Ihr
Totally confusing this with informal and formal addressing here in Switzerland. Where I come from we have one word for addressing people in singular and one for plural (i.e. more than one person...this is for my Aussie friend who likes to elaborate on things :)
In English, as you know, you is you. You can be one or several people. Easy-peasy.
Now, in German, as I have just learned (ok, this is basic but difficult to learn) you have two versions for singular (informal and formal). This particular part I didn't get. Which means if you wanna say "what are you doing (up to) over the weekend?", you can say it either like "was machen Sie über das wochenende?" or "was macht ihr über das wochenende?". Formal vs informal.
Why is it that ze Germans want to make it so difficult for themselves? Not to mention for us foreigners?
In English, as you know, you is you. You can be one or several people. Easy-peasy.
Now, in German, as I have just learned (ok, this is basic but difficult to learn) you have two versions for singular (informal and formal). This particular part I didn't get. Which means if you wanna say "what are you doing (up to) over the weekend?", you can say it either like "was machen Sie über das wochenende?" or "was macht ihr über das wochenende?". Formal vs informal.
Why is it that ze Germans want to make it so difficult for themselves? Not to mention for us foreigners?
posted by Annika @ 2:08 AM
2 Comments:
At 3:02 AM,
Anonymous said…
ha ha ha, but you havent made your elaboration nearly complicated enough.
e.g.:
what about when Ihr/ihr means they, and when it means you, how its different from the normal singular informal you, du? "was machst du ueber das wochenende?" and then what about euch?
At 9:29 AM,
Annika said…
Oh no, don't even go there. That's the advanced course...and one that I do not intend to take :)
Post a Comment
<< Home