5.25 Nuance — particles and hedging II — Epoché
What you will be able to do Use the second circle of German particles: etwa , eigentlich , überhaupt , bloß , ruhig , ausgerechnet . Say how sure you are on a scale from keinesfalls to zweifellos . Say how much, from kaum to äußerst , and choose between the neutral and the colloquial word. Tell apart the pairs that English translates the same way: erst and nur , mindestens and wenigstens , ohnehin and sowieso . Sentences from this lesson, before the explanation. Read the German aloud; all of them come back below. German English Das ist doch eigentlich egal, oder? [1] It really doesn't matter, does it? Mein Hund bellt eigentlich nicht, sondern heult irgendwie nur. [2] My dog doesn't really bark. He sort of just whines. Sie sind ungefähr gleichaltrig. [3] They're about the same age. Ich hätte möglicherweise das Gleiche getan. [4] I might've done the same thing. Dass du mir nicht glaubst, ist höchst bedauerlich. [5] That you don't believe me is a great pity. Ich kann dir nicht sagen, wie das Wort ausgesprochen wird. [6] I can't tell you how to pronounce the word. Prerequisites : 5.24 — you need the six particles of 2.21 Grammar : doch , mal , ja , denn , eben , halt . In 2.21 Grammar you learned the six particles that every German sentence in conversation seems to contain. This lesson is the vocabulary that sits around them: the words that make a statement more or less certain, more or less strong, more or less polite. They are the difference between German that is correct and German that sounds like a person. English does much of this work with intonation and with phrases such as I suppose , to be fair and sort of ; German has single words for most of it, and native speakers use several in one sentence: Das ist eigentlich ziemlich einfach . Sixty of these words are here, grouped by what they do. Word list Sixty words in five groups: particles in questions and requests; anyway, at least and even; how sure; how much; and softening a claim. Particles in questions and requests Word (article, plural) Meaning Notes etwa de surely not…?; approximately Gender / part of speech particle; adverb How English differs In a yes-no question it sounds suspicious: the speaker fears the answer is yes. Lauschst du etwa? Lauschst du etwa? [7] Are you eavesdropping? eigentlich de actually; by the way Gender / part of speech particle; adverb How English differs In a question it shifts to the real point: Wer bist du eigentlich? Wer bist du eigentlich? [8] Who are you anyway? überhaupt de at all; anyway Gender / part of speech particle; adverb How English differs In a question it doubts the basis: Arbeitest du überhaupt? Arbeitest du überhaupt? [9] Do you work at all? bloß de just, only; (in commands) whatever you do Gender / part of speech particle; adverb How English differs Like nur , but in a command it warns: Bleib bloß weg! Sie zockten bloß. [10] They were just gambling. ruhig de go ahead, feel free Gender / part of speech particle; adjective How English differs As a particle it gives permission: Fass es ruhig mal an . As an adjective, calm . Fass es ruhig mal an. [11] Come on, touch it. eh de anyway Gender / part of speech particle How English differs Colloquial, southern and Austrian; standard German says sowieso . Es würde eh keiner glauben. [12] Nobody would believe it anyways. ausgerechnet de of all (people, things, days) Gender / part of speech particle How English differs Warum ausgerechnet ich? , why me of all people? Warum fragst du ausgerechnet mich? [13] Why do you ask me of all people? erst de only (so far), not until Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Implies more is to come : erst 40 , only 40 ; nur implies no more . Harry ist erst 40. [14] Harry is only 40. Anyway, at least, even Word (article, plural) Meaning Notes ohnehin de anyway, in any case Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs The neutral standard word. Ich wollte ohnehin nicht dahin. [15] I didn't want to go there anyway. sowieso de anyway, in any case Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs The everyday word. Das wird sowieso passieren. [16] That's going to happen no matter what. jedenfalls de in any case, at any rate Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Also limits a claim: ich jedenfalls , I, at least . Du irrst dich jedenfalls. [17] Anyway, you're wrong. immerhin de after all; at least Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Finds something positive: Das ist immerhin ein guter Anfang . Das Essen war nicht gut, aber immerhin preiswert. [18] The food wasn't good, but at least it was cheap. zumindest de at least Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Limits a claim: So scheint es mir zumindest . So scheint es mir zumindest. [19] At least, that's how it seems to me. wenigstens de at least Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Often in demands: Bedank dich wenigstens! Bedank dich wenigstens! [20] At the very least, say "thank you." nämlich de namely; you see Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Two uses: that is to say in a list; because, you see inside a clause. Die Kinder sind vor allem eines, nämlich laut. [21] Children are one thing above all else, and that is loud. sogar de even Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Stresses something unexpected. Es könnte sogar funktionieren. [22] It might even work. How sure? Word (article, plural) Meaning Notes gewiss de certainly Gender / part of speech adverb, adjective How English differs Formal or literary. Das ist gewiss möglich. [23] That's certainly possible. sicherlich de surely, certainly Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Like bestimmt , a little more formal. Das ist sicherlich Unsinn. [24] That is certainly nonsense. bestimmt de definitely, surely Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs The everyday word for strong confidence. Sie kommt bestimmt. [25] I'm sure she will come. zweifellos de without doubt Gender / part of speech adverb How Englis