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wnylib

(26,164 posts)
33. . Not unless you get all the grammar right.
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 10:36 PM
Mar 7

That means getting the noun declensions, verb conjugations, gender endings, and noun/adjective agreement correct.

After 2 years of Latin, I took 2 years of German. Initially I thought it would be good to learn a modern language that I could speak, but ach mein Gott! German was worse grammatically. It also has 3 genders, noun declensions, verb conjugations, gender endings that change according to the grammatical role in the sentence, plus noun/adjective agreement in gender and number.

But, at least Latin noun endings indicate the gender for nearly all nouns. Not so in German. In German you have to memorize the gender of each noun with no clues from the noun ending.

Both of my mother's grandparents brought their families to the US from Germany. I swear they left in order to escape the language.

So in college, I studied Spanish.



Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Ah, but Pete's tattoos are polyglottal. tanyev Mar 7 #1
Remember this? A true American President: "Ich bin ein Berliner" Joinfortmill Mar 7 #2
And Jackie spoke Spanish in Latin America wnylib Mar 7 #19
His exact quote Roy Rolling Mar 7 #23
He has not mastered English yet. wnylib Mar 7 #24
"Sic transit Gloria." Marcuse Mar 7 #30
Sic Semper Tyrannis Capt. America Mar 8 #42
I eek-spay Igpay Atinlay.... COL Mustard Mar 7 #32
. Not unless you get all the grammar right. wnylib Mar 7 #33
Actually, German does have some clues about noun endings and gender RazorbackExpat Mar 8 #41
I did not pick up on that in 2 years of high school German. wnylib Mar 8 #46
If a masculine noun comes with "die", it is simply pliural, nominative RazorbackExpat Mar 8 #47
Is there a pattern for why die Hunde is not die Hunden wnylib Mar 8 #48
Fraulein isn't feminine? Evolve Dammit Mar 8 #54
No. it's considered neuter because it ends in -lein RazorbackExpat Mar 11 #56
Thanks! Interesting Evolve Dammit Mar 11 #57
Melania says leave the money on the table Henry203 Mar 7 #37
Nonsense popsdenver Mar 7 #38
Damn. There was so much in that speech that came to fruition. Amazing speaker. C Moon Mar 8 #45
What about Brazil? Does Lil Marco speak Portuguese too? FakeNoose Mar 7 #3
Lets have another dog and pony show at American expense...........called Mar A Lago........... turbinetree Mar 7 #4
Not all 'Americas' are equal ... at least not in the sight of the BLOATUS. nt eppur_se_muova Mar 7 #5
trumpie speaks fluently in all languages - as a spoiled brat having temper tantrums. Parents worldwide recognizes them. erronis Mar 7 #6
Hegseth said, "I only speak American" at a summit with Latin American leaders??? 70sEraVet Mar 7 #7
re: "I was okay with languages" -- from mister word salad himself. (n/t) thesquanderer Mar 7 #8
"...telling them he was too busy to learn their language." OldBaldy1701E Mar 7 #9
He's too busy with: hoosierspud Mar 7 #10
Remember when he said he would quit golf in order to....... OGBuzz Mar 7 #17
He can barely speak his native language, no way he is capable of learning a LoisB Mar 7 #11
I don't think he has the capacity to learn a damn thing about anything. (nt) William Seger Mar 7 #14
I wholeheartedly agree. LoisB Mar 7 #28
I hate to be repetitive . . . AverageOldGuy Mar 7 #12
A disgrace to humanity. wnylib Mar 7 #35
My alliterative string of adjectives for this boor - 3catwoman3 Mar 7 #13
Insane, incompetent, incontinent ... LSparkle Mar 8 #53
they all trip over each other to get a taste of Trump's ass. OGBuzz Mar 7 #15
Traitor is Too Stupid to Learn Anything! Cha Mar 7 #16
absolutely. and he couldn't learn another language if his life depended on it nt orleans Mar 8 #40
Jesus spoke English so should everyone. Wait for it. twodogsbarking Mar 7 #18
Melania can translate.... right? IcyPeas Mar 7 #20
Yep Traildogbob Mar 7 #31
I wish I knew Spanish. twodogsbarking Mar 7 #21
He is sounding more insane as the days goes by! kimbutgar Mar 7 #22
Question DrMJG10 Mar 7 #25
It's so lame of the media MorbidButterflyTat Mar 7 #26
No cajones. Bet he can translate that Walleye Mar 7 #27
That's DJT - making friends and influencing people wherever he goes. MIButterfly Mar 7 #29
The Fascist Felon can barely speak English. Dulcinea Mar 7 #34
Another day, another incredible embarrassment and insult to the world by this evil regime LymphocyteLover Mar 7 #36
Dump doesn't even know English sakabatou Mar 8 #39
Trump needs an interpreter for his English. Emrys Mar 8 #43
Being ignorant, he completely missed the joke they played on him. usonian Mar 8 #44
Peachy cool arrows. nt Xipe Totec Mar 8 #49
He didn't take the time to learn English either. Ruby the Liberal Mar 8 #50
Dumbass Kegsbreath - "I only speak American." NoMoreRepugs Mar 8 #51
He talks like a complete fool. BradBo Mar 8 #52
"your damn language." Sounds like Bad Bunny redux. What a dickhead. n/t Evolve Dammit Mar 8 #55
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