Breakdown of Manche Wünsche bleiben privat; darüber rede ich nicht.
ich
I
nicht
not
bleiben
to remain
darüber
about that
der Wunsch
the wish
reden
to talk
manche
some
privat
private
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Questions & Answers about Manche Wünsche bleiben privat; darüber rede ich nicht.
What does manche mean, and how is it different from einige?
Both mean some. Manche often suggests “quite a few” or a noticeable subset and can sound a bit more general or literary; einige is the neutral “several/a few.” In many contexts they are interchangeable.
Why is Wünsche capitalized and why does it have an umlaut?
All German nouns are capitalized. The singular is der Wunsch; the plural is die Wünsche, formed with an umlaut plus -e.
What case and number is manche Wünsche?
Nominative plural. It’s the subject of the clause, so manche takes the nominative plural ending -e.
Why is it privat and not private here?
After linking verbs like bleiben, adjectives are used predicatively without endings: bleiben privat. You’d use an ending only attributively: private Wünsche.
What exactly does bleiben do here compared to sein?
Bleiben is a copular verb meaning “to remain,” implying continuity: bleiben privat = remain private. Sein just states a current state: sind privat = are private (no implication about change).
Why is there a semicolon? Could I use a period or a comma with a conjunction?
Yes. A semicolon separates two related main clauses. You could also write: Manche Wünsche bleiben privat. Darüber rede ich nicht. Or: Manche Wünsche bleiben privat, aber darüber rede ich nicht.
What does darüber mean and how is it formed?
It means “about that/it” and is a pronominal adverb: da- + über. It replaces über + das. Question–answer pair: Worüber redest du? – Ich rede darüber.
Why is the word order darüber rede ich nicht?
German main clauses are verb-second (V2). Darüber occupies first position, pushing the finite verb rede into second position; the subject ich follows.
Where should nicht go? Is Ich rede nicht darüber also correct?
Yes. Neutral: Ich rede nicht darüber. Topic emphasis: Darüber rede ich nicht. Slight focus on the prepositional phrase: Ich rede darüber nicht. All are grammatical; word order shifts the emphasis.
Can I use sprechen or sagen instead of reden?
Yes for sprechen: Darüber spreche ich nicht (a bit more formal). Sagen doesn’t take über; say: Ich sage nichts dazu or Ich sage dazu nichts. With erzählen, use von/davon: Darüber erzähle ich nicht is less idiomatic than Davon erzähle ich nicht.
What’s the difference between darüber and drüber?
Drüber is a colloquial contraction. Darüber rede ich nicht is neutral/standard; Drüber red’ ich nicht sounds casual.
Is privat an adjective or an adverb here?
A predicative adjective (subject complement) after bleiben. It describes the subject’s state, not the manner of the action, so it’s not an adverb.
How would I say “Many a wish remains private”?
Use the singular: Mancher Wunsch bleibt privat or Manch ein Wunsch bleibt privat. This sounds somewhat literary.
How do I say “Some of the wishes remain private”?
Manche der Wünsche bleiben privat or Einige der Wünsche bleiben privat. The der signals “of the.”
Does manch- change with case in the plural?
Yes. Plural: nominative/accusative manche, dative manchen, genitive mancher (e.g., mit manchen Wünschen, wegen mancher Wünsche).
Why is the verb form rede and not redet?
Rede is 1st person singular present of reden: ich rede. Redet is 3rd person singular or 2nd person plural: er redet, ihr redet. The V2 position doesn’t change the form: Darüber rede ich…
Can I use darüber for people, or should I say über ihn/sie?
Use über ihn/sie/sie (Plural) for people. Darüber typically refers to things, ideas, or situations: Ich rede nicht über ihn, but Ich rede nicht darüber (about that topic).