German to English examples

Ich möchte Englisch schnell lernen.

→ I want to learn English quickly.

German puts the infinitive 'lernen' at the end of the sentence. English puts the main verb 'learn' right after 'to want' — a structural difference German speakers must consciously adjust to.

Ich lerne seit drei Jahren Englisch.

→ I have been learning English for three years.

German uses the present tense with 'seit' for ongoing situations — just like French. English uses the present perfect continuous. German speakers often incorrectly say 'I learn English since three years'.

Wenn ich mehr gelernt hätte, hätte ich die Prüfung bestanden.

→ If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.

German Konjunktiv II maps closely to the English third conditional. Both languages use this to express regret about past situations.

Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?

→ Could you please speak more slowly?

German formal questions invert verb and subject. English uses 'could you' — both languages have similar politeness strategies here.

Englisch ist eine sehr wichtige Sprache.

→ English is a very important language.

Almost identical structure. German and English are closely related languages — basic declarative sentences often translate almost word for word.