Basic German Grammar Explained In 8 Simple Steps With Grammatical Examples

German grammar is often perceived as a true challenge, but the truth is: it’s completely structured and it’s a logical system.

German grammar has different elements tied together and they are all necessary to create a meaningful communication form. It does have its complexities, but if you want to speak German, you should at least have a basic knowledge of German grammar.

German with Laura made a long, all-in-one explanatory video about German grammar:

And just as others did it already, we’re going to explain everything about German grammar – in-depth, with a twist! Stay with us until the end, and we’ll tell you the secret method that will change every aspect of your language learning journey.

1. German nouns and gender

One of the features German grammar is best known for is that every noun is assigned one of three genders:

• masculine,
• feminine, or
• neuter.

This gender classification is grammatical rather than based on natural gender, which can be confusing for English speakers at first.

Here are some examples:

The gender of a noun affects the articles, adjectives, and pronouns used with it.

While there are some patterns that can help predict a noun’s gender (e.g., nouns ending in -ung are typically feminine), many need to be memorized through practice and exposure.

2. Learn German articles and cases: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative

German uses both definite (the) and indefinite (a/an) articles, but unlike in English, these articles change form depending on the gender of the noun and its role in the sentence.

This role is determined by the case system, which includes four German cases:

• Nominative,
• Accusative,
• Dative, and
• Genitive.

Here’s an overview of the definite articles in different cases:

Each case serves a specific grammatical function:

1. Nominative: The subject of the sentence
2. Accusative: The direct object
3. Dative: The indirect object
4. Genitive: Indicates possession

For example:

• Der Mann gibt dem Kind das Buch. (The man gives the child the book.)

In this sentence, “der Mann” is nominative (subject), “dem Kind” is dative (indirect object), and “das Buch” is accusative (direct object).

3. General rules of German verb conjugation

Verb conjugation in German involves changing the verb’s form to match the subject of the sentence.

This process is more extensive than in English, as German verbs change for person (first, second, third) and number (singular, plural).

Let’s examine the conjugation of a regular verb, spielen (to play):

While many verbs follow this regular pattern, German also has irregular verbs that deviate from this structure.

For example, the verb sein (to be) is highly irregular:

4. Basic German sentence structure and word order

German sentence structure follows certain patterns that differ from English in notable ways.

While the basic

Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)

order is common, German employs the V2 rule in main clauses, which states that the conjugated verb must be the second element in the sentence.

For example:

• Ich lese ein Buch. (I read a book.)
• Heute lese ich ein Buch. (Today I read a book.)

Notice how in the second sentence, even though it begins with a time expression, the verb remains in the second position, shifting the subject to the third position.

Another important aspect of German word order is the placement of the second part of separable verbs at the end of the main clause:

• Ich rufe meinen Freund an. (I call my friend.)

In subordinate clauses, introduced by conjunctions like “weil” (because) or “dass” (that), the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause:

• Ich weiß, dass er Deutsch spricht. (I know that he speaks German.)

5. German pronouns and pronoun cases

German pronouns, like nouns, change form based on their case.

This system allows for precise expression of the pronoun’s role in the sentence.

Here’s an overview of personal pronouns in different cases:

These German pronouns are used in sentences as follows:

• Ich sehe dich. (I see you.) – ‘Ich’ is nominative, ‘dich’ is accusative.
• Er gibt mir das Buch. (He gives me the book.) – ‘Er’ is nominative, ‘mir’ is dative.

6. German adjectives and adjective endings

German adjectives undergo changes in their endings based on the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify, as well as the presence or absence of an article.

This system ensures precision to the language.

Let’s examine the adjective klein (small) in different contexts:

These examples demonstrate how adjective endings change based on the article (or lack thereof) and the noun’s gender. Similar patterns exist for other cases as well.

7. German adverbs and adverb placement

Adverbs in German modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing information about how, when, where, or to what extent an action occurs.

Unlike adjectives, adverbs do not change form based on the gender or case of other words in the sentence.

Many German adjectives can function as adverbs without any change in form:

Regarding placement, German often follows the TeKaMoLo rule (Temporal, Kausal, Modal, Lokal) for the order of adverbs:

• Sie fährt morgen wegen der Arbeit schnell nach Berlin. (She’s driving tomorrow because of work quickly to Berlin.)

This rule is flexible, and native speakers may alter the order for emphasis or stylistic reasons.

The key is to maintain the verb in the second position in main clauses and at the end in subordinate clauses.

8. German tenses and verb forms: from simple present to future perfect

German tenses and verb forms are essential for expressing when actions occur and their duration.

While German has fewer tenses than English, it uses other verbal constructions to express similar temporal concepts.

The main tenses in German are:

German also uses several mood forms:

1. Indikativ (Indicative): For stating facts or asking questions.
2. Konjunktiv I: Primarily used in reported speech.
3. Konjunktiv II: Used for hypothetical situations or polite requests.

For example:

• Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich Fußball spielen. (If I had time, I would play soccer.) – Konjunktiv II

German uses modal verbs (können, müssen, dürfen, etc.) to express ability, necessity, or permission, often in combination with other verbs:

• Ich kann Fußball spielen. (I can play soccer.)

Grammar overview: the best method to learn German

German grammar isn’t the easiest – but it’s important that these rules and structures can be learned easily.

How?

By using the Conversation Based Chunking method. This approach focuses on practice and immersion. Don’t be discouraged by the complexity of the topic.

Read German texts, listen to German music and podcasts, and practice speaking whenever possible. With time and practice, these German grammar structures will become second nature. And they will allow you to express everything accurately in German.

We can give you a head start: if you sign up now, you’ll get your first FREE German Conversation Based Chunking Guide with free resources to learn German, Essential German Chunking Lists and full practice exercises from our Practice Worksheet Library.

Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!)