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Conversion is a type of word formation in which a word changes its grammatical category without adding prefixes or suffixes. German uses conversion frequently, especially when verbs become nouns or adjectives, or when adjectives are used as nouns. Although the word form may stay the same, its grammatical behavior, meaning, and sentence role change.
In this guide, you will learn:
what conversion is and how it works in German
which word class changes are most common
how converted words behave grammatically
common learner mistakes when interpreting converted forms
This guide helps English-speaking learners understand conversion as a systematic and productive word-formation process rather than an exception.
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