C1 · 32 words

Words without a topic V: negations and derivations

The negated and derived words that belong to no particular field.

German builds its negatives much as English does, with a prefix, and then keeps going: un- and miss- in front, -los behind. Most of this list can be read off its parts. One word cannot, because it points two ways. Unverbindlich on an estimate, a price or a trial offer means non-binding: nobody is committed and you may walk away, and die unverbindliche Preisempfehlung printed on a box is the recommended retail price. Said of a person, a smile or a tone of voice, the same word means noncommittal, friendly on the surface and giving nothing away. English needs two words here and German has one, so look at the noun it stands beside before translating. A form is unverbindlich because it binds nobody; a colleague is unverbindlich because he will not be pinned down.

The words

Verb (2)

missbilligento disapprove ofVerbC1

Der Vorstand missbilligte das Vorgehen der Abteilung ausdrücklich.The board expressly disapproved of the way the department had acted.

Inseparable: er missbilligt, er hat missbilligt.

misslingento fail, to go wrong (of an attempt)VerbC1

Der erste Versuch ist mir gründlich misslungen.My first attempt went thoroughly wrong.

Irregular: misslang, ist misslungen. The attempt is the subject; the person goes in the dative.

Adverb (4)

unweigerlichinevitablyAdverbC1

Wer die Frist verstreichen lässt, verliert unweigerlich seinen Anspruch.Miss the deadline and you inevitably lose your claim.

Also an adjective: die unweigerliche Folge.

unversehensall of a sudden, unawaresAdverbC2

Unversehens stand er mitten in einem Streit, den er nie gewollt hatte.Before he knew it, he was in the middle of a row he had never wanted.

Mostly in writing and in storytelling.

nachweislichdemonstrablyAdverbC1

Die Angaben im Prospekt waren nachweislich falsch.The information in the brochure was demonstrably false.

Also an adjective: ein nachweislicher Fehler.

unwillkürlichinvoluntarilyAdverbC1

Als die Tür knallte, zuckte sie unwillkürlich zusammen.When the door slammed, she flinched involuntarily.

Also an adjective: eine unwillkürliche Bewegung.

This list belongs to The scaffolding — 16 lists and 650 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 32 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.