Verbs When You're a Participant by Edward Swick, M.A.
If you're involved in an activity, you're one of the participants. Let's look at the verbs machen (to do/make) and spielen (to play), which will be helpful when you're involved in an activity.
The Verb Machen
Present/Past |
ich |
mache [MAHCH eh] |
machte [MAHCH teh] |
du |
machst [mahchst] |
machtest [MAHCH test] |
er, sie, es |
macht [mahcht] |
machte [MAHCH teh] |
wir |
machen [MAHCH en] |
machten [MAHCH ten] |
ihr |
macht [mahcht] |
machtet [MAHCH tet] |
Sie |
machen [MAHCH en] |
machten [MAHCH ten] |
sie |
machen [MAHCH en] |
machten [MAHCH ten] |
What are you doing? Was machen Sie? vuss MAHCH en zee
I'm making the bed. Ich mache das Bett. eech MAHCH eh duss bet
The verb machen is used in many idiomatic expressions that cannot be translated word for word into English. Such expressions must simply be learned and used when appropriate. Let's look at a few useful examples.
Make yourself comfortable/at home. Mach es dir gemütlich! mahch ess deer gheh MUET lich
Hurry up. Mach schnell! mahch shnell
Never mind. It doesn't matter. Macht nichts! mahcht nihchtz
<B>The Verb</B> Spielen</h2>
<table frame="all" width="100%">
<h2>
<tgroup cols="2">
<colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/>
<colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/>
<tbody>
<tr>
<entry/>
<td><p><B>Present/Past</B></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>ich<markup role="dot"/></B></p></td>
<td><p><B>spiele</B> [SHPEEL eh]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<entry/>
<td><p><B>spielte</B> [SHPEEL teh]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>du<markup role="dot"/></B></p></td>
<td><p><B>spielst</B> [shpeelst]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<entry/>
<td><p><B>spieltest</B> [SHPEEL test]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>er, sie, es<markup role="dot"/></B></p></td>
<td><p><B>spielt</B> [shpeelt]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<entry/>
<td><p><B>spielte</B> [SHPEEL teh]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>wir<markup role="dot"/></B></p></td>
<td><p><B>spielen</B> [SHPEEL en]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<entry/>
<td><p><B>spielten</B> [SHPEEL ten]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>ihr<markup role="dot"/></B></p></td>
<td><p><B>spielt [shpeelt]</B></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<entry/>
<td><p><B>spieltet</B> [SHPEEL tet]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>Sie<markup role="dot"/></B></p></td>
<td><p><B>spielen</B> [SHPEEL en]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<entry/>
<td><p><B>spielten</B> [SHPEEL ten]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>sie<markup role="dot"/></B></p></td>
<td><p><B>spielen</B> [SHPEEL en]</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<entry/>
<td><p><B>spielten [SHPEEL ten]</B></p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>
<p>The verb <B>spielen</B> is used very much like its English equivalent “to play:” You play sports, games, and musical instruments. And just like English, German doesn't need any prepositions following this verb. The sports, games, and instruments are all direct objects.</p>
<div class="npsb">
<p>Do you play tennis?<remark/> <B>Spielen Sie Tennis?</B><remark/> SHPEEL en zee TEN iss</p>
<p>We're playing chess.<remark/> <B>Wir spielen Schach.</B><remark/> veer SHPEEL en shuch</p>
<p>My daughter plays piano.<remark/> <B>Meine Tochter spielt Klavier.</B><remark/> MINE eh TAWCH tuh shpeel KLUH vee uh</p>
</div>
<div class="npsb">
<title> <B>Essential</B></h2>
<p>Notice that, just like English, German doesn't always require a definite article with the name of a sport, game, or musical instrument: <B>Mein Sohn spielt Geige</B>. (My son plays [the] violin.)</p>
</div>
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<div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More Activities and Entertainment</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li class="btO">Verbs When You're a Participant</li>
<li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/activities-and-entertainment/verbs-when-youre-a-spectator.htm">Verbs When You're a Spectator</a></li>
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</ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/activities-and-entertainment/hobbies.htm">Hobbies</a></li>
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