Reading · C1 · Text 14

Rosen

49 words1 min read100% known at C1

In der Natur sind die Rosen nicht so besonders wie in den Gärten.
In nature, roses are not as special as in gardens.
Die Menschen haben sich nämlich immer die schönsten Rosen aus-gesucht.
People have always selected the most beautiful roses.
Sie sehen ein wenig aus wie kleine Äpfel.
They look a bit like small apples.
Die Rosen sind eben auch verwandt mit den Äpfeln.
Roses are indeed related to apples.
Rosen schenkt man jemandem, den man besonders liebt.
Roses are given to someone you love especially.

13 words above C1

besonders

special, outstanding especially, particularly; very, especially; exceptionally, separately A1[bəˈzɔndɐs]

ausgesucht← aussuchen

chosen, selected past participle of aussuchen (irregular: sucht aus, suchte aus, ausgesucht) to select, to choose, to pick B1/ˈaʊ̯s.zuː.xən/

verwandt

related (in family or origin) used with 'mit' + dative related (connected by blood, adoption, or marriage); related (standing in relation or connection) B1/fɛɐ̯ˈvant/

schenkt← schenken

gives as a present regular verb: schenken, schenkte, geschenkt to give as a present, to gift; to spare one(self) (something); to pour from a vessel, to serve A1/ˈʃɛŋkən/

jemandem← jemand

someone (dative) indefinite pronoun; dative form of 'jemand' someone, somebody A2/ˈjeːmant/

liebt← lieben

loves regular verb: lieben, liebte, geliebt to love, to have a strong affection for (someone or something); to love one another; to make love, to have sex A1/ˈliːbən/

besonders

especially, particularly especially, particularly; very, especially; exceptionally, separately A1[bəˈzɔndɐs]

nämlich

namely, you see (explanatory) (the) very same, selfsame (as was mentioned or described previously; either the same object by identity, or sometimes just the same in type or… B1/ˈnɛːmlɪç/

schönsten← schön

most beautiful (superlative) superlative form of 'schön' with weak ending after 'die' beautiful, lovely, pretty, handsome; good, great, splendid; nice, pleasant A1/ʃøːn/

ein wenig

a little, slightly fixed expression

kleine← klein

small adjective with indefinite article 'kleine Äpfel' small, little, wee (in physical size or extent); small, little, young (not grown up); insignificant (of little influence or means; of people) A1/klaɪ̯n/

Äpfel← der Apfel

apples plural of Apfel (der Apfel, die Äpfel) apple (fruit); apple tree; breasts A1/ˈapfəl/

eben

indeed, simply (emphasizing) flat, smooth, even (of a surface); just, simply, indicating that something is generally known or cannot be changed, and is therefore to be accepted;… B1/eːbən/

Grammar in this text

Relative clause with dative antecedent

Rosen schenkt man jemandem, den man besonders liebt.

The relative pronoun 'den' refers back to 'jemandem' (dative) but takes accusative case because it is the object of 'liebt'. This shows the case of the relative pronoun depends on its function in the relative clause, not the antecedent.

Comparative and superlative forms

nicht so besonders wie in den Gärten

The construction 'so ... wie' is used for comparisons of equality. The superlative 'schönsten' appears in the phrase 'die schönsten Rosen'.

Impersonal pronoun 'man'

Rosen schenkt man jemandem, den man besonders liebt.

'man' is used as an impersonal pronoun meaning 'one' or 'people in general'. It takes the verb in the third person singular, as in 'schenkt' and 'liebt'.

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

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