Learning German can be a rewarding and intellectually stimulating endeavor. For those who have moved beyond the basics and intermediate stages, the advanced level offers an opportunity to refine your skills and achieve a higher degree of fluency. This guide will cover some of the more intricate aspects of advanced German grammar, providing detailed explanations and examples to help you master the language.
Complex Sentence Structures
One of the hallmarks of advanced German is the ability to construct complex sentences. This often involves the use of multiple clauses, each with its own subject and predicate. Understanding how to properly connect these clauses is crucial.
Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses (Nebensätze) are dependent on a main clause (Hauptsatz) and cannot stand alone. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “weil” (because), “dass” (that), and “wenn” (if/when).
Example:
– Main clause: “Ich gehe ins Kino.” (I am going to the cinema.)
– Subordinate clause: “weil ich den neuen Film sehen möchte.” (because I want to see the new movie.)
Combined:
– “Ich gehe ins Kino, weil ich den neuen Film sehen möchte.” (I am going to the cinema because I want to see the new movie.)
In subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb is placed at the end of the clause. This rule is crucial for maintaining grammatical correctness.
Relative Clauses
Relative clauses (Relativsätze) provide additional information about a noun in the main clause and are introduced by relative pronouns such as “der,” “die,” “das,” “welcher,” and “welches.”
Example:
– Main clause: “Das Buch ist interessant.” (The book is interesting.)
– Relative clause: “das ich gestern gekauft habe.” (that I bought yesterday.)
Combined:
– “Das Buch, das ich gestern gekauft habe, ist interessant.” (The book that I bought yesterday is interesting.)
Note the positioning of the verb in the relative clause and the use of the relative pronoun that agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to.
Concessive Clauses
Concessive clauses (Konzessivsätze) express a contrast or concession and are introduced by conjunctions like “obwohl” (although) and “trotzdem” (despite).
Example:
– Main clause: “Er ging spazieren.” (He went for a walk.)
– Concessive clause: “obwohl es regnete.” (although it was raining.)
Combined:
– “Er ging spazieren, obwohl es regnete.” (He went for a walk although it was raining.)
The Subjunctive Mood (Konjunktiv)
The subjunctive mood in German (Konjunktiv) is used to express wishes, hypothetical situations, and indirect speech. There are two forms: Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II.
Konjunktiv I
Konjunktiv I is primarily used in indirect speech. It often corresponds to the present tense.
Example:
– Direct speech: “Er sagt, ‘Ich bin müde.'” (He says, ‘I am tired.’)
– Indirect speech: “Er sagt, er sei müde.” (He says he is tired.)
Notice the change from “ist” to “sei” in the indirect speech.
Konjunktiv II
Konjunktiv II is used for hypothetical situations and polite requests. It often corresponds to the past tense or conditional mood in English.
Example:
– Hypothetical situation: “Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich eine Weltreise machen.” (If I were rich, I would travel around the world.)
Konjunktiv II can also be formed using the auxiliary verb “würde” followed by the infinitive.
Example:
– “Ich würde das machen, wenn ich Zeit hätte.” (I would do that if I had time.)
Advanced Word Order
German word order can be particularly challenging at an advanced level, especially in subordinate clauses and complex sentences.
Inversion
Inversion occurs when the verb comes before the subject, typically in questions, conditional sentences, and after certain adverbs.
Example:
– Statement: “Du hast das Buch gelesen.” (You read the book.)
– Question: “Hast du das Buch gelesen?” (Did you read the book?)
– Conditional: “Hätte ich das gewusst, wäre ich früher gekommen.” (Had I known that, I would have come earlier.)
– After an adverb: “Plötzlich stand er auf.” (Suddenly, he stood up.)
Verb Placement in Subordinate Clauses
In subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb is placed at the end.
Example:
– “Ich weiß, dass er das Buch gelesen hat.” (I know that he has read the book.)
If there are multiple verbs, the auxiliary verb comes last.
Example:
– “Ich weiß, dass er das Buch hätte lesen sollen.” (I know that he should have read the book.)
Separable and Inseparable Prefixes
Verbs with separable prefixes (trennbare Verben) split the prefix from the verb in the main clause but keep it attached in subordinate clauses and infinitive forms.
Example:
– Main clause: “Er steht jeden Morgen früh auf.” (He gets up early every morning.)
– Subordinate clause: “Er sagte, dass er jeden Morgen früh aufsteht.” (He said that he gets up early every morning.)
Inseparable prefixes (untrennbare Verben) always stay attached to the verb.
Example:
– Main clause: “Er versteht die Aufgabe.” (He understands the task.)
– Subordinate clause: “Er sagte, dass er die Aufgabe versteht.” (He said that he understands the task.)
Advanced Use of Articles and Adjectives
Mastering the use of articles and adjectives is essential for fluency in German.
Definite and Indefinite Articles
German articles must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. This can be particularly challenging with complex sentences.
Example:
– Nominative: “Der kleine Hund spielt.” (The small dog is playing.)
– Accusative: “Ich sehe den kleinen Hund.” (I see the small dog.)
– Dative: “Ich gebe dem kleinen Hund einen Knochen.” (I give the small dog a bone.)
– Genitive: “Das ist das Spielzeug des kleinen Hundes.” (That is the small dog’s toy.)
Adjective Endings
Adjective endings in German also change based on the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe, as well as whether the article is definite, indefinite, or absent.
Example:
– Definite article: “Der große Mann” (The tall man), “Die große Frau” (The tall woman), “Das große Kind” (The tall child)
– Indefinite article: “Ein großer Mann” (A tall man), “Eine große Frau” (A tall woman), “Ein großes Kind” (A tall child)
– No article: “Großer Mann” (Tall man), “Große Frau” (Tall woman), “Großes Kind” (Tall child)
The endings change in the accusative, dative, and genitive cases, making it essential to memorize the patterns.
Advanced Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions
At an advanced level, expanding your vocabulary and understanding idiomatic expressions is crucial for sounding natural and fluent.
Compound Words
German is famous for its compound words (Komposita), which combine multiple nouns into a single, longer word.
Example:
– “Krankenhaus” (hospital) combines “krank” (sick) and “Haus” (house).
– “Lebensmittelgeschäft” (grocery store) combines “Lebensmittel” (food) and “Geschäft” (store).
Understanding how these compounds are formed can help you deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words.
Idiomatic Expressions
Idiomatic expressions (Redewendungen) are phrases that don’t translate literally but are commonly used in everyday speech.
Example:
– “Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.” (I don’t understand anything.) Literally: “I understand only train station.”
– “Da liegt der Hund begraben.” (That’s the heart of the matter.) Literally: “That’s where the dog is buried.”
Learning these expressions can make your German sound more natural and help you understand native speakers better.
Practice and Consistency
The key to mastering advanced German grammar is practice and consistency. Here are some tips to help you along the way:
Reading and Listening
Consume a variety of German media, such as books, newspapers, podcasts, and films. This will expose you to different styles of language and help reinforce grammatical structures.
Writing and Speaking
Practice writing essays, emails, or even keeping a journal in German. Speak as much as possible, whether with language partners, tutors, or even to yourself. Recording yourself and listening back can also be incredibly helpful.
Grammar Exercises
Regularly complete advanced grammar exercises to reinforce your understanding. There are many resources available online and in textbooks specifically designed for advanced learners.
Feedback and Correction
Seek feedback from native speakers or advanced learners. They can point out mistakes you might not notice and help you improve.
Conclusion
Advanced German grammar can be complex and challenging, but with dedication and consistent practice, you can master it. By understanding complex sentence structures, using the subjunctive mood correctly, mastering word order, and expanding your vocabulary and idiomatic expressions, you’ll be well on your way to achieving fluency. Remember, the journey to mastering a language is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep practicing, stay curious, and enjoy the process of learning and improving your German.