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Newbie question about hierhin

denalitom
New in Town
Posts: 2
Joined: January 8th, 2010 6:00 pm

Newbie question about hierhin

Postby denalitom » January 19th, 2010 1:03 am

In lesson 3 there is a question:
"Kommen Sie oft hierhin?"
meaning in English "Do you often come here?"

The word hier denotes "here...a place" and hierin denotes "here...a direction"
So my question is why isn't it "hier" since to me the question refers to a "place" ? - the place being cafe...and not a direction. I appreciate the help!
danke, Tom

Salivia_Baker
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Posts: 92
Joined: June 25th, 2008 8:21 pm

Re: Newbie question about hierhin

Postby Salivia_Baker » January 19th, 2010 5:36 pm

Well you ask do you COME here often. KOMMEN Sie oft hierhin?
Kommen is a movement towards something (in this case is the movement of the listening party in question). That means you have to use hierhin, a direction. The verb kommen decides that you have to use hierhin and not hier.

Sind Sie oft hier? (Are you here often?) doesn't include the movement. The verb "to be" determines that you use "hier" as in a place. No movement involved.
"German is basically a Lego language - just take word blocks like Welt and Schmerz, smash them together, and you've got some real Weltschmerz. It may sound painful, but it can be practical." - Dan Hamilton

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denalitom
New in Town
Posts: 2
Joined: January 8th, 2010 6:00 pm

Postby denalitom » January 19th, 2010 7:44 pm

Thank you very much for that explanation.
Danke, Tom

Salivia_Baker
Established Presence
Posts: 92
Joined: June 25th, 2008 8:21 pm

Postby Salivia_Baker » January 20th, 2010 1:23 pm

gern geschehen
(you're welcome)
"German is basically a Lego language - just take word blocks like Welt and Schmerz, smash them together, and you've got some real Weltschmerz. It may sound painful, but it can be practical." - Dan Hamilton

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