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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Understand German Grammar Faster

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A2 Verb Tenses Verified

Building the Past: haben + Partizip II (Perfekt)

The Perfekt is the most common past tense in spoken German. You use it every single day to talk about what happened, what you did, and what you experienced. It is formed with two parts: a helper verb...

8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Noun Gender Verified

Three Grammatical Genders (der, die, das)

Master German nouns by learning their {article|gender} and specific word endings from day one.

  • • German has three grammatical genders: Masculine, F...
  • • Articles are {der|m} (masc), {die|f} (fem), and {d...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Word Order Verified

German Word Order: Time-Manner-Place (Te-Mo-Lo)

Always put the 'When' before the 'How' and the 'How' before the 'Where' in German sentences.

  • • Te-Mo-Lo: Time, Manner, Place is the standard Germ...
  • • Temporal (Time) always comes first to set the scen...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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C1 Adjectives & Adverbs Verified

German Compound Adjectives (Zusammengesetzte Adjektive)

Mastering compound adjectives lets you express complex nuances and intensity with surgical precision in a single word.

  • • German compounds merge nouns, verbs, or adjectives...
  • • The final adjective determines the grammatical end...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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A1 Noun Gender Verified

Male Persons are Masculine ({der|m})

If the person is biologically male, the noun is grammatically masculine—it's the most logical gender rule in German.

  • • Biological male persons always take the masculine...
  • • This applies to family (father, brother) and male...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A2 Noun Gender Verified

German Plurals: Adding -n or -en

Feminine nouns almost always take -n or -en in plural, with no vowel changes or Umlauts required.

  • • Most feminine nouns add -n or -en in the plural.
  • • Add -n if the word already ends in -e, -el, or -er...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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C1 Adjectives & Adverbs Verified

German Adjective Endings: Master the Details (C1)

Adjective endings ensure grammatical clarity by signaling the noun's gender and case when articles are missing or weak.

  • • Adjectives before nouns must match gender, number,...
  • • Three declension types: Weak (definite article), M...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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A1 Noun Gender Verified

German Genders: Women and Girls (die/das)

Nouns for female persons are feminine ({die|f}), usually ending in -in, except for the neuter 'das Mädchen'.

  • • Female people and professions take the feminine ar...
  • • Most female professions are formed by adding the s...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Prepositions Verified

Going Into Places: In + Accusative (Wohin?)

Movement into a space requires `in` plus the Accusative case to show direction rather than location.

  • • Use `in` + Accusative when moving from outside to...
  • • The key question to ask is *Wohin?* (Where to?).
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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C1 Adjectives & Adverbs Verified

Weak Adjective Endings (after der/die/das)

If the article shows the grammar (case/gender), the adjective relaxes and takes a weak ending (-e or -en).

  • • Used after der, die, das
  • • Only 5 forms end in -e
12 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Noun Gender Verified

German Nouns Ending in -ung (Always Feminine)

If a German noun ends in -ung, use the article die—it's one of the few absolute rules.

  • • Nouns ending in -ung are always feminine (die).
  • • They are usually formed from verb stems.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A2 Noun Gender Verified

The 'No Change' Plural (-er, -el, -en)

For masculine and neuter words ending in -er, -el, -en, the plural form looks exactly like the singular.

  • • Nouns ending in -er, -el, -en usually don't change...
  • • Applies mostly to Masculine and Neuter nouns.
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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C1 Adjectives & Adverbs Verified

German Adjective Endings without Articles (Strong Endings)

Without an article, the adjective must carry the gender and case marker by mimicking the definite article's ending.

  • • No article means the adjective takes the 'tail' of...
  • • Masculine Nominative ends in -er, mirroring 'der'.
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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A1 Noun Gender Verified

German Nouns Ending in -chen (Always Neuter)

Any German noun ending in the diminutive suffix -chen is always neuter, regardless of its original gender.

  • • Nouns ending in the suffix -chen are always neuter...
  • • Adding -chen makes a noun a 'diminutive' (small or...
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Verb Tenses Verified

Separable Verbs in the Past (Perfekt)

For separable verbs in the past, always sandwich the 'ge' between the prefix and the verb stem.

  • • Separable verbs place 'ge' between the prefix and...
  • • The prefix always comes first, followed by 'ge', t...
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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C1 Adjectives & Adverbs Verified

German Adjectives with Prepositions: Mastering Fixed Pairs (C1)

Memorize German adjectives and their prepositions as inseparable pairs to master C1-level precision and avoid translation errors.

  • • Adjectives often pair with fixed prepositions and...
  • • These pairs must be memorized as single units to e...
12 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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A1 Noun Gender Verified

German Noun Genders: He, She, or It? (der, die, das)

Nouns and their articles are inseparable units; the article determines the noun's grammatical identity and role.

  • • German nouns have three genders: Masculine, Femini...
  • • Always learn the article ({der|m}, {die|f}, {das|n...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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C1 Noun Gender Verified

German Genitive Compounds & the S-Connector (Fugen-s)

Master the -s- connector to condense complex genitive phrases into professional, high-level compound nouns.

  • • Connects two nouns where the first acts as a genit...
  • • Uses the -s- linking element (Fugenelement) as a p...
10 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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A1 Case System Verified

German Nominative Case: Subjects Explained (Nominativ)

The Nominative case identifies the subject of a sentence, acting as the 'default' form for all German nouns.

  • • Nominative is for the subject—the person or thing...
  • • It answers the questions 'Who?' (wer?) or 'What?'...
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

Move beyond memorized phrases. Understand the rules so you can create original, correct sentences in any situation.

Pass Language Exams

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.

Progress Faster

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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Choose Your Level

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

2

Study Structured Chapters

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

3

Practice with Exercises

Test your understanding with interactive exercises — fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, sentence building, and translation practice.

4

Track & Progress

Your progress is saved automatically. Complete chapters, unlock new levels, and watch your grammar mastery grow.

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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