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The two German verbs "brauchen" and "müssen" are widely considered to have the same meaning, but that's actually incorrect. Not only do their meanings differ in one important respect, they are also used differently from a grammatical perspective. In this blog post, I will explain both- the meanings of the two verbs and how they are being used. As a modal verb , müssen goes with main verb in the infinitive form at the end of the sentence. It translates as both "to need do" and "to have to". I wrote a blog post explaining the difference müssen and must . So you might want to check it out. Brauchen, on the other hand, goes with a noun in the accusative case and translates as "to need". So brauchen merely shares one of its meanings with müssen and is normally confined to nouns rather than verbs. As a result of their shared meaning ("need"), many ideas can be expressed by using either brauchen or müssen. Ich brauche deine Hilfe. (I need your help) Du musst mir helfen. (You need to help me) Sie braucht mehr Zeit. (She needs more time) Sie muss mehr Zeit haben. (She needs to have more time) However, not everything can be communicated with both verbs, especially when the müssen translates as "to have to". Sie müssen anhalten! (You have to stop) There is only one situation, in which brauchen can be used with zu+infinitive of a verb and that is in a negation. Ich brauche Ihnen nicht zu helfen. (I don’t need to help you) Ich brauche dich nicht daran zu erinnern, dass du Hausaufgaben machen solltest. (I don’t need to remind you that you should do your homework) On our German language blog "Auf Deutsch, bitte!", you will find the answers to your questions concerning German grammar- from how to structure sentences in German to how to use German articles . So check out our other posts now.

At beginner level, students first encounter the preference words “mögen” and “gern”. Both are normally translated as “like”, but this translation is misleading as it disregards the grammatical difference between the two words. In this blog post, I will not only explain the difference and show how to use “mögen” and “gern”, I will also discuss the verb "gefallen" and clarify how it differs from the other two preference words. “Mögen” is a modal verb that translates as “to like”. But unlike other modal verbs, which normally require the infinitive of the main verb at the end of the sentence, “mögen” is almost exclusively used with nouns. As such, it communicates a general preference. Let's consider some examples. Ich mag kein Fleisch. (I don’t like meat) Die Frau mag Yoga (The woman likes yoga) Wir mögen die deutsche Sprache (We like the German language) It is important to note that when we say “Die Frau mag Yoga” we express that the woman likes the sport, we don’t necessarily say that she actually does it. So it’s a general preference in that sense. By contrast, gern is an adverb that is used for preferences regarding verbs, so specific preferences. It is best translated as “gladly” or “to like (to do something)” Ich esse nicht gern Fleisch. (I don’t like to eat meat) Die Frau macht gern Yoga (The woman likes to do yoga) Wir sprechen gern Deutsch (We like to speak German) The position of adverbs like “gern” is normally third, straight after the conjugated verb. So is it not possible to use “mögen” with verbs at all? It is, but it is more complicated. In order to use “mögen” with a second verb, you have to add the pronoun “es” to the main clause and then use an infinitive clause for the main verb. The “es” is necessary because it is the substitute for the accusative object which you should mention but don’t. The translation into English is the same as the examples for “gern”, the difference just lies in the grammatical construction. Ich mag es nicht, Fleisch zu essen. (I don’t like eat meat) Die Frau mag es, Yoga zu machen (The woman likes to do yoga) Wir mögen es, die deutsche Sprache zu sprechen. (We like to speak the German language) Since it is a bit more complicated to use “mögen” with a second verb, my advice to students is to exclusively use it with nouns and “gern” with verbs. After the initial stage of learning German, usually at around A1.2 level , students learn about another way of expressing "to like" in German in the form of the verb "gefallen". The latter is a verb that always goes with the dative case and, as such, it is more difficult to use than "mögen". Even though it is normally translated as "to like", the more helpful translation is "to appeal to" as it reveals the dative case in English and serves as a reminder that it is the person to whom something appeals that takes the dative case. Like "mögen", "gefallen" is normally used with nouns but can also be used with "es" and an infinitive clause. Mir gefällt Tennis. (Tennis appeals to me/ I like tennis) Das rote Auto gefällt ihr (The red car appeals to her/ she likes the red car) Es gefällt ihm nicht, zu verlieren (Losing doesn't appeal to him/ he doesn't like to lose) So of the three ways to say "like" in German "mögen" is easiest to use with nouns and "gern" with verbs, whereas "gefallen" is more complicated by virtue of it being a dative only verb. On our German language blog “Auf Deutsch, bitte!” , you’ll find explanations of other grammar topics that are relevant for students at A1 and A2 level , such as the conjugation of verbs in the present tense , the Perfekt tense , the difference between “viel” and “viele” , "sehr" "and "viel" , “denn” and “dann” , how to use German articles , adjectives , and German word order .

My female readers won’t be surprised to learn that weakness in German grammar is a masculine trait. So-called weak nouns are a group of masculine nouns that follow the special n-declination in all cases but the nominative singular. So in addition to the articles, the nouns change as well and end on a -n or -en. Singular der Junge (Nominativ) den Jungen (Akkusativ) dem Jungen (Dativ) des Jungen (Genitiv) Plural die Jungen die Jungen den Jungen der Jungen Other weak nouns ending on -e in the Nominativ are: der Neffe, der Kunde, der Kollege, der Name, der Löwe, and nationalities ending on -e, e.g. der Deutsche, der Franzose, der Pole, der Chinese, der Däne der Russe der Portugiese However, not all weak nouns and on -e. Some common nouns with other endings in the nominative are: der Held der Nachbar der Hase der Affe der Elefant der Franzose der Polizist, der Assistent, der Philosoph, der Astronom, der Student der Mensch der Herr Their declination is the same as Junge, though. e.g. der Nachbar den Nachbarn dem Nachbarn des Nachbarn etc. der Herr den Herrn dem Herrn des Herrn etc. Since there is no clear rule that would allow you to identify weak nouns, it's best to memorise them. The only rule of thumb that I usually teach my students is that when a noun ends on -e and is masculine rather than feminine, it is normally a weak noun. Learn more about German gender rules and the cases in German on our blog. There you will find many posts on German grammar- ranging from adjective ending rules in German to German word order. We also have articles on the most common words and phrases in German , a comparison between online dictionaries like Linguee, dict.cc, dict.leo and Collins , and a review of the apps Duolingo, Memrise, Babbel, Busuu, and Quizlet . So check out our blog to learn more about the German language. Find out more about our German lessons in London and our German courses here.

What many German students don’t realise is that there are two subjunctives in the German language- Konjunktiv I (reported speech) and Konjunktiv II (the conditional tense). In this article, I explain what they are. The first subjunctive (Konjunktiv I), also known as reported speech in German or “indirekte Rede”, is used to report the statement made by another person. It conveys neutrality and is common practice in journalism and formal contexts. Der Politiker sagte, er habe davon nichts gewusst. (The politician said he didn't know about it). You'll find a detailed explanation of subjunctive I in German here. The second subjunctive, also known as the conditional tense in German or Konjunktiv II is used for hypothetical statements, for polite requests, suggestions, and to give advice. Was wäre , wenn er recht hätte ? (What if he were right?) Check out my post on the subjunctive 2 in German here. Even though the subjunctive in English has almost died out, in German the subjunctives are used quite widely. So it is important to learn it properly. An earlier version of this blog post was published on medium.com

One area of confusion for many beginner German students is the difference between the three personal pronouns "du", "Sie", and "ihr". In this blog post, I will explain the difference between them and how they are used in the German language. German students first encounter the three personal pronouns "du", "Sie" and "ihr" when they learn to conjugate German verbs in the present tense . The standard explanation is that "du" is the so-called informal you, which should only be used for people you're already familiar with, such as friends and family members, whereas "Sie" (also known as the formal you) should be used for any adult you do not know or in formal settings, such as at work. While "du" can only be used in the singular, so for one person, "Sie" can be used both in the singular or plural, so for one and several persons. The personal pronoun "ihr" is the plural form of "du", so the same rules apply as for the latter, except that "ihr" is used for multiple people you already know, such as a group of friends and family members. Its English translation is "you all", "you guys" or "you lot". Let's look at some examples. "Kannst du mir bitte helfen?" would be a question to a friend or family member. "Könnte ihr mir bitte helfen?" would be a question to a group of friends or family members. "Können Sie mir bitte helfen?" would be a question to your boss, a colleague or a stranger The translation would be "can you help me please?" in all three examples. If you are curious what "mir" is grammatically and why we have to used it here, check out our blog posts on the difference between "mir" and "mich" and dative verbs in German . "Du sprichst gut Deutsch" would be a compliment to a fellow student. "Ihr sprecht gut Deutsch" would be a compliment to a group of students. "Sie sprechen gut Deutsch" would be a compliment to any adult you don't know well. "You speak German well" is the translation. Languages are subjected to trends and cultural changes, though, and so the use of the three personal pronouns sometimes deviates from the aforementioned explanation. In liberal parts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and more casual settings like the arts, music, a bar or restaurant, for example, people are more likely to use "du" from the outset, so even in situations when they are not familiar with the other person. However, to be on the safe side, use "Sie" first and only revert to "du" when it was suggested by the native speaker or person you interact with. Also bear in mind that using "Sie" is actually easier than the use of "du". That is because the formal you always uses the infinitive of the verb, irrespective of whether the verb is regular or irregular, except for the verb "sein" which is completely irregular. By contrast, with "du" you have to know whether your verb is regular or irregular because irregular verbs have a stem change in the second person singular. Let's look at some examples again. "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" (do you speak German in a formal setting) Sprichst du Deutsch"? (do you speak German in an informal environment) So, in short, start with "Sie" and take it from there! On our German language blog "Auf Deutsch bitte!" , you will find many other helpful explanations of German grammar . So check out our other posts on topics like German word order and the articles in German .

Beginners in German sometimes mix up the two words möchten und mögen. If you are also confused about the difference between them, keep reading below. In German, the two verbs "möchten" and "mögen" are both related to expressing preferences, but they are used in different ways. Mögen (to like) is a modal verb and is actually the base form of möchten. It is used to express preferences, both likes and dislikes. However, it should only be used with nouns. Let's look at some examples. Ich mag Wein. (I like wine) Er mag Kaffee. (He likes coffee) Möchten (would like) is the conditional form of mögen. It is used to express a polite request or to communicate a desire for something. Unlike mögen, möchten normally requires a main verb in the infinitive form to convey what someone would like to do. Ich möchte ein Glas Wein trinken. (I would like to drink a glass of wine) Er möchte eine Tasse Kaffee trinken. (He would like to drink a cup of coffee) So, in summary, "möchten" is specifically used for making polite requests or expressing desires, while "mögen" is used to express general likes or preferences. The choice between them depends on the context and what you would like to convey. Related blog posts deal with modal verbs in German and how to use them , the difference between mögen, gern and gefallen in German , and other ways to express preferences in German .

Preparing for Pre-U German can be an enriching and challenging experience. Here, we outline the key differences between Pre-U German and A-level German, along with helpful resources and expert advice from Olesen Tuition . Key Differences Between Pre-U German and A-Level German Depth and Scope Pre-U German : Offers a broader and deeper exploration of German language, literature, and culture. It emphasises critical thinking, advanced language skills, and cultural analysis. A-Level German : More structured and focused on core language skills, grammar, and basic cultural understanding. Assessment Pre-U German : Includes written papers on language, literature, and cultural topics, as well as an oral examination. The assessment criteria are more demanding, reflecting the depth of study. A-Level German : Typically involves written exams covering listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Preparation Approach Pre-U German : Requires extensive reading and research, critical analysis of texts, and a strong grasp of complex linguistic structures. A-Level German : Focuses more on language acquisition and practical usage. Top Tips for Preparing for Pre-U German 1. Develop a Structured Study Plan Create a detailed study schedule that covers all aspects of the syllabus. Include time for language practice, literature review, and cultural studies. 2. Use Comprehensive Resources Utilise a variety of resources to enhance your learning: Books and Literature : Read widely from the recommended reading list. Focus on both contemporary and classical German literature. Online Platforms : Websites like Deutsche Welle offer excellent language learning materials and news articles to improve your comprehension skills. 3. Practice Past Papers Regularly practice with past exam papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and question styles. This will also help you manage your time effectively during the exam. 4. Enhance Your Speaking Skills Engage in regular conversation practice with native speakers or through language exchange programs. This will boost your fluency and confidence in speaking. 5. Get Expert Guidance Consider enrolling in exam preparation lessons with experienced tutors. At Olesen Tuition, we offer tailored support to help you excel in Pre-U German. Personalised Lessons : Our tutors provide individualised Pre-U German lessons focused on your specific needs and weaknesses. Expert Guidance : With native-speaking tutors who are also Goethe-Institute examiners, you get the highest quality instruction. Helpful Resources Olesen Tuition Blog : Our blog offers valuable tips, resources, and insights to help you prepare effectively for Pre-U German. Visit our blog here. Deutsche Welle : A great source for German news, language learning resources, and cultural insights. Explore more here. Practice Papers : Use past exam papers to practice and hone your skills. You can find useful resources and papers from your exam board’s website. For more information on our exam preparation lessons, visit Olesen Tuition's Exam Preparation Page . Conclusion Preparing for Pre-U German requires dedication, structured study, and access to the right resources. By understanding the differences from A-level German and utilizing expert support from Olesen Tuition, you can achieve excellent results. Invest in your German language skills today and open doors to new academic and career opportunities.

Preparing for the IB German exams requires a solid grasp of essential grammar topics. Here's a guide to the 10 most important grammar areas, their relevance to the exams, and how you can master them. Each section links to detailed posts on the Olesen Tuition blog for further reading and practice. 1. German Verb Conjugations Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2, Oral Exams Understanding verb conjugation across various German tenses is crucial for both writing and speaking sections. Regular practice will help you use verbs correctly in different contexts. 2. German Noun Cases Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2 Mastering the nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive cases in German is essential for accurate sentence construction. This knowledge is tested through reading and writing tasks. 3. Sentence Structure Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2, Oral Exams Complex sentence structures, including main and subordinate clauses in German , are fundamental for fluency. This is vital for essays and spoken responses. 4. Prepositions Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2 German prepositions and their corresponding cases play a significant role in forming correct sentences. Practice is key to mastering their use. 5. Adjective Endings Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2 Adjective endings in German change based on the case, gender, and number of the noun they describe. Correct usage is essential for clear and accurate writing. 6. Relative Clauses Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2, Oral Exams Relative clauses in German add detail and complexity to sentences. They are frequently tested in both written and spoken components. 7. Modal Verbs Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2, Oral Exams German modal verbs express necessity, possibility, and permission. They are crucial for conveying nuances in both writing and speaking. 8. Passive Voice Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2 The passive voice in German focuses on the action rather than the subject. It's important for writing formal and academic texts. 9. Indirect Speech Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2 Indirect speech is used to report what someone else has said. Mastery of this is important for advanced writing and speaking. 10. Subjunctive Mood Exam Parts: Paper 1, Paper 2 The subjunctive mood in German is used to express wishes, hypothetical situations, and polite requests. It adds sophistication to your language skills. Conclusion Mastering these 10 grammar topics will provide a strong foundation for your IB German exams. For detailed explanations and practice exercises, explore the Olesen Tuition's German language blog . On our blog, you'll also find a post explaining the difference between standard and higher level IB German and key resources to prepare for IB German exams. Additionally, consider enrolling in our exam preparation lessons for personalised guidance and support. Visit IB German tuition in London and online  to get started on your journey to success. #ibgerman

Preparing for the Goethe A2 exam requires a solid understanding of fundamental German grammar topics. Mastering these essential areas will not only help you pass the exam but also build a strong foundation for further language learning. This guide highlights the ten most important grammar topics to focus on, with tips and examples to help you succeed. 1. Noun Gender and Articles Understanding the gender of German nouns and their corresponding articles is crucial. Practice with definite and indefinite articles in different cases , particularly nominative, accusative and dative. Examples: Der Hund (masculine) Die Katze (feminine) Das Auto (neuter) Accusative: Ich sehe den Mann. Dative: Ich gebe dem Mann ein Buch. 2. Plural Forms Learning the plural forms of nouns is essential as they often do not follow a straightforward rule. Familiarise yourself with common patterns and exceptions. Examples: Der Tisch -> Die Tische Die Frau -> Die Frauen 3. Verb Conjugation in Different Tenses Regular and irregular verbs in the present tense form the basis of daily communication. Practice conjugating verbs with different subjects and in different tenses, paying particular attention to the perfekt tense in German and the preterite tense in German . Examples: Ich gehe, du gehst, er/sie/es geht Ich bin gegangen, du bist gegangen, er/sie/es ist gegangen 4. Separable and Inseparable Verbs Recognise how separable and inseparable verbs function, especially in sentence construction. Examples: Separable: Ich stehe auf (aufstehen) Inseparable: Ich verstehe (verstehen) 5. Pronouns Using pronouns correctly is vital for constructing sentences and making conversations flow naturally, especially possessive pronouns that indicate ownership and relationships and that are declined like articles. Examples: Ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie mein, dein, sein, ihr, etc. 6. Modal Verbs Modal verbs express necessity, ability, permission, and possibility. Learn to use them correctly in different contexts. Example: Ich kann, du musst, er darf, wir wollen 7. Adjective Declensions Understanding with adjective ending to use is key for forming correct sentences, especially with different articles and in different cases. Examples: Sie sieht ein kleines Mädchen Sie sieht das kleine Mädchen 8. Konjunktiv II and Passive Voice You're only expected to have a rudimentary understanding of both topics, but it's worth practicing both the Konjunktiv II and the passive voice at least a little. 9. Prepositions and Their Cases Prepositions often require specific cases (accusative or dative). Practice common prepositions and their required cases, especially the two-way and dative prepositions . Example: Mit (dative): Ich fahre mit dem Bus. In (either accusative or dative): Ich sitze in dem Wohnzimmer. 10. Word Order in Main and Subordinate Clauses Understanding the word order in both main and subordinate clauses is essential for clear communication. Example: Main clause: Ich gehe heute ins Kino. Subordinate clause: Ich weiß, dass du morgen kommst. Conclusion Mastering these ten grammar topics will give you the confidence and skills needed to excel in the Goethe A2 exam. Regular practice and application of these rules in writing and speaking will greatly enhance your proficiency. For personalised tutoring and additional resources, consider enrolling in our exam preparation courses at Olesen Tuition. Good luck with your studies! On our German language blog , you'll also find exercises on most of the aformentioned topics, so check our our blog now.

German learners sometimes get confused about the difference between sollen and sollten. This post seeks to explain the difference and the underlying grammar. The German language has six so-called modal verbs that express an intention to do something (wollen), a preference for something (mögen), an ability to do something (können) etc. Sollen is one of these modal verbs that is used to give an instruction or communicate a duty to do something. It is best translated into English as "should" or "to be supposed to". Like most other modal verbs in German, it acts as the conjugated verb in a sentence and is used along with a main verb in infinitive from, which is positioned at the end of a main clause. Let's first consider the conjugation of the verb and then look at some examples. ich soll sdu sollst er, sie, es soll wir sollen ihr sollt sie, Sie sollen Er soll seinem Chef bei dem Projekt helfen. (He should help his boss with the project) Sie soll ihren Eltern etwas vom Supermarkt mitbringen. (She is supposed to bring her parents something from the supermarket) Ich soll dir ausrichten, dass du Carl zurückrufen sollst (I should tell you that you should give Carl a call back) As the examples show, sollen is used in a fairly similar way to the English should. Sollten is the conditional tense or Konjunktiv 2 form of sollen. It is used to give advice or recommendations. It can also be translated as should or as "ought to". Depending on the context of the utterance, it can add a moral connotation to it. Meine Freundin meint, ich sollte weniger arbeiten. (My friend thinks I should/ought to work less) Meine Schüler:innen sollten Vokabeln lernen, um ihr Deutsch zu verbessern (My students should/ought to revise vocabulary, in order to improve their German) Sie sollten im nächsten Jahr weniger Fleisch essen. (The should eat less meat next year) If you found this post helpful, please give it a like. Similar posts discuss müssen in German and the difference between müssen and brauchen , as well as the use of dürfen in German . If you're interested in other German grammar topics such as German adjective endings just check out our blog where you'll find hundreds of posts.

Test whether your German reading comprehension skills are at B2 upper-intermediate level in German by reading the following text and answering the questions at the bottom. Please post your answers in the comments and you'll get some feedback from me. Die "Hidden Champions" sind eine Gruppe von Unternehmen, die in der Geschäftswelt oft übersehen werden, obwohl sie eine bemerkenswerte Erfolgsgeschichte aufweisen. Insbesondere in Deutschland gibt es eine Vielzahl von mittelständischen Unternehmen, die auf ihrem Gebiet hochspezialisiert und äußerst erfolgreich sind. Diese Hidden Champions haben sich durch ihre Nischenstrategie und ihre Fokussierung auf Qualität und Innovation einen Namen gemacht. Was sind Hidden Champions? Hidden Champions sind mittelständische Unternehmen, die in ihrer Branche weltweit führend sind, jedoch oft wenig bekannt sind, da sie nicht im Rampenlicht stehen wie große, international agierende Konzerne. Diese Unternehmen zeichnen sich durch ihre Spezialisierung auf bestimmte Produkte oder Dienstleistungen aus und sind in der Regel Familienunternehmen oder inhabergeführt. Warum werden sie "Hidden Champions" genannt? Die Bezeichnung "Hidden Champions" stammt von dem deutschen Wirtschaftsprofessor Hermann Simon, der diese Unternehmen als "versteckte Champions" bezeichnete, da sie oft im Schatten großer Marken und Unternehmen agieren, aber dennoch eine bedeutende Rolle auf ihrem Markt spielen. Sie sind "versteckt" in dem Sinne, dass ihre Erfolge und ihre Bedeutung oft nicht auf den ersten Blick erkennbar sind. Die Erfolgsfaktoren der Hidden Champions: Die Hidden Champions zeichnen sich durch mehrere Erfolgsfaktoren aus, die zu ihrem Aufstieg und ihrer langfristigen Stabilität beitragen: Hohe Spezialisierung: Diese Unternehmen konzentrieren sich auf ein eng umrissenes Marktsegment und entwickeln dort herausragende Fachkenntnisse. Innovationskraft: Sie investieren kontinuierlich in Forschung und Entwicklung, um innovative Produkte und Lösungen zu entwickeln. Qualitätsorientierung: Die Hidden Champions legen großen Wert auf die Qualität ihrer Produkte und Dienstleistungen und sind bekannt für ihre Zuverlässigkeit und Präzision. Internationale Ausrichtung: Obwohl sie oft als lokale Unternehmen begonnen haben, haben viele Hidden Champions ihre Geschäftstätigkeit international ausgeweitet und sind auf globalen Märkten erfolgreich. Fragen zum Text: Wie werden die erfolgreichen deutschen Mittelständler genannt? Was zeichnet die Hidden Champions aus? Wer hat den Begriff "Hidden Champions" geprägt? Warum werden sie "versteckte Champions" genannt? Welche Bedeutung haben Hidden Champions in ihrer Branche? Welche Faktoren tragen zum Erfolg der Hidden Champions bei? Warum ist hohe Spezialisierung wichtig für Hidden Champions? Was bedeutet es, dass Hidden Champions oft "versteckt" sind? Was sind typische Eigenschaften von Hidden Champions? Wie unterscheiden sich Hidden Champions von großen, internationalen Unternehmen? Now post your answers in the comments section and we will get back to you! If you want to test your reading comprehension skills further, just check out our B2 German reading comprehension Text Was ist moderne Esskultur? We also have a German grammar guide for intermediate level students that might be of interest to you. So just check out it.

The following exercises on German accusative prepositions are designed for students from A2 to C1 level . As always, my advice would be to read through our blog post on the topic before you get started. You'll find the answers at the bottom. A2 Level (Elementary) Fill in the gaps with the correct article in the accusative case. Ich gehe ____ ____ Park. Sie fährt gegen ____ Baum. Wir laufen ____ ____ Haus. Er schwimmt durch ____ Fluss. Du fährst ____ ____ Helm. (der) Sie tanzt um ____ Tisch. Wir spielen gegen ____ Mannschaft. (die) Ich lese das Buch ____ ____ Brille. Sie schaut ____ ____ Fenster. Er läuft gegen ____ Tür. Ich klettere ____ ____ Mauer. (die) Du rennst durch ____ Tor. (das) Wir wandern ____ Fluss _____. Sie parkt das Auto gegen ____ Wand. Ich singe ein Lied ohne ____ Musik. Sie spielt um ____ Ball. Wir reisen durch ____ Land. Er malt gegen ____ Wand. Du schwimmst um ____ Insel. Sie läuft über ____ Brücke. Ich jogge durch ____ Wald. Du läufst _____ ____ Wind. Wir tanzen um ____ Feuer. Er schreibt ohne ____ Stift. Sie schwimmt ____ ____ See. B1 Level (Intermediate) Translate the sentences into German, using the correct accusative prepositions and articles. I run around the park. She drives against the wall. We travel through the city. He jumps over the fence. They play against the team. You swim through the lake. She dances without the shoes. We walk along the river. He cycles without the helmet. You read without the light. They climb over the hill. I drive through the tunnel. She goes against the current. We watch through the glass. He writes without the pen. You travel around the country. They walk along the path. I sit by the window. She paints against the canvas. We swim around the island. He runs through the meadow. You jump over the log. They sing without the choir. I dance against the wind. She climbs over the wall. B2 Level (Upper Intermediate) Translate the sentences into German, using the correct accusative prepositions and articles. We hiked around the mountain. They sailed against the waves. He walked through the forest. She studied without the textbook. I ate without the fork. We drove around the town. They ran through the field. You played against the rules. He looked through the lens. She danced around the tree. I cycled against the traffic. They hiked without the guide. We swam around the rock. You flew against the wind. He worked through the night. She read through the manuscript. I sat without the chair. We walked around the lake. They listened through the door. He wrote against the clock. She climbed over the peak. You searched through the drawer. I ran against the tide. They played without the coach. We navigated through the storm. C1 Level (Advanced) Translate the sentences into German, using the correct accusative prepositions and articles. They navigated through the complex maze. He ran against the formidable opponent. She worked without the crucial data. We swam around the massive island. I read through the comprehensive report. You cycled through the dense forest. They argued against the strict regulations. He looked through the detailed blueprint. She studied without the essential notes. We sailed against the powerful current. I walked through the bustling market. You played without the official rules. They drove through the expansive desert. He ran against the political candidate. She navigated through the bureaucratic paperwork. I climbed over the high barrier. We swam through the coral reef. They worked against the impossible deadline. He wrote without the critical feedback. You searched through the cluttered attic. She argued against the established theory. I danced around the blazing fire. We hiked through the dense jungle. They played against the experienced team. He read through the legal documents. Below you'll find three stories for students at different levels. Fill in the article and the appropriate preposition. A2 Level Story Lisa und Max gehen spazieren. Sie laufen ___ (through) ___ (the park) und sehen viele Tiere. Max sieht einen Hund, der ___ (against) ___ (the tree) sitzt. Lisa findet eine Katze, die ___ (under) ___ (the bench) schläft. Dann gehen sie weiter ___ (along) ___ (the river) und sehen Kinder, die ___ (around) ___ (the playground) spielen. Sie machen eine Pause ___ (beside) ___ (the lake) und essen ein Eis. B1 Level Story Anna und Tom planen eine Reise. Sie wollen ___ (through) ___ (the city) fahren und alle Sehenswürdigkeiten sehen. Zuerst gehen sie ___ (to) ___ (the museum), wo sie alte Kunstwerke bewundern. Dann gehen sie ___ (along) ___ (the riverbank) und genießen die Aussicht. Tom schlägt vor, ___ (into) ___ (the restaurant) zu gehen, um etwas zu essen. Nach dem Essen spazieren sie ___ (through) ___ (the park) und sehen viele Blumen. Am Ende des Tages gehen sie ___ (to) ___ (the hotel) und ruhen sich aus. B2/C1 Level Story Maria und Paul lieben Abenteuer. Sie beschließen, ___ (through) ___ (the forest) zu wandern. Sie gehen ___ (through) ___ (the dense woods) und hören viele Vögel singen. Plötzlich sehen sie ein Reh, das ___ (through) ___ (the clearing) läuft. Maria nimmt Fotos von den Tieren, während Paul versucht, einen sicheren Weg ___ (through) ___ (the rocky terrain) zu finden. Sie kommen ___ (to) ___ (the mountain stream) und beschließen, eine Pause zu machen. Nach der Pause setzen sie ihre Wanderung fort, bis sie schließlich ___ (through) ___ (the valley) zum Ziel kommen. Answers A2 Level Answers durch den den um das den ohne den den die ohne die durch das die über die das den entlang die die den das die die die den gegen den das den durch den B1 Level Answers Ich renne um den Park. Sie fährt gegen die Wand. Wir reisen durch die Stadt. Er springt über den Zaun. Sie spielen gegen die Mannschaft. Du schwimmst durch den See. Sie tanzt ohne die Schuhe. Wir laufen entlang den Fluss. Er fährt ohne den Helm. Du liest ohne das Licht. Sie klettern über den Hügel. Ich fahre durch den Tunnel. Sie geht gegen die Strömung. Wir sehen durch das Glas. Er schreibt ohne den Stift. Du reist um das Land. Sie gehen entlang den Pfad. Ich sitze bei das Fenster. Sie malt gegen die Leinwand. Wir schwimmen um die Insel. Er rennt durch die Wiese. Du springst über den Baumstamm. Sie singen ohne den Chor. Ich tanze gegen den Wind. Sie klettert über die Wand. B2 Level Answers Wir wanderten um den Berg. Sie segelten gegen die Wellen. Er ging durch den Wald. Sie studierte ohne das Lehrbuch. Ich aß ohne die Gabel. Wir fuhren um die Stadt. Sie rannten durch das Feld. Du spieltest gegen die Regeln. Er sah durch die Linse. Sie tanzte um den Baum. Ich fuhr gegen den Verkehr. Sie wanderten ohne den Führer. Wir schwammen um den Felsen. Du flogst gegen den Wind. Er arbeitete durch die Nacht. Sie las durch das Manuskript. Ich saß ohne den Stuhl. Wir gingen um den See. Sie hörten durch die Tür. Er schrieb gegen die Uhr. Sie kletterte über den Gipfel. Du suchtest durch die Schublade. Ich rannte gegen die Flut. Sie spielten ohne den Trainer. Wir navigierten durch den Sturm. C1 Level Answers Sie navigierten durch das komplexe Labyrinth. Er rannte gegen den furchterregenden Gegner. Sie arbeitete ohne die entscheidenden Daten. Wir schwammen um die riesige Insel. Ich las durch den umfassenden Bericht. Du fuhrst durch den dichten Wald. Sie argumentierten gegen die strengen Vorschriften. Er schaute durch den detaillierten Bauplan. Sie studierte ohne die wesentlichen Notizen. Wir segelten gegen die starke Strömung. Ich ging durch den belebten Markt. Du spieltest ohne die offiziellen Regeln. Sie fuhren durch die weite Wüste. Er lief gegen den politischen Kandidaten. Sie navigierte durch den bürokratischen Papierkram. Ich kletterte über die hohe Barriere. Wir schwammen durch das Korallenriff. Sie arbeiteten gegen die unmögliche Frist. Er schrieb ohne das kritische Feedback. Du suchtest durch den überfüllten Dachboden. Sie argumentierte gegen die etablierte Theorie. Ich tanzte um das lodernde Feuer. Wir wanderten durch den dichten Dschungel. Sie spielten gegen das erfahrene Team. Er las durch die juristischen Dokumente. Answers for the Stories A2 Level Answers durch den Park gegen den Baum unter der Bank entlang den Fluss um den Spielplatz neben dem See B1 Level Answers durch die Stadt zu dem Museum entlang das Flussufer in das Restaurant durch den Park zu dem Hotel B2/C1 Level Answers durch den Wald durch das dichte Gehölz durch die Lichtung durch das felsige Gelände zu dem Gebirgsbach durch das Tal On our German language blog, you'll also find other exercises on -  German verb conjugations in the present tense ​ - German perfekt tense exercises - German word order exercises for A2/B1 level - German cases exercises for A1-C1 level - German adjective declension exercises A2-C1 level - Exercises on the German two-way prepositions Good luck! And if you have any questions, just post them in the comments section. Thank you. #germanprepositions