Lingua

ver(un)sichern

I was inspired to write about today’s topic by a (very frequent recently) TV commercial of a German insurance company. Words versichern, verunsichern and Versicherung(en) come up quite often in it (what a surprise!) and that reminded me how tricky they can be.

Take those three sentences for example:

1. Ich versichere dich gegen Diebstahl. (I insure you against theft)

2. Ich versichere dir, dass ich keine bösen Absichten habe. (I assure you that I have no evil intentions)

3. Ich versichere dich meiner Treue und Hochachtung. (I assure you of my loyalty and deep respect)

Sentence No. 1 could be uttered by an insurance agent to his client. The 2. is used to assure somebody that something is (not) the case. I used to get it all wrong and say * Ich versichere dich, dass das stimmt! And my loyal German friend and flatmate whom I asked to always correct my mistakes used to say: You’re no insurance company, use dative!
Sentence No. 3 is written in a pretty elevated style and sophisticatedly mixes accusative with the oh, so difficult and rare genitive. If you always know how to correctly apply this case you have made it in the world (of German speakers).

One little verb, so many tricky options! And then there’s this little brother – verunsichern – in which this tiny un in the middle causes a complete change in meaning. At least this one only goes with accusative!