German Grammar

Prepositions That Take Accusative: Für, Um, Durch, Gegen, Ohne, Bis

In German, some prepositions always use the accusative case, no matter what.

Accusative Article Changes: Den, Einen, Die, Eine, Das, Ein

In German, the accusative case marks the direct object — the thing or person receiving the action.

What is the Accusative Case? Answering "Wen oder Was?"

The accusative case in German answers one key question:

Verbs That Take Dative: Helfen, Danken, Gehören, Schmecken, Gefallen

Some German verbs do not take the accusative case — instead, they always use the dative case for their object.

Dative Case Explained: The "Wem?" Role in Sentences

In German, every sentence is built around three roles:

** Mastering the German Dative Case: Indirect Objects for Beginners (A1–A2)**Pillar

After learning the nominative (subject) and the accusative (direct object), German introduces a third essential case:

Prepositions in Genitive: Wegen, Während, Trotz, Anstatt, Statt

Some German prepositions require the genitive case.

Preposition + Case Flowcharts: Visual Guides for Beginners

German prepositions can feel confusing because many of them force a specific case:

Comparative Adjectives: Kalt to Kälter to Am Kältesten

_Learn how to form German comparatives ("-er") and superlatives ("am -sten") with easy rules and examples._

Mixed Declension: With Indefinite Articles (Ein Kalter Kaffee)

_Learn adjective endings after_ _ein-words_ _(ein, eine, kein, mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, Ihr)._

Adjective Positions: Before vs After Nouns (Predicate Adjectives)

_Learn when German adjectives take endings and when they don't._

Weak Declension: With Definite Articles (Der Kalte Kaffee)

_Learn the easiest adjective ending system in German - used after "der/die/das."_

Strong Declension for Adjectives: No Article Cases (Kalter Kaffee)

_Learn how to use adjective endings when there is_ _no article_ _in front of the noun._

Adjectives as Nouns: Der Alte, Etwas Neues

_In German, adjectives can turn into nouns. This is called_ _Nominalisierung_ _(nominalization). When an adjective becomes a noun, it is capitalized and decl...

Superlative Forms: Am Schnellsten, Der Schnellste

_German has two superlatives: an_ _adverbial superlative_ _(am schnellsten) and an_ _adjectival superlative_ _(der schnellste / der Schnellste). They look si...

Adjectives After Possessives: Mein Kaltes Bier

_Possessive words like_ _mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, Ihr_ _behave like_ _ein-words__. That means any adjective after them follows the_ _mixed declens...

After Kein-: Kein Kaltes Bier Declensions

_The word_ _kein_ _behaves exactly like_ _ein__, which means adjectives after_ _kein-_ _follow the_ _mixed declension__. This pattern appears everywhere in s...

Modals in Perfect Tense: Ich Habe Kommen Müssen

_Learn how to form German Perfekt sentences with modal verbs - one of the trickiest A2-B1 grammar topics._

Past Tense Modals: Konnte, Musste, Wollte Explained

_Learn how to use the German modal verbs in the_ _simple past (Präteritum)_ _- the most common past tense for modals._

Modal Verb Word Order: Sentences Like "Ich Will Deutsch Lernen"

_Master the most important word-order rule in German: modal verb + infinitive at the end._

The 6 Key Modal Verbs: Können, Müssen, Wollen, Sollen, Dürfen, Mögen

_Your complete beginner-friendly guide to all German modal verbs with patterns, meanings, and everyday sentences._

Present Tense Conjugation for Modals: Plus Infinitive at the End

_Learn how German modal verbs work in the present tense - the conjugation, the patterns, and the core rule: infinitive at the end._

Stress Rules for Prefix Verbs: How to Pronounce Them Correctly

_Learn how to tell whether a German prefix verb is separable or inseparable - simply by listening to the_ _stress__._

Dual Prefix Verbs: Umfahren, Überleben and Their Meanings

_Some German verbs change meaning depending on whether the prefix is_ _separable_ _or_ _inseparable__. Learn the difference between verbs like_ _umfahren_ _(...

Separable Prefix Verbs: Aufmachen, Einkaufen, Ausgehen Basics

_Learn how common everyday separable verbs like_ _aufmachen__,_ _einkaufen__, and_ _ausgehen_ _work in the present tense, with modals, and in the perfect ten...

Inseparable Prefix Verbs: Verstehen, Bekommen, Erlauben

_Learn how the most common inseparable prefix verbs work - their meaning, grammar rules, and how to use them in everyday sentences._

Top Reflexives for Everyday Use: Sich Setzen, Sich Beeilen

Word Order with Reflexives: Ich Wasche Mich vs Ich Freue Mich

_Master the correct position of reflexive pronouns - "mich, dich, sich, uns, euch" - in German sentences with and without objects, time words, modals, and pr...

Accusative vs Dative Reflexives: Key Differences

_Learn when to use_ _mich_ _vs._ _mir__,_ _dich_ _vs._ _dir__, and why German reflexive verbs switch between the accusative and dative cases._

Common Reflexive Verbs: Sich Waschen, Sich Freuen, Sich Erinnern

_Master three of the most important reflexive verbs in everyday German:_ _sich waschen__,_ _sich freuen__, and_ _sich erinnern__._

Perfect vs Präteritum: Spoken vs Written Past Compared

_German has two main past tenses:_ _Perfekt_ _and_ _Präteritum__. They express the same time, but they are used in different situations. Learn when to use wh...

Irregular Participles: Gehen to Gegangen, Sehen to Gesehen

_Strong (irregular) verbs form their Partizip II with_ _-en_ _and often change their stem. Learn the most common patterns so you can finally master "gegesse...

Perfect Tense Word Order: Ich Habe Gestern Ein Buch Gelesen

_Learn exactly where to place_ _gestern__,_ _ein Buch__, and the participle_ _gelesen_ _in Perfekt sentences - the most used past tense in spoken German._

Forming Partiziple II: -t for Weak Verbs, -en for Strong

_Master how to build the German past participle (Partizip II) for the Perfect Tense - the key to speaking about the past._

Haben vs Sein as Auxiliaries in Perfect Tense

_One of the biggest Perfekt challenges is choosing between_ _haben_ _and_ _sein__. This guide makes the rule simple with patterns, lists, and examples._

**Pillar Post:** German Word Order Rules: Build Sentences Like a Native (A2-B1)

_German word order looks strict, but once you know the patterns, you can build sentences like a native. This guide gives you the core rules you need at A2-B1...

Sein, Haben, and Modals in Präteritum

_The Präteritum (simple past) is essential for written German and storytelling. The verbs_ _sein__,_ _haben__, and the_ _modal verbs_ _are the most frequentl...

Strong Verbs: Gehen to Ging, Sein to War

_Strong verbs are the "irregular" past forms in German. They change their stem and use special endings. This guide teaches you the key patterns, the most com...

Mixed Verbs: Denken to Dachte

Weak Verbs in Präteritum: Lernen to Lernte

_Weak verbs (regular verbs) make the Präteritum extremely predictable: just add_ _-te__. This guide shows you exactly how to form and use them in writing._

Two-Part Connectors: Nicht Nur... Sondern Auch

_German loves two-part connectors. One of the most useful is_ _nicht nur … sondern auch_ _- it's perfect for showing contrast AND adding extra information. M...

W-Questions: Keeping the Verb Second

Yes/No Questions: Inversion Techniques

Subordinate Clauses: Weil, Dass, Wenn - Verb at the End

_Subordinate clauses (Nebensätze) are one of the biggest milestones for German learners. They allow you to explain reasons, add details, show conditions, and...

Time-Manner-Place Order: TMP for Clear Sentences

_German prefers a very stable order inside the middle of the sentence:_ _Time → Manner → Place__. Mastering TMP instantly makes your sentences clearer, smoot...

The V2 Rule: Verb Always Second in Main Clauses

_If there is one rule that controls German word order, it is this: the conjugated verb must appear in_ _Position 2_ _of every main clause. This rule is the f...

Verb Kick to the End: Ich Bleibe, Weil Ich Müde Bin

_One of the most famous rules in German grammar is the "Verb Kick." In every subordinate clause, the conjugated verb moves to the_ _very end_ _of the sentenc...

Building Two-Clause Sentences: Main + Subordinate

_German complex sentences start with one simple structure: a_ _main clause (Hauptsatz)_ _plus a_ _subordinate clause (Nebensatz)__. If you can connect two id...

Key Conjunctions: Weil, Dass, Obwohl, Wenn, Bevor, Nachdem, Damit

_These seven subordinating conjunctions form the backbone of German complex sentences. Mastering them lets you express reasons, contrast, time, purpose, and ...

Relative Clause Word Order: Verb at the End

Punctuation Rules: Commas Around Relative Clauses

_Relative clauses in German always require commas. This is not optional, not stylistic, and not flexible - it is a_ _hard grammar rule__. At B1-B2, mastering...

Was for Entire Clauses: Advanced Usage

_Most learners know_ _was_ _as "what." But at B1-B2 level,_ _was_ _has another powerful function: it acts as a_ _relative pronoun for whole ideas, entire cla...

Relative Pronouns: Der/Die/Das Matching Gender and Case

_Relative pronouns are the tiny words that link a noun to extra information. To use them correctly, you must match_ _gender__,_ _number__, and_ _case__. This...

Welcher/Welche/Welches: Alternatives to Der/Die/Das

_German relative clauses usually use_ _der/die/das_ _as relative pronouns. But in more formal writing, in questions, and sometimes for clarity, German also u...

Passive Alternatives: Man, Sich Lassen + Infinitive

_German does not always need the passive voice (wird gemacht). Very often, speakers prefer_ _active alternatives_ _that sound more natural and less formal. T...

Von + Dative for Agents in Passive

_In the German passive voice, the "doer" of the action (the agent) is expressed using_ _von + Dative__-but ONLY when the agent is a_ _person or an organizati...

Modals + Passive: Das Muss Gemacht Werden

_One of the most important B1 grammar skills is combining_ _modal verbs_ _(müssen, können, sollen, dürfen, wollen) with the_ _passive voice__. This structure...

Past Passive: Das Buch Wurde Gelesen

_The Past Passive (Präteritum Passiv) is used to describe actions that happened in the past without saying who did them. It is extremely common in stories, n...

Present Passive: Das Buch Wird Gelesen

_The Present Passive (Präsens Passiv) is one of the most useful passive structures in German. It describes an action that is happening_ _right now_ _or_ _reg...

Sentence Builder: From Simple to Complex Structures

_German sentences grow in layers. You start with a simple_ _subject + verb_ _pattern and gradually add time expressions, objects, places, subordinate clauses...

Case Transformation Exercises: Nominative to Accusative

_Understanding how to change a noun or pronoun from the_ _nominative_ _(subject) to the_ _accusative_ _(direct object) is one of the most important foundatio...

Tense Conversion Drills: Present to Perfect to Präteritum

_German has two main past tenses that B1 learners must master: the_ _Perfect (Perfekt)_ _for spoken German and the_ _Simple Past (Präteritum)_ _for writing a...