German Grammar and Sentence Structure

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering German parts of speech, pronouns, adverbs, sentence structure (Feldermodell), mood (Konjunktiv), and grammatical cases.

Nomen

Words that describe objects, names, or living beings such as 'Das Auto', 'Kevin', or 'Die Giraffe'. They are always capitalized and used with articles like 'Der, Die, Das' or 'ein, einer'.

Adjektive

'How words' (Wie Wörter) that are always lowercase and describe what something is like. They can be increased in degree: 'groß — größer — am größten'. Examples: 'schön', 'klein', 'groß', 'kalt'.

Verben

'Action words' (Tun Wörter) that are always lowercase and describe what is being done. Examples: 'rennen', 'laufen', 'springen'.

Personalpronomen

Personal pronouns: 'Ich', 'du', 'er', 'sie', 'es'.

Reflexifpronomen

Reflexive pronouns: 'mich', 'dich', 'sich', 'uns', 'euch'.

Possesivpronomem

Possessive pronouns: 'mein', 'dein', 'sein/ihr/sein', 'unser', 'euer', 'ihr'.

Demonstrativpronomen

Demonstrative pronouns: 'diese, –r, –s', 'jene,–s, –r'.

Relativpronomen

Relative pronouns: 'der', 'die', 'das', 'welche, –r, –s'.

Indefinitpronomen

Indefinite pronouns: 'etwas', 'nichts', 'wenig', 'kein', 'alle/s', 'einige'.

Adverbien

Words that describe specific circumstances such as place (Ort), time (Zeit), manner (Art & Weise), or reason (Grund).

Adverbien des Ortes

Adverbs answering 'Wo?', 'woher?', or 'wohin?'. Examples: 'dort', 'hier', 'oben', 'überall'.

Adverbien der Zeit

Adverbs answering 'Wann?', 'Seit wann?', 'Bis wann?', or 'wie lange?'. Examples: 'gestern', 'jetzt', 'morgen', 'nachts', 'selten', 'schon', 'oft', 'manchmal'.

Adverbien der Art & Weise

Adverbs answering 'Wie?' or 'Wie sehr?'. Examples: 'gern', 'irgendwie', 'anders', 'sehr'.

Adverbien des Grundes

Adverbs answering 'Warum?'. Examples: 'deshalb', 'daher', 'somit', 'also', 'folglich'.

Präpositionen

Words that describe the relationship of how things stand to each other. Examples: 'an', 'bei', 'unter', 'zwischen', 'neben'.

Konjunktionen

Words that connect words, word groups, or sentences. Examples: 'und', 'oder', 'aber', 'doch', 'denn', 'als', 'weil', 'obwohl', 'dass'.

Interjektionen

Sounds used to express feelings, usually ending with an exclamation mark. Examples: 'Aua!', 'Ach!', 'Igitt!', 'Bäh!', 'Pfui!', 'Oho!'.

Aktiv

A sentence construction where the subject performs the action. Example: 'Noelle kauft den Pullover'.

Passiv

A sentence construction where the action is performed upon the subject. Example: 'Der Pullover wurde ( von Noelle ) gekauft'.

Indikativ

The 'reality form' (wirklichkeitsform) used when a statement is meant to be understood as a fact. Example: 'Noelle kauft den Pullover nicht'.

Imperativ

The 'command form' (Befehlsform) used to express a request or an order, often ending with an exclamation mark. Example: 'Nimm dir ein Beispiel an Noelle und Kauf den Pullover nicht !'.

Konjunktiv

The 'possibility form' (möglichkeitsform) used to show that one is not speaking about facts.

Konjuktiv I

Used in indirect speech to show that one is only repeating what someone else said. An '—e' is inserted after the stem. Example: Noelle sagte, sie habe den Pullover nicht gekauft.

Konjuktiv II

Used to express something imagined that does not correspond to reality, usually wishes. Vowels like 'a/o/u' often change to 'ä/ö/ü'. Example: 'Noelle wäre gerne noch umweltbewusster'.

Kasus: Nominativ

The grammatical case answering 'Wer oder Was?'.

Kasus: Genitiv

The grammatical case answering 'Wessen?'.

Kasus: Dativ

The grammatical case answering 'Wem?'.

Kasus: Akkusativ

The grammatical case answering 'Wen oder Was?'.

Subjekt

The sentence part answering 'Wer oder Was?'. It is frequently a 'Nomen' or 'Pronomen'.

Prädikat

The verb in a sentence that describes what is being done; it can be a two-part verb.

Akussativobjekt

The object in a sentence answering the question 'Wen oder was?'.

Präpositionalobjekt

The object in a sentence answering the question 'Auf?'.

Feldermodell

A model used to better divide sentences into specific sections: Vorfeld, Linke Verb Klammer, Mittelfeld, Rechte Verb Klammer, and Nachfeld.

Vorfeld

The part of the Feldermodell containing everything before the first verb. Example: 'Seit zwei Jahren'.

Linke Verb Klammer

The part of the Feldermodell containing the first verb. Examples: 'liegt', 'Wurde', 'ist'.

Mittelfeld

The part of the Feldermodell containing everything before the second verb. Example: 'er da. Der', 'wahrscheinlich weiterverkauft daher'.

Rechte Verb Klammer

The part of the Feldermodell containing the second verb until the next field. Example: 'der restliche Raum vollgestopft'.

Nachfeld

The final part of the Feldermodell. Example: 'mit Boxen und Tüten'.