Breakdown of Ich rufe notfalls den Techniker an.
ich
I
anrufen
to call
den
the; (masculine, accusative)
der Techniker
the technician
notfalls
if necessary
Questions & Answers about Ich rufe notfalls den Techniker an.
Why does the little word an go to the end?
Because anrufen is a separable verb. In a main clause, the finite verb goes to position 2 (rufe) and the separable prefix (an) moves to the end: Ich rufe … an. In subordinate clauses the verb is not split: …, weil ich notfalls den Techniker anrufe.
How do I say this in the perfect tense or in a subordinate clause?
- Perfect: Ich habe den Techniker (notfalls) angerufen. (The participle is angerufen, not “angeruft”.)
- Subordinate: …, dass ich notfalls den Techniker anrufe. or …, weil ich notfalls den Techniker anrufe.
Why is it den Techniker and not der/dem Techniker?
Den is accusative masculine singular. (An)rufen takes a direct object in the accusative: Wen rufst du an? — Den Techniker.
- Nominative: der Techniker (subject)
- Accusative: den Techniker (direct object)
- Dative: dem Techniker (indirect object)
Can I say einen Techniker instead of den Techniker?
Yes. Den Techniker refers to a specific, known technician (the one we usually call). Einen Techniker means “a technician” (unspecified): Ich rufe notfalls einen Techniker an.
Can I drop an and just say Ich rufe den Techniker?
No, not if you mean “call on the phone.” Anrufen = call by phone. Rufen alone means “call/shout (to)” or “summon,” not a phone call. So keep the separable prefix: Ich rufe den Techniker an.
How do I say “call a company/office,” not a person?
Use bei + Dativ with anrufen for places/institutions:
- Ich rufe beim Kundendienst an.
- Ich rufe bei der Firma an.
Calling a person remains accusative: Ich rufe den Techniker an.
What’s the difference between anrufen and telefonieren?
- Jemanden anrufen (+ Akk.): to place a call to someone.
- Mit jemandem telefonieren (+ Dat.): to be on the phone with someone.
Wrong: “Ich telefoniere den Techniker.” Correct: Ich telefoniere mit dem Techniker.
What exactly does notfalls mean? How strong is it?
Notfalls means “if necessary / if need be / as a last resort.” It’s flexible in seriousness. Comparisons:
- zur Not = “if absolutely necessary, in a pinch” (often stronger, informal).
- im Notfall = “in case of emergency” (more literal emergency).
- falls nötig / wenn nötig = neutral “if necessary.”
- gegebenenfalls (ggf.) = formal “if applicable/if necessary.”
Also note: notfalls is one word.
Where can I place notfalls in the sentence?
Common options (all correct, slightly different emphasis):
- Notfalls rufe ich den Techniker an. (fronted for emphasis)
- Ich rufe notfalls den Techniker an. (very natural)
- Ich rufe den Techniker notfalls an. (possible; can feel like an afterthought)
Avoid: “Ich rufe an den Techniker …” — the an belongs to the verb, not the noun.
How do I ask “Whom will you call (if necessary)”?
Use accusative wen: Wen rufst du notfalls an?
Subject questions use wer: Wer ruft notfalls den Techniker an?
Where do pronouns go? Is Ich rufe notfalls ihn an okay?
Pronouns typically come early in the middle field. Prefer: Ich rufe ihn notfalls an. With both a pronoun and a noun object, the pronoun usually precedes the noun: Ich rufe ihn notfalls den Techniker an is wrong; you’d say either replace the noun or keep just the noun.
How do I negate this? And how do I say “only if necessary”?
Basic negation: Ich rufe den Techniker nicht an.
“Only if necessary”: Ich rufe den Techniker nur an, wenn es nötig ist.
“Unless necessary”: Ich rufe den Techniker nicht an, außer wenn es nötig ist.
How do I make an imperative?
- Informal singular: Ruf notfalls den Techniker an!
- Informal plural: Ruft notfalls den Techniker an!
- Formal: Rufen Sie notfalls den Techniker an!
Is present tense okay for future meaning?
Yes. German often uses the present for near-future plans: Ich rufe notfalls den Techniker an. If you want, you can use future: Ich werde notfalls den Techniker anrufen, but it’s not required.
Any pronunciation tips for the sentence?
- anrufen: stress on the prefix: AN‑rufen; the r is uvular for most speakers; u is long: [ʁuː].
- Techniker: stress on the first syllable: TECH‑ni‑ker; ch is the “ich‑sound” [ç].
- notfalls: long o: [noːt‑].
- rufe: long u: [ʁuː‑fə].
What about gendered forms for Techniker?
For a woman, use die Technikerin: Ich rufe notfalls die Technikerin an.
Gender‑inclusive writing options include Technikerin oder Techniker, Techniker:innen (written), or spoken Technikerinnen und Techniker.
What’s the plural of Techniker?
Plural is identical in form: die Techniker. Accusative plural also uses die: Ich rufe notfalls die Techniker an. For female plural: die Technikerinnen.
Does capitalization look right?
Yes. Nouns are capitalized: Techniker. notfalls is an adverb (lowercase). The sentence starts with Ich capitalized. No comma is needed.
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“How do German cases work?”
German has four grammatical cases: nominative (subject), accusative (direct object), dative (indirect object), and genitive (possession). The case determines the form of articles and adjectives. For example, "the dog" is "der Hund" as a subject but "den Hund" as a direct object.
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