GrammarC1· Führung & Arbeitswelt
Funktionsverbgefüge
Noun-verb collocations (function verb constructions)
Kartoffel · your teacher
Hi! Let's look at this one together — step by step, no rush.
From what you know
Wir entscheiden morgen.becomesWir treffen morgen eine Entscheidung.6 parts · about 6 min
1What & when
In one line
In one lineA noun carries the meaning, a fixed verb does the grammar: eine Entscheidung treffen.
1
Before
Wir entscheiden nach dem Gespräch.
Watch the sentence change …
The verb becomes a noun that carries the meaning. treffen does the grammar: entscheidenbecomeseine Entscheidung treffen.
„Wir treffen nach dem Gespräch eine Entscheidung.“ — We'll make a decision after the meeting.
Kartoffel
First, what is it?
Formal German often uses a noun plus a verb where one verb would do. eine Entscheidung treffen means entscheiden, and zur Verfügung stellen means bereitstellen (to provide). These fixed pairs are called . The noun carries the meaning. The verb, the Funktionsverb, has lost most of its own: treffen also means 'to hit', but in eine Entscheidung treffen nobody hits anything.
Kartoffel
And when do you need it? More often than you'd think:
Führung & ArbeitsweltYou need them when German turns formal at work: HR memos, emails to the whole department, meeting minutes, a new policy. Over coffee in the office kitchen, the simple verb usually sounds more natural:
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