kommentieren

§ What Does 'Kommentieren' Mean?

Definition

To comment. It means to express an opinion or reaction about something, often in speech or writing.

The German verb 'kommentieren' is straightforward. It means 'to comment' in English. You use it when you want to talk about giving an opinion, an observation, or a reaction to something. Think of it like leaving a comment on a social media post, giving a critique of a movie, or discussing a news article. It's a useful word for expressing your thoughts about something external to yourself.

This verb is a regular verb, which makes its conjugations relatively easy to learn. It's also transitive, meaning it usually takes a direct object. You 'comment on something' (etwas kommentieren). Let's look at some examples of how you'd use it in different situations.

§ When Do People Use It?

You'll hear and use 'kommentieren' in many everyday contexts. Here are a few common scenarios:

• Online Interactions: Just like in English, you 'kommentieren' photos, videos, or articles on social media platforms.
• News and Media: Journalists 'kommentieren' current events, and people 'kommentieren' news reports.
• Discussions: In a conversation or debate, you might 'kommentieren' someone else's statement or an idea.
• Reviews and Feedback: When giving feedback on a project or writing a review for a product, you 'kommentieren' it.

Let's look at some practical examples to see how 'kommentieren' fits into sentences.

Translation hint: I would like to comment on this picture.

Translation hint: The politician refused to comment on the rumors.

Translation hint: She often comments on posts on social media.

Translation hint: Could you please comment on your suggestion?

Using 'kommentieren' correctly will make your German sound much more natural when you're talking about giving opinions or feedback. Practice these sentences and try to form your own to get comfortable with it.

§ Direct Object vs. Prepositional Phrase

One common mistake English speakers make is trying to use 'kommentieren' with a direct object in the same way they might use 'to comment on' in English. In German, 'kommentieren' usually takes a direct object, meaning you comment something, not on something. However, if you want to specify what you are commenting on, you often use a prepositional phrase.

DEFINITION

When 'kommentieren' has a direct object, it means to provide commentary or explanation on a specific thing.

Here, 'die Nachrichten' is the direct object. You are commenting *the news* itself. This is correct.

If you want to say you are commenting on a topic or about something, you'll need a prepositional phrase, often with 'zu' or 'über'.

• Kommentieren zu (+ Dativ): This is used when you are giving your opinion or making remarks related to a topic. It implies a response or a statement in reference to something.

  Ich möchte mich nicht zu diesem Vorfall kommentieren. (I don't want to comment on this incident.)

  Here, 'zu diesem Vorfall' (on this incident) uses the preposition 'zu' because you're commenting in relation to the incident.

• Kommentieren über (+ Akkusativ): Less common than 'zu' in this context, but 'über' can be used to mean 'about' or 'concerning' when commenting on a broader subject.

  Er kommentierte über die aktuelle politische Lage. (He commented about the current political situation.)

§ Not Using 'sich äußern' for personal statements

While 'kommentieren' is about providing commentary or explanations, it's not always the best choice for expressing a personal opinion or making a statement in a more general sense. For that, 'sich äußern' (to express oneself, to make a statement) is often more appropriate.

DEFINITION

'Sich äußern' refers to expressing one's thoughts, feelings, or opinions.

In this case, using 'kommentieren' would also be acceptable, but 'sich äußern' emphasizes the act of making a statement or giving an opinion more broadly.

§ Overusing 'kommentieren' for informal remarks

'Kommentieren' has a slightly formal or professional feel to it. It implies a considered, often public, observation or analysis. For quick, informal remarks or casual comments, other verbs might be more suitable.

• Sagen / Meinen: For simply stating something or giving an opinion.

  Er sagte etwas Lustiges. (He said something funny.)

  Using 'Er kommentierte etwas Lustiges' here would sound a bit stiff for a casual remark.

• Bemerkungen machen: To make remarks.

  Sie machte ein paar Bemerkungen zum Wetter. (She made a few remarks about the weather.)

  Again, 'kommentieren' would be too formal for such a simple situation.