Table Of ContentBARRON'S
2nd EDITION
Henry Strutz
The guide that points out errors made most often
in words and phrases-
then shows you how to correct them.
Barron's Educational Series, Inc.
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2011
http://www.archive.org/details/barrons1001pitfa00stru
BARRON'S
1001
PITFALLS IN
Second Edition
Henry Stnitz
FormerlyAssociateProfessorofLanguages
SUNYAgriculturalandTechnical College
atAlfred, NewYork
Barron'sEducational Series, Inc.
—
©Copyright 1986 byBarron's EducationalSeries, Inc.
©
Prior edition Copyright 1981 byBarron's Educational Series, Inc.
Allrights reserved.
No partofthis bookmaybe reproduced in anyform, byphotostat,
microfilm, xerography, or anyother means, or incorporated into any
information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, withoutthe
written permission ofthe copyrightowner.
Allinquiriesshouldbeaddressedto:
Barrons Educational Series, Inc.
250WirelessBoulevard
Hauppauge, NewYork 11788
LibraryofCongress CatalogCardNo. 86-17403
InternationalStandard BookNo. 0-8120-3718-9
LibraryofCongress Catalogingin PublicationData
Strutz, Henry.
1001 pitfalls in German.
Bibliography: p. 210
Includes index.
Summary: A supplementarytextbook oudiningfundamentals ofthe
German language and providinghelp for common obstacles such as
declensions, pronoun agreement, time expressions, and letterwriting.
—
1. German language Text-books for foreign speakers
—
English. 2. German language Errors ofusage.
— —
3. Germa—n language Grammar 1950- . [1. German
language Grammar] I. Tide. II. Tide: One thousand one
pitfalls in German.
PF3129. E5S77 1986 438.2f421 86-17403
ISBN 0-8120-3718-9
PRINTEDINTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA
56 800 1110
1
Contents
PREFACE
PARTS OF SPEECH
1 Adjectives and Adverbs 1
2 Cases, Articles, Der- and Ein- Words 2
3 Conjunctions 36
4 Nouns 44
5 Prepositions 67
6 Pronouns 83
7 Verbs 100
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
147
8 Word Order and Sentence Structure 147
9 Punctuation and Division into Syllables 159
SPECIAL AIDS 170
10 Numbers, Measurements, Time Expressions 170
11 Pronunciation 184
12 Vocabulary Building, Confusions, RegionalVariations 192
BIBLIOGRAPHY 210
INDEX
212
Preface
In language study, as in other disciplines, the complex is based on mas-
tery of the simple. It may be possible to read English or history assign-
ments just beforeanexam but thisapproach does notworkwell inlanguage
courses. Therefore, you should not hesitate to ask your teacher, from the
very beginning, ifanything isuncleartoyou, even insimplesentences such
as Mutteristhier or Das Grasistgriin. Youshould also, ofcourse, doall the
exercises assigned, on a daily basis. When these exercises are corrected, do
not hesitate to ask questions. Your teacher will be pleased that you are
sufficiently concerned to ask. This willingness to ask questions is particu-
larly important for beginning students but also applies to those on the
intermediate and advanced levels.
ThissecondeditionotlOOl PitfallsinGermanhasbeencompletelyrede-
signed to make it easier to use. Rules and pitfalls ofGerman grammar
have been highlighted throughoutthe textto help you find the informa-
tion you need. The book is divided into three major sections: Parts of
Speech; Sentence Structure; andlastly, SpecialAids. Youwillfind abibli-
ography at the end to guide you in further readings.
One difficulty in the study ofGerman, and other subjects, is that stu-
dents often fail to see language in the context oflife. Most teachers seek to
impart a knowledge ofthe structural features ofthe language so that stu-
dents can use the language, so that it can be a source of pleasure and
inspiration tothem. Many topics inthis bookarecross-listed. Forexample,
the old-fashioned Saxongenitive could have been listed with nouns orarti-
cles. But since the pitfall lies in its use with prepositions, it is discussed
there. Similarly, the extended adjective construction could have been dis-
cussed with adjectives or verbs (participles). But it is found in the chapter,
"WordOrderandSentenceStructure,"sincestudentproblemscenteraround
word order when this construction is encountered. Grammars, and this
book, break down and analyze the parts only in order to enable you to
better understand the whole. The parts of speech form an organic unity,
and you should strive to synthesize after achieving clear and distinct ideas
ofthe parts.
Bringing as many ofthe senses as possible to the learning process facili-
A
tates thatprocess. varietyofrecentexperimentsconfirms thatthecombi-
nation ofwords and music fix languagepatterns better in the mind. Many
songs are an important and integral part of the German tradition. Fa-
miliarity with them will help you not only to understand the German lan-
guage, but also the Germans better. Even ifyou don't live in a city like
New York with its many fine FM stations that frequently play a wealth of
German music (popular, folk, lieder, opera) you can listen to records. You
maynotunderstandeverything being sung, butsomethingswill stick. For
beginners, even popularsongs with their HerzlSchmerz, LiebelTriebe rhymes
(comparable to all the "moon/June," "far apart/in my heart," 'charms/
arms" rhymes in English), will be ofvalue, and besides enriching vocabu-
lary, they will impart afeeling for the rhythm ofthe language. Sociologists
and historians will find many German cabaret songs (Brecht, Ringelnatz,
Kastner and Tucholsky, etc.) of interest. Others will derive pleasure and
linguistic profit from Wagner, Weber, Schubert, and many others. Ifyou
are religious, there are the many cantatas ofBach and others. On a more
mundane level, Blasmusik, or "oom-pah-pah," and waltz and operetta
tunes, have a wide appeal. There are also thousands ofGerman drinking
songs. It is notenough to hearafewsongsoccasionally in the language lab.
Get records, turn on the radio, and start listening attentively. Ifpossible,
get the printed texts which often accompany record albums.
German-speaking individuals have made many outstanding contribu-
tions in a variety of fields. If you have a specialized interest in history,
psychology, theology, literary and artistic movements such as Expres-
sionism, or in many scientific disciplines, this should be ofhelp. The best
motivation for studying German is love for the language as avehicleofthe
human spirit. Language is perhaps the noblest form ofhuman expression,
as many philosophers, Descartes for instance, have long maintained.
What happens outside the classroom is crucial. Language learning can-
not be relegated to 50 minutes a few times a week. You didn't learn your
own language that way. Language is intimately connected with life and the
learning of language should be interrelated and integrated with as many
aspects oflife as possible. Everyone can listen to music, eat Wiener Schnit-
zel or Sachertorte, and quaff Miinchner Lowenbrau or Henkell Trocken
champagne. The moreGerman you know, the better they'll taste. Learning
a language is a matter ofexposure and practice.
vi
This book concerns itselfwith pitfalls. Pitfall means hidden dangerand
can have a sinister, military connotation. Perhaps you are in a state ofwar
with German grammar and have fallen upon many minefields and into
many pits. The whole German language may seem like one great bog to
you. Sentences thatseem tostretch ontoinfinity, verbspiledupattheend,
compound nouns and compound numbers, all make for compound confu-
sion. Before you can climb out ofthepits and scale the heights ofGoethe,
Nietzsche, Rilke, Freud, etc., you must be able to recognize the basic
structural features ofGerman. This book aims to introduce peace and har-
mony where there were strife and discord. Ifpossible pitfalls are pointed
out, you can be made aware ofthem and thus learn to avoid them. Differ-
ences from English, especially where English might mislead you, are
pointed out frequently. Traditional grammar terms are used throughout
this book. In a few instances, modern terminology is mentioned.
This book is both a reference work and supplementary text suitable for
useonall levels. Although manyfinepoints ofGermangrammarhavebeen
covered, much attention has been paid to fundamentals. The book should
therefore be ofconsiderable use to beginning students in both high school
and college. Grammar topics such as declensions and conjugations have
been treated not merely in terms ofthepitfalls possible in connection with
their use but have also been discussed as such, sometimes in detail.
Learning a language is agreat adventure. It should be filled more with
pleasure than with pitfalls. It is hoped that this book will reduce the dan-
gers and thus increase thepleasure.
Henry Strutz
Vll
