German Grammar Overview

Overview

This lecture is a comprehensive A2-level German language course, covering grammar, vocabulary, verb forms, sentence structure, cases, adjectives, and conjunctions, with extensive examples and explanations.

Verb Prefixes in German

• German verbs use prefixes to change meaning and direction.
• Separable prefixes are detached and placed at the end of the clause (e.g., "abräumen": "Ich räume den Tisch ab").
• Inseparable prefixes remain attached and do not take "ge-" in the perfect tense (e.g., "bekommen" not "gekommen").
• Common inseparable prefixes: be-, ent-, emp-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, zer-.
• Separable prefixes include: ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, mit-, nach-, vor-, zu-, zurück-, zusammen-, etc.

Stem-Changing Verbs in Present Tense

• Some verbs undergo a stem change in the "du" and "er/sie/es" forms.
• Three main patterns: a→ä, e→i, e→ie.
• Example: "fahren" → du fährst, "geben" → du gibst, "lesen" → du liest.

Imperative (Command) Forms

• For "Sie": Verb + Sie + ... (e.g., "Kommen Sie mit!").
• For "du": Remove "-st" ending, drop "du" (e.g., "Geh!").
• For "ihr": Use normal "ihr" form, drop "ihr" (e.g., "Geht!").
• For "wir": Verb first, then "wir" ("Gehen wir!").
• Commands with modal and reflexive verbs maintain stem changes.

Modal Verbs

• Main modal verbs: dürfen (may), können (can), mögen/möchten (like/would like), müssen (must), sollen (should), wollen (want).
• Modal verbs follow a regular conjugation pattern, with some stem changes.
• Use an infinitive at clause end with modals: "Ich kann Deutsch sprechen."

Pronouns and Cases

• Personal pronouns change form in nominative, accusative, and dative cases.
• Accusative: mich, dich, ihn, sie, es, uns, euch, sie/Sie.
• Dative: mir, dir, ihm, ihr, ihm, uns, euch, ihnen/Ihnen.
• Use accusative for direct objects, dative for indirect objects.

Prepositions and Cases

• Certain prepositions always take accusative (für, ohne, durch, gegen, um, bis, entlang).
• Others always take dative (aus, außer, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu).
• Some are two-way (an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen); use accusative for movement/change of location, dative for static location.

Adjectives and Endings

• Adjective endings depend on the case, gender, and presence/type of article.
• After definite articles: mostly "-e" or "-en" endings.
• After indefinite articles/possessives: endings change to show gender/case.
• No article: adjective endings indicate gender and case.

Genitive Case & Possession

• Genitive shows possession: "des Mannes Hund".
• Masculine/neuter: "-s" or "-es" added; feminine/plural: no change.
• Common genitive prepositions: trotz (despite), während (during), wegen (because of), statt (instead of).

Participle Adjectives

• Present participle ("-end"): shows ongoing action ("der lachende Junge").
• Past participle: shows completed action ("das gekochte Ei").

Comparatives and Superlatives

• Add "-er" for comparative and "am...-sten" for superlative.
• Some adjectives use umlaut in comparative/superlative (alt → älter → am ältesten).

Conjunctions & Word Order

• Coordinating conjunctions (und, oder, aber, denn) do not affect word order.
• Subordinating conjunctions (weil, dass, wenn, obwohl, etc.) send the verb to the clause end.
• Two-part conjunctions combine elements (entweder...oder, weder...noch).

Key Terms & Definitions

• Prefix (Vorsilbe) — a syllable added to a verb to alter its meaning.
• Stem-changing verb — a verb whose main part changes vowel in certain forms.
• Modal verb — a helping verb expressing ability, permission, necessity, etc.
• Case — grammatical category indicating a noun's or pronoun's role.
• Genitive — the case expressing possession.
• Participle — verb form used as an adjective.
• Comparative/Superlative — express higher or highest degree of quality.
• Conjunction — a word joining clauses or phrases.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Practice forming and using verb prefixes.
• Conjugate and use modal and stem-changing verbs in sentences.
• Memorize the pronoun charts (nominative, accusative, dative).
• Learn preposition-case pairs and adjective endings.
• Complete assigned worksheets or readings, if provided.