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Study Resource: Combinations of German modal particles

By: Ivo Niethammer
Associated Articles

These activities are part of our German Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

Combinations of modal particles
Expressing…
Example Sentences

doch + halt

softening + resignation

Mach doch halt nicht immer wieder den gleichen blöden Mist!

Just don't do the same stupid things over and over again!

doch + eh

affirmative question + downplaying

Das kann er doch eh nicht kapieren!

He can't understand that anyway!

ja + eh

common knowledge + downplaying

Wir werden uns ja eh morgen treffen, besprechen wir es doch dann.

We're going to meet tomorrow anyway, let's discuss it then.

halt + mal

resignation + doing something casually

Dann versuch's halt mal damit!

Then try it with this!

ja + doch

surprise + turn of events

Wow, du hast die Hausaufgaben ja doch gemacht!

Wow, you did your homework after all!

doch + mal

softening + doing something casually

Jetzt mach doch mal schnell!

Hurry up, will you?

aber + doch

protest + turn of events

Ich habe das aber doch gar nicht nicht wissen können!

But I couldn't have known that!

doch + eigentlich

affirmative question + interest

Sie hat doch eigentlich nichts damit zu tun.

She doesn't really have anything to do with it.

eigentlich + mal

interest + doing something casually

Hast du das eigentlich mal probiert?

Have you actually tried this?

vielleicht + mal

surprise (over high degree)

Das war vielleicht mal wieder ein tolles Fest!

What a great party that was!

ja + aber

surprise

Das ging ja aber schnell!

Now that was quick!

ja + halt

common knowledge + resignation

Wir sind ja halt auch nicht mehr die Jüngsten.

After all, we are not young anymore.

eh + mal

downplaying + doing something casually

Kein Ding, ich wollte das eh mal ausprobieren.

No problem, I wanted to try it out anyway.

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