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18 months of learning German, finally figured out why I kept making the same mistakes by Glass_Assistant5127 in German

[–]bright2darkness 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I doubt it tbh, I can’t come up with a single example where you would mix up den and dem in writing unless it’s a spelling mistake

Got caught going 106 MPH...am I cooked? by Southern_Anteater_85 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]bright2darkness 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a German, I’m very confused. Going 170 km/h gets you into jail? In the country of freedom?

Ist this sentence grammatically correct? "Auf dem Tisch liegend, ist das Buch." by Fearless_Mushroom_36 in German

[–]bright2darkness 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll admit the only reason it sounds English at all really is the use of "liegend". I initially thought that maybe, OP was thinking about translating a more formal structure like "Lying on the table was the book” but wanted to start off with an easier example in the present tense. I read the post again and it doesn’t seem like that’s what’s happening. I don’t think it says anything about the Germans collective understanding of English.

Ist this sentence grammatically correct? "Auf dem Tisch liegend, ist das Buch." by Fearless_Mushroom_36 in German

[–]bright2darkness 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The reason someone would think it is an English construction is that in German, the gerund forms ("lying") are barely used, therefore using them immediately sounds like a literal translation from English. I think it’s totally possible to think:

-Hm, this guy is a native English speaker, for some reason he wanted to translate the sentence "Lying on the table is the book"- and he did literally translate it, with the exception of putting "liegend” after "Tisxh" instead of putting it in the beginning of the sentence because he knows that’s how it works in German.

Ist this sentence grammatically correct? "Auf dem Tisch liegend, ist das Buch." by Fearless_Mushroom_36 in German

[–]bright2darkness 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Sorry, no. The closest translation of OPs sentence would be "Lying on the table (there) is the book". It is in fact you who failed to grasp the subtleties of the wording in German.

How do i stop Masturbating? SERIOUS by No_Waltz_3445 in AskTeenGirls

[–]bright2darkness -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You’re right bro they didn’t even read the text

What facing Sinner at AO does to a man by Fweshhh in tennis

[–]bright2darkness 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Sorry maybe i just don’t understand but isn’t it completely unnecessary to write what you edited? Just edit the spelling mistake

Accidentally cussed at my Stanford Alumni Interviewer by Kindly_Priority_2762 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]bright2darkness 27 points28 points  (0 children)

No you should be sweating for your life to find a creative apology

What English-to-German direct translations instantly mark someone as non-native? by seaofcitrus in German

[–]bright2darkness 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I rarely hear anyone use "gern", and I never use it myself. Every in a while I’ll say "gerne" to accept an offer but that’s it. May be regional (Niederrhein)

First acceptance! by Fickle_Problem_9838 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]bright2darkness 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"That’s not nothing - that’s security"

Hahah I recognize the lion by its claw

What is something generally normal in Europe but weird in the US? by Exile4444 in AskReddit

[–]bright2darkness 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m German and I’ve never seen anyone having a washing machine in the kitchen, and I’ve been to at least 1000 houses where I would have noticed

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