A2 Grammar Rules Flashcards
N-declension
A certain category of masculine nouns decline in “en” irrespective of case or plurality.
The categories include nationalities, profession, animals.
Nouns with the following endings e, est, ant, ist, it, at, et, ot.
Verbs with dative and accusative objects
Person = dative
Object = accusative
The rule in this instance is that the person comes before the object.
Der Ober bringt den Gästen die Getränke.
However, the positioning differs when the personal pronoun is used - the object comes before the person.
Liest du mir die Übung vor? Ja, ich lese sie dir.
Genitive case
The genitive case applies when there is a quality/characteristic that attaches to a person or object.
masuline der (es) eines (es)
feminine der einer (es)
neutral des (es) eines (es)
plural der
Masculine and neutral follow the same rule, while feminine and plural follow similar rules.
Dative case
The dative case applies when there is an indirect object (recipient of an action) in the sentence.
The recipient of the action essentially derives a benefit from/is affected by the verb.
The question to ask is: WHO IS BEING AFFECTED? I give the pen (accusative) to her (dative). (To whom do I give the book?)
Definite, indefinite, and personal pronouns can appear in the dative form.
Some verbs are also always in the dative form.
Fixed locations are usually in the dative form (Dormant dative).
Accusative case
The accusative case applies to the direct object (receiver of the action) of the sentence.
The direct receiver of the verb is usually expressed in the accusative case.
I see the book. (What do I see? The book)
Definite, indefinite, and personal pronouns can appear in the accusative form.
Some verbs are also always in the accusative form.
Movement are usually in the accusation form (Active accusative).
Adjective endings
Explain the difference between adjectives that precede and follow a noun.
Explain the rules/endings relating to adjectives that precede a noun yet follow a definite article, indefinite article, or are unpreceded.
Adjectives can precede or follow a noun.
The adjective that precedes the noun it’s modifying must conform to the noun’s case, gender, and plurality.
Ich kaufe ein rotes Kleid
- Kleid is neutral accusative
- Ein and Rote must conform to neutral accusative form of Kleid
However, adjectives that follow a definite article, indefinite article, or is unpreceded, have different endings (see page 81 of german book for the endings).
Ich ziehe den gruenen Pullover an.
- Pullover is masculine accusative.
- Der and Gruen must conform to the masculine accusative form.
Kalter Wein - nom.
Kalten Wein - acc.
Kaltem Wein - dat.
Adjectives that simply follow the noun are usually accompanied by the verb “sein”. These do not conform to a special declension.
Subordinating conjunctions (that, whether, when)
These category of words allow the entire clause to be the subject or the indirect object of the main clause.
dass - that
ob - whether
wann - when
was - what
warum - why
welcher - which
wer - whoever
wesen - whose
wem - to whom
wie - as
wo - where
If a sentence has a subordinating conjunction, then the verb moves to the last position in the sentence.
Es ist schade, dass Lena keine Zeit hat
Es ist notwendig, dass du den Wagen in die Werkstatt bringt
Comparatives and superlatives
1) Comparatives (more or less)
Add er to the adjective or adverb. Use als if you want to use than.
Das Wetter ist heute schlechter als gestern.
Das Kind singt schlecht, aber die Mutter singt schlechter.
1.1) Expressing similarity (X is like Y)
so … wie (as … as)
Das Haus ist so klein wie ein Schuppen
ebenso … wie (just as … as)
Das Schlafzimmer ist ebenso gross wie das Wohnzimmer.
2) Superlatives (most or least)
am + sten
In cases where the adjective or adverb ends in s, d, t or z, then it’s + esten; there is an added e
Das Wetter war vorgestern am schlechtesten.
Das Wetter war vorgestern am schönsten.
But when a superlative adjectives (the finest weather), then the rules for adjective and adverb endings apply; “am” is no longer used.
Reflexive pronouns
A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of the verb. e.g. myself, himself.
These can decline in either accusative or dative.
It is always accusative, unless there is person plus another object (accusative object) as part of the sentence, then dative must be used.
Examples:
Wir kaufen uns für nächsten Sommer einen Wohnwagen.
- Here, there is an accusative object. The caravan is the thing that receives that action of the verb - it is the thing thats being bought.
- Therefore, the reflexive pronoun should conform according to the dative case.
Acc. and dat. pronouns essentially decline the same, except for me and you.
- mich vs mir
- dich vs dir
The placement of the reflexive aspect must always follow the verb.
– When to use?
Reflexive pronouns are always required in all contexts where the pronoun relates back to the subject.
Er hat nicht genug Geld bei sich.
– Other uses/meanings
The reflection can also mean “each other” or “one another”
Weil wir im selben Alter sind, haben wir sofort uns geduzt.
– Selbst
A form of reflexive that is used when you want to emphasize a particular point.
Probier diesen Kuchen, ich habe ihn selbst gemacht.
Reflexive verbs
There are a category of verbs that require the use of a reflevixe pronoun.
1) to get + past participle (in english)
to get annoyed sich ärgern
to get dressed sich anziehen
to get excited sich aufregen
2) to be + past participle (in english) the verb or similar adjective describes a state of mind
to be frightened sich fürchten (für)
to be interested sich interessieren (für)
to be pleased sich freuen (über)
3) mental states or actions related to feelings
to be located sich befinden
to apologise sich entschuldigen
to long for sich sehnen (nach)
to imagine sich einbilden (dative)
to thank/express thanks sich bedanken
4) if the subject is “es”
to be, to be about, to be a matter of - sich handeln um
Pronominal Adverbs
A type of adverb that combines characteristics of both adverbs and pronouns.
darüber, darauf, worüber, damit
The pronominal adverb is only used when you are referring to things or processes.
Hast du mit dieser Chance gerechnet? Ja, ich habe damit gerechnet
- mit dieser Chance is the thing you are referring to
- therefore, it becomes damit
If the sentence contains a person/being, then simply use the correct preposition and the correct personal pronoun to identify the person/being
Ärgerts du dich über deinen Freund? Ja, ich ärgere mich über ihn.
- über is the correct preposition
- ihn is the correct personal pronoun to refer to Freund (accusative masc. pronoun)
The placement of prepositions-pronouns/pronom. adverb in questions.
- If there is a person in the question, the rule is preposition + pronoun
- the prounoun, wer, changes ending depending on whether the preposition is accusative, dative or genitive.
- acc. = wen
- dat. = wem
- if there is an object/process in the sentence, the preposition and question word is compounded.
- all questions should start with “wo” + preposition
