Intermediate German: A Grammar and Workbook

(Tina Meador) #1
Note that mitusually refers to a person, while überto a topic, plan, idea
etc. Another verb that often appears with more than one preposition is
sich bewerben:

Er bewirbt sich beiFerrari umeinen Job als Automechaniker.
He applies to Ferrari for a job as a car mechanic.

Prepositions can affect meaning


There are also a few verbs that change their meaning, depending on the
preposition they take, such as sich freuen +auf/über:

Sie freut sich aufihren Geburtstag.
She is looking forwardto her birthday.

Sie freut sich überihre Geschenke.
She is pleased about her presents.

Another example is the verb bestehen:bestehen auf‘insist on’, bestehen
aus‘consist of ’.

Forming questions


Yes/no-questions
Yes/no-questions are formed by putting the verb at the beginning:

Glaubst du an Gott?
Do you believe in God?

Interessieren Sie sich für Sport?
Are you interested in sport?

With question words
More open-ended questions which contain a verb+prepositionexpres-
sion are constructed in two different ways:


  • When referring to things, ideas or concepts, questions are formed by
    usingwo(r)+the relevant preposition:
    denken an → Woran denkst du?
    What are you thinking of?


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