Relationships (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
Relationships
Key vocabulary for relationships
Understanding relationship vocabulary is essential for discussing personal connections in German. These terms help you express different types of relationships and attitudes towards people.
Mastering relationship vocabulary is fundamental to expressing emotions and describing personal connections in German. These words form the foundation for more complex conversations about family, friends, and social interactions.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Beziehung (f) | relationship |
| die Einstellung (f) | attitude |
| der Streit (m) | argument |
| der Typ (m) | guy |
| der Unterschied (m) | difference |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| das Verhältnis (n) | relationship |
| das Verständnis (n) | understanding |
| kompliziert | complicated |
| schwierig | difficult |
| stolz auf | proud of |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| zuständig | responsible |
| gefallen | to please |
| sich fühlen | to feel |
| sich verstehen mit | to get on with |
| unterstützen | to support |
Vocabulary in Context:
- Meine Beziehung zu meinen Eltern ist kompliziert. (My relationship with my parents is complicated.)
- Ich verstehe mich gut mit meiner Schwester. (I get on well with my sister.)
- Meine Einstellung ist positiv. (My attitude is positive.)
Using the verb 'gefallen'
The verb gefallen works differently from most German verbs. It's an impersonal verb, which means the person who likes something becomes the indirect object, not the subject.
Critical Grammar Point: The verb gefallen uses reverse logic compared to English! Instead of "I like something," think "Something pleases to me." This is why you must use dative pronouns (mir, dir, ihm) instead of nominative pronouns (ich, du, er).
Key grammar rules for gefallen:
- gefallen can only be used with es, another third person pronoun, or a noun as the subject
- The person who likes something goes in the dative case (mir/dir/ihm/ihr/uns/euch/ihnen)
- Think of it as "something pleases to someone" rather than "someone likes something"
Worked Examples with gefallen:
- Sport gefällt mir sehr. (I like sport very much.) - Literally: "Sport pleases to me very much"
- Diese Jungen gefallen mir nicht. (I don't like these boys.)
- Die Party hat mir gut gefallen! (I liked the party!)
Remember: When the subject is plural (like diese Jungen), the verb gefallen stays in the plural form.
Using reflexive verbs
Reflexive verbs include an extra part called the reflexive pronoun. These pronouns "reflect" back to the subject of the sentence.
Reflexive Pronoun Rules: The reflexive pronoun must match the subject of the sentence. If you change the subject from "ich" to "du," you must also change the reflexive pronoun from "mich" to "dich."
Reflexive pronouns:
- mich (myself)
- dich (yourself - informal)
- sich (himself/herself/yourself - formal)
Common reflexive verbs for relationships:
- sich fühlen (to feel)
- sich verstehen mit (to get on with)
Reflexive Verbs in Action:
- Ich fühle mich sehr glücklich. (I feel very happy.)
- Sie versteht sich gut mit ihm. (She gets on well with him.)
Describing relationships in detail
When discussing relationships, you can express both positive and negative feelings:
Positive relationships:
- Ich verstehe mich gut mit meinem Vater. (I get on well with my father.)
- Meine Freunde unterstützen mich. (My friends support me.)
- Ich bin stolz auf meine Familie. (I'm proud of my family.)
Difficult relationships:
- Wir haben oft Streit. (We often have arguments.)
- Die Situation ist schwierig. (The situation is difficult.)
- Ich fühle mich gestresst. (I feel stressed.)
Notice how relationship descriptions often use either gefallen for preferences or reflexive verbs for feelings. This combination gives you powerful tools to express complex emotions about people in your life.
Translation practice
German to English:
- Aktivitäten mit Freunden gefallen mir sehr.
- Meine jüngere Schwester ist laut.
English to German:
- I don't get on well with my father.
- She feels very happy.
Translation Solutions:
German to English:
- Activities with friends please me a lot. / I really like activities with friends.
- My younger sister is loud.
English to German: 3. Ich verstehe mich nicht gut mit meinem Vater. 4. Sie fühlt sich sehr glücklich.
Key Points to Remember:
- gefallen uses dative pronouns (mir, dir, ihm, etc.) - the thing that is liked becomes the subject
- Reflexive verbs need reflexive pronouns (mich, dich, sich) that match the subject
- Relationship vocabulary helps you express both positive and negative feelings about people
- Practice using both gefallen and reflexive verbs in context to describe your relationships
- Remember that gefallen literally means "to please" - so think "sport pleases me" rather than "I like sport"