Basic German: A Definitive Grammar and Workbook Study Guide

Bibliographic Information and Series Details

• Foundational Workbook Series: Grammar Workbooks.

• Core Title: Basic German: A Grammar and Workbook.

• Authors: Heiner Schenke (Senior Lecturer in German at the University of Westminster) and Karen Seago (Course Leader for Applied Translation at the London Metropolitan University).

• Publisher: Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group), London and New York.

• Publication History: First published in $2004$. This edition is available in hardback (ISBN: $0–415–28404–X$), paperback (ISBN: $0–415–28405–8$), and Master e-book format (ISBN: $0-203-64270-8$).

• Related Workbooks in the Routledge Series:

  • Basic and Intermediate versions of Cantonese, Chinese, German, Polish, Russian, and Welsh.

• Related Interest Titles:

  • Colloquial German by Dietlinde Hatherall and Glyn Hatherall.

  • Modern German Grammar: A Practical Guide ($2^{nd}$ edition) by Dodd, Eckhard-Black, Klapper, and Whittle.

Preface: Methodology and Structure

• Target Audience: Absolute beginners and those needing to refresh basic structures. Suitable for independent study, GCSE preparation, AS/A-level revision, and university-level foundation courses.

• Goal: To introduce German people and culture through contemporary language samples and provide an accessible reference for the core material encountered in the first years of learning German.

• Book Structure: Comprises $28$ units, each focusing on a key grammar topic contrasted with English structures.

  • Unit Format: Overview, followed by step-by-step layouts and detailed explanations.

  • Integrated Learning: Each unit contains checklists for self-assessment and varied exercises progressing from simple recognition to complex application.

• Pedagogical Approach: Uses functional, practical vocabulary that builds cumulatively. Avoids overly specialized terminology while introducing essential grammatical terms (Glossary included).

Unit 1: Structural Differences and Fundamental Patterns

• General Philosophy: German is a systematic, rule-based language. While Mark Twain famously protested in $1880$ that it was "slipshod and systemless," the text asserts that its underlying patterns make it manageable through a step-by-step approach.

• Orthography and Spelling:

  • Capitalization: Unlike English, where only proper names and the pronoun "I" are capitalized, German requires all nouns to be capitalized regardless of position (e.g., $Der \text{ Mann und die Frau arbeiten jeden Tag am Computer}$).

  • Pronoun Capitalization: The pronoun ich ("I") is not capitalized in the middle of sentences, but the formal "you" (Sie) is always capitalized.

  • Special Characters:

    1. Eszett (ß): Pronounced like a sharp "s". Used after diphthongs (ei, ie) and long vowels (e.g., $heißen$, $Straße$, $groß$).

    2. Umlauts (ä, ö, ü): Critical for pronunciation and meaning. Example: $Mutter$ (mother) vs. $Mütter$ (mothers); $musste$ (had to) vs. $müsste$ (should).

• Grammatical Gender: All nouns are categorized as masculine (der), feminine (die), or neuter (das).

  • Gender is grammatical, not biological. Example: $der \text{ Tisch}$ (masculine table), $die \text{ Tür}$ (feminine door), $das \text{ Fenster}$ (neuter window).

• Inflection (Endings): German words take specific endings depending on their function. This applies to verbs, articles, and adjectives.

  • Verbs: Change based on subject ($Ich \text{ gehe}$, $Er \text{ geht}$, $Sie \text{ gehen}$).

  • Articles: Change based on role ($ein \text{ Mann}$ for subject vs. $einen \text{ Mann}$ for object).

• The Case System: Shows the function of a noun (subject vs. object). Example: $Der \text{ Hund}$ (subject) vs. $den \text{ Mann}$ (object).

• Word Order: More flexible than English but governed by the position of the finite verb.

  • Standard Statement: Verb is second ($Er \text{ hat \text{ zwei Brüder}}$).

  • Questions/Orders: Verb is first ($Öffnet \text{ das Fenster!}$).

  • Subordinate Clauses: Verb moves to the end.

• Tenses: German does not distinguish between simple and continuous present ($Ich \text{ arbeite}$ covers "I work" and "I am working"). The present perfect is the standard spoken past tense.

Unit 2: Verbs in the Present Tense

• Definition: A verb describes actions (to run) or states (to be).

• Verb Formation: The infinitives (basic form) usually end in -en or -n. To conjugate, take the stem (infinitive minus the ending) and add specific suffixes.

• Conjugation Conjugation Overview (for regular verbs like $wohnen$, $hören$, $kommen$):

  • $1^{st} \text{ Person Singular (ich)}$: Add $-e$ ($Ich \text{ wohne}$).

  • $2^{nd} \text{ Person Singular (du - informal)}$: Add $-st$ ($du \text{ wohnst}$).

  • $2^{nd} \text{ Person Singular (Sie - formal)}$: Add $-en$ ($Sie \text{ wohnen}$).

  • $3^{rd} \text{ Person Singular (er/sie/es)}$: Add $-t$ ($er \text{ wohnt}$).

  • $1^{st} \text{ Person Plural (wir)}$: Add $-en$ ($wir \text{ wohnen}$).

  • $2^{nd} \text{ Person Plural (ihr - informal)}$: Add $-t$ ($ihr \text{ wohnt}$).

  • $2^{nd} \text{ Person Plural (Sie - formal)}$: Add $-en$ ($Sie \text{ wohnen}$).

  • $3^{rd} \text{ Person Plural (sie - they)}$: Add $-en$ ($sie \text{ wohnen}$).

• Usage Notes on Sie/sie:

  • $sie$ (lowercase) means either "she" or "they".

  • $Sie$ (capitalized) is formal "you" (singular and plural).

  • The finite verb endings for "they" and formal "you" are identical ($-en$).

Unit 3: Verb Variations and Irregular Vowel Changes

• Spelling Variations:

  • STEM-Ending in -d or -t: An extra $-e-$ is inserted before endings to aid pronunciation (e.g., $arbeiten \rightarrow \text{ du arbeitest, er arbeitet, ihr arbeitet}$).

  • STEM-Ending in -s, -ss, -ß, -x, -z, -tz: The $-st$ ending for du drops the s, becoming just $-t$ (e.g., $heißen \rightarrow \text{ du heißt}$; $tanzen \rightarrow \text{ du tanzt}$).

• Irregular (Strong) Verbs with Vowel Changes: These changes only occur in the du and er/sie/es forms.

  • $a \rightarrow ä$: $schlafen \rightarrow \text{ er schläft}$; $fahren \rightarrow \text{ du fährst}$; $waschen \rightarrow \text{ er wäscht}$.

  • $e \rightarrow i$: $geben \rightarrow \text{ du gibst}$; $helfen \rightarrow \text{ er hilft}$; $sprechen \rightarrow \text{ er spricht}$; $essen \rightarrow \text{ sie isst}$.

  • $e \rightarrow ie$: $sehen \rightarrow \text{ er sieht}$; $lesen \rightarrow \text{ du liest}$.

  • Special Case - $nehmen$: Changes to nimm- in irregular forms ($du \text{ nimmst, er nimmt}$).

Unit 4: Irregular Verbs Haben and Sein

• Conjugation of $haben$ (to have):

  • $ich \text{ habe}$

  • $du \text{ hast}$ (stem drops 'b')

  • $er/sie/es \text{ hat}$ (stem drops 'b')

  • $wir \text{ haben}$

  • $ihr \text{ habt}$

  • $sie/Sie \text{ haben}$

• Conjugation of $sein$ (to be): Completely irregular.

  • $ich \text{ bin}$

  • $du \text{ bist}$

  • $er/sie/es \text{ ist}$

  • $wir \text{ sind}$

  • $ihr \text{ seid}$

  • $sie/Sie \text{ sind}$

• Functional Phrases with $haben$:

  • Hunger: $Ich \text{ habe Hunger}$ (I am hungry).

  • Durst: $Er \text{ hat Durst}$ (He is thirsty).

  • Time: $Du \text{ hast Zeit}$ (You have time).

  • Boredom: $Wir \text{ haben Langeweile}$ (We are bored).

  • Pain: $Sie \text{ hat Kopfschmerzen}$ (She has a headache).

Unit 5: Separable Verbs

• Definition: Verbs consisting of a prefix and an infinitive (comparable to English phrasal verbs).

• Syntax: In the present tense, the prefix splits and moves to the very end of the sentence/clause.

  • Example: $anrufen \rightarrow \text{ Herr Nolte ruft seine Frau an.}$

• Common Separable Prefixes: $ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, mit-, nach-, vor-, zu-, zurück-$.

• Inseparable Prefixes: Do not split from the verb. These include $be-, er-, ge-, ver-$ (e.g., $bezahlen, verkaufen, verstehen$).

Unit 6: Imperatives (Commands)

• Informal Singular (du): Stem only, no ending. (e.g., $Komm!$). Stem vowel changes persist (e.g., $Sprich!$), but $a \rightarrow ä$ changes do not occur ($Fahr!$).

• Formal (Sie): Infinitive + Sie. (e.g., $Kommen \text{ Sie!}$).

• Informal Plural (ihr): Stem + $-t$. (e.g., $Kommt!$).

• Word Order: The verb always occupies the first position. Exclamation marks are common in writing to add emphasis.

Unit 7: Question Formation

• W-Questions (Interrogatives): Question word first, finite verb second.

  • $wer$ (who), $was$ (what), $wo$ (where), $woher$ (where from), $wohin$ (where to), $wann$ (when), $wie$ (how), $warum$ (why).

  • Usage Note: $wie$ is used for names/addresses ($Wie \text{ ist dein Name?}$).

• Yes/No Questions: Finite verb moves to first position.

  • Example: $Sprechen \text{ Sie Deutsch?}$ (Do you speak German?). German does not utilize the auxiliary verb "do".

Unit 8-9: Nouns, Gender, and Plurals

• Gender Clues (Masculine): Endings: $-er, -ig, -ismus, -ling, -or$. Categories: Male persons, days, months, seasons, car makes, alcoholic drinks (except $das \text{ Bier}$).

• Gender Clues (Feminine): Endings: $-ei, -enz, -heit, -ie, -ion, -keit, -tät, -schaft, -ung, -ur$. Categories: Female persons, trees, flowers, motorbikes, ships.

• Gender Clues (Neuter): Endings: $-chen, -lein, -ma, -ment, -o, -um$. Categories: Young persons, infinitives used as nouns, metals, hotels, cinemas.

• Compound Nouns: The gender is determined by the last noun in the chain (e.g., $das \text{ Telefon} + die \text{ Nummer} = die \text{ Telefonnummer}$).

• Plural Patterns:

  • Masculine: Often adds $-e$ ($die \text{ Filme}$) or umlaut + $-e$ ($die \text{ Bälle}$).

  • Feminine: $90$ percent add $-n$ or $-en$ ($die \text{ Zeitungen}$).

  • Neuter: Often add $-er$ ($die \text{ Kinder}$) or umlaut + $-er$ ($die \text{ Bücher}$).

  • Foreign Words: Usually add $-s$ ($die \text{ Partys}$).

Unit 10-14: The Four Cases

• Nominative: Identifies the subject/agent. Articles: $der, die, das, die$.

• Accusative: Identifies the direct object/receiver. Only the masculine article changes ($den/einen$). Used after prepositions like $durch, für, gegen, ohne, um$.

• Dative: Identifies the indirect object (to/for whom). Articles: $dem, der, dem, den$ (add $-n$ to plural nouns). Used after verbs like $helfen, danken$ and prepositions like $aus, bei, mit, von, zu$.

• Genitive: Indicates possession. Articles: $des, der, des, der$. Masculine/neuter nouns add $-(e)s$. Spoken German often substitutes this with $von + \text{ dative}$.

Unit 15-18: Personal Pronouns, Possessives, and Negation

• Pronouns: Change by case.

  • Accusative: $mich, dich, ihn, sie, es, uns, euch, sie, Sie$.

  • Dative: $mir, dir, ihm, ihr, ihm, uns, euch, ihnen, Ihnen$.

• Possessive Adjectives: Terminals must agree with gender/case of the object being possessed ($mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, ihr, Ihr$).

• Reflexive Verbs: Require a reflexive pronoun ($mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich$). Use dative reflexive if a direct object is specified ($Ich \text{ wasche mir die Haare}$).

• Negation:

  • $nicht$: Used for verbs and adjectives. Usually follows the verb.

  • $kein$: Used for nouns. Declines like the indefinite article $ein$.

Unit 19-20: Adjectives and Modals

• Comparison: Add $-er$ for comparative and $am \text{ ...sten}$ for superlative ($billig \rightarrow \text{ billiger } \rightarrow \text{ am billigsten}$). Monosyllabic adjectives often take an umlaut ($alt \rightarrow \text{ älter}$).

• Modal Verbs: Express mood/necessity.

  • Verbs: $dürfen$ (permission), $können$ (ability), $müssen$ (necessity), $sollen$ (should), $wollen$ (want), $mögen$ (like).

  • Syntax: The modal isconjugated (finite) in position $2$, the main verb infinitive moves to the very end.

Unit 21-23: Tenses (Past and Future)

• Present Perfect (Spoken Past): Formed with auxiliary ($haben$ or $sein$) + past participle.

  • Weak Verbs: $ge- + \text{stem} + -t$ ($gekauft$).

  • Strong Verbs: $ge- + \text{stem} + -en$ ($gesehen$). Often involves vowel changes.

  • $Sein$ usage: For verbs of motion ($fahren$) or change of state ($werden$).

• Simple Past (Written Past): Weak verbs add $-te, -test, -te, -ten, -tet, -ten$. Strong verbs change stem vowel and take no ending in $1^{st}/3^{rd}$ person singular.

• Future Tense: Formed with conjugated $werden$ + infinitive at the end of the sentence. Present tense is also frequently used for the future if context is clear.

Unit 24-28: Prepositions, Word Order, and Conjunctions

• Prepositions: Govern cases.

  • Dual-Case Prepositions: Take accusative for movement/direction and dative for position/location ($an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen$).

• Adjective Endings: Change based on whether they follow a definite article, indefinite article, or no article at all.

• Conjunctions:

  • Coordinating: $und, aber, oder, sondern, denn$. Don't change word order.

  • Subordinating: $dass, weil, obwohl, wenn, als$. Send the finite verb to the very end of the clause.

• Word Order (Time-Manner-Place): Elements usually follow this sequence ($Ich \text{ fahre am Wochenende mit dem Bus nach Paris}$). The verb remains in position $2$ in main clauses (Satzklammer principle).