German grammar

Every grammar guide of Lingora’s German A1 course, with examples you can listen to.

01Verbs: Present TenseThe present tense in German is the most frequently used verb form. It is used to describe things happening right now, general facts, and often even…
02Verbs: Infinitives with 'zu'The infinitive with zu corresponds to the English structure "to" + verb (e.g., "to go", "to see"). While English places "to" immediately after the first…
03Possessive AdjectivesPossessive adjectives indicate ownership or relationship, corresponding to English words like my, your, or his. In German, using them correctly requires…
04Nouns: GenderEvery noun in German is assigned one of three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter. This gender determines the definite article used with…
05Pronouns: DeclensionIndefinite pronouns such as jeder (every/each), alle (all), beide (both), and manch (some/many a) must be declined. This means their endings change…
06Determiners: DeclensionDeterminers are words placed before a noun to clarify which specific object or person is being referred to. In German, these words must change their…
07Usage of 'viel'The German word viel corresponds to the English meanings "much," "many," or "a lot." Its usage depends on whether it functions as an adverb, describes an…
08Personal PronounsPersonal pronouns are words used to replace nouns, such as "I", "you", "he", or "they". In this language, pronouns change their form (decline) depending…
09Accusative CaseThe Accusative case is primarily used to mark the direct object of a sentence. The direct object is the person, animal, or thing that receives the action…
10Indefinite ArticlesIndefinite articles correspond to the English words "a" or "an". They are used to introduce a noun that has not been mentioned before or refers to a…
11Definite ArticlesDefinite articles correspond to the English word "the". They identify specific, known items or people. While English uses a single word regardless of…
12Split VerbsMany German verbs are compound words formed by adding a prefix to a basic verb. These are known as separable verbs (or split verbs). The prefix modifies…
13Nouns: PluralGerman nouns have different ways of forming the plural. Unlike English, which usually adds an "s", German uses five different endings: -(e)n, -e, -er,…
14Verbs: Imperative MoodThe imperative mood is used to give direct orders, make requests, or offer advice. In German, the form of the verb changes depending on who you are…
15Dative CaseThe Dative case primarily marks the indirect object of a sentence. While the subject (Nominative) performs the action and the direct object (Accusative)…
16Expressing Politeness with 'Sie'German distinguishes between formal and informal ways to address people. Sie is the formal pronoun for you. It is used to maintain professional distance…
17Reflexive PronounsReflexive pronouns indicate that the subject of a sentence is performing an action upon itself. In English, these words end in "-self" or "-selves"…
18Verbs: Perfect TenseThe Perfect tense (Das Perfekt) is the primary past tense used in spoken German. While the simple past (Preterite) is preferred in literature,…
19Verbs: Past TenseGerman has two main past tenses: the Perfect (Perfekt) and the Preterite (Präteritum). While they often translate to the same English tense, their usage…
20Adjectives: DeclensionWhen an adjective is placed before a noun, its ending changes to reflect the gender, case, and number of that noun. This process is known as adjective…
21Adjectives: ComparativesTo compare two things or people, you use the comparative form of an adjective. In German, this is generally formed by adding the suffix -er to the base…
22Genitive CaseThe Genitive case indicates possession, affiliation, or origin. It describes the relationship between two nouns, corresponding to the English "of" or the…
23Verbs: Subjunctive MoodThe subjunctive mood (specifically Konjunktiv II) is used to express hypothetical situations, wishes, politeness, or conditions that are contrary to…
24Joined Preposition & PronounsCertain prepositions in German frequently merge with the definite article that follows them. This fusion creates a single word, similar to how "do not"…
25Verbs: Passive VoiceThe passive voice changes the focus of a sentence from the "doer" (the subject) to the object affected by the action. In German, this is primarily…
26Verbs: Future TenseThe future tense (Futur I) is constructed using the conjugated present tense of the auxiliary verb werden (to become) combined with the infinitive of the…