Lesson 4: Möbel, Adjektive und Preise
Furniture Vocabulary, Adjectives and Opposites, Large Numbers & Prices, and Pronoun Replacement
Every vocabulary word and dialog line in this curriculum supports high-definition interactive pronunciation. Please make sure to open this lesson inside Google Chrome browser to fully and properly experience the audio pronunciation system.
1. Furniture & Definite Articles (Die Möbel)
When visiting a furniture store (das Möbelhaus), you need to know item names along with their gender articles. German articles include: der (masculine), das (neutral), and die (feminine / plural).
| Article | German Term (Listen) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| der (masculine) |
der Tisch
|
the table |
|
der Stuhl
|
the chair | |
|
der Schrank
|
the closet / wardrobe | |
|
der Sessel
|
the armchair | |
| das (neutral) |
das Bett
|
the bed |
|
das Sofa
|
the sofa | |
|
das Bild
|
the picture / painting | |
| die (feminine) |
die Lampe
|
the lamp |
|
die Spüle
|
the kitchen sink |
2. Pronoun Replacement (er, es, sie)
To avoid repeating nouns in subsequent sentences, German utilizes personal pronouns matching the gender of the original noun article.
💡 Pronoun Replacement Rules:
- Nouns with article der are replaced by er (he).
- Nouns with article das are replaced by es (it).
- Nouns with article die are replaced by sie (she).
| First Clause (Noun) | Second Clause (Pronoun Replacement) |
|---|---|
| Der Sessel ist schön. (The armchair is nice.) | Oh ja, was kostet er denn? (Oh yes, how much does it cost?) |
| Wie viel kostet das Bild? (How much does the picture cost?) | Es kostet nur 50 Euro. (It costs only 50 Euros.) |
| Die Lampe ist richtig schön. (The lamp is really nice.) | Ja, sie ist wirklich schön. (Yes, it is truly nice.) |
3. Adjectives & Opposites (Adjektive und Gegenteile)
To express your impressions of products and items, you will need descriptive adjectives and their polar opposites (Gegenteile):
schwer hard / heavy
teuer expensive
schlecht bad
unbequem uncomfortable
4. Large Numbers & Prices (Preise)
To express item prices accurately, scale up your counting with hundreds (hundert), thousands (tausend), and millions (Million).
Reading Euro and Cent Prices:
To read a price like (€49.90), say: neunundvierzig Euro neunzig Cent.
For a price like (€0.99), say simply: neunundneunzig Cent.
5. Capitalization Writing Rules (Tipps zum Schreiben)
German follows strict capitalization rules (Großbuchstaben). Capitalize the initial letter in three core contexts:
- 1. Am Anfang des Satzes: At the beginning of every sentence.
- 2. Bei Nomen und Namen: For all nouns (furniture, items) and proper names.
- 3. Nach den Zeichen ?!.: Immediately following punctuation marks (period, question mark, exclamation mark).
💬 6. Store Dialogue (Im Möbelhaus)
Test your skills with a conversation between a customer (Kunde) and a salesperson (Verkäufer) inside a furniture showroom.
Customer & Salesperson (Kunde & Verkäufer)
Guten Tag! Was kostet das Sofa?
Das Sofa kostet 450 Euro.
Oh, das ist aber teuer! Und wie viel kostet der Sessel da?
Der Sessel ist ein Sonderangebot. Er kostet nur 99 Euro.
Ja, er ist wirklich sehr schön und günstig. Ich kaufe den Sessel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I know the correct article for a piece of furniture?
German furniture vocabulary has specific gender articles that must be memorized with each word: der Tisch (masculine), das Sofa (neutral), and die Lampe (feminine).
When do I use 'er' versus 'es' to replace nouns?
Use the pronoun er to replace nouns taking 'der', es for nouns taking 'das', and sie for nouns taking 'die'.
How are prices and large numbers read in German?
Compound numbers are read from right to left. When reading prices, state the euros first followed by cents (e.g., €49.90 is read as neunundvierzig Euro neunzig Cent).
What are the core rules for capitalization (Großbuchstaben) in German?
Capital letters are always used in three main contexts: at the beginning of a sentence, for all nouns and proper names, and immediately following punctuation marks (? ! .).
What is the difference between the adjectives 'teuer' and 'billig'?
Teuer means expensive, while billig means cheap. They are direct antonyms.
Is pronoun replacement mandatory in German conversation?
Yes, replacement pronouns are used to avoid repetitive naming of objects and make conversations sound natural and fluent.
How do you ask for the price of an item in a store?
You can ask either "Was kostet...?" for single items or "Wie viel kostet...?" for explicit price inquiries.
Is there a rule to classify furniture genders?
There is no universal rule, which is why it is strongly recommended to learn every new German noun directly paired with its definite article.
References & Educational Resources
Approved Textbooks & Curriculum Materials
This lesson has been structured and verified using 6 certified German learning references:
- Momente A1 (Kursbuch & Arbeitsbuch) - Hueber Verlag
- Schritte International Neu (A1.1) - Hueber Verlag
- Netzwerk neu A1.1 - Klett Sprachen
- Begegnungen A1+ - Schubert-Verlag
- Grammatik aktiv A1-B1 - Cornelsen Verlag
- Studio [21] A1 - Cornelsen Verlag