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In professional settings and news broadcasts, German often uses formal phrasing instead of simple verbs. Instead of saying "We inform the boss" (*Wir informieren den Chef*), you might say "We put the boss in knowledge."

These fixed phrases are **Nomen-Verb-Verbindungen** (noun-verb combinations). A noun carries the core meaning, and a structural verb acts as a helper. Conjugate the helper verb normally; the noun (often with a preposition) usually sits near the end of the clause.

Let's look at some essential combinations for formal actions and decisions. Notice how verbs like *setzen*, *fassen*, or *ergreifen* don't always translate literally, but lock together with a noun to form a set phrase.

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### State vs. Action

Many combinations come in pairs: one verb describes an ongoing *state*, while another describes the *action* causing it.

For example, if you are experiencing pressure, you use **stehen** (to stand). If you are applying pressure to someone else, you use **setzen** (to set).

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Similarly, if a resource is available for you to use, it "stands at your disposal" (**zur Verfügung stehen**). If you are providing that resource to someone else, you "put it at their disposal" (**zur Verfügung stellen**).

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### Official Processes and Feedback

Contracts, guidelines, and formal feedback use highly specific pairings. For instance, laws "step into force" (**in Kraft treten**) when they become valid, and you don't just "criticize" a decision—you "practice criticism" (**Kritik üben**).

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Noun-verb combinations (Nomen-Verb-Verbindungen)

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
the knowledge (awareness, familiarity)	die Kenntnis
We must inform the boss.	Wir müssen den Chef in Kenntnis setzen.
Did he inform you about it?	Hat er Sie darüber in Kenntnis gesetzt?
the resolution	der Beschluss
to grasp	fassen
The government must make a resolution.	Die Regierung muss einen Beschluss fassen.
We made a resolution yesterday.	Wir haben gestern einen Beschluss gefasst.
to seize	ergreifen
The company must take measures.	Die Firma muss Maßnahmen ergreifen.
Before the problem becomes too big, we take measures.	Bevor das Problem zu groß wird, ergreifen wir Maßnahmen.
the pressure	der Druck
The employees are under pressure.	Die Mitarbeiter stehen unter Druck.
Please do not put me under pressure!	Bitte setzen Sie mich nicht unter Druck!
the disposal	die Verfügung
to be available	zur Verfügung stehen
The report is at your disposal.	Der Bericht steht Ihnen zur Verfügung.
We are providing the money.	Wir stellen das Geld zur Verfügung.
the force	die Kraft
The new contract comes into effect tomorrow.	Der neue Vertrag tritt morgen in Kraft.
When did the law come into effect?	Wann ist das Gesetz in Kraft getreten?
to grant	erteilen
We gave the order to the agency.	Wir haben der Agentur den Auftrag erteilt.
The order was given yesterday.	Der Auftrag ist gestern erteilt worden.
the application (usage, software)	die Anwendung
This method is applied often.	Diese Methode kommt oft zur Anwendung.
The rule was applied here.	Die Regel ist hier zur Anwendung gekommen.
the criticism	die Kritik
Society criticizes the decision.	Die Gesellschaft übt Kritik an der Entscheidung.
He is not allowed to criticize.	Er darf keine Kritik üben.
Before you criticize, you must read the document.	Bevor Sie Kritik üben, müssen Sie das Dokument lesen.
The employee was informed.	Der Mitarbeiter ist in Kenntnis gesetzt worden.
to make a decision	eine Entscheidung treffen
We have to make a decision today.	Wir müssen heute eine Entscheidung treffen.
She made the decision alone.	Sie hat die Entscheidung allein getroffen.
The car is always available to you.	Das Auto steht dir immer zur Verfügung.
I am happy to be available for questions.	Für Fragen stehe ich gern zur Verfügung.
to have influence	Einfluss haben
The weather has a great influence on the harvest.	Das Wetter hat großen Einfluss auf die Ernte.
His parents hardly have any influence on him any more.	Seine Eltern haben kaum noch Einfluss auf ihn.
to bear the responsibility	die Verantwortung tragen
The boss bears the responsibility for the mistake.	Der Chef trägt die Verantwortung für den Fehler.
Who actually bears the responsibility here?	Wer trägt hier eigentlich die Verantwortung?
to put on pressure	Druck machen
The boss puts too much pressure on his staff.	Der Chef macht seinen Mitarbeitern zu viel Druck.
Please do not pressure me!	Mach mir bitte keinen Druck!

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