TASC German key terms

The grammatical case marking the direct object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions such as durch, für, gegen, ohne, um, and entlang. Articles change to den, die, das, and einen, eine, ein.

The grammatical case marking an indirect object, the object of dative verbs like helfen and danken, and objects of prepositions such as mit, nach, bei, seit, von, and zu. Articles become dem, der, dem, den.

A short word placed before a noun that shows gender, number, and case. German has definite articles (der, die, das) and indefinite articles (ein, eine), and their forms change with case.

The grammatical gender of a noun, which in German is masculine, feminine, or neuter. Gender is not predictable from meaning and must be learned with each noun, often shown by its article.

The changing of articles, adjectives, and pronouns to match a noun's case, number, and gender. German has four cases, and endings differ depending on whether the article is definite, indefinite, or absent.

A word describing a noun, such as groß, schnell, or freundlich. When placed before a noun, it takes an ending that depends on the article and case; after sein or werden it stays uninflected.

A verb form used to build compound tenses and to describe nouns. The past participle typically begins with ge- and ends in -t or -en, as in gemacht or gelesen.

The conversational past tense, built with a form of haben or sein plus the past participle. It is the usual spoken way to describe completed past events and appears often in informal listening passages.

The simple past tense, formed by adding endings to a verb stem, as in machte or ging. It is common in written narration, news, and stories, though in speech it is mostly limited to sein, haben, and modals.

A helping verb used with a main verb to form tenses, the passive, or moods. German uses haben and sein for the perfect tenses and werden for the future and passive.

A sentence structure that shifts attention to the action rather than the doer, formed with werden plus the past participle, as in Das Haus wird gebaut. The cause can be added with von.

A verb mood used for wishes, hypothetical situations, and polite requests, formed with endings like -te and umlaut where possible, as in wäre, hätte, or könnte. It often appears with wenn clauses.

A short linking word such as in, auf, mit, or für that relates a noun to another part of the sentence. Each preposition requires a specific case, and some switch between accusative and dative.

The arrangement of words in a German sentence. The finite verb sits in second position in main clauses, first in yes-no questions and commands, and last in subordinate clauses.

A dependent clause that cannot stand alone and sends its conjugated verb to the end. It is introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as weil, dass, obwohl, or wenn.

A word that joins words or clauses, such as und, aber, oder, weil, dass, or obwohl. Coordinating conjunctions keep normal word order, while subordinating ones push the verb to the end.

A verb with a separable prefix, such as aufstehen or einkaufen. In main clauses the prefix moves to the end of the sentence, as in Ich stehe früh auf.

The total set of words a learner knows or a text uses. Building vocabulary requires learning nouns with articles, verbs with their past forms, and common word combinations.

A word with a meaning close to another, such as Beginn and Anfang or sprechen and reden. Recognizing synonyms helps match paraphrased answers to what a passage actually says.

A word that expresses the opposite of another, such as groß and klein or Anfang and Ende. Contrast pairs often carry the key idea in reading and listening questions.

The central point a text or recording communicates, as distinct from supporting details. Questions about it ask what the speaker or writer most wants the audience to understand.

The purpose behind a text, such as informing, persuading, warning, or entertaining. Recognizing intent helps readers interpret tone and choose answers about why something was written.

A personal view or judgment rather than a verified fact. German texts often signal opinions with phrases like meiner Meinung nach or ich finde, and questions may ask you to separate them from facts.

A conclusion drawn by combining information in a text with general knowledge, even when it is not stated directly. These questions ask what is most likely true based on the passage.

A specific piece of information such as a name, time, price, or place. Detail questions require locating exact wording or a paraphrase in the passage rather than grasping the overall message.

A short public notice or advertisement, such as a job posting, apartment listing, or event announcement. These brief authentic texts are common sources for reading questions and demand quick scanning for key facts.

A spoken passage played during a listening task, such as a dialogue, announcement, or interview. Listeners must catch main ideas and details from speech that is usually heard only once or twice.

The skill of understanding spoken German, including announcements, conversations, and messages. It involves catching keywords, inferring meaning from context, and ignoring unfamiliar words that do not block comprehension.

The emphasis placed on a syllable, word, or phrase in speech. Stress can change meaning, as in umfahren versus umfahren, and it helps listeners identify the most important information.

The way words are pronounced, including sounds, stress, and rhythm. German features sounds like ü, ö, and the two varieties of ch, and clear pronunciation supports both speaking and listening comprehension.

Everyday informal speech used in conversation, including contractions and slang such as ich hab or nein, echt. Listening passages often use it, so learners should recognize it without necessarily producing it.

The polite way of addressing others with the pronoun Sie and matching verb forms, used with strangers, officials, and elders. The informal du is reserved for friends, family, and peers.

The words used to address someone in speech or writing, such as Herr, Frau, du, or Sie. Choosing correctly signals social awareness, and formal letters open with Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren.

A written message with a set structure: place and date, salutation, body, and closing with signature. Formal letters use Sehr geehrte and Mit freundlichen Grüßen, while informal ones use Liebe and Viele Grüße.

An electronic message that follows conventions similar to a letter, with a subject line, salutation, body, and closing. Exam writing tasks often ask for a short email in an appropriate register.

A longer piece of connected writing organized around an introduction, body, and conclusion. Good essays state a clear position, support it with reasons or examples, and use linking words to connect ideas.

The plan or structure of a piece of writing, showing how paragraphs and ideas are ordered. A clear outline keeps an essay coherent and helps the reader follow the argument.

A regional variety of German with its own pronunciation, vocabulary, and sometimes grammar, such as Bavarian or Saxon. Standard German is understood everywhere, but dialects appear in local speech and media.

Knowledge about the culture, geography, history, and daily life of German-speaking countries. It includes the three main countries Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and their regional differences in customs and vocabulary.

Public holidays observed in German-speaking regions, such as Weihnachten, Ostern, and der Tag der Deutschen Einheit. Customs, greetings, and shop closures around these dates often appear in cultural questions.