German Grammar

Yes, German Grammar is necessary, I am affraid. Keep going and you will master it eventually. Work through the lessons below.

The german language consists of eight parts. Get to know them first.

1. Nouns : They name things, places and people. For example: the house, das Haus
2. Pronouns : Words that replace nouns. There are different types of pronouns.
(reflexive pronouns, indefinite pronouns, and relative pronouns)

3. Verbs: They describe an action or state. Example: to go, to eat, to be

4. Adjectives: They modify nouns or pronouns.
Example: french - französisch, chinese - chinesisch

5. Adverbs: They describe and modify verbs
Example: carefully - vorsichtig, really - wirklich, slowly - langsam, effortlessly - mühelos

6. Prepositions : They show the relationship between a noun, pronoun and other word . Example: except - ausser, from - von, like - wie, during - während, behind - hinter

7. Conjunctions: They join two or more words or phrases.
Example: after - nach, nachdem if - ob, wenn    in case - im Falle
whenever - wann auch immer until - bis since - seit

8. Interjections: They show excitement and stand independently.
Example: Oh well - na gut oops, ouch, oh dear, aha, bingo

German Alphabet

German Nouns

Definite Article

Keep in mind this rule of thumb: After the definite article, an adjective either has no suffix or ends in -en". For example "dem alten Mann" and "der jungen Verkäuferin ".

Learning German online

German for Beginners

German hotel reservation

German Pronouns

German Verbs

German Modal Verbs

German Conjugation

German Prepositions

German Quiz

German Spelling

funny Video about the definite article der, die, das

German Possessive Pronouns

Possessive Object

German Grammar

Negation - use nicht or kein

Haben Sie genug Geld? Do you have enough money?
Nein, ich habe kein Geld. No, I have no money.

Haben Sie Arbeit? Have you got work?
Nein, ich habe keine Arbeit. No, I have no work.

In this case Arbeit is feminine. (die Arbeit) For that reason you add the e at the end of kein. (keine)
If the noun is neuter you just use kein. (das Geld (neuter) - kein Geld)
If the noun is feminine you use keine. (die Milch (feminine) - keine Milch)
If the noun is masculine you use keinen. (der Mann (masculine) - keinen Mann)

Examples:
Ich habe keinen (Ehe) Mann. I got no husband (man).
Du hast kein Brot. (das Brot) You got no bread.
Sie hat kein Glück. (das Glück) She got no luck.
Ich habe kein Fleisch gekauft. (das Fleisch) I haven't bought any (no) meat.
Kein Glück heute, was? (das Glück) No luck today, hey?
Hast du keine Frau? (die Frau) Don't you have a wife (woman)? lit: have you no woman?

more german grammar - mehr deutsche Grammatik

Negation - Nicht

Ich habe das Problem nicht verstanden.  lit: I have the problem not understood.
Sie hat nicht gearbeitet. She has not worked.
Er ist nicht gekommen.    He didn't come.
Nicht so! Not like that!
Meine Frau hat nicht gesprochen.    My wife has not spoken.
Sage ihm das nicht.    Don't tell him that.

Indirect speech

Er sagte: „Ich spiele Schach." (He said, "I play chess.")

Er sagte, er spiele Schach. (He said he played chess.)
The speaker is simply reporting something which he has been told.

Conjugated Verb comes second place

"Der Chef arbeitet heute nicht." (The boss doesn't work today)
"Der Fahrer kommt heute an." (verb: ankommen, to arrive / The driver arrives today)

"Die Frau ist gestern gestorben." (The woman has died yesterday)

If the sentence begins with something else and not with the subject the verb element remains on second place.

"Vor drei Tagen kam die Frau zurück." Verb (kam) is on second place again! /Three days ago the woman returned.

Your German Grammar will improve over time.

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