Mein Deutsch war immer schwach. Ich war immerhin der Beste in
der Klasse.
My German was always weak. I was the best in the class all the same.ja usually implies that the speaker regards what he or she is saying as self-evident and
does not expect the listener to disagree:
Das ist ja ganz klar.
That is absolutely clear (as everyone knows).mal often implies that the speaker has a strong expectation that the listener ought to or
will do what is asked. The effect can be informal and friendly, but it can also be
demanding and manipulative. Generally, einmal is a slightly more formal version of
mal:
Rechnen Sie mal nach!
Go on, add it up!Könntest du mal für mich anrufen?
Could you phone for me (i.e. instead of me)?Geben Sie mal zu, dass ich Recht habe!
Why don’t you just admit that I’m right!Lassen Sie mich einmal ausreden!
Just let me finish, will you?Kommen Sie mal her!
Come here!nämlich often signals that the speaker realizes that the listener needs to have
something explained a little further. As well as having the sense of ‘you see’, it usually
signals that the speaker is about to elaborate a point:
Du hast nämlich zwei Möglichkeiten: Entweder... oder...
So you have two possibilities. Either... or...Es ist nämlich so: Ich habe diesen Monat fast kein Geld.
Well you see, it’s like this: I have practically no money this month.nun can be used like halt (see above). It can also be used to introduce an idea in such a
way that the speaker acknowledges that the listener also has an interest in the matter:
Nun (ja), das ist eine wichtige Frage.
Das ist nun eine wichtige Frage.
Well yes, that is an important question.schon has two main uses. When stressed, it can be used to reject an actual or implied
negative. In this usage it is milder than the equivalent use of doch:
Hier dürfen Sie nicht parken! – Quatsch, hier darf man schon parken.
You can’t park here! – Rubbish, of course you can park here.Alternatively, it can signal consent or reassurance. In this case it is unstressed:
Keine Angst, es wird schon gut gehen.
Don’t worry, it’ll be all right.117
Keeping the channel open