I live now since 6 month in a german-speeking country. I have to think about every article I use because of the 4 different cases in the german language and the 3 different genders of the noun.
Will it ever become second nature?
2006-11-18 01:14:21 · 5 answers · asked by goblet 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Your great advantage is that you live in Germany, you can practice daily!
The three different genders will soon become a second nature to you. You will learn to "feel" the difference, instead of "knowing" the difference.
The 4 different cases are a bit harder and will take longer. Just make sure that you know all the cases-forms by heart (just like the table of 2) and the exceptions will eventually become a second nature too.
At this early stage, it's a lot more important that you learn many nouns and verbs so that you can make yourself understood. That will invite native Germans to have conversations with you. Stop using English and tell your German friends to correct your grammar while you're speaking to them.
Good luck
2006-11-18 01:57:09 · answer #1 · answered by Endie vB 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm at the point (after five years in Switzerland) where it's maybe third-nature...There are indeed some words that I know for sure, that I automatically think of with their articles I guess. What does NOT help is that my first language is English, so the concept of grammatical gender at all is weird for me and my second language is French, which has genders but not the same ones as German. (Even in French, I'm only about 90% accurate for genders, which means I know 80% of them and guess half the others correctly, and I started learning French 30 years ago.)
I find the rules a bit more straightforward in German--das Madchen aside of course!
2006-11-18 10:37:33 · answer #2 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been learning german now for 3 years, living in germany for 2, and it is becoming easier. It just takes time and a lot of practice. I think I will never be perfect.
2006-11-19 10:06:41 · answer #3 · answered by Stacy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With practice, yes, you will begin doing it naturally, without thinking about it. Just remember, when learning any new language (no matter what the language) you will make many mistakes. Don't sweat the small stuff, keep learning.
2006-11-18 09:21:25 · answer #4 · answered by rbwtexan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in time it will become... and also living in a German speaking country will help you as long as you stop speaking in English :D
2006-11-18 09:39:07 · answer #5 · answered by elis 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋