Course Description
C1 German Grammar Course Outline
Module 1: Advanced Subordinate Clauses
1. Relative Clauses with Prepositions and Advanced Relative Pronouns
• Example: “Der Mann, mit dem ich gesprochen habe, ist mein Nachbar.” (The man with whom I spoke is my neighbor.)
• Advanced: “Die Frau, deren Tochter ich kenne, ist meine Lehrerin.” (The woman whose daughter I know is my teacher.)
2. Causal Clauses with “da” and “weil”
• Example: “Ich bleibe zu Hause, da es regnet.” (I am staying at home because it is raining.)
3. Concessive Clauses with “obwohl,” “obgleich,” “obschon”
• Example: “Obwohl es regnet, gehe ich spazieren.” (Although it is raining, I am going for a walk.)
4. Consecutive Clauses with “sodass” and “so dass”
• Example: “Er arbeitete sehr viel, sodass er müde wurde.” (He worked a lot, so that he became tired.)
5. Conditional Clauses with “falls” and “wenn”
• Example: “Falls es regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause.” (In case it rains, we will stay at home.)
Module 2: Advanced Verb Forms and Moods
1. Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) for Hypotheticals and Politeness
• Formation: würde + infinitive, or past subjunctive form
• Example: “Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich eine Weltreise machen.” (If I were rich, I would travel around the world.)
• Politeness: “Ich würde gerne einen Kaffee bestellen.” (I would like to order a coffee.)
2. Subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I) for Indirect Speech
• Formation: base form + subjunctive endings (e.g., -e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en)
• Example: “Er sagte, er habe keine Zeit.” (He said he has no time.)
3. Future Perfect (Futur II) for Actions that Will Be Completed in the Future
• Formation: werden + past participle + haben/sein
• Example: “Ich werde das Buch bis morgen gelesen haben.” (I will have read the book by tomorrow.)
4. Passiv (Passive Voice) in Different Tenses
• Present: “Das Buch wird gelesen.” (The book is being read.)
• Past: “Das Buch wurde gelesen.” (The book was read.)
• Perfect: “Das Buch ist gelesen worden.” (The book has been read.)
Module 3: Advanced Adjective and Adverb Usage
1. Adjective Declension with Comparative and Superlative Forms
• Comparative: “Das ist ein schöneres Haus.” (That is a nicer house.)
• Superlative: “Das ist das schönste Haus.” (That is the nicest house.)
2. Adjectives as Nouns
• Example: “Der Alte” (the old man), “die Schöne” (the beautiful woman)
3. Adverbs and their Comparative and Superlative Forms
• Example: “schnell” (fast), “schneller” (faster), “am schnellsten” (fastest)
Module 4: Complex Sentence Structures
1. Nominalization
• Turning verbs or adjectives into nouns
• Example: “Das Lernen fällt mir schwer.” (Learning is difficult for me.)
2. Cleft Sentences for Emphasis
• Example: “Es war der Lehrer, der uns geholfen hat.” (It was the teacher who helped us.)
3. Participial Constructions
• Present Participle: “Das singende Kind.” (The singing child.)
• Past Participle: “Die gekaufte Ware.” (The purchased goods.)
4. Infinitive Constructions with “zu”
• Example: “Es ist wichtig, Deutsch zu lernen.” (It is important to learn German.)
Module 5: Idiomatic Expressions and Colloquial Language
1. Common Idiomatic Expressions
• Example: “Das ist mir Wurst.” (I don’t care.)
2. Redewendungen (Idioms)
• Example: “Die Daumen drücken.” (To keep one’s fingers crossed.)
3. Colloquial Phrases and Slang
• Example: “Na, alles klar?” (Hey, everything alright?)
Module 6: Prepositions and Conjunctions
1. Advanced Prepositional Phrases
• Example: “aufgrund von” (due to), “im Vergleich zu” (in comparison to)
2. Subordinating Conjunctions in Complex Sentences
• Example: “Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt, weil er gesagt hat, dass er beschäftigt ist.” (I don’t know if he is coming because he said he is busy.)
3. Correlative Conjunctions
• Example: “je…desto” (the more…the more)
• Example: “Je mehr ich lerne, desto besser werde ich.” (The more I learn, the better I get.)
Example Sentences and Exercises
• Translate the following sentences into German:
• “If I had known, I would have come earlier.” – “Wenn ich es gewusst hätte, wäre ich früher gekommen.”
• “He says he doesn’t have time.” – “Er sagt, er habe keine Zeit.”
• “I am learning German so that I can work in Germany.” – “Ich lerne Deutsch, damit ich in Deutschland arbeiten kann.”
• Fill in the blanks with the correct forms:
• “Es war der Lehrer, ___ uns geholfen hat.” (der)
• “Ich werde die Arbeit bis morgen ___ (erledigen).” (erledigt haben)
• Rewrite the sentences using the passive voice:
• “Die Firma repariert das Auto.” -> “Das Auto wird von der Firma repariert.”
• “Der Lehrer erklärt die Grammatik.” -> “Die Grammatik wird vom Lehrer erklärt.”
• Use idiomatic expressions to complete the sentences:
• “Ich drücke dir die ___ für dein Examen.” (Daumen)
• “Das ist mir ___.” (Wurst)
Course Assessment
1. Quizzes and Tests
• After each module, short quizzes to reinforce learning
• Midterm and final exams to assess overall understanding
2. Speaking and Writing Exercises
• Oral presentations on various topics
• Writing assignments such as essays, reports, and letters
3. Listening and Reading Comprehension
• Listening exercises with questions
• Reading passages followed by comprehension questions
Additional Resources
• Recommended Textbooks and Grammar Guides
• “Hammer’s German Grammar and Usage”
• “Schaum’s Outline of German Grammar”
• Online Resources
• Deutsche Welle’s German Courses
• Goethe-Institut’s Online German Exercises
By following this structured C1 German grammar course, students will gain a deeper understanding of complex grammar structures and develop greater proficiency in both written and spoken German.