Key learning points

1. Stress the 2nd syllable of words that start with an inseparable prefix. Borrowed words stress the 2nd or final syllable.
2. Verbs of movement or which imply a change of state form the perfect tense with 'sein', e.g., 'er ist gestorben'.
3. Verbs which require an object are transitive verbs. Verbs that don't require an object are intransitive verbs.
4. Calendar years in German are said as long numbers, e.g., 'neunzehnhundertfünf' = 1905.
5. Calendar years 2000+ are said 'zweitausend-', e.g., 'zweitausendeins' = 2001.

Keywords

• Stress - pronouncing one syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word

• Sein - verb meaning 'to be, being', also used as an auxiliary verb with a past participle to form the perfect tense

• Perfect tense - verb tense that describes completed actions in the past, e.g., 'I (have) said', 'she (has) played'

• Transitive verb - a verb requiring an object to make sense, e.g., 'to say', 'to tell'

• Intransitive verb - a verb which does not require an object to make sense, e.g., 'to speak', 'to live'

Common misconception