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Flip to reveal answersWhat is a „Bezugswort“ (reference word)?
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All 14 Flashcards — Reference words
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Question
What is a „Bezugswort“ (reference word)?
Answer
A word like „es“ or „das“ that points back to a noun or idea said earlier in the text.
Question
What is „der Bezug / das Bezugsobjekt“?
Answer
The referent — the actual noun or idea a reference word points to.
Question
What does „sich beziehen auf“ mean?
Answer
To refer to / to point back to (something said before).
Question
What does „ersetzen“ mean?
Answer
To replace / to substitute one word for another.
Question
What do „er“, „sie“, „es“ usually point to?
Answer
A noun already mentioned — they take its gender (der→er, die→sie, das→es).
Question
What do „das“ and „dies“ usually point to?
Answer
A whole idea or sentence said before, not just one noun.
Question
What do „dieser“ and „jener“ usually point to?
Answer
The nearest noun.
Question
What do „dort“ and „da“ usually point to?
Answer
A place that was mentioned.
Question
What do „sein“ and „ihr“ usually point to?
Answer
The owner mentioned (whose something is).
Question
Do reference words point forwards or backwards?
Answer
Backwards — they point to something said earlier, so read the lines before the word.
Question
Give the 5-step routine for tracking a reference.
Answer
Find → Read before → Identify → Substitute → Check.
Question
How does gender help you find the right referent?
Answer
The referent must agree in gender and number with the word, so „er“ needs a masculine noun, „sie“ a feminine/plural one and „es“ a neuter noun.
Question
How do you confirm you have the right referent?
Answer
Substitute the noun back in place of the reference word and check the sentence still makes sense.
Question
When you answer „Worauf bezieht sich „es“?“, what should you write?
Answer
The actual noun or idea it points to (e.g. „das Buch“), never the word „es“ itself.
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Topic 6.2 hub
Reading skills
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German B exam skills
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