Read German Made Simple: Learn to Speak and Understand German Quickly and Easily Online
Authors: Ph.d. Arnold Leitner
Tags: #German Language
German Made Simple: Learn to Speak and Understand German Quickly and Easily (13 page)
Summary of Consonant Sounds Needing Special Attention
| v = f voll ( fŏll ) | Glas ( glahs ) |
| j jung ( y  ng) | ss Wasser ( văs - ser ) |
| w Wetter ( vĕt - ter ) | ß Fuß ( f ss) foot |
| l lieben ( lee - ben ) | sch Schuh ( sh ) shoe |
| qu Quartíer ( kvahr- teer ) | sp ( initial ) spielen ( shpee-len ) |
| r rot ( roht ) | st ( initial ) stehen ( shtay - en ) |
| z zehn ( tsayn ) | ch ( front ) ĭch, nĭcht |
| s (before a vowel) Sohn ( zohn ) | ch ( back ) ăcht, Buch ( b ch) |
Final b d g
At the end of a word:
| d > t Kind ( kint ) child | -ig > -ik, -ich fertig ( fĕr-tĭk fĕr-tĭch ) finished |
| b > p Jakob ( ya - kop ) Jacob | -ag > -ak, -ach Tag ( tāk, tāch ) day |
| g > k , regional variety: front ch , back ch | -eg > -ek, -ech Weg ( wēk, wēch ) way |
Exercise 2
Practice these words aloud.
You have acquired a good working knowledge of German pronunciation and are familiar with a considerable number of words and expressions. You are now ready for a closer study of the German language. Follow all directions for study reading aloud and speaking. Remember: The only way to learn to speak a language is by speaking it.
This chapter will introduce you to Mr. Clark, a New York businessman who is as eager as you are to learn German. You will also meet his family and his teacher, Mr. Müller, a German by birth but now an American citizen. As he teaches Mr. Clark, he will also teach you in a pleasant and interesting way.
So,
Viel Glück
(Good Luck) and
Gute Reise
(Happy Voyage) as you accompany Mr. Clark on the road which leads to a practical knowledge of the German language.
How to Study Each Chapter
Read the German text silently, referring to the English when necessary to get the meaning. Cover up the English text and read the German text silently. Practice aloud the words and expressions under
Wortschatz
(vocabulary).
Then read the German text aloud, pronouncing carefully. Finally, study “Grammar Notes and Practical Exercises.”
Check your answers to each exercise in the “Answer Section.”
Die Familie Clark | The Clark Family |
1. Vater heißt Robert Clark | 1. The father is called Robert Clark. |
2. Die Mutter heißt Helene Clark | 2. The mother is called Helen Clark. |
3. Das erste Kind heißt Karl | 3. The first child is called Charles. |
4. Das zweite Kind heißt Wilhelm | 4. The second child is called William. |
5. Das dritte Kind heißt Marie | 5. The third child is called Mary. |
6. Das vierte Kind heißt Anna | 6. The fourth child is called Anne. |
7. Dies ist die Familie Clark | 7. This is the Clark family. |
WORTSCHATZ (
VŎQRT-SHĂTZ
) VOCABULARY
| der Vater ( fah-ter ) father | dritte third |
| die Mutter ( moo-ter ) mother | vierte ( feer-te ) fourth |
| das Kind ( kint ) child | heißt ( heisst ) is called |
| erste ( ayr-ste ) first | die Familie ( fa-mee-lye ) family |
| zweite ( tsvei-te ) second | dies ( dees ) this |