Whether you’re a fan of German literature, want to learn how to play football or just enjoy the culture, learning the language can open up many doors. German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe, the fourth most commonly taught worldwide and an official language of the United Nations. It’s also a vital tool for international business and diplomacy. With a bit of time and dedication, you can become fluent in German.
If you’re looking to get started with German lessons, it’s best to start with basic vocabulary and grammar. This will help you develop a foundation that you can build upon as your skills grow. You should also spend some time learning about German prepositions, as these can be tricky.
German grammar can be a little more complex than English, but it’s not impossible to master. For example, German has grammatical gender which can seem daunting at first, but there are certain letter combinations and other guidelines that can make it easier to remember than you might expect. For instance, over 65% of one-syllable words are masculine and words that end in heit, keit, schaft and ung are feminine.
Another challenge is learning how to conjugate verbs. In German, the verb is the second word in the sentence, so the order of words in a sentence is very different from in English. This can be confusing at first, but with a bit of patience and practice, it will soon feel natural.