Grammar Handbook personal pronoun, it has now become an acceptable and gender-neutral way to refer to someone: “A baseball pitcher must work constantly on their pitch.”. Modern German Grammar. A Practical Guide is an innovative reference grammar designed to be used with modern approaches to teaching and learning German as a foreign language. The book addresses learners’ practical needs by combining a detailed description of the grammatical structures of German with a ‘functional’ approach to language.
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Learning German grammar can be difficult and a good textbook can help you with the fundamentals. With the right references to study, you can learn proper German grammar and increase your fluency in the language.
While you do have many options available, these are among the best German grammar books you can find today. They are technical and thorough in their explanations but also share the information in a way that any German language student can understand.
How to Get the Most Out of Learning German
The material you study from really does matter whenever you're learning a language on your own. You need to enjoy the learning process and that should be strongly supported by a well structured and carefully chosen grammar book or resource. We all want to understand and when we don't, it's frustrating. This can severely limit your ability and desire to learn German.
Make sure you get the right material and the right tutor or online course that provides you with a good learning experience. At the same time, you also want one that leads to visible progress. If you're not experiencing either of those things, it's time to rethink your strategy for learning.
Books and Programs to Avoid
We do not recommend a book that is typically used in language classrooms. Those books are very thin when it comes to grammar explanations and, in some cases, they even explain it in German, which does nothing for an English-speaker's comprehension. These are made for group and partner work but not for self-learners.
Online courses like Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone, or Busuu are good programs from a technical point of view. As a grammar resource, however, they will let you down. Instead, it's best to view them as games and add-ons to your other efforts.
You can also save your money when it comes to books like '501 German verbs.'German conjugations—changing verbs according to person, mood, or tense—is relatively regular or rather easy to learn and to predict once you do learn it. Those books usually collect dust very soon after they're purchased.
Hammer's German Grammar and Usage
Many German students have found 'Hammer's German Grammar and Usage' to be a very valuable resource. It is one of the most comprehensive books you'll find and perfect for anyone who's serious about speaking proper German, no matter your level.
This book has been revised many times over the years. Each edition is updated with the latest German words, including many that have been adapted from English. It's easy to read and understand and will explain everything you need to know about the German grammar's finer details.
Schaum's Outline of German Grammar
Mentioned almost as often as the 'Hammer's,' 'Schaum's Outline of German Grammar' is another excellent resource for successfully learning German. It's an outstanding textbook for fast learning and it supplements almost any German course.
This book gets a couple bonus points for the additional resources it offers. It includes audio files you can download to practice pronunciation and includes over 400 exercises with answer keys so you can test your skills on your own. This can really be valuable in making sure you fully comprehend a lesson and is excellent for self-learners.
Lehr- Und Ubungsbuch Der Deutschen Grammatik
If you're dedicated to mastering German, this is the book you need. It's been a reliable resource for German teachers and native English speakers living in German-speaking countries for years.
Consider this one essential for the advanced student as it will dive deeply into all the grammar details other books leave out. Plus, the version that's written in German will give you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the language, which can really help with proficiency.
The one catch is that you have to purchase the answer key separately or ensure the version you buy comes with it. Without it, you won't be able to check your work.
Canoo
When it comes to an online resource, one of your best options is Canoo.net. This website explains German grammar in the English language which is crucial for beginners, though you can switch to German as you progress.
For students who are not advanced, we don't recommend using a grammar book or resource that explains German grammar solely in German. Grammar is a far too complex matter to be taught in a language that you don't yet fully understand. This is why we prefer resources where you can learn in English and switch to German as you become more comfortable.
Schubert-Verlag-Online
You still need to practice what you've learned, as practicing is the only way you will truly see progress when studying any language and German is no exception.
When you're comfortable with German grammar and want to build off what you learned, turn to a website such as the Schubert-Verlag.
The homepage has many useful exercises sorted according to the language level. You can also explore specific grammatical topics such as 'Adjektiv' or 'Relativ.' Since the topics are listed in German, you need to know the German name of the topic you are planning to practice. Yet, you could also just work your way through that page, taking on one lesson at a time.
Großes Übungsbuch Deutsch
If you want to practice your German grammar and prefer to have a book, this one by the renowned German publisher, Hueber, is an excellent choice.
It's better for practicing your German grammar than for learning it. The book has over 500 exercises that will give you plenty of practice time.
Do you want to learn German or refresh, improve and deepen your existing knowledge? Our free online resource is made for those looking to start out at the very beginning and for advanced learners that want to reach fluency and perfection.
Whether you are a student learning German, a professional seeking work in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, or a person working for a company that has close relationships with these areas, our program is perfect for you. It's also a great way to learn the basic words and phrases needed during a trip, or to gain insight and practice if you simply love German culture and want to speak the language.
We offer innovative tools for learning German. Practice vocabulary, use the most important verb conjugations in all the different tenses, and drill all major grammar topics with our entertaining online exercises.
Why It Makes Sense to Learn German
German Grammar Book Pdf
The German language is the first language of over 100 million people who primarily live in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. These countries are highly developed and economically strong, thus making them attractive locations for work and living.
Many workers come from distressed nations looking to join these active workforces, and since Germanic nations are the international headquarters for many scientific and technological powerhouses, they attract many highly-educated foreign workers.
Even if you aren't planning on packing up and moving to Germany, many international companies work closely with German speakers, and many Germanic companies are international commerce and production leaders.
A Challenge Worth Investing In
The Germans used to say, 'German language, difficult language,' and there is some truth to that. Mastering the grammar requires a lot of effort, time, patience and most importantly, practice. Some of the topics that create problems for English speakers are the four different cases, the three noun genders, the distinct verb forms according to person and tense, and sentence construction.
On the other hand, German and English are more similar than most people think. As Germanic languages, they are closely related. Because of this, you will understand German words and texts quite quickly. If you want to test this theory, take a look at the vocabulary of a Slavic language. As a beginner, you may not recognize a single word.
Getting Started
Advanced German Grammar Pdf Download
As you can see, learning German is a valuable way to connect with our world and improve yourself. Although there are challenges, our program will help you overcome them through entertaining and enjoyable practice sessions. Explore our language tools and get started today!