Language course
Englisch
Which grammar do you really need to know for Sprachbausteine Part 1? Here you find all the important areas with clear examples, plus a tried-and-tested step-by-step strategy and a checklist for learning.
Verbformen (verb forms) are the most important area in Part 1. You have to recognise the right tense and the right form confidently.
Check the signal word in the sentence:
| Signal in the sentence | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| haben / sein | Partizip II (past participle) | Ich habe es gemacht. |
| modal verb | infinitive without zu | Ich muss es machen. |
| versuchen, sich lohnen ... | infinitive with zu | Ich versuche, es zu machen. |
In the Perfekt some verbs need sein instead of haben. These are above all verbs of movement and change:
First look for the auxiliary or modal verb in the sentence. It tells you immediately which form the other verb must have.
Konnektoren (connectors) join sentences. Important is not only the meaning, but also the word order – that is, where the verb stands.
| Meaning | Connectors | Word order |
|---|---|---|
| reason | weil (subordinate clause), denn (main clause) | weil → verb at the end; denn → normal position |
| contrast | aber, sondern; obwohl; trotzdem | aber/sondern → normal; obwohl → verb at the end; trotzdem → verb right after |
| aim | damit, um ... zu | verb at the end |
| condition / time | wenn, als, falls | verb at the end |
Ich freue mich, (...) ich dich endlich wiedersehe. (I am glad ... I finally see you again.)
a) als b) wenn c) wann
Correct: b) wenn. It is about the future, not a one-time event in the past. als and wann do not fit.
Articles, possessive articles and adjectives change their ending according to the case. You have to recognise the case from the sentence.
| Case | Question / signal | Example (der Mann) |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ (nominative) | Wer oder was? (who or what? / subject) | Der Mann kommt. |
| Akkusativ (accusative) | Wen oder was? (whom or what? / object) | Ich sehe den Mann. |
| Dativ (dative) | Wem? (to whom?) / after a dative preposition | Ich danke dem Mann. |
| Genitiv (genitive) | Wessen? (whose?) / after a genitive preposition | das Auto des Mannes |
These prepositions require the Genitiv: trotz, wegen, während, statt. Example: trotz des Regens (despite the rain).
First determine the case, then the ending. Ask: is the word subject, object, or does a preposition stand before it? From that the right form follows.
With prepositions you have to know two things: the right preposition and the right case.
The prepositions an, auf, in, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben, zwischen can take Dativ or Akkusativ:
Am Wochenende fahren wir (...) die Berge. (At the weekend we drive ... the mountains.)
a) in den b) in dem c) im
Correct: a) in den. fahren is a movement (Wohin?), so accusative: in die Berge. With masculine singular it would be in den.
Preposition and article are often contracted: in dem = im, an dem = am, zu dem = zum, zu der = zur, in das = ins.
With two-way prepositions always ask: Wo (place) or Wohin (movement)? This one question decides between Dativ and Akkusativ.
Pay attention to the case: Er hilft mir (he helps me / dative), Er sieht mich (he sees me / accusative).
The relative pronoun follows the reference word (gender, number) and its role in the subordinate clause (case).
Das ist der Kollege, (...) ich oft helfe. (That is the colleague ... I often help.)
a) der b) den c) dem
Correct: c) dem. helfen requires the Dativ: dem ich oft helfe. der (nominative) and den (accusative) do not fit.
When a verb stands with a fixed preposition and the object is a thing, a da-word (da-Wort) is formed:
| Verb + preposition | da-word |
|---|---|
| sich freuen auf | darauf |
| denken an | daran |
| sprechen / erzählen von | davon |
| sich kümmern um | darum |
Always learn verbs together with their preposition. Then you find the right da-word immediately too.
The Konjunktiv II expresses politeness or something unreal. Important: sein and haben have their own forms.
| Modal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| können | ability, possibility |
| müssen | necessity |
| wollen | intention, will |
| möchten | polite wish |
| dürfen | permission |
| sollen | instruction, recommendation |
Ich (...) Sie höflich um Hilfe bitten. (I ... to ask you politely for help.)
a) muss b) möchte c) soll
Correct: b) möchte. möchte fits the polite request. muss (necessity) and soll (instruction) give a different sense here.
If you master these areas confidently, you are well prepared for Part 1:
| Area | This is what you should be able to do |
|---|---|
| Verbformen (verb forms) | Präsens, Präteritum, Perfekt; Partizip II; infinitive with and without zu; haben or sein in the Perfekt |
| Konnektoren (connectors) | weil, denn, obwohl, trotzdem, damit, aber, sondern; als / wenn / wann; right word order |
| Kasus and Deklination (case and declension) | Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ, Genitiv; adjective endings; prepositions with Genitiv |
| Präpositionen (prepositions) | two-way prepositions (Wo/Wohin); contractions (im, am, zum, zur, ins) |
| Pronomen (pronouns) | personal pronouns in the right case; relative pronouns; da-words (darauf, daran, davon) |
| Subjunctive and modal verbs | wäre, hätte, würde; meaning of können, müssen, wollen, möchten, dürfen, sollen |
| Small words | schon, noch, nur, einfach, erst; fixed combinations like noch nicht, nicht mehr, immer noch |
Work through these areas one after another. After each area do a few gap texts and always read the explanation. This way you quickly see where you still have to practise.
Basis for structure and task type: official telc practice test Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1, telc gGmbH, Frankfurt a. M. You find the official practice test free at www.telc.net.
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