Question 1: Revising the conjugation of sein (to be)
You can revisit the meaning and conjugation meaning of sein on the German Island blog. Other quizzes are available there as well.
|
sein – to be
|
|
ich - I am
|
wir - we are
|
|
du - you are
|
ihr - you are
|
|
er/sie/es - he/she/it is
|
sie - they are
|
Question 2: Analysing the Pattern of sein - to be
The conjugation table below has a bit more information than the one in the last question. Look at it carefully and then click on either true or false for the statements below the table.
|
sein – to be
|
|
ich bin - I am
|
wir sind - we are
|
|
du bist - you are
(singular, familiar)
|
ihr seid - you are
(plural, familiar)
|
|
er/sie/es ist - he/she/it is
|
sie sind - they are
|
|
Formal Address: Sie sind – you are
|
a The pronoun sie can mean she or they in German.
b There is only one way to say you in German.
c The verb conjugation for wir and sie (they) is the same.
d When you are speaking with more than one familiar person, you use the pronoun ihr.
e The infinitive form of this verb (the form that you look up in the dictionary) is sein.
f If you were meeting an adult stranger in German, you would use du to address him or her.
Question 3: A Simple Conversation to Practise sein (to be)
Minda: Wie dein Name? - What is your name?
Alex: Mein Name Alex. - My name is Alex.
Minda: Wie alt du, Alex? - How old are you, Alex?
Alex: Ich zwölf Jahre alt. Und du? - I am 12 years old. And you?
Minda: Ich auch zwölf. - I am also 12.
Alex: das Mädchen da drüben eine Freundin von dir?
Minda: Ja, sicher. Und der Junge ihr Zwillingsbruder. - Yeah, sure. And the boy is her twin brother.
Alex: ihr drei Freunde? - Are you three friends?
Minda: Ja, wir in der gleichen Klasse und wohnen auf der gleichen Straße. - Yes, we are in the same class and live on the same street.
Alex: Und die Zwillinge auch zwölf? - And are the twins also 12?
Minda: Nein, sie jetzt dreizehn. Sie vier Monate älter als ich. - No, they are 13. They are 4 months older than I am.