Who can tell me why "she"," they", "you" are the same--sie in German language. i am learning German. They are very annoying and often confused.
2006-11-16 20:21:38 · 7 answers · asked by min z 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
"Sie"is only used in three cases:
as you:
when you address somebody in a formal way
Could you please help me ?
Koennten Sie mir bitte helfen ?
as they: when you mean a group of people:
They went home.
Sie gingen nach Hause.
as female article:
She (Anna) went home
Sie (Anna) ging nach Hause.
As a German living in the US I use a certain trick: when I want to say something I formulate it in my head. If it sounds wrong I reformulate with the words and expressions I feel comfortable.
I suggest you see it this way: in school you learn the "correct way" to speak, but a language is for communication and when you have to speak to a German the person be happy that you speak German and it will ignore any grammatical failures. The person want to understand the meaning. It is the easiest way to learn a language when you hear it, unconsciously your brain starts to copy the right grammar (I actually do not know why this is works but is does.)
2006-11-18 18:36:04 · answer #1 · answered by Robert K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the Sie of "formal You" comes from the Sie of "she". That is how it is in Italian and I imagine it is the same in German. This is how it works: In the past when people wanted to say "formal You" they said "Your excellency". So actually they were talking to "excellency" which is a feminine noun. This eventually got shortened to a pronoun, which would logically be "she". Now, as for the plural Sie in German, well you'll have to talk to a Germanist.
2006-11-17 04:46:15 · answer #2 · answered by domangelo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well it's just that way (I am german).
Sie= she
Sie= when you talk to someone you don't know very well the word Sie is used to be more "formal"...you'd use DU if you're talking to your family or close friends.
Sie= plural for they
I would keep memorizing it. No other way.
2006-11-17 04:44:54 · answer #3 · answered by modernlifeisrubbish 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is not so confusing, because a verb indicates singular or plural. Also adjectives show the gender. Difference between "they" (sie) and "formal you" in an address (Sie) is indicated by capital letter.
Another homonym exists too: "sieh" means "look".
As far as I understand German developed mainly from Althochdeutsch language. The personal pronouns you mention were different in the past:
3. fem. Singular.: Nominativ: siu; sī, si, Akkusativ: sia
3. mask. Pl.: Nominativ and Akkusativ: sie
3. neutr. Pl..: Nominativ and Akkusativ: siu
3. fem. Pl.: Nominativ and Akkusativ: sio.
Languages simplify, but people believe that they themselves develop, not regress. LOL.
2006-11-17 04:28:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
why do u have to put an s behind the verbs if your talking about he/she/it? i dont know, it's just a fact... i do not really associate "sie schreit" with "sie schreien", etc.... if you want more help you can contact me per mail (nicolai_spohrer@web.de)
2006-11-17 08:59:56 · answer #5 · answered by nics 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's just the way it is. that's what makes languages interesting.
similary, in English you could mean you singular or you plural.
2006-11-17 04:30:44 · answer #6 · answered by oilseal 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure, but it is confusing.
2006-11-17 04:27:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋