Relationships (Junior Cert German): Revision Notes
Family Relationships
Learning to talk about family relationships is essential when communicating in German. This vocabulary will help you express how well you get along with different family members and explain why you have good or difficult relationships with them.
Asking about family relationships
The most common way to ask someone about their family relationships is:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Verstehst du dich gut mit deiner Familie? | Do you get on well with your family? |
| Wie verstehst du dich mit deinen Eltern? | How do you get on with your parents? |
| Kommst du gut mit deinen Geschwistern aus? | Do you get on well with your siblings? |
Pronunciation tip: "Verstehst" is pronounced "fer-SHTAYST" with emphasis on the second syllable.
Expressing how you get along with family
There are two main ways to say you get along well with someone in German. Both mean essentially the same thing, but "sich verstehen" is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
Using "sich verstehen mit"
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich verstehe mich gut mit meinem Vater | I get on well with my father |
| Ich verstehe mich gut mit meiner Mutter | I get on well with my mother |
| Wir verstehen uns gut | We get on well |
| Wir verstehen uns nicht gut | We don't get on well |
Using "auskommen mit"
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich komme gut mit meinem Bruder aus | I get on well with my brother |
| Ich komme gut mit meiner Schwester aus | I get on well with my sister |
| Wir kommen gut miteinander aus | We get on well together |
Example sentences in context:
Ich verstehe mich super mit meiner Oma. (I get on brilliantly with my grandmother.)
Mein Bruder und ich kommen nicht so gut aus. (My brother and I don't get on so well.)
Giving reasons with "weil"
When explaining why you have good or bad relationships, you'll use "weil" (because). This is where German grammar becomes particularly important - "weil" sends the verb to the end of the clause.
Positive reasons
| German | English |
|---|---|
| er hat Zeit für mich | he has time for me |
| sie hilft mir mit den Hausaufgaben | she helps me with homework |
| sie kann gut zuhören | she is a good listener |
| sie ist immer gut gelaunt | she is always cheerful |
| wir haben dieselben Interessen | we have the same interests |
Negative reasons
| German | English |
|---|---|
| er ist nervig | he is annoying |
| sie nimmt immer meine Sachen | she always takes my things |
| wir streiten uns oft | we often argue |
| er hat nie Zeit | he never has time |
Example sentences with "weil":
Ich verstehe mich gut mit meiner Mutter, weil sie gut zuhören kann. (I get on well with my mother because she can listen well.)
Wir verstehen uns nicht gut, weil wir oft streiten. (We don't get on well because we often argue.)
Notice how the verb moves to the end after "weil".
Important grammar rule
Remember the "weil" rule: "Weil" is vile because it sends the verb running a mile! This means the verb goes to the end of the clause after "weil".
Correct: Ich mag meinen Vater, weil er mir hilft. ✓
Incorrect: Ich mag meinen Vater, weil er hilft mir. ✗
Additional expressions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wir streiten uns | We argue |
| sich in die Haare kriegen | to quarrel (literally: get into each other's hair) |
| Sie nimmt meine Sachen | She takes my things |
| Er macht mich wütend | He makes me angry |
| Wir haben Spaß zusammen | We have fun together |
Cultural context: German families often value direct communication, so discussing relationship difficulties openly is quite normal and accepted in German-speaking cultures.
Translation practice
Translation:
- Ich verstehe mich gut mit meinem Bruder, weil er lustig ist.
- Wir streiten uns oft, weil sie immer meine Sachen nimmt.
- I get on well with my sister because she helps me.
- We don't get on well because we have different interests.
Answers:
- I get on well with my brother because he is funny.
- We often argue because she always takes my things.
- Ich verstehe mich gut mit meiner Schwester, weil sie mir hilft.
- Wir verstehen uns nicht gut, weil wir verschiedene Interessen haben.
Common mistakes and tips
Word order errors: Remember that "weil" changes the word order. The verb must go to the end of the "weil" clause. Many students forget this rule and use normal word order.
Gender confusion: Make sure you use the correct form - "meinem" for masculine/neuter family members (Vater, Bruder) and "meiner" for feminine family members (Mutter, Schwester).
Mixing constructions: Don't mix "sich verstehen" and "auskommen" in the same sentence. Choose one construction and stick with it throughout your response.
Pronunciation: The "ch" sound in "sich" is soft (like the "h" in "huge"), not hard like "k".
Key Points to Remember:
- Use "Verstehst du dich gut mit...?" to ask about family relationships
- "Weil" always sends the verb to the end of its clause
- Both "sich verstehen mit" and "auskommen mit" mean "to get on with"
- Learn positive and negative reasons to explain family relationships
- Practice the correct gender forms: meinem (masculine/neuter) vs meiner (feminine)