Most languages don’t have as many genders as German, and keeping track of a gender for every noun is enough to keep you busy. Luckily, however, it’s also the least important aspect of grammar. Genders in German are the hardest to learn. There are many other things to know about word order in German, but verb-at-the-end is the main rule that will help you learn German grammar. Because of the tense, we use “ bin” as the main verb and put “ spazieren gegangen” at the end. German: Ich bin einmal in Berlin spazieren gegangen.Īgain, the subject “ Ich” comes first, then the main verb.English: I went walking in Berlin once.See how the word “eat” is placed at the end of the sentence? Now take a look at another sentence. English: I would like to eat ice cream.In almost all types of sentences, all verbs other than the main verb go to the very end of the sentence. Study it long and hard until you understand it inside and out! If you’re going to focus on one German grammar rule, pick this one, as it’s often the most difficult for students to remember. Die Wortstellung: The Verb-At-The-End Rule There are many more words like this, so keep your eyes out! Beware, however, because there are also false cognates that don’t follow the conjugation patterns. See examples below.īelow are some more examples of German/English cognates: In English, for example, we have the verb “drinking,” which is similar to the German word “ trinken.” Likewise, when the verb is conjugated for different cases and tenses, the sound changes are parallel. Use this to your advantage by looking for German words that look and mean the same as they do in English, also known as cognates. Believe it or not, the everyday street talk of English speakers around the world is based mostly on German vocabulary. Remember that German and English are related languages. If you’re learning German for yourself or because you want to travel, you might want to consider taking a few German lessons with an expert who speaks Hochdeutsch. If you’re getting on a plane tomorrow that lands in Berlin, here’s a list of German grammar rules you need to know (in order of importance): Nouns and vocab first, conjugation and word order second, cases and gender last. In casual settings, however, I have found that most Germans are thrilled that you actually took the time to study their language! In fact, many Germans from regions with a strong dialect use grammar variants all the time, so you as a traveler are not alone. Strict Hochdeutsch grammar is expected in academic and business settings. Similarly, there are many varieties of German accents, including Plattdeutsch, Bayerisches Deutsch, Switschisch Ditsch, and Hochdeutsch. The southern region of the United States, for example, has a variety of accents. Remember that German has an evolving language family just like English. Most situations don’t call for perfect German grammar.German grammar takes intense study to master, which most people aren’t willing or able to do.It’s rare that you’ll ever met a non-native German speaker with perfect grammar. I’ll start with some pointers that will get you out of trouble fast and move toward tips that will help you master the language. Below are my top tips and tricks that I’ve learned from years of German schooling, traveling, and hosting German travelers. What Are the Grammar Rules in German? urbazon/E+/Getty Imagesīasic German grammar will throw most non-native speakers for a loop. Here’s a video with more information on what you might learn in German lessons: We all learn from our mistakes, and the more you practice, the closer you will get to fluency.īy following these simple tips, you can set yourself on the path to success in learning German grammar.Īnd the best way to get better at German grammar, of course, is to sign up for German lessons ! Language learning is a process, and regular exposure will help you to retain what you have learned.
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