sentence / set
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sentence
A grammatically complete unit made up of words that expresses a thought or statement and usually contains a subject and a predicate.
Bitte formulieren Sie einen vollständigen Satz.
Please formulate a complete sentence.
'Der Satz' is closely related to the verb 'setzen' (to set/place). Many meanings can be derived from the idea that something is 'gesetzt' (set/fixed): a group of words (sentence), a group of objects (set), or particles that settle at the bottom (sediment).
Der Autor setzt die Wörter sorgfältig, um einen schönen Satz zu bilden.
The author places the words carefully to form a beautiful sentence.
Since 'Satz' has many meanings, context is crucial. Pay attention to the accompanying words: Is it about language (grammar), sports (tennis), economics (interest), music (symphony), or a jump?
Der Lehrer erklärte den Satz an der Tafel.
The teacher explained the sentence on the board.
In a grammatical context, 'Satz' is often combined with verbs such as 'bilden' (to form), 'formulieren' (to formulate), or 'verstehen' (to understand). Typical adjectives are 'einfach' (simple), 'kompliziert' (complicated), 'kurz' (short), or 'lang' (long).
Können Sie bitte einen einfachen Satz mit diesem Wort bilden?
Could you please form a simple sentence with this word?
When 'Satz' means a group of things that belong together, it is often followed by a plural noun that describes what the set consists of. The structure is typically 'ein Satz + noun (plural)' (a set of + plural noun).
Ich habe mir einen neuen Satz Handtücher gekauft.
I bought myself a new set of towels.
In the meaning 'Sprung' (jump/leap), 'Satz' is almost always used in the fixed expression 'mit einem Satz' (with one bound/leap). It describes a quick, sudden movement.
Mit einem Satz war der Hund über den Zaun.
With one bound, the dog was over the fence.
In financial or legal contexts, 'Satz' is often the second part of a compound noun. Examples are 'der Zinssatz' (interest rate), 'der Steuersatz' (tax rate), or 'der Regelsatz' (standard rate).
Die Bank hat den Zinssatz für Kredite erhöht.
The bank has raised the interest rate for loans.
The meaning 'Bodensatz' (sediment) can be recognized from the context of liquids in which something can settle. Common combinations are 'der Kaffeesatz' (coffee grounds) or 'der Bodensatz' (sediment) in a wine bottle.
Trink den Kaffee nicht ganz aus, da ist viel Satz am Boden der Tasse.
Don't drink all of the coffee; there are a lot of grounds at the bottom of the cup.
game / play
'das Spiel' and 'der Satz' can both occur in sports, but they do not mean the same thing. 'Spiel' means the whole game or match, or a single sporting contest. 'Satz' means only one section of play in sports such as tennis, table tennis, or volleyball. So you can win a match by winning several sets. The words are especially easy to confuse because both are mentioned when talking about the score. The simple difference is: the game or match is the whole thing; the set is one part of it.
Im zweiten Satz spielte sie viel sicherer und machte kaum Fehler.
In the second set, she played much more steadily and made hardly any mistakes.
Nach zwei Stunden gewann Lisa das Spiel gegen ihre starke Gegnerin.
After two hours, Lisa won the match against her strong opponent.