Intermediate German For Dummies

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780470226247
• ISBN10: 0470226242
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-03-31
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Need to brush up on your German? Intermediate German For Dummies is your key to success in becoming confident in both written and spoken German. It gives you the straight talk and nitty-gritty detail that will see you successfully through any major or minor roadblocks to communicating in German.This friendly, hands-on workbook is loaded with practical examples and useful exercises so you can practice how native speakers use the language. From vocabulary and numbers to juggling tenses, you'll get a clear understanding of the nuances of German style and usage that will have you writing and speaking in no time. Plus, you'll find multiple charts that provide conjugations for all types of German verbs. You'll get up to speed with German grammar, master essential differences between German and English language usage, and be able to communicate effectively when traveling or conducting business. Discover how to: Use fundamental German grammar, from nouns, adjectives, and adverbs to pronouns, prepositions, and conjunctions Select and conjugate German verbs correctly Understand the importance of grammatical gender in German Avoid the most common writing mistakes Use numbers and express dates and times Name countries and nationalities in German Expand your German vocabulary exponentially Get comfortable with the subjunctive Combine verbs with confidence and competenceIf you're heading to any German-speaking country, sharpen your German-language skills the fun and easy way with Intermediate German For Dummies.

Author Biography

Wendy Foster was born in Connecticut and grew up in Scituate, Massachusetts. While studying in France, she traveled around Europe, and became curious about the German language and culture. After graduating with a teaching certificate and a degree in French, she decided to return to Europe to study German. Her love of the Alps inspired her to live in Munich, where she spent 30 years. During that time, she studied German, completed her MA in French at Middlebury College in Paris, and later learned Spanish in Spain. Her professional experience includes teaching Business English, German, French, and intercultural communication skills, as well as writing and translating. She recently returned to her New England roots, where she works from her home overlooking a spectacular salt marsh that constantly beckons her to go kayaking, walking, bird watching, and swimming.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Basic Building Blocks of German

Assembling the Basic Tools for German Sentences

Sorting Out Word Gender and Case

Laying the Foundations of German

Building Your Word Power

Getting Started Now: Writing in the Present

Grasping the Present Tense

Are You Asking or Telling Me? Questions and Commands

Answering Intelligently with Yes, No, and Maybe

Describing Your Mood: Summing Up the Subjunctive

In the Mood: Combining Verbs with Modal Auxiliaries

Sorting Out Separable- and Inseparable- Prefix Verbs

Fine Tuning Your Writing with Flair

Sounding More Like a Native with Verb Combinations

Adding Adjectives for Description

Comparing with Adjectives and Adverbs

Connecting with Conjunctions

Your Preposition Primer

Looking Back and Ahead: Writing in the Past and the Future

Conversing about the Past: Perfecting the Present Perfect

Narrating the (Simple) Past: Fact and Fiction

Looking to the Future and Avoiding It

The Part of Tens

Ten Tips for Optimizing Your German

Ten Pitfalls to Avoid in German

Appendixes

Verb Charts

Case Charts

English-German Dictionary

German-English Dictionary

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.