German Grammar

Die Zahlen 0. null

1. eins 11. elf 21 einundzwanzig2. zwei 12. zwölf 22. zweiundzwanzig3. drei 13. dreizehn 30. dreißig4. vier 14. vierzehn 40. vierzig5. fünf 15. fünfzehn 50. fünfzig6. sechs 16. sechzehn 60. sechzig7. sieben 17. siebzehn 70. siebzig8. acht 18. achtzehn 80. achtzig9. neun 19. neunzehn 90. neunzig10.zehn 20. zwanzig 100. hundert

101. hunderteins 1000. tausend102. hundertzwei122. hundertzweiundzwanzig200. zweihundert

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Beginning German Pronunciation Key

Online help: http://userweb.port.ac.uk/~joyce1/abinitio/pronounce/ (Warning: Don’t get bogged down in too much of the detail on this webpage. You need a working pronunciation, not a perfect pronunciation.)

Vowels long a = not short a = not long e = bay (combine English a and e) short e = bet long i = bee short i = bit long o = boat short o = bought long u = boot short u = put long ä = bay (acts like German e) short ä = bet (acts like German e) long ö = girl (without the r) (or as blend of German o and u) short ö = girl (without the r) long ü = (combine German u and i) short ü = (short German y sound)

Diphthongs (Vowel Blends) au = mouse eu & äu = boy ei = mine ie = bee

Consonants & Clusters b (when ends a word has a p sound) d (when ends a word has a t sound) g = usually like first g in garage, sometimes like second g in garage (soft j) h = push breath like saying Ha! j = yes r (sometimes rolled or trilled), (usually extremely soft when last letter of word) s = z sound when begins a word; s otherwise v = foul w = vivid y = boo z = ts like recruits th = t sp & st = an sh sound sliding into p & t kn & pf = a brief k & p sound before the n & f ch = this can make at least 3 distinct sounds. At this point, just imitate.

Formal vs. Informal/Familiar

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The Familiar Form: du and ihr

The familiar forms du and ihr, both meaning “you,” are used when speaking to relatives, close friends, teenagers, children, animals, and God.

(Mrs. Schmidt is speaking to a child)Wo wohnst du? Where do you live?

(Andreas is talking to his new classmates)Woher kommt ihr? Where do you (all) come from?

Note that du is used to address one person and ihr is used for two or more people.

The Formal Form: Sie

The formal form Sie, meaning “you,” is used when speaking to adults, to anyone whom you would address as Mr., Mrs., Sir, or Maam.

(Thomas is talking to his teacher)Wo wohnen Sie, Herr Schulz? Where do you live, Mr. Schulz?

The formal form Sie, in both singular and plural, is always capitalized.

Case of Nouns The case of a noun shows how a noun is functioning in a sentence. There are 4 cases in German:

o Nominative—the noun functions as the subject in the sentence.o Accusative—the noun functions as the direct object or object of an accusative

preposition in the sentence.o Dative—the noun functions as an indirect object, object of a dative verb, or object

of a dative preposition in the sentence.o Genitive—the noun signals possession or is the object of a genitive preposition in

the sentence. We will not directly study Genitive, so it will be omitted from all of our charts. Example:

o The dog gave his master the ball. (dog—subject; master—indirect object; ball—direct object)

o The direct object receives the action of the verb, is affected by action of verb; indirect object answers “to whom.” To whom did it give the ball? His master.

Problem—Linking Verbs which create Predicate Nouns, both nouns in nominative.o Obama is the president = The president is Obama. There isn’t a direct object

when either ‘am,’ ‘is,’ ‘are,’ ‘was,’ ‘were’ is the only verb in sentence. All noun markers—the, a(n), & adjectives—change endings to signal case of noun they

precede. Gender of Nouns

Nouns may be masculine, neuter, or feminine.

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Nouns of people usually follow gender/sex; for instance, the word for man is masculine, the word for woman is feminine.

However, all nouns possess gender, and there is little rhyme as to how to know which is which aside from memorization.

Nominative der, die, das are often used in dictionaries and glossaries to indicate gender of noun.

Noun Markers: Definite Article & other “der-words” Definite article is a fancy term for ‘the.’ ‘The’ changes with gender and case of the noun. All the words in the chart mean ‘the.’

Masculine Neuter Feminine PluralNominative der das die dieAccusative den das die die

Dative dem dem der den Other der-words, words which follow this pattern, are:

o dies- thiso jed- each, everyo welch- which

However, the ‘der-words’ require –es rather than –as for the neuter in nomin. & accus.

Noun Markers: Indefinite Article & other “ein-words” Indefinite article is a fancy term for ‘a’ or ‘an.’ ‘A(n)’ changes with gender and case of the nouns. All the words in the chart under

masculine, neuter & feminine mean ‘a(n).’ A plural noun can’t be identified with ‘a(n).’ We can’t say “a dogs.”

Masculine Neuter Feminine PluralNominative ein ein eine keineAccusative einen ein eine keine

Dative einem einem einer keinen Other ein-words, which follow the above pattern, are ‘kein’ and possessive adjectives:

o kein no (used before nouns) keine Bananen = no bananaso mein myo dein youro sein his, itso ihr her, itso sein itso unser ouro euer youro ihr theiro Ihr You

Subject Personal Pronouns Only

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Singular Plural1st Person I = ich we = wir

2nd Personinformalformal

you = duyou = Sie

you (all) = ihryou (all) = Sie

3rd Person he, it = er (masculine)she, it = sie (feminine)

it = es (neuter)they = sie

o First person is used when someone is speaking about himself or herself, individually (I) or including self with others (we).

o Second person is used when someone is addressing, speaking directly to, one person (you) or two or more (you {all}).

o Third person is used when someone is speaking about someone or something (he, she, it) or two or more people (they).

o Unlike ‘I’ in English, ich is not capitalized unless it begins a sentence.o Formal Sie is always capitalized, singular & plural.

Personal Pronouns: 3 CasesNominative Accusative Dative

I ich me mich to me miryou du you dich to you dirhe,itshe,itit

ersiees

him,ither,it

it

ihnsiees

to him,itto her,it

to it

IhmIhrihm

we wir us uns to us unsyou ihr you euch to you euch

PluralsSingular Plural

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No change or add umlaut das Zimmerdie Mutter

die Zimmerdie Mütter

Add –n, -en, or –nen die Eckeder Herrdie Freundin

die Eckendie Herrendie Freundinnen

Add –e or umlaut -e der Tagdie Stadt

die Tagedie Städte

Add umlaut -er das Buchdas Fach

das Bücherdas Fächer

Add -s das Cafédas Büro

das Cafésdie Büros

Verb sein (to be) English German English German

I am ich bin we are wir sind

you are (informal)you are (formal)

du bistSie sind

you (all) are (infrm)you are (formal)

ihr seidSie sind

he/it isshe/it isit is

er istsie istes ist

they are sie sind

The verb ‘be’ in English is highly irregular. The verbs ‘am,’ ‘is,’ and ‘are’ are all irregular forms of the verb ‘be’ in the present tense. Just as in English, the verb sein is the chaos at the core of the German universe as well.

Notice that there are three different words for “are”: bist, seid, sind

Present Tense Verb FormsInfinitive

Verbs are listed in the dictionary with an –en or –n ending. This is called the infinitive form of the verb. The root or stem of the verb is without this ending.

o geh + en; wohn + en; komm + en

Verb Conjugation with Est. 1010 pattern Conjugation is the placing of different endings on the stem/root of a verb. Conjugation is a feature of many languages using the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd person singular &

plural chart. The only vestige remaining in the English, however, is that 3rd person singular adds an –s:

I play, you play, he plays. It is also seen in the irregular conjugation of the verb “be”: am, is, are.

The Est. 1010 pattern has the following endings: --e –st –t –en –t –en

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The formal Sie (2nd person) is removed to the bottom here; it is not part of the pattern.

ich -e wir -endu -st ihr -ter/sie/es -t sie -enSie -en Sie -en

Examples: ich komme du kommst er/sie/es kommt wir kommen ihr kommt sie kommen Sie kommen

Important variations: Spelling adaptations for roots ending with d, t, & gn: insert an –e before –t/-st

o er arbeitet, ihr arbeitet, du arbeitest Spelling adaptations for roots ending with s, ß, z: omit –s in –st ending

o du heißt

Modal Auxiliaries

Modals are helping verbs. The modal is conjugated in the 2nd position and the main verb slides to the end of sentence

(clause) with the infinitive ending (-n, -en). The infinitive must go at the end of the sentence or clause. Nicht must precede it.

o He doesn’t have to play the piano. Er muss das Klavier nicht spielen. The modals are irregular in the singular and regular in the plural & formal.

o möchten would likeo mögen like too müssen must, have too können can, be able too dürfen may, be allowed too sollen should, supposed too wollen want to

Examples:o I would like to play soccer. Ich möchte Fußball spielen.o Do you like the girl? Magst du das Mädchen?o He has to do his homework. Er muss seine Hausaufgaben machen.

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o We can do it tomorrow. Wir können morgen das machen.

möchten mögen können sollen wollen müssen dürfenich möchte mag kann soll will muss darfdu möchtest magst kannst sollst willst musst darfst

er/sie/es möchte mag kann soll will muss darfwir möchten mögen können sollen wollen müssen dürfenihr möchtet mögt könnt sollt wollt müsst dürftsie möchten mögen können sollen wollen müsst dürfen

Future Tense

Werden is the future tense helping verb. Werden = will Werden functions exactly as a modal auxiliary, with the second verb moving to the end

of sentence (clause) with the infinitive ending. Werden conjugates irregularly.

o ich werdeo du wirsto er/sie/es wirdo wir werdeno ihr werdeto sie werdeno Sie werden

Verbs with Separable Prefixes

Many roots can take different prefixes that alter their basic meaning.o haben = to have

anhaben = to wear, to have on vorhaben = to plan, have beforehand

Prefixes may be either separable or inseparable. The accent (pronunciation stress) is always on the separable prefix. With inseparable

prefixes, the prefix is not stressed. Separable prefixes separate from the conjugated part of the verb and are placed at the

end of the sentence.o Ich habe meinen Mantel an. I have my coat on. OR I have on my coat.o Was hast du heute vor? What are you planning (to do) today?

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When an auxiliary verb is used (modal or future), then the verb as a whole stands in the last place in the sentence or clause.

o Ich möchte heute Abend fernsehen. I would like to watch TV this evening.o Ich werde morgen fernsehen. I will watch TV tomorrow.

Separable Prefix Verbs we know or will study:o anfangen (fängt an) to begin, starto anhaben (hat an) to have on, wearo anrufen to call (on the phone)o aufmachen to openo einkaufen to shopo einladen (lädt ein) to inviteo fernsehen (sieht fern) to watch TVo herkommen to come hereo losgehen to starto mitbringen to bring alongo mitkommen to come alongo rüberkommen to come overo vorhaben (hat vor) to plano vorschlagen (schlägt vor) to suggest

Vowel-Stem Changing Verbs

Some irregular verbs undergo changes not only in the past tenses, like English, but in the present tense. These behave differently than the modals. The highlighted verbs are irregular even for irregular verbs. All of these follow the EST1010 pattern except for sein and wissen. Notice that einladen does not add an –e between the stem ending with –d and the conjugated endings.

ich du er/sie/es

anfangen fängst an fängt aneinladen lädst ein **(no e add) lädt ein ** (no e add)

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fahren fährst fährtgefallen gefällst gefälltlaufen läufst läufttragen trägst trägt

verlassen verlässt verlässtvorschlagen schlägst vor schlägt vor

essen isst isstgeben gibst gibthelfen hilfst hilft

sprechen sprichst sprichtnehmen nimmst nimmttreffen triffst trifftsehen siehst sieht

fernsehen siehst fern sieht fernlesen liest liest

wissen weiß weißt weißhaben hast hat

anhaben hast an hat anvorhaben hast vor hat vor

sein bin bist ist

Dative Case

Case indicates how a noun is functioning within a sentence or clause.o Nominative: Noun is subject or Predicate Noun.o Accusative: Noun is direct object or object of accusative preposition.o Dative: Noun is indirect object or object of dative preposition.o Genitive: Noun indicates possession or object of genitive preposition.

Easiest way to identify the indirect object is to determine if ‘to’ or ‘for’ can be put before the noun. It answers “to whom?” or “for whom?” The question word is Wem.

o I gave the boy a gift. Wem? (To whom?) the boyo I am buying a ticket for a friend. Wem? (For whom?) a friend

The Direct Object is vital information while the Indirect Object is additional information:o I gave the gift (DO).o I gave to him (IO). I gave him what? Sentence lacks enough info with only

Indirect Object. An indirect object (noun or pronoun) comes before a direct object (noun or pronoun) in

German. Plural nouns in Dative add an –n or –en, unless the plural nouns already ends with an –

n or –s. o Ich gebe den Kindern Schokolade. I gave the children chocolate.

Der-Words & Ein-Words for Dative in previous charts.

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Examples of Dative use:o Ich schicke dem Lehrer eine E-Mail. I’m sending the teacher an e-mail.o Ich gebe dem einem Mädchen ein Buch. I’m giving a girl a book.o Ich werfe der Frau den Ball. I toss the woman a ball.o Ich kaufe meinen Lehrern Geschenke. I am buying my teachers gifts.

Dative Verbs

Some verbs require the dative case, even if the object seems more direct than indirect.o danken to thanko gefallen to like, pleaseo glauben to believeo helfen to helpo Leid tun to be sorryo passen to fit, suito schmecken to tasteo stehen to suito wehtun to hurt

Examples for eacho Ich danke Ihnen. Sie sind sehr nett, Frau Busch.o Deine Antwort gefällt mir. Du bist sehr klug.o Glaubst du ihr? Ja, ich glaube meiner Schwester. o Hilf mir bitte. Dieses Problem ist schwer.o Es tut mir leid. Entschuldigung.o Das Hemd passt mir nicht gut. Es ist ein bisschen eng.o Die Bratwurst schmeckt mir.o Ja, der Anzug steht dir gut.o Mein Kopf tut mir weh. Ich habe Kopfschmerz.

Prepositions

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Prepositions may require 1) Accusative object, 2) Dative object, 3) either Accusative or Dative object depending on location or motion, or 4) Genetive object. We are tackling only the first two.

Accusative Prepositionso durch througho für foro gegen againsto ohne withouto um around

Ich laufe durch den Regen. Ist das Geschenk für mich? Ich stehe gegen die Welt. Ich kann ohne dich nicht stehen. Wir gehen um meinen Garten.

o Contractions durch + das = durchs für + das = furs um + das = ums

Dative Prepositionso aus out of, fromo außer besides, excepto bei with, near, ato mit witho nach aftero seit sinceo von from, ofo zu to, at

Tina kommt um halb zwei aus der Schule. Außer einem Bruder hat Holger noch eine Schwester. Herr Schulz isst beim Imbiss. Kommst du mit deiner Freundin zur Party? Wohin gehen wir nach dem Film? Seit einem Jahr wohne ich hier. Ich möchte einen Liebesbrief von dir. Barbara fährt mit dem Fahrrad zur Schule.

o Contractions bei + dem = beim von + dem = vom zu + dem = zum zu + der = zur

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Present Perfect Tense (Regular Verbs)

The present perfect is used more frequently in German conversation than in English. It is often called the “conversational past.”

haben + (ge + stem + t)Er hat es gesagt. He has said it.

In English, three forms (He has said, He was saying or He said) may be used. To simplify, only the present perfect form is used throughout. The form gesagt (asked) is called the past participle, which in German is placed at the end of the sentence.

Ich habe ein Rad gekauft. I bought a bike.The regular verbs you have learned so far are:

basteln to do crafts brauchen to need dauern to last, takedecken to set (table) glauben to believe hoffen to hopeholen to get, fetch hören to hear jubeln to cheerkaufen to buy kosten to cost lächeln to smilelernen to learn machen to do, make mähen to mowmeinen to mean passen to fit regnen to rainreisen to travel* sagen to say sammeln to collectschaffen to manage, make (it) schenken to give (a gift) schicken to sendschmecken to taste schneien to snow schwenken to swingspielen to play spülen to wash, rinse staunen to be astonished,surprisedstimmen to be correct üben to practice wandern to hike*warten to wait wohnen to live wünschen to wish

*Note that the present perfect tense of reisen (gereist) and wander (gewandert) takes the forms of sein (ich bin gereist, du bist gewandert...). See Lektion B of this chapter for more details about verbs dealing with motion.

The past participle of verbs with inseparable prefixes (like be-) is simply the er, sie, es form of the present tense.This is also true of verbs ending in -ieren.

Ich habe meine Freundin besucht. I visited my girlfriend.Was hast du denn fotografiert? What did you take pictures of?

Present Perfect Tense (Irregular Verbs)

The irregular verbs, as the term suggests, do not follow the same pattern when forming the past participle as the regular verbs. Some of these verbs use sein instead of haben. Therefore, you must learn each past participle individually.

Hast du mit Tanja gesprochen? Have you spoken with Tanja?Sie ist nach Hause gefahren. She has driven home.

Verbs that use a form of sein must both (a) indicate motion or change of condition and (b) be intransitive, that is, verbs that cannot have a direct object. This is true in cases like gehen, laufen, kommen, fahren and schwimmen.

Hast du schon mit Andrea gesprochen? Have you spoken already with Andrea?

Wir sind acht Stunden nach Europa geflogen. We have flown for eight hours to Europe.

Here are the irregular forms for most of the verbs you have learned so far:

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I N F I N I T I V E PAST PA R T I C I P L Ebeginnen (to begin) begonnenbekommen (to receive, get) bekommenbleiben (to stay) ist gebliebenbringen (to bring) gebrachteinladen (to invite) eingeladeneinsteigen (to get in, board) ist eingestiegenessen (to eat) gegessenfahren (to drive) ist gefahrenfinden (to find) gefundenfliegen (to fly) ist geflogengeben (to give) gegebengefallen (to like) gefallengehen (to go) ist gegangenhaben (to have) gehabthelfen (to help) geholfenkennen (to know) gekannt kommen (to come) ist gekommenlaufen (to run) ist gelaufenlesen (to read) gelesenliegen (to lie, be located) gelegennehmen (to take) genommenscheinen (to shine) geschienenschießen (to shoot) geschossenschreiben (to write) geschriebenschreien (to scream, yell) geschrienschwimmen (to swim) ist geschwommensehen (to see) gesehensein (to be) ist gewesensingen (to sing) gesungensitzen (to sit) gesessensprechen (to speak) gesprochenstehen (to stand) gestandentragen (to carry) getragentreffen (to meet) getroffentrinken (to drink) getrunkenverlassen (to leave) verlassenvorschlagen (to suggest) vorgeschlagenwissen (to know) gewusst

Verbs with inseparable prefixes (bekommen) do not have the ge- in the past participle.Dieter hat meinen Brief bekommen. Dieter has received my letter.

Verbs with separable prefixes have the ge- as part of the participle.Susi hat mich angerufen. Susi has called me.Wen habt ihr zur Party eingeladen? Whom have you invited to the party?

The accent or emphasis is always on the separable prefix

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