We decided to learn German and don’t know where to start, you are going on a trip and want to be able to communicate with the natives - you just need to learn the basics of the language on your own, expand your vocabulary, understand the grammar of speech and writing.
Alphabet and pronunciation
The lesson begins with the study of the alphabet, covers all the features of reading letters and their combinations, including umlauts and diphthongs. Differences in sound are considered, depending on the location of a letter or letter combination in a word. After viewing and repeating the material, the student will be able to read and memorize simple words, gradually moving on to more complex ones.
German for dummies
Thirty-five simple mini-lessons on popular topics for beginners ( and ). Here they will tell you in an accessible way about communication in various situations, voice basic dialogues in the most popular places, such as a bank, office, shop, hotel, cafe, airport, restaurant.
Most used words
Before delving into the jungle of grammar, you will have to learn a minimum set of expressions - to form material for further work. The video contains 200 most used words of the Deutsch language with text translation, pronunciation and audio translation into Russian. In order to better assimilate the material, it is recommended to first watch the video several times, memorizing the spelling, and then listen (as an audio file) to consolidate and train listening comprehension.
Lessons for beginners
Popular colloquial phrases
Knowing a limited set of words, and being able to correctly compose simple sentences, you can reasonably explain yourself in a foreign language. But stable colloquial phrases are best remembered in their entirety, as they always (or almost always) sound the same. In the video, the phrase is spoken slowly twice, then the listener is given time to repeat, after which it is pronounced again, but already quickly, as in a conversation. For visual perception, the screen displays a phrase in German, with a translation into Russian.
Learning to speak
At the free course lessons ( and ) you will hear audio with a dialogue in Deutsch, you will be able to retell the dialogues, build interrogative sentences of different types. The main thing is to learn how to speak with the natives of Germany. It is important to consolidate the acquired knowledge by practicing pronunciation, repeating memorized expressions aloud, working through (preferably in pairs) dialogues.
Personal pronouns
Lecture by teacher Elena Sivuda, who lives in Munich. Elena will explain the meanings of personal pronouns in an accessible way, tell you how the same in spelling, but different in meaning, sie differ, and give examples of use. The lesson is aimed only at the study of pronouns in the form necessary for the elementary level, which makes the information easy to perceive and remember.
Travel Webinar
Learn the basic essentials for travelers to German speaking countries in a free webinar from Elena Shipilova.
Conjugation of verbs
Irina Shi is a private teacher who has been teaching online for over 10 years. The plot of the video is built like a real lesson - first, the repetition of personal pronouns, then the students memorize the verbs they will have to work with, learn to conjugate them, use them in sentences. In the second part of the video, Irina draws attention to common prepositions used in combination with verbs and teaches how to make simple expressions with them.
Order of words in a sentence
Knowing pronouns, several nouns and conjugation, you can independently form phrases for conversation. Offers are built according to a clear plan that cannot be violated. The lecture provides information about where the parts of speech should be, when it is allowed to change their places, and according to what criteria an interrogative sentence is built. Additional information is given about the features of complex variants, and how certain groups of prepositions affect the order of expressions.
Modal verbs
To be able, to want, to be due are modal verbs. It is impossible to do without them in colloquial speech, to express a request, a desire. What are the modal verbs in German? Why are there 2 times more of them than in Russian? What is the difference between similar words? How are texts built with them? Answers to all questions in this master class. Plus examples with a detailed explanation of why a particular modal verb should be used this way and not otherwise.
Cardinal numbers
The language can be learned from zero to A1 level in 5-7 months. And this is provided that you spend not so much time on training - for example, 3-4 hours a week. If you make the classes more saturated, then you can reach the basic level in 1-2 months. The individual characteristics of your memory are important, but not decisive. Let's talk about how to quickly learn German from scratch in courses or on your own, at home. TOP recommendations from experts are waiting for you further.
How to build learning German
First, decide on a goal. Answer yourself the question: why do I want to learn German? Moving to Germany is one goal, business communication with German partners is the second, a tourist trip is the third, passing the language courses is the fourth. If you do not set a specific goal, then motivation will disappear. If motivation disappears, there will be no result. Moreover, the goal is of decisive importance in the independent development of a training program.
The second stage is the timing. Create a kind of "road map" for each month: mark the expected results and the time frame in which you want to achieve them. Let's say you start training on September 1st. Then the roadmap for the next month might look like this:
- September 5 - I know the alphabet, greetings and standard phrases;
- September 10 - I know 4 grammar rules, vocabulary is 100 words;
- September 15th – I read and translate simple short texts in German;
- September 20 - I complete the tasks of the initial level from the textbook;
- September 25 - I know 10 grammar rules, vocabulary is 200 words;
- September 30 - I take basic courses in listening.
Ideally, if you manage to draw up a "road map" for the entire period of study, during which you plan to achieve the common goal of learning German from zero to a certain level.
In the future, it can be adjusted, postponed, changed components, but you will have a plan that is actually a guide to action.
Next, you have to figure out exactly how you will do it. It's great if you have the opportunity to attend German courses, even if the classes are online. Having a mentor supervise your results will always help you achieve faster results. But if you don’t have money for paid courses and tutors, it doesn’t matter, there are a lot of online platforms that will help you organize training with the correct program.
What are the best German courses?
We will immediately divide them into 2 categories: paid and free. Naturally, they will differ. The key difference is the presence in the paid course of teachers who will supervise your training. The opportunity to ask questions, get advice and evaluate your skills from a teacher is extremely important, especially for beginners. Is it possible to do without them? Yes, but it will be more difficult.
Paid German courses
According to the form of organization, we note online and offline courses. Adherents of the "old school" of language learning unanimously repeat that classical classes in the classroom are more effective, increase discipline and motivate more. In fact, online courses turn out to be more convenient due to the possibility of their distance learning and the identical content to classic face-to-face classes. Courses also vary in pace. According to this criterion, there are three types of training programs:
- With a slow pace. You reach the initial level no earlier than after 6 months, the average level - after 1.5-2 years, during the course you take about 5-6 courses. This type of training is most common both in Russia and in Europe.
- With an average pace. Everything happens about 2 times faster than in classes with a slow pace. If you miss something, you have to catch up. However, in less than a year, an average level of language proficiency is achieved.
- With a fast pace. It's still faster here. You can reach an average level of language proficiency in 5-7 months, but you have to study a lot - sometimes up to 6 times a week. This pace is not suitable for very busy people who work or study a lot.
- At your own pace. In this case, teachers adjust to the individual abilities of the student, select a schedule that is comfortable for him. Usually this is only possible when practicing in small groups or with one person.
You choose the pace, guided by knowledge about the specifics of your thought process. When learning from scratch, it is recommended to start at a slow pace and gradually accelerate. Increase the pace until you feel your limit. It is important that language learning does not become torture - in this case, motivation is lost, which always negatively affects the effectiveness of learning.
Free German courses
Usually these are video courses or online services that offer free training as part of full or limited functionality. Their key advantage is economy, the main drawback is the absence or limited presence of a mentor. Many online platforms offer to study for free, but at the same time limit the functionality of the service. You will have to pay for access to more comfortable training.
How to learn German quickly with free courses? Select the best resources, develop your program, set a goal and go for it.
Your internal discipline will be of key importance - the lack of control from the mentor will unnecessarily relax, therefore you can master the program only if you strictly follow the lesson plan. When learning without a teacher, it is recommended to communicate with native speakers as much as possible. In terms of resources, we have selected the top 10 online platforms for you to learn German for free.
The best online platforms for learning German
If you are learning a language at home, the easiest way to do this is through specialized courses. Their advantage is in the presence of a program compiled by teachers: the material is correctly presented and structured according to the principle “from simple to complex”. Below we list the most popular learning platforms, as well as resources where you can chat with native German speakers.
Online learning platforms
Deutsch online. One of the most popular sites for those who study German on their own. There are several options with video, audio and text lessons to choose from. Some courses allow you to take tests online, partially replacing the control function on the part of the teacher. The site also contains a lot of additional training materials.
Deutsch.info. An interesting resource that combines German courses with practical advice about living and working abroad in Austria and Germany. The platform will be especially useful for those who plan to move to these countries and set themselves the goal of mastering the language to a certain level, sufficient to obtain a visa, employment and a comfortable life.
lingust. A cozy resource with original courses for learning German. In addition to classic educational materials, there are video tutorials and a lot of additional materials. The course is aimed at the level A1 and A2 - it is perfect for those who decide to learn German from scratch.
startdeutsch. An interesting platform that helps you learn German from scratch. Here are both comprehensive courses and individual lessons. There are also a lot of additional materials - for example, you can read articles about living and working in Germany, or take a language test when obtaining citizenship.
Livemocha. A kind of social network for everyone who studies foreign languages, in particular German. Users help each other, share useful materials and courses. Here you can also communicate in German with a real person, often with a native speaker.
Busuu. Another virtual community that helps to learn with pleasure. In addition to educational materials, the platform has a video chat where you can communicate in a foreign language with other users. Many of them are native German speakers.
MyLanguageExchange. The site helps you find a native speaker of the language you are interested in, who is currently learning your native language. You communicate and help each other, share useful materials and get a lot of positive emotions.
Lang-8. This resource is especially helpful when preparing for tests. Here, native speakers comment on your texts and help correct mistakes. If desired, you can talk to the user and invite him to chat in the messenger.
We have collected advice from polyglots, educators and linguists. They will help you build the right learning system and warn you against the mistakes that are most often made when trying to learn German on your own.
1. Find motivation
Motivation is the main driving force behind your learning process. You must clearly understand its meaning. Determine how important knowledge of German is for you personally, evaluate the potential benefits. Get a powerful motivation that will become a success factor.
2. Set goals and develop a program
If you are studying on your own, then take as a basis a standard program for learning German (it is easy to find it on the net) and adapt it to your individual characteristics. When adapting, pay special attention to the pace of learning - start with a slow rhythm and gradually accelerate until you feel your limit.
3. Exercise regularly
Internal discipline is of particular importance. Especially in situations in which you are deprived of control by the teacher. Create a class schedule and stick to it - do not skip classes without a good reason. Remember that even one pass can lead to a violation of internal discipline and reduce the effectiveness of training.
4. Learn grammar and vocabulary selectively
In fact, it is enough to know about 40% of the grammar rules and about 30-35% of the words of modern German. Choose words and phrases that are useful in work and everyday communication. The same with grammar: do not try to learn all the rules, it is enough to know and apply the basic ones.
5. Use Associations
Associate the studied words with consonant words from the Russian language - it's easier to remember them. For example, mantel is similar to manti, and in translation it is a coat - such an association is not very useful when you feel hungry, but you will definitely remember the word.
6. Diversify your learning resources
Do not limit yourself to lessons and courses - watch films in German with subtitles, translate lyrics, find convenient sources for replenishing your vocabulary.
7. Chat with native speakers
This is especially important if you are studying without a teacher. Meet native speakers on thematic sites, be sure to call them and speak German - this will help you learn to perceive the language by ear and improve your pronunciation.
Here you can find not only native speakers who will be ready to chat with you, but also a lot of interesting materials. Be sure to subscribe to thematic groups to get access to an expanded database of training materials.
9. Don't focus on "classic" language
10. Ensure Regular Checkups
It is advisable to find a tutor who will monitor your progress and test at least once a month. If it is impossible to pay for its services, go through monthly testing on your own - for example, on specialized online services.
German is one of the most popular languages in the world. It ranks third in the top ten most used languages. Every year, German-speaking countries are visited by tourists, and if you look at learning the language from a business point of view, it is enough to remember that partners from Germany are considered one of the most respected and promising.
Get Germanized
Creative, fun and unusual about Germany, the German language and local customs. The author of the channel is an ambitious and positive presenter, ready to help his visitors learn more about his beloved country.On the channel you can find many interesting videos that examine the national traditions, cultural characteristics of Germany and the life of the local population. The videos are made with attention to the topic and moderate humor, which simplifies the learning process.
The channel will be useful for those who speak English at a good level. At the same time, the page is frequently updated: new issues appear three times a week.
Lessons with Irina SHI
According to the author of the channel, you can learn another language quickly, and all that is required for this is the "holy trinity": desire, training and a little patience. An experienced teacher will talk about the features of the language, help overcome the language barrier, not only teach you to understand speech, but also speak German. On Irina Shi's channel, you can find many capacious, useful video lessons that tell about various areas of the German language, with an emphasis on grammar: tenses, conjunctions, cases, prepositions, declensions, pronouns.German lessons with Elena Shipilova
On the channel you can find a basic German course, consisting of only 7 lessons. Elena will tell you how to behave in various everyday situations, introduce you to the basic rules for pronunciation and composing sentences. The author of the channel claims that the series of lessons will be useful for those who "need to speak German, not learn it."
In addition to materials for learning German, the channel contains the same concise and concise lessons in other languages, as well as tips on how to memorize words, memorize phrases, and many other useful learning materials.
German lessons with Sonya
A positive German teacher and a resident of Vienna Sonya, with a delightful accent, talks about German in Russian. She will teach the basics of grammar, help to replenish vocabulary, and also acquaint everyone with the main sights and curious corners of Vienna. Thus, with Sonya you will not only have fun, but also improve your knowledge of German. Classes are designed for beginner level users.German in 16 hours
Professional polyglot and translator Dmitry Petrov offers a unique methodology that will help you master general communication skills in German as quickly as possible - in 16 lessons. All classes are held in parallel with the students in the studio, which clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the classes.
In addition to German lessons, on Dmitry's channel you can also find materials for learning other languages, which he offers to learn using the same methodology: English, French, Spanish, Hindi and Chinese. You can also find tips for learning languages faster. This technique enjoys positive reviews. All the videos you need to learn are available for free.
Lessons with Oksana Vasilyeva
On the channel you can find lessons for beginners to learn German. Its author, Oksana Vasilyeva, will give an informative and concise talk about the grammar and rules of the language. The narration is in Russian. Oksana will teach you how to learn a language using any German self-instruction manual. You will receive explanations of grammatical basics, the rules for determining the order of words in a sentence, conjugation of verbs and other important things. Also, channel users will be able to travel around Berlin and feel the atmosphere of the capital.
In addition, in her videos, Oksana gives advice on how to improve memory, overcome the fear of speaking a foreign language, and also help your own children learn the language.
German from Germany
The author of the channel is a professional teacher and a native speaker of German. Charismatic and friendly Julia Schneider, with her wonderful accent, will teach everyone new words and help them master the grammatical rules of the German language, as well as introduce them to the orders and customs of Germany.Deutsch fur Euch
A cheerful red-haired presenter in a red cap will talk about German in English. The channel was created for those who are tired of standard textbooks with monotonous exercises, want lively explanations and an extraordinary teacher. Here they will help to learn and remember the most difficult material. True, it will be understandable and useful only to those who speak English.The author of the channel focuses on the study of German grammar. For free access, a huge number of videos are provided that cover many of the points necessary for learning the language.
StartLingua
This channel contains a lot of materials for preparing for exams and directly exam videos for testing various levels of knowledge of the German language. You can also find exercises and interesting reports about the country. It is important that the lessons are taught by native speakers, which will help not only to learn grammar, but also to put your own correct pronunciation, based on the lessons.
In addition, on the channel you can find a section with audio books that will help in training the skill of understanding German speech by ear. The materials will be useful for those who already speak German and want to consolidate their knowledge.
Others believe that death is better than the German language. It is difficult for me to solve this issue without preparation. What matters here is what kind of death we are talking about. If about slow and painful ... Let's say, two hundred years ago in Canada, the Indians caught a missionary, skinned him, brought red-hot ash, then boiling water, and little by little the missionary ...
All in all, I think German would be a welcome change for him.
Mark Twain
So, despite all the intimidation and stories about the unfathomable complexity of the German language, you decided (a) to master this really difficult language. However, German is not as terrible as it is painted. I call myself to disagree with Mark Twain, who called him "unsystematic." In my opinion, German is a logical, structured and systematic language, "loving" order. Learning German is like solving math problems or putting together a puzzle.
Not the last role in this (still) difficult matter is played by knowledge of grammar. Therefore, in this article we list the most important grammar topics that need to be mastered Beginners to learn German.
1. Verb conjugation in Präsens (present tense)
Before you start studying this topic, you have to learn personal pronouns.
In German, unlike English, the pronoun I written in small letters.
Please note that du used to refer to "you" to one person. To address, for example, a question to a group of people (friends or acquaintances), you need to use the pronoun ihr. Sie used as a polite address to one person or several people.
Let's go back to the verb conjugation in Präsens. First of all, you need to remember the conjugation of the three main verbs (Grundverben):
sein(be), haben(to have) and werden(become).
These verbs can be both semantic and auxiliary, i.e. can participate in the formation of various grammatical forms. For example, when forming the past tense of Perfekt, the auxiliary verbs haben and sein are used, when forming the future tenses, Futur I and Futur II, the auxiliary verb werden is used, which is also used to form the passive voice (Passiv). Since these verbs are in great demand, it is important that their forms really bounce off the teeth!
Further information on the topic "Verb conjugation" you.
Important! In German, to express the future tense (Futur I), Präsens is very often used.
For example: Wann kommst du? - When will you come? Ich mache es morgen. - I'll do it tomorrow.
2. Word order in a sentence (Satzstellung)
In a German sentence each the word has its place. Of course, it is important to remember about the direct and reverse word order and do not forget to juggle the predicate and subject. However, one should also not forget that the negative particle nothing, infinitive construction (with the particle zu or without it), reflexive pronoun sich- everyone knows their place!
Circumstances of time, cause, mode of action and place are also arranged in the German sentence in accordance with a certain order, obeying the rule te- ka- mo- lo(temporal , kausal , modal , lokal ).
For example: Ich lerne am Wochenende wegen meiner Prüfung sehr intensiv in der Bibliothek.
If in a sentence both objects are expressed by nouns, then first comes the complement in Dativ, then in Akkusativ: Ich gebe meinem bruder ein Geschenk.
If one of the complements is expressed pronoun, it is placed before the object expressed by the noun: Ich gebe ihm ein Geschenk.
Or: Ich gebe es meinem Bruder.
But if in a sentence both objects are expressed by pronouns, then the order changes: first Akkusativ, then Dativ. For example, Ichgebeesihm.
In a subordinate clause, the predicate, as a rule, comes last, and if the subordinate clause comes before the main one, then the word order in the main clause will be reversed: Ichlerne Deutsch, WennichLusthabe . Aber wenn ich keine Lustmehr habe, lerne ich trotzdem Deutsch.
Head is spinning? It's for joy! :)
Attention! The above are just some of the rules for constructing a German sentence.
3. Article (Artikel)
Oh, those articles... Definite and indefinite, masculine (der), neuter (das) and feminine (die) articles, as well as the plural article (die)! Not to mention those cases where the article is not required at all. Willy-nilly, you will remember the missionary that Mark Twain told about...
Note: the gender of nouns in Russian and German does NOT match, so make it a rule to learn German nouns ONLY together with the article (der, das, die). In the plural, all nouns have the article die.
remember: noun derUnterricht(lesson, lesson) does not have a plural form in German!
Fortunately, there are many suffix hints in German that indicate the gender of a noun. For example, all nouns in -ung, -keit or -heit are feminine, in -chen or -lein are neuter, and in -ling are masculine. Here are some others:
In German, as you know, there are many compound words. So, you need to remember that the gender of a compound noun is determined according to the latest in its composition: der Abend (evening) + dasEssen(food) = das Abend essen(dinner).
When compiling sentences, it is not enough just to remember what gender this or that noun has, it is necessary to put the corresponding article in the correct case!
For example: Wo ist der Mann (nom) mit der Brille? Ich muss dem Mann (dat) etwas sagen! Hast du den Mann (Ack) gesehen? - Where is the man with the glasses? I need to say something to this man! Have you seen this man?
Declension table for definite and indefinite articles:
4. Declension of nouns (Deklination der Substantive)
In German, there are three types noun declension: feminine, strong And weak. Thus, when constructing a German sentence, it is necessary not only to use the article in the right case, but also, if necessary, to add an ending to the noun.
TO female declension includes all feminine nouns. When declined in cases, they do not receive any ending. For example:
Nom die Endung
Gen der Endung
Dat der Endung
Akk die Endung
Many masculine nouns and all neuter nouns (except das Herz) refer to strong declension and get in Genetiv the ending -(e)s.
Note that neuter nouns ending in -nis double the final -s, e.g. das Zeugnis - des Zeugnis s es.
Nouns with -us, -as and -ismus Not receive the ending -s in Genetiv: der Kasus- des Kasus.
TO weak The declension includes four groups of masculine nouns that end in -en in all cases except Nominativ.
German learners often have the question: which is correct - Herren or Herrn? So, the first (die Herren) is the plural form of der Herr (for example, Sehr geehrte Damen und Herr en), and the second is one of the three case forms, which one is determined by the article.
Nom der Herr
Gen des Herrn
Dat dem Herrn
Akk den Herrn
In addition to these three types of declensions, there are two groups of nouns in German that "play by their own rules". The first group is informally called entwederorder(or... or), it includes four nouns (der Nachbar, der Bauer, der Oberst, der Untertan), which can be declined either in strong or in weak noun declension.
Nom der Nachbar
Gen des Nachbars / des Nachbarns
Dat dem Nachbar / dem Nachbarn
Akk den Nachbar / den Nachbarn
The second group is called sowohl als auch(like ... so) and includes the following nouns, which are declined both in strong and weak declension types: der Name, der Same, der Gedanke, der Glaube, der Wille, der Haufe, der Fels, der Funke , der Friede, der Buchstabe, der Drache and das Herz.
Nom der Name das Herz
Gen des Name ns des Herz ens
Dat dem name n dem Herz en
Akk den Name n Das Herz
When declensing nouns in the plural, it is important to remember that in Dativ the ending -n is added to the noun (you can remember - DativePlural ! ) unless it already ends in -n.
Nom die Manner die Frauen
Gen der Manner der Frauen
Dat den Manner n den Frauen
Akk die Männer die Frauen
5. Declension of adjectives (Deklination der Adjektive)
In German, allocate three types adjective declensions: weak, strong And mixed.
As practice shows, it is desirable to learn the declension of adjectives in the singular and in the plural separately from each other, with a break of several days. This, however, is a matter of taste.
On our site you will find.
6. Basic forms of the verb (OFG). Formation of tense Präteritum (past tense)
Every verb in German has three basic forms:
Infinitiv (infinitive), Präteritum (past tense) and Partizip II (second participle).
Depending on the method of formation of the main forms, there are, as a rule, three groups of verbs: weak, strong and irregular.
Weak verbs form the past tense (Präteritum) by adding the suffix - te- to the stem of the verb: mach en- machte. The basic forms of strong and irregular verbs are not formed according to the rules, so they must be learned by heart (see the table of strong and irregular verbs).
In the Präteritum form, the separable prefixes "leave" the verb: auf machen - mach te auf .
Having learned how to conjugate verbs in Präsens tense, you will easily master the paradigm of verb conjugation in Präteritum:
Please note that in the time Präteritum forms of the 1st and 3rd person singular. match up. The fact that the forms of the 1st and 3rd person plural. coincide, we learned already when studying Präsens time.
Having mastered this topic, you can enjoy reading German books in the original.
7. Formation of time Perfect (past perfect tense)
This time is the most common in colloquial speech, so you should definitely try to master it already at the initial stage of training.
Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb haben or sein and Partizip II (3rd form) of the semantic verb. Auxiliary verbs are conjugated in Präsens (present tense), for example: Wannbest duaufgestanden? - When did you get up?
There is usually no problem with the second "ingredient": weak verbs form PartizipII by adding the prefix ge- and suffix - t, for example, machen - machte - ge mach t. Partizip II forms of strong and irregular verbs are given in the table of strong and irregular verbs, which, as we have already agreed, needs to be learned.
What happens if the verb already has a prefix?
The inseparable prefix firmly clung to the verb and does not let anyone near it: be suchen- be suchte- be sucht.
The detachable prefix willingly gives way to the prefix ge- : zu machen-machte zu - zu ge macht.
Verbs ending in -ieren do not receive the prefix in Partizip II ge-: ignorieren - ignorierte - ignorier t.
Now it remains to learn how to choose the correct auxiliary verb - haben or sein! This will help you
8. Imperative (Imperative)
To express advice, requests, demands, orders, instructions or warnings in German, Imperativ is used. In general, an irreplaceable thing! Deal with the formation of the imperative mood for you.
In German, there are other ways to get someone to do something. For example, using the infinitive: Aufstehen! - Get up! This is a very sharp form and is rarely used. Or with the help of the passive voice (Passiv): Jetztwildgeschlafen! - It's time to sleep!Jetztwildgegessen! - Come on, eat! Often used when referring to children.
9. Passive voice in German (Passiv)
The passive voice is formed using the auxiliary verb werden and Partizip II (3rd form) of the semantic verb. For example:
Ich baue ein Haus. - I am building a house. -> Das Haus wird gebaut. - The house is being built.
To say this sentence, for example, in Präteritum or Perfect tense, you need to choose the appropriate tense form of the auxiliary verb werden. The shape of Partizip II remains unchanged.
Das Haus wurde gebaut. (Prateritum)
Note that the 3rd form of the verb werden loses the prefix ge- in the Perfect:
Das Haus ist gebaut ge worden. (Perfect)
10. Modal verbs (Modalverben)
Modal verbs are widely used in both spoken and written German. The main modal verbs are können, dürfen, müssen, sollen, wollen, mögen, while möchte(n), while not being an independent modal verb, is a subjunctive form derived from mögen.
To form a negation, instead of the verb müssen, it is preferable to use the construction nicht brauchen zu + infinitive:
Du must es machen. -> Du brauchst es nicht zu machen.
In German, in addition to the modal verbs themselves, there are so-called modalverb ä hnliche Verben (verbs that in a certain sense perform the function of modals), for example, lassen - command, instruct, allow, verstehen (zu + infinitive) - be able, wissen (zu + infinitive) - be able, and many others. For example: Ich weiß das zu schätzen, was du für mich machst. - I know I appreciate (= I know how to appreciate) what you do for me.
Having mastered the topics listed above, you will be able to lay the necessary foundations for a successful and "painless" mastery of the language.
Do not forget that every grammar topic needs to be reinforced, so take enough time to complete the exercises. You should not take several new grammar topics at a time, especially if they have little to do with each other. It is better to "dilute" the grammatical material with the study of new vocabulary.
And finally, the most important thing: do not forget to pause and rest from cramming! Then, perhaps, the "torture" of the German language will not seem so terrible.
Mark Twain once said that "... such a careless, unsystematic, slippery and evasive language as German, you will not find in the whole world." Obviously, the writer meant German grammar, which often causes difficulties for beginners. But is it really that terrible? In this article, we debunk the most popular misconceptions about the complexity of the German language and its grammar!
Myth 1: German has a lot of cases
How many German cases do you know? Correct - 4:
- Nominative (nominative);
- Genetiv (genitive);
- Dativ (dative);
- Akkusativ (accusative).
At first glance, it may seem rather difficult, because in German each case has its own forms of articles. In fact, the genitive case is dying out in modern German and is increasingly being replaced by the preposition von. Compare:
| Written version | Conversational variant |
|---|---|
| Das Buch des Vaters. | Das Buch vom Vater. |
| Die Brille der Mutter. | Die Brille von der Mutter. |
| Das Rad des Kindes. | Das Rad vom Kind. |
Considering that the nominative case is just the dictionary form of a noun and does not need to be learned separately, in practice you will deal with only two cases Dativ and Akkusativ. Not so difficult, right?
Myth 2: German word order is hard to learn
German has a fairly strict word order. This means that the position of each word in a sentence is fixed and depends on the type of sentence. For example, German has interrogative word order, direct and reverse word order, as well as the so-called frame construction. So why shouldn't all this scare you? The fact is that a strict word order allows you to build all sentences using just a few schemes! Moreover, the fixed word order will never allow you to confuse a question with a statement. Compare:
| Written version | Conversational variant |
|---|---|
| Er hat einen Hund. | Hat er einen Hund. |
| Dein Freund ist Fahrer von Beruf. | Ist dein Freund Fahrer von Beruf? |
| Ihr kommt aus Deutschland. | Kommt ihr aus Deutschland? |
Just read our articles on German word order at the links above and soon you will be able to put your new knowledge into practice.
Myth 3: strong German verbs are impossible to learn
There are two groups of verbs in German: weak and strong. There are no problems with the first ones, because they form the past tense and the perfect form according to simple and understandable rules. For example:
- machen-machte-hat gemacht
- sagen-sagte-hat gesagt
- suchen - suchte - hat gesucht
Strong verbs differ in that they form Präteritum and Perfect not according to a general scheme, but according to their own rules. Compare:
- finden-fand-hat gefunden
- bleiben - blieb - hat geblieben
- denken-dachte-hat gedacht
You probably have a natural question: “So what to do now?” Do not rush to get upset, everything is not so difficult. First, there are only about a hundred irregular verbs in German. Most of the verbs are conjugated according to the usual rules. Secondly, if you can't learn irregular verbs by heart, you can always use the secret from Deutschklasse.
The fact is that all irregular verbs can be divided into several groups according to the Ablaut scheme (changes in the root vowel). Let's look at a few verbs:
- finden-fand-hat gefunden
- trinken-trank-hat getrunken
- singen-sang-hat gesungen
Myth 4: German has a confusing tense system
In contrast to English, in German, the aspect-temporal forms of verbs are much easier to learn. Firstly, there are much fewer of them, and secondly, in practice you will only need two: Präsens and Perfekt!
The fact is that Germans often use the present tense in the meaning of the future. To do this, they simply add an adverb of time indicating the future, for example:
| Written version | Conversational variant |
|---|---|
| Ich komme aus Russland. | Ich komme bald. |
| Ich arbeite als Lehrer. | Ich arbeite morgen. |
| Ich spreche Deutsch. | Ich spreche mit dir in einer Stunde. |
The function of the past tense in oral speech is performed by Perfekt, so in fact you do not need anything else to successfully communicate in German.
More practice with a native German speaker
If you want to learn German but don't know where to start, sign up for first free lesson in our online center. The session will be led by one of our professional tutors from Germany– Christoph Deininger and Eliane Roth. They will be happy to answer all your questions related to the German language and German culture, as well as help you create the optimal class schedule.