B2–C1 · GFM · 20 patterns

Noun phrases and reference

Compare how English and German express noun phrases and reference. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

01 · How to use this set

Start from the communication job

Compare how English and German express noun phrases and reference. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

Read the frame, try to complete your own sentence before opening an example, then compare the English structure with its German parallel. The point is retrieval and choice, not passive list reading.

02 · Representative patterns

Start with these reusable frames

A compact sample from the 20 patterns in this study set.

01A/an + noun + of + mine/yours/his/hers/ours/theirs/name's + predicateA colleague of mine recommended this course. · German parallel: Ein/eine + noun + von + dative person + predicate 02Main clause + another + singular count nounWe need another chair for the visitor. · German parallel: Main clause + ein weiterer/ein anderer + singular noun 03Main clause + other + plural count nounWe should consider other options before deciding. · German parallel: Main clause + andere + plural noun 04One + singular noun + predicate, but/and + the other + singular noun + predicateOne door is locked, but the other door is open. · German parallel: Ein/eine + noun ..., der/die/das andere + noun ...05Some + plural noun + predicate; others + contrasting predicateSome people prefer written instructions; others prefer a demonstration. · German parallel: Manche + plural noun + predicate; andere + contrasting predicate 06Main clause + such a/an + adjective + singular count noun + that + resultIt was such a useful example that I wrote it down. · German parallel: Main clause + ein so + adjective + singular noun, dass + result

03 · Complete set

Browse every pattern

The canonical list follows below. Every pattern has a stable ID and its own page for examples, translation, and reuse.

01A/an + noun + of + mine/yours/his/hers/ours/theirs/name's + predicateGFM001 · A/an + noun + of + mine/yours/his/hers/ours/theirs/name's + predicate / Ein/eine + noun + von + dative person + predicate 02Main clause + another + singular count nounGFM002 · Main clause + another + singular count noun / Main clause + ein weiterer/ein anderer + singular noun 03Main clause + other + plural count nounGFM003 · Main clause + other + plural count noun / Main clause + andere + plural noun 04One + singular noun + predicate, but/and + the other + singular noun + predicateGFM004 · One + singular noun + predicate, but/and + the other + singular noun + predicate / Ein/eine + noun ..., der/die/das andere + noun ...05Some + plural noun + predicate; others + contrasting predicateGFM005 · Some + plural noun + predicate; others + contrasting predicate / Manche + plural noun + predicate; andere + contrasting predicate 06Main clause + such a/an + adjective + singular count noun + that + resultGFM006 · Main clause + such a/an + adjective + singular count noun + that + result / Main clause + ein so + adjective + singular noun, dass + result 07Main clause + such + adjective + mass/plural noun + that + resultGFM007 · Main clause + such + adjective + mass/plural noun + that + result / Main clause + so + adjective + natural noun phrase, dass + result 08It/That + be + too + adjective + a/an + singular noun + to-infinitiveGFM008 · It/That + be + too + adjective + a/an + singular noun + to-infinitive / Subject + sein + ein/eine zu + adjective + noun, um + zu-infinitive 09Subject + be + as + adjective + a/an + singular noun + as + comparison targetGFM009 · Subject + be + as + adjective + a/an + singular noun + as + comparison target / Subject + sein + ein/eine ebenso/so + adjective + noun + wie + target 10What a/an + singular noun phrase + subject + predicate!GFM010 · What a/an + singular noun phrase + subject + predicate! / Was für ein/eine + noun + clause or natural exclamation 11The + human-group adjective + plural predicateGFM011 · The + human-group adjective + plural predicate / Die + capitalised nominalised adjective in plural + plural predicate 12Main clause + a/an + number-singular measure + head nounGFM012 · Main clause + a/an + number-singular measure + head noun / Main clause + inflected measure adjective/compound + noun 13Main clause + number + plural time-unit' + nounGFM013 · Main clause + number + plural time-unit' + noun / Main clause + number + time noun + natural measure construction 14Main clause + determiner + adjective + one/onesGFM014 · Main clause + determiner + adjective + one/ones / Main clause + inflected pronominal adjective / repeated noun 15Noun phrase + comparison predicate + that/those of + comparison ownerGFM015 · Noun phrase + comparison predicate + that/those of + comparison owner / Noun phrase + comparison + der/die/das/denen + genitive/relative complement 16All/Both + possessive determiner + plural noun + predicateGFM016 · All/Both + possessive determiner + plural noun + predicate / Possessive determiner + beide + plural noun / alle + possessive determiner + plural noun 17Main clause + determiner/number + piece(s) of + uncountable nounGFM017 · Main clause + determiner/number + piece(s) of + uncountable noun / Main clause + natural countable equivalent noun 18Any + singular count noun + can + infinitiveGFM018 · Any + singular count noun + can + infinitive / Jeder/Jede/Jedes + singular noun + kann + infinitive 19Some + number + noun + predicateGFM019 · Some + number + noun + predicate / Etwa/Rund + number + noun + predicate 20Singular item + location verb + on/at either + singular paired location nounGFM020 · Singular item + location verb + on/at either + singular paired location noun / An/Auf beiden + plural location noun + steht/hängt jeweils + singular item