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### Overcoming obstacles with *trotzdem*

Use **trotzdem** (nevertheless, anyway) to talk about doing something despite a challenge or obstacle.

Unlike subordinate conjunctions, **trotzdem** is an adverb. When you put it at the beginning of a sentence, it takes up Position 1. This means the conjugated verb must immediately follow it in Position 2, pushing the subject to the third position.

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### Separable verbs with *trotzdem*

Because a sentence starting with **trotzdem** is just a standard main clause, separable verbs behave normally. The conjugated part of the verb takes Position 2, and the prefix detaches and jumps to the very end of the sentence.

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### Fighting through it

Here is one more example of pushing through tough conditions, using the verb **kämpfen** (to fight) and the adjective **mutig** (brave).

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Nevertheless (trotzdem)

adjective

adverb

auxiliary verb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Definite articles and gender (der, die, das)

Indefinite articles (ein, eine)

Regular verbs and statement word order (ich -e, er -t)

The second person (du -st, Sie -en)

Yes/No questions

The verb 'to have' (habe, hast, hat)

Plural pronouns and regular verbs (wir, ihr, sie)

Plural 'to be' and 'to have' (sind, haben)

Plural nouns and the plural article (die)

Sentence negation (nicht)

Noun negation (kein, keine)

Question words (wer, was, wo, wie)

Numbers 0 to 12 (null, eins, zwei)

The accusative case (den, die, das)

Indefinite accusative articles (einen, keinen)

Direct object pronouns (mich, dich, ihn)

There is / there are (es gibt)

Vowel changes: e to i/ie (er spricht, sie liest)

Vowel changes: a to ä (er fährt)

Weather and conditions (es regnet)

First- and second-person possessives in the nominative (mein, dein, Ihr)

First- and second-person possessives in the accusative (meinen, deinen, Ihren)

Third-person and plural possessives (sein, ihr, unser, euer)

Possession with names (Annas Auto)

Demonstrative pronouns (dieser, diese, dieses)

Expressing preference (gern, lieber)

Asking about direction and origin (woher, wohin)

Expressing ability (können)

Polite requests (möchten)

Expressing intention (wollen)

Modal verbs of obligation and permission (müssen, dürfen)

Separable prefix verbs

Adverbs of frequency (immer, oft, manchmal, nie)

The Dative case and definite articles (dem, der, den)

Dative indefinite and negative articles (einem, einer, keinem)

Dative personal pronouns (mir, dir, ihm, ihr...)

Dative verbs (helfen, danken, gefallen, schmecken)

Dative prepositions (aus, bei, mit, nach...)

Accusative prepositions (für, ohne, gegen)

Two-way prepositions for location (in, an, auf...)

Informal singular imperative (mach, komm)

Plural and formal imperative (macht, machen Sie)

Coordinating conjunctions (und, oder, aber, denn)

Simple past of sein and haben (war, hatte)

The perfect tense: regular verbs (gemacht, gespielt)

Past tense: irregular verbs (ge-...-en)

The perfect tense: mixed verbs (gebracht, gekannt)

The perfect tense with sein (ist gegangen)

The perfect tense: separable verbs (eingekauft)

The perfect tense: inseparable and -ieren verbs (besucht, studiert)

Informal singular commands (mach, lern)

Numbers 13 to 20 (dreizehn to zwanzig)

Counting by tens to 100 (dreißig, vierzig)

Telling time (Uhr, halb, Viertel, vor, nach)

Numbers 21 to 99 (einundzwanzig, zweiunddreißig)

Greetings and farewells

Thank you, sorry and good wishes

Everyday replies

Numbers 100 to 1,000,000 (hundert, tausend...)

Becoming and getting (werden)

The impersonal pronoun (man)

Indefinite pronouns (jemand, niemand...)

Time sequence prepositions (vor, nach, bei)

Time span prepositions (von... bis, seit, für)

Adverbs of sequence (zuerst, dann, danach)

Two-way prepositions for direction (in, auf, an...)

Directional adverbs (hin, her)

Placement verbs (setzen, stellen, legen)

Months of the year (Januar, Februar)

The four seasons (Frühling, Sommer)

Time prepositions and indefinite pronouns (an, in, um)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 19th (am ersten)

Ordinals 20th and beyond (-ste, -sten)

Placement vs. location verbs (stellen vs. stehen)

Accusative reflexive pronouns (mich, dich, sich)

Accusative reflexive verbs (sich freuen)

Dative reflexive pronouns (mir, dir, sich)

Dative reflexive verbs (sich etwas merken)

Ordinal numbers 11th to 19th (-te)

Temporal prepositions (an, in, um)

Double objects with nouns

Double objects with pronouns

The modal verb for advice (sollen)

Simple past of modal verbs (musste, wollte...)

Simple past of common irregulars (wurde, wusste, es gab)

Adverbial connectors of consequence (deshalb, darum...)

Subordinate clauses for statements (dass)

Question	Answer
nevertheless	trotzdem
to climb	klettern
The mountain is steep. Nevertheless, we climb.	Der Berg ist steil. Trotzdem klettern wir.
the ice	das Eis
to freeze	frieren
You sit on the ice. Nevertheless, you do not freeze.	Man sitzt auf dem Eis. Trotzdem friert man nicht.
the pain	der Schmerz
to give up (surrender, quit)	aufgeben
The pain is bad. Nevertheless, they never give up.	Der Schmerz ist schlimm. Trotzdem geben sie nie auf.
the heat	die Hitze
to sweat	schwitzen
The heat is terrible. Nevertheless, you do not sweat.	Die Hitze ist schrecklich. Trotzdem schwitzt man nicht.
to fight	kämpfen
brave	mutig
The team is weak. Nevertheless, it fights bravely.	Die Mannschaft ist schwach. Trotzdem kämpft sie mutig.
Are you climbing up the mountain? It would be very brave.	Kletterst du auf den Berg? Es wäre sehr mutig.
Are you thinking about the heat because you are freezing like this?	Denkst du an die Hitze, weil du so frierst?
I am sweating and the pain is bad. Therefore, I am giving up.	Ich schwitze und der Schmerz ist schlimm. Deshalb gebe ich auf.
Why are you not fighting for the project?	Warum kämpft ihr nicht für das Projekt?
I am lying on the bed and freezing.	Ich liege auf dem Bett und friere.
You are brave if you do not give up.	Du bist mutig, wenn du nicht aufgibst.
Are you looking forward to the heat? I am freezing!	Freust du dich auf die Hitze? Ich friere!
She is fighting against the pain.	Sie kämpft gegen den Schmerz.
The ice is dangerous. Nevertheless, we are not giving up.	Das Eis ist gefährlich. Trotzdem geben wir nicht auf.

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