Higher German SQA

This subject is broken down into 25 topics in 2 modules:

  1. Vocabulary, Use of Language, Speaking 13 topics
  2. Grammar 12 topics
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This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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German

Vocabulary, Use of Language, Speaking

Numbers and Quantities

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Numbers and Quantities

Basic Counting

  • Null (0) to Zeigt (10) - These are fundamental numbers for general counting and quantities.
  • Elf (11) to Zwanzig (20) - Building on the basics, knowing up to 20 allows a wider range of counting and numeracy.
  • Notice how numbers 13-19 end with '-zehn'. This will help remember them.
  • Dreißig (30), vierzig (40), ... hundert (100), tausend (1000) - Multiples of ten and larger quantities.

Ordinal Numbers

  • These are 'first', 'second', 'third', etc. and in German they mostly end in '-te' or '-ste'.
  • Exceptions include erste (1st), dritte (3rd) and siebte (7th).

Fractions and Decimals

  • Halb (half), Drittel (third), Viertel (quarter) - Key fractions to know.
  • Komma (point) - used in place of a decimal point.

Everyday Quantities

  • Viel (much/many), wenig (little/a few), mehr (more) - Common words for vague quantities.
  • Genug (enough), zu viel (too much), zu wenig (too little) - Quantities relative to what is needed or desired.

Measurements and Units

  • Meter, Kilometer, etc. - Most units of measurement are the same as in English, but pronounced in the German way.
  • Pfund (pound) for weight and Liter for volume - Be familiar with metric and non-metric units.
  • Grad (degrees), Quadratmeter (square meters) - Used for temperature and area respectively.

Time and Money

  • Uhr (o'clock), halb (half past, but be aware this is used differently to English), Viertel nach/vor (quarter past/to) - Telling the time.
  • Tag, Woche, Monat, Jahr - Days, weeks, months, years.
  • Euro und Cent - Currency units. Be sure to use 'und' instead of 'point' for amounts like €3,50.

Quantity Expressions

  • Ein Paar (a pair), einige (some), viele (many), alle (all) - Expressing unspecified quantities.
  • Jeder (every), hälfte (half), meisten (most) - More expressions to describe quantities.

Remember, always practise pronunciation and contextual use of these vocabulary items to build confidence in speaking.

Course material for German, module Vocabulary, Use of Language, Speaking, topic Numbers and Quantities

German

Grammar

Cases

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Cases

Understanding Cases

  • The German language features four grammatical cases: Nominative, Accusative, Dative, and Genitive.
  • The case of a noun changes the form of the accompanying articles and adjectives in a sentence, depending on the role of the noun.

Nominative Case

  • Used for the subject of a sentence, i.e., the noun performing the action.
  • All German nouns in isolation (i.e., without a context of a sentence) are written in the Nominative case.
  • Example: Der Hund bellt. (The dog barks). 'Der Hund' is in the nominative case.

Accusative Case

  • Used for the direct object of a sentence, i.e., the noun directly receiving the action.
  • Many prepositions in German always take the accusative case: durch, für, gegen, ohne, um.
  • Certain verbs in German always take a direct object in the accusative: sehen (to see), finden (to find), etc.
  • Example: Ich habe den Ball. (I have the ball). 'Den Ball' is in the accusative case.

Dative Case

  • Used for the indirect object of a sentence, i.e., the noun indirectly affected by the action.
  • Most prepositions in German take the dative case: ab, aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu.
  • Certain verbs take a dative object: helfen (to help), danken (to thank), gefallen (to please).
  • Example: Ich gebe dem Hund den Ball. (I give the dog the ball). 'Dem Hund' is in the dative case.

Genitive Case

  • Used to express possession or ownership.
  • While not as common as the other cases in spoken German, it is important in written German, especially in news articles, literature, and formal contexts.
  • Some prepositions take the genitive: während, trotz, statt.
  • Example: Das ist das Buch des Mannes. (That is the man's book). 'Des Mannes' is in the genitive case.

Importance of Cases

  • Understanding the four cases is crucial, as they affect the endings of articles and adjectives.
  • Incorrect usage can change the meaning of your sentence. Thus, correct usage demonstrates a strong grasp of the German language.
  • Cases can also help determine the function of "der words" (articles and so on), adjectives, and pronouns in a sentence.

Tips to Master Cases

  • Regularly refer back to a table of German cases to help you recall the correct endings for different genders and plurals.
  • Pay attention to context clues in sentences to help determine the correct case.
  • Practise using each case in different contexts, writing your own sentences or changing existing sentences to utilise a different case. This helps to strengthen your understanding and usage of the German cases.

Remember, practice is key to mastering German cases!

Course material for German, module Grammar, topic Cases

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