B2 Case System 11 min read Easy

Feeling Dative: Fixed Expressions and Idioms (Mir ist...)

In fixed dative expressions, you aren't the actor, but the recipient of a state, feeling, or realization.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the Dative case to express physical or mental states where the person is the 'receiver' of the feeling, not the subject.

  • The person feeling the state is in the Dative case: 'Mir ist kalt.'
  • The verb remains in the 3rd person singular: 'Mir ist heiß.'
  • The adjective or noun describes the state: 'Mir ist langweilig.'
Dative Pronoun (Mir) + Verb (ist) + Adjective/Noun (kalt)

Overview

German grammar treats the experience of sensations, emotions, and certain cognitive processes distinctly from active states or actions. Instead of a nominative subject actively "being" or "doing," the individual experiencing the state is often placed in the dative case. This reflects a core linguistic perspective: the state or feeling happens to the person, rather than originating from them.

Thus, the experiencer is the indirect object of the sensation.

This concept is crucial for B2 learners as it deviates from direct translations from languages like English. Saying Ich bin kalt in German literally implies a permanent characteristic, such as being a cold-hearted person. To express the temporary sensation of feeling cold, German uses the dative: Mir ist kalt.

Mastering these fixed dative expressions is essential for fluency and authentic communication, as they are prevalent in daily discourse for physical states, emotional moods, and sudden realizations.

How This Grammar Works

The fundamental principle of "Feeling Dative" is rooted in the German conceptualization of agency. While a typical German sentence places the agent (performer of action) in the nominative case, these dative constructions often employ an impersonal subject (like es, "it") or no explicit subject. The person experiencing the sensation then becomes the indirect object, hence appearing in the dative case.
This grammatical choice emphasizes that the state is external, acting upon the individual, rather than being an intrinsic quality.
For example, in Mir ist kalt, kalt is an adjective describing a state. Mir (to me) is the dative pronoun, indicating I am the recipient of this coldness. The implicit subject causing this state is often es or the general situation.
Similarly, with verbs like gefallen (to please), the item that pleases is the nominative subject, and the person who is pleased is the dative object. In Die Musik gefällt mir, Die Musik (die music) is the subject "pleasing," and mir (to me) is the indirect object experiencing pleasure. Ich gefalle die Musik would incorrectly imply you are pleasing the music.
This structure highlights that the feeling is directed to you, not from you, offering deeper insight into German thought processes.
Here are the dative forms of personal pronouns, essential for these constructions:
| Nominative | Dative | English |
| :--------- | :--------- | :---------- |
| ich | mir | to me |
| du | dir | to you (sg. informal) |
| er | ihm | to him |
| sie | ihr | to her |
| es | ihm | to it |
| wir | uns | to us |
| ihr | euch | to you (pl. informal) |
| sie | ihnen | to them |
| Sie | Ihnen | to you (sg./pl. formal) |

Formation Pattern

1
Fixed dative expressions primarily follow two structural patterns, typically involving sein (to be) or other dative-requiring verbs. The constant is the experiencer in the dative case.
2
Pattern 1: Impersonal States with sein
3
Common for physical and emotional states, this pattern uses a dative pronoun or noun phrase, followed by a form of sein (usually ist or war), and an adjective or adverb describing the state. The implicit subject es can be omitted informally.
4
Formula: [Dative Pronoun/Noun] + sein (conjugated) + [Adjective/Adverb]
5
Examples:
6
Mir ist warm. (I am warm.)
7
Dir ist langweilig. (You are bored.)
8
Ihm war schlecht. (He felt sick.)
9
The verb sein always conjugates for es (singular), even with plural dative objects: Uns ist kalt. (We are cold.)
10
Pattern 2: Dative-only Verbs or Verbs with Dative Objects
11
Some verbs inherently demand a dative object, indicating the person affected by the verb's action. The nominative subject performs the action, and the dative object is the recipient.
12
Formula: [Nominative Subject] + [Verb (conjugated)] + [Dative Pronoun/Noun]
13
Examples:
14
Die Pizza schmeckt mir gut. (The pizza tastes good to me.)
15
Das Buch gehört ihr. (The book belongs to her.)
16
Der Plan gefällt uns nicht. (We don't like the plan.)
17
A sub-category uses es as a formal subject, particularly for apologies or realizations.
18
Formula: Es + [Verb (conjugated)] + [Dative Pronoun/Noun] + [Adjective/Noun]
19
Example: Es tut mir leid. (I am sorry.)
20
Es fällt mir schwer, das zu glauben. (I find it hard to believe that.)
21
The verb gehen is also common for well-being:
22
Formula: Wie geht es + [Dative Pronoun/Noun]? or Es geht + [Dative Pronoun/Noun] + [Adverb/Adjective]
23
Example: Wie geht es Ihnen? (How are you?) – Es geht mir gut, danke. (I am well, thank you.)
24
These patterns are vital for correct dative application across contexts.

When To Use It

Fixed dative expressions are applied in diverse situations where an individual experiences a state, feeling, or cognitive event.
  • Physical Sensations and Bodily States: This is the primary use. Describing bodily feelings almost universally uses the dative with sein.
  • Mir ist heiß. (I am hot.)
  • Ist dir schwindelig? (Are you dizzy?)
  • Ihm ist übel. (He feels nauseous.)
This construction emphasizes the external nature of the feeling acting upon you.
  • Emotional States and Moods: Many emotional states are expressed impersonally with the dative. While Ich bin traurig is common, adjectives like peinlich (embarrassing) or unangenehm (unpleasant) often require the dative.
  • Das ist mir peinlich. (That is embarrassing for me.)
  • Mir ist zum Weinen zumute. (I feel like crying.)
  • Cognitive Processes and Realizations: Verbs like einfallen (to occur to), auffallen (to notice), klar sein (to be clear) describe thoughts or ideas that "fall into" one's mind, making the experiencer a dative object.
  • Mir fällt gerade ein, dass ich den Ofen angelassen habe! (It just occurred to me that I left the oven on!)
  • Es ist mir aufgefallen, dass du neue Schuhe hast. (It struck me that you have new shoes.)
  • Personal Opinion, Indifference, and Importance: Expressing what is important, indifferent, or agreeable to you employs the dative.
  • Das ist mir wichtig. (That is important to me.)
  • Ob wir heute Abend ausgehen oder nicht, ist mir egal. (Whether we go out tonight or not, I don't care.)
  • Verbs Inherently Requiring Dative Objects: A significant group of verbs always take a dative object, indicating the recipient or beneficiary.
  • gehören (to belong to): Es gehört mir. (It belongs to me.)
  • schmecken (to taste - to someone): Das Essen schmeckt den Kindern. (The food tastes good to the children.)
  • gefallen (to please/like): Die Geschichte gefällt mir. (I like the story.)
  • helfen (to help): Ich helfe dir gerne. (I gladly help you.)
  • glauben (to believe - a person): Ich glaube dir. (I believe you.) Contrast with Ich glaube das (I believe that - a fact, accusative).
  • fehlen (to be missing/miss someone): Du fehlst mir sehr. (I miss you a lot.)

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently err with German dative expressions, often due to direct translation. Understanding these common pitfalls is key to mastery.
  • Ich bin kalt / Ich habe kalt vs. Mir ist kalt:
  • Error: Directly translating "I am cold" as Ich bin kalt or trying Ich habe kalt.
  • Why wrong: Ich bin kalt implies a character trait (a cold person) or a deceased state. Ich habe kalt is ungrammatical. German uses dative for temporary physical sensations.
  • Correct usage: Always Mir ist kalt for feeling cold. Applies to heiß (hot), müde (tired), langweilig (bored), übel (nauseous).
  • Example: For a chilly room, Mir ist kalt. To describe a villain, Er ist ein kalter Mensch.
  • Confusing glauben (Accusative vs. Dative):
  • Error: Using dative with a fact or accusative with a person for glauben.
  • Why wrong: German distinguishes between believing a statement/fact (accusative) and believing/trusting a person (dative).
  • Correct usage: Ich glaube das nicht. (I don't believe that [fact] - das is accusative.) Ich glaube dir. (I believe you [person] - dir is dative.)
  • Incorrect schmecken constructions:
  • Error: Saying Ich schmecke die Pizza to mean "I like the taste of the pizza."
  • Why wrong: Ich schmecke die Pizza means you are actively tasting the pizza (the physical act). To express that the pizza tastes good to you, the pizza is the subject, and you are the dative object.
  • Correct usage: Die Pizza schmeckt mir gut. (The pizza tastes good to me.)
  • Forgetting the Dative -n for plural nouns:
  • Error: Omitting the extra -n on plural dative nouns not ending in -n or -s.
  • Why wrong: This is a consistent rule for dative plurals after articles/determiners.
  • Correct usage: Ich helfe den Kindern. (die(pl) children -> den Kindern) Sie gibt den Freunden ein Geschenk. (die(pl) friends -> den Freunden)

Real Conversations

Fixed dative expressions are integral to natural, efficient German communication in everyday scenarios.

Texting/Instant Messaging:

- Scenario: Friend asks how you're feeling after a long day.

- Friend: Na, wie geht's dir nach der Arbeit?

- You: Puh, mir ist total müde und irgendwie ist mir auch langweilig. (Phew, I'm totally tired and somehow bored too.)

- Note: Mir ist müde and Mir ist langweilig are succinct, conveying immediate, temporary states.

- Scenario: Discussing movie preferences.

- Friend: Den neuen Sci-Fi-Film fand ich super. Gefällt er dir auch?

- You: Hm, mir gefällt der Hauptdarsteller nicht so. Aber die Story ist mir wichtig. (Hmm, I don't really like the main actor. But the story is important to me.)

- Note: Mir gefällt...nicht so is natural for expressing mild dislike. Die Story ist mir wichtig clearly states personal importance.

Workplace/Professional Context:

- Scenario: Apologizing for a missed deadline.

- Email: Es tut mir wirklich leid, dass ich den Bericht nicht fristgerecht abgeben konnte. (I am truly sorry that I couldn't submit the report on time.)

- Note: Es tut mir leid is the standard, formal apology.

- Scenario: Confirming task suitability.

- Colleague: Ich habe die Präsentation fertig. Passt euch der Entwurf so?

- You: Ja, der passt uns gut. Ist dir noch etwas Wichtiges aufgefallen? (Yes, it suits us well. Did anything else important strike you?)

- Note: passt uns gut and ist dir aufgefallen are polite, common collaborative phrases.

Casual Conversation:

- Scenario: A sudden realization.

- You: Moment, mir fällt gerade ein, dass wir noch Milch kaufen müssen! (Wait, it just occurred to me that we still need to buy milk!)

- Note: mir fällt ein captures spontaneous thought.

Quick FAQ

This section addresses common nuances and variations in dative expressions for B2 learners.
  • Q: Can es always be dropped in Mir ist es egal?
  • A: Yes, in casual speech, es is frequently omitted. Mir ist egal is very common and natural, as context usually clarifies "it." For formality or emphasis, include es.
  • Example: Mir ist (es) egal, was wir heute Abend essen. (I don't care what we eat tonight.)
  • Q: What's the difference between Ich bin sicher and Ich bin mir sicher?
  • A: This involves reflexive dative.
  • Ich bin sicher. (I am safe/secure, or I am reliable.) - Describes a quality of the subject.
  • Ich bin mir sicher. (I am sure/certain [about something].) - Uses reflexive dative mir to indicate certainty existing within or for oneself.
  • Example: Das Kind ist sicher im Haus. (The child is safe in the house.) vs. Ich bin mir sicher, dass ich den Schlüssel habe. (I am sure that I have the key.)
  • Q: How do you say "I miss you"? Ich vermisse dich or Du fehlst mir?
  • A: Both are correct with different structures. Ich vermisse dich uses accusative dich with vermissen. Du fehlst mir uses dative mir with fehlen, meaning "You are missing to me." The latter is often more idiomatic and emotionally resonant, implying a void within the speaker.
  • Q: Do prepositions always trigger dative, even with these expressions?
  • A: Yes, dative prepositions (aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu, gegenüber) always require the dative case. They frequently appear in longer dative constructions.
  • Example: Nach dem Essen ist mir immer so müde. (After eating, I'm always so tired.) Here, nach dem Essen is a dative prepositional phrase, followed by the dative state mir ist müde.
  • Q: Why do some expressions use es gibt mir instead of mir ist?
  • A: Es gibt mir... (It gives me...) is used when something literally or figuratively provides or causes a sensation or feeling, often an abstract noun. This differs from mir ist... which describes a direct state of being.
  • Example: Der Stress gibt mir Kopfschmerzen. (The stress gives me a headache.) vs. Mir ist schwindelig. (I feel dizzy.) The stress actively gives pain, while dizziness is a state becoming to oneself.
  • Q: Does word order matter with these dative constructions?
  • A: Yes, standard German word order rules apply. In main clauses, the conjugated verb is typically in the second position. The dative pronoun can precede or follow the subject/adjective for emphasis. In subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb moves to the end.
  • Main clause (dative first): Mir ist kalt. (Dative + Verb + Adjective)
  • Main clause (subject first): Die Suppe schmeckt mir gut. (Subject + Verb + Dative + Adverb)
  • Subordinate clause: Ich weiß, dass mir kalt ist. (I know that I am cold.)

Dative Pronouns for Feelings

Person Pronoun Example
1st Sing
mir
Mir ist kalt.
2nd Sing
dir
Dir ist kalt.
3rd Sing (m)
ihm
Ihm ist kalt.
3rd Sing (f)
ihr
Ihr ist kalt.
1st Plur
uns
Uns ist kalt.
2nd Plur
euch
Euch ist kalt.
3rd Plur
ihnen
Ihnen ist kalt.

Meanings

This construction describes states of being (physical or emotional) where the subject is not the agent, but the experiencer.

1

Physical State

Describing bodily sensations like temperature or illness.

“Mir ist kalt.”

“Mir ist schwindelig.”

2

Mental/Emotional State

Describing internal feelings or boredom.

“Mir ist langweilig.”

“Mir ist mulmig zumute.”

3

Possibility/Permission

Using 'ist' to express what is possible for someone.

“Mir ist das egal.”

“Mir ist alles recht.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Feeling Dative: Fixed Expressions and Idioms (Mir ist...)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Dative + ist + Adj
Mir ist warm.
Negative
Dative + ist + nicht + Adj
Mir ist nicht warm.
Question
Ist + Dative + Adj?
Ist dir warm?
Agreement
Dative + ist + das + Adj
Mir ist das recht.
Doubt
Dative + ist + Adj + nicht
Mir ist das nicht klar.
Past Tense
Dative + war + Adj
Mir war kalt.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Mir ist langweilig.

Mir ist langweilig. (General)

Neutral
Mir ist langweilig.

Mir ist langweilig. (General)

Informal
Mir ist langweilig.

Mir ist langweilig. (General)

Slang
Ich sterbe vor Langeweile.

Ich sterbe vor Langeweile. (General)

The Dative Experiencer

Mir ist...

Physical

  • kalt cold
  • heiß hot

Mental

  • langweilig bored
  • schwindelig dizzy
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Examples by Level

1

Mir ist kalt.

I am cold.

2

Mir ist heiß.

I am hot.

3

Mir ist langweilig.

I am bored.

4

Ist dir kalt?

Are you cold?

1

Mir ist nicht gut.

I don't feel well.

2

Ihm ist schwindelig.

He feels dizzy.

3

Uns ist langweilig.

We are bored.

4

Euch ist zu warm.

You are too warm.

1

Mir ist das egal.

I don't care about that.

2

Mir ist mulmig zumute.

I feel uneasy.

3

Ihr ist alles recht.

She is fine with everything.

4

Mir ist nicht wohl dabei.

I don't feel comfortable with that.

1

Mir ist ein Fehler unterlaufen.

I made a mistake.

2

Mir ist das Risiko zu hoch.

The risk is too high for me.

3

Mir ist die Bedeutung klar.

The meaning is clear to me.

4

Mir ist die Lust vergangen.

I lost interest.

1

Mir ist der Zusammenhang völlig schleierhaft.

The connection is completely obscure to me.

2

Mir ist diese Entwicklung suspekt.

This development is suspicious to me.

3

Mir ist die Tragweite bewusst.

I am aware of the consequences.

4

Mir ist das Schicksal wohlgesonnen.

Fate is kind to me.

1

Mir ist der Sinn dieser Unternehmung verborgen geblieben.

The purpose of this venture has remained hidden from me.

2

Mir ist diese Nuance entgangen.

This nuance escaped me.

3

Mir ist die Ironie nicht entgangen.

I didn't miss the irony.

4

Mir ist das Glück hold.

Fortune favors me.

Easily Confused

Feeling Dative: Fixed Expressions and Idioms (Mir ist...) vs Ich bin vs. Mir ist

Learners mix up permanent traits and temporary states.

Feeling Dative: Fixed Expressions and Idioms (Mir ist...) vs Dative vs. Accusative

Learners use 'Mich' instead of 'Mir'.

Feeling Dative: Fixed Expressions and Idioms (Mir ist...) vs Sein vs. Haben

Learners use 'Ich habe kalt' (Swiss influence).

Common Mistakes

✗

Ich bin kalt.

✓

Mir ist kalt.

You are not a cold object.
✗

Mir bin kalt.

✓

Mir ist kalt.

Verb must be 3rd person.
✗

Ich habe kalt.

✓

Mir ist kalt.

Standard German uses 'sein'.
✗

Mir ist kaltes.

✓

Mir ist kalt.

Adjectives don't decline here.
✗

Mich ist kalt.

✓

Mir ist kalt.

Use Dative, not Accusative.
✗

Mir ist langweilen.

✓

Mir ist langweilig.

Use adjective, not verb.
✗

Ich ist kalt.

✓

Mir ist kalt.

Nominative is wrong.
✗

Mir ist das egalen.

✓

Mir ist das egal.

Egal is indeclinable.
✗

Mir ist wohl.

✓

Mir ist wohl dabei.

Needs context.
✗

Mir ist schlecht.

✓

Mir ist übel.

Schlecht can mean 'bad person'.
✗

Mir ist die Entscheidung schwer.

✓

Die Entscheidung fällt mir schwer.

Different structure for difficulty.
✗

Mir ist das bewusst.

✓

Das ist mir bewusst.

Word order nuance.
✗

Mir ist das klar.

✓

Das ist mir klar.

Emphasis.
✗

Mir ist das wichtig.

✓

Das ist mir wichtig.

Emphasis.

Sentence Patterns

Mir ist ___.

Ist dir ___?

Mir ist das ___.

Mir ist ___ zumute.

Real World Usage

Doctor's office very common

Mir ist schwindelig.

Social media common

Mir ist langweilig. #bored

Texting common

Mir ist das egal.

Job interview occasional

Mir ist die Wichtigkeit bewusst.

Travel common

Mir ist schlecht vom Bus.

Food delivery occasional

Mir ist alles recht.

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💡

Check the Subject

If you want to say 'I am', stop. Ask: is this a feeling? If yes, use 'Mir ist'.
⚠️

Avoid 'Ich'

Never use 'Ich' with physical states like cold or heat.
🎯

Use for Opinions

Use 'Mir ist das egal' to sound very natural.
💬

Regional Differences

In Switzerland, you might hear 'Ich habe kalt', but stick to 'Mir ist kalt' for standard German.

Smart Tips

Always use 'Mir ist'.

Ich bin kalt. → Mir ist kalt.

Use 'Mir ist langweilig'.

Ich bin langweilig. → Mir ist langweilig.

Use 'Mir ist das egal'.

Ich bin egal. → Mir ist das egal.

Use 'Mir ist schwindelig'.

Ich bin schwindelig. → Mir ist schwindelig.

Pronunciation

/miːɐ̯/

Mir

The 'r' is vocalized at the end.

Statement

Mir ist KALT. ↘

Neutral statement of fact.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the Dative as a 'Receiver' of a feeling. The feeling hits you like a ball.

Visual Association

Imagine a cold wind blowing towards you. You are the target (Dative).

Rhyme

Wenn ich mich fühle, wie ich bin, steht 'Ich' am Anfang, das macht Sinn. Doch wenn das Gefühl von außen kommt, ist 'Mir' das Wort, das dir entkommt.

Story

I am standing in the snow. I am not the subject of the cold. The cold is the subject. It hits me. Mir ist kalt.

Word Web

kaltheißlangweiligschwindeligübelwohlegalrecht

Challenge

Spend 5 minutes describing your current state using 'Mir ist...'.

Cultural Notes

Germans are very direct about physical states.

Similar to Germany, but 'Mir ist kalt' is standard.

Swiss German often uses 'Ich habe kalt'.

Derived from Old High German impersonal constructions.

Conversation Starters

“

Wie geht es dir?

“

Ist dir kalt?

“

Wie findest du den Film?

“

Was hältst du von dem Vorschlag?

Journal Prompts

Describe your physical state right now.
Write about a time you were bored.
Discuss your feelings about a recent decision.
Reflect on how your environment affects your mood.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

___ ist kalt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir
Dative experiencer.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir ist kalt.
Standard Dative construction.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Mir bin langweilig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir ist langweilig.
Verb must be 3rd person.
Transform to Dative. Sentence Transformation

Ich bin heiß.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir ist heiß.
Dative experiencer.
Is this true? True False Rule

Can you use 'Ich' for physical states?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Physical states use Dative.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Ist dir warm? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ja, mir ist warm.
Correct Dative response.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

ist / mir / egal / das

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir ist das egal.
Correct word order.
Match the state. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1. Mir ist kalt, 2. Mir ist langweilig
Correct mapping.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___ ist kalt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir
Dative experiencer.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir ist kalt.
Standard Dative construction.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Mir bin langweilig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir ist langweilig.
Verb must be 3rd person.
Transform to Dative. Sentence Transformation

Ich bin heiß.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir ist heiß.
Dative experiencer.
Is this true? True False Rule

Can you use 'Ich' for physical states?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Physical states use Dative.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Ist dir warm? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ja, mir ist warm.
Correct Dative response.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

ist / mir / egal / das

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir ist das egal.
Correct word order.
Match the state. Match Pairs

Match: 1. Cold, 2. Bored

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1. Mir ist kalt, 2. Mir ist langweilig
Correct mapping.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the phrase for 'I'm sorry'. Fill in the Blank

Es tut ___ leid.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mir
Correct the possession. Error Correction

Das Buch gehört mich.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Buch gehört mir.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

egal / ist / das / mir

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist mir egal.
Translate into German. Translation

I just remembered the name.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir fällt gerade der Name ein.
Select the correct question word. Multiple Choice

___ gehört dieses Handy?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wem
Match the German to English. Match Pairs

Match the expressions:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mir ist schlecht - I feel sick, Dir steht das - That suits you, Ihnen gefällt es - You (formal) like it, Uns ist warm - We are warm
Complete the physical sensation. Fill in the Blank

Mir ___ schwindelig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ist
Fix the greeting. Error Correction

Wie geht es dich?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wie geht es dir?
Reorder: My back hurts. Sentence Reorder

mir / der Rücken / weh / tut

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Der Rücken tut mir weh.
Identify the correct response to 'Do you like the pizza?' Multiple Choice

Schmeckt die Pizza?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ja, sie schmeckt mir.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Because the state itself is the subject.

Yes, 'Ihm ist kalt' (He is cold).

Only if you mean you are literally cold to the touch.

Use 'war': 'Mir war kalt'.

Yes, but often with more complex adjectives.

That is Swiss German, not standard.

Yes, 'Mir ist das wichtig'.

Yes, for the experiencer.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Me da...

Spanish uses different verbs, German uses 'ist'.

French low

J'ai...

French uses 'avoir', German uses 'sein'.

English low

I am...

English is subject-focused, German is experiencer-focused.

Japanese high

Watashi ni wa...

Japanese uses particles, German uses case endings.

Arabic moderate

Li...

Arabic is prepositional, German is case-based.

Chinese low

Wo juede...

Chinese has no case system.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
German Fixed Accusative Expressions (jeden Tag, Guten Tag)

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Overview In German, nouns do not always appear in the same form. Their endings, and more importantly, their accompanying...
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Explaining Past Reasons: Since & Because (weil/da)

Overview Understanding how to articulate the 'why' behind an event or action is crucial for effective communication in G...
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German Accusative: Using 'den', 'die', and 'das' (Akkusativ)

Overview German grammatical cases often pose a significant challenge for learners, but they are fundamental to understan...
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German Articles (der, die, das): Which 'The' to Use?

Overview In German, every single noun, without exception, possesses a **grammatical gender**. Unlike English, where 'the...
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German Nominative Case After 'To Be' (sein)

Overview The German language organizes its nouns and pronouns into four cases, each signaling a distinct grammatical rol...
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