Basic Understanding and Knowledge | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic understanding and knowledge..

EN → DE / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic Understanding and Knowledge to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ich verstehe jetzt.

ikh fer-SHTAY-uh yetst I understand now.
B

Ich verstehe nicht.

ikh fer-SHTAY-uh nikht I do not understand.
A

Ich weiß nicht.

ikh vice nikht I do not know.
B

Was meinst du?

vahs MINE-st DOO What do you mean?
A

Verstehst du mich?

fer-SHTAYST DOO mikh Do you understand me?
B

Kennst du ihn?

KENST DOO een Do you know him?

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” and is the speaker in “Ich verstehe jetzt.” and “Ich weiß nicht.” It is used as the subject when talking about your own understanding or knowledge. A common pattern is “Ich” followed by the verb.
verstehe “verstehe” means “understand” in “Ich verstehe jetzt.” and “Ich verstehe nicht.” It is the form used with “Ich” to say what you understand or do not understand. Use it in “Ich verstehe ...” when responding to an explanation or message.
jetzt “jetzt” means “now” in “Ich verstehe jetzt.” It shows that the understanding has become clear at this moment. Use it with a statement about something happening or becoming true now.
nicht “nicht” means “not” in “Ich verstehe nicht.” and “Ich weiß nicht.” It makes the statement negative here. Use it after the verb in these short patterns to say that you do not understand or do not know.
weiß “weiß” means “know” in “Ich weiß nicht.” It is the form used with “Ich” for knowing information or an answer; the citation form is “wissen.” In this lesson, it contrasts with “Kennst du ihn?”, which asks about knowing a person.
Was “Was” means “what” in “Was meinst du?” It asks for the content or meaning of what someone has said. Use it at the beginning of a question when asking what something is or means.
meinst “meinst” contributes “mean” in “Was meinst du?”; the citation form is “meinen.” It is the form used with “du” in this question. Use the complete pattern “Was meinst du?” to ask someone to clarify their meaning.
du “du” means “you” for one person in direct questions such as “Was meinst du?” and “Verstehst du mich?” It identifies the person being addressed. Use “du” with the corresponding verb form when speaking directly to one person.
Verstehst “Verstehst” means “understand” in the question “Verstehst du mich?” It is the form used with “du” when asking whether one person understands. Use it at the beginning of a question to check someone’s understanding.
mich “mich” means “me” in “Verstehst du mich?” It identifies the speaker as the person whose words should be understood. Use it after a verb when the action is directed toward the speaker, as in “Verstehst du mich?”.
Kennst “Kennst” means “know” in the sense of knowing or being acquainted with someone in “Kennst du ihn?”; the citation form is “kennen.” It is the form used with “du” to ask about a person. Use “Kennst du ...?” when asking whether someone knows a particular person.
ihn “ihn” means “him” in “Kennst du ihn?” It identifies the male person whom the question is about. Use it after “kennen” when referring to that person as the one known.

Grammar Points

W-Frage: Was + Verb + du?

Was meinst du?

vahs MINE-st DOO

What do you mean?

In a German question with a question word, the conjugated verb comes before the subject.

nicht am Satzende

Ich verstehe jetzt nicht.

ikh fer-SHTAY-uh yetst nikht

I don't understand now.

Here, nicht negates the action and comes after the time word jetzt.

German Vocabulary

du pron
DOO you

Was meinst du?

Ich pron
ikh I

Ich verstehe jetzt.

ihn pron
een him

Kennst du ihn?

jetzt adv
yetst now

Ich verstehe jetzt.

kennst verb
KENST know

Kennst du ihn?

meinst verb
MINE-st mean

Was meinst du?

mich pron
mikh me

Verstehst du mich?

nicht adv
nikht not

Ich verstehe nicht.

verstehe verb
fer-SHTAY-uh understand

Ich verstehe jetzt.

verstehst verb
fer-SHTAYST understand

Verstehst du mich?

Was pron
vahs what

Was meinst du?

weiß verb
vice know

Ich weiß nicht.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I understand now.

Show AnswerIch verstehe jetzt.

I do not understand.

Show AnswerIch verstehe nicht.

I do not know.

Show AnswerIch weiß nicht.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

not

Show Answernicht

understand

Show Answerverstehe

understand

Show Answerverstehst

mean

Show Answermeinst