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German 2

Free German 2 study guide: 10 units with summaries, key ideas, flashcards and 300 practice questions with step-by-step solutions.

Lines up with: High school German 2; college second-semester German.

Units

1. UNIT 01

   The Perfekt with Haben

   The Perfekt (conversational past) is how Germans talk about the past in everyday speech. This unit covers the Perfekt with haben, which most verbs use, and how to build the past participle.
2. UNIT 02

   The Perfekt with Sein

   A smaller but very common group of verbs forms the Perfekt with sein instead of haben. Choosing the right helping verb is one of the most tested skills in second-semester German.
3. UNIT 03

   The Dative Case

   The dative case marks the indirect object, the person who receives something or benefits from an action. It also follows certain verbs and prepositions, so it appears in almost every German sentence beyond the basics.
4. UNIT 04

   Two-Way Prepositions

   Nine German prepositions can take either the accusative or the dative, depending on whether the sentence describes motion toward a place or a location. This unit teaches the rule and the verb pairs that go with it.
5. UNIT 05

   Modal Verbs (Present and Simple Past)

   Modal verbs express ability, permission, obligation, desire and liking. Because Germans use the simple past of modals even in conversation, you need both the present and the past forms.
6. UNIT 06

   Separable and Inseparable Verbs

   German builds many everyday verbs by adding prefixes to a basic verb. Some prefixes split off and move to the end of the clause; others never move. Knowing which is which affects word order, the past participle and pronunciation.
7. UNIT 07

   Adjective Endings

   When an adjective stands before a noun, German gives it an ending that depends on the noun's gender, case and number and on the word that comes before it. Adjective endings are one of the most visible markers of accurate German.
8. UNIT 08

   Subordinate Clauses and Word Order

   German word order follows a few strict rules about where the conjugated verb goes. Mastering verb-second main clauses and verb-final subordinate clauses lets you build longer, connected sentences.
9. UNIT 09

   The Präteritum (Simple Past)

   The Präteritum, or simple past, is the main past tense of written German: stories, news reports and fairy tales use it. In speech it is used mostly with sein, haben, the modals and a handful of common verbs.
10. UNIT 10

    Reflexive Verbs and Daily Life

    Reflexive verbs describe actions people do to themselves, such as washing or getting dressed, and many common expressions of feeling and interest. They are essential for talking about daily routines.