A2 Adjectives & Adverbs 12 min read Easy

German Adverbs: The "No-Ending" Heroes (Adverbien ohne Endungen)

German adverbs are uninflected; they never change their form or take endings like adjectives do.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In German, when an adjective describes a verb, it stays in its base form—no endings required!

  • Use base form for adverbs: 'Er singt schön' (He sings beautifully).
  • Do not add -e, -er, or -es endings to adverbs.
  • Adverbs always follow the verb or the object in a sentence.
Subject + Verb + Adjective(Base) + (Object)

Overview

German Adverbs: The "No-Ending" Heroes (Adverbien ohne Endungen)

In German grammar, the concept of endings, or inflection, often presents a significant challenge for learners. Nouns are declined by case, and adjectives undergo extensive declension based on gender, number, and case, as well as the preceding article. However, a crucial simplification exists for adverbs: they are generally uninflected.

This means adverbs do not change their form to agree with other words in the sentence. They remain constant, irrespective of the subject's gender, number, or the sentence's grammatical case.

This lack of inflection stems from their core function. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing information about how, when, where, or to what extent an action occurs or a quality applies. Unlike adjectives that directly describe nouns and must agree with them, adverbs operate independently from the noun phrase.

This fundamental difference liberates them from the complex system of agreement that characterizes many other parts of German speech.

The form of an adverb in German is often identical to the base form of its corresponding adjective. For example, the adjective schnell (fast) functions as an adverb without any modification: schnell. This consistency provides a welcome relief in a language known for its rich morphology.

Understanding this uninflected nature is key to mastering descriptive language in German, enabling you to express nuances of action and quality without the burden of additional endings.

How This Grammar Works

German adverbs function as modifiers, providing essential context to various sentence elements. Their uninflected nature is a direct consequence of what they modify: they do not directly describe nouns. Instead, adverbs explain the circumstances surrounding actions, states, or qualities.
This distinct role means they do not need to agree in gender, number, or case, standing in stark contrast to declinable adjectives.
Firstly, and most commonly, adverbs modify verbs, describing how, when, where, or why an action takes place. Consider the verb sprechen (to speak). You can modify it with laut (loudly) to form Er spricht laut (He speaks loudly).
Here, laut describes the manner of speaking, not the speaker himself. Similarly, Ich komme morgen (I come tomorrow) uses morgen to specify the time of arrival, providing temporal information about the verb komme.
Secondly, adverbs modify adjectives, intensifying or qualifying their meaning. Words like sehr (very), ziemlich (quite), or echt (really) are frequently used in this capacity. For instance, in Das ist sehr gut (That is very good), sehr enhances the degree of the adjective gut.
Without sehr, gut still describes the noun, but the adverb specifies the extent of its goodness. This modification always precedes the adjective it affects.
Finally, adverbs can modify other adverbs, further refining their meaning. This is common with adverbs of degree. For example, Er fährt ziemlich schnell (He drives quite fast).
Here, schnell is an adverb describing fährt, and ziemlich is an adverb modifying schnell, indicating the degree of speed. In all these instances, the adverb maintains its base, uninflected form, demonstrating its stable function across different modification types within a sentence.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of adverbs in German is remarkably straightforward due to their uninflected nature. For a significant number of adverbs, particularly those derived from descriptive words, the adverbial form is identical to the base form of the adjective. This means you simply use the adjective without adding any endings. This pattern is foundational to understanding German adverbs.
2
To illustrate, consider adjectives like schön (beautiful), gut (good), langsam (slow), or hoch (high). When these words function as adverbs, describing a verb, another adjective, or another adverb, they retain their original form. For example:
3
Das ist schön (That is beautiful – predicative adjective).
4
Sie singt schön (She sings beautifully – adverb modifying singt).
5
This direct correspondence simplifies usage significantly. The absence of inflection also applies when these adverbs take comparative or superlative forms. While the forms themselves change (schnell > schneller > am schnellsten), they still do not acquire case or gender endings:
6
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
7
| :--------- | :---------- | :--------------- |
8
| schnell | schneller | am schnellsten |
9
| gut | besser | am besten |
10
| gern | lieber | am liebsten |
11
Beyond adjectives used adverbially, German also possesses a category of "pure" adverbs (reine Adverbien). These words do not have corresponding adjective forms and exist solely as adverbs. They inherently lack inflection and exhibit no changes regardless of context. Common examples include heute (today), jetzt (now), oft (often), nie (never), hier (here), dort (there), oben (above), unten (below), links (left), rechts (right), vorne (in front), hinten (behind). These words are fixed in their form and require no special consideration regarding agreement.

When To Use It

You will use uninflected German adverbs constantly to add precision and detail to your descriptions. They are indispensable for conveying information beyond mere identification. Understanding their functional categories helps in applying them correctly within various contexts, from casual conversation to more formal writing.
1. Modaladverbien (Adverbs of Manner): These describe how an action is performed. They answer the question Wie? (How?).
  • Sie arbeitet fleißig (She works diligently).
  • Er fährt vorsichtig (He drives carefully).
  • Das Konzert war toll (The concert was great – predicative adjective).
These adverbs are typically placed after the verb or, if there's a direct object, often after it.
2. Temporaladverbien (Adverbs of Time): These specify when an action occurs or its frequency. They answer Wann? (When?), Wie oft? (How often?).
  • Wir treffen uns heute (We meet today).
  • Ich lese oft Bücher(pl) (I often read books).
  • Der Zug(m) kommt bald (The train arrives soon).
Common temporal adverbs include jetzt, gestern, morgen, immer, nie, selten, manchmal. Their placement can vary, but they often appear near the beginning of a sentence or after the conjugated verb.
3. Lokaladverbien (Adverbs of Place): These indicate where an action takes place or a state exists. They answer Wo? (Where?), Wohin? (Whither?), Woher? (Whence?).
  • Meine Freunde(pl) wohnen hier (My friends live here).
  • Wir gehen nach Hause (We go home – nach Hause acts adverbially).
  • Der Ball(m) liegt dort (The ball lies there).
Words like hier, dort, oben, unten, draußen, drinnen, links, rechts are common. They are usually placed after the verb.
4. Gradadverbien (Adverbs of Degree): These modify adjectives or other adverbs, indicating intensity or extent. They answer Wie sehr? (How much?).
  • Das Auto(n) ist sehr schnell (The car is very fast).
  • Er spielt ziemlich gut Klavier(n) (He plays the piano quite well).
  • Das Essen(n) schmeckt besonders lecker (The food tastes particularly delicious).
Frequently used degree adverbs include sehr, ziemlich, ganz (quite/entirely), fast (almost), kaum (hardly). They always precede the adjective or adverb they modify.
Understanding these categories helps you pinpoint the correct adverb for your intended meaning. The consistent lack of inflection across all categories simplifies their application, making it easier to integrate descriptive nuance into your German sentences.

Common Mistakes

Despite the apparent simplicity of uninflected adverbs, learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls. These often arise from overgeneralizing other German grammar rules or applying English grammatical structures directly. Awareness of these common errors is crucial for accurate and natural German communication.
1. Over-Declension – The "Ending Reflex": This is arguably the most common mistake. Learners, accustomed to extensive adjective declension, mistakenly add endings to adverbs. They might treat an adverb describing a verb as if it were an adjective describing a noun.
  • Incorrect: Er fährt ein schnelles (incorrect usage for "He drives fast"). Here, schnell is meant to describe the action of driving, not an implied noun.
  • Correct: Er fährt schnell (He drives fast).
  • Correct Context for Declension: Er hat ein schnelles Auto(n) (He has a fast car). Here, schnelles is an adjective directly preceding and describing the neuter noun Auto(n), requiring the -es ending.
The key distinction is whether the word directly modifies a noun or pronoun (requires declension) or modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (remains uninflected).
2. Confusing Adverbs with Predicative Adjectives: While both adverbs and predicative adjectives (those following verbs like sein, werden, bleiben) remain uninflected, their roles differ.
  • Predicative Adjective: Die Blume(f) ist schön (The flower is beautiful). schön describes the noun Blume(f) via the verb ist. It doesn't take an ending because it's separated from the noun by a copular verb.
  • Adverb: Sie malt schön (She paints beautifully). schön describes the verb malt.
The form is identical, but understanding their distinct grammatical function prevents deeper confusion when encountering more complex sentence structures.
3. Applying English "-ly" Logic: English forms many adverbs by adding -ly (e.g., "quick" -> "quickly"). German does not have a direct, productive equivalent suffix for this purpose. Learners sometimes attempt to create non-existent German adverb forms.
  • Incorrect: Sie singt schönlich (based on "beautifully").
  • Correct: Sie singt schön.
In German, the adjective form typically serves as the adverb of manner, eliminating the need for an additional suffix.
4. Misplacing Adverbs: While not strictly an inflection error, incorrect adverb placement can hinder comprehension. General placement rules are important, especially at A2 level.
  • Temporal adverbs (heute, oft) often come before modal adverbs (schnell, gut).
  • Adverbs generally follow the verb in simple sentences. Ich schwimme oft im See(m) (I often swim in the lake) is more natural than Ich schwimme im See(m) oft.
  • Adverbs of degree always precede the adjective or adverb they modify: Das ist sehr interessant (That is very interesting).
Avoiding these common pitfalls reinforces the understanding that German adverbs operate under their own distinct, yet consistent, set of rules. The primary takeaway is to resist the urge to inflect words that are not directly describing a noun in an attributive position.

Real Conversations

In authentic German communication, adverbs without endings are ubiquitous, forming an essential part of natural expression. You will encounter them in every facet of daily language, from quick text messages to professional emails, and particularly in spoken exchanges where conciseness and clarity are valued. Their uninflected nature makes them highly adaptable for conveying precise meaning efficiently.

In informal and digital communication:

- Texting/WhatsApp: Ich bin bald da. (I'll be there soon.) War echt gut! (Was really good!) Schreib mir kurz. (Text me briefly.)

- Social Media: Die Sonne(f) scheint schön hier. (The sun is shining beautifully here.) Ich bin oft in Berlin. (I'm often in Berlin.)

Here, the adverbs bald, echt, kurz, schön, and oft are used exactly as they appear in their base form, without any changes. Their directness suits the brevity of digital messaging.

In casual spoken German:

- Friend asking about a new restaurant: Wie war's? Schmeckt's gut? (How was it? Does it taste good?)

- Describing a situation: Das ist wirklich wichtig. (That is really important.) Sie hat laut gelacht. (She laughed loudly.)

- Giving directions: Geh geradeaus und dann links. (Go straight ahead and then left.)

These examples demonstrate adverbs like gut, wirklich, laut, geradeaus, and links modifying verbs, adjectives, or indicating direction, all while maintaining their basic form. This is how native speakers intuitively use them, integrating seamlessly into sentence flow.

In more formal or professional contexts:

While the language might be more structured, the principle of uninflected adverbs remains.

- Email: Wir bitten Sie, die Anleitung(f) genau zu lesen. (We ask you to read the instructions carefully.)

- Presentation: Die(pl) Zahlen(pl) sind deutlich gestiegen. (The numbers have risen significantly.)

Adverbs such as genau (exactly/carefully) and deutlich (clearly/significantly) are crucial for conveying precise information and are used without inflection, reinforcing the consistency of this grammar rule across all registers of German. The ability to use these "no-ending heroes" correctly marks a significant step towards fluent and confident communication.

Quick FAQ

Navigating the nuances of German adverbs can raise specific questions. Here are answers to some common inquiries that clarify their usage and distinguish them from related grammatical concepts.
Q: Is gut an adjective or an adverb?

gut can be both. It functions as an adjective when it describes a noun (e.g., ein gutes Buch(n)), requiring declension. It functions as an adverb when it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., Er singt gut), remaining uninflected. The context dictates its role.

Q: How do sehr and viel differ as intensifiers?

sehr (very) typically modifies adjectives or other adverbs, indicating a high degree (e.g., Das ist sehr interessant). viel (much/a lot) usually modifies verbs or nouns (often implying quantity), though it can also function as an adjective (e.g., Ich esse viel – verb; Ich habe viel Geld(n) – adjective with noun). Do not use sehr directly with verbs to mean "a lot."

Q: Do adverbs ever take endings?

Generally, no, not in the sense of case, gender, or number agreement. The only exception to a truly fixed form would be the comparative (-er) and superlative (am -sten) forms of some adverbs, which are still not inflectional endings tied to agreement (e.g., gern, lieber, am liebsten). Possessive adverbs like meinetwegen or deinetwegen also have fixed forms but are a specific type.

Q: What is the difference between an attributive adjective and a predicative adjective?

An attributive adjective directly precedes a noun and describes it (e.g., der schöne Tag(m)). These always take declension endings. A predicative adjective follows a copular verb like sein (to be) or werden (to become) and describes the subject (e.g., Der Tag(m) ist schön). These never take endings and behave like adverbs in their lack of inflection.

Q: Can I use gern and gerne interchangeably?

Yes, gern and gerne are generally interchangeable in modern German. gerne is often slightly more common in spoken language and can sometimes sound a little softer or more polite, but grammatically they serve the same adverbial function without inflection.

Q: What about adverbs ending in -weise?

Adverbs ending in -weise (e.g., glücklicherweise - fortunately, möglicherweise - possibly) are formed from adjectives and convey manner. They are already adverbialized and do not take further endings. These are productive formations and clearly indicate an adverbial function.

This FAQ reinforces the core principle: adverbs are the uninflected workhorses of German, providing crucial descriptive power without the complexity of gender, number, and case agreement.

Adverbial Formation

Adjective (Base) Adverbial Use English Meaning
schnell
schnell
fast
gut
gut
well
schön
schön
beautifully
langsam
langsam
slowly
hart
hart
hard
klar
klar
clearly

Meanings

Adjectives in German function as adverbs without changing their form when they modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

1

Manner

Describing how an action is performed.

“Er spricht laut.”

“Sie arbeitet gut.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Adverbs: The "No-Ending" Heroes (Adverbien ohne Endungen)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + Verb + Adv
Er läuft schnell.
Negative
Subj + Verb + nicht + Adv
Er läuft nicht schnell.
Question
Verb + Subj + Adv?
Läuft er schnell?
Comparative
Subj + Verb + Adv + -er
Er läuft schneller.
Superlative
Subj + Verb + am + Adv + -sten
Er läuft am schnellsten.
Short Answer
Ja/Nein + Adv
Ja, schnell.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Die Arbeit wurde sorgfältig ausgeführt.

Die Arbeit wurde sorgfältig ausgeführt. (Workplace)

Neutral
Die Arbeit wurde gut gemacht.

Die Arbeit wurde gut gemacht. (Workplace)

Informal
Das ist super gemacht.

Das ist super gemacht. (Workplace)

Slang
Läuft!

Läuft! (Workplace)

Adverb vs Adjective

Base Adjective

Noun Modifier

  • schnelles Auto fast car

Verb Modifier

  • er läuft schnell he runs fast

German vs English Adverbs

German
schnell fast
English
quickly quickly

Do I need an ending?

1

Is it modifying a noun?

YES
Yes: Add ending
NO
No: Keep base form

Common Adverbs

⚡

Speed

  • • schnell
  • • langsam
  • • zügig
⭐

Quality

  • • gut
  • • schlecht
  • • super
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Examples by Level

1

Er lernt schnell.

He learns fast.

2

Das ist gut.

That is good.

3

Sie singt schön.

She sings beautifully.

4

Wir essen gesund.

We eat healthily.

1

Er arbeitet sehr hart.

He works very hard.

2

Bitte sprechen Sie langsam.

Please speak slowly.

3

Das Wetter ist heute schlecht.

The weather is bad today.

4

Sie schreibt klar.

She writes clearly.

1

Er hat die Aufgabe gründlich erledigt.

He completed the task thoroughly.

2

Sie hat das Problem klug gelöst.

She solved the problem cleverly.

3

Das Auto fährt erstaunlich leise.

The car drives surprisingly quietly.

4

Er hat sich mutig verteidigt.

He defended himself bravely.

1

Die Situation hat sich merklich verbessert.

The situation has improved noticeably.

2

Er hat das Angebot dankend abgelehnt.

He declined the offer thankfully.

3

Das Haus wurde nachhaltig gebaut.

The house was built sustainably.

4

Sie hat ihre Meinung offen geäußert.

She expressed her opinion openly.

1

Das Projekt wurde effizient umgesetzt.

The project was implemented efficiently.

2

Er hat die Kritik sachlich entgegengenommen.

He received the criticism objectively.

3

Die Regeln wurden strikt eingehalten.

The rules were strictly followed.

4

Sie hat die Herausforderung souverän gemeistert.

She mastered the challenge confidently.

1

Die architektonische Gestaltung wirkt ästhetisch ansprechend.

The architectural design appears aesthetically pleasing.

2

Er hat die komplexe Materie prägnant zusammengefasst.

He summarized the complex subject matter concisely.

3

Die Verhandlungen verliefen konstruktiv.

The negotiations proceeded constructively.

4

Sie hat ihre Argumente rhetorisch geschickt vorgetragen.

She presented her arguments rhetorically skillfully.

Easily Confused

German Adverbs: The "No-Ending" Heroes (Adverbien ohne Endungen) vs Attributive Adjectives

Learners add endings to adverbs because they think all adjectives need them.

German Adverbs: The "No-Ending" Heroes (Adverbien ohne Endungen) vs Predicative Adjectives

Predicative adjectives (e.g., 'Das Auto ist schnell') also have no endings.

German Adverbs: The "No-Ending" Heroes (Adverbien ohne Endungen) vs Nouns as Adverbs

Some nouns can function adverbially.

Common Mistakes

✗

Er singt schönes.

✓

Er singt schön.

Adding an adjective ending to an adverb.
✗

Sie läuft schnell die Straße.

✓

Sie läuft schnell auf der Straße.

Word order confusion.
✗

Das ist ein gut gemacht.

✓

Das ist gut gemacht.

Confusing attributive and adverbial use.
✗

Er hat das Problem sehr gründliches gelöst.

✓

Er hat das Problem sehr gründlich gelöst.

Over-declining.

Sentence Patterns

Er ___ ___.

Sie ___ ___ ___.

Das ___ ___ ___.

___ ___ ___ nicht ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Das klingt super!

Job Interview very common

Ich arbeite sehr sorgfältig.

Travel common

Bitte fahren Sie langsam.

Food Delivery occasional

Das Essen schmeckt gut.

Texting constant

Schreib schnell!

Academic common

Die Daten wurden präzise analysiert.

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💡

Check the verb

If you are describing a verb, don't add an ending.
⚠️

Noun vs Verb

Don't confuse noun-describing adjectives with verb-describing adverbs.
🎯

Dictionary form

Always use the dictionary form for adverbs.
💬

Keep it simple

Germans appreciate directness; don't overcomplicate your adverbs.

Smart Tips

Keep the adjective in its base form.

Er singt schönes. → Er singt schön.

Use precise adverbs like 'sorgfältig' instead of 'gut'.

Ich mache das gut. → Ich mache das sorgfältig.

Default to the base form.

Sie spricht klare. → Sie spricht klar.

Add -er for comparative.

Er läuft schnell. → Er läuft schneller.

Pronunciation

schnell [ʃnɛl]

Stress

Adverbs are usually unstressed unless emphasized.

Declarative

Er läuft schnell ↘

Neutral statement.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Adverbs are 'naked'—they don't wear any fancy endings.

Visual Association

Imagine a runner (the verb) wearing a plain, unadorned t-shirt (the base adjective). No jewelry or accessories (endings) allowed!

Rhyme

When the verb is in the lead, the adjective has no need for an ending indeed!

Story

Hans wanted to write a letter. He chose a 'schön' (beautiful) pen. He wrote 'schön' (beautifully). The pen was for the noun, the writing was for the verb. Both were 'schön'.

Word Web

schnellgutlangsamhartschönklar

Challenge

Write 5 sentences describing your daily routine using only base-form adjectives as adverbs.

Cultural Notes

Germans value precision; using the right adverb is key to being understood clearly.

Austrians often use 'fein' for 'well'.

Swiss speakers might use different intensifiers.

German adverbs evolved from the base form of adjectives in Old High German.

Conversation Starters

“

Wie arbeitest du?

“

Singst du gern?

“

Fährst du schnell?

“

Lernst du Deutsch gut?

Journal Prompts

Describe your day using 5 adverbs.
How do you work best?
Describe a concert you attended.
Write about a difficult task.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form.

Er singt ___ (schön).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: schön
Adverbs have no endings.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er läuft schnell.
Base form is correct.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Sie arbeitet hartes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie arbeitet hart.
No ending for adverbs.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

schnell / er / läuft

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er läuft schnell.
Standard word order.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Wie geht es? B: Es geht ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gut
Adverbial use.
Match the adjective to its adverbial form. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: schnell
They are the same.
Use the adverb. Conjugation Drill

Sie (sprechen) (klar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie spricht klar.
Verb modification.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Adverbs in German have no endings.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
They remain in base form.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form.

Er singt ___ (schön).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: schön
Adverbs have no endings.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er läuft schnell.
Base form is correct.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Sie arbeitet hartes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie arbeitet hart.
No ending for adverbs.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

schnell / er / läuft

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er läuft schnell.
Standard word order.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Wie geht es? B: Es geht ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gut
Adverbial use.
Match the adjective to its adverbial form. Match Pairs

schnell -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: schnell
They are the same.
Use the adverb. Conjugation Drill

Sie (sprechen) (klar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie spricht klar.
Verb modification.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Adverbs in German have no endings.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
They remain in base form.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence Fill in the Blank

Das Konzert war ___ (really) toll!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: echt
Pick the correct sentence Multiple Choice

How do you say 'She speaks slowly'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie spricht langsam.
Correct the adverb Error Correction

Wir kommen heute-n zu dir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wir kommen heute zu dir.
Translate to German Translation

I like to drink coffee. (Use 'gern')

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Match the adverb to its category Match Pairs

Match these common adverbs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: oft:Time, hier:Place, schnell:Manner, sehr:Degree
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

schnell / Auto / Das / fährt

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Der Film ist ___ (very) lang.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sehr
Adjective or Adverb? Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses an adverb?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Der Hund bellt laut.
Find the error Error Correction

Mein Freund spielt gut-es Tennis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mein Freund spielt gut Tennis.
Translate to German Translation

They are always here.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie sind immer hier.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Almost all, yes. Just use the base form.

It will sound like you are describing a noun, which is grammatically incorrect for a verb.

Yes, 'gut' is used as an adverb meaning 'well'.

Usually after the verb or the object.

Very few, mostly related to fixed phrases.

Use -er for comparative and am -sten for superlative.

The core rule is the same, though vocabulary varies.

Yes, place 'nicht' before the adverb.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Adverbio

German has no suffix.

French partial

Adverbe

German has no suffix.

Japanese low

Fukushi

Japanese changes the suffix.

Arabic low

Hal

Arabic uses a case ending.

Chinese moderate

Zhuangyu

Chinese uses a particle.

English partial

Adverb

German has no suffix.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
German Adjective Endings: Dressing Up Nouns (Adjektivdeklination)
Next
German Comparisons: Adding -er and 'als'

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YourGermanTeacher

Related Grammar Rules

B2

Making Guesses with "wohl" (Probably)

Overview German, like many languages, possesses small but powerful words that imbue sentences with nuance, attitude, and...
B2

German Modal Particles: 'halt' & 'eben' (it is what it is)

Overview German modal particles, or *Abtönungspartikeln*, are small, uninflected words that do not change a sentence's...
B2

The 'Right Now' Particle: Using gerade

Overview German, unlike English, does not possess a dedicated continuous tense to express actions happening at the preci...
C1

German Understatement: Not Bad! (Litotes)

Overview German, like many languages, employs rhetorical devices to convey meaning beyond a literal interpretation. One...
B1

German Adjectives after 'viele' and 'einige'

Overview German adjective declension is a system of remarkable precision, and the patterns following indefinite pronoun...
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