Masculine or Feminine?

How you tell if a German word (i.e. specifically a noun) is masculine or feminine (or a 3rd option: neuter) is a matter of recognizing various noun endings and noun groups that are associated with one gender over the other two.

Rather than attempting to memorize a seemingly random der, die, or das paired with each German noun (there are thousands!!), memorizing a much much shorter list of noun endings and noun groups will be more effective and infinitely less frustrating.

Nominative Vs. Accusative Case

Distinguishing the nominative from accusative cases in German is a matter of three possibilities:

  1. declensions
  2. semantics
  3. word order
‘Möchten’ Conjugations

‘Möchten’ conjugations translate to ‘I would like to, etc.’ The infinitive verb ‘möchten’ (to ‘would like’ in English) is one of the very first German verbs you should learn.

‘Möchten’ is a common German verb that you’ll need to use in various tenses and moods in order to communicate in everyday spoken & written German.

‘Dürfen’ Conjugations

‘Dürfen’ conjugations translate to ‘I may/ have permission to, etc.’ The infinitive verb ‘dürfen’ (‘may’ in English) is one of the very first German verbs you should learn.

‘Dürfen’ is a common German verb that you’ll need to use in various tenses and moods in order to communicate in everyday spoken & written German.

‘Sollen’ Conjugations

‘Sollen’ conjugations translate to ‘I should / should have, etc.’ The infinitive verb ‘sollen’ (‘should’ in English) is one of the very first German verbs you should learn.

‘Sollen’ is a common German verb that you’ll need to use in various tenses and moods in order to communicate in everyday spoken & written German.

‘Schreiben’ Conjugations

‘Schreiben’ conjugations translate to ‘I write / wrote / will write, etc.’ The infinitive verb ‘schreiben’ (‘to write’ in English) is one of the very first German verbs you should learn.

‘Schreiben’ is a common German verb that you’ll need to use in various tenses and moods in order to communicate in everyday spoken & written German.

‘Fahren’ Conjugations

‘Fahren’ conjugations translate to ‘I drive / drove / will drive, etc.’ The infinitive verb ‘fahren’ (‘to drive’ in English) is one of the very first German verbs you should learn.

‘Fahren’ is a common German verb that you’ll need to use in various tenses and moods in order to communicate in everyday spoken & written German.

‘Mögen’ Conjugations

‘Mögen’ conjugations translate to ‘I like/ liked / will like etc.’ The infinitive verb ‘mögen’ (‘to like’ in English) is one of the very first German verbs you should learn.

‘Mögen’ is a common German verb that you’ll need to use in various tenses and moods in order to communicate in everyday spoken & written German.

‘Wollen’ Conjugations

‘Wollen’ conjugations translate to ‘I want / wanted/ will want, etc.’ The infinitive verb ‘wollen’ (‘to want’ in English) is one of the very first German verbs you should learn.

‘Wollen’ is a common German verb that you’ll need to use in various tenses and moods in order to communicate in everyday spoken & written German.

‘Müssen’ Conjugations

‘Müssen’ conjugations translate to ‘I must / need to etc.’ The infinitive verb ‘müssen’ (‘to need to’ in English) is one of the very first German verbs you should learn.

‘Müssen’ is a common German verb that you’ll need to use in various tenses and moods in order to communicate in everyday spoken & written German.