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- "Ich mache alles, was du möch…
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I just asked a German native, and she said it is a phrase you would use with someone you are close to, it means "I'd do anything for you", or "I'll do anything you want".
I tried "I make everything, whatever you like!" and I don't understand why that's wrong.
even though that's a translation that basically keeps the meaning of the sentence intact, it changes its composition: there's no subordinate in your sentence, while the "was" in the german sentence is there for that reason, to link the two sentences: "I make everything that/which you like"
I'm no native speaker but it doesn't sound like proper English, more like some broken colloquial way of speaking.
if "I do everything, what you would like" is correct then I give up. It sounds like a proposition heard outside a South East Asian military base.
"I am doing everything what you wish!" - it hurts...I can live with the fact that I got the translation wrong, but the alternate 'correct' sentence makes no sense...
These translations have now been removed. Sorry they persisted for so long!
Probably because, in English we usually say "I do etc." where German uses "icy mache". "I make" would work if you're talking about cooking . . .
"was du möchtest" is more like "that you like" than "that you want".
"I make everything that you like" is accepted by Duo.
Yes, the sentence was strange until I realized it should be "that" but iis it acceptible in Ger.
ich mache = i do/ i make. was machst du? = what are u doing? i do = ich tue (tun)/ ich mache. what can i do? = was kann ich tun? tun is hardly used directly.
Can anyone explain me why "möchtest" is used? Would "...was du magst" mean the same in this case?
You're right, that means the same. But it doesn't matter which word, the whole sentence is a bit strange anyway, also in German. This sentence is grammatical correct, no question, but I would rather understand it as ironic, than as usual.
Möchtest is subjunctive, so if I had to hazard a guess, I would say that möchtest is used because "I" am uncertain or doubtful of what it is exactly that "you" want. That's my best guess. I came to this conclusion by borrowing subjunctive rules from French and Spanish.
And, in case you aren't familiar with those rules, the subjunctive is mainly used for doubt/uncertainty and desire.
zum beispiel. Du möchtest mir.... und I sage ja.. Ich möchte dir auch.. :D
the second part of the sentence is not a question, it's a subordinate: "I make everything that you like"
Something I've just realised that adds to this problem is that in German, subordinate clauses are separated with a comma, whereas in English, we don't use them for that at all; commas are used to separate co-ordinating clauses of equal value in the overall sentence. We tend to forget that punctuation does different things in different languages - Thanks for the hint!
Does the German present tense translate to the English present, present progressive AND simple future tenses? The alternate translation that Duolingo provided to me was: "I will make everything that you like". Additionally, isn't "möch-" the subjunctive tense stem for mögen? If so, then shouldn't the translation be: "I will make everything that you would like"? Do any of you know the rules for employing the two subjunctive (Konjunktiv) tenses?
1) Depending on the context, the German present tense can refer to the present or the future. Also, Standard German doesn't have separate forms for the progressive and the simple aspects in the various tenses - this grammatical concept simply doesn't exist in Standard German.
2) Yes, "du möchtest" means "you would like". Basically, it's a more polite way of saying "du willst" (you want). "Du willst" could also be used in the German sentence in the exercise without changing the basic meaning. I think the appropriate English translation would depend largely on the context here. For example, if a man was pointing a gun at you, I don't think you would say "I'll do anything you would like!" Rather, you would use "want" or "like". English is not my native language though, so I maybe I'm wrong.
If a gun was pointed at me I would say "Ich mache alles, was du willst" (since whatever it will be it will be a demand, not a polite request!) or as not to upset the robber with my use of familiarity "Ich mache alles, was Sie wollen!" ;-)
It's just that in standard English, we change the German "was" to "that" when it is a relative pronoun. But in many UK dialects you will hear people say exactly what you have written, and sometimes it is right too!
in English we never say "I do everything which you like" but I use it here just to have it marked correct, that's learning.
I wrote "I'll do everything you want" and Duo perspicaciously marked it correct.
"I would do anything you like" why is this wrong! I mean I really don't know how one can differentiate between "will" and "would"
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My answer: "I make everything, what would you like" DLs answer: "I make everything, what you would like" hmmmmmmm
- Alles = everything.
- Was = what AND that. When it is a conjunction, 'was' means 'that'. Just like in French and Spanish, where 'que' takes on both meanings. I hope this helps. :)
The main clause is "Ich mache alles" ("I do everything" in this case "I'll do everything" really because it refers to future actions) and the subordinate, here a relative clause, describes 'alles' (everything) with "was du möchtest" ("that you would like") You may want to check out this link, look for 'indefinite nouns or pronouns' https://www.lsa.umich.edu/german/hmr/Grammatik/Relativsaetze/relative.html#WerWoWas
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Same question as krys1301 - I think the correct answer is "I do anything that you want", which is right now, and that is slightly different to "I will do anything that you want" which is in the future.
