Exercises · B1
German B1 grammar-specific translations
Free B1 German grammar practice: learn every grammar topic through real sentences and get instant feedback.
Learn more about German B1
German B1 grammar topics
Here you practise one rule at a time. Pick a topic and translate real sentences until the structure comes automatically. Below are example sentences and the 18 B1 topics, each with a short explanation.
German B1 example sentences
- Nebensätze mit „wenn“, „als“ & „ob“Als ich ein Kind war, hatte ich keinen Computer.
When I was a child, I didn't have a computer. - Konjunktiv IIDas wäre eine gute Lösung.
That would be a good solution. - Konjunktiv II mit ModalverbenDu könntest mitkommen.
You could come along. - Konjunktiv II: Wünsche, Ratschläge & HöflichkeitAn deiner Stelle würde ich das nochmal überprüfen.
In your shoes I would check that again. - Das Passiv im PräsensAlle Mitarbeiter werden vom Chef informiert.
All employees are informed by the boss. - Pronominaladverbien mit „wo-“ & „da-“Du bist daran schuld.
You are to blame for that. - Fragen mit PräpositionenÜber wen habt ihr gesprochen?
Who were you talking about? - Das PlusquamperfektIch hatte gehofft, dass du mich heute Nacht nicht schlafen lässt.
I had hoped you wouldn't let me sleep tonight. - Plusquamperfekt mit „nachdem“ & „bevor“Bevor der Film anfing, hatten wir Snacks gekauft.
Before the movie started, we had bought snacks. - Indirekte RedeThomas fragt, wann wir am Samstag anfangen zu grillen.
Thomas is asking what time we start barbecuing on Saturday. - Verben als NomenDas Arbeiten im Team ist nicht immer einfach.
Working in a team is not always easy. - „Je … desto“, „entweder … oder“ & „weder … noch“Das Problem ist weder einfach noch klar.
The problem is neither simple nor clear. - „Lassen“ & „nicht brauchen zu“Du brauchst die Türe nicht abzuschließen.
You don't need to lock the door. - „Seit“ & „bis“Seit sie alt genug sind, spielen die Kinder alleine draußen.
Since they are old enough, the children play outside alone. - „Damit“ & „um … zu“Die Kinder sind ins Schwimmbad gegangen, um Spaß zu haben.
The children went to the swimming pool to have fun. - Nebensätze mit „obwohl“ & „während“Obwohl das Wetter schlecht ist, spielen die Kinder draußen.
Even though the weather is bad, the children play outside. - „Sowohl … als auch“ & „nicht nur … sondern auch“Das Essen ist nicht nur lecker, sondern auch gesund.
The food is not only delicious, but also healthy.
All 18 B1 grammar topics
Nebensätze mit „wenn“, „als“ & „ob“
Distinguish between three important subordinate-clause conjunctions.
Subordinate clauses used for various logical connections. "Wenn" introduces conditions or recurring events (Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich hier). "Als" is used exclusively for single, specific events in the past (Als ich ein Kind war, ...). "Ob" introduces indirect yes/no questions (Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt).
Konjunktiv II
Express unreal situations with „würde“, „hätte“ and „wäre“.
The subjunctive mood of the verb used for hypothetical situations, unfulfilled dreams, advice, or highly polite requests. It is mostly formed using the paraphrasing structures "würde" + infinitive, "hätte" (from haben), or "wäre" (from sein) (e.g., Wenn ich reich wäre, hätte ich ein großes Haus).
Konjunktiv II mit Modalverben
Express unreal situations with modal verbs in the subjunctive II.
The formation of the subjunctive II with modal verbs to express hypothetical obligations, abilities, or permissions. Here, the modal verbs alter their stem and take on umlaut forms in the past tense (e.g., Ich könnte dir helfen, wenn ich Zeit hätte / Ich müsste eigentlich viel mehr lernen).
Konjunktiv II: Wünsche, Ratschläge & Höflichkeit
Express wishes, advice and polite requests.
The targeted application of the subjunctive II in daily communication. These forms are used to phrase polite requests (Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?), give advice or recommendations (Du solltest mehr schlafen), or express longing wishes (Ich würde gerne Urlaub machen).
Das Passiv im Präsens
Describe actions without emphasizing the person performing them.
A sentence structure where the focus is not on the doer (agent), but on the action or the object itself. The passive voice in the present tense is formed with the auxiliary verb "werden" conjugated in position 2 and the past participle (Partizip II) of the main verb placed at the absolute end of the sentence (e.g., Das Auto wird vom Mechaniker repariert).
Das Passiv mit Modalverben
Form passive sentences with „können“, „müssen“, „sollen“, etc. in the present tense.
Passive voice sentences in the present tense that additionally include a modal verb to emphasize the necessity or possibility of the action. The modal verb stands conjugated in position 2, the past participle of the main verb sits at the end, and the unchanged auxiliary verb "werden" forms the conclusion (e.g., Die Hausaufgabe muss heute gemacht werden).
Pronominaladverbien mit „wo-“ & „da-“
Talk about things and ask about them using „woran“, „darauf“, „womit“, etc.
Special words formed by merging the elements "wo-" (for questions) or "da-" (for answers/statements) with a preposition. If the preposition begins with a vowel, an "-r-" is inserted between them (e.g., Wovon träumst du? Ich träume davon. / Worüber sprecht ihr? Wir sprechen darüber).
Fragen mit Präpositionen
Form questions such as „Worauf wartest du?“ or „Mit wem sprichst du?“.
Question sentences regarding people where the question word is firmly attached to a preposition. Unlike inanimate objects, people are not merged with "wo-"; instead, the preposition stands separately before the question words "wen" (accusative) or "wem" (dative) (e.g., Mit wem sprichst du? / Für wen ist das Geschenk?).
Das Plusquamperfekt
Describe previous actions in the past.
The past perfect tense. It is used to express that an action in the past took place chronologically before another action in the past. It is formed using the simple past of haben/sein ("hatte" or "war") combined with the past participle (Partizip II) (e.g., Ich hatte bereits gegessen, als er kam).
Plusquamperfekt mit „nachdem“ & „bevor“
Express the chronological order of past events.
Subordinate clauses that express a clear chronological order of two actions in the past. "Nachdem" indicates an action that happened prior and often requires the past perfect in the subordinate clause (Nachdem ich gelernt hatte, schlief ich). "Bevor" indicates an action that happens later (Bevor ich schlafen gehe, putze ich die Zähne).
Indirekte Rede
Report what other people have said.
The formal reporting of statements, opinions, or claims made by third parties without quoting them directly. In spoken language, the standard indicative or "dass" is often used, but in written language, news, and official reports, the subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I) is used (e.g., Der Minister sagte, er sei zufrieden).
Verben als Nomen
Use verbs as nouns, e.g. „beim Fliegen“ or „beim Lernen“.
Verbs that are used as normal nouns by capitalizing them and placing the article "das" in front. They describe the process of the activity as a concept. All nominalized infinitives in German are invariably neuter (e.g., das Lesen, das Schreiben, das Lernen; e.g., Das Lesen von Büchern macht Spaß).
„Je … desto“, „entweder … oder“ & „weder … noch“
Express connections, alternatives and exclusions.
Complex two-part connectors. "Je ... desto" indicates a proportional change, requiring a subordinate clause after "je" and a main clause with a comparative adjective after "desto" (Je mehr ich lerne, desto besser verstehe ich es). "Entweder ... oder" indicates alternatives, while "weder ... noch" excludes both options entirely.
„Lassen“ & „nicht brauchen zu“
Express permission, causation and lack of necessity.
Two crucial verbal structures. "Lassen" expresses that you allow something, let something happen, or commission someone to do something instead of doing it yourself (Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren). "Nicht brauchen zu" is used as the negation of "müssen" and indicates that an action is completely unnecessary (Du brauchst morgen nicht aufzustehen).
„Seit“ & „bis“
Express periods of time, starting points and end points.
Subordinate clauses that define the temporal boundaries of an action. "Seit" (or "seitdem") describes the exact starting point of an action in the past that is still ongoing (Seit ich in Berlin wohne, lerne ich Deutsch). "Bis" marks the exact endpoint of an action (Ich warte hier, bis du fertig bist).
„Damit“ & „um … zu“
Express goals and intentions.
Subordinate clauses that describe an intention, goal, or purpose. When the subject in the main clause and the subordinate clause are different, "damit" is used (Ich gebe dir Geld, damit du das Buch kaufst). When the subject is identical, a shortened infinitive construction with "um ... zu" is preferred (Ich lerne, um die Prüfung zu bestehen).
Nebensätze mit „obwohl“ & „während“
Express contrasts and simultaneous actions.
Connectors used for complex subordinate clauses. "Obwohl" introduces a counter-reason (concessive clause) that does not prevent the action in the main clause from happening (Obwohl es kalt ist, gehe ich schwimmen). "Während" expresses that two actions are occurring at the exact same time (Während ich koche, hört er Musik).
„Sowohl … als auch“ & „nicht nur … sondern auch“
Connect multiple people, things or characteristics.
Two-part connectors (paired conjunctions) that link elements in a sentence with equal weight. "Sowohl ... als auch" links two positive options additively (Ich spreche sowohl Deutsch als auch Englisch). "Nicht nur ... sondern auch" intensifies the list, placing a strong emphasis on the second element.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account?
No. You can start the exercises right away. A free account adds more grammar topics, audio and progress tracking.
Is B1 my level?
If you are not sure, take the level test. It helps you choose where to start.
What is the difference between mixed and grammar-specific translations?
Mixed translations combine all topics, like a real conversation. Grammar-specific translations train one rule at a time. Try the other mode too.