B1 · intermediate
20 steps
The B1 path
20 topics are ready at this level, in order. Start at the top and move down — the sequence is not random, every step sits on the one before it. Remaining B1 topics join this path as they are written.
- 01 Verb + preposition Ich warte auf dich warten auf, denken an — the preposition a verb demands, plus wo(r)-/da(r)-. →
- 02 Relativsätze der · den · dem · dessen Relative clauses (Relativsätze) are subordinate clauses that describe a noun and start with a relative pronoun: der, den, dem, dessen. →
- 03 Infinitive with zu zu · um…zu · ohne…zu The infinitive with zu is the German construction where an infinitive is introduced by “zu”: zu, um…zu, ohne…zu. →
- 04 Time conjunctions als · wenn · wann Time conjunctions say when something happens: als, wenn and wann all mean “when”, but each one is used differently. →
- 05 Plusquamperfekt hatte · war + Partizip II The Plusquamperfekt is the German past perfect: it describes an action that was already finished before another past event, built with hatte or war + … →
- 06 Passive werden + Partizip II The German passive is the structure where the subject undergoes the action instead of doing it: werden + Partizip II. →
- 07 Konjunktiv II würde · wäre · hätte Konjunktiv II is the German mood for wishes, hypotheticals and polite requests, built with würde, wäre, hätte and the modal forms (könnte, müsste). →
- 08 Futur I werden + infinitive Futur I is the German future construction: a form of werden plus an infinitive at the end of the clause (Ich werde gehen). →
- 09 Genitiv des · der · wegen · trotz The Genitiv is the German case of possession, and certain prepositions also require it: des Mannes, der Frau, trotz des Regens. →
- 10 Two-part conjunctions entweder…oder · je…desto Two-part conjunctions (zweiteilige Konnektoren) are German connectors built from two halves that complete each other’s meaning: entweder…oder, je…desto. →
- 11 Indirect questions ob · wo · wann · wie Indirect questions are questions asked in a roundabout, embedded way instead of directly: ob, wo, wann, wie. →
- 12 Modals · assumptions muss · soll · will The second meaning of German modal verbs expresses the speaker’s judgment or assumption instead of an obligation or permission: muss, soll, will. →
- 13 es phrases es gibt · es regnet The German little word es is a dummy subject: it fills the subject slot when nobody really does the action (es regnet, es gibt) and stands in for a … →
- 14 lassen leave · have done lassen is a versatile German verb meaning “to leave”, “to let” and “to have something done”, and with sich it means “can be done”. →
- 15 N-declension der Junge · den Jungen The N-Deklination is a group of masculine nouns that add -n or -en in every case except the Nominativ. →
- 16 Nomen-Verb eine Entscheidung treffen Nomen-Verb-Verbindungen are fixed pairs of a noun and a verb that together express a single action (eine Entscheidung treffen = to make a decision). →
- 17 Nominalization -ung · -heit · das Lesen Nominalization in German means forming nouns from verbs and adjectives with the endings -ung, -heit, -keit, -er, or with das + infinitive. →
- 18 Participle adjectives kochend · gekocht In German a verb can be used like an adjective to describe a noun: Partizip I for an action still going on (kochend), Partizip II for a finished one (gekocht). →
- 19 Adjective + preposition stolz auf · zufrieden mit Some German adjectives are fixed to one particular preposition (auf, mit, an and so on) and always appear with it, such as stolz auf or zufrieden mit. →
- 20 Adjectives as nouns der Deutsche · etwas Neues Adjectives as nouns are adjectives written with a capital letter and used like nouns, while still taking adjective endings: der Bekannte, etwas Neues. →
Where to go from here
This page lists the topics in order — the quickest way to the one you need. When a level is done, the next one picks up where it left off.
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