Understanding completed actions in German grammar | Learn German in English

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Use Understanding completed actions in German grammar to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Könnten Sie dieses Grammatikmuster noch einmal erklären?

KURN-ten zee DEE-zus gra-MAHT-ik-MOOS-ter nokh EYN-mahl ehk-LAIR-en? Could you explain this grammar pattern again?

Es zeigt, dass eine Handlung schon abgeschlossen ist.

ess tsaykt, dass EYE-nuh HAND-loong shohn AP-guh-SHLOSS-en ist. It shows that an action is already complete.

Warum ändert sich das Verb in diesem Satz?

va-ROOM EHND-ert zikh dass VAIRP in DEE-zem zahts? Why does the verb change in this sentence?

Die Form ändert sich, weil das Ereignis vorbei ist.

dee FORM EHND-ert zikh, vyle dass air-AYK-niss for-BYE ist. The form changes because the event is finished.

Können Sie mir ein weiteres Beispiel geben?

KURN-en zee meer ayn VY-ter-es BYE-shpeel GAY-ben? Can you give me another example?

Jemand hat das Buch vor dem Unterricht geöffnet.

YAY-mahnt hat dass BOOKH for daym OON-ter-rikht guh-URF-net. Someone opened the book before class.

So ist das Muster leichter zu verstehen.

zoh ist dass MOOS-ter LYE-khter tsoo fer-SHTAY-en. That makes the pattern easier to understand.

Versuchen Sie jetzt, Ihren eigenen Satz zu bilden.

fer-ZOOKH-en zee yetst, EE-ren EYE-gen-en zahts tsoo BIL-den. Now try making your own sentence.

Word by Word

Könnten “Könnten” means “could” in this polite request: “Könnten Sie dieses Grammatikmuster noch einmal erklären?” Use it with “Sie” when asking someone formally to do something.

Sie “Sie” means “you” in the formal address used here. In “Könnten Sie ... erklären?” and “Können Sie ... geben?”, it addresses one person politely.

dieses “Dieses” means “this” and points to the specific grammar pattern being discussed. It is used here in “dieses Grammatikmuster”; use it before a specific noun in a similar pointing expression.

Grammatikmuster “Grammatikmuster” means “grammar pattern,” the structure the speakers are analyzing. In “dieses Grammatikmuster ... erklären,” it is the topic that needs explanation.

noch Here, “noch” is part of “noch einmal,” which means “again” in the request. Learn “noch einmal” as a useful expression when asking someone to repeat or explain something again.

einmal Here, “einmal” is part of “noch einmal,” meaning “again.” Use the complete expression “noch einmal” when requesting another explanation or repetition.

erklären “Erklären” means “explain” in “dieses Grammatikmuster noch einmal erklären.” In this request, it names the action that the person is being asked to perform; use it with the thing being explained.

Es “Es” means “it” and refers here to the grammar pattern just mentioned. In “Es zeigt, dass ...,” it is the subject that shows what the pattern means.

zeigt “Zeigt” means “shows” in “Es zeigt, dass eine Handlung schon abgeschlossen ist.” Use it in the pattern “Es zeigt, dass ...” to introduce what something demonstrates.

dass “Dass” means “that” and introduces the clause explaining what the pattern shows. Here it introduces “dass eine Handlung schon abgeschlossen ist”; use it to connect a statement with its content.

eine “Eine” means “a” or “an” in “eine Handlung,” introducing one unspecified action. Use it before a noun when referring to one non-specific example or thing.

Handlung “Handlung” means “action” in the explanation of what the grammar pattern represents. In “eine Handlung schon abgeschlossen ist,” it is the action whose completion is being described.

schon “Schon” means “already” and shows that the action has reached a completed state. It appears with “schon abgeschlossen”; use this combination when emphasizing that something is complete by that point.

abgeschlossen “Abgeschlossen” describes the action as complete in “schon abgeschlossen ist.” The dialogue uses it with “ist” to describe a completed state.

ist “Ist” means “is” and completes the description “abgeschlossen ist,” meaning that the action is complete. It is also used in “vorbei ist” to describe the event as over.

Warum “Warum” means “why” and asks for a reason. In “Warum ändert sich das Verb in diesem Satz?”, it introduces a question about the reason for the change.

ändert “Ändert” means “changes” in “ändert sich,” describing a change in the verb. Learn it in the expression “ändert sich” when saying that something changes.

sich “Sich” is part of “ändert sich”; together, “ändert sich” says that the verb changes. In this sentence, it refers back to “das Verb” as the thing undergoing the change.

das “Das” means “the” in “das Verb,” identifying the particular verb being discussed. It is also used in “das Ereignis” and “das Muster” to identify specific nouns.

Verb “Verb” means “verb,” the grammatical form whose change is being discussed. In “das Verb in diesem Satz,” it identifies the verb in the sentence under examination.

in “In” means “in” and places the verb within “diesem Satz.” The phrase “in diesem Satz” is useful when referring to something contained in a particular sentence.

diesem “Diesem” means “this” in “diesem Satz,” pointing to the particular sentence being examined. Use it with “Satz” in the expression “in diesem Satz” when discussing a sentence.

Satz “Satz” means “sentence.” In “in diesem Satz,” it identifies the sentence where the verb appears; in “Ihren eigenen Satz,” it means the sentence the learner should make.

Die “Die” means “the” at the beginning of “Die Form,” identifying the grammatical form being discussed. It introduces the subject of the statement about the change.

Form “Form” means “form,” here referring to a grammatical form. In “Die Form ändert sich,” it is the thing that changes because the event is finished.

weil “Weil” means “because” and introduces the reason for the change. Here it introduces “weil das Ereignis vorbei ist,” explaining why the form changes.

Ereignis “Ereignis” means “event,” referring to what has finished. In “das Ereignis vorbei ist,” it is the event whose end explains the change in form.

vorbei “Vorbei” means “over” or “finished” in “vorbei ist.” It describes the event as having ended; use it with an event or period that is over.

Können “Können” means “can” in the polite request “Können Sie mir ein weiteres Beispiel geben?” With formal “Sie,” it asks whether someone can provide something.

mir “Mir” means “to me” in “mir ein weiteres Beispiel geben,” identifying the person who should receive the example. Use it in a request when something is being given to the speaker.

ein “Ein” means “a” or “an” in “ein weiteres Beispiel.” It introduces one additional example being requested.

weiteres “Weiteres” means “another” or “additional” in “ein weiteres Beispiel.” It shows that the speaker wants one more example beyond the one already discussed.

Beispiel “Beispiel” means “example,” something used to make the grammar pattern clearer. In “mir ein weiteres Beispiel geben,” it is the item being requested.

geben “Geben” means “give” in “mir ein weiteres Beispiel geben,” meaning to provide an example to the speaker. Use it with a recipient and the thing provided, as in this request.

Jemand “Jemand” means “someone,” referring to an unspecified person. In “Jemand hat das Buch ... geöffnet,” it is the person who opened the book.

hat In “hat das Buch ... geöffnet,” “hat” helps express the completed action of opening the book. The dialogue uses it with “geöffnet” and the object “das Buch.”

Buch “Buch” means “book,” the object that someone opened. In “das Buch vor dem Unterricht geöffnet,” it identifies what was opened.

vor “Vor” means “before” in the time expression “vor dem Unterricht.” Use it to place an action earlier than a class, event, or other time reference.

dem “Dem” is part of the time expression “vor dem Unterricht,” meaning “before class.” Here it appears directly before “Unterricht” in that expression.

Unterricht “Unterricht” means “class” or “lesson.” In “vor dem Unterricht,” it identifies the class that had not yet begun when the book was opened.

geöffnet “Geöffnet” means “opened” and describes the completed action in “hat das Buch ... geöffnet.” Use it with “hat” in this dialogue pattern to say that someone opened something.

So “So” means “so” or “that way” and refers to the example just given. In “So ist das Muster leichter zu verstehen,” it links the example to the resulting easier understanding.

Muster “Muster” means “pattern,” referring here to the grammar pattern under discussion. In “das Muster leichter zu verstehen,” it is what becomes easier to understand.

leichter “Leichter” means “easier” in “leichter zu verstehen.” It describes the reduced difficulty of understanding the pattern after the example; use it with “zu verstehen” for this purpose.

zu “Zu” marks the infinitive in “zu verstehen.” Together, “leichter zu verstehen” means “easier to understand,” with “leichter” describing the difficulty of the action.

verstehen “Verstehen” means “understand” in “leichter zu verstehen.” It names the understanding that becomes easier; use it here after “zu” in this expression.

Versuchen “Versuchen” means “try” in the polite instruction “Versuchen Sie jetzt, Ihren eigenen Satz zu bilden.” It asks the learner to make an attempt at the next activity.

jetzt “Jetzt” means “now” and marks the time for the next action. In “Versuchen Sie jetzt ...,” it tells the learner to begin immediately.

Ihren “Ihren” means “your” in the formal address used in “Ihren eigenen Satz.” It identifies the sentence belonging to the person being addressed politely.

eigenen “Eigenen” means “own” and emphasizes that the learner should make a sentence themselves. In “Ihren eigenen Satz,” it adds this emphasis to “your sentence.”

bilden “Bilden” means “form” or “make” in “Ihren eigenen Satz zu bilden.” It describes constructing the learner’s own sentence; use it here with the object “Ihren eigenen Satz.”

Grammar Points

sich ändern

Die Form ändert sich.

dee FORM EHND-ert zikh.

The form changes.

With ändern, German uses the reflexive pronoun sich when something changes. English does not use a separate reflexive pronoun here.

German Vocabulary

abgeschlossen adj

AP-guh-SHLOSS-en completed

schon abgeschlossen ist

ändern verb

EHN-dern to change ändert sich

ändert sich das Verb

Beispiel noun

BYE-shpeel example

ein weiteres Beispiel

Ereignis noun

air-AYK-niss event

das Ereignis

erklären verb

ehk-LAIR-en to explain

noch einmal erklären

Form noun

FORM form

Die Form ändert sich

Grammatikmuster noun

gra-MAHT-ik-MOOS-ter grammar pattern

dieses Grammatikmuster

Handlung noun

HAND-loong action

eine Handlung

noch einmal adv

nokh EYN-mahl again

noch einmal erklären

Satz noun

zahts sentence

in diesem Satz

Verb noun

VAIRP verb

das Verb

vorbei adj

for-BYE over; finished

vorbei ist

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

form

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Form

to explain

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erklären

action

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Handlung

sentence

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Satz