The verb schlafen means “to sleep,” for example, and schwimmen means “to swim.” With a few exceptions, German verbs in the infinitive form end in -en, making them fairly easy to recognize. German verbs exist initially in what’s known as the infinitive form, what English speakers would think of as a verb in the “to (verb)” form - like “to do,” “to eat” or “to sleep,” for example. While verb conjugations technically exist in English as well, there aren’t nearly as many, so learning them (and how and when to use them) takes time and discipline in German.įirst, we start with an infinitive.
#BASIC GERMAN GRAMMAR HOW TO#
Perhaps one of the most important parts of German grammar is knowing how to use German verbs - and that means knowing how to deal with German verb conjugations. In order to express ideas and form sentences in German, you need to understand and follow German grammar rules. Introduction To German Grammar: What Are German Grammar Rules?Īlong with German vocabulary, you’ve got to know German grammar to be able to use the language. If you have access to a German class, a German tutor or even a native German-speaking friend who’s willing to help teach you, these can also be great ways to get answers on questions you might have about German grammar and live feedback on how well you use German grammar in conversation and writing. German grammar exercises can help you take your skills to the next level by helping you lock in the information you need to know with repeated drills. There are lots of German grammar exercises in textbooks, in language learning apps and around the internet. But the important thing is that you find a way to make learning German grammar easier for you.
It’s okay to feel a little wary of starting out practicing German grammar. With the right tools and mindset, you can build the skills it takes to speak German fluently without the struggle or the stress. Millions of people before you have learned German grammar, and so can you. But the truth is that the grammars of many languages take time and patience to learn, and German grammar is no different. Yes, German grammar can be complex for those who don’t have much experience with it. Maybe you’re worried, for example, about learning the German case marking system that shows up on German articles, pronouns and adjectives - the nominative case, the accusative case, the dative case and the genitive case - or perhaps you’re downright terrified of verb tenses and conjugations
#BASIC GERMAN GRAMMAR FULL#
You might have heard that German grammar is notorious for being complex, rigorous and full of rules. Keep reading to learn more about the basics of German grammar and German grammar rules! Is German Grammar Hard? How Can I Make German Grammar Easy To Learn?
Learning grammar is an essential part of learning any new language, and German is no exception! Luckily, once you start to learn how German grammar works, you’ll find out it’s not all that intimidating after all. But German grammar doesn’t have to be a nightmare to learn in fact, with the right tools and teachers, it can be a low-friction endeavor and even a fun one!Īll languages have grammar, or rules that tell us how to use their individual elements (words) to build longer structures that convey meaning (sentences).