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German Grammar Glossary

English and German Grammar Terms
Explained in Plain English

A
HOW TO USE THIS GLOSSARY: Each grammar term is listed alphabetically in English, along
with its German equivalent (often Latin-based) and in some cases the Germanic term.
Words in ALL CAPS refer to terms that are also defined in this glossary. Noun gender is
indicated by r (der), e (die), or s (das). Most entries have a link to a related lesson or
grammar guide.

German Grammar Glossary

Deutsches Grammatik-Lexikon
English

Deutsch

Explanation

ACCUSATIVE

r Akkusativ
r Wenfall

The DIRECT OBJECT case in

German. > German Cases

ACTIVE VOICE

s Aktiv
e Tatform

As opposed to the PASSIVE, the

VOICE or form of a verb whose
subject is the AGENT or cause of the
verb's action. > Passive Voice

ADJECTIVE

s Adjektiv
s Eigenschaftswort

A word or phrase that modifies or

describes a noun. When a German
adjective precedes a noun, it must
have an ending that agrees in
NUMBER, GENDER and CASE. >
Adjective Endings

ADVERB

s Adverb
s Umstandswort

A word or phrase that modifies a

verb or an adjective, telling how,
where, why, or when. > Adverbs of
Time

AGENT

s Agens

A person or thing (noun) that

performs an action or brings about a
result.

AGREEMENT

e bereinstimmung

When a word agrees with another

in gender, case, person, or some
other category. For instance,
adjectives must agree with nouns in
GENDER and CASE.

ANTECEDENT

s Bezugswort

The noun to which a RELATIVE

PRONOUN refers in a RELATIVE
CLAUSE. > Relative Clauses

APPOSITION

e Apposition
r Beisatz

Placing a word next to or near

another word of the same meaning
or function.

ARTICLE

r Artikel

A word (a/an/the) that indicates

AUXILIARY VERB

s Geschlechtswort

the GENDER of a NOUN. Articles can

be DEFINITE (the) or INDEFINITE
(a/an). > Gender Hints

s Hilfsverb

A verb that "helps" or is used with

another verb, usually haben or sein
in COMPOUND TENSES. > German
Verbs

German Grammar Glossary

English and German Grammar Terms
Explained in Plain English
C
HOW TO USE THIS GLOSSARY: Each grammar term is listed alphabetically in English, along
with its German equivalent (often Latin-based) and in some cases the Germanic term.
Words in ALL CAPS refer to terms that are also defined in this glossary. Noun gender is
indicated by r (der), e (die), or s (das). Most entries have a link to a related lesson or
grammar guide.

German Grammar Glossary

Deutsches Grammatik-Lexikon
English

Deutsch

Explanation

CAPITALIZATION

e Groschreibung

German is the only language that

requires that all nouns be capitalized. >
Capitalization

CARDINAL NUMBER

e Kardinalzahl

A number or amount such as 1, 2, 3;

153 or 5,280. Also see ORDINAL
NUMBERS. > Numbers and Counting

CASE

r Kasus
r Fall

A German noun or pronoun can be in

one of four cases (ACCUSATIVE, DATIVE,
GENITIVE or NOMINATIVE), depending
on its function in a sentence.
PREPOSITIONS and VERBS also govern a
certain case for nouns or pronouns. >
Cases

CLAUSE

r Teilsatz

Part of a sentence that can be

CONDITIONAL, DEPENDENT or RELATIVE,
usually set apart by a comma. Such
clauses can affect the word order of a
sentence. > Word Order 2

COGNATE

urverwandtes Wort

A COGNATE is a word that has the same

original source as a similar word in
another language and is therefore related
to that word. The German word Haus is a
cognate related to the English word
"house." A FALSE COGNATE is a word
that may appear to be a cognate but is
not (e.g., bald or fast in German). >
English-German Cognates

COLLOQUIAL
LANGUAGE

e Umgangssprache

Common, everyday language or

vocabulary, as opposed to elevated or
refined usage. Also see REGISTER.

COMMANDS
(IMPERATIVE)

r Imperativ
e Befehlsform

A verb CONJUGATION used for

indicating commands. German has both
FORMAL and FAMILIAR command forms.
> Command Forms

COMPARISON

e Komparation
e Steigerung

Adjectives and adverbs can be in one of

three comparative forms, as in "good"
(positive), "better" (comparative) or
"best" (superlative). > Comparison

COMPOUND

s Kompositum
e Zusammensetzung

The combining of two or more words or

phrases to form a new word, a verb tense
or a compound sentence (e Satzreihe).

CONDITIONAL

r Konditional
Bedingungs-

A sentence (Bedingungssatz), CLAUSE

or verb form used to express a
conditional situation, often with "if"
(wenn) and "would" (wrde). Also see
the SUBJUNCTIVE. > Subjunctive II

CONJUNCTIONS

Konjunktionen
Bindewrter

There are two types of conjunctions:

COORDINATING and SUBORDINATING.
German conjunctions like aber, oder, und
or weil link words, phrases, clauses or
sentences. > Word Order 1

CONJUGATION

e Konjugation

A VERB used in a sentence must have

certain endings or forms in order to
agree with the SUBJECT. German VERBS
fall into three main conjugation groups:
WEAK, STRONG and MIXED. > German
Verbs

CONTRACTIONS

e Kontraktion

Words or combinations of words that

have been shortened by dropping certain
letters, sounds, or elements. Examples
include "I'm" for "I am" in English, or im
for in dem in German.

COORDINATING
CONJUNCTION

nebenordene
Konjunktion

A CONJUNCTION that joins two

independent and equal CLAUSES or
sentences. The most common German
coordinating conjunctions are aber,
denn, oder, and und. Also see
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION. > Word
Order 1

German Grammar Glossary

English and German Grammar Terms
Explained in Plain English

D
HOW TO USE THIS GLOSSARY: Each grammar term is listed alphabetically in English, along
with its German equivalent (often Latin-based) and in some cases the Germanic term.
Words in ALL CAPS refer to terms that are also defined in this glossary. Noun gender is
indicated by r (der), e (die), or s (das). Most entries have a link to a related lesson or
grammar guide.

German Grammar Glossary

Deutsches Grammatik-Lexikon
English

Deutsch

Explanation

DATIVE CASE

r Dativ
r Wemfall

The INDIRECT OBJECT case in

German. > German Cases

DECLINATION
DECLINE

e Deklination
e Beugung

German NOUNS and PRONOUNS

are declined to reflect the CASE in
which they are being used.
Declination is indicated by different
endings or forms for the noun or
pronoun itself, plus any article, or
adjective used with a noun/pronoun.
Examples of DECLINATION: nom.
der becomes acc. den; nom. ich
becomes dat. mir. > Cases

DEFINITE ARTICLE

bestimmter Artikel

Refers to a particular person or

thing (noun), rather than just any
item - the tree, as opposed to a
tree. German has three basic forms
of the definite article (the): der,
die, das, reflecting the three noun
GENDERS, and DECLINED to agree
with the German CASES. Also see
INDEFINITE ARTICLE, DER- and
DIESER-WORDS. > Gender Hints

DEMONSTRATIVE

Demonstrativhinweisend

ADVERBS, ARTICLES or PRONOUNS

used to point out a particular thing,
as in "that one" or "this one." Also
see DER- and DIESER-WORDS.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

r Nebensatz

A dependent clause is also called a

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE. It is set
apart by a comma and introduced by
a SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION.
> Word Order 2

DER-WORDS

der-Wrter

When DEFINITE ARTICLES are used

as DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS,
they are referred to as der-words.
Example: "Ich will das Buch, nicht
dieses." (I want that book, not this
one.) > Gender & Nouns (L3)

DETERMINER

s Bestimmungswort

A determiner is an ARTICLE
(a/the), DIESER-WORD (this/that) or
EIN-WORD (his/my) that indicates
(determines) the gender and case of
a noun. Determiners are often used
together with ADJECTIVES, and this
affects which endings should be
used for both the determiner and
the adjective. > Adjective Endings

DIACRITIC
DIACRITICAL

diakritisch

Denoting a mark or sign added

above, below, or through a letter to
indicate a change in its
pronunciation compared to the
normal form of that letter. In
German the two-dot DIACRITICAL
mark () placed over a vowel is

called an Umlaut (, , ). Other

diacritical marks include accents (),
the tilde (), the cedilla (), and the
Danish .
DIAERESIS
DIERESIS

e Direse
s Trema
r Umlaut

The two-dot DIACRITICAL mark ()

placed over a vowel to indicate a
certain pronunciation. See Umlaut.

DIALECT

r Dialekt
e Mundart

All German-speakers learn

standard German (Hochdeutsch) in
school, but there are hundreds of
regional, local, and group-related
German dialects in Austria,
Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg,
and other parts of Europe. The
grammar and vocabulary of dialects
often differ greatly from that of
Hochdeutsch. > Dialects

DIERESIS > See DIAERESIS above.

DIESER-WORDS

dieser-Wrter

German dieser-words ("this"words) are a form of DETERMINER

used with nouns and adjectives.
They include alle, dieser, jeder,
jener, and welcher. Example:
"Welches Buch willst du?" (Which
book do you want?) > Gender &
Nouns (L3) and Adjective Endings

DIPHTHONG

r Diphthong

A pair of vowels (eu, ie, etc.)

pronounced as a gliding single vowel
sound, as the oy-sound in "boy" or
"toy" ("eu" in German "euch"). In
some languages a diphthong can
appear in the form of a so-called
ligature: (oe), (ae). > Das Abc

DIRECT OBJECT

r Akkusativ
r Wenfall

A direct object is a noun, pronoun,

or noun phrase that receives the
action of a TRANSITIVE (action)
verb. In German this is called the
accusative case. A basic example
of a direct object is the word "ball"
in the sentence "John hit the ball," in
which "ball" receives the action of
the verb "hit." > Accusative Case

DUDEN

r Duden

A trademarked German grammar

reference work named for Konrad
Duden (1829-1911). "The Duden"
is considered the ultimate authority
on German spelling and grammar. >
Before You Buy a Dictionary

German Grammar Glossary

English and German Grammar Terms
Explained in Plain English

E-F

HOW TO USE THIS GLOSSARY: Each grammar term is listed alphabetically in English, along
with its German equivalent (often Latin-based) and in some cases the Germanic term.
Words in ALL CAPS refer to terms that are also defined in this glossary. Noun gender is
indicated by r (der), e (die), or s (das). Most entries have a link to a related lesson or
grammar guide.

German Grammar Glossary

Deutsches Grammatik-Lexikon
English

Deutsch

Explanation

EIN-WORDS

ein-Wrter

Besides their use as an INDEFINITE

ARTICLE (a/an), ein-words are used as
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. Examples of
ein-words: dein, euer, kein, mein, ihr
- "Hast du dein neues Heft?" (Do you
have your new notebook?) > Gender &
Nouns (L3)

EMPHASIS

e Betonung

Emphasis or stress can be applied to a

syllable within a word, as well as to a
word or word-phrase in a sentence. The
placement (e Stellung) of a word or
phrase at the beginning of the German
sentence often serves to emphasize or
call greater attention that element. >
Word Order 1

ENDING/SUFFIX

e Endung/s Suffix
e Nachsilbe

German word meaning is often

indicated by endings or suffixes. Endings
in German are more important than in
English because they indicate CASE,
GENDER, NUMBER and other meanings.
Their correct use is vital for avoiding
confusion.

FAMILIAR

familir
vertraut

Unlike English, the German forms of

address (you) can be FORMAL or
INFORMAL (familiar). It is important to
learn the correct use of the PERSONAL
PRONOUNS du/ihr (familiar) and Sie
(formal). > Sie und du

FEMININE

s Femininum
weiblich

One of the three German noun

GENDERS. The feminine articles are die
(DEFINITE) and eine (INDEFINITE). >
Gender Hints

FINITE VERB

finites Verb

When a VERB is CONJUGATED, i.e., has

its proper form/endings, it is called a
finite verb - as opposed to the
INFINITIVE. Example: haben (infinitive
of "have"), er hat ("he has," a finite form
of "have"). > Verb Conjugation (L4b)

FIRST PERSON

erste Person

The PERSONAL PRONOUNS are

categorized into three "persons." The first
person singular is "I" (ich). The first
person plural is "we" (wir). > Personal
Pronouns (L2)

FORMAL

formell

FUTURE TENSE

s Futur
e Zukunft

See FAMILAR above. > Sie und du

The German future tense is formed with
werden plus the INFINITIVE of the verb.

But the future tense is used less

frequently in German, since the PRESENT
TENSE can be used instead when an
adverb makes the meaning obvious.
Examples: pres. tense - "Morgen fahren
wir nach Berlin." (Tomorrow we're
driving/we'll drive to Berlin.); future
tense - "Er wird wohl das Geld finden."
(He'll surely find the money.) > Verbs

G-H
HOW TO USE THIS GLOSSARY: Each grammar term is listed alphabetically in English, along with its German
equivalent (often Latin-based) and in some cases the Germanic term. Words in ALL CAPS refer to terms that
are also defined in this glossary. Noun gender is indicated by r (der), e (die), or s (das). Most entries have a
link to a related lesson or grammar guide.

German Grammar Glossary

Deutsches Grammatik-Lexikon
English

Deutsch

Explanation

GENDER

s Genus
s Geschlecht

In addition to the natural gender for persons

and PERSONAL PRONOUNS, German has three
genders for nouns: MASCULINE (der), FEMININE
(die), and NEUTER (das). You must learn the
gender of each noun. > Gender Hints

GENITIVE

s Genitiv
r Wesfall

The POSSESSIVE case in German. The genitive

is most often seen in the form of an ARTICLE in
that case. For instance, des (a form of das or
der) means "of the." > German Cases

GERUND

s Gerundium

In English, a verbal noun ending in -ing

(smoking, talking). In German, the same function
is served by a nominalized INFINITIVE (das
Rauchen, das Sprechen). When the PRESENT
PARTICIPLE is in an adverbial phrase, it is called
der Gerundivum or der Nezessativ in German (zu
lobend).

HELPING VERB

s Hilfsverb

German has three helping or auxiliary verbs:

haben, sein, and werden. Each may be used
with another verb to form a compound tense
(pres. perfect, future, etc.). Also see MODAL
VERB. > German Verbs

HIGH GERMAN
HOCHDEUTSCH

s Bhnendeutsch

The standard German language that all

German-speakers learn in school, no matter
which DIALECT they may speak at home.
Hochdeutsch is used in the German-language
media and is spoken by all educated people in
German Europe.

German Grammar Glossary

English and German Grammar Terms

Explained in Plain English
I-L
HOW TO USE THIS GLOSSARY: Each grammar term is listed alphabetically in English, along
with its German equivalent (often Latin-based) and in some cases the Germanic term.
Words in ALL CAPS refer to terms that are also defined in this glossary. Noun gender is
indicated by r (der), e (die), or s (das). Most entries have a link to a related lesson or
grammar guide.

German Grammar Glossary

Deutsches Grammatik-Lexikon
English

Deutsch

Explanation

IDIOM/IDIOMATIC

s Idiom/idiomatisch

A common expression or phrase whose

meaning should not be taken literally.
Idiomatic expressions, such as "he hit the
nail on the head," express a meaning
that is more colorful and expressive than
a literal phrase would be. An idiom is also
the characteristic dialect or language of a
region or class. > Proverbs and Idioms
and Taking Things Too Literally

IMPERATIVE

r Imperativ
e Befehlsform

The command form of a verb. In

German there are three command forms
for "you" (Kommen Sie mit!, Komm mit!
(du), Kommt mit! (ihr)), plus the "we"
command (Gehen wir!, "Let's go."). >
German Verbs

IMPERFECT/
PRETERITE

s Prteritum
s Imperfekt

The simple (one-word) past tense

(preterite). WEAK VERBS in the preterite
end in -te (sagte, machte), while
STRONG VERBS are STEM-CHANGING
(ging, sprach). Also known as the
NARRATIVE PAST, the preterite is most
often used in written German. In some
languages, the term IMPERFECT also
implies an aspect of uncompleted or
continuing action, while PERFECT implies
an action completed in the past.
However, in German this is usually not a
key consideration. > German Verbs

INDEFINITE ARTICLE

unbestimmter Artikel

Refers to a person or thing (noun) in

general, rather than a particular item - a
tree, as opposed to the tree. German has
two basic forms of the indefinite article
(a/an): ein and eine, reflecting the noun
GENDERS, and DECLINED to agree with
the German CASES. Also see DEFINITE
ARTICLE and EIN-WORDS. > Gender
Hints

INDEFINITE PRONOUN s Indefinitpronomen

unbestimmtes Frwort

A PRONOUN that refers to something or

some things in general. Examples include
irgendein (some), jemand (someone),
mancher (many a), niemand (no one).
Also see ADJECTIVES. > Adjective

Endings
INDEPENDENT
CLAUSE

unabhngiger Satzteil

A clause within a sentence that can

stand on its own or as a complete
sentence by itself.

INDICATIVE

r Indikativ
e Wirlichkeitsform

The normal MOOD of a standard

DECLARATIVE sentence stating a real
fact, as opposed to the less common
SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD (contrary to
reality).

INDIRECT OBJECT

r Dativ
r Wemfall

A NOUN, noun phrase, or PRONOUN

(usually a person) that receives the
DIRECT OBJECT or is the object of a
DATIVE verb. The DATIVE case in
German. Examples: Ich gab ihm das
Buch. ("I gave him the book.)Antworten Sie mir! ("Answer me!) >
German Cases

INFINITIVE

r Infinitiv
Grundform des Zeitworts

The basic, unconjugated form of a

VERB. The "to" form found in the
dictionary (gehen, probieren, sagen,
sein). A CONJUGATED VERB is an
infinitive with the proper endings added
or in put into the form that agrees with
the subject.

INFLECTION

e Flexion
e Beugung

The practice of altering the form of an

ARTICLE, a NOUN, a VERB, or other word
to indicate its CASE (noun
DECLINATION), its GENDER (article), or
its CONJUGATION (verb). Examples: der
> dem, dem Herrn (article/noun); ich
bin (verb).

INFORMAL

informell
vertraut

Unlike English, the German forms of

address (you) can be FORMAL or
INFORMAL. It is important to learn the
correct use of the PERSONAL PRONOUNS
du/ihr (informal/familiar) and Sie
(formal). > Sie und du

INTERJECTION

e Interjektion
s Ausrufewort

An exclamation (a word of surprise,

pain, or comment) inserted into a
sentence without any grammatical
connection. Examples: ach!, autsch!,
haha!, pfui!

INTERROGATIVE

r Interrogativ
e Frageform

A question word, such as an

interrogative pronoun
(Interrogativpronomen, "who?").
Examples: was?, wer?, wie viel?, was
fr ein?

INTRANSITIVE VERB

intransitives Verb
nichtzielendes Zeitwort

A verb that does not require a DIRECT

OBJECT. Examples: Es regnet. (It's
raining.); Sie schlft. (She's sleeping.)

English
LITERARY GERMAN
LIT. REGISTER

Deutsch
literarisches Deutsch

Explanation
German and other languages have
varying levels or REGISTERS that are
appropriate for various business, social,
spoken, or written situations. Linguists

refer to R1, R2, or R3 registers, with

varying stylistic and vocabulary levels
from casual (R1) to formal or literary
(R3). Also see COLLOQUIAL.
LINKING VERB

e Kopula

A VERB that connects a SUBJECT and a

PREDICATE COMPLEMENT. Such verbs
(be, appear, seem, become) can often be
considered as an equal sign, as in Mein
Vater ist Architekt. (My father is an
architect. father = architect)

German Grammar Glossary

English and German Grammar Terms

Explained in Plain English

M-N
HOW TO USE THIS GLOSSARY: Each grammar term is listed alphabetically in English, along with its German
equivalent (often Latin-based) and in some cases the Germanic term. Words in ALL CAPS refer to terms that
are also defined in this glossary. Noun gender is indicated by r (der), e (die), or s (das). Most entries have a
link to a related lesson or grammar guide.

German Grammar Glossary

Deutsches Grammatik-Lexikon
English

Deutsch

Explanation

MAIN CLAUSE

r Hauptsatz

The INDEPENDENT CLAUSE in a COMPOUND

sentence. A clause that can stand alone as a
sentence. Also see DEPENDENT CLAUSE.

MASCULINE

s Maskulinum
mnnlich

One of the three German noun GENDERS. The

masculine articles are der (DEFINITE) and ein
(INDEFINITE). > Gender Hints

MODAL AUXILIARY
MODAL VERB

s Modalverb
s Imperfekt

German modal verbs modify and are used with

other verbs, although they can also stand alone.
The modals include drfen (may, be permitted),
knnen (can, be able), and mssen (must,
have to). More > German Modal Verbs

MOOD

r Modus
e Aussageweise

German has three moods: INDICATIVE,

IMPERATIVE and SUBJUNCTIVE (I & II). >
Subjunctive II

NARRATIVE PAST
PRETERITE

r Prteritum
einfache Vergangenheit

German has two past tense forms, the SIMPLE

PAST (preterite, narrative past) and the
COMPOUND PAST (perfect). There are regional
variations in their use, but there is virtually no
difference in meaning between the two forms. In
general, the narrative past is used more in
writing and in books, magazines and newspapers.
> German Verbs

NEGATION

e Negation
e Verneinung

The use of certain words to deny or negate a

statement or question. Common words of
negation include nicht (not) and kein(e) (none,
not a).

NEUTER

s Neutrum
schlich

One of the three German noun GENDERS. The

neuter articles are das (DEFINITE) and ein
(INDEFINITE). > Gender Hints

NOMINATIVE

r Nominativ
r Werfall

The CASE of the SUBJECT or PREDICATE

COMPLEMENT in a German sentence. > German
Cases

NOUN

s Substantiv
s Hauptwort
s Nomen

A word representing a person, place or thing. In

German, all nouns are CAPITALIZED and have
one of three possible GENDERS. > Gender Hints

NUMBER

r Numerus
e Zahl

The SINGULAR or PLURAL form of a noun,

pronoun, or a verb form used with a noun or
pronoun. > Plural & Singular

German Grammar Glossary

English and German Grammar Terms

Explained in Plain English

O-Pl | Pos-Punc
HOW TO USE THIS GLOSSARY: Each grammar term is listed alphabetically in English, along with its German
equivalent (often Latin-based) and in some cases the Germanic term. Words in ALL CAPS refer to terms that
are also defined in this glossary. Noun gender is indicated by r (der), e (die), or s (das). Most entries have a
link to a related lesson or grammar guide.

German Grammar Glossary

Deutsches Grammatik-Lexikon
English

Deutsch

Explanation

OBJECT/OBJECTIVE

s Objekt
e Ergnzung

A NOUN, noun phrase, or PRONOUN that is the

object of (acted on by) a VERB or a
PREPOSITION. In German an object is in either
the accusative, dative, or genitive CASE.
Examples: Wir finden ihn. (acc.), Gib ihr das
Geld. (dat.), mit meinem Bruder (prep.).

ORDINAL NUMBER

e Ordinalzahl
e Ordnungszahl

A ranked number such as 1st (first), 2nd

(second), 3rd (third) or 15th (fifteenth) indicating
the order of an item. Ordinal numbers in German
end in -te or -ten (der erste, der 1.) and are
used in dates (am vierten Mai, am 4. Mai).
Also see CARDINAL NUMBERS. > Numbers and
Counting

PARTICIPLE

s Partizip

A VERB form that can be either a PRESENT

PARTICIPLE (das Partizip Prsens) or a PAST
PARTICIPLE (das Partizip Perfekt). Examples of
present participles: auffallend, sprechend,
zitternd. Examples of past participles:
gefahren, gemacht, gesprochen.

PARTICLE

e Partikel

A word that can not be DECLINED. Some

particles (aber, denn, ja) are often inserted into
a sentence for emphasis, stylistic reasons, or to
modify the meaning in some way. > Particles

PASSIVE VOICE

s Passiv
e Leideform

As opposed to the ACTIVE, the passive VOICE is

the form of a verb whose subject is the recipient
of (acted on by) the verb's action. Example: Das
Haus wurde gebaut. (The house was built.) >
Passive Voice

PAST (Tense)

e Vergangenheit

German has two past tense forms, the SIMPLE

PAST (preterite, narrative past) and the
COMPOUND PAST (perfect). Also see NARATIVE
PAST. > German Verbs

PAST PARTICIPLE

s Partizip Perfekt

The form of a VERB form used to form the PAST

PERFECT (das Plusquamperfekt), PRESENT
PERFECT (das Perfekt), or the FUTURE PERFECT
TENSE (das Futur II). Examples of past
participles: gefahren, gemacht, gesprochen.
> German Verbs

PAST PERFECT

s Plusquamperfekt
vollendete Vergangenheit

A German COMPOUND PAST TENSE indicating a

past event completed prior to another more
recent past event. > German Verbs

PAST SUBJUNCTIVE

r Konjunktiv II

This German MOOD is better referred to as the

SUBJUNCTIVE II because it has very little to do
with TENSE and more to do with "contrary to
reality" or "wishful thinking" situations. >
Subjunctive II

PERSON

e Person
e Numeri

Verbs are CONJUGATED according to the person

and NUMBER of the SUBJECT. There are three
grammatical PERSONS: first (I, we), second
(you), and third (he, she, it; they), each of which
can also be SINGULAR or PLURAL. Also see
PERSONAL PRONOUN below. > German Verbs

PERSONAL PRONOUN

s Personalpronomen
persnliches Frwort

A PRONOUN that refers to a person (he, they,

I). In German the personal pronouns include:
ich/mich/mir, du/dich/dir, sie/ihr, and
Sie/Ihnen.

PLURAL

r Plural
e Mehrzahl

More than one. German nouns form their plural

forms in at least seven different ways. Verbs
must be CONJUGATED to reflect a SINGULAR or
plural SUBJECT. ADJECTIVES must also be
DECLINED to reflect the singular or plural noun
they modify. Also see NUMBER (Numerus). >
Plural & Singular

MORE > Pos-Punc

German Grammar Glossary

English and German Grammar Terms
Explained in Plain English

O-Pl | Pos-Punc | S-Z

HOW TO USE THIS GLOSSARY: Each grammar term is listed alphabetically in English, along with its German
equivalent (often Latin-based) and in some cases the Germanic term. Words in ALL CAPS refer to terms that
are also defined in this glossary. Noun gender is indicated by r (der), e (die), or s (das). Most entries have a
link to a related lesson or grammar guide.

German Grammar Glossary

Deutsches Grammatik-Lexikon
English

Deutsch

Explanation

> Continued from O-Pl

POSSESSIVE PRONOUN

s Possessivpronomen
Besitz anzeigendes Frwort

An EIN-WORD that indicates to whom

something belongs. Examples: dein (your), mein
(my), sein (his), ihr (her/their), unser (our),
and euer (your). Karl, ich habe deinen Bleistift.
- Meine CDs sind in deinem Auto. Also see
ADJECTIVES. > Adjective Endings

PREDICATE

s Prdikat
r Satzkern
e Satzaussage

The VERB or verbal phrase in a sentence that

asserts something about the SUBJECT - usually
all of the sentence other than the subject and a
PREDICATE COMPLEMENT (see below).

PREDICATE ADJECTIVE

s Prdikats-

A word or phrase in the PREDICATE that is equal

PREDICATE COMPLEMENT
PREDICATE NOMINATIVE

adjektiv
nomen
e Gleichsetzung

to or related to the SUBJECT. A predicate

complement can be an ADJECTIVE/adjective
phrase, a NOUN/noun phrase, or a
PRONOUN/pronoun phrase. Examples: Er ist
mein Bruder. - Er wird alt. Also see LINKING
VERB.

PREFIX

s Prfix
e Vorsilbe

A word, SYLLABLE or group of syllables attached

to the front of a word to create a new word. The
word "prefix" (Vorsilbe) is a good example in
both languages: pre + fix = prefix (vor + Silbe
= Vorsilbe). Other common German prefixes
include: ab-, an-, er-, pro-, un-, and zer-. Verb
prefixes can be SEPARABLE or INSEPARABLE.
Also see ENDING/SUFFIX.

PREPOSITION

e Prposition
s Verhltniswort

A word that connects two or more elements in a

sentence and indicates their relationhip,
direction, location, or function. Common
prepositions in English/German include: in/in,
to/zu, for/fr, and with/mit. German
prepositions fall into four categories, each
governed by a particular CASE or cases:
ACCUSATIVE, DATIVE, dual (acc. or dat.), and
GENITIVE. Examples of prepositional phrases:
auf dem Tisch (on the table), frs Geld (for the
money), im Wasser (in the water), mit seiner
Mutter (with his mother). > Prepositional Pitfalls

PRESENT TENSE

s Prsens
e Gegenwart

The verb TENSE that indicates action or

conditions in the present. However, German can
use the present tense with certain
PREPOSITIONS to refer to events that began in
the PAST and are continuing into the present (the
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE in English).
Example: Er wohnt seit fnf Jahren in Hamburg.
(He has been living in Hamburg for five years.) >
German Verbs

PROGRESSIVE

e Verlaufsform

A VERB TENSE indicating ongoing or continuing

action or conditions, as in the phrase "she is
sleeping" or "we are working." German does not
have a progressive form, using the PRESENT
TENSE plus modifiers to indicate a progressive
condition. Example: Er arbeitet immer noch. =
He is still working. > German Verbs

PRONOUN

s Pronomen
s Frwort

A word that stands for or refers back to a

NOUN. Examples: he, who, which, they, I, you,
himself. Both English and German pronouns fall
into several classes: INTERROGATIVE
PRONOUNS, PERSONAL PRONOUNS, POSSESSIVE
PRONOUNS, RELATIVE PRONOUNS, REFLEXIVE
PRONOUNS, etc. > Personal Pronouns and
Reflexive Verbs

PUNCTUATION

e Interpunktion
e Zeichensetzung

The use of commas, colons, dashes,

exclamation marks, question marks, periods, and
other marks of punctuation to set off or indicate
various elements or meanings of a sentence. >
German Punctuation

MORE > Q-Z