About This Lesson
Use Basic evaluation, size, and difficulty to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Das ist sehr gut.
DAHS ist zair GOOT This is very good.
B
Das ist nicht gut.
DAHS ist nikht GOOT That is not good.
A
Das ist zu groß.
DAHS ist tsoo GOHS This is too big.
B
Das ist zu klein.
DAHS ist tsoo KLINE This is too small.
A
Es ist sehr einfach.
ess ist zair EYN-fakh It is very easy.
B
Es ist sehr schwierig.
ess ist zair SHVEE-rikh It is very difficult.Word by Word
Das
In this dialogue, "Das" means “this” or “that” and is the subject of the evaluation. It points to the thing being described in "Das ist sehr gut" and "Das ist nicht gut". A reusable pattern is "Das ist ..." when evaluating or identifying something.
ist
"ist" means “is” in these sentences and links the subject with an evaluation or description. It is the form of "sein" used here with "Das" and "Es". Reuse it in patterns such as "Das ist ..." or "Es ist ..." when describing something.
sehr
"sehr" means “very” and strengthens the adjective in "sehr gut", "sehr einfach", and "sehr schwierig". It comes directly before the adjective it intensifies. Use "sehr + adjective" to give a strong evaluation or description.
gut
"gut" means “good” in "Das ist sehr gut" and describes a positive evaluation. With "sehr", it expresses a strong positive judgment. Use "gut" after "ist" when saying that something is good.
nicht
"nicht" makes the evaluation negative in "Das ist nicht gut", meaning that something is not good. Here it comes before the adjective "gut". A reusable pattern is "nicht + adjective" for negating a description.
zu
"zu" means “too” in "zu groß" and "zu klein", showing that a size exceeds what is suitable. It comes directly before the adjective. Use "zu + adjective" when something has more or less of a quality than is appropriate.
groß
"groß" means “big” in "Das ist zu groß". Together with "zu", it says that something is bigger than suitable. Use "groß" after "ist" to describe the size of a thing.
klein
"klein" means “small” in "Das ist zu klein". Together with "zu", it says that something is smaller than suitable. Use "klein" after "ist" to describe the size of a thing.
Es
In "Es ist sehr einfach" and "Es ist sehr schwierig", "Es" means “it” and is the sentence subject. It refers to the thing or situation being described. A reusable pattern is "Es ist ..." when describing something without naming it again.
einfach
"einfach" means “easy” in "Es ist sehr einfach" and describes the level of difficulty. With "sehr", it expresses that something is especially easy. Use "Es ist einfach" to say that a task or situation is easy.
schwierig
"schwierig" means “difficult” in "Es ist sehr schwierig" and describes a high level of difficulty. With "sehr", it expresses that something is especially difficult. Use "Es ist schwierig" to say that a task or situation is difficult.
Grammar Points
zu + Adjektiv
Das ist zu groß.
DAHS ist tsoo GOHSThis is too big.
zu before an adjective means “too”; it shows that something exceeds a suitable size or degree.
nicht + Adjektiv
Das ist nicht schwierig.
DAHS ist nikht SHVEE-rikhIt is not difficult.
nicht usually comes before the adjective it negates, making the statement negative.
German Vocabulary
das
pron
dahs
this; that
einfach
adj
EYN-fakh
easy
es
pron
ess
it
groß
adj
gohs
big
gut
adj
goot
good
klein
adj
kline
small
nicht
adv
nikht
not
schwierig
adj
SHVEE-rikh
difficult
sehr
adv
zair
very
zu
adv
tsoo
too
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
This is very good.
Show Answer
Das ist sehr gut.That is not good.
Show Answer
Das ist nicht gut.This is too big.
Show Answer
Das ist zu groß.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
not
Show Answer
nichtsmall
Show Answer
kleinbig
Show Answer
großvery