German Essentials For Dummies E-Book

Wendy Foster

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fremdsprachen
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 222

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

An easy-to-follow and hands-on guide for German learners new to the language and for anyone seeking to brush up on the fundamentals

German Essentials For Dummies, 2nd Edition is a quick, concise, and straightforward guide to conversational German. Perfect for anyone who wants to jumpstart their understanding of German, the book is packed with examples, definitions, and handy tips you can start using immediately.

This clear guide explains key German concepts you can use to accelerate your progress in a German class, in self-instruction, or as you move through a language-learning app.

Inside:

• Know the foundations of the German language
• Understand German grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation, and language conventions
• See German conversation examples and definitions

Packed with vocabulary tips, grammar instruction, pronunciation techniques, and more, German Essentials For Dummies, 2nd Edition is a can't-miss guide for German learners, German students, and language app users looking for a learning boost.

Leseprobe

German Essentials For Dummies®

To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “German Essentials For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.

Table of Contents

Cover

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Chapter 1: Laying the Foundations of German

Sounding Like a German: Pronunciation Basics

Crunching the Numbers

Expressing Dates

Telling Time

Identifying Parts of Speech

Building Sentences

Chapter 2: Grasping Gender and Case

Getting a Grip on Word Gender

Cracking the Cases

Pinch-Hitting with Pronouns

Chapter 3: Handling the Present

Classifying Verbs

Selecting Subject Pronouns

Expressing Yourself in the Present Tense

Chapter 4: Modifying with Modal Auxiliary Verbs

A Primer on Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Granting Permission with Dürfen

Expressing Ability with Können

Describing Likes with Mögen

Talking about Preferences with Möchten

Showing Obligation and Necessity with Müssen

Giving Advice with Sollen

Stating Intentions with Wollen

Chapter 5: Asking and Answering Questions; Giving Orders

Formulating Yes/No Questions

Responding to a Yes/No Question

Asking Informational Questions

Providing Information

Giving Commands with the Imperative

Chapter 6: Describing Your Thoughts

Forming Endings on Adjectives

Using Adverbs to Modify Adjectives

Making Comparisons

Chapter 7: Connecting with Prepositions

Looking at the Role of Cases in Prepositions

Tackling Two-Way Prepositions

Mastering Preposition Combinations

Chapter 8: Stepping Back in the Past

Conversing with Present Perfect

Writing with the Simple Past

Chapter 9: Focusing on the Future

Using the Present to Express the Future

Talking about the Future with Werden

Remembering the Right Word Order

Chapter 10: Understanding the Subjunctive

Grasping Present Subjunctive II

Speculating with Past Subjunctive II

Dealing with Subjunctive I Used in Indirect Speech

Chapter 11: Ten Important Verb Distinctions

Bringen and Nehmen: To Bring and to Take

Zahlen and Zählen: To Pay and to Count

Heiß, Kalt, Satt, and Voll: To Feel Hot, Cold, Full, and Drunk

Lernen and Studieren: To Learn, Train, and Study

Machen and Tun: To Make and to Do

Wohnen and Leben: To Reside and to Live

Kennen and Wissen: To Know a Person, Place, and Information

Verbringen, Spendieren, and Ausgeben: To Spend Time and Money

Werden and Bekommen: To Become and to Get

Essen and Fressen: To Eat

Appendix A: Verb Charts

Conjugating Verbs in Present and Simple Past Tenses

Conjugating Verbs in the Present Perfect, Future, and Subjunctive

Weak Verbs

Strong Verbs

Separable-Prefix Verbs

Inseparable-Prefix Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Principal Parts of Verbs

Index

About the Author

Connect with Dummies

End User License Agreement

List of Tables

Chapter 1

TABLE 1-1 Pronouncing Vowels with Umlauts

TABLE 1-2 Pronouncing German Diphthongs

TABLE 1-3 Pronouncing ch, ck, sch, sp, st, and tsch

TABLE 1-4 Cardinal Numbers 1–29

TABLE 1-5 Cardinal Numbers 30–999

TABLE 1-6 Numbers Greater Than 999

TABLE 1-7 Ordinal Numbers

Chapter 2

TABLE 2-1 Common Genders by Noun Ending (or Beginning)

TABLE 2-2 Common Noun Genders by Subject

TABLE 2-3 The Five German Plural Groups

TABLE 2-4 Definite Articles by Case

TABLE 2-5 Endings of Ein by Case

TABLE 2-6 Personal Pronouns

TABLE 2-7 Relative Pronouns

TABLE 2-8 Demonstrative Pronouns

Chapter 3

TABLE 3-1 Subject Pronouns

TABLE 3-2 Reflexive Pronouns

TABLE 3-3 Reflexive Verbs: The Daily Routine

TABLE 3-4 Separable Prefixes and Verb Combinations

TABLE 3-5 Inseparable Prefixes and Verb Combinations

Chapter 4

TABLE 4-1 German Modal Auxiliary Verbs

TABLE 4-2 Uses of Dürfen in Polite Conversation

TABLE 4-3 Uses of Können without a Main Verb

TABLE 4-4 Uses of Können with a Reflexive Verb

Chapter 5

TABLE 5-1 Alternatives for Ja

TABLE 5-2 Endings of Kein

TABLE 5-3 Guidelines for Positioning Nicht

TABLE 5-4 Avoiding Bluntness with Negative Answers

TABLE 5-5 Question Words and Example Questions

TABLE 5-6 The Three German Imperative Forms of You

Chapter 6

TABLE 6-1 Adjective Endings Not Preceded by Der- or Ein- Words

TABLE 6-2 Preceded Adjective Endings

TABLE 6-3 Possessive Adjective Endings and First-Person Examples

TABLE 6-4 Regular Comparison Forms

TABLE 6-5 Irregular Comparison Forms

Chapter 7

TABLE 7-1 Accusative Prepositions

TABLE 7-2 Dative Prepositions

TABLE 7-3 Genitive Prepositions

TABLE 7-4 Two-Way Prepositions

Chapter 8

TABLE 8-1 Past Participles of Regular Weak Verbs

TABLE 8-2 Past Participles of Irregular Weak Verbs

TABLE 8-3 Past Participles of Strong Verbs

TABLE 8-4 Verbs Conjugated with Sein in the Present Perfect

TABLE 8-5 Verbs with Separable Prefixes

TABLE 8-6 Verbs with Inseparable Prefixes

TABLE 8-7 Simple Past of Irregular Verbs Resembling English Verbs

Appendix

TABLE A-1 Present-Tense and Simple-Past-Tense Verb Endings

TABLE A-2 Principal Parts of Verbs

List of Illustrations

Cover

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Begin Reading

Appendix A: Verb Charts

Index

About the Author

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German Essentials For Dummies®, 2ndEdition

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2026 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies.

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Introduction

You may be taking a German course in high school or college, or perhaps you’re interested in refreshing your German because you’re planning to spend some time in German-speaking Europe. Using this practical reference book to help you advance your German is a great means of making measurable progress — fast. How? Well, this book offers you straight talk as it leads you through a review of the key material you need to understand the basic level of German.

This second edition of German Essentials For Dummies provides you with easy access to practical information that helps you communicate successfully in German. You find the basic grammar that you encounter in introductory German courses. You see clearly what you need to know in order to express yourself in spoken and written German. This book guides you down the path to conversing with confidence in the kinds of situations you encounter daily when interacting with German speakers. So get a head start and be ready to speak, write, and travel in Deutschland (in Germany).

About This Book

German Essentials For Dummies gives you straight talk, the nitty-gritty, and just enough detail to see you successfully through any major roadblocks to communicating in German. You find a good balance between important grammar points and useful, communicative language. Without even realizing it, your German vocabulary expands as you cruise through the book.

Each chapter is self-contained, making this a very user-friendly reference. You can go through it in any order you choose, zeroing in on your priorities. This book is practical and accessible, whether you’re looking for a clear overview of what you’ve covered in coursework or to reactivate the German you acquired a while back.

I use a couple conventions in this book to help you spot essential elements in the text:

I

boldface

German words and example sentences. I also

boldface

word endings to make them easier to recognize.

I

italicize

English equivalents that accompany German words and sentences and place the translations in parentheses.

Foolish Assumptions

In writing German Essentials For Dummies, I made the following assumptions about who you are and what you aim to achieve from this book:

You’ve acquired at least a smattering of spoken and written German in high school or at the college level.

You want to do some review so you can pass a test or get to the next level of German by taking a placement exam.

You want to expand your knowledge of German so you feel comfortable in both speaking and writing the language. (Alternatively, you want to dream in German.)

You’re enthusiastic about honing your German skills because you use German in school, you do business with German speakers, or you intend to do some traveling in German-speaking countries.

Icons Used in This Book

Throughout this book, I include icons in the left-hand margin to draw your attention to valuable information. Here’s what each icon means.

Pay attention to these key points. By noticing how German differs from English, you see patterns that show you how to assemble German into meaningful statements.

This icon alerts you to key information that’s worth remembering. Stash this info in your mind because you’ll end up using it again and again.

Useful points that help you absorb German more easily and effectively await you when you see this icon.

Where to Go from Here

Wondering where to start? Try scanning the Table of Contents and selecting a chapter that piques your interest. Or use the index to look up a specific point you’re interested in reading about. Basically, you don’t need to follow the chapters in sequence because each chapter contains a discrete topic, so you can dig into the information in any order you choose. When you’re not sure how to form verb endings, you can refer to the Appendix. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from going ahead in a linear fashion if that’s your style. Just make sure you’re enjoying the process of soaking up the core concepts of German.

Chapter 1 takes you through some fundamentals of German, so you may want to check it out first to make sure you’re familiar with the topics and basic vocabulary covered there. Other than that, feel free to go at your own pace, proceeding in any order you choose. Skip over sections you’re not ready to do yet or don’t need to read right away. Most important, wherever you go in this book, Viel Spaß! (Have a lot of fun!)