Reading · C2 · Text 41

Enten

48 words1 min read100% known at C2

Das machen Menschen schon seit drei tausend Jahren.
People have been doing this for three thousand years.
Vor allem züchtet man Enten der Federn wegen.
Above all, ducks are bred for their feathers.
Enten-Federn nimmt man gern, um damit Kissen zu füllen.
Duck feathers are often used to fill pillows.
Früher hat man mit Enten-Federn auch geschrieben.
In the past, people also wrote with duck feathers.
Man hat sie auch hinten an Pfeile geklebt, damit sie schön gerade-aus fliegen.
They were also glued to the back of arrows so that they would fly straight.

12 words above C2

züchtet← züchten

to breed, to raise (animals) regular verb to breed (to guide the reproduction of one's animals or plants, especially in order to develop, strengthen or maintain specific features in them);… C2

der Federn← die Feder

feather plural: Federn feather; spring (of a machine or gadget); quill pen C1/ˈfeːdəʁ/

wegen

because of, for the sake of takes genitive for, because of; concerning, regarding A2/ˈveːɡən/

nimmt← nehmen

to take irregular: nimmt, nahm, genommen to take (something into one's possession or on one's body); to take from; to hold (in one's hands), to grasp A1/ˈneːmən/

Kissen

pillow, cushion plural: Kissen (same) cushion; pillow (bag filled with soft material used to sit or rest one’s head on); all the soft parts of a bed, i.e. mattress, duvet, and pillow… B1/ˈkɪsən/

füllen

to fill regular verb to fill; to stuff; Equuleus B2/ˈfʏlən/

geschrieben← schreiben

to write irregular: schreibt, schrieb, geschrieben to write, to write out (use letters to make words and texts); to spell (use a particular combination of letters to make a word); to write (use… A1/ˈʃraɪ̯bən/

hinten

at the back, on the rear behind; in the back; over (there); yonder (unspecified locative for something at some distance) A2/ˈhɪntən/

Pfeile← der Pfeil

arrow plural: Pfeile arrow (missile); arrow (sign); mouse cursor (informally even when not in the form of an arrow) B2/pfaɪ̯l/

geklebt← kleben

to glue, to stick regular verb to glue; to stick; to be sticky B1[ˈkleːbm̩]

gerade-aus← geradeaus

straight ahead straight ahead, straightforward (in a forward direction) A1/ɡəˌʁaːdəˈʔaʊ̯s/

fliegen

to fly irregular: fliegt, flog, geflogen to fly; to travel by air; to rush; to fly; to go quickly; to fly; to pilot A1/ˈfliːɡn̩/

Grammar in this text

Genitive after preposition 'wegen'

der Federn wegen

The preposition 'wegen' takes the genitive case. Here 'der Federn' is genitive plural of 'die Feder'.

Infinitive clause with 'um ... zu'

um damit Kissen zu füllen

The structure 'um ... zu + infinitive' expresses purpose ('in order to'). The infinitive 'füllen' goes to the end.

Subordinate clause with 'damit'

damit sie schön gerade-aus fliegen

'damit' introduces a purpose clause. The conjugated verb 'fliegen' goes to the end of the clause.

Passive voice with 'man'

nimmt man gern

The impersonal pronoun 'man' is used to express a passive-like meaning without using the passive voice. The verb is active but the subject is indefinite.

Keep going

C2 · Text 40 Verfassung 100% known · 48 words Read C2 · Text 42 Facebook 100% known · 46 words Read Practice C2 reading questions Comprehension and true/false items on texts like this one. Test yourself

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

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