Was or Wo? Use These German Query Phrases To Ask the Proper Questions

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Have you ever ever discovered your self misplaced in a German dialog with a local from Berlin, wishing you knew the appropriate German query phrases to ask? To wen (whom, accusative case) are you supposed to show for assist? Welches (which) query phrase needs to be used? Wo (the place) are you able to discover a easy, complete information to reply all these questions? Yow will discover out about German Fragewörter (query phrases) proper right here! See how these inquisitive chunks of German grammar may help you fill the gaps in your information with out having to resort again to English.

Why query phrases matter when talking German

In Germany, the saying goes Wer rastet, der rostet which means “who rests, rusts.” This can be a cautionary piece of German knowledge that reminds you to all the time try in the direction of enchancment in all facets of life. German interrogative phrases are usually not solely important to your personal studying and communication, they’re additionally instruments you should utilize in any scenario to know these round you.

From asking warum (why) a 3rd assembly a few mission is required to asking wie (how) your greatest buddy has been feeling these days, conversations typically tie again to a query that wants answering.

Pronunciation information for German query phrases

Under is a useful pronunciation and which means information for all of the German query phrases we’ll cowl on this information. Check out them and refer again to how they’re stated as you follow utilizing these Fragewörter (query phrases) in sentences. You may additionally discover it useful to evaluate how one can say German umlauts as you get settled into your German accent.

The important seven German query phrases and their makes use of

The seven commonest German query phrases are often called W-Fragen (w-questions) as a result of all of them begin with the letter “w.” They’re an easy method to ask about one thing you don’t know or perceive within the German language. Given the closeness of English and German’s historical past, all seven of those W-Fragen have direct equivalents in English however are generally used barely otherwise. 

1. Wann (when)

Wann is the phrase you’ll use to ask about time-related info identical to its translation “when” is utilized in English. Scheduling, planning with your folks for an evening out, or deciding the very best time to implement a brand new advertising and marketing technique are all on a regular basis conditions the place you’ll have to know the “when.”

• Wann beginnt der Movie? = When does the film begin?
• Wann hast du Geburtstag? = When is your birthday?

2. Warum (why)

Warum (why) is likely one of the mostly used query phrases in German because it’s the go-to phrase for asking about causes or motivations. Use this W-Frage (w-question) to search out out the reason for an occasion or somebody’s conduct and also you’re effectively in your method to growing the talents it’s essential to discover out what you’re lacking with out having to default again to your English language abilities.

• Warum hast du das gemacht? = Why did you try this?
• Warum studieren Sie Deutsch? = Why are you studying German?

3. Was (what)

The German equal of “what” is was, and you should utilize this time period to ask for particular details about issues, actions, and ideas comparable to which one, what variety, or for clarification. On this manner, the utilization of was in German is identical as in English and can be utilized in formal or casual conditions. Nevertheless, you would possibly need to rephrase your query as an oblique query utilizing was so as to soften the way in which your inquiry is acquired.

• Was machst du? = What are you doing?
• Was bedeutet dieses Wort? = What does this phrase imply?

4. Welche (which)

Welche (which) is likely one of the tougher W-Fragen (w-questions) as a result of it’s the one one which modifications its ending based mostly on the phrase being referred to. The Stamm (stem), often known as the bottom of the time period, is welch-, and also you’ll want so as to add an ending of -er, -e, -es, -en, or -em to make this phrase agree by German case, grammatical gender, and variety of no matter welche is modifying. This would possibly take some follow, so spend a while getting this ability, often called declension, down pat.

• Welche Farbe magst du? = Which colour do you want?
• Welcher Weg führt nach Hause? = Which manner leads house?
• Mit welchem Mann haben Sie gesprochen? = With which man did you discuss?

5. Wer (who)

Wer (who) is used within the German language whenever you need to know which individual or folks did one thing or acted in a particular method, for example. Wer is one other instance of a W-Frage (w-question) that may change kind relying on the context of your German sentence. However in distinction to welche (which), wer will solely change by case and never by grammatical gender or quantity.

Within the nominative case, you’ll all the time use wer to imply “who.” In English, we use the time period “whom” as an alternative for the accusative case and the dative case. German wer in the identical manner, however has a particular time period for accusative case, which is wen (whom, accusative), and wem (whom, dative) is used for dative case German. For possession, this phrase turns into wessen (whose) whenever you need to know possession of one thing.

• Wer kommt mit dir? = Who is coming with you?
• Wen rufst du an? = Whom are you calling?
• Wem gehört das Buch? = To whom does the guide belong?
• Wessen Zug ist es? = Whose transfer is it?

6. Wie (how)

The direct translation of wie into English is “how.” You utilize wie whenever you need to know in regards to the situation, methodology, or method of one thing. Whereas it’s largely utilized in German the identical manner as in English, there are a number of German phrases that use wie that may catch you off guard. For instance, the phrase Wie heißen Sie? instantly interprets to “How are you referred to as?” not “What’s your title?” in German. Look out for comparable questions the place wie can have a more in-depth which means to “what” than “how.”

• Wie funktioniert das? = How does that work?
• Wie geht’s dir? = How are you?

7. Wo (the place)

Don’t be fooled: whereas wo seems to be lots just like the English phrase “who,” it really means “the place” as an alternative! That is what’s often called a false German cognate, which means it seems to be like an English phrase however doesn’t translate to that phrase. In any other case, wo matches the identical which means and use of “the place” in English. You possibly can say this phrase in the event you’d wish to know info associated to location or area.

• Wo liegt Berlin? = The place is Berlin situated?
• Wo bist du? = The place are you?

The place do German query phrases go in a sentence?

The German phrase for “query” is Frage. In case you’d wish to ask a Frage so as to discover out the place the closest practice station is, then you’ll begin your query with one of many query phrases within the German language. They’re referred to as Fragewörter (query phrases) or W-Fragen (w-questions) as a result of all of them begin with the letter “w.” 

When you’ve recognized the appropriate query phrase in German, you’ll select your German verb that most closely fits your interrogative wants. Lastly, you’ll wrap up your German Frage with a topic comparable to a German pronoun or German noun. Any further particulars will probably be tacked on on the finish of the sentence—or query, because the case could also be.

Observe this phrase order to arrange your first questions within the German language:

1. Query phrase
2. Verb (conjugated)
3. Noun or pronoun (topic)
4. Additional particulars, if wanted

Listed below are a number of examples of this method in motion:

• Was machst du? = What are you doing?
• Wer sagt das? = Who says so?
• Warum lernen wir Deutsch? = Why are we studying German?

Now that you’ve got the template, attempt training by making your personal Fragen (questions) in German!

Forming questions with a ja (sure) or nein (no) reply

In case you merely want a ja (sure) or nein (no) reply, then forming the appropriate query for the event is even less complicated. You’ll solely have to drop off the query phrase and transfer your verb to the entrance of your sentence! Then all the opposite juicy information you want will comply with in the identical order as whenever you’re asking extra open-ended questions. 

The phrase order for ja (sure) or nein (no) questions is just:

1. Verb (conjugated)
2. Noun or pronoun (topic)
3. Additional particulars, as wanted

Confer with the examples beneath to view sensible examples:

• Hast du Starvation? = Are you hungry?
• Kommt er später? = Is he coming later?
• Funktioniert dein Useful? = Does your cellphone work?

Forming oblique questions in German

Whenever you need to ask one thing politely, not directly, or inside a bigger sentence, then you’ll be able to exhibit your German language abilities and blend up your sentence construction with oblique questions. This type of interrogative statements provides in an introductory phrase adopted by a comma and kicks the verb all the way in which to the tip of the sentence.

The phrase order for forming oblique questions in German is as follows:

1. Intro assertion
2. Query phrase
3. Noun or pronoun (topic)
4. Additional particulars, if wanted
5. Verb on the finish of the sentence

Bear in mind a number of of those instance intro statements to ask widespread oblique questions:

• Ich weiß nicht… = I don’t know…
• Kannst du mir sagen… = Are you able to inform me… (casual)
• Ich frage mich… = I’m wondering…
• Wissen Sie… = Are you aware… (formal)

Throw all of it collectively and see how oblique questions are shaped in German with the examples beneath:

• Ich weiß nicht, wo er wohnt. = I don’t know the place he lives.
• Ich frage mich, wer das gemacht hat. = I’m wondering who did that.
• Kannst du mir sagen, wie alt sie ist? = Are you able to inform me how previous she is?

Discover that a few of these examples find yourself as statements that not directly ask for info, relatively than ending in a query mark. A very good rule of thumb is that oblique questions that begin with a verb will finish with a query mark, however those who begin with a topic like a noun or pronoun will sometimes finish in a interval.

What questions will you ask now that you just’re snug with probably the most generally used query phrases within the German language? Discover your language questions and discover solutions with Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion methodology designed to provide you actual world language abilities in sensible classes from native audio system. By no means cease asking the large questions!