German Grammar

By taking the time to understand how the German language works, you'll be able to speak German naturally, and read and write in German. We know this can be one of the more challenging parts of your course, and we’re here to help! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!

Accusative and Dative - Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi I am really, really confused about the Accusative and Dative cases. I have looked at the grammer section and all the many textbooks I have and I afraid I am still very confused!!! Could anyone help me to understand them in a really, and I mean reall...

0 replies - Last post by santiago - April 18, 2008

ein eine & einen

I am really confused as to where to use ein, eine and einen.. could you please explain when is the appropriate time to use them? I heard that you use eine for feminine and ein for masculine and neuter.. I am not so sure about this though. btw, I really li...

7 replies - Last post by shtan - March 28, 2008

The police Caution

Nathalie I am a police officer, and for a bit of fun I would love to be able to say one of our regularly used expressions 'The police Caution' in German. We normally use this expression when arresting someone The Phrase is as follows. 'You do not ...

8 replies - Last post by Ken1 - April 6, 2008

Lesson 6.4 - Genitive case question

Hallo Nathalie - I have a question on using the genitive case in lesson 6.4 and the ending of the nouns. In the grammar explanation, it says to add an "s" to the ending of nouns the end in -en, -el, -er or a vowel. For the questions: Das is...

2 replies - Last post by Fuzzy - April 4, 2008

Lesson 3.2

I am having trouble in knowing which superlative to use. For example, "Mein Mantel ist am waermsten." and "Dieser Sommer ist der waermste". How do I know if I am supposed to use the -ste or the -sten ending? Is there some little c...

2 replies - Last post by Fuzzy - April 3, 2008

die nächste or der nächste

Hello there Rocket team I seem to have found a discrepancy in the audio lessons which is confusing me In Lesson 3.1 The following phrase is used Wir müssen sowieso die nächste Ausfahrt nehmen. In this sentence the word ‘nächste’ is preceded by ...

2 replies - Last post by Ken1 - March 26, 2008

Small problem with 6.1 A Case in Point- Nominative_v1.01.pdf

Hi, In the exercise for "6.1 A Case in Point- Nominative_v1.01.pdf" it asks you to underline the nominative in each of the sentences. However in the answers nothing is underlined!

3 replies - Last post by timbuc - January 29, 2008

The German Spelling Reform

Hi there, I just came across an article about the spelling reform on the website of the Goethe Institute, which is quite interesting. Here is the link for anyone who is interested: http://www.goethe.de/kue/lit/dos/dds/en630493.htm

3 replies - Last post by (deleted) - December 5, 2006

Mit der Bahn fahren...

Hallo, Worin besteht der Unterschied zwischen Mit der Bahn fahren wir von Frankfurt zu München. und Mit der Bahn fahren wir von Frankfurt nach München. -Danke P.S.: Bitte verbessern Sie meine Grammatik. :)

3 replies - Last post by sqyntz9 - February 1, 2008

sein und sein

I have noticed that the pronoun sein (his) is the same as the verb sein (to be)? Is there some deeper etymological connection or is it just coincidence? In English it is not unusual for a word to be used in two completely different ways. -Danke

3 replies - Last post by sqyntz9 - January 29, 2008

Adjectives in Grammer lession.

:o Surprised I did not get any chapter or topic on Adjective in Grammer PDFs please. Please tell me if I have any other topic where I can get something on Adjectives please. Rest the course material is very good.

1 reply - Last post by Arnab - November 22, 2007

Imperfect

Hi Nathalie I see you have put out quite a lot of useful stuff on the 50 common verbs. I was wondering why you have excluded the imperfect or is it the simple past? Also I haven't really been given a satisfactory reason why you might use the imperfec...

7 replies - Last post by Alec - January 18, 2008

Possessive adjective, singular 3rd person

Hello, I am confused by the possessive "its". Here's what I think I know, and my question. I think if I say[color=darkblue:9q36fgrt] Der Tempel ist alt aber sein Dach ist neu, [/color:9q36fgrt] then I use "sein" because der Temple i...

2 replies - Last post by xocwjjb - January 11, 2008

"Sie" or "du"?

Guten Tag! I have just started learning German and I'm already a little bit confused. I learned to say "Wie heißt du" when asking for someones name. Now I came across "Wie heißen Sie". What is the difference and which one is right? I h...

10 replies - Last post by alphadog - July 24, 2006

Hochzeit

After dabbling in German off and on for years, finally, this course has given me the confidence to want to speak a few sentences before conceding that Ich spreche nur ein bisschen Deutsch. Next month I will be attending a wedding in Dusseldorf. Would yo...

2 replies - Last post by Matumic - September 20, 2007

Dative tense 6.3 Grammar lesson

Dear Nathalie, Wie geht's? I have a query about 6.3 Dative tense. The second example on page 2 is: Der Frau gefallt das Hotel. "Der Frau" is underlined as the indirect object. Can you please explain this because by the reasoning ...

5 replies - Last post by Martha - July 30, 2007

Genießen Sie - This looks like a question

At the end of lesson 2.1 Paul says "Hier bitte. Genießen Sie die Tour!", which is translated as "Here you go. Enjoy the tour!." In my opinion this is a statement, he is telling Nik to enjoy the tour, so can you explain to me why it i...

3 replies - Last post by Ken1 - August 5, 2007

Verbs

Hello Everyone I have just purchased the course and joined the forum, and would class myself as a real beginner in the german language. Does anyone know of a resource or website that gives a complete list of conjugated german verbs. By the way altho...

3 replies - Last post by schubbisgirl - August 16, 2007

sentence structure of pronouns

I am concentrating on verbs 'im moment' and was wondering where does the second pronoun go in a sentence, for example *I will forgive him*, is it *'ich er werde vergeben'* or *'ich werde vergeben er'* Also is the sentence structure the same if a pr...

1 reply - Last post by Ken1 - August 12, 2007

can you explain the use of ZU

In one of the earlier lessons, you say that ZU TRINKEN means to drink. Ich will etwas Warmes __zu trinken__. I want something hot to drink. However I thought the the word TRINKEN alone actually meant 'TO DRINK' (Including the 'TO') therefore I was a bi...

1 reply - Last post by Ken1 - July 2, 2007

spielen "to play" (Present)

spielen "to play" (Present) ich spiele I play du spielst you play er spielt he plays sie spielt she plays es spielt it plays wir spielen we play ihr spielt you play sie spielen they play

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 28, 2007

spielen "to play" (Perfect)

spielen "to play" (Perfect) ich habe gespielt I played du hast gespielt you played er hat gespielt he played sie hat gespielt she played es hat gespielt it played wir haben gespielt we played ihr habt gespielt ...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 28, 2007

spielen "to play" (Future)

spielen "to play" (Future) ich werde spielen I will play du wirst spielen you will play er wird spielen he will play sie wird spielen she will play es wird spielen it will play wir werden spielen we will play ihr...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 28, 2007

tanzen "to dance" (Present)

tanzen "to dance" (Present) ich tanze I dance du tanzt you dance er tanzt he dances sie tanzt she dances es tanzt it dances wir tanzen we dance ihr tanzt you dance sie tanzen they dance

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

tanzen "to dance" (Perfect)

tanzen "to dance" (Perfect) ich habe getanzt I danced du hast getanzt you danced er hat getanzt he danced sie hat getanzt she danced es hat getanzt it danced wir haben getanzt we danced ihr habt getanzt you dan...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

tanzen "to dance" (Future)

tanzen "to dance" (Future) ich werde tanzen I will dance du wirst tanzen you will dance er wird tanzen he will dance sie wird tanzen she will dance es wird tanzen it will dance wir werden tanzen we will dance ihr...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

müssen "to have to/ must" (Present)

müssen "to have to/ must" (Present) ich muss I have to or must du musst you have to or must er muss he has to or must sie muss she has to or must es muss it has to or must wir müssen we have to or must ihr müsst ...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

müssen "to have to/ must" (Perfect)

müssen "to have to/ must" (Perfect) ich habe gemusst I had to du hast gemusst you had to er hat gemusst he had to sie hat gemusst she had to es hat gemusst it had to wir haben gemusst we had to ihr habt gemusst ...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

müssen "to have to/ must" (Future)

müssen "to have to/ must" (Future) ich werde müssen I will have to du wirst müssen you will have to er wird müssen he will have to sie wird müssen she will have to es wird müssen it will have to wir werden müssen we...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

nehmen "to take" (Present)

nehmen "to take" (Present) ich nehme I take du nimmst you take er nimmt he takes sie nimmt she takes es nimmt it takes wir nehmen we take ihr nehmt you take sie nehmen they take

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

nehmen "to take" (Perfect)

nehmen "to take" (Perfect) ich habe genommen I took du hast genommen you took er hat genommen he took sie hat genommen she took es hat genommen it took wir haben genommen we took ihr habt genommen you took ...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

nehmen "to take" (Future)

nehmen "to take" (Future) ich werde nehmen I will take du wirst nehmen you will take er wird nehmen he will take sie wird nehmen she will take es wird nehmen it will take wir werden nehmen we will take ihr werdet...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

wissen "to know" (Present)

wissen "to know" (Present) ich weiß I know du weißt you know er weiß he knows sie weiß she knows es weiß it knows wir wissen we know ihr wisst you know sie wissen they know

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

wissen "to know" (Perfect)

wissen "to know" (Perfect) ich habe gewusst I knew du hast gewusst you knew er hat gewusst he knew sie hat gewusst she knew es hat gewusst it knew wir haben gewusst we knew ihr habt gewusst you knew sie habe...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

wissen "to know" (Future)

wissen "to know" (Future) ich werde wissen I will know du wirst wissen you will know er wird wissen he will know sie wird wissen she will know es wird wissen it will know wir werden wissen we will know ihr werdet...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

vergeben "to forgive" (Present)

vergeben "to forgive" (Present) ich vergebe I forgive du vergibst you forgive er vergibt he forgives sie vergibt she forgives es vergibt it forgives wir vergeben we forgive ihr vergebt you forgive sie vergeb...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

vergeben "to forgive" (Perfect)

vergeben "to forgive" (Perfect) ich habe vergeben I forgave du hast vergeben you forgave er hat vergeben he forgave sie hat vergeben she forgave es hat vergeben it forgave wir haben vergeben we forgave ihr habt v...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

vergeben "to forgive" (Future)

vergeben "to forgive" (Future) ich werde vergeben I will forgive du wirst vergeben you will forgive er wird vergeben he will forgive sie wird vergeben she will forgive es wird vergeben it will forgive wir werden verge...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - June 13, 2007

sprechen "to speak" (Present)

sprechen "to speak" (Present) ich spreche I speak du sprichst you speak er spricht he speaks sie spricht she speaks es spricht it speaks wir sprechen we speak ihr sprecht you speak sie sprechen they speak

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 18, 2007

sprechen "to speak" (Perfect)

sprechen "to speak" (Perfect) ich habe gesprochen I spoke du hast gesprochen you spoke er hat gesprochen he spoke sie hat gesprochen she spoke es hat gesprochen it spoke wir haben gesprochen we spoke ihr habt ges...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 18, 2007

sprechen "to speak" (Future)

sprechen "to speak" (Future) ich werde sprechen I will speak du wirst sprechen you will speak er wird sprechen he will speak sie wird sprechen she will speak es wird sprechen it will speak wir werden sprechen we wil...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 18, 2007

essen "to eat" (Present)

essen "to eat" (Present) ich esse I eat du isst you eat er isst he eats sie isst she eats es isst it eats wir essen we eat ihr esst you eat sie essen they eat

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 18, 2007

essen "to eat" (Perfect)

essen "to eat" (Perfect) ich habe gegessen I ate du hast gegessen you ate er hat gegessen he ate sie hat gegessen she ate es hat gegessen it ate wir haben gegessen we ate ihr habt gegessen you ate sie haben ...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 18, 2007

essen "to eat" (Future)

essen "to eat" (Future) ich werde essen I will eat du wirst essen you will eat er wird essen he will eat sie wird essen she will eat es wird essen it will eat wir werden essen we will eat ihr werdet essen you w...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 18, 2007

tun "to do" (Present)

tun "to do" (Present) ich tue I do du tust you do er tut he does sie tut she does es tut it does wir tun we do ihr tut you do sie tun they do

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 18, 2007

tun "to do" (Perfect)

tun "to do" (Perfect) ich habe getan I did du hast getan you did er hat getan he did sie hat getan she did es hat getan it did wir haben getan we did ihr habt getan you did sie haben getan they did

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 18, 2007

tun "to do" (Future)

tun "to do" (Future) ich werde tun I will do du wirst tun you will do er wird tun he will do sie wird tun she will do es wird tun it will do wir werden tun we will do ihr werdet tun you will do sie werden tu...

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 18, 2007

Question on lesson 2.2

Gibt es einen Englisch sprechenden Führer? Why would this not be: Gibt es ein Englischer sprechender Führer? Normally in the nominative (or, in this case the predicate nominative), when you have "ein" followed by an adjective (or two)...

1 reply - Last post by ignis - April 16, 2007

Does "Ist es or es ist" = It is

In your Audio Lesson 2.1 ... The tourist information centre, part of the lesson says "JA, ABER HEUTE IST ES GESCHLOSSEN" "YES BUT TODAY IT IS CLOSED" Therefore I understand it to be that IST ES = IT IS But when Nik breaks it do...

3 replies - Last post by Ken1 - April 12, 2007

warten "to wait" (Present)

warten "to wait" (Present) ich warte I wait du wartest you wait er wartet he waits sie wartet she waits es wartet it waits wir warten we wait ihr wartet you wait sie warten they wait

0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - April 1, 2007

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