Question 18
Where do you have to go first in Germany if you want to get married?
German original: Wohin muss man in Deutschland zuerst gehen, wenn man heiraten möchte?. In the test, all questions are asked in German.
Answer options
- to the residents' registration office
- to the public order office
- to the employment agency
- to the registry office — Correct answer
Explanation
Anyone who wants to get married in Germany must first go to the Standesamt (registry office). The civil ceremony at the Standesamt is the only legally recognized form of marriage. A church wedding alone has no legal effect.
Key terms in this question
- Germany — Germany is a country in central Europe with a parliamentary democracy. It is a member of the European Union and its capital is Berlin.
- must / has to — A modal auxiliary verb that expresses obligation or necessity. It indicates that something is required or mandatory.
- Federal state — A federal state is one of the 16 regions that together form Germany. Each state has its own government, parliament, and areas of responsibility.
- would like — 'Möchte' is a polite form of the verb 'mögen' used to express a wish or polite request. For example: 'Ich möchte Wasser trinken' means 'I would like to drink water'.
- German — German is the official language of Germany, Austria, and part of Switzerland. It is the native language of approximately 100 million people.
- to get married — To get married means to enter into a legal union with another person. Through marriage, two people officially become spouses.
- if / when — 'Wenn' is a conjunction that expresses a condition or a point in time. It connects two clauses and indicates that something happens under a certain condition or at a certain moment.
- If / When — 'Wenn' is a conjunction that introduces a condition or a point in time. It connects two clauses and shows that something applies under a certain circumstance.