German A1 — Beginner: first words, family, food

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The whole German A1 level as one readable page: 3 units, 9 lessons, 65 words, 293 questions with every answer shown, a worksheet and a 10-item level test. Nothing here is behind JavaScript, and nothing needs an account.

What you can do when A1 is finished

• Greet people and introduce yourself in German
• Count, tell age, and talk about family
• Order food and use basic present-tense verbs

A1, unit by unit

First words

Hallo! Greetings and politeness

HALLO fits everyone. Mornings: GUTEN MORGEN. Daytime: GUTEN TAG. Evening: GUTEN ABEND. Leaving: TSCHÜSS. Magic trio: BITTE (please), DANKE (thanks), ENTSCHULDIGUNG (sorry).

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this German practice tests. multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation, reverse translation, matching, reorder, sentence building, word selection, error correction, dialogue completion, reading comprehension, paragraph comprehension. Every exercise works on German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register.

1. multiple choicePractice 1 [multiple choice] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Choose the contextual meaning of hallo (HAH-loh).

   1. hello
   2. good morning
   3. good day
   Show the answer

   hello

2. fill the gapPractice 2 [fill in the blank] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Type the complete Latin script expression meaning “bye”.

   Show the answer

   guten Morgen

3. translatePractice 3 [translation] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Read guten Tag (GOO-ten tahk) and give its lesson meaning.

   Show the answer

   good day

4. translate into the languagePractice 4 [reverse translation] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Produce “bye” in Latin script, not romanisation alone.

   Show the answer

   guten Abend

5. matchingPractice 5 [matching] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Match tschüss to its contextual meaning.

   1. please / you're welcome
   2. bye
   3. thanks
   Show the answer

   bye

6. put it in orderPractice 6 [reorder] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: the bread

   Show the answer

   das Brot

7. build the sentencePractice 7 [sentence building] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: the apple

   Show the answer

   Guten Tag! Wie geht es dir?

8. choose the wordPractice 8 [word selection] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Select the correct target form for “sorry / excuse me”.

   1. hallo
   2. guten Morgen
   3. Entschuldigung
   Show the answer

   Entschuldigung

9. find the mistakePractice 9 [error correction] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Replace a script, morphology, particle, or register error with the lesson model for “the bread”.

   Show the answer

   das Brot

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10 [dialogue completion] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Complete Max’s turn in the taught register: Thanks, fine. And you?

    Show the answer

    Danke, gut. Und dir?

11. readingPractice 11 [reading comprehension] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Read Auch gut, danke. Tschüss! (owkh goot, DAHN-kuh. chewss!). What exact detail is communicated?

    Show the answer

    Also fine, thanks. Bye!

12. paragraphPractice 12 [paragraph comprehension] — Hallo! Greetings and politeness: Read the complete dialogue and explain this turn’s function: Tschüss!

    Show the answer

    Bye!

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkGUTEN TAG is used…

   1. only mornings
   2. in the daytime
   3. only nights
   4. never
   Show the answer

   in the daytime

   Tag = day: daytime hello.

2. quick checkTSCHÜSS is…

   1. hello
   2. bye
   3. please
   4. sorry
   Show the answer

   bye

   Tschüss = bye.

3. quick checkDER APFEL means…

   1. the milk
   2. the apple
   3. the bread
   4. the door
   Show the answer

   the apple

   Apfel (masculine) = apple.

4. quick checkWhich is neuter?

   1. der Apfel
   2. die Milch
   3. das Brot
   4. die Tür
   Show the answer

   das Brot

   Das marks neuter nouns.

5. quick checkENTSCHULDIGUNG means…

   1. please
   2. thanks
   3. sorry
   4. hello
   Show the answer

   sorry

   Entschuldigung = sorry/excuse me.

Worksheet: Greetings worksheet

Review list. hallo · guten Morgen · guten Tag · guten Abend

Numbers and introductions

Numbers 1–10 open prices and ages. Introduce with SEIN (to be): ICH BIN = I am. Ask names: WIE HEIßT DU? (How are you called?). Answer: ICH HEIßE … Where from: WOHER KOMMST DU?

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this German practice tests. main idea, detail identification, inference, listening comprehension, dictation, listen and choose, listen and reorder, listen and fill, repeat after audio, multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation. Every exercise works on German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register.

1. the main ideaPractice 2 [main idea] — Numbers and introductions: What is the central communicative purpose of “Numbers and introductions”?

   Show the answer

   Numbers 1–10 open prices and ages.

2. spot the detailPractice 3 [detail identification] — Numbers and introductions: Read Ich komme aus Berlin. (eekh KOH-muh owss behr-LEEN.). What exact detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   I come from Berlin.

3. what is meantPractice 4 [inference] — Numbers and introductions: Infer the intended meaning or social force of Ich bin Lena. without overclaiming.

   Show the answer

   I am Lena.

4. listeningPractice 5 [listening comprehension] — Numbers and introductions: Play the synthetic audio and give its precise contextual meaning.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Hello, I am Lena. What is your name?

5. dictationPractice 6 [dictation] — Numbers and introductions: Play the labeled synthetic German audio and type the complete line in Latin script.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Ich heiße Max. Woher kommst du?

6. listen and choosePractice 7 [listen and choose] — Numbers and introductions: Play the synthetic audio and select its contextual meaning.

   1. I come from Berlin.
   2. Nice to meet you!
   3. seven

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   I come from Berlin.

7. listen, then orderPractice 8 [listen and reorder] — Numbers and introductions: Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: Are you Max?

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Bist du Max?

8. listen and fillPractice listen and fill — Numbers and introductions: Play the synthetic audio and complete the line beginning “Hallo,…”.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Hallo, ich bin Lena. Wie heißt du?

9. repeat itPractice 10 [repeat after audio] — Numbers and introductions: Repeat the synthetic model with accurate phrase grouping; no microphone score is claimed.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Ich heiße Max. Woher kommst du?

10. multiple choicePractice 11 [multiple choice] — Numbers and introductions: Choose the contextual meaning of drei (dry).

    1. three
    2. four
    3. five
    Show the answer

    three

11. fill the gapPractice 12 [fill in the blank] — Numbers and introductions: Type the complete Latin script expression meaning “four”.

    Show the answer

    vier

12. translatePractice 13 [translation] — Numbers and introductions: Read fünf (fewnf) and give its lesson meaning.

    Show the answer

    five

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkICH BIN means…

   1. you are
   2. I am
   3. he is
   4. we are
   Show the answer

   I am

   Ich bin = I am.

2. quick checkHow do you ask someone's name?

   1. Wie geht's?
   2. Wie heißt du?
   3. Woher kommst du?
   4. Wie alt?
   Show the answer

   Wie heißt du?

   Wie heißt du? = What are you called?

3. quick checkFÜNF is number…

   1. 3
   2. 4
   3. 5
   4. 6
   Show the answer

   5

   eins zwei drei vier FÜNF.

4. quick check'I come from Berlin' is…

   1. Ich bin Berlin
   2. Ich komme aus Berlin
   3. Ich aus Berlin komme
   4. Bin aus Berlin
   Show the answer

   Ich komme aus Berlin

   Ich komme AUS + place.

5. quick checkFREUT MICH means…

   1. goodbye
   2. nice to meet you
   3. good luck
   4. see you
   Show the answer

   nice to meet you

   Say it when you first meet.

Worksheet: Numbers and names worksheet

Review list. eins · zwei · drei · vier

Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins

Origin takes aus + country: ICH KOMME AUS INDIEN. With countries that carry an article (die Schweiz, die Türkei, der Iran) it becomes AUS DER SCHWEIZ. Languages are their own words: ICH SPRECHE ENGLISCH UND EIN BISSCHEN DEUTSCH.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this German practice tests. German. Every exercise works on verb-second word order, four cases with article agreement, separable prefixes, Perfekt vs Präteritum, modal particles, and Konjunktiv register — measured by clause architecture and by choosing du or Sie before the first verb..

1. multiple choicePractice 1: [multiple choice] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Choose the meaning of aus (aus) in this lesson.

   1. from (a country or city)
   2. country
   3. language
   4. to speak
   Show the answer

   from (a country or city)

2. fill the gapPractice 2: [fill in the blank] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Type the German expression meaning “country”.

   Show the answer

   das Land

3. translatePractice 3: [translation] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Interpret the German in context: Ich komme aus Indien. (ikh KOM-muh ows IN-dee-en.).

   Show the answer

   I come from India.

4. translate into the languagePractice 4: [reverse translation] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Write in German: She lives in Berlin but comes from Switzerland..

   Show the answer

   Sie wohnt in Berlin, aber sie kommt aus der Schweiz.

5. matchingPractice 5: [matching] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Match die Sprache to its lesson meaning.

   1. language
   2. from (a country or city)
   3. country
   Show the answer

   language

6. put it in orderPractice 6: [reorder] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Reconstruct the lesson model in coherent German: Do you speak English?.

   Show the answer

   Sprechen Sie Englisch?

7. build the sentencePractice 7: [sentence building] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Build the sentence with the lesson pattern (ich komme aus + country · ich spreche + language): I come from India..

   Show the answer

   Ich komme aus Indien.

8. choose the wordPractice 8: [word selection] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Select the German form for “to speak”.

   1. sprechen
   2. ein bisschen
   Show the answer

   sprechen

9. find the mistakePractice 9: [error correction] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Correct the model the lesson warns about: Ich komme von Indien.

   Show the answer

   Ich komme aus Indien.

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10: [dialogue completion] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Complete the exchange with the studied response to: Where are you from, Lena?

    Show the answer

    Aus Hamburg. Und du?

11. readingPractice 11: [reading comprehension] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Read “Ich komme aus der Schweiz, aber ich wohne in Köln.” (ikh KOM-muh ows dair SHVYTS, AH-ber ikh VOH-nuh in kurln.). What does it mean?

    Show the answer

    I come from Switzerland, but I live in Cologne.

12. paragraphPractice 12: [paragraph comprehension] Woher kommst du? Countries, languages, origins — Read the lesson dialogue as a whole and give its key move: And which languages do you speak?

    Show the answer

    Und welche Sprachen sprichst du?

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhich meaning best fits aus?

   1. from (a country or city)
   2. country
   3. language
   4. to speak
   Show the answer

   from (a country or city)

   aus (aus) means from (a country or city) in this lesson.

2. quick checkWhich meaning best fits das Land?

   1. country
   2. from (a country or city)
   3. language
   4. to speak
   Show the answer

   country

   das Land (das LANT) means country in this lesson.

3. quick checkWhich meaning best fits die Sprache?

   1. language
   2. from (a country or city)
   3. country
   4. to speak
   Show the answer

   language

   die Sprache (dee SHPRAH-khuh) means language in this lesson.

4. quick checkWhich meaning best fits sprechen?

   1. to speak
   2. from (a country or city)
   3. country
   4. language
   Show the answer

   to speak

   sprechen (SHPREH-khen) means to speak in this lesson.

5. quick checkWhich meaning best fits ein bisschen?

   1. a little
   2. from (a country or city)
   3. country
   4. language
   Show the answer

   a little

   ein bisschen (ine BISS-khen) means a little in this lesson.

Worksheet: Origin worksheet

Review list. aus · das Land · die Sprache · sprechen

Daily life

Family and age (Jahre alt)

Meet the family: MUTTER, VATER, BRUDER, SCHWESTER. Age uses SEIN + JAHRE ALT: ICH BIN ZEHN JAHRE ALT = I am 10 years old. Ask: WIE ALT BIST DU? (How old are you?)

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this German practice tests. reverse translation, matching, reorder, sentence building, word selection, error correction, dialogue completion, reading comprehension, paragraph comprehension, main idea, detail identification, inference. Every exercise works on German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register.

1. translate into the languagePractice 3 [reverse translation] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Produce “man” in Latin script, not romanisation alone.

   Show the answer

   der Bruder

2. matchingPractice 4 [matching] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Match die Schwester to its contextual meaning.

   1. son
   2. sister
   3. daughter
   Show the answer

   sister

3. put it in orderPractice 5 [reorder] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: How old are you?

   Show the answer

   Wie alt bist du?

4. build the sentencePractice 6 [sentence building] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: My sister is 7.

   Show the answer

   Meine Schwester ist sieben Jahre alt.

5. choose the wordPractice 7 [word selection] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Select the correct target form for “family”.

   1. der Freund / die Freundin
   2. die Mutter
   3. die Familie
   Show the answer

   die Familie

6. find the mistakePractice 8 [error correction] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Replace a script, morphology, particle, or register error with the lesson model for “How old are you?”.

   Show the answer

   Wie alt bist du?

7. finish the dialoguePractice 9 [dialogue completion] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Complete Lena’s turn in the taught register: Do you have siblings?

   Show the answer

   Hast du Geschwister?

8. readingPractice 10 [reading comprehension] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Read Ja, ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester. (yah, eekh HAH-buh EY-nen BROO-der oont EY-nuh SHVES-ter.). What exact detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   Yes, I have one brother and one sister.

9. paragraphPractice 11 [paragraph comprehension] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Read the complete dialogue and explain this turn’s function: Wie alt ist deine Schwester?

   Show the answer

   How old is your sister?

10. the main ideaPractice 12 [main idea] — Family and age (Jahre alt): What is the central communicative purpose of “Family and age (Jahre alt)”?

    Show the answer

    Meet the family: MUTTER, VATER, BRUDER, SCHWESTER.

11. spot the detailPractice 13 [detail identification] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Read Hast du Geschwister? (hahst doo guh-SHVIS-ter?). What exact detail is communicated?

    Show the answer

    Do you have siblings?

12. what is meantPractice 14 [inference] — Family and age (Jahre alt): Infer the intended meaning or social force of Wie alt bist du? without overclaiming.

    Show the answer

    How old are you?

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkICH BIN ZEHN JAHRE ALT means…

   1. I have ten houses
   2. I am ten years old
   3. I like ten songs
   4. I see ten birds
   Show the answer

   I am ten years old

   Bin + Jahre alt = age.

2. quick checkDIE SCHWESTER is…

   1. brother
   2. sister
   3. mother
   4. daughter
   Show the answer

   sister

   Schwester = sister.

3. quick checkWhich asks about age?

   1. Wie geht's?
   2. Wie alt bist du?
   3. Wo wohnst du?
   4. Wie spät?
   Show the answer

   Wie alt bist du?

   Wie alt = how old.

4. quick check'My sister is 7' is…

   1. Meine Schwester ist sieben Jahre alt
   2. Meine Schwester hat sieben
   3. Meine Schwester sieben Jahre
   4. Ich habe Schwester sieben
   Show the answer

   Meine Schwester ist sieben Jahre alt

   Ist + number + Jahre alt.

5. quick checkEINEN BRUDER UND EINE SCHWESTER means…

   1. two brothers
   2. two sisters
   3. a brother and a sister
   4. no siblings
   Show the answer

   a brother and a sister

   Einen (m) / eine (f) = a. .

Worksheet: Family worksheet

Review list. die Mutter · der Vater · der Bruder · die Schwester

Food and present verbs

Food first! WASSER, BROT, MILCH, APFEL. Order with EINEN KAFFEE, BITTE (a coffee, please). Regular verbs: LERNEN → ICH LERNE, DU LERNST, ER LERNT. Drop -EN, add -E/-ST/-T!

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this German practice tests. listening comprehension, dictation, listen and choose, listen and reorder, listen and fill, repeat after audio, multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation, reverse translation, matching, reorder. Every exercise works on German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register.

1. listeningPractice 4 [listening comprehension] — Food and present verbs: Play the synthetic audio and give its precise contextual meaning.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Two euros.

2. dictationPractice 5 [dictation] — Food and present verbs: Play the labeled synthetic German audio and type the complete line in Latin script.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Guten Tag! Einen Kaffee, bitte.

3. listen and choosePractice 6 [listen and choose] — Food and present verbs: Play the synthetic audio and select its contextual meaning.

   1. Large or small?
   2. Large, thanks. How much is it?
   3. chicken

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Large or small?

4. listen, then orderPractice 7 [listen and reorder] — Food and present verbs: Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: I learn German.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Ich lerne Deutsch.

5. listen and fillPractice listen and fill — Food and present verbs: Play the synthetic audio and complete the line beginning “Zwei…”.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Zwei Euro.

6. repeat itPractice 9 [repeat after audio] — Food and present verbs: Repeat the synthetic model with accurate phrase grouping; no microphone score is claimed.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Guten Tag! Einen Kaffee, bitte.

7. multiple choicePractice 10 [multiple choice] — Food and present verbs: Choose the contextual meaning of das Brot (dahss broht).

   1. bread
   2. milk
   3. apple
   Show the answer

   bread

8. fill the gapPractice 11 [fill in the blank] — Food and present verbs: Type the complete Latin script expression meaning “pen”.

   Show the answer

   die Milch

9. translatePractice 12 [translation] — Food and present verbs: Read der Apfel (dehr AHP-fel) and give its lesson meaning.

   Show the answer

   apple

10. translate into the languagePractice 13 [reverse translation] — Food and present verbs: Produce “rice” in Latin script, not romanisation alone.

    Show the answer

    der Reis

11. matchingPractice 14 [matching] — Food and present verbs: Match das Hähnchen to its contextual meaning.

    1. coffee
    2. chicken
    3. tea
    Show the answer

    chicken

12. put it in orderPractice 15 [reorder] — Food and present verbs: Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: She sings well.

    Show the answer

    Zwei Euro.

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkDU LERNST means…

   1. I learn
   2. you learn
   3. he learns
   4. they learn
   Show the answer

   you learn

   -ST = you.

2. quick checkDAS HÄHNCHEN is…

   1. bread
   2. rice
   3. chicken
   4. apple
   Show the answer

   chicken

   Hähnchen = chicken.

3. quick checkWIE VIEL KOSTET DAS? means…

   1. Where is it?
   2. How much is it?
   3. What time is it?
   4. Who is it?
   Show the answer

   How much is it?

   Wie viel = how much.

4. quick check'She sings well' is…

   1. Sie singe gut
   2. Sie singt gut
   3. Sie singst gut
   4. Sie singen gut
   Show the answer

   Sie singt gut

   She = -T: singt.

5. quick checkEINEN (not EIN) Kaffee because…

   1. coffee is plural
   2. ordering uses accusative
   3. it sounds nice
   4. Kaffee is feminine
   Show the answer

   ordering uses accusative

   Einen = masculine accusative. .

Worksheet: Food worksheet

Review list. das Wasser · das Brot · die Milch · der Apfel

Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt

A home is described with ES GIBT + accusative: ES GIBT EINEN TISCH (there is a table) — einen shows the case. Rooms: DAS WOHNZIMMER, DIE KÜCHE, DAS SCHLAFZIMMER, DAS BAD.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this German practice tests. German. Every exercise works on verb-second word order, four cases with article agreement, separable prefixes, Perfekt vs Präteritum, modal particles, and Konjunktiv register — measured by clause architecture and by choosing du or Sie before the first verb..

1. multiple choicePractice 1: [multiple choice] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Choose the meaning of es gibt (es geept) in this lesson.

   1. there is / there are
   2. living room
   3. kitchen
   4. bedroom
   Show the answer

   there is / there are

2. fill the gapPractice 2: [fill in the blank] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Type the German expression meaning “living room”.

   Show the answer

   das Wohnzimmer

3. translatePractice 3: [translation] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Interpret the German in context: Es gibt einen Tisch in der Küche. (es geept EYE-nen tish in dair KEW-khuh.).

   Show the answer

   There is a table in the kitchen.

4. translate into the languagePractice 4: [reverse translation] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Write in German: The flat has three rooms..

   Show the answer

   Die Wohnung hat drei Zimmer.

5. matchingPractice 5: [matching] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Match die Küche to its lesson meaning.

   1. kitchen
   2. there is / there are
   3. living room
   Show the answer

   kitchen

6. put it in orderPractice 6: [reorder] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Reconstruct the lesson model in coherent German: My room is small but bright..

   Show the answer

   Mein Zimmer ist klein, aber hell.

7. build the sentencePractice 7: [sentence building] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Build the sentence with the lesson pattern (es gibt einen/ein/eine + noun): There is a table in the kitchen..

   Show the answer

   Es gibt einen Tisch in der Küche.

8. choose the wordPractice 8: [word selection] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Select the German form for “bedroom”.

   1. das Schlafzimmer
   2. der Tisch
   Show the answer

   das Schlafzimmer

9. find the mistakePractice 9: [error correction] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Correct the model the lesson warns about: Es gibt ein Tisch.

   Show the answer

   Es gibt einen Tisch.

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10: [dialogue completion] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Complete the exchange with the studied response to: How do you live, Max?

    Show the answer

    In einer kleinen Wohnung. Es gibt zwei Zimmer.

11. readingPractice 11: [reading comprehension] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Read “Und eine Küche?” (unt EYE-nuh KEW-khuh?). What does it mean?

    Show the answer

    And a kitchen?

12. paragraphPractice 12: [paragraph comprehension] Living: rooms, furniture and es gibt — Read the lesson dialogue as a whole and give its key move: Yes, and there is a big table in the living room.

    Show the answer

    Ja, und es gibt einen großen Tisch im Wohnzimmer.

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhich meaning best fits es gibt?

   1. there is / there are
   2. living room
   3. kitchen
   4. bedroom
   Show the answer

   there is / there are

   es gibt (es geept) means there is / there are in this lesson.

2. quick checkWhich meaning best fits das Wohnzimmer?

   1. living room
   2. there is / there are
   3. kitchen
   4. bedroom
   Show the answer

   living room

   das Wohnzimmer (das VOHN-tsim-mer) means living room in this lesson.

3. quick checkWhich meaning best fits die Küche?

   1. kitchen
   2. there is / there are
   3. living room
   4. bedroom
   Show the answer

   kitchen

   die Küche (dee KEW-khuh) means kitchen in this lesson.

4. quick checkWhich meaning best fits das Schlafzimmer?

   1. bedroom
   2. there is / there are
   3. living room
   4. kitchen
   Show the answer

   bedroom

   das Schlafzimmer (das SHLAHF-tsim-mer) means bedroom in this lesson.

5. quick checkWhich meaning best fits der Tisch?

   1. table
   2. there is / there are
   3. living room
   4. kitchen
   Show the answer

   table

   der Tisch (dair tish) means table in this lesson.

Worksheet: Living worksheet

Review list. es gibt · das Wohnzimmer · die Küche · das Schlafzimmer

Describing words

Colors and adjectives

Predicate adjectives never change: DAS AUTO IST ROT. But before a noun they add -E after der/die/das: DER ROTE APFEL, DIE WEIßE BLUSE, DAS KLEINE HAUS.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this German practice tests. sentence building, word selection, error correction, dialogue completion, reading comprehension, paragraph comprehension, main idea, detail identification, inference, listening comprehension, dictation, listen and choose. Every exercise works on German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register.

1. build the sentencePractice 5 [sentence building] — Colors and adjectives: Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: The red apple.

   Show the answer

   Der rote Apfel.

2. choose the wordPractice 6 [word selection] — Colors and adjectives: Select the correct target form for “black”.

   1. groß
   2. klein
   3. schwarz
   Show the answer

   schwarz

3. find the mistakePractice 7 [error correction] — Colors and adjectives: Replace a script, morphology, particle, or register error with the lesson model for “The car is red.”.

   Show the answer

   Das Auto ist rot.

4. finish the dialoguePractice 8 [dialogue completion] — Colors and adjectives: Complete Max’s turn in the taught register: Yes, it is big and red.

   Show the answer

   Ja, es ist groß und rot.

5. readingPractice 9 [reading comprehension] — Colors and adjectives: Read Ich mag das weiße Haus. (eekh mahk dahss VY-suh hows.). What exact detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   I like the white house.

6. paragraphPractice 10 [paragraph comprehension] — Colors and adjectives: Read the complete dialogue and explain this turn’s function: Und das rote Auto?

   Show the answer

   And the red car?

7. the main ideaPractice 11 [main idea] — Colors and adjectives: What is the central communicative purpose of “Colors and adjectives”?

   Show the answer

   Predicate adjectives never change: DAS AUTO IST ROT.

8. spot the detailPractice 12 [detail identification] — Colors and adjectives: Read Ja, es ist groß und rot. (yah, ess ist grohss oont roht.). What exact detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   Yes, it is big and red.

9. what is meantPractice 13 [inference] — Colors and adjectives: Infer the intended meaning or social force of Das Auto ist rot. without overclaiming.

   Show the answer

   The car is red.

10. listeningPractice 14 [listening comprehension] — Colors and adjectives: Play the synthetic audio and give its precise contextual meaning.

    audio drill — play it in the course player

    Show the answer

    And the red car?

11. dictationPractice 15 [dictation] — Colors and adjectives: Play the labeled synthetic German audio and type the complete line in Latin script.

    audio drill — play it in the course player

    Show the answer

    Es ist sehr schön.

12. listen and choosePractice 16 [listen and choose] — Colors and adjectives: Play the synthetic audio and select its contextual meaning.

    1. Yes, it is big and red.
    2. I like the white house.
    3. small

    audio drill — play it in the course player

    Show the answer

    Yes, it is big and red.

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkDAS AUTO IST ROT: why plain ROT?

   1. cars are special
   2. after IST adjectives stay plain
   3. rot never changes
   4. typo
   Show the answer

   after IST adjectives stay plain

   Predicate = no ending.

2. quick checkDER ROTE APFEL: why ROTE?

   1. it sounds nice
   2. before nouns add -E
   3. plural
   4. formal
   Show the answer

   before nouns add -E

   Attributive after der/die/das: -E.

3. quick checkDIE WEIßE BLUSE means…

   1. the white house
   2. the white blouse
   3. the black blouse
   4. the big blouse
   Show the answer

   the white blouse

   Bluse (f) + weiße.

4. quick checkGROß means…

   1. small
   2. big
   3. red
   4. fast
   Show the answer

   big

   Groß = big.

5. quick checkAfter IST, KLEIN stays…

   1. kleine
   2. klein
   3. kleinen
   4. kleinem
   Show the answer

   klein

   Predicate adjectives: plain!

Worksheet: Colors worksheet

Review list. rot · blau · grün · gelb

Days, months, and telling time

Days are masculine: DER MONTAG. Time: WIE SPÄT IST ES? ES IST DREI UHR. Half past counts to the NEXT hour: HALB VIER = half to four = 3:30!

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this German practice tests. listen and reorder, listen and fill, repeat after audio, multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation, reverse translation, matching, reorder, sentence building, word selection, error correction. Every exercise works on German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register.

1. listen, then orderPractice 6 [listen and reorder] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: It is half past three.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Es ist halb vier.

2. listen and fillPractice listen and fill — Days, months, and telling time: Play the synthetic audio and complete the line beginning “Sehen…”.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Sehen wir uns morgen?

3. repeat itPractice 8 [repeat after audio] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Repeat the synthetic model with accurate phrase grouping; no microphone score is claimed.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Ja, am Dienstag um zehn Uhr.

4. multiple choicePractice 9 [multiple choice] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Choose the contextual meaning of Montag (MOHN-tahk).

   1. Monday
   2. Tuesday
   3. Wednesday
   Show the answer

   Monday

5. fill the gapPractice 10 [fill in the blank] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Type the complete Latin script expression meaning “Tuesday”.

   Show the answer

   Dienstag

6. translatePractice 11 [translation] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Read Mittwoch (MIT-vokh) and give its lesson meaning.

   Show the answer

   Wednesday

7. translate into the languagePractice 12 [reverse translation] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Produce “today” in Latin script, not romanisation alone.

   Show the answer

   heute

8. matchingPractice 13 [matching] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Match morgen to its contextual meaning.

   1. yesterday
   2. tomorrow
   3. week
   Show the answer

   tomorrow

9. put it in orderPractice 14 [reorder] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: It is three o'clock.

   Show the answer

   Wie spät ist es?

10. build the sentencePractice 15 [sentence building] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Rebuild this model with correct German case, gender, verb position, compounds, and formal versus informal register: It is half past three.

    Show the answer

    Es ist halb vier.

11. choose the wordPractice 16 [word selection] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Select the correct target form for “clock / o'clock”.

    1. Montag
    2. Dienstag
    3. die Uhr
    Show the answer

    die Uhr

12. find the mistakePractice 17 [error correction] — Days, months, and telling clock / o'clock: Replace a script, morphology, particle, or register error with the lesson model for “It is three o'clock.”.

    Show the answer

    Wie spät ist es?

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkHALB VIER means…

   1. half past four
   2. half past three
   3. four halves
   4. half a day
   Show the answer

   half past three

   Halb counts to the NEXT hour.

2. quick checkWIE SPÄT IST ES? means…

   1. What day is it?
   2. What time is it?
   3. Where are you?
   4. How are you?
   Show the answer

   What time is it?

   Spät = late/time.

3. quick checkES IST EIN UHR uses EIN because…

   1. one is lucky
   2. Uhr is feminine (eine→ein?) no: ein Uhr is fixed
   3. morning
   4. all times
   Show the answer

   Uhr is feminine (eine→ein?) no: ein Uhr is fixed

   Fixed phrase: EIN Uhr.

4. quick checkGerman days are…

   1. lowercase
   2. capitalised (all nouns!)
   3. in English
   4. never used
   Show the answer

   capitalised (all nouns!)

   ALL German nouns capitalise.

5. quick checkMORGEN means…

   1. today
   2. tomorrow
   3. yesterday
   4. morning only
   Show the answer

   tomorrow

   Morgen = tomorrow (also morning!).

Worksheet: Time worksheet

Review list. Montag · Dienstag · Mittwoch · heute

Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet

Weather is spoken with es: ES REGNET, ES SCHNEIT, ES IST WARM. With zu + adjective it needs no noun: ES IST ZU KALT. Seasons take im: IM WINTER, IM SOMMER.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this German practice tests. German. Every exercise works on verb-second word order, four cases with article agreement, separable prefixes, Perfekt vs Präteritum, modal particles, and Konjunktiv register — measured by clause architecture and by choosing du or Sie before the first verb..

1. multiple choicePractice 1: [multiple choice] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Choose the meaning of es regnet (es RAYG-net) in this lesson.

   1. it is raining
   2. it is snowing
   3. winter
   4. warm
   Show the answer

   it is raining

2. fill the gapPractice 2: [fill in the blank] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Type the German expression meaning “it is snowing”.

   Show the answer

   es schneit

3. translatePractice 3: [translation] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Interpret the German in context: Es ist heute kalt. (es ist HOY-tuh kalt.).

   Show the answer

   It is cold today.

4. translate into the languagePractice 4: [reverse translation] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Write in German: In winter it often snows..

   Show the answer

   Im Winter schneit es oft.

5. matchingPractice 5: [matching] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Match der Winter to its lesson meaning.

   1. winter
   2. it is raining
   3. it is snowing
   Show the answer

   winter

6. put it in orderPractice 6: [reorder] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Reconstruct the lesson model in coherent German: It is too warm for a jacket..

   Show the answer

   Es ist zu warm für eine Jacke.

7. build the sentencePractice 7: [sentence building] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Build the sentence with the lesson pattern (es ist + adjective · es + verb (regnet/schneit)): It is cold today..

   Show the answer

   Es ist heute kalt.

8. choose the wordPractice 8: [word selection] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Select the German form for “warm”.

   1. warm
   2. zu
   Show the answer

   warm

9. find the mistakePractice 9: [error correction] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Correct the model the lesson warns about: Es ist kalt heute?

   Show the answer

   Ist es heute kalt?

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10: [dialogue completion] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Complete the exchange with the studied response to: How is the weather today?

    Show the answer

    Es ist kalt und es regnet.

11. readingPractice 11: [reading comprehension] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Read “Im Winter regnet es hier nie — es schneit.” (im VIN-ter RAYG-net es heer nee — es SHNYTE.). What does it mean?

    Show the answer

    In winter it never rains here — it snows.

12. paragraphPractice 12: [paragraph comprehension] Weather and seasons: es ist kalt, es regnet — Read the lesson dialogue as a whole and give its key move: Then we need a warm jacket.

    Show the answer

    Dann brauchen wir eine warme Jacke.

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhich meaning best fits es regnet?

   1. it is raining
   2. it is snowing
   3. winter
   4. warm
   Show the answer

   it is raining

   es regnet (es RAYG-net) means it is raining in this lesson.

2. quick checkWhich meaning best fits es schneit?

   1. it is snowing
   2. it is raining
   3. winter
   4. warm
   Show the answer

   it is snowing

   es schneit (es SHNYTE) means it is snowing in this lesson.

3. quick checkWhich meaning best fits der Winter?

   1. winter
   2. it is raining
   3. it is snowing
   4. warm
   Show the answer

   winter

   der Winter (dair VIN-ter) means winter in this lesson.

4. quick checkWhich meaning best fits warm?

   1. warm
   2. it is raining
   3. it is snowing
   4. winter
   Show the answer

   warm

   warm (varm) means warm in this lesson.

5. quick checkWhich meaning best fits zu?

   1. too (before an adjective)
   2. it is raining
   3. it is snowing
   4. winter
   Show the answer

   too (before an adjective)

   zu (tsoo) means too (before an adjective) in this lesson.

Worksheet: Weather worksheet

Review list. es regnet · es schneit · der Winter · warm

Recall drills — 130 more questions from the A1 words

These 130 drills are generated from the German A1 vocabulary list — the words of “First words” through “Describing words”, in both directions: recognition (word → meaning) and production (meaning → word). They re-ask what the course data already contains; no answer here was written by a machine, and a generated drill is practice, never a lesson.

The A1 test — 10 items

The 10-item test closes German A1. Answers are shown; in the course player the same test decides whether German A2 unlocks.

1. translate into the languageSay: hello

   Show the answer

   hallo

2. translate into the languageSay: I am Lena

   Show the answer

   Ich bin Lena

3. fill the gapIch bin ___ Jahre alt (I am 9)

   Show the answer

   neun

4. choose'Do you speak English?'

   1. Sprichst du Englisch?
   2. Spreche ich Englisch?
   3. Spricht sie Englisch?
   4. Sprechen Englisch?
   Show the answer

   Sprichst du Englisch?

5. translate into EnglishWie viel kostet das?

   Show the answer

   How much is it?

6. fill the gapDer ___ Apfel (red)

   Show the answer

   rote

7. put it in orderOrder: alt / bin / Jahre / zehn / ich

   Show the answer

   ich bin zehn Jahre alt

8. say it out loudSay aloud: Einen Kaffee, bitte.

   Show the answer

   Einen Kaffee, bitte.

9. fill the gapEs ist halb ___ (half past three)

   Show the answer

   vier

10. choose'My sister is 7'

    1. Meine Schwester ist sieben Jahre alt
    2. Meine Schwester hat sieben
    3. Meine Schwester sieben Jahre
    4. Ich habe Schwester sieben
    Show the answer

    Meine Schwester ist sieben Jahre alt

German A1 beyond the drills — culture, reading, listening, idioms

These sections are written for German A1 specifically. The reading text is EkGuru's own; the culture note cites where its facts come from; the idioms and the mistakes list are the ones this level actually trips over.

Culture note

The first decision in every German sentence is not the verb but the pronoun: du or Sie. Du is for family, friends, students and anyone who has offered it; Sie is for strangers, officials, most colleagues until someone proposes the switch — and the proposal always comes from the older or senior person, usually with «Wollen wir uns duzen?». Getting this wrong is heard as either coldness or presumption, not as bad grammar, which is why A1 spends a whole lesson on it.

Source (named, not linked): en.wikipedia.org, the article “German language”.

Reading — read this aloud, slowly

What it says: Lena comes into the class for the first time. She says: 'Good morning, my name is Lena. What is your name?' Max answers: 'I am Max. Where are you from?' — 'From Hamburg. And you?' — 'From Cologne.' The teacher comes in and says: 'Good morning! I am Mr Wolf.' Everyone says: 'Good morning, Mr Wolf!'

Listening — one voice, one text

Use the speaker button to hear this text with a browser voice tagged de-DE; playback starts only after a click. If no matching voice is installed, read it aloud yourself — the rhythm is the point.

What it says: Lena: Hello! My name is Lena. What is your name? Max: I am Max. How are you? Lena: Good, thanks. And you? Max: Also good. Where are you from?

10 idioms and fixed phrases

The 3 mistakes this level makes

• Ich bin gut. → Mir geht es gut. «Bist du gut?» asks about quality or skill; the state is «mir geht es gut».
• Ich heiße bin Max. → Ich heiße Max. / Ich bin Max. heißen and sein are two different verbs; one sentence uses one.
• Guten Morgen, wie geht's Ihnen, Max? → Guten Morgen, wie geht's dir, Max? First names take du; «wie geht's Ihnen» belongs with Herr/Frau + surname.

Your task

Introduce yourself twice Write the same introduction twice in German: once to a classmate (du), once to a professor's secretary at a first meeting (Sie, surname, no first name). Read both aloud. Then swap one word and check that the whole sentence still agrees — verb form, possessive and greeting all follow the pronoun you chose, and a mixed pair is what a listener hears first.

After A1: the A1+ checkpoint

A1+ is not a certificate — it is the half-step between German A1 and the next level, and it is on this site’s ladder because language schools use it. You are at A1+ when you can ask for things, give a phone number, name the days. Get there by working the recall drills above and the review deck until nothing on this page surprises you, then open the A2 pages.

Keep going