Modern German Grammar: A Practical Guide, Second Edition

(Rick Simeone) #1
(f) For things that have been destroyed:

The prefix zer- before a past participle indicates something has been completely
destroyed.

 See 36.2 (p. 84) for inseparable prefixes and 57.2 (p. 143) for the meaning of verbal
prefixes.


zerschlagen ‘shattered’
zerstört ‘destroyed’
zertrümmert ‘reduced to ruins’

Ihre Hoffnung hatte sich zerschlagen.
Her hopes were shattered.

Die alte Wasserleitung ist total zerstört.
The old water pipe is completely destroyed.

Die alte Wallfahrtskirche ist leider zertrümmert.
The old pilgrimage church is unfortunately in ruins.

(g) For things that are consumed or exhausted:

 See 72.2b (p. 226) below for consumables no longer available.


aufgebraucht/verbraucht ‘used up’
alle/aus ‘run out/used up’ (informal)
erschöpft ‘exhausted’

Das Papier für das Faxgerät ist aufgebraucht.
The paper for the fax machine has run out.

Die Milch ist alle. (informal)
The milk is finished.

Die Mineralvorkommen in diesem Boden sind erschöpft.
The mineral deposits in this ground have been exhausted.

(h) For items free from or low in something:

The following suffixes indicate lack or absence (see 55.1 on adjective formation):

-los ‘without’
-frei ‘free from/of’
-leer ‘empty of’
-arm/-reduziert ‘low/poor in

parteilos ‘without party affiliation’
bargeldlos telephonieren ‘to telephone without using cash’
arbeitslos ‘unemployed’
beschwerdefrei ‘free from any ailment’
koffeinfrei ‘caffeine-free, decaffeinated’

70
Talking about absence
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