The idea
Identify the subject first and choose its finite verb form. Time expressions such as heute do not remove German person endings.
One contrast, not a prediction about every learner
Mandarin verbs do not inflect for the subject's person and number in the way German verbs do. German present forms such as lerne, lernst and lernen must match the subject even when time and person are otherwise clear.
Individual experience, dialect and other languages you know can change which comparisons help. Use the contrast to notice a German choice; do not treat it as a label for a whole group of people.
Repair the transfer
Du lernen heute Deutsch.Du lernst heute Deutsch.Identify the subject first and choose its finite verb form. Time expressions such as heute do not remove German person endings.
Examples
- Ich lerne heute die Wörter aus dem neuen Dialog.Today I learn the words from the new dialogue.
- Du lernst die neuen Formen besonders schnell.You learn the new forms particularly quickly.
- Unsere Nachbarin lernt seit kurzem Italienisch.Our neighbor has recently started learning Italian.
- Wir lernen am liebsten zusammen in der Bibliothek.We prefer to study together in the library.
- Lernt ihr die Beispiele auch mit einer Aufnahme?Do you also study the examples with a recording?
- Die beiden Gruppen lernen heute in getrennten Räumen.The two groups study in separate rooms today.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No German device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not generalize a source-language pattern to every German sentence. Identify the subject first and choose its finite verb form. Time expressions such as heute do not remove German person endings.
Try it yourself
Korrigiere: Du lernen heute Deutsch.
Show answer or example answer
Du lernst heute Deutsch.
Du lernst heute Deutsch. Identify the subject first and choose its finite verb form. Time expressions such as heute do not remove German person endings.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: Today I learn the words from the new dialogue.
Show answer or example answer
Ich lerne heute die Wörter aus dem neuen Dialog.
Ich lerne heute die Wörter aus dem neuen Dialog. Identify the subject first and choose its finite verb form. Time expressions such as heute do not remove German person endings.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: Do you also study the examples with a recording?
Show answer or example answer
Lernt ihr die Beispiele auch mit einer Aufnahme?
Lernt ihr die Beispiele auch mit einer Aufnahme? Keep the meaning of the whole sentence while using the German pattern.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Korrigiere: Du lernen heute Deutsch.
Du lernst heute Deutsch.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: Today I learn the words from the new dialogue.
Ich lerne heute die Wörter aus dem neuen Dialog.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: Do you also study the examples with a recording?
Lernt ihr die Beispiele auch mit einer Aufnahme?
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write three German sentences of your own that follow the pattern of “Du lernst heute Deutsch.”. Check each one for the Mandarin Chinese habit this lesson corrects, then read them aloud.