German Grammar Beginners Guide

This book is intended as a reference guide for those who, with or without the help of a teacher, wish to study the essentials of German grammar. It presupposes a modest familiarity with the language such as one might achieve by regular visits to the country or attendance at a beginners’ evening class.

A particular feature of the book is the two-fold approach to the language, linking the communicative skills to the learning of grammar. The Functional grammar consists of 21 units illustrating the various uses to which the language can be put – for example giving instructions or talking about the recent past. The more traditional Reference grammar deals with grammatical structures, such as the imperative or the perfect tense. A few points not covered in the Functional grammar are to be found in the Reference grammar.

The beginner will find that all terms are explained in the Glossary at the back of the book, all structures are illustrated and all examples are translated into English. The more advanced student will be able to progress at a faster pace, either by working through any or all of the units in the Functional grammar as necessary, or by starting at any given point in the Reference grammar and cross-referencing to the relevant Functional section, whenever illustration or further practice is required.

The first page of each unit in the Functional grammar gives details of the language uses and grammatical structures covered in the unit. This means that each unit can be approached from either the functional or the structural perspective. Additionally, the provision of exercises at the end of each unit allows students to test their understanding of the material covered. The final item ‘Ten things to remember’ acts as an aide-memoire to consolidate learning. Coupled with a regular 15 minutes per day of learning grammar and vocabulary items, the student should quickly establish firm linguistic foundations.