Breakdown of Bitte ruf mich möglichst bald an; es ist womöglich dringend.
sein
to be
es
it
mich
me
anrufen
to call
bitte
please
womöglich
possibly
möglichst bald
as soon as possible
dringend
urgent
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Questions & Answers about Bitte ruf mich möglichst bald an; es ist womöglich dringend.
Why is it “ruf” and not “rufst”?
It’s the singular imperative for du. The du-imperative drops the -st ending: du rufst → Ruf! With separable verbs, the prefix goes to the end: Ruf mich … an.
Can I say “Rufe” instead of “Ruf”?
Yes. Both Ruf mich an and Rufe mich an are correct. The -e ending is optional; without -e sounds more common and natural in everyday speech.
Why is “an” split off from “anrufen”?
Because anrufen is a separable verb. In main clauses and imperatives, the prefix goes to the end: Ruf mich an. In subordinate clauses it stays attached: …, dass du mich anrufst.
How would this look in a subordinate clause?
Example: Ich bitte dich, dass du mich möglichst bald anrufst, weil es womöglich dringend ist. Here you see anrufst at the end of its clause.
Why is it “mich” and not “mir”?
Because anrufen takes a direct object in the accusative: jemanden anrufen. So it’s mich (accusative), not mir (dative). You can say bei mir anrufen (call at my number), but that’s a different construction.
Is “Ruf mir an” ever correct?
No. Say Ruf mich an or Ruf bei mir an. Likewise, “call me back” is Ruf mich zurück, not “Ruf mir zurück.”
What’s the difference between “anrufen” and “telefonieren”?
- anrufen + Akk. (person): direct object. Example: Ruf mich an.
- telefonieren (mit + Dat.): no direct object. Example: Ich telefoniere mit dir.
Where can I put “bitte,” and do I need a comma?
Common placements:
- Bitte ruf mich … an.
- Ruf mich bitte … an.
- Ruf mich … an, bitte. With a comma: Bitte, ruf mich … an treats Bitte as an interjection. All are acceptable; nuance is just style/politeness.
What does “möglichst bald” mean, and how is it different from “so bald wie möglich” or “baldmöglichst”?
All mean “as soon as possible.”
- möglichst bald: very common, neutral.
- so bald wie möglich: explicit, equally common.
- baldmöglichst: a bit bureaucratic/formal; common in business writing.
Does “bald” mean “early”? What about “früh”?
bald = “soon” (relative to now). früh = “early” (time of day or early stage). So möglichst bald = as soon as possible; möglichst früh = as early as possible (e.g., tomorrow morning).
Is it stylistically odd to have both “möglichst” and “womöglich” in one sentence?
It’s fine, though you’re repeating the “möglich-” root. Some might vary for style: … so bald wie möglich; es ist vielleicht dringend.
What’s the nuance of “womöglich” vs. “vielleicht,” “möglicherweise,” “eventuell,” and “wohl”?
- vielleicht: neutral “maybe.”
- womöglich: “possibly/quite possibly,” often with a hint of worry/suspicion.
- möglicherweise: more formal “possibly.”
- eventuell: “possibly” (not “eventually”!).
- wohl: “probably/likely,” stronger than “maybe.”
Could I say “Es könnte dringend sein” instead of “Es ist womöglich dringend”?
Yes. Es könnte dringend sein is a clear, neutral way to express possibility. Es ist womöglich dringend has a slightly more conjectural or apprehensive tone.
Is the semicolon natural here? Could I use something else?
A semicolon is acceptable in German but less common. You could use:
- A period: … an. Es ist …
- A comma with a coordinating conjunction: …, denn es ist …
- A subordinating clause: …, weil es womöglich dringend ist.
Why is “mich” placed before the adverbial “möglichst bald”?
Pronouns typically come early in the middle field. Natural order is: verb — pronoun object — adverbs — separable prefix. Hence: Ruf mich möglichst bald an.
How do I make this formal or plural?
- Informal singular (du): Ruf (Rufe) mich an.
- Informal plural (ihr): Ruft mich an.
- Formal (Sie): Rufen Sie mich an.
How do I negate it?
Place nicht before the separable prefix: Ruf mich nicht an. With a reason: Ruf mich nicht an; ich bin im Meeting.
What are the past forms of “anrufen”?
- Simple past: Ich rief dich an.
- Present perfect: Ich habe dich angerufen. Both are correct; the perfect is more common in conversation.
Is “so schnell wie möglich” the same as “so bald wie möglich”?
Not exactly. so bald wie möglich = as soon as possible (time-of-occurrence). so schnell wie möglich = as quickly/fast as possible (speed of the action). For calling, both are often used, but “bald” better targets “soon.”