Modern German Grammar: A Practical Guide, Second Edition

(Rick Simeone) #1
(d) Special characteristics
On forms:

-e Größe ‘height’ (in metres, e.g. 1,63m = 5 ′ 4 ′′)
-e Augenfarbe ‘colour of eyes’
-s Geschlecht ‘sex’

Not included in passports but used for identification:

-r Fingerabdruck ‘fingerprint’
genetische Merkmale ‘genetic marks/birthmarks’

Asking directly:
Wie groß bist du?
How tall are you?
Was für eine Farbe haben seine Augen?
What colour are his eyes?

 See 24.2a (p. 43) for was für ein.


War der Autofahrer männlich oder weiblich/ein Mann oder eine
Frau?
Was the driver male or female/a man or a woman?
(e) Further details in documents

-s Ausstellungsdatum/-r Tag der Ausstellung ‘date of issue’
gültig bis ‘valid until’

Asking directly:
Wie lange ist Ihr Pass noch gültig?
How long is your passport valid for?
(f) Residence

People resident in Germany have to register with the local registration office
(-s Einwohnermeldeamt). Registration is compulsory (-e Meldepflicht; see 86.2 for


  • pflicht).


A registration form contains the following sections:

-r Wohnort ‘place (town) of residence’
-r Wohnsitz ‘residence’
wohnhaft in ‘resident in’

A passport would only carry the name of the town of residence, whereas the ID card
would have the full address:

-e gegenwärtige Adresse ‘current address’
polizeilich gemeldet in... ‘registered with the police in... ’ (for people on
limited visas)

73
GIVING/SEEKING INFORMATION
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