NOUN-VERBS COMBINATION IN GERMAN

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Content in this post
1. Definition of a noun-verb
2. Examples of noun-verb
3. How to make sentences with noun-verbs
4. How to negate a sentence that contains a noun-verb
Table of content for german noun-verbs

A noun-verb from how it is called, is a unit combination of a noun and a verb which may slightly or entirely alter their original meaning. They are altenative forms of single verbs. The new meaning of the combination of noun-verbs is majorly determined by the noun. When a noun-verb is used in a german sentence, the verb should not be translated literally as it was formerly known. Some examples are listed below.

GermanLiteral meaningTrue meaningAlternative verb
Party machento make partyto do partyfeiern
Urlaub machento make holidayto spend holiday
langes Gesicht machento make a long faceto look sadtraurig aussehen
Abschied nehmento take farewellto say goodbyetschüss sagen
Abstand nehmento take distanceto refrainmeiden
Angst habento have fearto to be afraidängstigen
Angst machento make fearto scarebeängstigen
Anspruch nehmento take claimto take advantagenutzen
viel Arbeit machento make a lot of workto cause a lot of workermüden
Bezug nehmento take bearingto make a referencesich beziehen
Durst habento have thirstto be thirstydurstig sein
Hunger habento have hungerto be hungryhungrig sein
Einfluss nehmento take influenceto have influencebeeinflussen
Erfolg habento have successto be successfulerfolgreich sein
Feierabend machento make party eveningto be free of dutyvollenden
Foto machento make pictureto take photographfotografieren
Geburtstag habento have birthdayto be plus oneplus eins werden
Glück habento have luckto be luckyglücklich sein
Pech habento have pitchto be unluckyunglücklich sein
Schluss machento make conclusionto break-upsich trennen
Karriere machento make careerto be career oriented
Hoffnung machento make hopeto give hope
Angebot machento make offerto make an offeranbieten
Nickerchen machento make closed-eyeto take a napeinnicken
Chance habento have chanceto have an opportunitygelegen
Fliege machento make flyto deal with itweggehen
Freude machento make pleasureto be pleasedgefallen
Pause machento make pauseto go for a breakruhen
Unterschied machento make differenceto be a differencesich unterscheiden
Eindruck machento make impressionto give an impressionbeeindrucken
Gewinn machento make winto make profitprofitieren
Verlust machento make lossto have a lossverlieren
Platz nehmento take placeto take a seatsich setzen
Vorschlag machento make suggestionto give a suggestionvorschlagen
Stress machento make stressto cause stresserschöpfen
Ärger machento make annoyanceto cause troublebelästigen
sich Gedanken machento make thoughtto think to oneselfdenken
sich Sorgen machento make worryto trouble oneselfberühren
Spaß machento make funto be funsich amüsieren
Lust habento have desireto be interestedinteressant sein
zu Fuß gehento go to footto trekbewegen
Spaziergang machento make strollto go for a walkspazieren gehen
Ausflug machento make outingto go for an outing
Dusch habento have showerto take a showerduschen
Lists of noun verbs in german

From the table, the meaning of these noun-verbs can either be literal or true which is the exact meaning it gives in English. However, it is this true meaning that should be used to translate. Sometimes, the literal meaning may be the same as the true meaning. Just use it anyway…

How to make sentences with German noun verbs

To make a sentence using a noun-verb, the verb in the combination is either conjugated in the second position to the subject or used as the supported verb which is placed at the end of a sentence in the case of having a modal verb. The noun on the other hand becomes the direct object or Akkusativ in the sentence. The use of articles with these nouns may or may not be necessary. See the different illustrations below.

1. When there is just one verb present

The verb is conjugated in the second position while the noun is used as the object. See examples below.

Usage
1. Ich mache jeden Tag um 12.00 Uhr Pause.—— I go on Break every day at 12 O’clock.

2. Die Firma meiner Schwiegereltern hat letztes Jahr so viel Verlust gemacht.–– The company of my in-laws lost a lot last year.

3. Kira hat am Dienstag Geburtstag.—— Kira will be +1 on Tuesday.

4.Wann machst du Feierabend?—— when are you closing for today?
noun-verb sentence

2. When it is used with modal verb

The modal verb is conjugated in the second position while the entire Noun-verb is placed at the end of the sentence. See the illustrations below.

Usage
1. Du solltest keinen Hunger haben.—— you were not supposed to be hungry.

2. Wo wollen wir nächsten Sommer unseren Urlaub machen?—— where do we want to spending our holiday next Sommer?.

3. Eva, leider müssen wir Schluss machen.—— Eva, unfortunately we have to break up.

4. Warum muss ich von Petra Acht nehmen?—— why do i have to be wary of Petra?

5. Du darfst hier kein Foto machen.—— you are not allowed to take pictures here.
Noun-verb sentences with modal verb

3. When negated with “nicht”

Usage
1. Warum nimmst du den Platz nicht?—— why are you not taking the seat.

2. Hast du den Platz nicht genommen?–– Did you not take the seat?
Noun-verb sentences with nicht

Read more on the various ways to use nicht here…

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