英文讲解初级德语-How it all began

　　Grammar PointsWhen asking somebody a question in German, you need to pay attention to two things:

　　1. for the “Sie” form, the verb keeps its –en ending2. put the verb at the beginning of a phrase in order to turn that phrase into a questionFor example:

　　arbeiten => ich arbeite, Sie arbeitenSie arbeiten bei Germanpod101.com => Arbeiten Sie bei Germanpod101.com ? (Do you work atGermanpod101.com?)When asking a question word question, just add that question word to the beginning of the changedphrase. For example: “Seit wann arbeiten Sie bei Germanpod101.com?” (Since when do you work atGermanpod101.com?) or “Wo wohnen Sie?” (Where do you live?) or even “Wie geht es Ihnen?” is anexample of this rule.

　　For comparison: if you wanted to make a yes/no question about somebody’s health, you could ask“Geht es Ihnen gut?”. The answer will be “Ja” (yes) or “Nein” (no), but most probably a completephrase:

　　- “Ja, mir geht es sehr gut.” (Yes, I’m very well.)- ?Nein, mir geht es nicht gut.” (No, I am not well.) My head is hurting, my throat is sore and I don’tfeel like going into work, my doctor gave me 4 weeks of paid sick leave but now he won’t extendthem, yadda yadda yadda…Cultural InsightAs explained in the first lesson, you are not normally supposed to use informal language with people.

　　Instead, wait till you both formally agree to use informal language – as in the dialogue, somebodycould suggest “Duzen wir uns doch”, which roughly translates to “let’s say ‘du’ to each other”.

　　“duzen” is a special German verb that describes this notion, whereas “siezen” is the opposite: using theformal word “Sie”. Mind you, there is no way you can go back from “du” to “Sie”, even if you haven’tseen somebody in a long time. The only occasion you’d switch back from “du” to “Sie” would besomething like first knowing a person as a friend but later having to deal with him in an officialcapacity, such as in the city administration. There, all contact is professional, that is to say formal.

　　Just like it’s up to the higher-ranking or older person to invite you to use informal language, olderpeople also enjoy respect in other situations. For example, if the bus is full and an elderly personcomes in, you are supposed to offer them your seat. When eating together, some families still observethe tradition that guests and older people get their food first, and good restaurants train their waitressesto hand out menus to older people and then women first.

　　When meeting somebody new, only young people hug or exchange kisses on the cheek like theFrench, most Germans will shake hands. Here again it is the older or higher-ranking person that willoffer his hand first. If you offer your hand to somebody ranking higher than you, a few will even snubit, but fortunately they are the minority. Even though not all Germans are known to observe the rules(in particular the uneducated may not), please try to observe etiquette when here, as that will definitelyhelp your career in Germany.