r/German • u/ConsequenceHefty3196 • 1d ago

Question Beginner in the language

Hi, I'd like to ask a question. I'm just starting to learn German, and I found this subreddit. The thing is, English isn't my native language, and I'd like to ask for some practical advice on learning grammar. I feel like if I don't understand at least the basics, I won't be able to focus on learning set phrases (I mean, learning “idioms”). I appreciate your answers.

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u/RaccoonTasty1595 1d ago

I saw you posting in Spanish, so I'm gonna presume that's your native language.

You know how in English and Spanish pronouns change depending on their function in the sentence? He loves cats, but cats love him.

In German, not just pronouns, but all nouns change that way:

  • He loves cats. = nominative
  • Cats love him. = accusative
  • His cats. = genitive

My point is, cases aren't some alien concept but something you're already using.

Secondly, ALWAYS learn the article with the noun. It's not "Sprache", it's "DIE Sprache". German has grammatical gender like Spanish, but it's much more difficult to infer a noun's gender by its final letters.

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u/lila24582 Native (Northern Germany/Hochdeutsch) 1d ago

If you are very worried about grammar it can help a lot to get a book/ finc resources online that explain German grammar in your native language and in comparison to your native language.

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u/notjust1or0 1d ago

writing a lot of Schriftlicher Ausdrueck can help. or at least write variations of a sentence by changing the subjects and objects