BASIC GERMAN

A COMPLETE BEGINNER’S GUIDE

Welcome to Basic German!

This book is designed for complete beginners who wish to learn German in a
clear, structured, and practical way. Over the course of 25 days, learners will
gradually build their understanding of pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence
formation. Each lesson follows a simple method:

Learn → Understand → Apply → Practice

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1
German Alphabet, Umlauts & Sound Combinations
. ........................................................................................................................... 02
Section 2
Numbers, Days, Months, Seasons and Colours
. ........................................................................................................................... 10
Section 3
Greetings, Days, Months, Seasons, Colours and Personal Pronouns
. ........................................................................................................................... 15
Section 4
German Nouns, Capitalization, Definite & Indefinite Articles
. ........................................................................................................................... 18
Section 5
Helping, Regular and Irregular Verbs
. ........................................................................................................................... 37
Section 6
Sentence Structure, Questions and Imperatives
. ........................................................................................................................... 46
Section 7
Modal Verbs
. ........................................................................................................................... 57
Section 8
Separable Verbs
. ........................................................................................................................... 71
Section 9
Reading Practice Texts
. ........................................................................................................................... 77

1
Objectives:

• Recognize letters A–M.

• Pronounce each letter correctly.

• Associate letters with simple German words.

2
 Letter Pronunciation German Example English

A ah Apfel Apple

B bay-h Ball Ball

C tsay Café Café

D day-h Dom Cathedral

E eh Ente Duck

F eff Fisch Fish

G gay-h Garten Garden

H hah Haus House

I ee Insel Island

J yot Junge Boy

K kah Katze Cat

L ell Lampe Lamp

M emm Maus Mouse

Tips:

• Always pronounce each letter separately.

• Speak aloud while reading.

• Practice daily in short sessions.

3
Objectives:

• Learn letters from N – Z.

• Improve pronunciation.

4
 Letter Pronunciation German Example English

N enn Nase Nose

O oh Obst Fruit

P pay-h Park Park

Q koo Quelle Spring

R err Rose Rose

S ess Sonne Sun

T tay Tisch Table

U oo Uhr Clock

V fau Vogel Bird

W way-h Wasser Water

X iks Xylophon Xylophone

Y üpsilon Yoga Yoga

Z t-set Zebra Zebra

Tips:

• Repeat letter + word together.

• Use pronunciation syllable to practice.

5
Objectives:

• Understand special German letters.

• Learn unique pronunciation.

6
 Letter Pronunciation Example Meaning

Ä ea Mädchen Girl

Ö eo (rounded lips) Öl Oil

Ü eu (rounded lips) Über above/ about

ß ss sound Straße Street

Tips:

• Umlauts change sound significantly.

• Mouth shape matters in pronunciation of special characters.

7
Objectives:

• Learn common sound patterns.

• Improve pronunciation fluency.

8
 Combination Sound Examples Meaning

ei eye eins, mein one, my

ie ee vier, sieben four, seven

eu oy neu, Freund new, Friend

äu oy Häuser, träumen Houses, to dream

sch sh Schule, Tisch School, Table

ch soft sh / kh ich, Buch I, Book

sp shp Sport, spielen Sport, to play

st sht Straße, Stadt Street, City

Tips:

• In the letter pair “ch”, use the “kh” sound for words having a, o, u & au before
“ch” in the German word. For example: Buch, kochen, acht & auch.

• Practice full words, not just sounds.

• Record yourselves and listen for practice.

9
Objectives:

• Count from 0 to 20.

• Pronounce numbers accurately.

10
Number German Pronunciation English

0 null nool zero

1 eins ayns one

2 zwei ts-why two

3 drei dry three

4 vier fee-air four

5 fünf fuenf five

6 sechs zeks six

7 sieben zee-ben seven

8 acht ahkht eight

9 neun noyn nine

10 zehn t-sane ten

11
 Number German Pronunciation English

11 elf elf eleven

12 zwölf tswölf twelve

13 dreizehn dry-t-sane thirteen

14 vierzehn fee-air-t-sane fourteen

15 fünfzehn fuenf-t-sane fifteen

16 sechzehn zek-t-sane sixteen

17 siebzehn zeeb-t-sane seventeen

18 achtzehn ahkht-t-sane eighteen

19 neunzehn noyn-t-sane nineteen

20 zwanzig tsvan-tsig twenty

Tips:

• 13–19 follow a pattern: “number + zehn” (3+10 = 13: drei + zehn = dreizehn).

• Remember: 16 = sech- + zehn and 17 = sieb- + zehn. The endings of sechs

and sieben become shorter.

12
Objectives:

• Form numbers up to 100.

• Understand number pattern from 21 - 100.

13
The Pattern:

• Numbers from 21 to 99 are usually written as one word. The pattern is:
ones + und + tens (the number at the “units” place comes first, then
“and”, then the “tens”).

Example:

ein + und + zwanzig = einundzwanzig (21).

Similarly, vierunddreißig (34), achtundneunzig (98).

• Use ein (not eins) before und in compound numbers. Eins always refers
to the number 1.

Example: einundzwanzig (21), einundvierzig (41).

• Multiples of ten are used alone without und.

Example: zwanzig (20), fünfzig (50), neunzig (90), 100 = hundert.

• The “tens” forms are:

20 zwanzig, 30 dreißig, 40 vierzig, 50 fünfzig, 60 sechzig, 70 siebzig,

80 achtzig, 90 neunzig.

• Note that some tens change spelling:

dreißig (not dreizig), sechzig (not sechszig), siebzig (not siebenzig).

14
 Number German Structure

21 einundzwanzig one + and + twenty

22 zweiundzwanzig two + and + twenty

30 dreißig thirty

40 vierzig forty

50 fünfzig fifty

60 sechzig sixty

70 siebzig seventy

80 achtzig eighty

90 neunzig ninety

100 hundert hundred

Tips:

• German numbers follow a pattern: ones + und + tens.

• Example: 21 = one-and-twenty, 45 = five-and-forty.

• German numbers are often the reverse of English for the last two digits.
For example: 24 = vierundzwanzig (“four and twenty”).

15
Objectives:

• Greet people politely.

• Use basic conversation phrases.

16
Informal Greetings and Expressions

German English

Hallo Hello

Wie geht’s? How are you?

Mir geht’s gut. I’m fine.

Tschüss Bye

Formal Greetings and Expressions

German English

Guten Morgen Good morning

Guten Tag Good day / Good afternoon

Guten Abend Good evening

Gute Nacht Good night

Example Dialogue:

• A: Hallo! Wie geht’s? (Hello! How’re you?)

• B: Mir geht’s gut. Danke! Und dir? (I am doing good. Thank you! And
you?)

• A: Gut, danke! (Good, thank you!)

17
Objectives:

• Learn the fundamental rule of using nouns in the German language.

• Learn names of weekdays and weekends.

• Use them in daily context.

18
 GRAMMAR: WHAT ARE NOUNS

Nouns (Substantive) are words that name people, places, things, or ideas.

Examples:

• der Mann (the man) – person

• die Schule (the school) – place

• das Buch (the book) – thing

• die Liebe (love) – idea

Nouns are always capitalised in German, no matter where they appear in

the sentence.

This rule is always followed, whether the noun is in the beginning, middle or at the
end of a sentence.

Example 1:

Der Mann arbeitet. (The man works).

Here, der Mann is a noun because it refers to a person, so it starts with a capital
letter.

Example 2:

Die Schule is groß. (The school is big).

Here, Schule is a noun because it names a place, so it also starts with a capital
letter.

19
Example 3:

Das Buch ist teuer. (The book is expensive).

Here, Buch is a noun because it names a thing, so it starts with a capital letter.

Example 4:

Die Liebe ist wichtig. (Love is important).

Here, Liebe is a noun because it names an idea or feeling, so it starts with a capital
letter.

Now, let’s look at the days of the week, which are also nouns.

German English

der Montag Monday

der Dienstag Tuesday

der Mittwoch Wednesday

der Donnerstag Thursday

der Freitag Friday

der Samstag Saturday

der Sonntag Sunday

20
Tips:

• Days are always capitalized in German. (nouns).

• Since they are masculine, they use the article “der”. Example: der Montag.

• If you see a capital letter in the middle of a German sentence, it is often a

noun.

21
Objectives:

• Learn names of all the months in a year.

• Talk about months in daily conversations.

22
 German English

der Januar January

der Februar February

der März March

der April April

der Mai May

der Juni June

der Juli July

der August August

der September September

der Oktober October

der November November

der Dezember December

Tips:

1. Learn the months in groups by seasons. For example: Juni, Juli, August

are summer months. This makes them easier to remember.

2. Months are considered to be masculine nouns in German. Therefore, their

article is “der”. Example: der Januar, der Mai.

23
Objectives:

• Identify seasons and use in simple sentences.

German English

der Frühling Spring

der Sommer Summer

der Herbst Autumn

der Winter Winter

Tips:
1. All seasons in German are masculine nouns and use the article “der”:
der Frühling, der Sommer, der Herbst, der Winter.

2. Seasons are nouns, so they are always written with a capital letter.

24
Objectives:

• Learn common colours in German.

• Use them to describe objects.

25
 German English

rot red

blau blue

grün green

gelb yellow

schwarz black

weiß white

braun brown

grau grey

rosa pink

hell light

lila purple

hellblau light-blue

dunkel dark

dunkelbraun darl-brown

26
Example Sentences:

• Der Apfel ist rot. (The apple is red).

• Der Tisch ist braun. (The table is brown).

Tips:

• Associate colours with objects for memorising easily (e.g., rot – apple).

• Colours are adjectives, not nouns. So, they are not capitalised.

27
Objectives:

• Learn and use personal pronouns in German.

• Understand the difference between formal and informal usage of

pronouns.

28
 Person German Pronoun English Meaning

1st person singular ich I

2nd person singular (informal) du you

3rd person singular (masculine) er he

3rd person singular (feminine) sie she

3rd person singular (neuter) es it

1st person plural wir we

2nd person plural (informal) ihr you (all)

3rd person plural sie they

Formal (singular & plural) Sie you (formal)

Example Sentences:

• Ich lerne Deutsch. (I am learning German).

• Du spielst Fußball. (You play football).

• Sie tanzt gern. (She likes to dance).

• Wir gehen in die Schule. (We go to school).

29
Tips:

• These personal pronouns are in Nominativ form. You will learn about
Nominativ in A1.

• At the basic German level, only understand that they are used for the
subject of the sentence (who is doing the action), like in the above
sentences.

• The pronoun must always match the person and number of the subject
(singular or plural). This is called subject-verb agreement.

• “Sie” (capital S) is used for formal “you / you all”, and it is always
written with a capital letter in any position in the sentence and used in
formal situations.

• “ihr” is used for informal plural “you” when speaking to a group you
know well.

• “sie” means “they” (3rd person plural).

30
Objectives:

• Learn definite articles in German.

• Understand their association with nouns.

• Use them correctly with nouns.

31
Connection between nouns and definite articles:

• Definite articles are words that mean “the” in English. In German, the
definite articles are der, die, das.

• Every noun in German has a gender, and each noun uses a specific article.

o der = masculine

o die = feminine

o das = neuter

Examples: der Tisch (the table), die Lampe (the lamp), das Auto (the car).

• When you learn a new noun, always learn it with its article because the
article is part of the noun. This will help you make correct sentences later.

Example:

o Das ist der Tisch. (That is the table).

o Das ist die Lampe. (That is the lamp).

German English

der the (masculine)

die the (feminine)

das the (neuter)

die the (plural)

32
Examples:

German English

der Mann the man

die Frau the woman

das Kind the child

die Kinder the children

• Der Mann ist hier. (The man is here).

• Die Frau ist nett. (The woman is nice).

• Das Kind spielt. (The child is playing).

• Die Kinder sind laut. (The children are loud).

Tips:

• Every noun in German has a gender: der, die, das.

• Always learn nouns with their articles (e.g., der Mann, not just Mann).

• Practice speaking aloud: der Mann, die Frau, das Kind.

33
Objectives:

• Learn indefinite articles in German.

• Use them to talk about non-specific objects.

34
Connection between nouns and indefinite articles:

• Indefinite articles are words that mean “a” or “an” in English. In

German, the indefinite articles are ein and eine.

• As you already know, the article changes according to gender of the noun.

o ein = masculine or neuter

o eine = feminine

Examples: ein Tisch (a table), eine Lampe (a lamp), ein Auto (a car).

• When you learn a new noun, also learn which indefinite article it takes.
This will help you make correct nominative sentences.

Example:

o Das ist ein Buch. (That is a book).

o Das ist eine Tasche. (That is a bag).

German English

ein a (masculine/neuter)

eine a (feminine)

35
Examples:

German English

ein Mann a man

eine Frau a woman

ein Kind a child

• Ein Mann ist hier. (A man is here).

• Eine Frau ist nett. (A woman is nice).

• Ein Kind spielt. (A child is playing).

Tips:
• Think: ein = a / an.

• Learn nouns with gender to choose the correct article.

• There is no plural form of ein / eine.

36
Objectives:

• Learn the verbs sein (to be) and haben (to have).

• Use them according to correct conjugations.

37
 Verb English Meaning

sein to be

haben to have

Conjugation of sein (to be)

Pronoun German English Translation

ich bin I am

du bist You are (informal)

er / sie / es ist He / She / It is

wir sind We are

ihr seid You are (plural informal)

sie / Sie sind They are / You are (formal)

38
Conjugation of haben (to have)

Pronoun German English Translation

ich habe I have

du hast You have (informal)

er / sie / es hat He / She / It has

wir haben We have

ihr habt You have (plural informal)

sie / Sie haben They have / You have (formal)

Example Sentences:

• Ich bin Lehrer. (I am a teacher).

• Du hast ein Buch. (You have a book).

• Er ist freundlich. (He is friendly).

• Wir haben Hunger. (We have hunger / we are hungry).

Grammar Focus:

• “sein” and “haben” are irregular verbs, so their forms must be learned
individually (ich bin/habe, du bist/hast, er ist/hat, etc.). The regular and
irregular verbs are explained in the next chapter.

• They are used as helping verbs in the present tense to form sentences
about identity, possession, and states.

39
Objectives:

• Learn and conjugate regular verbs in the present tense.

• Use regular verbs to form simple sentences.

40
Regular verbs in German follow a fixed conjugation pattern. The stem of the
verb remains unchanged, and endings are added depending on the pronoun
used.
Example: SPIELEN (to play)

• Stamm (stem): Spiel

• Endung (ending): -en
How to Conjugate:

1. Remove -en from the infinitive form of the verb to find the stem.
o spielen → spiel

2. Add the following endings:

Example Sentence
Pronoun Stem Ending
(German + English)
ich spiele Fußball.
ich spiel- -e
(I play football.)
du spielst Tennis.
du spiel- -st
(You play tennis.)
er/sie spielt Gitarre.
er/sie/es spiel- -t
(He/She plays guitar.)
wir spielen zusammen.
wir spiel- -en
(We play together.)
ihr spielt gut.
ihr spiel- -t
(You (plural) play well.)
sie/Sie spielen im Park.
sie/Sie spiel- -en
(They/You (formal) play in the park.)

41
Some more examples of regular verbs are:

• machen (to do / make)

• lernen (to learn)

• wohnen (to live)

• kochen (to cook)

• fragen (to ask)

• sagen (to say)

Irregular Verbs → Unregelmäßige Verben

• Unlike regular verbs, irregular verbs are those that do not have a fixed
stem throughout.
1. sprechen (to speak)

Pronoun Conjugation English

ich spreche I speak

du sprichst You speak

er / sie / es spricht He / She / It speaks

wir sprechen We speak

ihr sprecht You speak

sie / Sie sprechen They speak / You speak (formal)

Example:
Er spricht Deutsch. (He speaks German).

42
2. fahren (to drive / travel)

Pronoun Conjugation English

ich fahre I drive / travel

du fährst You drive / travel

er / sie / es fährt He / She / It drives / travels

wir fahren We drive / travel

ihr fahrt You drive / travel

They drive / travel / You drive / travel

sie / Sie fahren
(formal)

Example:
Sie fährt nach Berlin. (She travels to Berlin).

3. sehen (to see)

Pronoun Conjugation English

ich sehe I see

du siehst You see

er / sie / es sieht He / She / It sees

wir sehen We see

ihr seht You see

sie / Sie sehen They see / You see (formal)

Example:
Wir sehen einen Film. (We watch a movie).

43
4. lesen (to read)

Pronoun Conjugation English

ich lese I read

du liest You read

er / sie / es liest He / She / It reads

wir lesen We read

ihr lest You read

sie / Sie lesen They read / You read (formal)

Example:
Ich lese ein Buch. (I am reading a book).

5. nehmen (to take)

Pronoun Conjugation English

ich nehme I take

du nimmst You take

er / sie / es nimmt He / She / It takes

wir nehmen We take

ihr nehmt You take

sie / Sie nehmen They take / You take (formal)

Example:
Er nimmt den Bus. (He takes the bus).

44
Notice: Most irregular verbs change their stem mainly in the du and er / sie / es
forms.

• sprechen → sprichst, spricht

• fahren → fährst, fährt

• sehen → siehst, sieht

• lesen → liest, liest

• nehmen → nimmst, nimmt

Tips:

• Learn the endings with the pronouns.

• Practice with your own examples – make short sentences using verbs you
like.

45
Objectives:

• Understand and learn how Declarative sentences in German are formed.

• Understand the sentence word order.

• Memorise the V2 rule.

46
Sentence Structure (Declarative Sentences):

A basic German statement follows the pattern: Subject + Verb + Rest of the Sentence.

Subject = Who or what is doing the action?

Verb = The action or state.
Rest of the Sentence = Additional information (object, place, time, etc.).
Example:
Ich lerne Deutsch. (I learn German).

Part Word

Subject Ich

Verb lerne

Rest of the Sentence Deutsch

(The V2 Rule):

In German declarative sentences, the verb always comes in the second

position (V2 rule). The first position can be the subject or any other element,
but the verb does not change its position.

More sentence examples:

• Ich esse Pizza. (I eat Pizza).

• Er liest ein Buch. (He reads a book).

Tips:
• Always finish a declarative sentence with a period (full stop).
• Always remember: no matter what comes first in the sentence, the verb must
stay in second position.

47
Objectives:

• Understand and learn the two main types of questions in German.

• Learn the sentence structure of each question type.

• Use both question forms correctly in daily conversations.

48
German Questions – Two Main Types

German questions are mainly divided into two types:

1. W-Questions
2. Yes/No Questions

1. W-Questions (Fragen mit Fragewort)

These questions begin with a question word and ask for specific information.

Sentence Structure:

Question Word + Verb + Subject + Rest of the Sentence

Explanation:

The question word comes first, and the verb comes in the second position.
Common Question Words:
• Wer – Who

• Was – What

• Wo – Where

• Wann – When

• Warum – Why

• Wie – How

49
Examples:

• Wie heißt du? (What is your name?)

• Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)

• Wann beginnt der Kurs? (When does the course begin?)

• Warum lernst du Deutsch? (Why are you learning German?)

• Was machst du? (What do you do/ What are you doing?)

2. Yes/No Questions (Ja / Nein Fragen)

These questions can be answered with Ja (Yes) or Nein (No).

Sentence Structure:

Verb + Subject + Rest of the Sentence

Explanation:

In this type of question, the verb comes first, followed by the subject.

Examples:

• Kommst du morgen? (Are you coming tomorrow?)

• Sprichst du Deutsch? (Do you speak German?)

• Hast du Zeit? (Do you have time?)

• Wohnt er in Berlin? (Does he live in Berlin?)

50
Short Answers:

• Ja, ich komme. (Yes, I am coming).

• Nein, ich komme nicht. (No, I am not coming).

Quick Comparison:

Question Type Structure Example

Yes/No Verb + Subject

Kommst du morgen?
Question + Rest of the Sentence
Question Word + Verb + Subject
W-Question Wo wohnst du?
+ Rest of the Sentence

Tips:

• First identify whether you need a Yes/No answer or specific information.

• In Yes/No questions, place the verb first.

• In W-questions, place the verb after the question word.

• Always finish Question sentences with a “Question mark - ?”.

• Practice commonly used questions regularly.

51
Objectives:

• Understand and use imperative sentences in German.

• Give orders, instructions, and requests correctly.

52
Aufforderungssätze are sentences used to give orders, instructions, requests,
advice, or invitations.

In English, they are called imperative sentences.

Examples:

• Setz dich. (Sit down).

• Kommen Sie hier. (Come here).

In an Aufforderungssatz, the verb usually comes at the beginning of the

sentence. Such sentences always end with an exclamation mark (!).

Imperative with du (informal singular)

Used when talking to one person you know well (friend, family, child).
How to form:
1. Remove -en from the infinitive
2. Use the verb stem
3. Do not use du

Infinitive du-Form Imperative

Kommen du kommst Komm!

Gehen du gehst Geh!

Lernen du lernst Lern!

53
Examples:

• Komm bitte! (Please come!)

• Geh nach Hause! (Go home!)

• Lern Deutsch! (Learn German!)

Imperative with ihr (informal plural)

Used when talking to more than one person informally.

How to form:

• Use the ihr form of the verb

• Remove ihr

Infinitive ihr-Form Imperative

Kommen ihr kommt Kommt!

Gehen ihr geht Geht!

Lernen ihr lernt Lernt!

Examples:

• Kommt bitte! (Please come!)

• Geht nach Hause! (Go home!)

• Lernt Deutsch! (Learn German!)

54
Imperative with Sie (formal)

Used for polite requests (strangers, elders, teachers).

How to form:

• Verb comes first

Infinitive Sie Form Imperative

Kommen Sie kommen Kommen Sie!

Gehen Sie gehen Gehen Sie!

Lernen Sie lernen Lernen Sie!

• Sie comes after the verb in the imperative.

Examples:

• Kommen Sie hier! (Come here!)

• Gehen Sie nach Hause! (Go home!)

• Lernen Sie Deutsch! (Learn German!)

Grammar Focus:

• Imperative sentences usually start with the verb.

• Subject pronouns (du, ihr) are not used.

• Use Sie for polite/formal situations.

55
Polite Commands with bitte
Adding bitte makes the sentence polite.
Position: after the verb or at the end
Examples:

• Komm bitte! (Please come!)

• Hören Sie bitte zu! (Please listen!)

• Warten Sie einen Moment, bitte! (Please wait a moment!)

Tips:

• Always start with the verb in commands.

• Do not use du and ihr in sentences.

• Use Sie for politeness.

• Add “bitte” to sound friendly.

• Always end an Aufforderungssatz (command sentence) with an exclamation

mark (!).

56
Objectives:

• Understand what modal verbs are in German.

• Learn the sentence structure of modal verbs in statements and questions.

• Use common modal verbs correctly in daily conversations.

57
German Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are verbs that change/ influence the meaning of the main verb.
They express ideas such as ability, permission, obligation, desire, or liking.

In German, the modal verb is conjugated, and the main verb usually stays in the
infinitive form at the end of the sentence.

Modal Verbs

• können – can / to be able to

• müssen – must / have to

• dürfen – may / to be allowed to

• sollen – should / supposed to

• wollen – want to

• mögen – to like

1. Modal Verbs in Statement Sentences (Aussagesatz)

In a statement sentence, the modal verb comes in the second position, and the
main verb goes to the end in infinitive form.

Sentence Structure:

Subject + Modal Verb + Rest of the Sentence + Main Verb (Infinitive)

Examples:

• Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German).

• Wir müssen jeden morgen joggen. (We must jog every morning).

• Ich darf hier parken. (I am allowed to park here).

• Ich will Pizza essen. (I want to eat pizza).

58
2. Modal Verbs in Question Sentences (Fragesatz)

In a question sentence, the modal verb comes in the first position, followed by
the subject. The main verb stays at the end in infinitive form.

Sentence Structure:

Modal Verb + Subject + Rest of the Sentence + Main Verb (Infinitive)

Examples:
• Kannst du Deutsch sprechen? (Can you speak German?)

• Müssen wir jeden morgen joggen? (Do we have to jog every morning?)

• Darf ich hier parken? (Am I allowed to park here?)

• Willst du Pizza essen? (Do you want to eat pizza?)

3. Common Modal Verbs with Examples

Können – can / to be able to

• Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German.)

• Wir können schwimmen. (We can swim.)

• Können Sie Italienisch sprechen? (Can you speak Italian?)

• Können wir hier schwimmen? (Can we swim here?)

59
Müssen – must / have to

• Ich muss lernen. (I have to study.)

• Wir müssen jeden Tag lernen. (We must learn every day.)

• Muss ich lernen? (Do I have to study?)

• Müssen wir jeden Tag lernen? (Do we have to learn every day?)

Dürfen – may / be allowed to

• Ich darf hier parken. (I am allowed to park here.)

• Du darfst nicht laut sprechen. (You are not allowed to speak loudly.)

• Dürfen Sie hier spielen? (Are you all allowed to play here?)

• Dürfen wir ins Kino gehen? (Are we allowed to go to the cinema?)

Sollen – should / supposed to

• Ich soll mein Zimmer aufräumen. (I should clean my room.)

• Du sollst mehr Wasser trinken. (You should drink more water.)

• Sollt ihr die Hausaufgaben machen? (Should you all do your homework?)

• Sollen wir pünktlich kommen? (Should we come on time?)

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Wollen – want to

• Ich will Pizza essen. (I want to eat pizza.)

• Wir wollen nach Deutschland reisen. (We want to travel to Germany.)

• Willst du heute Deutsch lernen? (Do you want to study German today?)

• Will er am Wochenende Fußball spielen? (Does he want to play football on the

weekend?)

Mögen – to like

• Ich mag Schokolade. (I like chocolate.)

• Wir mögen Musik. (We like music.)

• Magst du Pizza? (Do you like Pizza?)

• Mag sie Kaffee? (Does she like coffee?)

Quick Comparison

Sentence
Type Structure Example

Subject + Modal Verb +

Statement Ich muss heute arbeiten.
Rest of the Sentence + Main Verb

Modal Verb + Subject + Muss ich heute

Question
Rest of the Sentence + Main Verb arbeiten?

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Tips:

• In statements, the modal verb stays in the second position.

• In questions, the modal verb comes first.

• The main verb usually stays in infinitive form at the end.

• Practice with simple daily actions like lernen, essen, arbeiten, fahren.

62
Objective:

• Learn and use müssen, dürfen, können (must, may, can) in German
sentences.

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1. Modal Verbs

Müssen – must / have to

• Meaning: Used when something is necessary or required.

Conjugation:

Pronoun Conjugation Example Sentence (German + English)

Ich muss lernen.

ich muss
(I have to study.)

Du musst jeden Tag studieren.

du musst
(You have to study every day.)

Er muss heute arbeiten.

er/sie/es muss
(He has to work today.)

Wir müssen früh aufstehen.

wir müssen
(We have to get up early.)

Ihr müsst gut spielen.

ihr müsst
(You (plural) must play well.)

Sie müssen jetzt gehen.

sie/Sie müssen
(They/You (formal) must leave now.)

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Dürfen – may / to be allowed to

• Meaning: Used to express permission or prohibition.

Conjugation:

Pronoun Conjugation Example Sentence

Ich darf hier parken.

ich darf
(I am allowed to park here.)

Du darfst nicht laut sprechen.

du darfst (You are not allowed to speak loudly.)

Er darf nicht raus gehen.

er/sie/es darf
(He is not allowed to go outside.)

Wir dürfen ins Kino gehen.

wir dürfen
(We are allowed to go to the cinema.)

Ihr dürft jetzt gehen.

ihr dürft
(You (plural) are allowed to leave now.)

Sie dürfen hier spielen.

sie/Sie dürfen (They/You (formal) are allowed to play here.)

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Können – can / to be able to

• Meaning: Used to show ability or possibility.

Conjugation:

Pronoun Conjugation Example Sentence

Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.

ich kann
(I can speak German.)

Du kannst gut singen.

du kannst
(You can sing well.)

Sie kann Klavier spielen.

er/sie/es kann
(She can play the piano.)

Wir können schwimmen.

wir können
(We can swim.)

Ihr könnt die Aufgabe machen.

ihr könnt
(You (plural) can do the task.)

Sie können mit uns kommen.

sie/Sie können
(They/You (formal) can come with us.)

Grammar Focus:
• Müssen: Indicates necessity.

• Dürfen: Expresses permission.

• Können: Shows ability.

66
Objective:

• Learn and use wollen, sollen, mögen (want to, should, like) in German
sentences.

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1. Modal Verbs

Wollen – want to

• Meaning: Used to express a strong wish or intention.

Conjugation:

Pronoun Conjugation Example Sentence

Ich will Pizza essen.

ich will
(I want to eat pizza.)

Du willst Musik hören.

du willst
(You want to listen to music.)

Sie will tanzen.

er/sie/es will
(She wants to dance.)

Wir wollen nach Deutschland reisen.

wir wollen
(We want to travel to Germany.)

Ihr wollt ins Kino gehen.

ihr wollt
(You (plural) want to go to the cinema.)

Sie wollen im Park spielen.

sie/Sie wollen
(They/You (formal) want to play in the park.)

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Sollen – should / supposed to

• Meaning: Used when something is expected, advised, or told to do.

Conjugation:

Pronoun Conjugation Example Sentence

Ich soll mein Zimmer aufräumen.

ich soll
(I should clean my room.)

Du sollst mehr Wasser trinken.

du sollst
(You should drink more water.)

Er soll jeden Tag frühstücken.

er/sie/es soll
(He should eat breakfast every day.)

Wir sollen pünktlich sein.

wir sollen
(We are supposed to be on time.)

Ihr sollt leise sein.

ihr sollt
(You (plural) should be quiet.)

Sie sollen jetzt gehen.

sie/Sie sollen
(They/You (formal) should leave now.)

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Mögen – to like

• Meaning: Used to show general likes or preferences.

Conjugation:

Pronoun Conjugation Example Sentence

Ich mag Schokolade.

ich mag
(I like chocolate.)

Du magst Katzen.
du magst
(You like cats.)

Er mag Sommer.
er/sie/es mag
(He likes summer.)

Wir mögen Musik.

wir mögen
(We like music.)

Ihr mögt die Filme.

ihr mögt
(You (plural) like the movies.)

Sie mögen den Park.

sie/Sie mögen
(They/You (formal) like the park.)

Tips:
1. Use the meaning clue: If the sentence is about wanting, use wollen; if it
is about duty/expectation, use sollen; if it is about liking, use mögen.

2. Use the modal verb rule: The modal verb changes according to the
subject and stays in 2nd position, while the action verb goes to the end.

70
Objectives:

• Understand what separable verbs are.

• Learn how they function in German sentences.

71
1. What Are Separable Verbs?

• In German, some verbs are made of two parts:

o a prefix

o a main verb

• These verbs are called Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) because:

o the prefix separates from the main verb

o and moves to the end of the sentence when used

2. Sentence Structure

General Structure:

Subject + verb (main form) + Rest of the Sentence + prefix (at the end)

This is the key rule when using separable verbs in German.

3. Examples

Aufstehen – to get up

• Prefix: auf

• Main form: stehen

Sentence:

• Ich stehe früh auf. → I get up early.

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Anrufen – to call

• Prefix: an

• Main verb: rufen

Sentence:

• Er ruft seine Mutter an. → He calls his mother.

4. How to Recognize Separable Verbs

Separable verbs usually begin with specific prefixes such as:

• auf-, an-, mit-, aus-, ein-, fern-, zurück-, zu-, her-, vor-, statt-, ab-

These prefixes help identify that the verb will separate in a sentence.

Tips

• Always move the prefix to the end of the sentence.

• Focus on identifying the main form of the verb first.

• Practice by breaking the verb into two parts.

73
Objectives:

• Practice separable verbs using real sentence examples.

• Understand their usage in different contexts.

74
1. Example Sentences

Prefix Example Verb German Sentence English Translation

aufstehen Ich stehe um Sieben I get up at seven

auf-
(to get up) Uhr auf. o’clock.
anrufen
an- Er ruft seine Mutter an. He calls his mother.
(to call)
mitkommen Are you coming
mit- Kommst du mit?
(to come along) along?
ausgehen Wir gehen am Abend We go out in
aus-
(to go out) aus. theevening.
einkaufen Wir kaufen am
ein- We shop on Saturday.
(to shop) Samstag ein.
fernsehen I watch TV in
fern- Ich sehe abends fern.
(to watch tv) theevening.
zurückkommen Er kommt He comes back
zurück-
(to come back) morgen zurück. tomorrow.
zumachen
zu- Bitte mach die Tür zu! Please close the door!
(to close)
herkommen
her- Komm bitte hier! Please come here!
(to come here)
vorstellen
vor- Ich stelle mich vor. I introduce myself.
(to introduce)
stattfinden Das Konzert findet The concert takes
statt-
(to take place) heute statt. place today.
abholen
ab- Ich hole dich ab. I will pick you up.
(to pick up)

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Grammar Focus:

• The main verb changes according to the subject.

• The prefix always moves to the end of the sentence.

• Even in commands and questions, the prefix remains separated.

Usage Notes:

• Separable verbs are very common in daily German.

• They are frequently used in:

o conversations

o instructions

o daily routines

Tips:

• Focus on word order, not just meaning.

• Repeat sentences aloud for better retention.

76
77
Objectives:

• Learn vocabulary related to family members.

• Practice basic sentence structure in German.

78
Deutsch:

• Hallo! Ich heiße Emma Schmidt. Ich komme aus Berlin.

• Ich bin 24 Jahre alt. Ich bin Schülerin.

• Ich habe eine kleine Familie. Mein Vater heißt Thomas Schmidt und
meine Mutter heißt Anna Schmidt.

• Mein Vater ist Lehrer und meine Mutter ist Ärztin.

• Ich habe einen Bruder. Er heißt Max Schmidt. Er ist Lehrer.

• Wir wohnen in einem Haus. Wir sind glücklich. Danke!

English Translation:

• Hello! My name is Emma Schmidt. I come from Berlin.

• I am 24 years old. I am a school student.

• I have a small family. My father’s name is Thomas Schmidt and my

mother’s name is Anna Schmidt.

• My father is a teacher and my mother is a doctor.

• I have a brother. His name is Max Schmidt. He is a teacher.

• We live in a house. We are happy. Thank you!

79
Objectives:

• Learn school-related vocabulary.

• Practice using "sein" (to be) in sentences.

80
Deutsch:

• Ich bin Schülerin. Ich gehe in die Schule.

• Mein Lehrer heißt Herr Albert Müller. Er ist nett.

• Im Klassenzimmer gibt es einen Tisch, eine Tafel und viele Stühle.

• Ich habe ein Heft, einen Stift und ein Buch.

• Ich lerne Deutsch und mache meine Aufgabe.

• Ich mag die Schule. Danke!

English Translation:

• I am a school student. I go to school.

• My teacher’s name is Mr. Müller. He is nice.

• In the classroom, there is a table, a blackboard, and many chairs.

• I have a notebook, a pen, and a book.

• I learn German and do my task/exercise.

• I like the school. Thank you!

81
Objectives:

• Learn vocabulary related to housing and furniture.

• Practice expressing personal preferences and descriptions.

82
Deutsch:

• Hallo! Ich wohne in einem Haus.

• Mein Haus ist klein aber schön.

• Es gibt ein Wohnzimmer, ein Schlafzimmer, ein Badzimmer und eine

Küche.

• Im Wohnzimmer gibt es ein Sofa und einen Tisch.

• In der Küche habe ich einen Kühlschrank und einen Herd.

• Ich mag mein Haus. Danke!

English Translation:

• Hello! I live in a house.

• My apartment is small, but beautiful.

• There is a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen.

• In the living room, there is a sofa and a table.

• In the kitchen, I have a refrigerator and a stove.

• I like my house. Thank you!

83
Objective:

• Learn daily routine-related vocabulary.

• Practice using verbs in the present tense.

84
Deutsch:

• Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.

• Ich frühstücke und trinke Kaffee.

• Ich gehe zur Schule.

• Am Nachmittag mache ich meine Hausaufgaben.

• Am Abend sehe ich fern oder lese ein Buch.

• Ich gehe um 10 Uhr schlafen. Danke!

English Translation:

• I wake up at 7 o’clock.

• I have breakfast and drink coffee.

• I go to school.

• In the afternoon, I do my homework.

• In the evening, I watch TV or read a book.

• I go to sleep at 10 o’clock. Thank you!

85
Objectives:

• Learn how to introduce yourself and express personal information.

• Practice using present tense verbs.

86
Deutsch:

• Hallo! Ich heiße Arya Sirohi.

• Ich bin 24 Jahre alt.

• Ich komme aus Indien.

• Ich wohne in Delhi.

• Ich spreche Englisch, Hindi, Französisch und ein bisschen Deutsch.

• Ich bin Student/Lehrer/Arzt.

• Ich habe viele Hobbys. Ich spiele gern Fußball und höre Musik. Danke!

English Translation:

• Hello! My name is Arya Sirohi.

• I am 24 years old.

• I come from India.

• I live in Delhi.

• I speak English, Hindi, French and a little German.

• I am a student/teacher/doctor.

• I have many hobbies. I like to play football and listen to music. Thank
you!

87