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Reading · A1 · Text 5 · Part 1

Muttersprache Part 1

62 words1 min read76% known at A1

Wer älter ist, kann eine neue Sprache nicht mehr wie eine Muttersprache einfach vom Zuhören lernen.

Older people can no longer learn a new language like a native language simply by listening.

Man muss sie aktiv lernen, ähnlich wie die Mathematik in der Schule.

One must learn it actively, similar to mathematics in school.

Früher nannte man alle diese Sprachen Fremdsprachen.

In the past, all these languages were called foreign languages.

Heute spricht man eher von Zweit- und Drittsprache.

Today, one tends to speak of second and third languages.

Wer schon als kleines Kind in ein Land kommt, wo die neue Sprache gesprochen wird, hat es wesentlich einfacher.

Whoever comes to a country where the new language is spoken as a small child has it considerably easier.

12 words above A1

vom← von dem
from the; by (with gerund) Contraction of 'von dem'. Here: 'vom Zuhören' = by listening
eher
rather, more precisely In the text: 'spricht man eher von' = one speaks rather of
ähnlich
similar Used with 'wie': 'ähnlich wie' = similar to similar, alike, resembling B1/ˈɛːnlɪç/
zuhören
to listen (to) Separable verb. In the text as noun: 'Zuhören' (listening) to listen A2/ˈt͡suːˌhøːʁən/
nannte← nennen
called (past tense of 'nennen') Irregular: nennen, nannte, genannt to name (to give a name to); to call, to describe; to mention, to make known, to tell, to give A2/ˈnɛnən/
aktiv
actively, active Used as adverb here: 'aktiv lernen' = to learn actively active C1[akˈtiːf]
zweit← zweit-
second (as prefix) In 'Zweit- und Drittsprache' = second and third language
wesentlich
considerably, significantly Used to intensify a comparative: 'wesentlich einfacher' = much easier essential (concerning the essence or true nature of something); crucial, principal, significant (of fundamental importance) B2/ˈveːzəntlɪç/
mathematik← die Mathematik
mathematics Capitalized in German
muttersprache← die Muttersprache
mother tongue Plural: Muttersprachen
fremdsprachen← die Fremdsprache
foreign languages (plural) Singular: die Fremdsprache
drittsprache← die Drittsprache
third language Plural: Drittsprachen

Grammar in this text

Modal verb + infinitive at the end

Wer älter ist, kann eine neue Sprache nicht mehr wie eine Muttersprache einfach vom Zuhören lernen.

In German, the modal verb 'kann' is conjugated in the main clause, and the main verb 'lernen' stays in the infinitive and moves to the end of the sentence.

Impersonal pronoun 'man'

Man muss sie aktiv lernen, ähnlich wie die Mathematik in der Schule.

'man' is used to talk about people in general (one/you/we). It always takes the 3rd person singular verb form. Here 'man muss' means 'one must/you have to'.

Comparative of adjectives

wesentlich einfacher

The comparative form of the adjective 'einfach' is 'einfacher' (easier). The adverb 'wesentlich' strengthens the comparison and means 'considerably'. The comparative is often used with 'als' (than), but here it is intensified by 'wesentlich'.

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Text from Muttersprache — Klexikon, used under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources.

Translation, glossary and grammar notes are machine-generated and inherit the same licence.