German Grammar Hub

Understand German Grammar Faster

Browse the grammar system by level and category, then open clear explanations with practical examples.

388 Total Rules
71 Chapters
6 CEFR level
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Active filters: CEFR level: B1
B1 Verb Moods Verified

The 'Would' Form: Polite German (Konjunktiv II)

The `würde`-form is your 'politeness cheat code' for making requests and sharing dreams in modern German.

  • • Use `würde` + `Infinitiv` to express polite reques...
  • • The conjugated `würde` stays in position 2; the ma...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Case System Verified

Formal Ownership: The Genitive Case (Genitiv)

Use Genitive to show possession in formal writing by changing articles to 'des' or 'der' and adding -s.

  • • Genitive shows possession (whose?) in formal Germa...
  • • Masculine and Neuter articles change to 'des' and...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Verb Moods Verified

German Wishes: If Only... (Konjunktiv II Optative)

To express wishes in German, start with 'Hätte' or 'Wäre' and add 'doch nur' for dramatic effect.

  • • Wishes use Konjunktiv II (hätte/wäre) to express i...
  • • Start with the verb to make the wish sound dramati...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Case System Verified

The Classic Genitive: Showing Possession (-es)

Use Genitive to show possession with style, using `des` or `der` to sound more formal and precise.

  • • Genitive shows possession: 'of the' or 'the ...'s'...
  • • Masculine and Neuter articles change to `des`.
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B1 Pronouns Verified

German Politeness: du vs. Sie (Register Shift)

German social pronouns navigate the gap between intimacy and respect through specific verb endings and capitalization.

  • • Use `du` for friends, family, and kids in singular...
  • • Use `Sie` (always capitalized) for strangers, boss...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Word Order Verified

German Suspense: Verb at the End (Nebensätze)

Words like weil, dass, and wenn send the conjugated verb to the very end of the sentence, creating suspense.

  • • Subordinate clauses kick the verb to the end.
  • • Trigger words include weil, dass, and wenn.
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Verb Tenses Verified

German Modal Verbs in the Past (Präteritum)

Always use Präteritum for modal verbs to sound natural and remember: no dots allowed in the past!

  • • Native speakers prefer Simple Past (Präteritum) fo...
  • • The dots (umlauts) always disappear when moving mo...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B1 Verb Tenses Verified

German Simple Past: Common Strong Verbs (Präteritum)

The Präteritum turns common strong verbs into storytelling powerhouses by changing their stem vowels and removing first/third-person endings.

  • • Used mainly for writing, literature, and news.
  • • Strong verbs change their stem vowel (e.g., 'gehen...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Verb Tenses Verified

Statal Passive: The 'Done' State (Zustandspassiv)

Use Statal Passive (`sein` + Participle) to describe the finished state of things, like a snapshot after the action.

  • • Focuses on the RESULT, not the action.
  • • Uses 'sein' + Partizip II (ge-form).
12 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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B1 Case System Verified

German Dative Case: Giving to Others (Der Dativ)

The Dative case identifies the 'receiver' of an action, changing articles to `dem`, `der`, and `den`+n.

  • • Dative marks the indirect object (the receiver of...
  • • Masculine and Neuter articles change to `dem` in D...
12 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Pronouns Verified

German Dative Pronouns: Me, You, Him (mir, dir, ihm)

Dative pronouns represent the indirect object or recipient, answering the question 'to whom' or 'for whom'.

  • • Dative pronouns show the recipient or beneficiary...
  • • Common forms include mir (me), dir (you), ihm (him...
12 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Case System Verified

German Dative Verbs (helfen, danken, folgen)

Some German verbs skip the Accusative entirely and demand the Dative case for their direct recipients.

  • • Fixed Dative verbs always require the Dative case...
  • • Common examples include `helfen`, `danken`, `folge...
12 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Conjunctions & Connectors Verified

Past Events: Using 'Als' (One Time Only)

Use `als` only for one-time past events; for everything else (repeated past, present, future), use `wenn`.

  • • Use 'als' for single events in the past.
  • • Sends the conjugated verb to the end.
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Conjunctions & Connectors Verified

The Master Key 'Wenn': If, When, or Whenever?

Use `wenn` for conditions (if) and repeated events (whenever), but never for questions (wann) or single past events (als).

  • • Means 'if', 'when', or 'whenever'
  • • Kicks the verb to the end
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Conjunctions & Connectors Verified

German Conjunction: Using 'before' (bevor)

Use `bevor` for actions with verbs; it kicks the conjugated verb to the very end of the clause.

  • • Use `bevor` to connect two actions where one happe...
  • • The verb in the `bevor`-clause always moves to the...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Conjunctions & Connectors Verified

Using 'After' in German: The Word 'nachdem'

Use `nachdem` to link two sequential actions, ensuring the earlier action uses a 'further back' tense.

  • • Used for actions happening one after another.
  • • The 'nachdem' event must be finished first.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Conjunctions & Connectors Verified

Giving Reasons: Using 'because' (weil)

Use `weil` to give reasons, but remember to kick the conjugated verb to the very end of the clause.

  • • Weil means because and introduces a subordinate cl...
  • • The conjugated verb must move to the absolute end...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Infinitive Constructions Verified

Doing things without... (ohne...zu)

Describe a missing action using `ohne...zu` + Infinitive, ensuring the subject remains the same in both clauses.

  • • Use `ohne...zu` to say 'without doing something' i...
  • • The subject of both actions must be exactly the sa...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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Why Learn German Grammar?

Grammar is the foundation of language fluency. Without understanding grammar patterns, you can memorize vocabulary but struggle to form correct sentences. Here's why structured grammar study matters:

Build Accurate Sentences

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Grammar is tested in every major language exam — IELTS, DELE, DELF, JLPT, HSK, TOPIK, and more. Our CEFR-aligned curriculum maps directly to exam requirements.

Understand Native Speakers

Knowing grammar helps you parse complex sentences, understand nuance, and follow conversations even when speakers use advanced constructions.

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Students who study grammar systematically reach fluency faster than those who rely on immersion alone. Structure accelerates learning.

How Our German Grammar Course Works

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Start with your CEFR level — from A0 Zero Point to C2 Mastery. Not sure? Begin at A0 and progress at your own pace.

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Each chapter covers a grammar topic with clear explanations, pattern tables, and real-world example sentences.

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Frequently Asked Questions About German Grammar

SubLearn covers 388 German grammar rules organized across 6 CEFR proficiency levels (from A1 to C2), spanning 71 structured chapters. Each rule includes clear explanations, real-world examples, and interactive practice exercises.

Our German grammar curriculum covers CEFR levels from A1 to C2. Each level is designed to match your current proficiency — beginners start with basic sentence patterns at A1, while advanced learners tackle nuanced structures at C1-C2.

Yes! All German grammar rules, explanations, and examples are completely free to access. You can browse the full curriculum, read detailed explanations, and practice with exercises at no cost.

Grammar is organized into 71 thematic chapters following the CEFR framework. Each chapter groups related rules together — for example, verb tenses, sentence structure, or particles — so you can learn related concepts in a logical sequence.

Yes! Create a free account to track which grammar rules you've studied, see your progress across all CEFR levels, and pick up exactly where you left off. Your learning progress syncs across devices.

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