Die Drei Billy Ziegen Gräulich: Eine lustige Geschichte
Kapitel 1 Der Hunger und der Berg
Chapter 1: The Hunger and the Mountain
Es war einmal. (Once upon a time.)Drei Ziegen lebten hier. (Three goats lived here.)Sie waren eine Familie. (They were a family.)Die erste Ziege war klein. (The first goat was small.)Sie hieß Klein-Ziege. (Her name was Little-Goat.)Die zweite Ziege war mittelgroß. (The second goat was medium-sized.)Sie hieß Mittel-Ziege. (Her name was Middle-Goat.)Die dritte Ziege war sehr groß. (The third goat was very big.)Sie hieß Groß-Ziege. (Her name was Big-Goat.)
Die Ziegen waren hungrig. (The goats were hungry.)Sehr hungrig. (Very hungry.)Sie wollten Gras essen. (They wanted to eat grass.)Viel Gras. (Lots of grass.)Aber ihr Gras war alt. (But their grass was old.)Es war nicht gut. (It was not good.)Es war klein. (It was small.)
"Ich habe Hunger!", sagte Klein-Ziege. (“I am hungry!” said Little-Goat.)"Ich auch!", sagte Mittel-Ziege. (“Me too!” said Middle-Goat.)"Wir brauchen neues Gras!", sagte Groß-Ziege. (“We need new grass!” said Big-Goat.)
Sie sahen einen Berg. (They saw a mountain.)Der Berg war grün. (The mountain was green.)Auf dem Berg war viel Gras. (On the mountain was a lot of grass.)Frisches Gras. (Fresh grass.)Grünes Gras. (Green grass.)
"Oh, das Gras!", sagte Klein-Ziege. (“Oh, the grass!” said Little-Goat.)"Das ist gut!", sagte Mittel-Ziege. (“That is good!” said Middle-Goat.)"Wir gehen zum Berg!", sagte Groß-Ziege. (“We are going to the mountain!” said Big-Goat.)
Aber es gab ein Problem. (But there was a problem.)Zwischen den Ziegen und dem Berg war ein Fluss. (Between the goats and the mountain was a river.)Über dem Fluss war eine Brücke. (Over the river was a bridge.)Eine Holzbrücke. (A wooden bridge.)
Und unter der Brücke? (And under the bridge?)Ein Troll! (A troll!)Ein böser Troll. (A bad troll.)Er war sehr groß. (He was very big.)Er war sehr hässlich. (He was very ugly.)Und er war immer hungrig. (And he was always hungry.)
Kapitel 2 Klein-Ziege und der Troll
Chapter 2: Little-Goat and the Troll
Klein-Ziege war mutig. (Little-Goat was brave.)Sie wollte zuerst gehen. (She wanted to go first.)"Ich gehe!", sagte Klein-Ziege. (“I am going!” said Little-Goat.)"Sei vorsichtig!", sagte Mittel-Ziege. (“Be careful!” said Middle-Goat.)"Der Troll ist böse!", sagte Groß-Ziege. (“The troll is bad!” said Big-Goat.)
Klein-Ziege ging auf die Brücke. (Little-Goat went onto the bridge.)Tapp-tapp-tapp! (Tap-tap-tap!)Ihre kleinen Hufe machten Geräusche. (Her small hooves made noises.)
"Wer geht über meine Brücke?", brüllte der Troll. (“Who is going over my bridge?” roared the troll.)Seine Stimme war laut. (His voice was loud.)Klein-Ziege war ein bisschen ängstlich. (Little-Goat was a little scared.)Aber sie war auch schlau. (But she was also smart.)"Ich bin es, Klein-Ziege!", sagte sie. (“It is I, Little-Goat!” she said.)"Ich will zum Gras gehen." (“I want to go to the grass.”)
"Ich fresse dich!", sagte der Troll. (“I will eat you!” said the troll.)"Du bist ein kleiner Snack!" (“You are a small snack!”)"Oh, nein!", sagte Klein-Ziege. (“Oh, no!” said Little-Goat.)"Ich bin sehr klein." (“I am very small.”)"Ich bin nicht lecker." (“I am not tasty.”)"Warte auf meine Schwester!" (“Wait for my sister!”)
"Deine Schwester?", fragte der Troll. (“Your sister?” asked the troll.)"Ja!", sagte Klein-Ziege. (“Yes!” said Little-Goat.)"Sie ist größer als ich." (“She is bigger than me.”)"Sie ist viel leckerer!" (“She is much tastier!”)"Sie kommt bald!" (“She is coming soon!”)
Der Troll dachte nach. (The troll thought.)"Größer? Leckerer?" (“Bigger? Tastier?”)"Ja!", sagte Klein-Ziege. (“Yes!” said Little-Goat.)"Warte!" (“Wait!”)"Geh!", sagte der Troll. (“Go!” said the troll.)"Aber sei schnell!" (“But be quick!”)"Ich habe Hunger!" (“I am hungry!”)
Klein-Ziege rannte über die Brücke. (Little-Goat ran over the bridge.)Sie war froh. (She was happy.)Sie war sicher. (She was safe.)Jetzt konnte sie Gras essen. (Now she could eat grass.)
Kapitel 3 Mittel-Ziege und der Troll
Chapter 3: Middle-Goat and the Troll
Jetzt war Mittel-Ziege dran. (Now it was Middle-Goat’s turn.)"Ich gehe!", sagte Mittel-Ziege. (“I am going!” said Middle-Goat.)"Viel Glück!", sagte Groß-Ziege. (“Good luck!” said Big-Goat.)"Der Troll ist hungrig!" (“The troll is hungry!”)
Mittel-Ziege ging auf die Brücke. (Middle-Goat went onto the bridge.)Tapp-tapp-tapp! (Tap-tap-tap!)Tapp-tapp-tapp! (Tap-tap-tap!)Ihre Hufe machten lautere Geräusche. (Her hooves made louder noises.)
"Wer trampelt über meine Brücke?", brüllte der Troll. (“Who is stomping over my bridge?” roared the troll.)Noch lauter! (Even louder!)Mittel-Ziege war auch ein bisschen ängstlich. (Middle-Goat was also a little scared.)Aber sie war auch schlau. (But she was also smart.)"Ich bin es, Mittel-Ziege!", sagte sie. (“It is I, Middle-Goat!” she said.)"Ich will zum Gras gehen." (“I want to go to the grass.”)
"Ich fresse dich!", sagte der Troll. (“I will eat you!” said the troll.)"Du bist ein guter Happen!" (“You are a good bite!”)"Oh, nein!", sagte Mittel-Ziege. (“Oh, no!” said Middle-Ziege.)"Ich bin nicht so groß." (“I am not so big.”)"Ich bin nicht so lecker." (“I am not so tasty.”)"Warte auf meinen großen Bruder!" (“Wait for my big brother!”)
"Dein Bruder?", fragte der Troll. (“Your brother?” asked the troll.)"Ja!", sagte Mittel-Ziege. (“Yes!” said Middle-Ziege.)"Er ist viel, viel größer als ich!" (“He is much, much bigger than me!”)"Er ist der größte und leckerste!" (“He is the biggest and tastiest!”)"Er kommt gleich!" (“He is coming right away!”)
Der Troll dachte nach. (The troll thought.)"Viel größer? Sehr lecker?" (“Much bigger? Very tasty?”)"Ja!", sagte Mittel-Ziege. (“Yes!” said Middle-Ziege.)"Warte nur!" (“Just wait!”)"Geh!", sagte der Troll. (“Go!” said the troll.)"Aber beeil dich!" (“But hurry up!”)"Ich habe GROSSEN Hunger!" (“I am VERY hungry!”)
Mittel-Ziege rannte über die Brücke. (Middle-Goat ran over the bridge.)Sie war glücklich. (She was happy.)Sie war sicher. (She was safe.)Jetzt konnte sie Gras essen. (Now she could eat grass.)Mit Klein-Ziege. (With Little-Goat.)
Kapitel 4 Groß-Ziege und der Troll
Chapter 4: Big-Goat and the Troll
Jetzt war Groß-Ziege dran. (Now it was Big-Goat’s turn.)"Ich gehe jetzt!", sagte Groß-Ziege. (“I am going now!” said Big-Goat.)Er war nicht ängstlich. (He was not scared.)Er war stark. (He was strong.)Er war sehr groß. (He was very big.)
Groß-Ziege ging auf die Brücke. (Big-Goat went onto the bridge.)TRAMPEL-TRAMPEL-TRAMPEL! (STOMP-STOMP-STOMP!)Die ganze Brücke wackelte. (The whole bridge shook.)Seine Hufe machten sehr, sehr laute Geräusche. (His hooves made very, very loud noises.)
"WER ist das?", brüllte der Troll. (“WHO is that?” roared the troll.)Seine Stimme war ein Donner. (His voice was thunder.)"WER wagt es, über meine Brücke zu TRAMPELN?" (“WHO dares to STOMP over my bridge?”)Der Troll kam unter der Brücke hervor. (The troll came out from under the bridge.)Er hatte große Augen. (He had big eyes.)Er hatte einen großen Mund. (He had a big mouth.)Er hatte scharfe Zähne. (He had sharp teeth.)
"ICH BIN ES!", sagte Groß-Ziege. (“IT IS I!” said Big-Goat.)Seine Stimme war tief und stark. (His voice was deep and strong.)"ICH BIN GROSS-ZIEGE!" (“I AM BIG-GOAT!”)"ICH FRESSE DICH!", brüllte der Troll. (“I WILL EAT YOU!” roared the troll.)"Du bist der größte und leckerste!" (“You are the biggest and tastiest!”)Der Troll sprang auf die Brücke. (The troll jumped onto the bridge.)Er wollte Groß-Ziege fressen. (He wanted to eat Big-Goat.)
Aber Groß-Ziege war bereit. (But Big-Goat was ready.)Er hatte große Hörner. (He had big horns.)Er war sehr stark. (He was very strong.)Groß-Ziege senkte seinen Kopf. (Big-Goat lowered his head.)Er stieß den Troll. (He butted the troll.)BUMM! (BANG!)Der Troll flog in die Luft. (The troll flew into the air.)Er schrie. (He screamed.)"AAAAH!" (“AAAAH!”)
Der Troll fiel in den Fluss. (The troll fell into the river.)PLUMPS! (SPLASH!)Das Wasser war kalt. (The water was cold.)Der Troll konnte nicht schwimmen. (The troll could not swim.)Er war weg. (He was gone.)
Kapitel 5 Glückliche Ziegen auf dem Berg
Chapter 5: Happy Goats on the Mountain
Groß-Ziege ging über die Brücke. (Big-Goat went over the bridge.)Er war nicht mehr ängstlich. (He was no longer scared.)Klein-Ziege und Mittel-Ziege sahen ihn. (Little-Goat and Middle-Goat saw him.)"Du hast es geschafft!", sagte Klein-Ziege. (“You did it!” said Little-Goat.)"Der Troll ist weg!", sagte Mittel-Ziege. (“The troll is gone!” said Middle-Goat.)
Alle drei Ziegen waren auf dem Berg. (All three goats were on the mountain.)Sie aßen das frische, grüne Gras. (They ate the fresh, green grass.)"Dieses Gras ist gut!", sagte Klein-Ziege. (“This grass is good!” said Little-Goat.)"Es ist sehr gut!", sagte Mittel-Ziege. (“It is very good!” said Middle-Goat.)"Es ist das beste Gras der Welt!", sagte Groß-Ziege. (“It is the best grass in the world!” said Big-Goat.)
Sie aßen und aßen. (They ate and ate.)Sie waren nicht mehr hungrig. (They were no longer hungry.)Sie waren satt. (They were full.)Sie lebten glücklich auf dem Berg. (They lived happily on the mountain.)Und der Troll kam nie wieder. (And the troll never came back.)
Ende. (The End.)
Vokabelliste (Vocabulary List)
Grammatik-Lektion (Grammar Lesson)
Diese Lektion erklärt einige grundlegende deutsche Grammatikkonzepte anhand der Sätze aus unserer Geschichte.
(This lesson explains some basic German grammar concepts using sentences from our story.)
This section will explain some basic German grammar concepts using examples directly from the story.
1. Verbs: Conjugation and Tense
In German, verbs change their endings based on who is doing the action (the subject)and when the action happens (the tense).
a) Present Tense (Präsens): This is used for actions happening now, habitual actions, or general truths. Most verbs follow a regular pattern: remove the -en from the infinitive and add specific endings.
Example 1: "sein" (to be) - This is an irregular but very common verb.
• "Es war einmal." (It was once upon a time.) - This is actually past tense, but "sein" is fundamental.
• "Ich bin es, Klein-Ziege!" (It is I, Little-Goat!)
• "Sie sind hungrig." (If we were talking about "they" - "Sie sind hungrig.")
• "Der Berg ist grün." (The mountain is green.)
• "Du bist ein kleiner Snack!" (You are a small snack!)
Pronoun
• sein (to be)
English
ich
bin
I am
du
bist
you are
er/sie/es
ist
he/she/it is
wir
sind
we are
ihr
seid
you are (plural informal)
sie/Sie
sind
they are / you are (formal)
Example 2: "haben" (to have) - Also irregular.
• "Ich habe Hunger!" (I have hunger!)
• "Er hatte große Augen." (He had big eyes.) (Past tense)
Pronoun
• haben (to have)
English
ich
habe
I have
du
hast
you have
er/sie/es
hat
he/she/it has
wir
haben
we have
ihr
habt
you have (plural informal)
sie/Sie
haben
they have / you have (formal)
Example 3: Regular verb "sagen" (to say)
• "Ich sage." (I say.)
• "Du sagst." (You say.)
• "Er sagt." (He says.)
• "Wir sagen." (We say.)
• "Ihr sagt." (You (pl.) say.)
• "Sie sagen." (They say.)
b) Simple Past Tense (Präteritum): In German, the simple past (Präteritum) is often used for narratives, especially in written stories. Many A1 stories use it to describe past events.
Regular verbs: Add -te to the stem.
• "Sie sagte." (She said.) (from "sagen")
• "Der Troll dachte nach." (The troll thought.) (from "denken" - actually irregular, but often taught early)
Irregular verbs: These change their stem vowel and often have different endings. You just have to learn them.
• "Es war einmal." (It was once upon a time.) (from "sein")
• "Drei Ziegen lebten hier." (Three goats lived here.) (from "leben" - regular, but here for context)
• "Sie sahen einen Berg." (They saw a mountain.) (from "sehen")
• "Der Troll kam unter der Brücke hervor." (The troll came out from under the bridge.) (from "kommen")
• "Der Troll fiel in den Fluss." (The troll fell into the river.) (from "fallen")
2. Adjectives: Endings and Position
Adjectives describe nouns. In German, their endings can change depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe. This is called adjective declension. For A1, we often see them in two main positions:
a) Predicative Adjectives (after "sein" or "werden"): When an adjective comes after a form of "sein" (to be)or "werden" (to become), it does not change its ending. It's like in English: "The goat is small."
• "Die erste Ziege war klein." (The first goat was small.)
• "Der Berg war grün." (The mountain was green.)
• "Die Ziegen waren hungrig." (The goats were hungry.)
• "Das Wasser war kalt." (The water was cold.)
b) Attributive Adjectives (before a noun): When an adjective comes before a noun, it must have an ending. The ending depends on the article (definite "der, die, das" or indefinite "ein, eine, ein") and the case of the noun.
With definite articles (der, die, das): The adjective usually ends in -e in the nominative case.
• "das frische, grüne Gras" (the fresh, green grass) - "Gras" is neuter (das Gras), nominative.
• "die ganze Brücke" (the whole bridge) - "Brücke" is feminine (die Brücke), nominative.
Without articles (strong declension): The adjective takes the ending that the definite article would have had.
• "frisches Gras" (fresh grass) - "Gras" is neuter. The "es" ending reflects "das".
• "neues Gras" (new grass) - "Gras" is neuter.
• "kleine Hufe" (small hooves) - "Hufe" is plural. The "e" ending reflects "die" (plural).
For A1, just remember: if it's before the noun, it needs an ending! If it's after "sein," it doesn't.
3. Cases: Nominative, Accusative, Dative
German nouns and pronouns change their form (or require specific articles) based on their function in the sentence. These are called "cases." A1 focuses mainly on Nominative and Accusative, with some Dative.
a) Nominative Case (Wer? / Was? - Who? / What?): The subject of the sentence is always in the nominative case.
• "Drei Ziegen lebten hier." (Three goats lived here.) - "Drei Ziegen" is the subject.
• "Der Berg war grün." (The mountain was green.) - "Der Berg" is the subject.
• "Ich bin es." (I am it.) - "Ich" is the subject.
• "Die erste Ziege war klein." (The first goat was small.) - "Die erste Ziege" is the subject.
b) Accusative Case (Wen? / Was? - Whom? / What?): The direct object of a verb is in the accusative case. This is the thing that receives the action.
• "Sie sahen einen Berg." (They saw a mountain.) - "Einen Berg" is the direct object of "sahen" (saw). Notice "ein" becomes "einen" for masculine nouns in accusative.
• "Ich fresse dich!" (I will eat you!) - "Dich" (you) is the direct object.
• "Er hatte große Augen." (He had big eyes.) - "Große Augen" is the direct object of "hatte" (had). (Plural nouns don't change their article in accusative, only masculine singular.)
c) Dative Case (Wem? - To whom? / For whom?): The indirect object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions is in the dative case.
• "Wer geht über meine Brücke?" (Who goes over my bridge?) - Here "über" (over) can take accusative or dative depending on movement. If there is movement across something, it's accusative. If it's static over something, it's dative. In this context, it implies movement across the bridge.
• "Warte auf meine Schwester!" (Wait for my sister!) - Here "auf" (on/for) usually takes accusative if there's a direction.
The story doesn't have many explicit simple dative examples, which is common for A1. A typical dative preposition you might encounter is "mit" (with): "mit dem Freund" (with the friend).
Subject = Nominative.
Direct object = Accusative.
Masculine articles change from der/ein (nominative)to den/einen (accusative). Other articles (die, das, plural die) stay the same in nominative and accusative.
This explanation covers the core grammar points relevant to an A1 German learner, using the story for context.