Lesson 1.1. Numerals. Verb sein - to be

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In first part of this lesson Lesson 1 - Pronouns and verbs in German language we conquired pronouns and verbs in German :)

Let's learn how to use numerals and how to work with verb sein - to be.

Numerals

Now, let’s try to tell about your age. We’ll focus upon the most used numerals.

From 0 to 9	From 10 to 19	From 20 to 29	Decades
0 – null 1 – eins 2 – zwei 3 – drei 4 – vier 5 – fünf 6 – sechs 7 – sieben 8 – acht 9 – neun	10 – zehn 11 – elf 12 – zwölf 13 – dreizehn (3,10) 14 – vierzehn (4,10) 15 – fünfzehn (5,10) 16 – sechzehn 17 – siebzehn 18 – achtzehn 19 – neunzehn	20 – zwanzig 21 – einundzwanzig (1 and 20) 22 – zweiundzwanzig (2 and 20) 23 – dreiundzwanzig (3 and 20) 24 – vierundzwanzig 25 – fünfundzwanzig 26 – sechsundzwanzig 27 – siebenundzwanzig 28 – achtundzwanzig 29 – neunundzwanzig	10 – zehn 20 – zwanzig 30 – dreißig 40 – vierzig 50 – fünfzig 60 – sechzig 70 – siebzig 80 – achtzig 90 – neunzig 100 – hundert

Verb sein – «to be»

Now, we’ll combine numerals with the very important German verb sein – «to be».

This verb is conjugated in spite of the general declination rule (as the English verb “to be” is), so you just have to keep it in mind:

sein
Ich	bin
Du	bist
Er, sie, es	ist
Wir	sind
Ihr	seid
Sie, sie	sind

Using the verb sein, you can tell about your age:

Ich bin sechsundzwanzig (26) Jahre alt – I am twenty six years old.
Er ist vierzig (40) Jahre alt. – He is forty years old.
Du bist zwanzig (20) Jahre alt. – You are twenty years old.

Exercise 3. Put verb sein (to be) in correct form.

Let’s summarize our pleasing results!

Now, you can tell your name, where you live, where you work, where you come from, whether you earn well, that you study or work, how old you are.

The most used phrases with the verb sein:
Das ist toll! – This is great!
Das ist wunderbar! – This is wonderful!
Das ist köstlich. – It’s delicious.
Ich bin müde. – I’m tired.
Ich bin zufrieden. – I’m glad/I’m satisfied.
Ich bin unzufrieden. – I’m dissatisfied.
Ich bin satt. – I’m full (opposite to “I’m hungry”).
Ich bin fertig. – I’m ready.

One more piece of advice: If you don’t want to be ignored or took like a fool, don’t ever use quasi “typical German” idioms like Das ist phantastisch! (which is supposed to be the most used phrase in German adult videos) or Nicht schießen!, or Hitler kaputt! (which are thought to be the most popular German idioms of World War II). :) Anyway, they aren’t proud of their history of the 20^th century.

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