​Chapter 1
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Possessive article "unser", "euer"​
Possessive articles are used to indicate ownership or possession of something. They agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they refer to (= the possessed item). The stem is determined by the possessor, and the ending is determined by the possessed noun.  
Example: Das ist unsere Mutter.  
unser- (we = possessor) + -e (Mutter = possessed noun → feminine, nominative).  
Quick Tip: The ending always follows the same pattern as the definite article of the possessed noun in the given case.
Nominativ
der Tisch → mein Tisch
die Tasche → meine Tasche
Akkusativ
das Buch → dein Buch
die Lampe → seine Lampe
Dativ
dem Stuhl → ihrem Stuhl
der Wohnung → unserer Wohnung
Genitiv
des Kindes → meines Kindes
der Frau → seiner Frau

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Chapter 2
​
Two-Way Prepositions with dative and accusative​
Prepositions describe where something is in relation to something else.
They usually trigger the accusative, dative, or genitive case.
Two-way prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen) can be followed by either the dative or the accusative.
Use the dative when you can ask "Where?" (Wo?)
Use the accusative when you can ask "Where to?" (Wohin?)
Quick Tip: Two-way prepositions show location or movement. Use dative for location and accusative for movement.

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Verbs with Two-Way Prepositions
Some verbs take two-way prepositions, meaning they can be followed by either the accusative (when describing movement) or the dative (when describing a position).
Examples:

• Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. (I put the book on the table.) → Accusative (movement)

• Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book lies on the table.) → Dative (position)

• Er stellt die Vase ins Regal. (He puts the vase on the shelf.) → Accusative (movement)

• Die Vase steht im Regal. (The vase stands on the shelf.) → Dative (position)

Quick Tip: The verbs (to) put = stellen/legen imply an action and movement. They are followed by the accusative.
The verbs (to) stand = stehen, (to) lie = liegen describe a state. They are followed by the dative.
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Die Tasche liegt auf dem Tisch. (Wo? → Dativ)
Ich lege die Tasche auf den Tisch. (Wohin? → Akkusativ)
legen = to put (lying down),
stellen = to put (standing up)
Ich lege das Buch aufs Bett.
Ich stelle die Flasche auf den Tisch.​​
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Chapter 3
​
Word formation nouns: From verb to noun
​Verbs can be transformed into nouns in different ways:
By adding -er → Usually creates a noun referring to a person who performs the action.
Example: fahren → der Fahrer
By adding -ung → Creates a noun that describes the process or result of an action.
Example: ordnen → die Ordnung
By using the infinitive as a noun → The verb itself (in its infinitive form) can function as a noun. These nouns are always neuter.
Example: essen → das Essen
​Quick Tip: In German, professions ending in -er (masculine) are made feminine by adding -in.
Examples:

• der Lehrer → die Lehrerin (teacher)

• der Arzt → die Ärztin (doctor)

• der Ingenieur → die Ingenieurin (engineer)

• der Verkäufer → die Verkäuferin (salesperson)

Why -in?
The -in suffix distinguishes the feminine form, commonly applied to professions ending in -er.
More Examples:

• der Student → die Studentin

• der Chef → die Chefin

Adding -in is the standard way to form the feminine version of professions.
​
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Chapter 4
​​
Adjective declension after indefinite article
Declension refers to the way in which nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and articles change their forms based on their gender, case, and number in a sentence. In German, the form of these words changes depending on whether the noun is in the nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive case, as well as whether it is singular or plural.
Key Concepts of Declension:

• Gender: In German, nouns are classified into three genders:

  • Masculine (der)

  • Feminine (die)

  • Neuter (das)

• Case: There are four cases in German, which determine the role a noun or adjective plays in the sentence:

  • Nominative (subject of the sentence)

  • Accusative (direct object)

  • Dative (indirect object)

  • Genitive (possessive or relationship)

• Number: Words change depending on whether the noun is singular or plural.

Example of Declension in Action:
The word "der Hund" (the dog) in different cases and numbers:

• Nominative singular: der Hund (subject)

• Accusative singular: den Hund (direct object)

• Dative singular: dem Hund (indirect object)

• Genitive singular: des Hundes (possessive)

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Declension helps clarify the grammatical role of words in a sentence and ensures proper agreement between articles, adjectives, and nouns.
Quick Tip: Adjective Declension with Indefinite Articles
In German, adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, case, and number, and the indefinite article ("ein") influences the adjective ending.
Rules for Adjective Declension with Indefinite Articles:

1. Masculine ("ein") → adjective gets the ending -er.
   Example: Ist das ein neuer Pullover? (Pullover = masculine)

2. Feminine ("eine") → adjective gets the ending -e.
   Example: Hast du eine schöne Blume? (Blume = feminine)

3. Neuter ("ein") → adjective gets the ending -es.
   Example: Hab ein schönes Wochenende! (Wochenende = neuter)​

If the article is indefinite and doesn’t indicate gender or case directly, the adjective takes care of it with its ending.

​
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Chapter 5
 
Adjective declension after definite article
Adjectives describe a noun and must agree with it in gender, number, and case. After definite articles (der, die, das), adjective endings follow a simple pattern:
In the nominative and accusative (except masculine accusative), the adjective takes -e.
Examples:
– Der kluge Student lernt viel. (nominative masculine)
– Ich sehe die nette Lehrerin. (accusative feminine)
– Wir mögen das schöne Wetter. (accusative neuter)
In the dative, genitive, and masculine accusative, the adjective takes -en.
Examples:
– Ich spreche mit dem netten Lehrer. (dative masculine)
– Wir helfen der alten Frau. (dative feminine)
– Die Farbe des neuen Autos gefällt mir. (genitive neuter)
– Ich besuche den interessanten Kurs. (accusative masculine)
Quick Tip: After der, die, and das, the adjective usually ends in -e, except in the dative, genitive, and masculine accusative, where it takes -en.

1. Nominative (Subject):

   • der große Hund (the big dog – masculine)

2. Accusative (Direct Object):

   • den großen Hund (the big dog – masculine accusative)

3. Dative (Indirect Object):

   • dem großen Hund (to the big dog – masculine dative)

4. Genitive (Possessive):

   • des großen Hundes (of the big dog – masculine genitive)

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Chapter 6
​​
Temporal prepositions "über", "von...an", "seit" 
Temporal prepositions answer the questions "from when?" or "for how long?"
„von ... an“ and „seit“ are in the dative case.
„über“ is in the accusative case.
Ab wann? (Von wann an?)
von ... an → Indicates the start of an action, usually in the future.
Examples:
– von morgen an – ab morgen
– vom 1. Januar an – ab dem 1. Januar (vom, because "Januar" is masculine)
Wie lange? (Bis wann? Für wie lange?)
a) von ... bis → Shows the period between the start and end.
Example: vom 8. bis zum 10. Juli – vom 8. bis 10. Juli
b) seit → Indicates that something started in the past and is still ongoing.
Example: seit 1985 – seit dem Jahr 1985
c) über → Specifies a certain duration.
Examples:
– über einen Monat – longer than one month (masculine)
– über eine Stunde – longer than one hour (feminine)
– über ein Jahr – longer than one year (neuter)
– über 30 Jahre – longer than 30 years (plural)
Quick Tip:
„von ... an“ → for future events
„seit“ → for events that are still ongoing
„über“ → when a duration is involved
 
Why use "vom" (from the) and "bis zum" (until the)?

• „vom“ is a contraction of „von dem“ and used when referring to a starting point, typically indicating a specific time or event.
  Example: Vom ersten Januar bis zum dritten März. (From the 1st of January until the 3rd of March.)

• „bis zum“ is a contraction of „bis zu dem“ and is used for the end point of an event or time frame.
  Example: Ich arbeite bis zum Feierabend. (I work until the end of the workday.)

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Chapter 7
​​
Subjunctive II: könnte, sollte​ 
The subjunctive II of können – könnte (could) – is used to make suggestions.
The subjunctive II of sollen – sollte (should) – is used to give advice.
In both cases, the modal verb is in the second position, and the main verb is in the infinitive at the end of the sentence.
Examples:
– Wir könnten mal wieder tanzen gehen. (We could go dancing again sometime.)
– Du solltest etwas unternehmen. (You should do something.)
Quick Tip: „Könnte” is used for suggestions, while „sollte” is used for giving advice. In both cases, the modal verb goes in the second position, and the main verb stays in the infinitive at the end.

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Temporal preposition: zwischen  
Zwischen (between) answers the question Wann? (When?) and is used with the dative case. It describes a specific time period.
Examples:
– Er ist zwischen acht und neun Uhr erreichbar. (He's available between 8 and 9 o'clock.)
– Ich bin zwischen dem 8. und 12. Januar in Deutschland. (I am in Germany between January 8th and 12th.)
Quick Tip: „Zwischen” is used to indicate a time period between two points, and always takes the dative case.
​
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Temporal adverbs: Mondays  
Words like morgens, abends, etc., indicate when something usually happens – either a time of day or a specific weekday.
A noun like Montag becomes an adverb by adding -s (montags = every Monday).
Examples:
– Morgens esse ich Müsli. (Every morning, I eat Müsli.)
→ morgens = every morning
– Ich spiele montags immer Tennis. (On Mondays, I always play tennis.)
→ montags = every Monday
Quick Tip: Words ending in -s (montags, mittwochs, abends) indicate regularity.

Chapter 8
 
Conjunctions "weil", "deshalb"
Conjunctions connect sentences and help us express thoughts clearly.
"weil" means because and is used to give a reason. In a sentence with "weil," the verb moves to the end of the subordinate clause.
Example:
– Ich gehe nach Hause, weil ich müde bin. (I am going home because I am tired.)
→ Here, bin (am) is at the end of the subordinate clause.
"deshalb" means therefore or that's why and is used to express a consequence or result. It behaves like an adverb, so the verb stays in the second position of the main clause.
Example:
– Ich bin müde, deshalb gehe ich nach Hause. (I am tired, therefore I am going home.)
→ In this sentence, gehe (go) is in the second position.
Quick Tip: With "weil" the verb moves to the end, with "deshalb" the verb stays in the second position.
​
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Chapter 9
​
Adjective declension after zero article
Adjective declension refers to how adjectives change form based on the noun they describe. When using a null article (no article before the noun), the adjective takes specific endings.
Without an article (null article):
Nominative case: The adjective endings depend on the gender of the noun.

• Masculine: netter Mann (a nice man → nice man)

• Feminine: nette Frau (a nice woman → nice woman)

• Neuter: nettes Kind (a nice child → nice child)

• Plural: nette Kinder (nice children → nice children)

Quick Tip: When there's no article, the adjective takes on the role of the article and carries strong endings. These endings show the gender, number, and case of the noun clearly. Always pay attention to the noun's gender and case to choose the correct ending!

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Chapter 10
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Conjunction "dass"
The conjunction "dass" means "that" or "so that" in English and is used to introduce a subordinate clause. It helps provide more information about the main clause.
Quick Tip: "Dass" always places the verb at the end of the subordinate clause.
Ich weiß, dass du kommst.
(I know that you are coming.)
In this sentence, "dass" introduces the clause "du kommst," which gives us more information about what the speaker knows.

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Chapter 11
 
Reflexive verbs
Reflexive verbs are verbs where the subject and the object are the same. In English, they often translate to "to do something to oneself." In German, reflexive verbs are usually accompanied by reflexive pronouns like mich (myself), dich (yourself), sich (himself/herself/itself), etc.: Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.)
Here, "wasche" is the verb, and mich indicates that the subject (I) is performing the action on itself.
Quick Tip: In the accusative case, use mich/dich/sich. If another object is present, the reflexive pronoun takes the dative case (mir/dir/sich).
Reflexive verbs are fixed expressions in German. For example, sich setzen (to sit down) vs. sitzen (to sit). The reflexive pronoun must always match the subject pronoun. For instance, it should be Ich fühle mich gut (I feel good), not Ich fühle sich gut.

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Chapter 12
​
Conjunction "wenn"
The conjunction "wenn" (if/when) always introduces a subordinate clause. It is used to describe a condition that must be fulfilled for something else to happen. In a sentence with "wenn," the verb in the subordinate clause goes to the end.
"Wenn" can mean "if" when it introduces a condition:
Example: Wenn du lernst, bestehst du die Prüfung. (If you study, you will pass the exam.)
"Wenn" can also mean "whenever" or "when" when referring to repeated events in the past or present:
Example: Wenn es regnet, nehme ich einen Schirm mit. (Whenever it rains, I take an umbrella.)
Quick Tip: Don’t confuse "wenn" with "wann"!
Use "wenn" for repeated actions in the past or for conditions in the present or future.
Use "als" for a single event in the past.
Use "wann" when asking about a specific time or moment.

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​Chapter 13
​​
Conjunction "als"  ​
The conjunction "als" means "when" and is used to refer to a single event in the past. It introduces a subordinate clause, so the verb moves to the end of the clause.
"Als" is used for a one-time event in the past:
Als ich in Berlin war, habe ich das Brandenburger Tor gesehen.
→ (When I was in Berlin, I saw the Brandenburg Gate.)
Als er das hörte, wurde er nervös.
→ (When he heard that, he became nervous.)
Quick Tip: Use "als" only for a specific, one-time event in the past. For repeated or conditional events, use "wenn" instead.
Comparison example:
Als ich 10 Jahre alt war, bekam ich ein Fahrrad.
→ (One time: When I was 10 years old, I got a bike.)
Wenn ich 10 war, bekam ich jedes Jahr ein Fahrrad.
→ (Repeated: When I was 10, I got a bike every year.)

Chapter 14
 
The passive present tense
The passive voice in the present tense is used when the focus is on the action rather than the person performing it. It is formed with the verb "werden" in the present tense + the past participle of the main verb.
Example:
Active: Ich schreibe den Brief. (I write the letter.)
Passive: Der Brief wird geschrieben. (The letter is being written.)
The subject of the active sentence (the doer) is often omitted in the passive because it is unknown or unimportant.
Quick Tip: If you want to emphasise who is performing the action, the active voice is usually better. The passive voice is best when the action itself is more important than the doer. If there is someone performing the action, they are introduced with "von" in the passive voice:
Der Brief wird geschrieben. (The letter is being written.)
Der Brief wird von der Frau geschrieben. (The letter is being written by the woman.)

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Chapter 15
​
Verbs with dative and accusative case
Some German verbs require both a dative object (the recipient) and an accusative object (the thing being acted upon). Common verbs that require both objects include geben (to give), schenken (to gift), zeigen (to show), erklären (to explain), bringen (to bring), and schicken (to send).
Example: Ich schenke der Frau eine Blume. (I gift a flower to the woman)
Quick Tip: Remember that the recipient takes the dative case, and the thing being acted upon takes the accusative case.
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Position of the objects  
The dative object usually comes before the accusative object. If one object is a pronoun, it comes first.
Example:
Er gibt dem Kind den Ball. (He gives the ball to the child)
Er gibt ihn dem Kind. (He gives it to the child)
Quick Tip: When both objects are nouns, remember the dative goes before the accusative. When using pronouns, the pronoun (dative or accusative) comes first.

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Chapter 16
​
Indirect questions  
Indirect questions are used to pose a question without directly asking it.
"Ob" (whether/if) is used for yes/no questions.
Example: Ich würde gerne wissen, ob er morgen kommt. (I would like to know if he is coming tomorrow.)
Here, "ob" introduces the indirect question.
"Wie lange" (how long) is used for questions about duration.
Example: Kannst du mir sagen, wie lange der Film dauert? (Can you tell me how long the movie lasts?)
Quick Tip: For indirect questions, use "ob" for yes/no questions and "wie lange" for questions about duration.
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Local prepositions  
Local prepositions indicate location or direction.
Gegenüber von (opposite of) is used with the dative case.
Example: Das Hotel ist gegenüber von dem Bahnhof. (The hotel is opposite the train station.)
An ... vorbei (past) indicates movement alongside something.
Example: Ich gehe an der Schule vorbei. (I walk past the school.)
Durch means "through" and is used with the accusative case.
Example: Wir gehen durch den Park. (We walk through the park.)
Quick Tip: Use "gegenüber von" with the dative to indicate something is opposite; "an ... vorbei" is also used with the dative, even though it describes movement past something; "durch" is used with the accusative when moving through something.

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Chapter 17
​
Local prepositions: "am/ans Meer"
Local prepositions describe direction (where to?) or location (where?). They determine whether to use the accusative (direction) or the dative (location).
When answering the question "Wohin?" (where to?), use the accusative case.
Example: Ich fahre ans (an + das) Meer. (I am going to the sea.)
When answering the question "Wo?" (where?), use the dative case.
Example: Ich wohne am (an + dem) Meer. (I live at the sea.)
Quick Tip:  For local prepositions, remember:

• Accusative is used for direction (Wohin? – Where to?)

• Dative is used for location (Wo? – Where?)

Just think:
Accusative = motion (going somewhere)
Dative = stationary (being somewhere)

When you see short forms like ins (in + das) or am (an + dem), remember: These combinations only work with das and dem — not with der or die!
So you can say ins Kino or am Fenster, but not an der → that stays separate: an der Wand.

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Chapter 18
​
Verbs with prepositions: "sich interessieren für" 
In German, certain verbs are always paired with specific prepositions, which determine the case of the following noun or pronoun.
Example:

• sich freuen auf (to look forward to) always uses the accusative case with "auf".
  Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub. (I’m looking forward to the vacation.)

• zufrieden sein mit (to be satisfied with) always uses the dative case with "mit".
  Ich bin zufrieden mit meinem Job. (I am satisfied with my job.)

Quick Tip: The preposition a verb takes determines the case.

• Auf = accusative;

• Mit = dative.

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Questions and prepositional adverbs: "Worauf, Worüber, Wofür"
Reflexive verbs with prepositions can form questions and answers using prepositional adverbs.
Examples (things):

• sich freuen auf → Worauf freust du dich? (What are you looking forward to?)
  Ich freue mich darauf. (I’m looking forward to it.)

• sich ärgern über → Worüber ärgerst du dich? (What are you annoyed about?)
  Ich ärgere mich darüber. (I’m annoyed about it.)

• sich interessieren für → Wofür interessierst du dich? (What are you interested in?)
  Ich interessiere mich dafür. (I’m interested in it.)

When referring to people, use question words and personal pronouns instead of prepositional adverbs.
Examples (people):

• sich freuen auf → Auf wen freust du dich? (Who are you looking forward to?)
  Ich freue mich auf ihn/sie. (I’m looking forward to him/her.)

• sich ärgern über → Über wen ärgerst du dich? (Who are you annoyed about?)
  Ich ärgere mich über ihn/sie. (I’m annoyed about him/her.)

• sich interessieren für → Für wen interessierst du dich? (Who are you interested in?)
  Ich interessiere mich für ihn/sie. (I’m interested in him/her.)

Quick Tip: Reflexive verbs with prepositions use prepositional adverbs for things (e.g. darauf, darüber) and personal pronouns for people (e.g. ihn/sie).
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Chapter 19
​
Local prepositions: "Woher? - vom/aus dem​"
"Woher?" (Where from?) is used to ask about the origin or starting point. The prepositions "vom" and "aus dem" are used to indicate the source or place of origin. They are only used with masculine and neuter nouns.

• "vom" (from the) → Used when referring to general locations, open spaces, or points of origin that are not enclosed.
  Example:
  Woher kommst du? (Where are you coming from?)
  Ich komme vom Arzt. (I’m coming from the doctor.)

• "aus dem" (from the) → Used when the action is related to a specific enclosed space or location.
  Example:
  Woher kommst du? (Where are you coming from?)
  Ich komme aus dem Büro. (I’m coming from the office.)

Quick Tip: Remember that "vom" is used for open or general locations, while "aus dem" is used for more specific, enclosed locations like rooms or buildings.

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Chapter 20
 
Past tense modal verbs: "durfte, konnte, ..."
The Präteritum (simple past) form of modal verbs is used to talk about abilities, permissions, or obligations in the past. Here are some examples:

• können (can)
  Example: Ich konnte gestern nicht kommen. (I couldn't come yesterday.)

• dürfen (be allowed to)
  Example: Ich durfte ins Kino gehen. (I was allowed to go to the cinema.)

• müssen (have to)
  Example: Er musste früh aufstehen. (He had to get up early.)

Quick Tip: The Präteritum forms of modal verbs (konnte, durfte, musste) are often used to describe past situations, so make sure to use them for actions that were permitted, possible, or required in the past.

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Chapter 21
​
Question article: "welch- "
"Welch-" is a question word used to ask about specific items or choices. It declines like an adjective based on gender, case, and number.
Example: Welches Buch liest du? (Which book are you reading?)
Sentence Structure: "Welch-" comes before the noun and changes depending on the noun's gender, case, and number.
Quick Tip:

• "Welcher" is used for masculine nouns,

• "Welche" is used for feminine and plural nouns,

• "Welches" is used for neuter nouns.

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Demonstrative pronouns: "dies-, der, das, die"  
Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun and are used to emphasize a person or thing.

• dies- (this/these)
  Example: Diese Schuhe gefallen mir. (I like these shoes.)

• der, die, das (that/those)
  Example: Der da ist mein Freund. (That one there is my friend.)

Sentence Structure: Demonstrative pronouns take the same case, gender, and number as the noun they refer to.
Quick Tip:

• Use dieser/diese/dieses for "this/these" (declined according to gender, case, and number).

• Use der/die/das for "that/those" (also declined according to gender, case, and number).

• Der da or dieser da can emphasize "that one there."

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Verb: "lassen"
"Lassen" has different meanings depending on the context. It is conjugated according to the subject, and the main verb stays in the infinitive form at the end of the sentence.

• Lass uns ins Kino gehen! (Let's go to the cinema.)

• Ich lasse meine Haare schneiden. (I have my hair cut.)

• Er lässt seinen Schlüssel auf dem Tisch. (He leaves his keys on the table.)

Quick Tip: The verb "lassen" is very versatile. It can mean to allow someone to do something, have something done, or simply leave something in a certain place, depending on the context. Always remember that when used with a main verb, the main verb stays in its infinitive form.

Chapter 22
​
Conjunctions: "bis", "seit(dem)"  
"Bis" is used to express a time limit. As a subordinating conjunction, it causes the verb in the subordinate clause to go to the end.
Example:
Warte hier, bis ich zurückkomme. (Wait here until I come back.)
"Seit(dem)" (since/for)
"Seit(dem)" is used to refer to a starting point in the past, continuing to the present. It also introduces a subordinate clause, where the verb moves to the end.
Example:
Ich lebe hier, seitdem ich ein Kind war. (I have lived here since I was a child.)
Quick Tip: Both "bis" and "seit(dem)" are subordinating conjunctions, so remember to place the verb at the end of the subordinate clause!

​Chapter 23
​​
Relative pronouns and relative clauses in the nominative and accusative case
Relativpronomen: These are relative pronouns used to introduce relative clauses, which provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence. The most common relative pronouns in German are der, die, das (for Nominative) and den, die, das (for Accusative).
Nominative: The relative pronoun refers to the subject of the relative clause.
Example:
Das ist der Mann, der hier wohnt. (That is the man who lives here.)
Accusative: The relative pronoun refers to the object of the relative clause.
Example:
Das ist der Film, den ich gesehen habe. (That's the movie that I watched.)
Quick Tip: In relative clauses, the relative pronoun must match the gender, case, and number of the noun it refers to. In the nominative case, use der, die, das, and in the accusative case, use den, die, das.
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Chapter 24
 
Präteritum (Simple Past)  
The Präteritum is used in written German and for telling stories or reports. In spoken German, it mainly appears with modal verbs, sein, haben, and some common verbs.
Regular verbs: stem + -te, -test, -te, -ten, -tet, -ten
Example:
Ich sagte, du sagtest, er sagte, wir sagten, ihr sagtet, sie sagten (I said, you said…)
Irregular verbs: Change their stem and have no ending in the 1st & 3rd person singular.
Example:
Ich ging, du gingst, er ging (I went, you went, he went)
Quick Tip: The Präteritum is often used in narrative or formal contexts, while the present perfect tense is more common in spoken German. Regular verbs follow a clear pattern, while irregular verbs need to be memorized.

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