German · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 9
Meine Familie ist großMy family is big
Predicate adjectives: after sein (ist/sind) the adjective stays UNCHANGED — no ending. Die Familie ist groß. Das Haus ist klein. Mein Bruder ist nett. (The adjective endings before the noun — ein großer Mann — come in Book 2.) New vocabulary: nice, beautiful, house, to live, in, with, but, there, every, or. Culture section: Ordnung (order).
Dialogue
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Meine Familie ist groß— My Family Is Big
- LukasMeine Familie ist groß. Mein Bruder ist jung und meine Schwester ist nett.My family is big. My brother is young and my sister is nice.
- MikeDeine Mutter ist schöne!Your mother is beautiful! (slip: schöne; after ist it stays schön)
- LukasNach „ist" bleibt es „schön" — ohne Endung. Ja, meine Mutter ist schön.After "ist" it stays "schön" — no ending. Yes, my mother is beautiful.
- MikeOkay! Deine Mutter ist schön und dein Vater ist groß. Sehr nett!Okay! Your mother is beautiful and your father is tall. Very nice!
Dialogue
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Wo wohnst du?— Where Do You Live?
- LenaIch wohne hier, in einem Haus mit meinen Eltern.I live here, in a house with my parents.
- MikeIch wohne ein Haus mit meinem Bruder.I live a house with my brother. (slip: dropped in; wohnen needs in)
- LenaMan sagt „in einem Haus" — mit „in". Ist dein Haus groß?We say "in einem Haus" — with "in". Is your house big?
- MikeNein, es ist klein, aber schön. Ich wohne da mit meinem Bruder.No, it's small, but beautiful. I live there with my brother.
Vocabulary
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- nett
adjectivenice
- schön
adjectivebeautiful, nice
- das Haus
n.n.house (n)
- wohnen
verbto live
- in
prepositionin
- mit
prepositionwith
- aber
conjunctionbut
- da
adverbthere
- jeder
det.every, each
- oder
conjunctionor
Grammar
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Predicate adjectives (no ending)
Explanation
Good news: after sein (ist, sind) the adjective stays UNCHANGED — no ending, no gender, no plural. "Die Familie ist groß." "Das Haus ist klein." "Meine Eltern sind nett." Whether masculine, feminine, neuter or plural — the adjective does not change. This is much easier than in French or Spanish. (The endings BEFORE the noun — "ein großer Mann" — are trickier and come only in Book 2.) For now, enjoy the simple form with ist and sind.
Examples
- Meine Familie ist groß. Mein Bruder ist jung.My family is big. My brother is young.
- Das Haus ist klein, aber schön.The house is small, but beautiful.
- Ich wohne in einem Haus mit meinen Eltern.I live in a house with my parents. (wohnen in + mit)
- Meine Eltern sind sehr nett.My parents are very nice. (sind + uninflected nett)
Culture
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OrdnungOrdnung — order in daily life
"Ordnung muss sein" — there must be order. A sense of structure, rules, and tidiness runs through German daily life.
Rules are respected
Crossing on a red pedestrian light — even with no cars — is frowned upon, especially with children around. Following the rule is courtesy, not just obedience. The same with waste: it is carefully separated — paper, packaging, glass (by colour), organic, deposit bottles (Pfand).
Quiet hours
Sundays and evenings are quiet hours (Ruhezeit): no loud noise, no drilling, no mowing the lawn. And on Sundays most shops close entirely — plan your shopping for Saturday.
Private, but direct
Home and personal space are private. In conversation, though, Germans are direct: a clear yes or no, honest opinions, less small talk. This is not rudeness but respect for clarity (more on this in ch15).
Rule of thumb: follow the posted rules, separate your rubbish, keep noise down on Sundays and evenings, and don't take directness personally.
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