German A1-A2 Grammars Explanations Notebook Part 2

12 min readMar 8, 2024

Reflexive Verben

Reflexive Verben (reflexive verbs) in German are verbs in which the action is performed by the subject on itself. These verbs are often used to describe actions where the subject and the object are the same person or thing. Reflexive verbs are accompanied by reflexive pronouns, which indicate that the action is directed back onto the subject.

Reflexive pronouns in German:

mich (myself)
dich (yourself — informal singular)
sich (himself, herself, itself, oneself)
uns (ourselves)
euch (yourselves — informal plural)
sich (themselves, yourselves — formal)

Here’s an example with the reflexive verb “sich waschen” (to wash oneself):

Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.)
Du wäschst dich. (You wash yourself.)
Er/sie/es wäscht sich. (He/she/it washes himself/herself/itself.)
Wir waschen uns. (We wash ourselves.)
Ihr wascht euch. (You wash yourselves.)
Sie waschen sich. (They wash themselves.)

In these examples, the reflexive pronoun indicates that the subject is performing the action on themselves. It’s important to match the reflexive pronoun with the subject pronoun and to position it correctly in the sentence.

Common reflexive verbs include actions related to personal care, daily routines, and emotions. Some examples include “sich waschen” (to wash oneself), “sich anziehen” (to dress oneself), and “sich freuen” (to be happy).

Here’s another example sentence:

Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende. (I’m looking forward to the weekend.) In this case, “mich” refers to the subject (Ich) being happy, so it’s a reflexive pronoun.

Remember that not all verbs in German are reflexive, and reflexive pronouns are only used when the subject and the object are the same.

Passiv Präsens

The Passiv Präsens (passive present) in German is a grammatical construction used to express actions where the subject receives the action rather than performing it. In passive voice, the focus is on the object and the action being done to it. The passive voice is often formed using the auxiliary verb “werden” and the past participle of the main verb.

Here’s the general structure for forming the passive voice in Präsens (present tense):

werden+pastparticiple+(restofthesentence)

Let’s take an example with the verb “schreiben” (to write):

Active voice: Der Lehrer schreibt einen Brief. (The teacher writes a letter.)
Passive voice: Ein Brief wird vom Lehrer geschrieben. (A letter is written by the teacher.)

In the passive voice, the subject of the active sentence (“Der Lehrer”) becomes the agent (using “von” or “durch” to indicate the doer of the action), and the object of the active sentence (“einen Brief”) becomes the new subject.

More examples:

Active voice: Die Kinder essen den Kuchen. (The children eat the cake.)
Passive voice: Der Kuchen wird von den Kindern gegessen. (The cake is eaten by the children.)
Active voice: Die Firma verkauft die Produkte. (The company sells the products.)
Passive voice: Die Produkte werden von der Firma verkauft. (The products are sold by the company.)

In these examples, “werden” is conjugated based on the subject, and the past participle of the main verb is added to form the passive construction. Keep in mind that the agent (the one performing the action) is optional and can be introduced using “von” or “durch.”

It’s important to note that not all verbs are suitable for passive construction, and the choice between active and passive voice depends on the context and emphasis you want to convey.

Verben mit Präpositionen 1

Verben mit Präpositionen (verbs with prepositions) are verb-preposition combinations commonly used in German. These combinations change the meaning of the verb and often require a specific preposition to be used with them. These verbs are also known as “trennbare Verben” (separable verbs) or “untrennbare Verben” (inseparable verbs), depending on whether the prefix can be separated from the main verb or not.

Let’s take an example of a separable verb: “anfangen” (to begin). When conjugating separable verbs, the prefix separates from the main verb and moves to the end of the clause in certain sentence structures. For example:

Ich fange morgen mit dem Projekt an. (I will start the project tomorrow.)

In this sentence, “anfangen” is used with the preposition “mit,” and the prefix “an-” is separated and placed at the end of the clause.

An example of an inseparable verb is “verstehen” (to understand). Inseparable verbs are always used with the same preposition, and their meaning cannot be changed by adding different prepositions:

Ich verstehe die Frage nicht. (I don’t understand the question.)

In this sentence, “verstehen” is used without any additional preposition.

Common prepositions used with verbs in German include “an,” “auf,” “bei,” “mit,” “nach,” “vor,” “zu,” and many others. Here are a few examples of verbs with prepositions:

anfangen (to begin) + mit
aufhören (to stop) + mit
sich freuen (to be glad) + über
sich interessieren (to be interested) + für
sprechen (to speak) + über
teilnehmen (to participate) + an

These are just a few examples, and there are many more verb-preposition combinations in German. Learning these combinations can greatly enhance your proficiency in German and help you express yourself more accurately and fluently.

Verben mit Präpositionen 2

Verben mit Präpositionen 2 (verbs with prepositions 2) in German refer to verb-preposition combinations where the meaning of the verb is modified or complemented by the preposition that follows it. These combinations are common in German and can significantly alter the meaning of the verb. Like Verben mit Präpositionen 1, these combinations can be separable or inseparable, depending on whether the prefix can be separated from the main verb.

Here are some examples of Verben mit Präpositionen 2:

sich freuen (to be happy) + auf

Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende. (I’m looking forward to the weekend.)

sich erinnern (to remember) + an

Ich erinnere mich an meinen Geburtstag. (I remember my birthday.)

sich entschuldigen (to apologize) + bei

Ich entschuldige mich bei dir für mein Verhalten. (I apologize to you for my behavior.)

sich konzentrieren (to concentrate) + auf

Ich konzentriere mich auf meine Arbeit. (I concentrate on my work.)

sich verlieben (to fall in love) + in

Er hat sich in sie verliebt. (He fell in love with her.)

achten (to pay attention) + auf

Bitte achten Sie auf die Warnschilder. (Please pay attention to the warning signs.)

sich beschweren (to complain) + über

Die Kunden beschweren sich über den schlechten Service. (The customers are complaining about the poor service.)

sich interessieren (to be interested) + für

Ich interessiere mich für Geschichte. (I’m interested in history.)

These are just a few examples of Verben mit Präpositionen 2 in German. Learning these combinations can help you understand and use German more accurately and effectively. As with Verben mit Präpositionen 1, it’s essential to pay attention to whether the verb is separable or inseparable and to use the correct preposition in combination with the verb.

lassen

“Lassen” is a versatile verb in German that can have various meanings depending on the context. Here are the main uses of “lassen”:

To Let/Allow: “Lassen” can mean to let or allow someone to do something.

Ich lasse meinen Bruder mein Auto benutzen. (I let my brother use my car.)

To Have Something Done: “Lassen” can be used to indicate that someone is having something done by someone else.

Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren. (I’m having my car repaired.)

To Leave: “Lassen” can mean to leave something or someone in a certain condition.

Er ließ die Tür offen. (He left the door open.)

To Get/Have: “Lassen” can also be used to mean to get or have something done for oneself.

Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden. (I’m getting my hair cut.)

To Stop/Quit: “Lassen” can indicate stopping or quitting an activity.

Er hat das Rauchen gelassen. (He quit smoking.)

To Let Go: In some contexts, “lassen” can mean to let go or release something.

Lass mich los! (Let go of me!)

To Leave Behind: “Lassen” can mean to leave someone or something behind.

Sie ließ ihre Tasche im Zug. (She left her bag on the train.)

To Abandon: “Lassen” can also mean to abandon or forsake someone or something.

Er hat seine Familie im Stich gelassen. (He abandoned his family.)

“Lassen” is a modal verb, so its conjugation changes depending on the subject and tense of the sentence. It is often used with an infinitive verb to indicate the action being allowed or done. Understanding the context in which “lassen” is used is crucial for determining its precise meaning in a sentence.

Singular und Plural

Singular und Plural in German refer to the grammatical concepts of singular and plural, which are used to indicate whether a noun or pronoun refers to one item (singular) or more than one item (plural).

Singular: In German, the singular form refers to one item or entity. Nouns, pronouns, and verbs are conjugated or declined according to whether they are singular or plural. For example:

Singular noun: der Hund (the dog) Singular pronoun: er (he) Singular verb: geht (goes)

Plural: In contrast, the plural form refers to more than one item or entity. In German, plural forms of nouns, pronouns, and verbs often involve adding specific suffixes or changing the form of the word. For example:

Plural noun: die Hunde (the dogs) Plural pronoun: sie (they) Plural verb: gehen (go)

Here are some general rules for forming the plural in German:

Nouns:

Most German nouns form their plural by adding “-e” or “-en” to the end of the word.
Example: der Tisch (singular) -> die Tische (plural)
Some nouns have irregular plural forms or follow different patterns.
Example: das Kind (singular) -> die Kinder (plural)

Pronouns:

Personal pronouns in the plural often have separate forms from those in the singular.
Example: ich (I) -> wir (we)

Verbs:

Verbs conjugated in the plural form often have different endings from those in the singular.
Example: ich gehe (I go) -> wir gehen (we go)

Understanding and correctly using singular and plural forms is essential for clear and accurate communication in German. Paying attention to these forms helps ensure that the grammar of your sentences is correct and that you convey your intended meaning accurately.

Akkusativ / Dativ

Akkusativ and Dativ are two cases in German grammar that indicate the relationship between a verb and its objects or between a verb and the subject. They are used to show whether a noun or pronoun is the direct object (Akkusativ) or the indirect object (Dativ) of a verb.

Akkusativ (Accusative): The Akkusativ case is used to indicate the direct object of a verb, which is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. In other words, it answers the question “whom?” or “what?” in relation to the verb.

For example:

Ich sehe den Hund. (I see the dog.)

In this sentence, “den Hund” is in the Akkusativ case because it is the direct object of the verb “sehen.”

Dativ (Dative): The Dativ case is used to indicate the indirect object of a verb, which is the noun or pronoun that receives the action indirectly or for whom the action is done. In other words, it answers the question “to whom?” or “for whom?” in relation to the verb.

For example:

Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch. (I give the book to the man.)

In this sentence, “dem Mann” is in the Dativ case because it is the indirect object of the verb “geben,” indicating who receives the book.

Here are some key points to remember about Akkusativ and Dativ:

Akkusativ indicates the direct object, answering “whom?” or “what?” in relation to the verb.

Dativ indicates the indirect object, answering “to whom?” or “for whom?” in relation to the verb.

The Akkusativ and Dativ cases are used in both singular and plural forms, and the endings of articles and pronouns change depending on the case.

Genitiv

Genitiv (genitive) is one of the four grammatical cases in German, alongside Nominativ (nominative), Akkusativ (accusative), and Dativ (dative). The Genitiv case is used to show possession, ownership, or relationships between nouns. It is often translated to English using the preposition “of” or by adding an apostrophe and “s.”

Here are some common uses of the Genitiv case:

Possession: The Genitiv case is used to indicate possession or ownership.

Das Auto meines Vaters. (My father’s car.)
Der Name des Buches. (The name of the book.)

Relationships: Genitiv is used to show relationships between nouns.

Der Tisch des Lehrers. (The teacher’s table.)
Die Stadt meiner Träume. (The city of my dreams.)

Time Expressions: Genitiv is also used in time expressions to indicate when something happens.

Am Morgen des nächsten Tages. (On the morning of the next day.)
Der Beginn des Jahres. (The beginning of the year.)

Partitive Genitive: This use of Genitiv indicates a part of a whole.

Ein Stück des Kuchens. (A piece of the cake.)
Ein Teil des Geldes. (A part of the money.)

The Genitiv case is marked by adding “-s” to the end of masculine and neuter nouns in the singular. For feminine and plural nouns, the ending is “-r” or “-er” in the singular and “-r” or “-n” in the plural.

However, in contemporary German, especially in spoken language, the Genitiv case is often replaced by the Dativ case with the preposition “von” (of) to indicate possession. For example:

Das Auto von meinem Vater. (My father’s car.)

Understanding the Genitiv case is important for mastering German grammar, especially in written language and formal contexts. While its usage has declined in spoken language, it is still widely used in written texts, literature, and academic contexts.

Verben mit zwei Objekten

“Verben mit zwei Objekten” in German refer to verbs that take two objects in a sentence. These objects are typically a direct object (Akkusativobjekt) and an indirect object (Dativobjekt). Verbs with two objects are also known as “dative-accusative verbs” because they require both the accusative and dative cases.

Here’s how these objects work:

Direct Object (Akkusativobjekt): This is the noun or pronoun that directly receives the action of the verb. It answers the question “whom?” or “what?” in relation to the verb. It’s in the accusative case.

Indirect Object (Dativobjekt): This is the noun or pronoun that indirectly receives the action or for whom the action is done. It answers the question “to whom?” or “for whom?” in relation to the verb. It’s in the dative case.

Here are a few examples of verbs with two objects:

geben (to give):

Er gibt dem Kind ein Buch. (He gives the child a book.)
“ein Buch” is the direct object (Akkusativobjekt) receiving the action of “geben.”
“dem Kind” is the indirect object (Dativobjekt), indicating who receives the book.

sagen (to say):

Sie sagt ihm die Wahrheit. (She tells him the truth.)
“die Wahrheit” is the direct object (Akkusativobjekt) receiving the action of “sagen.”
“ihm” is the indirect object (Dativobjekt), indicating to whom she tells the truth.

bringen (to bring):

Ich bringe dir eine Tasse Kaffee. (I bring you a cup of coffee.)
“eine Tasse Kaffee” is the direct object (Akkusativobjekt) receiving the action of “bringen.”
“dir” is the indirect object (Dativobjekt), indicating to whom I bring the cup of coffee.

These verbs require both the direct and indirect objects to complete their meaning. It’s important to use the correct cases (accusative and dative) for the objects to ensure grammatical accuracy in German sentences.

Verben mit zwei Objekten 2

Verben mit zwei Objekten 2 in German refer to verbs that can take two objects in a sentence, typically an accusative object (direct object) and a dative object (indirect object). These verbs are also known as “dative-accusative verbs” because they require both the accusative and dative cases to convey the relationship between the verb and its objects.

Here are some examples of Verben mit zwei Objekten 2:

zeigen (to show):

Sie zeigt ihm das Buch. (She shows him the book.)
“das Buch” is the accusative object (direct object), indicating what is being shown.
“ihm” is the dative object (indirect object), indicating to whom the book is being shown.