Foreign Language German - Basic cheat sheet

Foreign Language German - Basic · Keep the key ideas within reach.

Quick reference

Writing and Text Production (Schreiben)

Formal letter frame: 'Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,' → body → 'Mit freundlichen Grüßen' + name; no comma after the closing formula.
Informal email frame: 'Hallo Anna,' / 'Liebe Anna,' → body → 'Viele Grüße' or 'Liebe Grüße' + first name.
Letter opening: capitalize the first word of the body only if it is a noun or a full sentence start; otherwise lowercase after the comma is acceptable in informal style.
Connectors for argument: 'zunächst', 'außerdem', 'dennoch', 'allerdings', 'folglich', 'zum Schluss' - each occupies position 1 in the clause.
Complaint/request formula: 'Ich möchte mich über … beschweren' + reason + 'Ich bitte Sie, … zu …' + deadline.
Nominal style raises register: 'aufgrund der Tatsache, dass' → 'wegen'; 'in Bezug auf' → 'bezüglich'.
Word count control: a 120-word text ≈ 8–10 short sentences; count connectors and examples, not adjectives.