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Vocab: Grammar & language — B1 ​
Grammar & language vocabulary at B1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Artikelwort — article word ​
Das Artikelwort is a grammar term for words such as mein, dieser or kein, which occur before nouns and show similar forms to articles. It is broader than der Artikel, because an article word may be a possessive or demonstrative word.
Das Artikelwort steht vor dem Nomen.
The article word comes before the noun.
steht vor means stands before and das Nomen means the noun. Das Artikelwort is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Wir bestimmen das Artikelwort im Satz.
We identify the article word in the sentence.
bestimmen means identify or determine and der Satz means the sentence. das Artikelwort is accusative because bestimmen takes a direct object; im Satz is short for in dem Satz, a dative location phrase.
Mit dem Artikelwort erkennen wir den Kasus.
We recognise the case from the article word.
erkennen means recognise and der Kasus means grammatical case. mit always takes the dative, so dem Artikelwort is dative; the prepositional phrase comes first and erkennen follows it.
Die Funktion des Artikelworts ist wichtig.
The function of the article word is important.
die Funktion means the function and wichtig means important. des Artikelworts is genitive because it tells us whose function is meant; ist agrees with the singular subject die Funktion.
Diese Artikelwörter zeigen den Kasus nicht immer deutlich.
These article words do not always show the case clearly.
diese means these, zeigen means show, and deutlich means clearly. Artikelwörter is plural and nominative as the subject, while den Kasus is accusative because it is the object of zeigen.
Ist „mein“ ein Artikelwort?
Is “mein” an article word?
mein means my and ist means is. ein Artikelwort is a predicate noun after sein, so it remains nominative; the finite verb ist comes first because this is a yes-no question.
beherrschen — to master; to have command of; to control; to keep under control ​
For languages and skills, beherrschen means to have a very good command of something. It takes an accusative object, for example eine Sprache beherrschen; it is stronger than simply being able to use something.
Sie beherrscht drei Sprachen.
She has a command of three languages.
sie means she, drei means three, and die Sprache is the language. Drei Sprachen is accusative because it is the direct object of beherrschen; the finite verb beherrscht stands in position two.
Er hat die deutsche Grammatik gut beherrscht.
He had a good command of German grammar.
die deutsche Grammatik is German grammar, and gut means well. Die deutsche Grammatik is accusative as the skill mastered; hat is in position two and beherrscht goes to the end with haben.
FrĂĽher beherrschte sie die Technik nicht.
She did not master the technique in the past.
frĂĽher means formerly or in the past, die Technik is the technique, and nicht means not. Die Technik is accusative as the direct object, and beherrschte is the regular past form in position two.
Beherrsche endlich diese Grammatik!
Finally master this grammar!
endlich means finally, diese means this, and die Grammatik is grammar. Diese Grammatik is accusative because it is what the listener should master; the imperative Beherrsche stands first.
Ich wĂĽrde diese Software gern beherrschen.
I would like to master this software.
diese Software means this software, and gern means gladly or would like to. Diese Software is accusative as the direct object; wĂĽrde expresses the unreal or wished-for idea, while beherrschen stands at the end.
Mit mehr Ăśbung wird sie das Programm beherrschen.
With more practice, she will master the program.
mehr Ăśbung means more practice, and das Programm is the program. Das Programm is accusative as the direct object; wird stands in position two and beherrschen goes to the end as the infinitive.
Die Feuerwehr beherrscht den Brand.
The fire brigade has the fire under control.
die Feuerwehr is the fire brigade, and der Brand is the fire. Den Brand is accusative because it is what is controlled; the finite verb beherrscht stands in position two.
Er kann seine Angst nicht beherrschen.
He cannot control his fear.
kann means can, seine Angst is his fear, and nicht means not. Seine Angst is accusative as the thing controlled; the modal kann stands in position two and the infinitive beherrschen goes to the end.
die Betonung — emphasis; stress; stress, accent in pronunciation ​
Die Betonung can mean emphasis on an idea or stress on a syllable. The context shows whether it concerns communication or pronunciation.
Die Betonung liegt auf dem letzten Wort.
The emphasis is on the last word.
liegt means lies, and das letzte Wort means the last word. Die Betonung is nominative because it is the subject; dem letzten Wort is dative because auf describes a location here, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich höre die Betonung des Satzes.
I hear the emphasis of the sentence.
höre means hear, and der Satz means sentence. Die Betonung is accusative because hören takes a direct object; des Satzes is genitive and means of the sentence, while höre is in position two.
Mit der Betonung kann man die Bedeutung verändern.
With emphasis, you can change the meaning.
mit means with, die Bedeutung means the meaning, and verändern means change. Der Betonung is dative because mit always takes the dative; kann is in position two and verändern goes to the end after the modal verb.
Die Wirkung der Betonung ist deutlich.
The effect of the emphasis is clear.
die Wirkung means the effect, and deutlich means clear. Der Betonung is genitive after die Wirkung and means of the emphasis; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Manchmal sind verschiedene Betonungen möglich.
Sometimes different emphases are possible.
manchmal means sometimes, verschiedene means different, and möglich means possible. Betonungen is plural and is the subject, so the verb is sind; the plural is formed with -en.
Die Betonung liegt bei diesem Wort auf der ersten Silbe.
The stress in this word is on the first syllable.
bei diesem Wort means in this word, and die erste Silbe means the first syllable. Diesem Wort is dative because bei always takes the dative; auf der ersten Silbe also describes a location, and liegt is in position two.
Eine falsche Betonung kann das Wort schwer verständlich machen.
Incorrect stress can make the word difficult to understand.
falsch means incorrect, kann means can, and schwer verständlich means difficult to understand. Eine falsche Betonung is nominative, while das Wort is accusative after machen; kann is in position two and machen goes to the end.
der Dialekt — dialect; regional way of speaking ​
A Dialekt is a regional variety of a language, not necessarily an incorrect way of speaking. The plural is Dialekte, and the genitive is des Dialekts.
Der Dialekt klingt fĂĽr mich freundlich.
The dialect sounds friendly to me.
klingen means to sound, and freundlich means friendly. Der Dialekt is nominative as the subject, while fĂĽr mich means for me and uses the accusative after fĂĽr.
Ich verstehe den Dialekt nicht gut.
I do not understand the dialect very well.
verstehen means to understand, and nicht gut means not well. Den Dialekt is accusative because it is the object of verstehen; the finite verb verstehe is in position two.
Viele Wörter gehören dem Dialekt.
Many words belong to the dialect.
viele Wörter means many words, and gehören means to belong to. Dem Dialekt is dative because gehören takes a dative object; this is a common case pattern learners must memorize.
Die Aussprache des Dialekts ist schwer.
The pronunciation of the dialect is difficult.
die Aussprache is the pronunciation, and schwer means difficult. Des Dialekts is genitive because it identifies the dialect’s pronunciation; the noun takes -s.
In Deutschland gibt es viele Dialekte.
There are many dialects in Germany.
Deutschland is Germany, and viele means many. In es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative, so viele Dialekte is accusative plural even though the plural article is not shown.
Meine GroĂźmutter spricht im Dialekt.
My grandmother speaks in dialect.
meine GroĂźmutter means my grandmother, and sprechen means to speak. Im Dialekt is short for in dem Dialekt and is dative because it describes the manner or setting, not movement into a place.
Kinder lernen Dialekte oft von ihrer Familie.
Children often learn dialects from their family.
Kinder are children, lernen means to learn, and oft means often. Dialekte is accusative as the object of lernen, while von ihrer Familie uses the dative after von.
der Kasus — case (grammar) ​
German has four main cases: Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ and Genitiv. The singular and plural forms of Kasus are identical, so the article or another determiner shows the number.
Der Kasus zeigt die Funktion eines Nomens.
The case shows the function of a noun.
zeigt means shows, die Funktion means the function, and das Nomen is a noun. Der Kasus is nominative because it is the subject; eines Nomens is genitive because it specifies the kind of function.
Wir lernen heute den Kasus.
Today we are learning about the case.
lernen means learn, and heute means today. Den Kasus is accusative because it is the direct object of lernen, while the finite verb is in position two after heute.
Der Lehrer erklärt den Schülern den Kasus.
The teacher explains the case to the students.
der Lehrer means the teacher, erklären means explain, and die Schüler are the students. Den Schülern is dative because they receive the explanation, while den Kasus is the accusative topic being explained.
Die Bedeutung des Kasus ist wichtig.
The meaning of the case is important.
die Bedeutung means meaning, and wichtig means important. Des Kasus is genitive because it identifies whose meaning is meant; unlike many masculine nouns, Kasus has no extra ending.
Die vier Kasus heiĂźen Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ und Genitiv.
The four cases are called nominative, accusative, dative and genitive.
vier means four, and heiĂźen means are called. Die Kasus is plural and is the subject; its form is identical to the singular, so the article and verb show the number.
die Korrektur — correction; proofreading; corrected version; marked corrections ​
die Korrektur can mean one correction or the process of checking and correcting work. For the person who does this work, German often uses der Korrektor or die Korrektorin.
Die Korrektur ist noch nicht fertig.
The correction is not finished yet.
noch nicht fertig means not finished yet. Die Korrektur is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich mache die Korrektur heute Abend.
I am doing the correction this evening.
heute Abend means this evening. die Korrektur is accusative because it is the object of machen; the subject ich comes first, so the finite verb mache is in position two.
Ich helfe dem Lehrer bei der Korrektur.
I help the teacher with the correction.
helfe means help, dem Lehrer means the teacher, and bei means with or during. bei der Korrektur is dative because bei always takes the dative; helfen also takes a dative person, dem Lehrer.
Das Ergebnis der Korrektur ist sehr gut.
The result of the correction is very good.
das Ergebnis means the result and sehr gut means very good. der Korrektur is genitive because it identifies whose result it is; the whole phrase Das Ergebnis der Korrektur is the nominative subject.
Die Korrekturen dauern mehrere Stunden.
The corrections take several hours.
dauern means take or last, and mehrere Stunden means several hours. Die Korrekturen is plural and nominative because it is the subject, so the verb is dauern, not singular dauert.
Der Lehrer gibt uns die Korrektur morgen zurĂĽck.
The teacher will give the corrected work back to us tomorrow.
Der Lehrer is the teacher, uns means to us, and zurĂĽckgeben means give back. die Korrektur is accusative as the thing given back, while uns is dative as the recipient; the separable verb has gibt in position two and zurĂĽck at the end.
Ich sehe die Korrektur auf jeder Seite.
I can see the corrections on every page.
sehe means see, auf jeder Seite means on every page. die Korrektur is accusative because it is what I see, while auf is dative here because it describes a fixed location.
das Modalverb — modal verb ​
Das Modalverb is a verb that adds meanings such as ability, necessity or permission to another verb. In a main clause, the conjugated modal verb is usually in position two and the other verb stays as an infinitive at the end, as in Ich muss arbeiten.
Das Modalverb steht an zweiter Stelle.
The modal verb is in second position.
stehen means stand, and an zweiter Stelle means in second position. Das Modalverb is nominative because it is the subject; in a main clause, the finite verb steht is in position two.
Die Lehrerin erklärt das Modalverb.
The teacher explains the modal verb.
die Lehrerin means the teacher, and erklären means explain. Das Modalverb is accusative because erklären takes an accusative object, while the finite verb erklärt occupies position two.
Der Lehrer hilft dem Modalverb nicht.
The teacher does not help the modal verb.
der Lehrer means the teacher, helfen means help, and nicht means not. Dem Modalverb is dative because helfen governs the dative; nicht negates the statement and usually stands near the end here.
Die Funktion des Modalverbs ist leicht zu verstehen.
The function of the modal verb is easy to understand.
die Funktion means the function, leicht means easy, and zu verstehen means to understand. Des Modalverbs is genitive after Funktion and means of the modal verb; zu verstehen is an infinitive phrase at the end.
Modalverben verändern oft die Bedeutung eines Satzes.
Modal verbs often change the meaning of a sentence.
verändern means change, oft means often, die Bedeutung means the meaning, and der Satz means sentence. Modalverben is plural nominative as the subject, while die Bedeutung is accusative because verändern takes an accusative object.
das Pronomen — pronoun ​
A pronoun replaces a noun or noun phrase, and its case depends on its role in the sentence. The plural is unusual because das Pronomen and die Pronomen have the same noun form; only the article and verb agreement make the number clear.
Das Pronomen steht an erster Stelle.
The pronoun is in first position.
steht means stands or is located, and an erster Stelle means in first position. Das Pronomen is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Die Lehrerin erklärt das Pronomen.
The teacher explains the pronoun.
die Lehrerin means the female teacher, and erklärt means explains. Das Pronomen is accusative because erklären takes a direct object; the finite verb erklärt stands in position two.
Wir sprechen ĂĽber dem Pronomen?
We are talking about the pronoun?
wir sprechen means we are talking, and ĂĽber can mean about. This sentence is intentionally marked as incorrect: ĂĽber meaning about requires the accusative, so the correct form is ĂĽber das Pronomen, not ĂĽber dem Pronomen.
Die Funktion des Pronomens ist wichtig.
The function of the pronoun is important.
die Funktion means the function, and wichtig means important. Des Pronomens is genitive and means of the pronoun; the noun adds -s, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Pronomen ersetzen oft Nomen.
Pronouns often replace nouns.
ersetzen means replace, oft means often, and die Nomen means nouns. Die Pronomen is a plural subject, while Nomen is accusative because ersetzen takes a direct object.
die Rechtschreibung — spelling, orthography ​
Rechtschreibung refers to spelling rules as a system and is normally used as a singular-only mass noun. It does not usually take a plural.
Die Rechtschreibung ist nicht immer einfach.
Spelling is not always easy.
nicht immer einfach means not always easy. Die Rechtschreibung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich ĂĽbe die deutsche Rechtschreibung.
I practise German spelling.
ĂĽben means to practise, and deutsche means German. Die deutsche Rechtschreibung is accusative because ĂĽben takes a direct object, while the finite verb ĂĽbe stands in position two.
Bei der Rechtschreibung hilft ein Wörterbuch.
A dictionary helps with spelling.
bei means with or when dealing with, and ein Wörterbuch is a dictionary. Bei der Rechtschreibung is dative because bei always takes the dative; the finite verb hilft stands in position two.
Die Regeln der Rechtschreibung ändern sich manchmal.
The rules of spelling sometimes change.
die Regeln are the rules, and ändern sich means change. Der Rechtschreibung is genitive because it identifies which rules are meant: the rules of spelling.
die Syntax — syntax; syntax, formal structure ​
Die Syntax is the system of rules governing word order and sentence structure. Unlike English, German often places the finite verb at the end of a subordinate clause, which is an important part of German Syntax.
Die Syntax ist fĂĽr viele Lernende schwierig.
Syntax is difficult for many learners.
fĂĽr viele Lernende means for many learners, and schwierig means difficult. Die Syntax is nominative because it is the subject; fĂĽr forces the accusative in viele Lernende.
Wir lernen die Syntax des Deutschen.
We are learning the syntax of German.
lernen means learn, and des Deutschen means of German. Die Syntax is accusative because lernen takes an accusative object; des Deutschen is genitive and shows which language’s syntax it is.
Mit der Syntax dieses Satzes habe ich Probleme.
I have problems with the syntax of this sentence.
mit means with, dieses Satzes means of this sentence, and Probleme haben means to have problems. Der Syntax is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb habe is in position two.
Die Regeln der Syntax erklären die Wortstellung.
The rules of syntax explain word order.
die Regeln means the rules, erklären means explain, and die Wortstellung means word order. Der Syntax is genitive after Regeln to show what the rules concern; the finite verb erklären stands in position two.
Die beiden Sprachen haben unterschiedliche Syntaxen.
The two languages have different syntactic systems.
beide Sprachen means both languages, and unterschiedlich means different. Syntaxen is an accusative plural object because haben takes the accusative; the plural ending is -en.
Diese Programmiersprache hat eine einfache Syntax.
This programming language has simple syntax.
diese Programmiersprache means this programming language, einfach means simple, and hat means has. Eine einfache Syntax is the accusative object of hat; because Syntax is feminine, the adjective takes -e after eine.
Der Compiler meldet einen Fehler in der Syntax.
The compiler reports a syntax error.
der Compiler means the compiler, meldet means reports, and einen Fehler means an error. Einen Fehler is accusative after meldet, while in der Syntax is dative because in describes the location of the error rather than movement.
Tilde — tilde ​
Tilde is the name of the symbol ~ and is also used for the accent in letters such as ñ. In German it is normally feminine when used as an ordinary noun: die Tilde.
Die Tilde steht ĂĽber dem Buchstaben.
The tilde is above the letter.
steht means is located, ĂĽber means above, and der Buchstabe means the letter. Die Tilde is the subject, and ĂĽber dem Buchstaben is dative because ĂĽber describes a fixed location.
Auf meiner Tastatur finde ich die Tilde nicht.
I cannot find the tilde on my keyboard.
auf meiner Tastatur means on my keyboard, finde ich means I find, and nicht means not. Auf meiner Tastatur is dative for a location, while die Tilde is accusative because finden takes a direct object.
trennbar — separable ​
This adjective is mainly used in grammar: a trennbares Verb has a prefix that separates in a main clause, such as steht ... auf. Its opposite is untrennbar, inseparable.
Das Präfix ist trennbar.
The prefix is separable.
das Präfix means the prefix. Trennbar is predicative after ist and therefore has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist ein trennbares Verb.
That is a separable verb.
das ist means that is, and ein Verb means a verb. Trennbares stands before the neuter noun Verb after ein, so the adjective takes the ending -es.
Dieses Verb ist trennbarer als das andere.
This verb is more separable than the other one.
dieses Verb means this verb, and das andere means the other one. The comparative uses -er and is followed by als; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no case ending.
Von allen Präfixen ist dieses am trennbarsten.
Of all prefixes, this one is the most separable.
von allen Präfixen means of all prefixes, and dieses means this one. Von governs the dative, while am trennbarsten is the predicative superlative form after ist.
wörtlich — literal, word-for-word ​
Wörtlich can describe a translation that follows the original words exactly, or an action done literally. Do not confuse it with sinngemäß, which means following the meaning rather than the exact wording.
Die Übersetzung ist wörtlich.
The translation is literal.
die Übersetzung means the translation, and ist means is. Wörtlich is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Er schreibt eine wörtliche Übersetzung.
He writes a literal translation.
schreibt means writes, and eine Übersetzung means a translation. Wörtliche stands before the feminine accusative noun and takes -e after eine; eine wörtliche Übersetzung is the direct object of schreibt.
Diese Erklärung ist wörtlicher als die andere.
This explanation is more literal than the other one.
diese Erklärung means this explanation, als means than, and die andere means the other one. Wörtlicher is predicative after ist and has no ending; als introduces the comparison.
Sie übersetzt den Satz am wörtlichsten.
She translates the sentence most literally.
übersetzen means to translate, and den Satz means the sentence. Am wörtlichsten is an adverbial superlative and stays unchanged; den Satz is accusative because übersetzen takes a direct object.
übertragen — figurative, transferred ​
As an adjective, ĂĽbertragen usually means figurative or non-literal, especially in im ĂĽbertragenen Sinn. Its comparative and superlative are grammatically possible but rare; do not confuse this adjective with the verb ĂĽbertragen, to transfer or transmit.
Das Wort wird hier in einem ĂĽbertragenen Sinn gebraucht.
The word is used here in a figurative sense.
das Wort means word, hier means here, and gebraucht means used. in einem ĂĽbertragenen Sinn is dative because in describes a figurative state here, not movement; the adjective ending -en agrees with einem.
Sie hat eine ĂĽbertragene Bedeutung.
It has a figurative meaning.
sie means it, eine Bedeutung means a meaning, and hat means has. eine ĂĽbertragene Bedeutung is an accusative object after hat, and the adjective takes -e after the indefinite article eine.
Diese Erklärung ist übertragener als die wörtliche Erklärung.
This explanation is more figurative than the literal explanation.
diese Erklärung means this explanation and wörtlich means literal. The comparative übertragener is followed by als for the comparison; both explanations are in the nominative because they are linked by ist.
Die letzte Formulierung ist am ĂĽbertragensten.
The last phrasing is the most figurative.
die letzte Formulierung means the last phrasing. The predicative superlative uses am ĂĽbertragensten after ist and therefore has no adjective ending; this form is grammatically possible but uncommon in everyday German.