Basic German Grammar Topics
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German-Gender of Nouns4 Topics
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German-Nominative4 Topics
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German-Numbers4 Topics
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German-Adjectives4 Topics
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German-Personal Pronouns & the Verb sein4 Topics
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German-Regular Verbs in the Present Tense4 Topics
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German-Plural Formation4 Topics
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German-Haben and the Accusative Case4 Topics
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German-Word Order4 Topics
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German-Definite Articles4 Topics
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German-Indefinite Articles4 Topics
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German-Negation5 Topics
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German-Modal Verbs4 Topics
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German-Separable Prefix Verbs4 Topics
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German-Coordinating Conjunctions4 Topics
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German-Konjunktiv I4 Topics
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German-Possessive Pronouns4 Topics
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German Question Words4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect of Regular Verbs4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect of Irregular Verbs4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect of Mixed Verbs4 Topics
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German-Dative Case5 Topics
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German-Two Way Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Dative Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Conditionals4 Topics
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German-Future Tense4 Topics
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German-Dative Verbs4 Topics
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German-Simple Past Tense4 Topics
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German-Imperative4 Topics
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German-Comparative4 Topics
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German-Temporal Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect Separable Prefix Verbs4 Topics
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German-Irregular Verbs4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect Inseparable Prefix Verbs4 Topics
Participants 257
In English and in German, we can differentiate between two kinds of direct questions: “Ja/Nein Fragen” (Yes/No questions), or Ergänzungsfragen (problem questions).
1. Ja/Nein-Fragen/ Entscheidungsfragen
When forming a yes/no question or “decision” question in German, we need to use inverted word order. Inverted word order means that the subject slips behind the word. This happens in English when we ask questions with “to be”, or when we ask questions with modal verbs.
Examples:
Are you tired?
Can you drive me to the airport?
In German, we always use inverted word order for direct questions, even for questions that would require the auxiliary verb “to do”. (e.g. Do you have the keys?”
Examples:
Du hast die Schlüssel. Hast du die Schlüssel?
You have the keys. -> Do you have the keys? (lit: Have you the keys?
Er kann mich anrufen. Kann er mich anrufen?
He can call me. -> Can he call me? (lit: Can he me call?)
Notice how the answer for the above questions can only either be “Ja/yes” or “Nein/no”.
2. Ergänzungsfragen (probe questions)
Ergänzungsfragen, or “proble” questions ask about specific details, either about time, location, duration, purpose, etc. Probe questions require a question word, which will always be placed in position one, followed by the verb and the subject in inverted word order.
The question words “Woher” und “Wohin” are separable. Their suffices “-her” and “-hin” can also be placed at the end of the question sentence:
Examples:
Woher kommst du? -> Wo kommst du her? (Where do you come from?)
Wohin geht sie? -> Wo geht sie hin? (Where is she going?)
Questions that ask about quantity “Wie viel” and “Wie viele” follow a slightly different word order. The noun for which we are asking the quantity is placed before the verb and subject.
Examples:
Wie viel Geld hast du? (How much money do you have?)
Wie viele Hunde hat er? (How many dogs does he have?)