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The more sign-like phrasing in German often uses the passive.
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Hints for this Quiz
Think of a printed notice on a checkout counter.
The more sign-like phrasing in German often uses the passive.
On official signs/notices, impersonal passive sounds more neutral/formal: Hier wird nur mit Karte bezahlt. You’d also see: Nur Kartenzahlung.
Imagine a small placard above the oven.
Passive is common for neutral, factual announcements on signs.
For signage, passive (Hier werden … gebacken) is stylistically more typical than man.
Think of a sticker at an information desk telling customers which language the staff speaks.
Both are possible, but one is idiomatic on such notices.
Hier spricht man Deutsch is idiomatic to indicate what the staff speaks. Passive is possible but feels more formal/less common here.
Which one focuses on the process rather than people?
German signs in stores often use the passive for processes.
Passive (werden … zurückgenommen) is the neutral, process-focused style you’ll see on signs.
Picture a simple white sign in a repair corner.
Shops label services in passive to sound neutral and general.
Uhren werden hier repariert is the standard sign style. Using man is more conversational.
Which version avoids mentioning people and sounds more official?
Opening actions are often phrased impersonally in signs.
Hier wird um 8 Uhr geöffnet is more formal and typical for notices.
Think of a big friendly sign at the help desk.
Set phrases often use passive with indirect object pronouns.
Hier wird Ihnen geholfen is a fixed, very idiomatic sign-like phrase.
Which option sounds more like a company policy notice?
For store policies, passive is common.
Policies are often phrased in passive: wird … angenommen. It sounds impersonal and official.
Which one highlights the products rather than the seller?
Product/offer signs prefer the passive construction.
Passive focuses on the offer itself, which is typical on signs.
Remember the pattern: Hier wird … verkauft.
Use the passive pattern ‚Hier wird … verkauft‘ for a neutral sign.
Hier wird Käse verkauft matches the common passive style on in-store signage.
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