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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Level Grammar Topic Page

A1 German Alphabet (Pronunciation) 2

A1 Articles with Nouns (Definite and Indefinite) 4
A1 Noun Gender 5
A1 Plural Forms of Nouns 6
A1 Basic Sentence Structure 7
A1 Present Tense of Regular Verbs 10
A1 Subject Pronouns 12
A1 Possessive Pronouns 14
A1 Noun Cases 15
A1 Prepositions of Place 17
A1 Adjective Endings 18
A1 Negation 20
A2 Simple Past Tense 22
A2 Modal Verbs 24
A2 Comparative and Superlative Adjectives 25
A2 Reflexive Verbs 27
A2 Future Tense 29
A2 Imperatives 30
A2 Word Order 32
A2 Question Words 34
A2 Possessive Adjectives 35
B1 Present Perfect Tense 36
B1 Relative Pronouns 38
B1 Passive Voice 40
B1 Reported Speech 41
B1 Conditional Sentences 43
B1 Subjunctive Mood 44
B2 Past Perfect Tense 46
B2 Gerunds and Infinitives 47
B2 Indirect Questions 48
B2 Causative Constructions 49
B2 Conjunctions 51

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

German Alphabet
Here's the German alphabet chart with umlauts presented in a multiple-column table for a more
concise format, along with mnemonic devices to aid in retention and recall:

Letter Pronunciation Mnemonic

A ah "A" is for "ahh", like when you're at the doctor's office.
Ä eh Imagine a hat (Hut) with an umlaut on top (Ä).
B beh "B" sounds like "bay" as in a bay of water.
C tseh Think of "tsunami" to remember the "ts" sound for "C".
D deh "D" is for "day", like the start of a new day.
E eh "E" sounds like the "ay" in "say".
F ef Picture an "F" on fire (Feuer) to remember the sound.
G geh "G" like "get", the action of obtaining something.
H ha "H" is for "ha" like the laughter sound.
I ee "I" sounds like the "ee" in "see".
J yot Imagine a "J" shaped like a yacht (Yacht).
K kah Think of a "car" (Auto) for the "k" sound.
L ell Picture a ladder (Leiter) shaped like an "L".
M em "M" sounds like "em" as in the letter "M".
N en "N" is for "end", like the end of a story.
O oh "O" sounds like "oh" as in surprise.
Ö eu Imagine a UFO (UFO) hovering over an Ö shape.
P peh Picture a "P" for "pen" writing on paper.
Q kuh Think of a cow (Kuh) for the "qu" sound.
R err "R" sounds like "err" as in a mistake.
S ess "S" is for "snake", like the hissing sound it makes.
T teh Think of "T" as in "ten" (Zehn).
U oo "U" sounds like "oo" as in "moo" of a cow.
Ü ü Imagine two dots (Umlaut) making a "Ü" sound.
V fow "V" is like "vow", a solemn promise.
W veh Picture a "W" shaped like waves (Wellen).
X iks "X" sounds like "iks" as in the letter "X".
Y üpsylon Think of "Y" as in "yogurt" (Joghurt) for the sound.
Z tsett "Z" is for "zoo", like the sound of animals.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Tips and Tricks:

​
​ 1. Practice Pronunciation Regularly: Spend some time each day practicing the
pronunciation of the German alphabet. Repetition is key to mastering
pronunciation.
​ 2. Listen to Native Speakers: Listen to audio recordings or watch videos of native
German speakers pronouncing the alphabet to get a sense of the correct
pronunciation.
​ 3. Break it Down: If you find certain sounds challenging, break them down into
smaller parts and practice them individually.
​ 4. Use Flashcards: Create flashcards with the letters of the German alphabet on
one side and their pronunciation on the other. This will help reinforce your learning
through repetition.
​ 5. Record Yourself: Record yourself pronouncing the letters and compare your
pronunciation to native speakers. This can help you identify areas for
improvement.
6. Focus on Umlauts: Pay extra attention to the pronunciation of letters with
umlauts (Ä, Ö, Ü). Practice pronouncing them distinctly, as they can be challenging
for learners.
​ 7. Differentiate Similar Sounds: Note the differences in pronunciation between
similar sounds, such as Ä and E, Ö and O, and Ü and U. Practice these pairs to
improve your ability to distinguish them.
​ 8. Seek Feedback: Ask for feedback from native speakers or your instructor on
your pronunciation of umlauted letters. Feedback can help you refine your
pronunciation and improve accuracy.
​ 9.Integrate into Vocabulary Practice: As you expand your vocabulary, incorporate
words containing umlauted letters into your practice. This will help reinforce their
pronunciation in context.
​ 10.Mnemonic Devices:
-Create mental connections between the pronunciation of the letter and its
mnemonic representation.
-Practice visualizing the mnemonic as you go through the alphabet to reinforce
retention.
-Use repetition and recall exercises with the mnemonic devices to strengthen
memory recall.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Articles with Nouns (Definite and Indefinite)

Let's dive into the topic of articles with nouns, both definite and indefinite, in German.
Below is an interactive chart detailing the usage of definite and indefinite articles with
nouns:

German English Masculine Feminine Neuter

Plural
Article Equivalent Singular Singular Singular
Definite The der die das die
Indefinite A / An ein eine ein -
Now, let's provide some mnemonic devices to aid in remembering the usage of definite
and indefinite articles:

1. Definite Articles ("The"):

- Der: Think of "Der Mann" (the man), associating "der" with masculine nouns.
- Die: Imagine "Die Frau" (the woman), linking "die" with feminine nouns.
- Das: Picture "Das Kind" (the child), connecting "das" with neuter nouns.
- Die (Plural): Remember "Die Kinder" (the children), noting that "die" is used for plural
nouns.

2. Indefinite Articles ("A" / "An"):

- Ein: Associate "Ein Mann" (a man) with masculine nouns.
- Eine: Connect "Eine Frau" (a woman) with feminine nouns.
- Ein: Similarly, use "Ein Kind" (a child) for neuter nouns.
- - (Plural): Note that there is no indefinite article for plural nouns in German.

Tips and Tricks:

1. Gender Recognition: Practice associating the correct gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) with
nouns when learning new vocabulary.
2. Memorize Key Nouns: Focus on memorizing common nouns along with their corresponding
definite and indefinite articles to reinforce usage.
3. Practice with Flashcards: Create flashcards with nouns on one side and their corresponding
articles on the other side. Quiz yourself regularly to strengthen memory recall.
4. Use in Context: Incorporate definite and indefinite articles into sentences or short paragraphs
to practice their usage in context.
5. Seek Patterns: Look for patterns in the articles used with certain noun endings or categories
(e.g., professions, colors) to aid memorization.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Noun Gender

Let's explore the topic of noun gender in German, which is an essential aspect of the
language. Below is an interactive chart detailing the three genders in German along with
some common examples:

Gender Examples Definite Article Indefinite Article

der Mann (man)
Masculine der ein
der Tisch (table)
die Frau (woman)
Feminine die eine
die Lampe (lamp)
das Kind (child)
Neuter das ein
das Buch (book)

Mnemonic Devices:
1. Masculine (Der): Think of "der Mann" (the man) or "der Tisch" (the table). Imagine
masculine objects or people.
2. Feminine (Die): Associate "die Frau" (the woman) or "die Lampe" (the lamp). Visualize
feminine nouns or objects.
3. Neuter (Das): Connect "das Kind" (the child) or "das Buch" (the book). Picture neutral
or inanimate objects.

Tips and Tricks:

Learn Nouns with Articles: Always learn new nouns together with their articles to reinforce
gender.
Look for Patterns: Pay attention to noun endings that often indicate gender (e.g., "-ung" and "-heit"
are typically feminine).
Practice with Flashcards: Create flashcards with nouns, their gender, and their corresponding
articles. Practice regularly to internalize gender.
Use Gender in Context: Practice using nouns with their correct articles in sentences or short
paragraphs to reinforce learning.
Review Regularly: Regularly review noun genders and articles to prevent forgetting and strengthen
memory retention.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Plural Forms Of Nouns

Singular Plural
der Mann die Männer
die Frau die Frauen
das Kind die Kinder
der Tisch die Tische
das Buch die Bücher
die Lampe die Lampen

Mnemonic Devices:

1.Regular Plural Endings: For masculine and neuter nouns, remember that the plural
often adds "-e" or "-er" to the singular form. For feminine nouns, the plural typically adds
"-n" or "-en".

2.Irregular Plurals: Some nouns have irregular plural forms that need to be memorized
individually. Practice these irregular forms regularly to reinforce retention.

3. Recognize Patterns: Look for patterns in plural formation, such as umlaut changes or
the addition of an "-n" or "-en" ending, to aid in learning.

Tips and Tricks:

Learn Nouns with Plurals: When learning new nouns, always learn their plural forms alongside
their singular forms.

Practice with Flashcards: Create flashcards with singular nouns on one side and their
corresponding plural forms on the other side. Practice regularly to internalize plural forms.

Use in Context: Practice using nouns in their plural forms in sentences or short paragraphs to
reinforce learning and understanding.

Review Regularly: Regularly review plural forms of nouns to prevent forgetting and strengthen
memory retention.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Basic Sentence Structure

Below is an explanation of the typical word order in German sentences:

Subject (Subjekt): The subject is the person or thing performing the action of the verb.
It usually comes first in the sentence.

Verb (Verb): The verb indicates the action of the sentence. It follows the subject in a
declarative sentence.

Object (Objekt): The object receives the action of the verb. It can be a direct object
(receives the action directly) or an indirect object (affected by the action indirectly).
Objects typically follow the verb.

The basic word order in a simple German sentence is:

Subject (Subjekt) - Verb (Verb) - Object (Objekt)

For example:

Ich (subjekt) spiele (verb) Fußball (objekt).

I play soccer

However, word order can change depending on the type of sentence or additional
information included.

In questions, the verb often comes before the subject:

Verb (Verb) - Subject (Subjekt) - Object (Objekt)

For example:

Spielst (verb) du (subjekt) Fußball (objekt)?

Do you play soccer?

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Basic Sentence Structure

Let's analyze some example sentences in German texts or conversations to identify the
word order and understand how it varies depending on the sentence type.

We'll then expand with adverbial phrases examples to provide additional context.

​ Basic Sentence with Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) Order:

● Example: "Ich lese ein Buch" (I am reading a book)
● Word Order: Subject (Ich) - Verb (lese) - Object (ein Buch)
● Explanation: The subject "Ich" comes first, followed by the verb "lese," and
then the object "ein Buch."
​
​ Inverted Word Order in Questions:
● Example: "Liest du ein Buch?" (Are you reading a book?)
● Word Order: Verb (Liest) - Subject (du) - Object (ein Buch)
● Explanation: In questions, the verb comes before the subject. The object
still follows the verb.
​
​ Sentence with Adverbial Phrase:
● Example: "Ich lese jeden Tag ein Buch" (I read a book every day)
● Word Order: Subject (Ich) - Verb (lese) - Adverbial Phrase (jeden Tag) -
Object (ein Buch)
● Explanation: The adverbial phrase "jeden Tag" (every day) is placed after
the verb and before the object to specify the frequency of the action.
​
​ Complex Sentence with Multiple Clauses:
● Example: "Wenn ich Zeit habe, lese ich ein Buch" (When I have time, I read a
book)
● Word Order: Subordinate Clause (Wenn ich Zeit habe), Main Clause (ich
lese ein Buch)
● Explanation: In this sentence, we have a subordinate clause ("Wenn ich
Zeit habe") introduced by the subordinating conjunction "wenn" (when),
followed by the main clause ("ich lese ein Buch").

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Basic Sentence Structure

Expanding with Adverbial Phrases Examples:

​ "Ich lese gerne ein Buch" (I like to read a book)
● Adverbial Phrase: gerne (happily, willingly)
● Position: After the verb "lese" to specify the manner or attitude of the
action.
​
​ "Wir gehen morgen ins Kino" (We are going to the cinema tomorrow)
● Adverbial Phrase: morgen (tomorrow)
● Position: Before the prepositional phrase "ins Kino" (to the cinema) to
specify the time of the action.
​
​ "Sie spielen Fußball im Park" (They play soccer in the park)
● Adverbial Phrase: im Park (in the park)
● Position: After the verb "spielen" to specify the location of the action.

By analyzing these examples, you can see how word order and the placement of
adverbial phrases play crucial roles in conveying meaning and structuring sentences in
German.

Practice constructing and analyzing sentences with various word orders and adverbial
phrases to enhance your understanding and fluency in German.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Present Tense of Regular Verbs

Regular verbs follow predictable patterns when conjugated in the present tense. Below
is an interactive chart outlining the conjugation of regular verbs in the present tense for
the three persons

(I, you, he/she/it) and examples:

Example verb (sprechen - to

Person Verb ending
speak)
I (ich) -e ich spreche
You (du) -st du sprichst
He/She/It
-t er/sie/es spricht
(er/sie/es)
We (wir) -en wir sprechen
You (ihr) -t ihr sprecht
They (sie/Sie) -en sie/Sie sprechen

Mnemonic Devices:

Verb Endings: Notice the consistent endings for regular verbs in the present tense: "-e"
for "ich", "-st" for "du", "-t" for "er/sie/es", "-en" for "wir" and "sie/Sie", and "-t" for "ihr".

Stem Changes: Remember that regular verbs typically do not undergo stem changes in
the present tense, making their conjugation more straightforward.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Present Tense of Regular Verbs

Tips and Tricks:

Practice Conjugation: Practice conjugating regular verbs in the present tense regularly,
focusing on memorizing the endings for each person.

Start with Common Verbs: Begin with common verbs such as "sprechen" (to speak),
"arbeiten" (to work), or "machen" (to do) to build your conjugation skills.

Use in Sentences: Practice using conjugated verbs in sentences to reinforce their usage
in context.

Review Regularly: Regularly review and practice conjugating regular verbs to strengthen
your skills and retention.

Examples:

​ Ich spreche Deutsch. (I speak German.)

​ Du arbeitest hart. (You work hard.)
​ Er liest ein Buch. (He reads a book.)
​ Wir tanzen gerne. (We like to dance.)
​ Ihr trinkt Tee. (You drink tea.)
​ Sie lernen Deutsch. (They learn German.)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are used to replace nouns when referring to people or things in a
sentence. Below is an interactive chart outlining the subject pronouns in German along
with their English equivalents:

German Subject
English Equivalent Usage
Pronoun
Used for referring to oneself as the
ich I
subject.
Used when addressing one person
you (singular,
du informally, such as a friend or
informal)
family member.
Used when referring to a male
er he
person or thing as the subject.
Used when referring to a female
sie (feminine) she
person or thing as the subject.
Used when referring to an
es (neuter) it inanimate object or an animal as
the subject.
Used when referring to oneself and
wir we
others as the subject.
Used when addressing multiple
ihr you (plural, informal) people informally, such as friends
or family members.
Used when referring to a group of
sie (plural) they
people or things as the subject.
Used when addressing one or more
you (singular or
Sie (formal) people formally, such as in
plural, formal)
professional or respectful settings.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Subject Pronouns

Mnemonic Devices:

​ "I" for "ich": Remember that "ich" means "I" in English.

​ "You" for "du" and "ihr": "Du" is used for addressing one person
informally, similar to "you" in English. "Ihr" is used for addressing
multiple people informally.
​ "He," "She," and "It" for "er," "sie," and "es": The subject pronouns "er,"
"sie," and "es" correspond to "he," "she," and "it" respectively in English.
​ "We" for "wir" and "They" for "sie": "Wir" means "we" and "sie" (plural)
means "they" in English.
​ "You" for "Sie" (formal): "Sie" (capitalized) is used for addressing one
or more people formally, similar to "you" in English.

Tips and Tricks:

​ Learn Associated Verb Conjugations: Pay attention to how subject pronouns are
used with verbs in sentences and how verb conjugations change accordingly.
​ Differentiate Singular and Plural: Pay attention to whether the subject pronoun
refers to one person (singular) or more than one person (plural) in the context of
the sentence.
​ Practice with Dialogues: Practice constructing dialogues or conversations using
subject pronouns to improve fluency.

Examples:

​ Ich spreche Deutsch. (I speak German.)

​ Du bist mein Freund. (You are my friend.)
​ Er liest ein Buch. (He reads a book.)
​ Sie ist eine Lehrerin. (She is a teacher.)
​ Es regnet heute. (It is raining today.)
​ Wir gehen ins Kino. (We are going to the cinema.)
​ Ihr habt Spaß. (You are having fun.)
​ Sie sind meine Freunde. (They are my friends.)

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 Easy Peasy German Grammar

Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership or possession of something.
Below is an interactive table outlining possessive pronouns in German along with their
English equivalents:

German
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Possessive English Equivalent Plural
Singular Singular Singular
Pronoun
mein my mein meine mein meine
dein your (informal) dein deine dein deine
sein his / its sein seine sein seine
ihr her / its ihr ihre ihr ihre
unser our unser unsere unser unsere
euer your (plural, informal) euer eure euer eure
ihr their ihr ihre ihr ihre
Ihr your (formal) Ihr Ihre Ihr Ihre

Mnemonic Devices:
1. Similarity to English: Many German possessive pronouns have direct equivalents in
English, making them easier to remember.
2. Agreement with Gender and Number: Note how possessive pronouns change based
on the gender and number of the noun they're referring to.

Tips and Tricks:

1. Associate with Nouns: Learn possessive pronouns together with the nouns they modify
to reinforce their usage.
2.Understand Formality: Pay attention to the difference between informal (du) and formal
(Sie) forms of "your" in German.

Examples:
1. Das ist mein Buch. (That is my book.)
2. Wo ist dein Hund? (Where is your dog?)
3. Das ist ihr Haus. (That is her house.)
4. Das sind unsere Kinder. (Those are our children.)
5. Wo sind eure Schlüssel? (Where are your keys?)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Noun Cases

Noun cases indicate the role that a noun plays in a sentence, such as subject, direct
object, indirect object, or possessive. There are four cases in German: nominative,
accusative, dative, and genitive.

1. Nominative Case (Nominativ):

- Used for the subject of a sentence, the one performing the action.
- Example: "Der Hund bellt." (The dog is barking.)
- The article and noun are in the nominative case: "Der Hund" (The dog).

2. Accusative Case (Akkusativ):

- Used for the direct object of a sentence, the receiver of the action.
- Example: "Ich sehe den Ball." (I see the ball.)
- The article and noun are in the accusative case: "den Ball" (the ball).

3. Dative Case (Dativ):

- Used for the indirect object of a sentence, the recipient of the action.
- Example: "Er gibt dem Mädchen einen Apfel." (He gives the girl an apple.)
- The article and noun are in the dative case: "dem Mädchen" (the girl).

4. Genitive Case (Genitiv):

- Used to show possession or relationship between nouns.
- Example: "Das ist das Buch des Lehrers." (That is the teacher's book.)
- The article and noun are in the genitive case: "des Lehrers" (of the teacher).

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 Easy Peasy German Grammar

Noun Cases

Case Role Example

Nominative Subject Der Hund bellt. (The dog barks.)
Accusative Direct Object Ich sehe den Ball. (I see the ball.)
Dative Indirect Object Er gibt dem Mädchen einen Apfel. (He gives the girl an apple.)
Genitive Possession Das ist das Buch des Lehrers. (That is the teacher's book.)

Understanding the role of each case helps in choosing the correct articles and noun
endings. The articles change depending on the case and the gender of the noun. Here's
a brief overview:

- Definite Articles (Bestimmte Artikel): "der" (masculine), "die" (feminine), "das" (neuter),
"die" (plural)
- Indefinite Articles (Unbestimmte Artikel): "ein" (masculine), "eine" (feminine), "ein"
(neuter), "keine" (plural)

Mnemonic Devices:
- Nominative - Subject (Nomen ist der Chef): Think of the noun as the boss, the one in
charge, like the subject of a sentence.
- Accusative - Action (Action hat den Ball): The direct object receives the action, like
catching a ball.
- Dative - Date (Date mit dem Mädchen): The indirect object receives something, like
going on a date with the girl.
- Genitive - Genie (Genie des Lehrers): Think of the possessive relationship, like the
genius of the teacher.

By understanding noun cases and their roles, you'll be better equipped to use articles
and identify the function of nouns in sentences.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Prepositions Of Place

Prepositions are essential for indicating the location or position of objects or people in
relation to other elements in a sentence. Below is a detailed table outlining prepositions
of place in German along with their English equivalents and examples:

Use With
German
English Equivalent Example Noun Case Accusative
Preposition
and Dative
in in, inside In der Schule (in the school) Dative Both
auf on, onto Auf dem Tisch (on the table) Dative Accusative
an at, by, near An der Tür (by the door) Dative Both
Vor dem Haus (in front of the
vor in front of Dative Both
house)
hinter behind Hinter dem Auto (behind the car) Dative Both
Neben dem Park (next to the
neben next to, beside Dative Both
park)
Zwischen den Bäumen (between Accusativ
zwischen between Accusative
the trees) e
Über dem Haus (above the
über above, over Dative Both
house)
Unter dem Tisch (under the
unter under, below Dative Both
table)
Hinter dem Haus (behind the
hinter behind Dative Both
house)

Mnemonic Devices:
1. Visualize Locations: Visualize the spatial relationship described by each preposition
to remember its meaning. For example, "in" (in, inside) suggests being contained within
something, while "auf" (on, onto) implies being positioned above or on top of something.
2. Create Mental Images: Create mental images or associations for each preposition to
reinforce their meanings. For instance, imagine yourself standing "vor" (in front of) a
house or "hinter" (behind) a tree.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Adjective Endings

Adjective endings change depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun they
describe. Below is an introduction to adjective endings along with examples:

In German, adjectives can have different endings depending on whether they directly
precede a noun (attributive position) or follow a form of the verb "sein" (predicative
position). The endings also depend on the gender, number, and case of the noun they
describe.

Attributive Adjective Endings:

In attributive position, adjectives directly precede the noun they describe. The endings
of attributive adjectives depend on the gender, number, and case of the noun they
accompany.

Here's a basic overview of the endings for attributive adjectives:

Feminin
Case Masculine Neuter Plural
e
Nominative -er -e -es -e
Accusative -en -e -es -e
Dative -em -er -em -en
Genitive -en -er -en -er

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Adjective Endings

Predicative Adjective Endings:

In predicative position, adjectives follow a form of the verb "sein" (to be) and do not
change their endings based on the gender, number, or case of the noun.

Examples:

1. Attributive Position:
- Der große Hund (The big dog)
- Die schöne Blume (The beautiful flower)
- Das kleine Kind (The small child)
- Die neuen Bücher (The new books)

2. Predicative Position:
- Der Hund ist groß. (The dog is big.)
- Die Blume ist schön. (The flower is beautiful.)
- Das Kind ist klein. (The child is small.)
- Die Bücher sind neu. (The books are new.)

Mnemonic Devices:
- GNaD(Genitive, Nominative, Dative, Accusative): Use this acronym to remember the
order of cases when dealing with adjective endings in German.

Tips and Tricks:

- Practice identifying the gender, number, and case of nouns to determine the appropriate
adjective endings.
- Pay attention to the role of the adjective in the sentence (attributive or predicative) to
select the correct ending.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Negation

Negation is the process of expressing the negative form of a statement or sentence. In

German, negation is typically achieved using the word "nicht" (not). Below is an
introduction to negation in German:

Element Example (Affirmative) Example (Negative)

Ich spreche Deutsch. Ich spreche nicht Deutsch.
Verbs
(I speak German.) (I do not speak German.)
Er ist groß. Er ist nicht groß.
Adjectives
(He is tall.) (He is not tall.)
Sie geht oft ins Kino. Sie geht nicht oft ins Kino.
Adverbs
(She often goes to the cinema.) (She does not often go to the cinema.)
Ich habe ein Buch. Ich habe kein Buch.
Nouns (I have a book.) (I have no book.)

Negating Statements with "Nicht":

In German, "nicht" is commonly used to negate verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and noun
phrases. It usually comes immediately after the verb or the element being negated.

Examples:
1. Ich spreche Deutsch. (I speak German.)
- Negated: Ich spreche nicht Deutsch. (I do not speak German.)
2. Er ist groß. (He is tall.)
- Negated: Er ist nicht groß. (He is not tall.)
3. Sie geht oft ins Kino. (She often goes to the cinema.)
- Negated: Sie geht nicht oft ins Kino. (She does not often go to the cinema

Position of "Nicht":
- With Verbs: "Nicht" usually comes after the conjugated verb.
- With Adjectives/Adverbs: "Nicht" precedes the adjective or adverb being negated.
- With Nouns: "Nicht" precedes the noun or noun phrase being negated.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Negation

Double Negation:
In German, double negation is not used as in some other languages. Using "nicht" is
sufficient for expressing negation.

Example:
- Incorrect: Ich spreche nicht kein Deutsch. (I do not speak no German.)
- Correct: Ich spreche nicht Deutsch. (I do not speak German.)

Negating with "Kein":

Besides "nicht," German also uses "kein" (not a/none) to negate nouns or noun phrases
when indicating absence or non-existence of something.

Example:
- Ich habe kein Geld. (I have no money.)

Mnemonic Devices:
- Think in Terms of "Not": Just like in English, "nicht" means "not" in German. Use it to
express negation.
- Placement Practice: Practice placing "nicht" correctly in sentences to negate different
elements.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense, also known as the "Präteritum" or "Imperfekt," is used to
describe actions that happened in the past and are completed. Although the simple
past tense is less commonly used in spoken German, it is frequently encountered in
written language, especially in formal contexts. Below is a detailed explanation of the
simple past tense:

Formation of Simple Past Tense:

In German, the simple past tense is formed by adding specific endings to the stem of
the verb. The endings vary depending on the verb type (weak, strong, or mixed). Here
are the general rules for conjugating regular (weak) verbs in the simple past tense:

Person Weak Verb Example (spielen - to play)

ich spielte
du spieltest
er/sie/es spielte
wir spielten
ihr spieltet
sie/Sie spielten

Example Sentences:
1. Ich spielte Fußball. (I played soccer.)
2. Du spieltest Klavier. (You played piano.)
3. Er/sie/es spielte im Park. (He/she/it played in the park.)
4. Wir spielten im Garten. (We played in the garden.)
5. Ihr spieltet Basketball. (You played basketball.)
6. Sie spielten Tennis. (They played tennis.)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Simple Past Tense

Irregular Verbs:
While many verbs follow regular conjugation patterns in the simple past tense, some
verbs are irregular and have unique conjugation forms. Common irregular verbs
include "sein" (to be), "haben" (to have), "gehen" (to go), and "kommen" (to come).

Usage:
- The simple past tense is often used in written narratives, literature, and formal
contexts.
- In spoken German, the perfect tense (present perfect) is more commonly used to
describe past events.

Mnemonic Devices:
- Regular Endings: Practice memorizing the regular verb endings to easily conjugate
verbs in the simple past tense.
- Practice with Common Verbs: Start by practicing with common verbs to become
familiar with their simple past forms.
- Read and Listen: Exposure to written texts and listening to spoken German can help
reinforce the usage of the simple past tense.

By understanding the formation and usage of the simple past tense, you'll be able to
effectively express past actions in German.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are a crucial part of German grammar, as they express attitudes like ability,
necessity, obligation, permission, or possibility.
List of Modal Verbs:
1. können (can, to be able to)
2. müssen (must, to have to)
3. dürfen (may, to be allowed to)
4. sollen (should, to be supposed to)
5. wollen (want, to want to)
6. mögen (like, to like to)

Usage of Modal Verbs:

- Modal verbs are used with infinitive verbs to indicate the action's modalities.
- They usually precede the infinitive verb in the sentence.
- Modal verbs change their form according to the subject, but the infinitive verb remains
in its base form.

Conjugation of Modal Verbs (Present Tense):

Person können müssen dürfen sollen wollen mögen
ich kann muss darf soll will mag
du kannst musst darfst sollst willst magst
er/sie/es kann muss darf soll will mag
wir können müssen dürfen sollen wollen mögen
ihr könnt müsst dürft sollt wollt mögt
sie/Sie können müssen dürfen sollen wollen mögen
Examples:
1. Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German.)
2. Du musst heute Abend arbeiten. (You must work tonight.)
3. Er darf das Auto fahren. (He is allowed to drive the car.)
4. Wir sollen pünktlich sein. (We should be punctual.)
5. Ihr wollt ins Kino gehen. (You want to go to the cinema.)
6. Sie mögen kein Gemüse. (They don't like vegetables.)

Mnemonic Devices:
- KMD SWM: A mnemonic to remember the order of modal verbs: können, müssen,
dürfen, sollen, wollen, mögen.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things, while superlative adjectives
are used to compare three or more things. Below is a detailed explanation along with
examples:

Comparative Adjectives (Komparativ):

In German, comparative adjectives are formed by adding "-er" to the adjective. If the
adjective ends in "-e", simply add "-r". Some irregular adjectives have special forms. Here
are the general rules:

- Regular Adjectives:
- Example: alt (old) → älter (older)
- Example: groß (big) → größer (bigger)
- Adjectives Ending in "-e":
- Example: teuer (expensive) → teurer (more expensive)
- Irregular Adjectives:
- Example: gut (good) → besser (better)
- Example: viel (much/many) → mehr (more)

Examples:
1. Mein Auto ist schneller als dein Auto. (My car is faster than your car.)
2. Peter ist älter als Maria. (Peter is older than Maria.)
3. Diese Wohnung ist größer als die andere. (This apartment is bigger than the other one.)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Superlative Adjectives (Superlativ):

In German, superlative adjectives are formed by adding "-st" to the adjective, or by

using "am" before the adjective and "–sten" at the end.

Here are the general rules:

- Regular Adjectives:
- Example: alt (old) → am ältesten (oldest)
- Example: groß (big) → am größten (biggest)
- Irregular Adjectives:
- Example: gut (good) → am besten (best)
- Example: viel (much/many) → am meisten (most)
Examples:
1. Mein Auto ist das schnellste. (My car is the fastest.)
2. Peter ist der älteste in der Familie. (Peter is the oldest in the family.)
3. Diese Wohnung ist am größten. (This apartment is the biggest.)

Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form

alt (old) älter am ältesten
groß (big) größer am größten
teuer (expensive) teurer am teuersten
gut (good) besser am besten
viel (much/many) mehr am meisten
schön (beautiful) schöner am schönsten
lang (long) länger am längsten
jung (young) jünger am jüngsten
klug (clever) klüger am klügsten
interessant (interesting) interessanter am interessantesten

Comparison with "Mehr" and "Weniger":

For adjectives that do not change form, "mehr" (more) and "weniger" (less) are used
instead of the comparative and superlative forms.

Examples:
1. Mein Auto ist schneller. (My car is faster.)
2. Peter ist älter. (Peter is older.)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are an essential aspect of German grammar, so let's delve into them
with greater depth.

Understanding Reflexive Verbs:

Reflexive verbs are verbs where the subject and the object are the same person or thing.
In English, we often use reflexive pronouns like "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself,"
etc., to indicate reflexive actions. In German, reflexive verbs are often accompanied by
reflexive pronouns, which usually end in "-sich."

Formation of Reflexive Verbs:

Reflexive pronouns in German depend on the grammatical person and number of the
subject. Here's how they are formed:

Person Reflexive Pronoun

ich (I) mich (myself)
du (you) dich (yourself)
er/sie/es (he/she/it) sich (himself/herself/itself)
wir (we) uns (ourselves)
ihr (you all) euch (yourselves)
sie/Sie (they/you formal) sich (themselves/yourself formal)

Example Sentences with Reflexive Verbs:

1. Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.)
2. Sie kämmt sich die Haare. (She is combing her hair.)
3. Wir freuen uns auf das Fest. (We are looking forward to the party.)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive Verbs in Different Tenses:
Reflexive verbs conjugate like regular verbs in different tenses. The reflexive pronoun is
placed before the conjugated verb in most cases.

Tense Example Reflexive Pronoun Placement

Ich wasche mich.
Present Tense Before the conjugated verb
(I wash myself.)
Ich habe mich gewaschen.
Past Tense (Perfekt) Before the auxiliary verb
(I have washed myself.)
Ich wusch mich.
Imperfect (Präteritum) Before the conjugated verb
(I washed myself.)
Ich werde mich waschen.
Future Tense (Futur I) Before the auxiliary verb
(I will wash myself.)

Common Reflexive Verbs:

There are numerous reflexive verbs in German. Some common ones include:

Reflexive Verb Meaning Example Sentence

sich waschen to wash (oneself) Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.)

Sie freut sich auf das Fest. (She is

sich freuen to be glad/happy
looking forward to the party.)

Wir treffen uns um sieben Uhr. (We

sich treffen to meet
are meeting at seven o'clock.)

Er zieht sich schnell an. (He dresses

sich anziehen to get dressed
quickly.)
Sie setzt sich auf die Bank. (She sits
sich setzen to sit down
down on the bench.)

sich fühlen to feel Ich fühle mich müde. (I feel tired.)

Mnemonic Devices:
- Think of the Action Reflecting Back: Reflexive actions are like actions reflecting back
onto the subject.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Future Tense

The future tense in German talks about things that will happen later. There are two main
ways to talk about the future:

Future Tense with "Werden":

To talk about the future using "werden" (to become), you need two parts: "werden" and
the main verb in its normal form.

Example:
- Ich werde Deutsch lernen. (I will learn German.)
- Du wirst nächste Woche nach Berlin reisen. (You will travel to Berlin next week.)
- Er wird ein Buch lesen. (He will read a book.)
- Wir werden morgen ins Kino gehen. (We will go to the cinema tomorrow.)
- Ihr werdet bald Geburtstag haben. (You will have a birthday soon.)
- Sie werden nächstes Jahr in den Urlaub fahren. (They will go on vacation next year.)

Future Tense with Present Tense + Time Expression:

You can also talk about the future by using the present tense with a time word.

Example:
- Ich fliege nächste Woche nach Spanien. (I am flying to Spain next week.)
- Wir gehen heute Abend ins Theater. (We are going to the theater tonight.)

Formation of the Future Tense:

Here's a table that shows how to use "werden" to talk about the future:

Subject "Werden" Form Example

ich werde Ich werde Deutsch lernen.
du wirst Du wirst nach Berlin reisen.
er/sie/es wird Er wird ein Buch lesen.
wir werden Wir werden ins Kino gehen.
ihr werdet Ihr werdet bald Geburtstag haben.
sie/Sie werden Sie werden in den Urlaub fahren.
This table shows how to use "werden" with different subjects to talk about the future.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Imperatives

Imperatives are used to give commands, instructions, or requests. In German,

imperatives are formed differently depending on whether you're addressing someone
informally (du) or formally (Sie), or addressing multiple people (ihr).

Imperatives for "Du":

To form the imperative for "du," you generally remove the subject pronoun and
conjugate the verb in the imperative form. However, there are some irregular verbs that
have unique imperative forms.

Example:
- Regular verbs:
- Kommen (to come) → Komm! (Come!)
- Essen (to eat) → Iss! (Eat!)
- Irregular verbs:
- Sein (to be) → Sei! (Be!)
- Haben (to have) → Hab! (Have!)

Imperatives for "Sie" (Formal) and "Ihr" (Plural):

For the formal "Sie" and plural "ihr" forms, the imperative is the same as the conjugated
verb in the present tense. You simply use the verb form without any changes.

Example:
- Formal (Sie):
- Gehen Sie nach links. (Go to the left.)
- Plural (ihr):
- Geht nach links. (Go to the left.)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Imperatives

Negative Imperatives:
To form negative imperatives (commands telling someone not to do something), you
add "nicht" before the verb in the imperative form.

Example:
- Mach das nicht! (Don't do that!)

Pronoun Regular Verb Example Irregular Verb Example

du Komm! (Come!) Sei ruhig! (Be quiet!)
Sie Gehen Sie! (Go!) Seien Sie vorsichtig! (Be careful!)
ihr Geht! (Go!) Seid leise! (Be quiet!)
Negative Mach das nicht! (Don't do that!) Sei nicht unhöflich! (Don't be rude!)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Word Order

Let's delve deeper into the topic of word order in German:

Understanding Word Order in German:

1. Basic Word Order:

- In simple German sentences, the standard word order is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO),
similar to English.
- Example: Ich (Subject) esse (Verb) einen Apfel (Object). (I eat an apple.)

2. Verb Placement:
- The conjugated verb typically occupies the second position in a main clause,
regardless of whether the subject or an object comes first.
- Example: Peter (Subject) spielt (Verb) Fußball (Object). (Peter plays soccer.)

3. Word Order with Objects:

- Direct and indirect objects generally come after the verb in German sentences.
- However, if there's a separable prefix (an, auf, ein, etc.), the object can be placed
between the prefix and the verb.
- Example: Ich gebe dem Kind einen Apfel. (I give the child an apple.)
Ich stehe um sechs Uhr auf. (I get up at six o'clock.)

4. Word Order in Questions:

- In questions, the verb comes before the subject.
- In yes/no questions, the verb is placed in the first position.
- Example: Spielst du Fußball? (Do you play soccer?)
Kommt er morgen? (Is he coming tomorrow?)

5. Word Order with Time Expressions:

- Time expressions can come at the beginning or end of a sentence in German.
- Example: Morgen (Time Expression) gehe ich ins Kino. (Tomorrow I am going to the
cinema.)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Word Order

6. Word Order in Subordinate Clauses:

- In subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb is moved to the end of the clause.
- Example: Ich esse einen Apfel, weil ich hungrig bin. (I eat an apple because I am
hungry.)

Aspect Description Example

Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)
Ich esse einen Apfel. (I eat an
Basic Word Order order is common in simple
apple.)
sentences.
The action word usually
Peter spielt Fußball. (Peter
Verb Placement comes second in a regular
plays soccer.)
sentence.
Direct and indirect objects
Ich gebe dem Kind einen Apfel.
usually come after the action
(I give the child an apple.) Ich
Word Order with Objects word. If there's a separable
stehe um sechs Uhr auf. (I get
part, the object may be
up at six o'clock.)
in-between.
In questions, the action word Spielst du Fußball? (Do you
comes before the subject. In play soccer?) Kommt er
Word Order in Questions
yes/no questions, the action morgen? (Is he coming
word is first. tomorrow?)
Time expressions can go at Morgen gehe ich ins Kino.
Word Order with Time
the start or end of a (Tomorrow I am going to the
Expressions
sentence. cinema.)
Ich esse einen Apfel, weil ich
Word Order in The action word is at the end
hungrig bin. (I eat an apple
Subordinate Clauses of the clause.
because I am hungry.)

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 Easy Peasy German Grammar

Question Words

Question words, also known as interrogative pronouns, are used to ask questions and
gather information. In German, question words serve the same purpose as in English
but have different forms.

Common Question Words:

Here are some common question words in German:

Question Word English Equivalent Usage Example

Wer Who Wer ist das? (Who is that?)
Was What Was machst du? (What are you doing?)
Wo Where Wo bist du? (Where are you?)
Wann When Wann kommst du? (When are you coming?)
Warum Why Warum bist du traurig? (Why are you sad?)
Wie How Wie geht es dir? (How are you?)
Wie viel How much/many Wie viel kostet das? (How much does that cost?)
Welcher/Welche/Welches Which Welches Buch magst du? (Which book do you like?)

Usage:
- Question words are usually placed at the beginning of a question.
- In yes/no questions, the question word is followed by the verb, which comes first.
- Question words can also be used in indirect questions.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives are words used to indicate ownership or possession of nouns.
They agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. Here's a
comparison between possessive adjectives in German and English:

Possessive Adjective German

My Mein
Your (singular) Dein
His/Her/Its Sein/Ihr/Sein
Our Unser
Your (plural) Euer
Their Ihr

Comparative Analysis:

In English, possessive adjectives (e.g., my, your, his/her/its, our, your, their) do not
change based on the gender or case of the noun they describe.

However, in German, possessive adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case
with the noun they modify.

For example, "my book" would be "mein Buch" (masculine) or "meine Katze" (feminine) in
German, depending on the gender of the noun.

By comparing possessive adjectives in German to those in English, learners can identify

similarities and differences, aiding in comprehension and application.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect Tense is used to describe actions or events that have occurred in
the past and are still relevant or have an effect on the present moment. In German, the
Present Perfect Tense is formed using a combination of the auxiliary verb "haben" (to
have) or "sein" (to be) and the past participle of the main verb.

Forming the Present Perfect Tense

Auxiliary Verb Conjugation Example

Ich habe Ich habe das Buch gelesen.
Du hast Du hast Deutsch gelernt.
Er/Sie/Es hat Er/Sie/Es hat den Film gesehen.
"Haben"
Wir haben Wir haben Pizza gegessen.
Ihr habt Ihr habt viel Spaß gehabt.
Sie haben Sie haben den Brief geschrieben.
Ich bin Ich bin nach Hause gegangen.
Du bist Du bist eingeschlafen.
Er/Sie/Es ist Er/Sie/Es ist umgezogen.
"Sein"
Wir sind Wir sind ins Kino gegangen.
Ihr seid Ihr seid verreist.
Sie sind Sie sind aufgewacht.

The Present Perfect Tense in German is formed using an auxiliary verb ("haben" or
"sein") in the present tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb.

"Haben" is used as the auxiliary verb for most verbs, while "sein" is used with verbs of
motion, change of state, or development.

The form of the auxiliary verb depends on the subject pronoun.

Past participles are created differently for regular and irregular verbs in German.

The Present Perfect Tense is commonly used to talk about past actions or events that
are still important in the present."

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Present Perfect Tense

Examples

With "Haben":
● Ich habe das Buch gelesen. (I have read the book.)
● Du hast Deutsch gelernt. (You have learned German.)
● Er/Sie/Es hat den Film gesehen. (He/She/It has seen the movie.)
● Wir haben Pizza gegessen. (We have eaten pizza.)
● Ihr habt viel Spaß gehabt. (You have had a lot of fun.)
● Sie haben den Brief geschrieben. (They have written the letter.)

With "Sein":
● Ich bin nach Hause gegangen. (I have gone home.)
● Du bist eingeschlafen. (You have fallen asleep.)
● Er/Sie/Es ist umgezogen. (He/She/It has moved.)
● Wir sind ins Kino gegangen. (We have gone to the cinema.)
● Ihr seid verreist. (You have gone on a trip.)
● Sie sind aufgewacht. (They have woken up.)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Relative Pronouns

Let's explore relative pronouns in German with depth, clarity, and focus.

Relative Pronoun Usage Example

Masculine, Nominative; Der Mann, der das Buch liest, ist
Der refers to "who" or "which" for mein Bruder. (The man who is
masculine nouns. reading the book is my brother.)
Feminine, Nominative; refers Die Frau, die Deutsch spricht, ist
Die to "who" or "which" for meine Schwester. (The woman who
feminine nouns. speaks German is my sister.)
Neuter, Nominative; refers to Das Kind, das im Park spielt, ist
Das "who" or "which" for neuter glücklich. (The child who is playing
nouns. in the park is happy.)
Die Freunde, denen ich vertraue,
Plural, Nominative; refers to
sind sehr wichtig für mich. (The
Denen "who" or "which" for plural
friends who I trust are very
nouns.
important to me.)

Understanding Relative Pronouns:

Relative pronouns are used to connect two clauses, where one clause provides
additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. In German, relative
pronouns serve the same purpose as in English but have different forms.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Relative Pronouns

Identifying Antecedents:

Definition: The antecedent is the noun or pronoun to which the relative pronoun
refers in the main clause.

Example: In the sentence "Der Mann, der das Buch liest, ist mein Bruder," the
antecedent is "Mann," and the relative pronoun "der" refers back to it, indicating
that it is the man who is reading the book.

Usage

Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses, which provide additional
information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They agree in gender and
number with the noun they refer to.

Examples

-Der Mann, der das Buch liest, ist mein Bruder. (The man who is reading the book is my
brother.)

-Die Frau, die Deutsch spricht, ist meine Schwester. (The woman who speaks German is
my sister.)

- Das Kind, das im Park spielt, ist glücklich. (The child who is playing in the park is happy.)-

-Die Freunde, denen ich vertraue, sind sehr wichtig für mich. (The friends who I trust are
very important to me.)

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Passive Voice

In the Passive Voice, we emphasize the action or the receiver of the action rather than
the doer. In German, it's formed using the auxiliary verb "werden" (to be) and the past
participle of the main verb.

Present Tense:
-Auxiliary Verb: "wrid" (to be) + Matches the subject

-Past Participle: Added at the end of the sentence

Past Tense:
-Auxiliary Verb: "wurde" (to be) + Matches the subject

-Past Participle: Added at the end of the sentence

Forming the Passive Voice in German:

Tense Auxiliary Verb Example

wird (singular) Das Buch wird gelesen.
Present
werden (plural) Die Bücher werden gelesen.
wurde (singular) Das Haus wurde gebaut.
Past
wurden (plural) Die Häuser wurden gebaut.

Lets remember always :

-In the present tense, "wird" is used for singular subjects, and "werden" is used for plural
subjects.

-In the past tense, "wurde" is used for singular subjects, and "wurden" is used for plural
subjects.

-The Passive Voice is employed to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action,
and it's commonly used in formal writing or scientific texts.

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Reported Speech
Reported Speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone said
without quoting their exact words. In German, Reported Speech requires changes in
pronouns, tenses, and sometimes word order to accurately convey the original speaker's
message.

Forming Reported Speech in German

Element Change in Reported Speech

Pronouns May change based on context
Tenses May shift depending on reporting verb tense
Word Order Sometimes changes, especially in subordinate clauses

When reporting speech in German, several changes may occur:

1. Pronouns: Personal pronouns may change depending on the context of the reported
speech.

2. Tenses: The tense of the reported speech may shift depending on whether the
reporting verb is in the present or past tense.

3. Word Order: In some cases, word order may change, especially with subordinate
clauses.

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Reported Speech

Examples

Direct Speech Reported Speech (German) Reported Speech (English)

Er sagte, dass er ins Kino He said that he is going to the
"Ich gehe ins Kino," sagte er.
gehe. cinema.
"Ich werde morgen kommen," Sie sagte, dass sie morgen She said that she will come
sagte sie. kommen werde. tomorrow.
"Wir haben gestern Fußball Peter sagte, dass sie gestern Peter said that they had played
gespielt," sagte Peter. Fußball gespielt hätten. soccer yesterday.
"Ich habe die Hausaufgaben Anna sagte, dass sie die Anna said that she had done the
gemacht," sagte Anna. Hausaufgaben gemacht habe. homework.
"Wir werden später ankommen," Tom sagte, dass sie später Tom said that they will arrive
sagte Tom. ankommen werden. later.
"Er ist Krank," sagte meine Meine Mutter sagte, dass er
My mother said that he is sick.
Mutter. krank sei.
"Ich kann nicht schwimmen," Julia sagte, dass sie nicht
Julia said that she cannot swim.
sagte Julia. schwimmen könne.
"Ich werde den Kuchen backen," Lisa sagte, dass sie den Lisa said that she will bake the
sagte Lisa. Kuchen backen werde. cake.
"Wir haben eine Reise geplant," Meine Eltern sagten, dass sie My parents said that they had
sagte meine Eltern. eine Reise geplant hätten. planned a trip.

Usage:

- Reported Speech is commonly used in writing and conversation to relay what

someone said indirectly.

- It's important to pay attention to changes in pronouns, tenses, and word order when
converting direct speech to reported speech.

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Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences are used to express hypothetical or speculative situations and

their outcomes.

Types of Conditional Sentences:

1. Real Conditional (Present): Used to express real or possible situations and their likely
outcomes in the present or future.

2. Unreal Conditional (Past): Used to express hypothetical or unreal situations and their
imagined outcomes in the past.

3. Mixed Conditional: Combines elements of both real and unreal conditionals, typically
expressing a hypothetical situation in the past with a potential outcome in the present
or future.

Forming Conditional Sentences in German:

"If" Clause
Conditional Type Main Clause Example
(Conditional Clause)

Wenn es regnet, gehe ich nicht

Real Conditional
Present tense verb Present tense verb spazieren. (If it rains, I don't go for a
(Present)
walk.)
Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich mehr
Subjunctive II
Unreal Conditional (Past) Past tense verb lesen. (If I had time, I would read
(Konjunktiv II) verb
more.)
Wenn du früher gekommen wärst,
hättest du das Konzert gesehen. (If
Mixed Conditional Past tense verb Present tense verb
you had come earlier, you would have
seen the concert.)
Usage:

- Conditional sentences are commonly used in both spoken and written German to talk
about hypothetical situations and their potential outcomes.

- Pay attention to the verb forms and word order in each type of conditional sentence to
convey the intended meaning accurately.

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Easy Peasy German Grammar

Subjunctive Mood
The Subjunctive Mood in German is used to express hypothetical or uncertain
situations, wishes, possibilities, and unreal conditions.

There are two main forms of the subjunctive mood in German:

Subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I) and Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II).

Subjunctive Type Usage Formation Example

Indirect speech, formal
Subjunctive I Verb endings change in Er sagte, er sei müde.
language, certain
(Konjunktiv I) present tense (He said he was tired.)
expressions
Wenn ich viel Geld
Wishes, unreal
Subjunctive II Regular verbs: add hätte, würde ich
conditions,
(Konjunktiv II) umlaut or -e- + endings reisen. (If I had a lot of
hypotheticals
money, I would travel.)

Subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I):

Subjunctive I is mainly used in indirect speech, certain fixed expressions, and formal
language. It is formed by changing the verb endings, especially in the present tense.

Examples:

- Er sagte, er sei müde. (He said he was tired.)

- Es werde Licht! (Let there be light!)

- Wenn ich Präsident wäre, würde ich die Steuern senken. (If I were president, I would
lower taxes.)

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Subjunctive Mood

Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II):

Subjunctive II is used to express wishes, unreal conditions, polite requests, and

hypothetical situations. It is more commonly used in everyday speech and writing.
Subjunctive II is formed differently for regular and irregular verbs.

Examples:

- Wenn ich viel Geld hätte, würde ich reisen. (If I had a lot of money, I would travel.)

- Ich würde gerne Deutsch sprechen können. (I would like to be able to speak German.)

- Wenn du Zeit hättest, könntest du mir helfen. (If you had time, you could help me.)

How to Identify Context:

Indirect Speech: Look for verbs indicating indirect speech such as "sagen" (to say) or
"meinen" (to mean).

Wishes and Hypotheticals: Identify phrases expressing desires, unreal conditions, or

hypothetical situations, often introduced by "wenn" (if) or "ich würde gerne" (I would
like).

Formal Language: Pay attention to formal contexts such as official documents, news
articles, or academic writing.

Usage:

- Subjunctive mood is often used in reported speech, conditional sentences, and to

express politeness or hypothetical situations.

- It's important to understand when to use Subjunctive I and Subjunctive II based on

the context of the sentence.

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Past Perfect Tense

The Past Perfect Tense, also known as the "Plusquamperfekt" in German, is used to
express an action that occurred before another action in the past. It is formed using
the auxiliary verb "haben" or "sein" in the simple past tense, along with the past participle
of the main verb.

Auxiliary Verb Conjugation Example

haben hatte (singular) Er hatte das Buch gelesen.
war (singular) Sie war nach Hause gegangen.
sein
waren (plural) Sie waren um zehn Uhr angekommen.

Forming the Past Perfect Tense in German:

- Auxiliary Verb "haben": Conjugate "haben" in the simple past tense (Präteritum)
according to the subject, then add the past participle of the main verb.

Example: Er hatte das Buch gelesen. (He had read the book.)

- Auxiliary Verb "sein": Conjugate "sein" in the simple past tense (Präteritum) according
to the subject, then add the past participle of the main verb. This form is used with
verbs indicating motion, change of state, or development.

Example: Sie war nach Hause gegangen. (She had gone home.)

Usage:

- The Past Perfect Tense is used to indicate an action that occurred before another
action in the past, providing context or background to the main event.

- It is often used in storytelling, narrative writing, and to describe completed actions that
preceded another event in the past.

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Gerunds and Infinitives in German

In German, gerunds and infinitives are verb forms used to express actions or states.
They can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in sentences. Here's how they are
used:

Form Example (German) Example (English) Function

Acts as a noun,
Gerund (das Das Lesen macht
Reading is fun. expressing an action as a
Gerundium) Spaß.
concept or thing.
Functions as a base form
Infinitive (der Ich mag es, Bücher of the verb, used to
I like to read books.
Infinitiv) zu lesen. express purpose or
intention.

1. Gerunds (das Gerundium): In German, gerunds are formed by adding the suffix
"-(e)n" to the infinitive stem of the verb. They often act as nouns and are used to
express actions as concepts or thing

Example: "Das Lesen macht Spaß." (Reading is fun.)

2. Infinitives (der Infinitiv): Infinitives are the base form of verbs and are used without
any conjugation. They can function as verbs, nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in sentences.

Example: "Ich mag es, Bücher zu lesen." (I like to read books.)

Usage of Gerunds and Infinitives:

- Gerunds: Used as subjects, objects, or complements in sentences, and they often

follow prepositions.

- Infinitives: Used after modal verbs, auxiliary verbs, or other verbs to express purpose,
intention, or actions.

Mnemonic Devices:

- Remembering Gerunds: Think of gerunds as "-ing" forms in English, which are often
used as nouns.

- Understanding Infinitives: Picture infinitives as the base form of verbs, which can take
on various roles in a sentence.

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Understanding Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are sentences that report or ask about information indirectly, usually
embedded within another sentence. In German, indirect questions are formed differently
from direct questions and typically follow certain patterns.

Forming Indirect Questions in German:

Indirect questions in German often begin with an introductory phrase or verb, followed
by the question clause introduced by "ob" (if/whether) or a question word (wie, wo,
wann, etc.).

Direct Question Indirect Question

"Wann kommst du?" Er fragt, wann du kommst. (He asks when you are coming.)
"Wie geht es Ihnen?" Er fragt, wie es Ihnen geht. (He asks how you are.)

Examples:

1. Introductory Phrase + Verb:

- Er fragt, ob sie kommt. (He asks if she is coming.)

- Sie wissen nicht, wann der Zug abfährt. (They don't know when the train is leaving.)

2. Question Word + Verb:

- Ich frage mich, wie das passiert ist. (I wonder how that happened.)

- Kannst du mir sagen, wo der nächste Supermarkt ist? (Can you tell me where the
nearest supermarket is?)

Usage:

- Indirect questions are often used in more formal or polite contexts, such as in written
communication, interviews, or formal conversations.

- They allow speakers to inquire about information indirectly without directly asking a
question.

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Causative Constructions in German

Causative constructions are linguistic structures used to express the idea that one
person causes or influences another person to perform an action.

In German, two common verbs used in causative constructions are "lassen" (to
let/allow) and "machen" (to make/do).

Verb Example Sentence Meaning

Ich lasse ihn das Buch lesen. I let him read the book.
lassen Der Lehrer lässt die Schüler die Aufgabe The teacher lets the students do the
machen. task.
Er macht sie lachen. He makes her laugh.
machen
Die Eltern machen die Kinder glücklich. The parents make the children happy.

Types of Causative Constructions:

1. Direct Causation with "lassen":

- In direct causation, the subject directly permits or instructs someone else to

perform an action using the verb "lassen."

Example:

- "Ich lasse ihn das Buch lesen." (I let him read the book.)

2. Indirect Causation with "machen":

- In indirect causation, the subject indirectly influences someone else to perform an

action using the verb "machen."

Example:

- "Er macht sie lachen." (He makes her laugh.)

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Causative Constructions in German

Usage and Nuances:

- "Lassen":

- "Lassen" implies granting permission, allowing, or instructing someone to do

something. It can convey a sense of choice or willingness on the part of the subject.

- "Machen":

- "Machen" implies causing or making someone do something. It can suggest a more

direct or forceful influence on the part of the subject.

Additional Examples:

- "Der Lehrer lässt die Schüler die Aufgabe machen." (The teacher lets the students do the
task.)

- "Die Eltern machen die Kinder glücklich." (The parents make the children happy.)

Mnemonic Devices:

- Contextual Understanding: Consider the context and intention behind the action when
choosing between "lassen" and "machen."

- Practical Application: Practice constructing sentences with different scenarios to

reinforce the usage of causative constructions.

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Conjunctions in German
Conjunctions are words used to connect clauses, phrases, or words within a sentence.
They play a crucial role in structuring sentences and expressing relationships between
different parts of a sentence.

Types of Conjunctions:

Conjunction Type Example Conjunctions Function

"und" (and), "oder" (or), "aber"
(but), "denn" (for), "sondern"
(but rather), "und" (and), Connect independent clauses or
Coordinating Conjunctions
"aber" (but), "entweder... oder" words of equal grammatical rank.
(either... or), "weder... noch"
(neither... nor).
"weil" (because), "obwohl"
Introduce subordinate clauses
Subordinating (although), "wenn" (if, when),
and establish a relationship of
Conjunctions "dass" (that), "damit" (so that),
dependence.
"ob" (whether), "oben" (since).

Usage:

- Coordinating Conjunctions: Used to connect elements of equal grammatical

rank, such as independent clauses or words of the same type.

--Subordinating Conjunctions: Used to introduce subordinate clauses and

establish a relationship of dependence or subordination with the main clause.

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