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5 Dec 2025
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Mastering German Grammar Basics
Zareen Motihar
@areenotihar_omikeuza
1 / 3
The Fundamentals: Alphabet, Nouns, and Articles
German uses the same 26 letters as English, but adds four special characters: ä, ö, ü, and ß (called umlauts and eszett). You'll see these pop up everywhere, so getting familiar with them early is crucial.
Here's where German gets interesting - every single noun is capitalised, and each one has a gender. Unlike English, German nouns are either masculine (der), feminine (die), or neuter (das). For example, der Tisch (table) is masculine, die Lampe (lamp) is feminine, and das Auto (car) is neuter.
Articles change depending on the noun's gender. The definite articles are der, die, and das for "the", whilst indefinite articles are ein, eine, and ein for "a/an". All plural nouns use die, which makes things a bit easier!
Quick Tip: There's no foolproof way to predict a noun's gender, so it's best to memorise each noun with its article from the start.
Pronouns and Verb Conjugation
German pronouns are fairly straightforward: ich (I), du , er/sie/es , wir (we), ihr (you all), and Sie . Notice there are different ways to say "you" depending on how formal you want to be.
Verbs change their endings based on who's doing the action. Take machen (to make): ich mache, du machst, er macht, and so on. Most verbs follow this regular pattern, making them quite predictable once you've got the hang of it.
Some important verbs are irregular though. Sein (to be) is probably the most useful: ich bin, du bist, er ist, wir sind, ihr seid, Sie sind. It's worth memorising this one early since you'll use it constantly.
Remember: German has three types of verbs - weak (regular), strong (irregular), and mixed. Start with the regular ones to build confidence!
Cases, Sentence Structure, and Everyday Phrases
Here's where German gets properly interesting - cases. German uses four cases to show what role each noun plays in a sentence. Nominative is for the subject (who's doing the action), accusative is for the direct object (what's being acted upon), dative is for the indirect object, and genitive shows possession.
German sentence structure usually follows Subject-Verb-Object, just like English. However, in questions, the verb and subject swap places. In subordinate clauses (parts of sentences starting with words like "dass" or "weil"), the verb jumps to the very end.
Adjectives always go before the noun they describe and must agree with the noun's gender and case. So "the big dog" could be der große Hund, die große Katze, or das große Haus depending on the noun's gender.
Essential phrases include Hallo (hello), Tschüss (goodbye), bitte (please), danke (thank you), and Wie geht's? (how are you?). These will get you started in any German conversation.
Pro Tip: Don't worry about mastering cases immediately - focus on recognising them first, then gradually start using them in your own speech and writing.
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Most popular content: Deutsche Verben
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4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Mastering German Grammar Basics
Zareen Motihar
@areenotihar_omikeuza
Learning German might feel daunting at first, but once you understand the basic building blocks, it becomes much more manageable. This guide covers the essential grammar concepts you'll need to start speaking and writing in German confidently.
The Fundamentals: Alphabet, Nouns, and Articles
German uses the same 26 letters as English, but adds four special characters: ä, ö, ü, and ß (called umlauts and eszett). You'll see these pop up everywhere, so getting familiar with them early is crucial.
Here's where German gets interesting - every single noun is capitalised, and each one has a gender. Unlike English, German nouns are either masculine (der), feminine (die), or neuter (das). For example, der Tisch (table) is masculine, die Lampe (lamp) is feminine, and das Auto (car) is neuter.
Articles change depending on the noun's gender. The definite articles are der, die, and das for "the", whilst indefinite articles are ein, eine, and ein for "a/an". All plural nouns use die, which makes things a bit easier!
Quick Tip: There's no foolproof way to predict a noun's gender, so it's best to memorise each noun with its article from the start.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Pronouns and Verb Conjugation
German pronouns are fairly straightforward: ich (I), du , er/sie/es , wir (we), ihr (you all), and Sie . Notice there are different ways to say "you" depending on how formal you want to be.
Verbs change their endings based on who's doing the action. Take machen (to make): ich mache, du machst, er macht, and so on. Most verbs follow this regular pattern, making them quite predictable once you've got the hang of it.
Some important verbs are irregular though. Sein (to be) is probably the most useful: ich bin, du bist, er ist, wir sind, ihr seid, Sie sind. It's worth memorising this one early since you'll use it constantly.
Remember: German has three types of verbs - weak (regular), strong (irregular), and mixed. Start with the regular ones to build confidence!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Cases, Sentence Structure, and Everyday Phrases
Here's where German gets properly interesting - cases. German uses four cases to show what role each noun plays in a sentence. Nominative is for the subject (who's doing the action), accusative is for the direct object (what's being acted upon), dative is for the indirect object, and genitive shows possession.
German sentence structure usually follows Subject-Verb-Object, just like English. However, in questions, the verb and subject swap places. In subordinate clauses (parts of sentences starting with words like "dass" or "weil"), the verb jumps to the very end.
Adjectives always go before the noun they describe and must agree with the noun's gender and case. So "the big dog" could be der große Hund, die große Katze, or das große Haus depending on the noun's gender.
Essential phrases include Hallo (hello), Tschüss (goodbye), bitte (please), danke (thank you), and Wie geht's? (how are you?). These will get you started in any German conversation.
Pro Tip: Don't worry about mastering cases immediately - focus on recognising them first, then gradually start using them in your own speech and writing.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: Deutsche Verben
Most popular content in German
Most popular content
English - inspector calls quotes and analysis
Quotes from every main character
English Literature10
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user