Wendy Foster & Paulina Christensen 
German Essentials For Dummies 

The core concepts you need to write and speak German

Learning a new language is a fun and challenging feat for
students at every level. Perfect for those just starting out or
returning to German after some time away, German Essentials For
Dummies focuses on core concepts taught (and tested on!) in a
typical introductory German course. From adjectives and adverbs to
understanding tenses and asking questions, you’ll skip the
suffering and score high marks at exam time with the help of
German Essentials For Dummies.

Designed for students (and parents) who want the key concepts
and a few examples–without the review, ramp-up, and anecdotal
content–German Essentials For Dummies is a perfect
solution for exam-cramming, homework help, and reference.

* Focuses on everything from grammar, vocabulary, and
pronunciations to verb forms and tenses

* Perfect for a refresher or a quick reference

* Aids you in writing assignments, tests, and conversational
German

If you have some knowledge of German and want to polish your
skills, German Essentials For Dummies focuses on just the
core concepts you need to communicate effectively.

Table of Content

Introduction 1

Chapter 1: Laying the Foundations of German 5

Chapter 2: Grasping Gender and Case 23

Chapter 3: Handling the Present 37

Chapter 4: Modifying with Modal Auxiliary Verbs 55

Chapter 5: Describing and Connecting Your Thoughts 69

Chapter 6: Asking and Answering Questions 93

Chapter 7: Stepping Back in the Past 109

Chapter 8: Focusing on the Future 125

Chapter 9: Understanding Verb Moods 135

Chapter 10: Ten Important Verb Distinctions 149

Appendix: Verb Charts 155

Index 169

About the author

Wendy Foster has been a teacher, writer, editor, and translator. She is the author of Intermediate German For Dummies. Paulina Christensen, Ph D, and Anne Fox are veteran language instructors.