German grammar: every topic explained simply (36)
All 36 grammar topics in German, from beginner to advanced, explained in English, with translated examples and free exercises.
⏳ All tenses ▶ Practise for free
Beginner
Noun gender and articles (der, die, das)
Every German noun has a gender, and the article (der, die, das, ein, eine) shows it.
Every German noun has a gender, and the article (der, die, das, ein, eine) shows it.
⏳ Present tense of regular verbs
The present tense is formed from the verb stem plus an ending for each person (ich lerne, du lernst, er lernt).
The present tense is formed from the verb stem plus an ending for each person (ich lerne, du lernst, er lernt).
Personal pronouns and the verbs sein and haben
sein (to be) and haben (to have) are the most important German verbs and have irregular forms.
sein (to be) and haben (to have) are the most important German verbs and have irregular forms.
The phrase “es gibt” (there is / there are)
“Es gibt” + accusative means “there is / there are”; for the exact position of things German prefers sein, liegen or stehen.
“Es gibt” + accusative means “there is / there are”; for the exact position of things German prefers sein, liegen or stehen.
Negation: nicht and kein
kein negates nouns without a definite article, while nicht negates verbs, adjectives and everything else.
kein negates nouns without a definite article, while nicht negates verbs, adjectives and everything else.
⏳ Present tense of stem-changing verbs
Many strong verbs change their vowel in the du and er/sie/es forms: fahren → du fährst, sprechen → er spricht.
Many strong verbs change their vowel in the du and er/sie/es forms: fahren → du fährst, sprechen → er spricht.
Word order: verb in second position and questions
In a main clause the conjugated verb is in position 2; in yes/no questions it comes first.
In a main clause the conjugated verb is in position 2; in yes/no questions it comes first.
The accusative case: direct objects
The direct object is in the accusative: der becomes den, ein becomes einen, and pronouns become mich, dich, ihn etc.
The direct object is in the accusative: der becomes den, ein becomes einen, and pronouns become mich, dich, ihn etc.
Plural of nouns
German nouns form the plural with -e, -er, -(e)n, -s or no ending, often with an umlaut.
German nouns form the plural with -e, -er, -(e)n, -s or no ending, often with an umlaut.
Possessive articles (mein, dein, sein...)
Possessive articles show who something belongs to and take the same endings as ein: mein Vater, meine Mutter, meinen Vater.
Possessive articles show who something belongs to and take the same endings as ein: mein Vater, meine Mutter, meinen Vater.
Intermediate
The imperative
The imperative expresses requests and orders and has different forms for du, ihr and Sie: Komm! Kommt! Kommen Sie!
The imperative expresses requests and orders and has different forms for du, ihr and Sie: Komm! Kommt! Kommen Sie!
Modal verbs (können, müssen, dürfen...)
Modal verbs express ability, obligation, permission or wishes and send the infinitive to the end of the sentence.
Modal verbs express ability, obligation, permission or wishes and send the infinitive to the end of the sentence.
Personal pronouns in the nominative, accusative and dative
Ich – mich – mir, du – dich – dir…: pronoun forms by case, and their order in the sentence (pronouns before nouns; accusative before dative when both are pronouns).
Ich – mich – mir, du – dich – dir…: pronoun forms by case, and their order in the sentence (pronouns before nouns; accusative before dative when both are pronouns).
Separable verbs
In separable verbs (aufstehen, anrufen) the prefix splits off and goes to the end of the clause: Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.
In separable verbs (aufstehen, anrufen) the prefix splits off and goes to the end of the clause: Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.
The dative case: indirect objects
The dative shows to whom something is given or done: dem Mann, der Frau, den Kindern, mir, dir, ihm.
The dative shows to whom something is given or done: dem Mann, der Frau, den Kindern, mir, dir, ihm.
⏳ The Perfekt with haben and sein
The Perfekt, the spoken past tense, is formed with haben or sein plus the participle at the end: Ich habe gegessen, ich bin gefahren.
The Perfekt, the spoken past tense, is formed with haben or sein plus the participle at the end: Ich habe gegessen, ich bin gefahren.
Prepositions with the accusative and with the dative
Some prepositions always take the accusative (durch, für, gegen, ohne, um), others always the dative (aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu).
Some prepositions always take the accusative (durch, für, gegen, ohne, um), others always the dative (aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu).
Connecting adverbs with inversion: deshalb, trotzdem, sonst…
Deshalb, deswegen, darum, trotzdem, dann, sonst and außerdem link two main clauses and fill the first position, so the verb comes straight after them, followed by the subject.
Deshalb, deswegen, darum, trotzdem, dann, sonst and außerdem link two main clauses and fill the first position, so the verb comes straight after them, followed by the subject.
⏳ The simple past (Präteritum)
The Präteritum is the past tense of written narration and is also used in speech with sein, haben and the modal verbs: ich war, ich hatte, ich konnte.
The Präteritum is the past tense of written narration and is also used in speech with sein, haben and the modal verbs: ich war, ich hatte, ich konnte.
Subordinate clauses: dass, weil, wenn, ob, obwohl
After subordinating conjunctions (dass, weil, wenn, ob, obwohl) the conjugated verb goes to the end of the clause.
After subordinating conjunctions (dass, weil, wenn, ob, obwohl) the conjugated verb goes to the end of the clause.
Two-way prepositions (accusative or dative)
Nine prepositions (in, an, auf etc.) take the accusative for direction (Wohin?) and the dative for location (Wo?).
Nine prepositions (in, an, auf etc.) take the accusative for direction (Wohin?) and the dative for location (Wo?).
Advanced
Adjective endings
An adjective in front of a noun takes an ending that depends on the article, gender, case and number: der alte Mann, ein alter Mann, alter Wein.
An adjective in front of a noun takes an ending that depends on the article, gender, case and number: der alte Mann, ein alter Mann, alter Wein.
Comparative and superlative
We compare with -er + als (schneller als) or so ... wie (so schnell wie), and form the superlative with am -sten or der/die/das -ste.
We compare with -er + als (schneller als) or so ... wie (so schnell wie), and form the superlative with am -sten or der/die/das -ste.
Reflexive verbs
Reflexive verbs are used with a reflexive pronoun in the accusative (ich wasche mich) or in the dative when there is another object (ich wasche mir die Hände).
Reflexive verbs are used with a reflexive pronoun in the accusative (ich wasche mich) or in the dative when there is another object (ich wasche mir die Hände).
Wenn, als or ob? (when / if / whether)
Als = “when” for a single event in the past; wenn = “when(ever)” in the present/future or repeatedly in the past, and “if” for conditions; ob = “whether/if” in indirect questions.
Als = “when” for a single event in the past; wenn = “when(ever)” in the present/future or repeatedly in the past, and “if” for conditions; ob = “whether/if” in indirect questions.
Purpose clauses: um … zu or damit
To express purpose (“in order to / so that”), use um … zu + infinitive when the subject is the same and damit + a clause with the verb at the end when the subjects differ.
To express purpose (“in order to / so that”), use um … zu + infinitive when the subject is the same and damit + a clause with the verb at the end when the subjects differ.
The infinitive with zu and um ... zu, ohne ... zu, statt ... zu
After many verbs, adjectives and nouns the infinitive takes zu (Ich versuche, pünktlich zu sein), and um/ohne/statt ... zu express purpose, absence or an alternative.
After many verbs, adjectives and nouns the infinitive takes zu (Ich versuche, pünktlich zu sein), and um/ohne/statt ... zu express purpose, absence or an alternative.
Konjunktiv II: unreal conditions, wishes, politeness
Konjunktiv II (würde + infinitive, wäre, hätte, könnte) expresses unreal situations, wishes, advice and polite requests.
Konjunktiv II (würde + infinitive, wäre, hätte, könnte) expresses unreal situations, wishes, advice and polite requests.
Relative clauses
A relative clause describes a noun; the relative pronoun (der, die, das, den, dem, denen...) takes the gender of the noun and the case required inside the relative clause.
A relative clause describes a noun; the relative pronoun (der, die, das, den, dem, denen...) takes the gender of the noun and the case required inside the relative clause.
The genitive case and genitive prepositions
The genitive shows possession (das Auto meines Vaters) and is used after prepositions such as wegen, trotz, während.
The genitive shows possession (das Auto meines Vaters) and is used after prepositions such as wegen, trotz, während.
Weak nouns (n-declension)
A group of masculine nouns (der Student, der Kollege, der Herr) take the ending -(e)n in every case except the nominative singular.
A group of masculine nouns (der Student, der Kollege, der Herr) take the ending -(e)n in every case except the nominative singular.
The passive voice (Passiv with werden)
The passive focuses on the action rather than on who does it and is formed with werden + participle: Das Haus wird gebaut.
The passive focuses on the action rather than on who does it and is formed with werden + participle: Das Haus wird gebaut.
Verbs with fixed prepositions and da-/wo- compounds
Many verbs require a fixed preposition with a fixed case (warten auf + acc.), and for things we use compounds like darauf, worauf.
Many verbs require a fixed preposition with a fixed case (warten auf + acc.), and for things we use compounds like darauf, worauf.
⏳ Future I and Future II (Futur I, Futur II)
Futur I (werden + infinitive) expresses intentions, predictions and assumptions; Futur II (werden + participle + haben/sein) expresses actions completed by a future point or assumptions about the past.
Futur I (werden + infinitive) expresses intentions, predictions and assumptions; Futur II (werden + participle + haben/sein) expresses actions completed by a future point or assumptions about the past.
Reported speech with Konjunktiv I
Konjunktiv I (er sei, er habe, er komme) reports what someone else said without the speaker vouching for it, especially in the media and formal texts.
Konjunktiv I (er sei, er habe, er komme) reports what someone else said without the speaker vouching for it, especially in the media and formal texts.
⏳ The past perfect (Plusquamperfekt) and time clauses
The Plusquamperfekt (hatte/war + participle) shows an action that happened before another past action and often appears with time conjunctions such as nachdem, als, bevor.
The Plusquamperfekt (hatte/war + participle) shows an action that happened before another past action and often appears with time conjunctions such as nachdem, als, bevor.