouns in German are masculine, and their "weakness" is their willingness to change their ending by adding "(e)n" whenever they appear in a case other than nominative. This basically means that these nouns all end with "en" when they appear in these other cases, which is important to know because that ending can make these nouns seem plural when they are not (e.g. "der Mensch," "human," "pl. die Menschen," but also sing.akk "den Menschen"). The table below shows several examples, but if you crave further details, you can visit Grimm Grammar.

EnglishNom.Akk.Dat.Gen.

student

der Student
ein Student

den Studenten
einen Studenten

dem Studenten
einem Studenten

des Studenten
eines Studenten

thought

der Gedanke
ein Gedanke

den Gedanken
einen Gedanken

dem Gedanken
einem Gedanken

des Gedanken
eines Gedanken

nephew

der Neffe
ein Neffe

den Neffen
einen Neffen

dem Neffen
einem Neffen

des Neffen
eines Neffen

(male) customerder Kunde
ein Kunde

den Kunden
einen Kunden

dem Kunden
einem Kunden

des Kunden
eines Kunden

boy

der Junge
ein Junge

den Jungen
einen Jungen

dem Jungen
einem Jungen 

des Jungen
eines Jungen 

human, man

der Mensch
ein Mensch

den Menschen
einen Menschen

dem Menschen
einem Menschen 

des Menschen
eines Menschen

belief

der Glaube
ein Glaube 

den Glauben
einen Glauben

dem Glauben
einem Glauben

des Glauben
eines Glauben

(male) Christian

der Christ
ein Christ

den Christen
einen Christen

dem Christen
einem Christen

des Christen
eines Christen

(male) psychologist 

der Psychologe
ein Psychologe

den Psychologen
einen Psychologen

dem Psychologen
einem Psychologen

des Psychologen
eines Psychologen

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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER hat einen Glauben.
  2. COGNIZER hat den Glauben, dass CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER ist des Glaubens, dass CONTENT.
  4. [der Glaube an CONTENT]
  1. COGNIZER has a belief.
  2. COGNIZER has the belief that CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER is of the belief that CONTENT.
  4. [the belief in CONTENT]
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Details:

belief

"Der Glaube" refers like its English equivalent to the firm, inner conviction of a Cognizer that things or phenomena are real / true although they are not objectively proven. Most instances of this LU fall within the Awareness frame, although as with the related LU "glauben" ("to believe"), some instances may evoke the Opinon or Certainty frames, as explained below. Note that this noun does not have a plural form.  

"Der Glaube" in the Awareness frame includes uses where the Cognizer has a particular belief in their mental model of the world. This differs from "der Glaube" in the Opinion frame in that the Cognizer holds the Topic or Content not as an Opinion, but as part of their subjective reality. Some ambiguity between these senses is possible. However, the preposition "an" ("in") is a clear sign that the Awareness frame is at play. Saying that a person believes "in" something implies that they hold that concept as part of their subjective reality. Thus the prepositional phrase with "an" ("in") is used to express the Content (the concept that the Cognizer believes in), as in example 7.

The Awareness sense of "der Glaube" can also overlap with the Certainty frame. The difference is that in the Certainty frame, there is a stronger emphasis on the implication that the Content (the belief) is correct or accurate, rather than a part of the Cognizer's subjective world view.

Further details:

Word formation:

"das Glaubensbekenntnis" ("creed," "profession of faith," "statement of belief"), "die Glaubensfreiheit" ("religious freedom"), "die Glaubensgemeinschaft" ("denomination," "community of faith"), "die Glaubensrichtung" ("denomination," "creed," "persuation"), "gläubig" ("religious," "believing"), "der Aberglaube" ("superstition"), "der Fortschrittsglaube" ("(naive) belief in progress"), among others

Synonyms:

"das Vertrauen," "die Überzeugung," "die Zuversicht," "das Bekenntnis," "die Konfession," among others

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

„Glaube“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Glaube>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

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Alternate Forms:

der Glauben (rarely used), (pl.) die Glauben (rarely used)
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glauben (an+akk.) verb to believe (in)

Details:

to believe (in)

The sense of the verb "glauben" in the Awareness frame includes uses where the Cognizer has a particular belief in their mental model of the world. This differs from "glauben" in the Opinion frame in that the Cognizer holds the Topic not as an Opinion, but as part of their subjective reality. Some ambiguity between these senses is possible. However, the preposition "an" ("in") is a clear sign that the Awareness frame is at play. Saying that a person believes "in" something implies that they hold that concept as part of their subjective reality. Thus the prepositional phrase with "an" ("in") is used to express the Content (the concept that the Cognizer believes in), as in examples 3, 4 and 5. 

The Awareness sense of "glauben" can also overlap with the Certainty frame's "glauben" ("to believe"). The difference is that in the Certainty frame, there is a stronger emphasis on the implication that the Content (the belief) is correct. Often, the Certainty frame includes uses where the Cognizer is either very general or is a group of people (e.g. "Die USA glauben, die Atomkraft sei nicht nötig in einem Land mit viel Öl," "The USA believes nuclear power is not necessary in a land with much oil").

Further details:

Word formation:

"glaubhaft" ("plausible," "credible"), "glaubwürdig" ("credible," "believably," "reliable")

Synonyms:

"meinen," "überzeugt sein (von)"

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

„glauben“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/glauben>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Example Sentences:

  1. Ich glaube, ich kann fliegen.
  2. Wir glauben, die Reform in Berlin wird durchgesetzt.
  3. Als leidenschaftlicher Mensch glaube ich an das Schicksal.
  4. Hast du früher mal an den Weihnachtsmann geglaubt?
  5. Die Mehrzahl von Deutschen glauben an den alten Grundsatz "Man lebt nicht, um zu arbeiten, sondern man arbeitet, um zu leben."
  6. Sie können mir glauben, es ist so.
  7. Ich glaube, er kommt gleich.
  1. I believe I can fly.
  2. We believe the reform in Berlin is being put through.
  3. As a passionate person, I believe in fate.
  4. Have you previously once in the Christmas Man (Santa Clause) believed?
  5. The majority of Germans believe in the old tenet, "One doesn't live to work, rather one works to live."
  6. You can believe me it is like that.
  7. I believe he will be coming soon.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER glaubt, CONTENT.
  2. COGNIZER glaubt, dass CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER glaubt an CONTENT.accusative.
  1. COGNIZER believes CONTENT.
  2. COGNIZER believes that CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER believes in CONTENT.
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Details:

to believe (in)

The sense of the verb "glauben" in the Awareness frame includes uses where the Cognizer has a particular belief in their mental model of the world. This differs from "glauben" in the Opinion frame in that the Cognizer holds the Topic not as an Opinion, but as part of their subjective reality. Some ambiguity between these senses is possible. However, the preposition "an" ("in") is a clear sign that the Awareness frame is at play. Saying that a person believes "in" something implies that they hold that concept as part of their subjective reality. Thus the prepositional phrase with "an" ("in") is used to express the Content (the concept that the Cognizer believes in), as in examples 3, 4 and 5. 

The Awareness sense of "glauben" can also overlap with the Certainty frame's "glauben" ("to believe"). The difference is that in the Certainty frame, there is a stronger emphasis on the implication that the Content (the belief) is correct. Often, the Certainty frame includes uses where the Cognizer is either very general or is a group of people (e.g. "Die USA glauben, die Atomkraft sei nicht nötig in einem Land mit viel Öl," "The USA believes nuclear power is not necessary in a land with much oil").

Further details:

Word formation:

"glaubhaft" ("plausible," "credible"), "glaubwürdig" ("credible," "believably," "reliable")

Synonyms:

"meinen," "überzeugt sein (von)"

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

„glauben“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/glauben>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Alternate Forms:

(er) glaubt (an), glaubte (an), hat (an) geglaubt
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Idee, die noun idea

Details:

idea

This noun also appears in the Thinking: Pondering frame. The difference in the two senses is that in this case, the idea is some piece of knowledge or some perception that in part makes up the Cognizer's mental model of the world. That is, it's an idea about the world rather than an idea about what to do or some possibility that the Cognizer has come to through a process of thought (pondering).

Further details:

Word formation:

"ideenreich" ("imaginative"), "ideenarm" ("lack in ideas," "unimaginative"), "ideenlos" ("uninspired," "without imagination"), "die Ideenfindung" ("ideation," "brainstorming"), "die Grundidee" ("basic concept," "basic idea"), "die Schnapsidee" ("crazy idea"), among others

Synonyms:

"die Eingebung," "der Einfall," "der Gedanke," "die Erleuchtung," "die Anschauung," "die Auffassung," among others

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

„Idee“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Idee>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A2.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Stefan erzählt gern von seinen Ideen.
  2. Wir hatten nur fragliche Ideen über die Umwelt.
  3. Ironischerweise waren es John Ashcrofts Ideen     über präventive Verbrechensbekämpfung,  die indirekt zum Untergang der Weltmacht USA führen sollten.
  4.  Was machen wir heute Abend? Hast du eine gute Idee? 
  1. Stefan likes to tell of his ideas.
  2. We had only questionable ideas about the environment.
  3. Ironically, it was John Ashcrofts ideas about preventative crime-fighting that indirectly supposedly lead to the downfall of the world-power USA.
  4. What are we going to do tonight? Do you have a good idea?
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER hat eine Idee.
  2. [COGNIZERs Idee]
  3. [Idee über TOPIC]
  1. COGNIZER has an idea.
  2. [COGNIZER's idea]
  3. [Idea about TOPIC]
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Details:

idea

This noun also appears in the Thinking: Pondering frame. The difference in the two senses is that in this case, the idea is some piece of knowledge or some perception that in part makes up the Cognizer's mental model of the world. That is, it's an idea about the world rather than an idea about what to do or some possibility that the Cognizer has come to through a process of thought (pondering).

Further details:

Word formation:

"ideenreich" ("imaginative"), "ideenarm" ("lack in ideas," "unimaginative"), "ideenlos" ("uninspired," "without imagination"), "die Ideenfindung" ("ideation," "brainstorming"), "die Grundidee" ("basic concept," "basic idea"), "die Schnapsidee" ("crazy idea"), among others

Synonyms:

"die Eingebung," "der Einfall," "der Gedanke," "die Erleuchtung," "die Anschauung," "die Auffassung," among others

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

„Idee“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Idee>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A2.

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Alternate Forms:

(pl.) die Ideen
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Ignoranz, die noun ignorance

Details:

ignorance

"Die Ignoranz" refers to a state of a Cognizer in which they lack knowledge or awareness in general. It is used like its English counterpart. The plural form is nearly never used.

Further details:

Synonyms:

"das Nichtwissen," "die Ahnungslosigkeit," "die Unwissenheit," among others

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

„Ignoranz“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Ignoranz>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Im Leben ist Ignoranz keine Tugend.
  2. Juris Ignoranz auf dem politischen Gebiet kennt keine Grenzen.
  3. In ihrer Ignoranz verfolgen und töten solche Extremisten Ahmadi-Muslime wegen ihres Glaubens.
  4. Es existierte eine Ignoranz gegenüber der eigenen Küche.
  5. Die Ignoranz der Jüngeren gegenüber der DDR-Geschichte ist manchmal schwer auszuhalten.
  6. Das ganze war eine Demonstration von Ignoranz und Dummheit.
  7. Viel häufiger läuft man gegen eine Wand aus Ignoranz.
  1. In life, ignorance is no virtue.
  2. Juri's ignorance in the political realm knows no limits.
  3. In their ignorance, such extremists pursue and kill Ahmadi-muslims because of their beliefs.
  4. There exists an ignorance about one's own cuisine.
  5. The ignorance of younger people about the GDR-history is sometimes difficult to bear.
  6. The whole thing was a demonstration of ignorance and stupidity.
  7. Much more frequently, one runs into a wall of ignorance.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. [COGNIZERs Ignoranz]
  2. [Ignoranz gegenüber TOPIC]
  3. [Ignoranz auf dem TOPIC.adj Gebiet]
  4. COGNIZER agiert aus Ignoranz.
  5. In Ignoranz macht COGNIZER etwas.
  1. [COGNIZER's ignorance]
  2. [Ignorance about TOPIC]
  3. [Ignorance in the TOPIC.adj realm]
  4. COGNIZER acts out of ignorance.
  5. COGNIZER acts in ignorance.
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Details:

ignorance

"Die Ignoranz" refers to a state of a Cognizer in which they lack knowledge or awareness in general. It is used like its English counterpart. The plural form is nearly never used.

Further details:

Synonyms:

"das Nichtwissen," "die Ahnungslosigkeit," "die Unwissenheit," among others

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

„Ignoranz“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Ignoranz>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

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Alternate Forms:

(pl.) die Ignoranzen (rarely used)
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unbewusst adverb unknowingly, unconsciously

Details:

unknowingly, unconsciously

The adverb "unbewusst" indicates that the Cognizer acts without awareness of that action. As in English, the Content is whatever action is done "unbewusst" ("unknowingly") by the Cognizer, and thus the whole proposition with Cognizer and action should be considered the Content. In the example sentences, we annotate the Cognizer so that it is clear, but remember: the Content actually includes the Cognizer because it is their own action of which they are not aware.

Note that the Topic FE does not appear with this adverb.

Further details:

Word formation:

"das Unbewusste" ("the unconscious")

Synonyms:

"latent," "unterschwellig," "verborgen," "versteckt"

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

„unbewusst“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/unbewusst>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Das Kind hätte unbewusst  den Schokoriegel gestohlen.
  2. Das haben die Zuschauer bewusst oder  unbewusst gespürt.
  3. Viele Quartiere der Fledermäuse würden vom Menschen unbewusst  zerstört, zum Beispiel durch die Renovierung von Dachböden.
  4. Die Forscher möchten wissen, welche Kompetenzen wir unbewusst  mit Frauen und mit Männern verbinden.
  1. The child would have unknowingly  stolen the chocolate bar.
  2. That have the spectators consciously or unconsciously felt.
  3. Many quarters of the bats were by man unknowingly  destroyed, for examply by the renovation of attics.
  4. The researchers would like to know which competencies we unconsciously  with men or women associate.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER macht etwas unbewusst.
  1. COGNIZER does something unknowingly.
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Details:

unknowingly, unconsciously

The adverb "unbewusst" indicates that the Cognizer acts without awareness of that action. As in English, the Content is whatever action is done "unbewusst" ("unknowingly") by the Cognizer, and thus the whole proposition with Cognizer and action should be considered the Content. In the example sentences, we annotate the Cognizer so that it is clear, but remember: the Content actually includes the Cognizer because it is their own action of which they are not aware.

Note that the Topic FE does not appear with this adverb.

Further details:

Word formation:

"das Unbewusste" ("the unconscious")

Synonyms:

"latent," "unterschwellig," "verborgen," "versteckt"

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

„unbewusst“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/unbewusst>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

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Alternate Forms:

unbewusster, am unbewusstesten
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vermuten verb to suppose, to presume

Details:

to presume, to assume, to suppose

This verb describes a situation in which a Cognizer has come to a conclusion about how something is or behaves, based on some kind of sign or evidence. With an example such as "die Polizei vermutet Brandstiftung" ("the police suspects arson"), the use of "vermuten" implies that the Cognizer believes "Brandstiftung" ("arson") to be the way some event in question happened; it is an explanation of what the situation was like (in contrast to, say an electrical fire).

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Vermutung" ("assumption," "guess")

Synonyms:

"annehmen," "glauben," "erwarten," "mutmaßen," "schätzen"

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

„vermuten“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/vermuten>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Example Sentences:

  1. Ich vermute, Sabine ruft uns gar nicht an.
  2. Der Polizeichef vermutet überhöhte Geschwindigkeit.
  3. Lucas vermutet, dass wir es nicht ganz schaffen werden.
  4. Es wird aber vermutet, dass linksradikale Gruppierungen dafür verantwortlich sein könnten.
  5. Ich vermute, sie wird heute nicht kommen.
  1. I suppose, Sabine will not call us at all.
  2. The police chief presumes excessive speed.
  3. Lucas presumes, that we will not completely make it.
  4. It is however supposed, that leftist radical groups could be responsible for it.
  5. I suppose she will not be coming today.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER vermutet CONTENT.
  2. COGNIZER vermutet, dass CONTENT.
  1. COGNIZER presumes CONTENT.
  2. COGNIZER presumes that CONTENT.
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Details:

to presume, to assume, to suppose

This verb describes a situation in which a Cognizer has come to a conclusion about how something is or behaves, based on some kind of sign or evidence. With an example such as "die Polizei vermutet Brandstiftung" ("the police suspects arson"), the use of "vermuten" implies that the Cognizer believes "Brandstiftung" ("arson") to be the way some event in question happened; it is an explanation of what the situation was like (in contrast to, say an electrical fire).

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Vermutung" ("assumption," "guess")

Synonyms:

"annehmen," "glauben," "erwarten," "mutmaßen," "schätzen"

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

„vermuten“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/vermuten>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Alternate Forms:

(er) vermutet, vermutete, hat vermutet
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vermutlich adverb presumably, supposedly, probably

Details:

presumably, supposedly, probably

This adverb is used by a Cognizer who has come to a conclusion about how something is or behaves, based on some kind of sign or evidence. For example in a sentence such as "Paul wird heute vermutlich später kommen" ("Paul will probably come later today"), the use of "vermutlich" implies that the Cognizer believes that Paul will be late because of some information they are aware of.  "Vermutlich" can also be used as an adjective: "die vermutliche Ursache" ("the presumed cause").

Further details:

Synonyms:

"voraussichtlich," "wahrscheinlich," "aller Voraussicht nach," among others

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

„vermutlich“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/vermutlich>, abgerufen am 28.06.2022.

 

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

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Example Sentences:

  1. Vermutlich  sagt er die Wahrheit.
  2. Die Verschmutzungen stammen vermutlich  von einem Schiff.
  3. Die Teile sind vermutlich  mehr als 250 Millionen Jahre alt.
  4. Es handelt sich vermutlich  um ein natürliches Phänomen.
  1. He probably  tells the truth.
  2. The contaminations presumably  came from a ship.
  3. The pieces are presumably  more than 250 million years old.
  4. It is probably  a natural phenomenon.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. [etwas passiert vermutlich]
  2. [etwas ist vermutlich so]
  1. [something probably happens]
  2. [something is probably, supposedly the case]
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Details:

presumably, supposedly, probably

This adverb is used by a Cognizer who has come to a conclusion about how something is or behaves, based on some kind of sign or evidence. For example in a sentence such as "Paul wird heute vermutlich später kommen" ("Paul will probably come later today"), the use of "vermutlich" implies that the Cognizer believes that Paul will be late because of some information they are aware of.  "Vermutlich" can also be used as an adjective: "die vermutliche Ursache" ("the presumed cause").

Further details:

Synonyms:

"voraussichtlich," "wahrscheinlich," "aller Voraussicht nach," among others

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

„vermutlich“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/vermutlich>, abgerufen am 28.06.2022.

 

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

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verstehen verb to understand

Details:

to understand

This sense of "to understand" concerns a Cognizer who becomes aware of some Content or who knows about a particular Topic. This is in contrast to the sense that indicates an in depth understanding of the workings and significance of a complex system or phenomenon, which evokes a different frame.

In this frame, "verstehen" is used in many of the same ways as "to understand" but its meaning extends beyond that of its English counterpart when you look at all the frames it can evoke. For now, let's look at some of the ways "verstehen" can realize the FEs from Awareness. The Cognizer appears as the grammatical subject, and the Content is the direct object when it is a noun (e.g. "ich verstehe deinen Frust," "I understand your frustration"), or a dependent clause headed by "dass" when it is a whole proposition (e.g. "Ich verstehe, dass sie krank ist," "I understand that she is sick"). Alternatively, a Topic can be expressed using "von" and some indication of how much Content is understood (e.g. "etwas," "something"; "nichts," "nothing"), as in sentence template 3 and examples 4-5.

Further details:

Word formation:

"das Verstehen" ("comprehension"), "das Verständnis" ("understanding"), "missverstehen" ("to misunderstand," "to misinterpret"), "der Verstand" ("mind," "wit," "brain")

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

„verstehen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/verstehen#1>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Example Sentences:

  1. Er versteht unsere Rolle nicht.
  2. Wir verstehen die Unzufriedenheit und den Frust.
  3. Steffi hat verstanden, dass sie einen Fehler gemacht hat.
  4. Andi versteht nichts vom Angeln.
  5. Die Studenten verstehen jetzt viel mehr von Literatur und Kunst.
  6. Ich habe verstanden, dass nur ich für mein Leben verantwortlich bin.
  7. Shirin konnte von ihrem Platz aus jede Silbe verstehen.
  8. Garrett will testen, wie viel sein Publikum wirklich von Klassik versteht.
  9. Er versteht also viel  von Tradition und von der Seele dieser Gegend.
  1. He doesn't understand our role.
  2. We understand the dissatisfaction and frustration.
  3. Steffi understood that she a mistake had made.
  4. Andi understands nothing of fishing.
  5. The students now understand much more about literature and art.
  6. I understood that only I am for my life responsible.
  7. Shirin could from her seat every syllable understand.
  8. Garrett wants to test how much his audience really understands about the classical age.
  9. He understands therefore much about tradition and about the soul of this region.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER versteht CONTENT.
  2. COGNIZER versteht, dass CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER versteht viel/etwas/nichts von TOPIC.
  1. COGNIZER understands CONTENT.
  2. COGNIZER understands that CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER understands a lot/something/nothing about TOPIC.
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Details:

to understand

This sense of "to understand" concerns a Cognizer who becomes aware of some Content or who knows about a particular Topic. This is in contrast to the sense that indicates an in depth understanding of the workings and significance of a complex system or phenomenon, which evokes a different frame.

In this frame, "verstehen" is used in many of the same ways as "to understand" but its meaning extends beyond that of its English counterpart when you look at all the frames it can evoke. For now, let's look at some of the ways "verstehen" can realize the FEs from Awareness. The Cognizer appears as the grammatical subject, and the Content is the direct object when it is a noun (e.g. "ich verstehe deinen Frust," "I understand your frustration"), or a dependent clause headed by "dass" when it is a whole proposition (e.g. "Ich verstehe, dass sie krank ist," "I understand that she is sick"). Alternatively, a Topic can be expressed using "von" and some indication of how much Content is understood (e.g. "etwas," "something"; "nichts," "nothing"), as in sentence template 3 and examples 4-5.

Further details:

Word formation:

"das Verstehen" ("comprehension"), "das Verständnis" ("understanding"), "missverstehen" ("to misunderstand," "to misinterpret"), "der Verstand" ("mind," "wit," "brain")

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

„verstehen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/verstehen#1>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Alternate Forms:

(er) versteht, verstand, hat verstanden
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vorstellen: sich etwas vorstellen verb to imagine

Details:

to imagine, lit. to present someting to oneself

The literal translation of this verb, "to present something to oneself," conjures a situation in which the Cognizer presents some Content to themself in their mind. Of course, the word "imagine" is a much better way to describe this situation in English. The reflexive that accompanies "sich vorstellen" appears in the dative case, as in "Ich stelle mir vor..." ("I imagine..."). This is a particularly important feature of this verb because if accusative is used instead, an entirely different meaning (and frame) is evoked. The accusative would indicate a direct object, and the meaning of the verb would be that of "vorstellen" alone ("to present, introduce"), as in "Darf ich mich vorstellen? Ich heiße Josh" ("May I introduce myself? I am called Josh").

With "sich vorstellen" ("to imagine"), the Content often takes the form of an entire clause headed by "dass" ("that") or a question word such as "wie" ("how") or "warum" ("why"). The Content can also be presented in an infinitive clause (see Grimm Grammar for details). The examples section shows these variations.

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Vorstellung" ("idea," "conception, "vision"), "vorstellbar" ("conceivable," "imaginable")

Synonyms:

"sich ein Bild machen von," "(sich) vergegenwärtigen"

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

„vorstellen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/vorstellen>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Example Sentences:

  1. Jana macht die Augen zu und stellt sich vor, sie fliegt durch die Wolken.
  2. Er hat sich das anders vorgestellt.
  3. Kannst du dir vorstellen?!
  4. Das kann ich mir gar nicht vorstellen!
  5. Man kann sich kaum einen größeren Gegensatz   vorstellen als die schmale, schwarzhaarige, braunhäutige Lisa.
  6. Der Lehrer konnte sich gut vorstellen, was passiert war.
  7. Lena hatte sich ihn als großen Cowboy vorgestellt.
  8. Stell dir vor - mein Sohn will dieses Jahr keine Hausaufgaben machen!
  9. 55 Prozent der Berliner können sich vorstellen, dass die Mitarbeiter der Jugendämter in Zukunft unangemeldet vorbeischauen, um Kinderverwahrlosung zu verhindern.
  1. Jana closes her eyes and imagines she is flying through the clouds.
  2. He imagined that differently.
  3. Can you imagine?!
  4. That can I not at all imagine!
  5. One can hardly imagine a bigger contrast than the thin, black haired, brown skinned Lisa.
  6. The teacher could well imagine what had happened.
  7. Lena had imagined him as a tall Cowboy.
  8. Imagine - my son wants to this year do no homework!
  9. 55 percent of Berliners can imagine that the workers of child welfare services drop by unannounced in the future, in order to prevent child neglect.
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Grammar:

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

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. COGNIZER stellt sich CONTENT vor.
  2. COGNIZER stellt sich vor, CONTENT.Infinitivsatz.
  3. COGNIZER stellt sich vor, dass CONTENT.
  1. COGNIZER imagines CONTENT.
  2. COGNIZER imagines CONTENT.infinitive_clause.
  3. COGNIZER imagines that CONTENT.
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Details:

to imagine, lit. to present someting to oneself

The literal translation of this verb, "to present something to oneself," conjures a situation in which the Cognizer presents some Content to themself in their mind. Of course, the word "imagine" is a much better way to describe this situation in English. The reflexive that accompanies "sich vorstellen" appears in the dative case, as in "Ich stelle mir vor..." ("I imagine..."). This is a particularly important feature of this verb because if accusative is used instead, an entirely different meaning (and frame) is evoked. The accusative would indicate a direct object, and the meaning of the verb would be that of "vorstellen" alone ("to present, introduce"), as in "Darf ich mich vorstellen? Ich heiße Josh" ("May I introduce myself? I am called Josh").

With "sich vorstellen" ("to imagine"), the Content often takes the form of an entire clause headed by "dass" ("that") or a question word such as "wie" ("how") or "warum" ("why"). The Content can also be presented in an infinitive clause (see Grimm Grammar for details). The examples section shows these variations.

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Vorstellung" ("idea," "conception, "vision"), "vorstellbar" ("conceivable," "imaginable")

Synonyms:

"sich ein Bild machen von," "(sich) vergegenwärtigen"

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

„vorstellen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/vorstellen>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Alternate Forms:

(er) stellt sich vor, stellte sich vor, hat sich vorgestellt
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wissen verb to know

Details:

to know; used for facts

Because this form of "to know" is in the Awareness frame, it describes a Cognizer's knowledge of a fact or of something that can be stored as a data point in the Cognizer's internal model of the world. This contrasts with the other word for "to know," "kennen," which is used for knowing people and places, and appears in the Familiarity frame.

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Wissbegier," "die Wissbegierde" ("intellectual curiosity"), "wissbegierig" ("eager for knowledge," "inquisitive"), "die Allwissenheit" ("omniscience"), "allwissend" ("omniscient," "all knowing"), "der Besserwisser" ("know-it-all")

Synonyms:

"über Kenntnisse verfügen," "sicher sein," "verstehen"

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

„wissen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/wissen>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Example Sentences:

  1. Ich weiß es nicht.
  2. Weißt du, wie man zum Bahnhof kommt?
  3. Wussten Sie davon?
  4. Ich weiß schon alles, was du gesagt hast.
  5. Ich weiß, dass die Schüler Hilfe brauchen.
  6. Man weiß nie, was passiert.
  7. Alle wussten ja, wie nahe mir die Stadt München steht.
  8. Was da los ist, weiß man nicht so genau.
  9. Sie wissen um die Unterschiede.
  10. Gabriel weiß von nichts.
  11. Franziskus wusste um den Druck, der sie zu dieser Entscheidung führte, er wusste, dass dies eine existenzielle und moralische Tragödie ist.
  12. Was wusste die Polizei von den Taten dieser Gruppe?
  13. Mit einem Geheimdienst, von dem man weiß, dass er regelmäßig foltert, kann man im Prinzip nicht zusammenarbeiten.
  14. Weißt du, wie er heißt?
  15. Das weiß ich nicht; ich bin fremd hier.
  16. Ich weiß nicht, wie das geht.
  1. I don't know it.
  2. Do you know how one gets to the train station?
  3. Did you know about that?
  4. I know already everything that you said.
  5. I know that the students need help.
  6. One never knows what will happen.
  7. Everyone knew how close to my heart the city of Munich is.
  8. What's going on there, one does not know exactly.
  9. They know about the differences.
  10. Gabriel knows of nothing.
  11. Franziskus knew of the pressure that them to this decision led, he knew that this is an existential and moral tragedy.
  12. What knew the police about the actions of this group?
  13. With an intelligence service of which one knows that it regularly tortures, can one in principle not collaborate.
  14. Do you know what his name is?
  15. I don't know that; I am a stranger here.
  16. I don't know how that works / how to do this.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER weiß.
  2. COGNIZER weiß CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER weiß (viel/nichts) von CONTENT.
  4. COGNIZER weiß um CONTENT.
  5. COGNIZER weiß, dass CONTENT.
  6. COGNIZER weiß, CONTENT[wo/wer/wie/usw. ...].
  7. COGNIZER weiß von TOPIC, dass CONTENT.
  1. COGNIZER knows. 
  2. COGNIZER knows CONTENT.
  3. COGNIZER knows (much/nothing) about CONTENT.
  4. COGNIZER knows about CONTENT.
  5. COGNIZER knows that CONTENT
  6. COGNIZER knows CONTENT[where/who/how/etc. ...].
  7. COGNIZER knows of TOPIC, that CONTENT.
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Details:

to know; used for facts

Because this form of "to know" is in the Awareness frame, it describes a Cognizer's knowledge of a fact or of something that can be stored as a data point in the Cognizer's internal model of the world. This contrasts with the other word for "to know," "kennen," which is used for knowing people and places, and appears in the Familiarity frame.

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Wissbegier," "die Wissbegierde" ("intellectual curiosity"), "wissbegierig" ("eager for knowledge," "inquisitive"), "die Allwissenheit" ("omniscience"), "allwissend" ("omniscient," "all knowing"), "der Besserwisser" ("know-it-all")

Synonyms:

"über Kenntnisse verfügen," "sicher sein," "verstehen"

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

„wissen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/wissen>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Alternate Forms:

(er) weiß, wusste, hat gewusst
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Wissen, das noun knowledge

Details:

knowledge

Derived from the verb "wissen" ("to know"), this noun is used like its English counterpart to describe both specific knowledge of some Content and the sum knowledge of a Cognizer.

There are several common expressions that use this noun, including "meines Wissens" ("to my knowledge"), "ohne mein Wissen" ("without my knowledge"), and "im Wissen um" ("with the awareness of"). The examples show how these phrases are used in context.

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Wissenschaft" ("science"), "Wissenswertes" ("interesting facts"), "der Wissensdurst," "der Wissensdrang" ("thirst for knowledge"), "die Wissenslücke" ("knowledge gap"), "wissenswert" ("worth knowing"), "das Allgemeinwissen" ("general knowledge"), "das Buchwissen," "das Bücherwissen" ("book learning"), "das Unwissen," "die Unwissenheit" (both: "ignorance"), among others

Synonym:

"die Kenntnis" 

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

„Wissen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Wissen>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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Example Sentences:

  1. Die Menschen teilen ihr Wissen.
  2. Testen Sie Ihr Wissen über Chemie!
  3. Das Wissen um die Wahrheit kommt zu spät.
  4. Mein Bruder hat mein Auto ohne mein Wissen genommen.
  5. Wir haben das Wissen und die Erfahrung, um ein wichtiges internationales Ereignis wie dieses zu organisieren.
  6. Heute ist das menschliche Wissen breiter und tiefer als je zuvor.
  7. Man braucht beides, praktisches und theoretisches Wissen.
  8. Im Wissen um die Sterblichkeit baut der Mensch Häuser oder schreibt Bücher.
  9. Meines Wissens ist Frau Harding am Montag in Prag angekommen.
  10. Er hat ein großes Wissen über Pflanzen.
  11. Ich tue nichts ohne dein Wissen.
  1. The people share their knowledge.
  2. Test your knowledge about chemistry!
  3. The knowledge of the truth comes too late.
  4. My brother took my car without my knowledge.
  5. We have the knowledge and experience, in order to organize an important international event like this one.
  6. Today, human knowledge is wider and deeper than ever before. 
  7. One needs both practical and theoretical knowledge.
  8. With the knowledge of mortality, man builds houses or writes books.
  9. To my knowledge, Mrs. Harding arrived on Monday in Prague.
  10. He has a vast knowledge about plants.
  11. I don't do anything without your knowledge.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. COGNIZER hat (ein großes) Wissen.
  2. COGNIZER hat das Wissen, dass CONTENT.
  3. [COGNIZERs Wissen]
  4. [Wissen von CONTENT]
  5. [Wissen um CONTENT]
  6. [Wissen über TOPIC.accusative]
  1. COGNIZER has (great) knowledge.
  2. COGNIZER has the knowledge that CONTENT.
  3. [COGNIZER's knowledge]
  4. [knowledge of CONTENT]
  5. [knowledge of CONTENT]
  6. [knowledge about TOPIC]
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Details:

knowledge

Derived from the verb "wissen" ("to know"), this noun is used like its English counterpart to describe both specific knowledge of some Content and the sum knowledge of a Cognizer.

There are several common expressions that use this noun, including "meines Wissens" ("to my knowledge"), "ohne mein Wissen" ("without my knowledge"), and "im Wissen um" ("with the awareness of"). The examples show how these phrases are used in context.

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Wissenschaft" ("science"), "Wissenswertes" ("interesting facts"), "der Wissensdurst," "der Wissensdrang" ("thirst for knowledge"), "die Wissenslücke" ("knowledge gap"), "wissenswert" ("worth knowing"), "das Allgemeinwissen" ("general knowledge"), "das Buchwissen," "das Bücherwissen" ("book learning"), "das Unwissen," "die Unwissenheit" (both: "ignorance"), among others

Synonym:

"die Kenntnis" 

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

„Wissen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Wissen>, abgerufen am 17.02.2022.

 

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

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