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Kieran Ball

The whole of the German language can be broken down into several different structures. If you take any sentence from any German book or any utterance, you will see that it fits into one of these structures.

I remember one weekend, I was writing some lessons for the week ahead, when I suddenly realised this. I noticed that there are a certain number of structures in German, and that every sentence follows one of these structures. I spent the rest of the weekend working out all the structures, and I wrote them all down.

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The whole of the German language can be broken down into several different structures. If you take any sentence from any German book or any utterance, you will see that it fits into one of these structures.

I remember one weekend, I was writing some lessons for the week ahead, when I suddenly realised this. I noticed that there are a certain number of structures in German, and that every sentence follows one of these structures. I spent the rest of the weekend working out all the structures, and I wrote them all down.

Every structure you learn gives you the ability to say a huge amount. Some structures are used more than others, but all the structures together make up the whole German language. Once you’ve learnt how a structure works, all you have to do is insert different words into the slots and you have a sentence.

This course introduces you to structure 2. I’ve limited each course to one structure so as not to overburden you. By looking at just one structure at a time, you can really get to grips with it and understand its usage. It will help to clarify the German language and make it more like a reflex rather than something you have to think about as is it were a maths equation.

Each structure can also help to propel you to fluency; if you can manipulate the structures at high speed, you can start to say anything you want without having to thing about how to say it.

This course contains plenty of practice opportunities for you to revise what you’ve learnt and it also contains some hints and tips on how best to learn and memorise the structures and the vocabulary that goes with them. You’ll learn how to make questions out of structure 2, how to make statements and how to turn positive statements negative.

The Building Structures in German series is set out using the same learning techniques as the 3 Minute German courses. You can work through the course in three minute chunks, enabling anybody to learn German, no matter how little time you have.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn about the second structure in the german language.
  • Get to grips with how easy it is to manipulate this structure and say what you want with it.
  • Get plenty of opportunity to practise using this structure.
  • Learn how to form questions and statements in structure 2 in both the positive and negative.
  • Complete lessons in 3 minute chunks – perfect for the busy learner.
  • Build your own sentences without memorisation.
  • Get more familiar with the present tense in german.
  • Speak from the very first lesson.

Syllabus

Introduction
Lesson 2b
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Breaks down the German language into manageable structures, which is helpful for learners who prefer a systematic approach
Focuses on a single structure at a time, allowing learners to master each concept before moving on to the next
Offers practice opportunities to revise what you’ve learned, reinforcing understanding and retention of the material
Teaches how to form questions and statements, which are essential skills for basic communication in German
Is part of a series, suggesting a comprehensive approach to learning German structures, which may benefit learners seeking a complete curriculum
Assumes familiarity with the present tense, so learners without this knowledge may need to acquire it beforehand

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Reviews summary

Structure 2: effective german sentence building

According to learners, this course on Building Structures in German - Structure 2 is based on a highly effective structure-based approach that makes German grammar less intimidating. Students found the explanation of Structure 2 to be very clear. The unique format of 3-minute lessons is widely appreciated for being easy to fit into a busy schedule and keeping learners engaged. Many highlighted the plenty of practice opportunities provided, which helps solidify understanding and build confident speaking skills. A common point noted is that while excellent, the course has a narrow focus and is best utilized as part of a series rather than a standalone resource, and requires supplemental vocabulary study.
Reinforces learning and builds confidence.
"The practice exercises are very helpful. I feel much more confident speaking already."
"Plenty of practice provided, which is great."
"Practicing forming questions and negatives in this structure was particularly useful. Highly practical."
"Lots of practice opportunities to make sure you really understand and can use the structure."
Perfect for busy schedules and retention.
"The 3-minute lessons are perfect for squeezing learning into my busy day."
"The lessons are indeed short and digestible."
"The unique format of 3-minute lessons is widely appreciated for being easy to fit into a busy schedule..."
"The short lessons are good for retention."
Breaks down German grammar effectively.
"This course is absolutely fantastic! I struggled with German sentence structure for ages, but breaking it down into specific structures like this... is revolutionary."
"Brilliant method! I love the structure-based approach. It makes German grammar much less intimidating."
"The concept of structures is interesting..."
"This course is perfect for learning German sentence structures. The concept is simple but highly effective. I've been trying to learn German for a while, and this approach finally clicked for me."
Focused scope, best used with other courses.
"...this course feels a bit too narrow. It *only* covers Structure 2. As a standalone course, it feels incomplete, like just one chapter of a book."
"It serves its purpose well, but you absolutely need to be following the whole series or have another main resource."
"My only critique is that you really need Structure 1 knowledge to fully appreciate this one, or at least be taking the courses sequentially."
"As others have mentioned, this is clearly part of a series and not a standalone German course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Building Structures in German - Structure 2 with these activities:
Review Basic German Grammar
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental German grammar concepts before diving into specific sentence structures. This will make it easier to grasp the nuances of Structure 2.
Show steps
  • Review noun cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive).
  • Practice conjugating common verbs in the present tense.
  • Familiarize yourself with basic sentence order.
Read 'German Quickly: A Grammar Book for Adult Learners'
Review a grammar book designed for adult learners to reinforce basic concepts. This will help solidify your foundation before tackling more complex structures.
Show steps
  • Focus on chapters covering basic sentence structure and verb conjugation.
  • Work through the exercises provided in the book.
  • Relate the concepts back to the lessons in the course.
Sentence Building Practice
Practice constructing sentences using Structure 2 to solidify your understanding. This will help you internalize the structure and use it more fluently.
Show steps
  • Choose a set of vocabulary words from the course.
  • Create at least ten sentences using Structure 2 with those words.
  • Vary the sentences by making them questions, statements, and negative statements.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Practice with a Language Partner
Practice using Structure 2 in conversation with a language partner. This will help you improve your fluency and confidence in using the structure.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner who is also learning German.
  • Prepare a list of questions and topics to discuss using Structure 2.
  • Take turns asking and answering questions, focusing on using the structure correctly.
Read Hammer's German Grammar and Usage
Consult a comprehensive German grammar book to deepen your understanding of the grammatical rules underlying Structure 2. This will provide a broader context for the specific structure taught in the course.
Show steps
  • Identify the sections related to sentence structure and word order.
  • Read the relevant sections and take notes on key concepts.
  • Compare the information in the book to the lessons in the course.
Write a Short Story Using Structure 2
Write a short story using primarily Structure 2 to reinforce your understanding and creative application of the structure. This will help you see how the structure can be used in a more complex and engaging way.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm a simple plot for your story.
  • Write a first draft, focusing on using Structure 2 as much as possible.
  • Revise your story, paying attention to grammar and clarity.

Career center

Learners who complete Building Structures in German - Structure 2 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Foreign Language Instructor
A foreign language instructor works in a variety of educational settings, teaching foreign language skills to students of all ages. Anyone seeking a career as a foreign language instructor, particularly in German, may find this course useful. The course breaks down German into structures, using structure two as its starting point. This approach, which focuses on understanding and manipulating structures, can be valuable to instructors. This course will help you teach students to build their own sentences without memorization. The insights into forming questions and statements in the positive and negative are also critical aspects of language learning and instruction. This approach helps to build a solid foundation in basic German.
Language Teacher
A language teacher educates students in the grammar, vocabulary, and culture of a foreign language. This course is helpful for anyone who would like to become a German language teacher. By deconstructing the German language into distinct structures, the course provides an excellent framework for instruction. The course provides the tools to construct a wide variety of German sentences. Because the course focuses on building sentences without rote memorization, the ideas taught here can help a teacher pass on the same skill to their students. The strategies for learning and memorizing structures could be helpful to recommend to students as well.
Translator
A translator converts written text from one language to another, ensuring the meaning and context are accurately conveyed. This course, which focuses on sentence structure in German, may be useful for those who want to be translators. By mastering the basic structures of German, you gain a deep understanding of how the language functions, allowing for more accurate and nuanced translations. The course's emphasis on manipulating structures to form different types of sentences, such as questions and negative statements, is very helpful for translating a wide array of texts. The ability to build sentences without memorization is essential for quick and effective translation work.
Interpreter
Interpreters convert spoken language from one language to another in real-time, often in a variety of settings such as business meetings, conferences, or legal proceedings. Taking this course may be useful for aspiring interpreters. The course's focus on understanding and manipulating German sentence structures will help you quickly grasp the meaning of spoken German. The goal of the course is to build fluency by intuitively constructing sentences. This is an ability that is needed for high-speed interpretation work. The practice opportunities help solidify understanding of the language, and the study of how to ask questions and make negative statements are key to interpreting all types of conversation.
Localization Specialist
A localization specialist adapts products or content to a specific culture or market. This role often involves an understanding of language, which makes this course useful. This course's deep dive into sentence structures will help one understand how to adjust language to different contexts. The course focuses on manipulating structures to create diverse sentences. This ability is important when adapting text or content for local audiences. The course's focus on building sentences without rote memorization can help when thinking creatively about wording for certain markets.
Multilingual Customer Support
Multilingual customer support professionals assist customers in their preferred language, addressing inquiries and resolving issues with a company’s products or services. This course may be useful for those aspiring to provide multilingual customer support in German. The understanding of sentence structure allows for more precise and understandable communication. The course helps you build a foundation for speaking German from the very beginning. The course's teachings will assist in clearly communicating with people, who may be of a diverse background. The ability to form questions and statements in both positive and negative forms is particularly important for customer service interactions.
Content Creator
A content creator develops engaging written material for a variety of media, often in a specific niche, and sometimes for multiple language markets. This course may be useful for content creators looking to work in the German market. A strong foundation in sentence structure makes writing content in German much easier. The course will help with clear, effective communication. The ability to build sentences without relying on memorization can be beneficial for producing original content, as well as for adapting existing content to a new language. The teachings on sentence structure can help you create more sophisticated content.
Foreign Correspondent
A foreign correspondent reports on news and current events from abroad, often writing for newspapers, websites, or television. This course may be useful for those interested in becoming a foreign correspondent who intends to work in German-speaking regions. To succeed in this role, one must develop the skills to be able to quickly and accurately understand spoken and written language. The course's focus on manipulating sentence structures can help you to understand and form sentences effectively. Fluency is key for this job, and this course may help facilitate that.
Immigration Officer
An immigration officer interviews and processes individuals seeking to enter or remain in a country, often using a foreign language. This course may be useful for this role, if you intend to work with German speakers. This position requires clear and accurate communication, and this course helps to develop that skill. Understanding the way in which German sentences are structured will make comprehension easier. The course's focus on forming questions and statements, both positive and negative, is vital for effective interviews. The practice opportunities will help solidify your grasp of German.
Diplomat
Diplomats represent their country in foreign nations, engaging in negotiations and fostering relationships with other governments. This course may be useful for those who wish to work in German speaking countries. Diplomats must have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, especially through a spoken language. This course helps one understand the basic structure of German sentences, which is necessary for conversation. It may also help with written communication. Mastery of this language is key to building relationships, and this course may help build such mastery.
Tour Guide
Tour guides lead groups of tourists, providing information about local attractions, history, and culture. This course may be useful for aspiring tour guides who intend to work in German-speaking regions. The ability to speak clearly and accurately is a key component of being successful as a tour guide. The course's focus on sentence structure and building sentences without memorization should be helpful for this. The practice opportunities help you to work on your fluency. This course may help you to build a foundation to speak more confidently.
Linguist
A linguist studies the structure and development of languages, seeking to understand how language works, and how people use it. While this role typically requires an advanced degree, this course may be useful. The focus on sentence structure in the German language will help you to understand the underlying mechanics of the language. The course takes a fundamental approach by breaking down the German language into structures. If you wish to be a linguist, this kind of approach will serve you well. The course can help you to start thinking about how to deconstruct language.
Travel Agent
Travel agents assist clients with planning and booking trips, including flights, accommodations, and tours. This course may be useful for individuals working as travel agents who help German-speaking clients. This position requires you to use language to communicate and help with travel plans. The structure of German sentences is a key concept for clear conversation. The course's lessons on asking questions and making statements can be very beneficial for helping clients. This course can help build a foundation for communication with German speakers.
Technical Writer
A technical writer creates documentation for technical products and services, often targeted toward engineers or other technical professionals. This position often requires clear, concise communication, sometimes in a language other than English. This course may be useful for a technical writer who works to adapt text to German markets. This course can help provide a foundation in German sentence structures. Understanding these structures will help you to clearly write instructions and other technical documents. Additionally, you may find that some of the strategies for learning and memorizing help to inform your own work practices.
Market Research Analyst
Market research analysts study market conditions and consumer behavior to advise companies on product development and marketing strategies. This role may involve reading and evaluating research material in a foreign language. This course may be useful for people who wish to apply their skills to German speaking markets. A major component of this job is understanding and interpreting information. By learning German sentence structures, the course will help you analyze written German texts. The course's teachings help you to speak with confidence, which is valuable in business situations.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Building Structures in German - Structure 2.
Provides a comprehensive overview of German grammar, including sentence structure. It useful reference for understanding the underlying principles of Structure 2. It is commonly used as a textbook in university-level German courses. It provides more depth and breadth to the grammatical concepts introduced in the course.
Is designed for adult learners and provides a clear and concise explanation of German grammar. It can be helpful for reinforcing the basic grammatical concepts needed to understand Structure 2. It is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference. It useful reference tool for adult learners.

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