Changing meaning using suffixes in German

Part of GermanVerbs

Key points about suffixes

Bullet points represented by lightbulbs

  • A suffix is a group of letters which are added to the end of a word to change its meaning.

  • Suffixes are:

    • added to a verb to change it into a
    • added to a noun to change it into an
    • added to a stem to change it into a male agent noun
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How to change a verb into a noun

can be added to the end of some German words to change the part of speech:

A noun can be created by adding the suffix -ung to some verb stems. For example, lös-:

  • Remove the -en/-n at the end of the eg lösen to solve which leaves the stem lös-

  • Add -ung to the verb stem and capitalise the noun to create Lösung

  • All nouns which end in -ung are die Lösung the solution

Some key nouns to know in German are:

verbtranslationnountranslation
to reservereservation
to hopehope
to excuseexcuse
to changechange
to change, alterchange, alternation
to discriminatediscrimination
to examineexam
to experienceexperience
to liveflat, apartment
to practisepractice, exercise
to moveexercise, movement
to pollutepollution
to supportsupport
Piece of paper with the word remember written on it

                           

Remember:

All German nouns start with a capital letter.

Mini quiz

A pen and a piece of paper with question marks on it.
  1. Change the verb rechnen to calculate into a noun.

  1. Change the verb entscheiden to decide into a noun.

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Changing a noun into an adverb

The suffix -s can be added to days and times of day to change them into :

Montag Monday → montags on Mondays

Day / Time of DayFrequency
Saturday on Saturdays
morning in the mornings
afternoon in the afternoons
evening in the evenings
Piece of paper with the word remember written on it

                           

Remember:

Adverbs start with a lower case letter and follow the verb. For example:

Ich gehe samstags schwimmen.
I go swimming on Saturdays.

Mini quiz

Translate these sentences into German:

  1. I play football on Tuesdays.
          

  1. I do my homework in the evenings.
          

  1. My grandfather sleeps in the afternoons.

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Changing a verb into male agent nouns

Create a by adding -er to a verb stem with the equivalent meaning. For example, besuch-:

  • Remove the -en/-n at the end of the infinitive eg besuchen to visit which leaves the stem besuch-

  • Add -er to the verb stem and capitalise the noun to create der Besucher visitor

Key male agent nouns:

verbmale agent noun
to play player
to work worker
to drive driver
to teach teacher
to sell salesman
to help helper
Piece of paper with the word remember written on it

                           

Remember:

The feminine form of these nouns can also be created by adding -in to the end of the noun. For example:

  • die Lehrerin - female teacher
  • die Verkäuferin - saleswoman

Mini quiz

A pen and a piece of paper with question marks on it.
  1. Change the verb malen to paint into a male agent noun.

  1. Change the verb schwimmen to swim into a male agent noun.

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Quiz

Work out the meaning of sentences in German through the role of suffixes, verbs, nouns and adverbs.

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