This section covers additional grammar topics that are important for the A2 level - but don’t fit neatly into the other categories. These are the grammar details that help learners build confidence and fluency in everyday German.

Relative Clauses – Who, Which, That

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Relative clauses are a way to add extra information to a sentence about a noun.

In English, we use words like “who,” “which,” or “that.” In German, we use relative pronouns like "der, die, das" – and the verb always goes to the end of the clause.

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Examples:

Das ist die Frau, die sehr freundlich ist. → That’s the woman who is very friendly.
Ich suche das Buch, das du empfohlen hast. → I’m looking for the book that you recommended.

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What’s new here?

• The relative pronoun must match the noun it refers to in gender and number.

• It must also take the correct case in the relative clause (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive).

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Relative pronouns (nominative examples):

• der (masc.)

• die (fem.)

• das (neut.)

• die (plural)

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Verb final rule:

• The conjugated verb goes to the end of the relative clause.

Der Mann, der dort steht, ist mein Lehrer. → The man who is standing there is my teacher.

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Tip: Start with simple subject-relative clauses (nominative). Learn relative pronouns step by step, starting with "die" (feminine + plural – easy!).

Separable vs. Inseparable Verbs – Review & Expansion

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In German, many verbs are formed by combining a prefix with a verb. These prefixes can be separable or inseparable.

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Separable verbs:

• The prefix is placed at the end of the clause in the present tense.

• In the perfect tense, the prefix reattaches, and the past participle gets a ge-.

Example (present): Ich stehe jeden Tag um 7 Uhr auf. → I get up at 7 every day.

Example (perfect): Ich bin um 7 Uhr aufgestanden. → I got up at 7.

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Inseparable verbs:

• The prefix stays with the verb.

• These verbs do not get ge- in the past participle.

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Examples:

Ich habe verstanden. → I understood. (verstehen)

Wir haben besucht. → We visited. (besuchen)

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Common separable prefixes: ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, mit-, vor-, weg-, zurück-

Common inseparable prefixes: be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, zer-

Tip: Train your ear! Separable prefixes are stressed when spoken; inseparable prefixes are not.

Perfect Tense with Modal Verbs

Usually, the perfect tense looks like this:

• Ich habe gegessen. → I have eaten.

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But with modal verbs (können, wollen, müssen, etc.), the construction changes:

• We use haben + main verb infinitive + modal verb infinitive

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Examples:

Ich habe arbeiten müssen. → I had to work.

Wir haben gehen wollen. → We wanted to go.

Sie hat helfen können. → She was able to help.

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This structure is typical in spoken German. In writing, some prefer the Präteritum (simple past).

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Tip: Don't panic if it feels confusing at first. You are using three verbs in one sentence! The good news: the modal verbs do not change form – just stay in the infinitive.

The Impersonal “man”

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"man" is used in German to say things in a general way – like "one", "people", or "you" in English.

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Examples:

Man kann hier gut essen. → One/People/You can eat well here.

Man sagt, dass das Wetter besser wird. → People say the weather will improve.

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Grammar note:

• "man" is always singular and uses the 3rd person singular verb form.

• It has no plural or gender.

Tip: Use "man" when you don’t want or need to say who is doing the action – perfect for general rules or public signs.

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Perfect Tense with Modal Verbs

Usually, the perfect tense looks like this:

• Ich habe gegessen. → I have eaten.

But with modal verbs (können, wollen, müssen, etc.), the construction changes:

• We use haben + main verb infinitive + modal verb infinitive

Examples:

Ich habe arbeiten müssen. → I had to work.

Wir haben gehen wollen. → We wanted to go.

Sie hat helfen können. → She was able to help.

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This structure is typical in spoken German. In writing, some prefer the Präteritum (simple past).

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Tip: You are using three verbs in one sentence! The good news: the modal verbs do not change form – just stay in the infinitive.

Modal Particles – doch, mal, halt, eben (soft starter)

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Modal particles are little words that make your German sound more natural. They don’t change the grammar – but they do change the tone.

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Examples:

Komm doch mit! → Come along, will you! (softens the command)

Warte mal kurz. → Wait a sec. (makes it sound casual)

Das ist halt so. → That’s just the way it is.

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Usage tips:

• Modal particles are common in spoken German.

• They usually come right after the verb.

• One particle per sentence is enough for beginners!

Tip: Don’t try to translate them literally. Focus on how they feel in context.

Infinitive Constructions with um … zu / ohne … zu / anstatt … zu

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​These are useful structures to express purpose, contrast, or alternatives. They are common in written and spoken German at A2/B1.

Examples: Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten. → I learn German in order to work in Germany. Er ging, ohne ein Wort zu sagen. → He left without saying a word. Sie trinkt Tee, anstatt Kaffee zu trinken. → She drinks tea instead of drinking coffee.

Grammar note:

• The "zu + infinitive" goes to the end of the clause.

• The main clause and zu-clause are often separated by a comma.

Tip: These are great for writing! Practise making two-part sentences: main clause + purpose/contrast clause.

Temporal Clauses with als, wenn, während, nachdem

These conjunctions describe time relationships between events.

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Als = one completed event in the past:

Als ich klein war, hatte ich ein Kaninchen. → When I was little, I had a rabbit.

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Wenn = repeated actions in the past or present/future:

Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. → If/Whenever it rains, I stay at home.

Während = actions happening at the same time:

Während sie kocht, hört sie Musik. → While she’s cooking, she listens to music.

Nachdem = one thing happens after another:

Nachdem wir gegessen hatten, gingen wir spazieren. → After we had eaten, we went for a walk.

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Grammar note:

• These are subordinate clauses → the verb goes to the end of the clause.

Tip: Use timeline diagrams to practise! Write main clause + time clause combinations with different tenses.

Dative vs. Accusative Objects – Last Gaps

At A1/A2, you learned to recognise nominative (subject), accusative (direct object), and dative (indirect object).

Dative = the receiver (to whom?) Accusative = the object (what?)

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Examples:

Ich schenke meiner Mutter (Dat) eine Blume (Akk). → I give my mother a flower.

Er erklärt dem Kind (Dat) den Plan (Akk). → He explains the plan to the child.

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Typical dative verbs:

• geben – to give

• zeigen – to show

• erklären – to explain

• helfen – to help

• schicken – to send

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Tip: Colour code your practice sentences (e.g. blue = dative, red = accusative). Learn common verb + case patterns.

Complex Subordinators – obwohl, damit, weil + damit

obwohl = although (contrast)

damit = so that, in order that (purpose)

weil = because (reason)

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Examples:

Obwohl er müde ist, geht er ins Fitnessstudio. → Although he is tired, he goes to the gym.

Ich lerne, damit ich die Prüfung bestehe. → I study so that I pass the exam.

Ich gehe früher, weil ich noch einkaufen muss. → I’m leaving earlier because I still have to shop.

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Grammar note:

• All of these introduce subordinate clauses → verb goes to the end.

• In sentences with "damit", the subject often changes.

Tip: Practise combining ideas with connectors – create compound sentences using different conjunctions.

Extended Verb + Preposition List (A2 → B1)

Many German verbs are used with fixed prepositions. These combinations must be memorised, as they don’t follow clear rules.

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Examples:

sich freuen auf (Akk) → to look forward to

sprechen über (Akk) → to talk about

sich interessieren für (Akk) → to be interested in

sich kümmern um (Akk) → to take care of

warten auf (Akk) → to wait for abhängen von (Dat) → to depend on

Tip: Make flashcards with:

• verb

• preposition

• case (Akk/Dat)

• one example sentence

E.g.: sich freuen auf (Akk) → Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende.

Summary – what you should remember

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• Relative clauses: verb goes to the end; match gender and case.

• Separable verbs: ge- prefix added in perfect; inseparable do not take ge-.

• Perfect tense with modal verbs = haben + INF + INF.

• "man" is used for general statements, always 3rd person singular.

• Modal particles make German sound natural – don’t translate them literally.

• um … zu = purpose, ohne … zu = contrast, anstatt … zu = alternative.

• als vs. wenn = past event vs. repeated/future condition.

• Dative + accusative = learn the verb patterns.

• obwohl, weil, damit = important for complex sentences.

• Verbs with prepositions must be learned as fixed pairs – with case!