Top German A2 Grammar Topics (Updated 2025 )

Introduction

The German A2 level builds upon the beginner’s foundation, introducing you to a richer vocabulary and more complex sentence structures that empower you to navigate everyday conversations more confidently. As the second level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), A2 equips you with the ability to express your opinions, describe experiences, respond to common social situations, and solve simple problems effectively in German.

Whether you’re planning a vacation, making hotel reservations, or discussing your daily routine, mastering the A2 grammar topics can boost your communication skills and bring you closer to fluency. Let’s explore the essential German A2 grammar topics that will sharpen your language capabilities in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

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What is German A2?

At this level, you will have a little more than basic knowledge, but you may still feel the interference of your native language.  You have the ability to make more complex sentences as compared to the A1 level. Some companies might accept individuals with German A2 level, but it is not sufficient for academic purposes. Once you achieve this level, you will have the following:

• Basic command of the language on specific subjects
• Have simple face-to-face conversations about your daily activities, likes and dislikes, planning a vacation, making a hotel reservation etc.
• Explain a problem and give solutions for some problems.
• Respond to invitations

As with the other levels, there are 4 modules in A2 German test- Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. It is a 60 points exam and you have to score a minimum 36 points (60%) to pass the exam.

Detailed Breakdown of the Four Exam Modules

The German A2 exam tests your language skills across four key modules: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Understanding the structure and expectations of each will help you prepare efficiently.

• Reading: You will be tested on your ability to understand short texts such as advertisements, messages, signs, and simple articles related to everyday life.
  Tip: Practice reading German newspapers tailored for learners, children’s books, and simple dialogues to improve comprehension skills.

• Writing: This section requires writing short texts, such as filling out forms, writing postcards, or simple emails. You may need to describe your day or explain simple problems in writing.
  Tip: Focus on sentence structure and using correct grammar, especially the cases, verb conjugations, and common phrases.

• Listening: Expect to listen to dialogues, announcements, and interviews spoken at a slow pace with clear pronunciation. You may be asked to answer questions based on these.
  Tip: Use podcasts, YouTube lessons (like Entri’s Malayalam German series), and language learning apps with audio to hone your listening skills.

• Speaking: This tests your ability to hold simple conversations, talk about your daily routine, likes and dislikes, and respond to questions. You might also describe a situation or solve a straightforward problem.
  Tip: Practice speaking with a partner or join Entri’s live German courses for interactive speaking practice and personalized feedback.

German A2 Grammar Topics

Since the German A2 level is a bit more advanced than the A1 level, you need to cover a few more grammar topics. The German A2 grammar topics are:

Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are formed using a reflexive pronoun. It can be in the accusative or dative. Some of the reflexive pronouns in German are mich (myself), dich (yourself), mir (myself), dir (yourself), uns (ourselves), or euch (yourselves).

Example:

Wir verlieben uns.

We are falling in love with each other.

Dative Articles

The dative case in German shows the indirect object of the sentence. It is used to the answer the question: To or for whom? In the nominative and accusative cases, only the masculine changes whereas in the dative case, all the words change.

Example:

Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch.
I give the man the book.

Adjectives

In German, adjectives agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe. Adjectives can come before or after the noun. When an adjective is used before a noun, it declines. The adjectives that come after the noun are separated from the noun by a form of sein (to be).

Example:

Die Sonne ist gelb.
The sun is yellow.

Some other adjectives in German are: kalt (cold), weich (soft), laut (loud), glücklich (happy), langsam (slow), schnell (fast) etc.

Preposition

The prepositions in German are divided into five categories:

• locative (direction)
• locative (location)
• modal
• temporal
• causal

Example:

Wir fliegen morgen nach Italien.
We are flying to Italy tomorrow.

Prepositions can also be divided according to the case: accusative, dative, or genitive.

Indirect Questions

The structure of indirect question in German is question-word + subject + object + verb. This is different from that of normal questions. Indirect questions, the verb is placed at the end of the sentence.

Example:

Wann hat er Zeit?

When does he have time?

If there’s no question word, we use ob in the indirect question.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are words that express ability, necessity, obligation, permission or possibility. In German, modal verbs are used with the infinitive of the verb. The modal verbs in German are dürfen (may), können (can), mögen (may), müssen (must), sollen (should) and wollen (want to).

In the present and simple past, modal verb is conjugated using the the finite form of the modal verb. However, to conjugate them in the perfect tense, we use the infinitive form of the modal verb and full verb.

Example:

Er konnte tanzen (He could dance.)

Du musst schlafen (You must sleep)

Comparatives

Forming a comparative adjective in German is similar to that in English. It can be done by adding an -er to the end of the adjective or adverb. For example laut > lauter (louder). When we use this in a sentence, we use the word als (than) to complete the comparison

Example: 

Paul ist lauterals Peter (Paul is louder than Peter).

Verbs in Simple Past

In German, the -te ending to form the simple past of a verb. The ending depends upon the person. As in the present tense, each “person” (he, you, they, etc.) has different verb endings. The four different endings in the German simple past tense are -te, -test, -tet and -ten.

Examples:

ich spielte (I played)

er spielte (He palyed)

wir spielten (We played)

ihr spieltet (You (masculine) played)

Adverbs

Adverbs (Adverbien) are describing words that are used with verbs, adjectives as well as other adverbs. In German, adverbs are used to describe place, time, manner etc. Some of the adverbs used in German are (draußen, hier …), (gestern, abends …), (also, darum …) and(anders, gern …).

Example:
Sie fährt schnell.

Vocabulary Expansion Strategies for A2 Learners

Building a strong vocabulary is essential for effective communication at the A2 level. Here are some powerful strategies:

• Thematic Vocabulary Lists: Learn words grouped by topics such as travel, shopping, food, work, and family. This contextual learning enhances memorization and application.

• Spaced Repetition Systems (SRS): Use apps like Anki or Memrise that space review sessions to increase retention. Research shows spaced repetition can improve long-term retention by over 400%. (Source: Frontiers in Psychology, 2018)

• Contextual Learning: Instead of isolated words, learn vocabulary through sentences, dialogues, and short stories to understand usage and grammar in context.

• Active Use: Write sentences, engage in conversations, or write journal entries in German using newly learned vocabulary.

• Visual Aids: Use flashcards with images, color-coded grammar hints, or mind maps to connect words with meanings visually.

• Regular Review: Dedicate time daily to revise and expand vocabulary, balancing new words with review of old ones.

Example Conversations and Dialogues Using A2 Grammar

Engaging with practical dialogues helps solidify your grasp of A2 grammar in real-world contexts. Here are a couple of sample conversations:

Booking a Hotel Room:

• Receptionist: Guten Tag! Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen? (Good day! How can I help you?)

• You: Hallo! Ich möchte ein Zimmer reservieren, bitte. (Hello! I would like to reserve a room, please.)

• Receptionist: Für wie viele Nächte? (For how many nights?)

• You: Für drei Nächte, von Montag bis Donnerstag. (For three nights, from Monday to Thursday.)

• Receptionist: Haben Sie einen Wunsch bezüglich des Zimmers? (Do you have any preferences regarding the room?)

• You: Ja, ein ruhiges Zimmer mit WLAN. (Yes, a quiet room with Wi-Fi.)

Discussing Hobbies:

• Friend: Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit? (What do you like to do in your free time?)

• You: Ich spiele gern Fußball und lese Bücher. (I like playing football and reading books.)

• Friend: Das klingt toll! Spielst du oft? (That sounds great! Do you play often?)

• You: Ja, meistens am Wochenende. (Yes, mostly on weekends.)

Interactive Grammar Practice Quizzes and Exercises

Practice is key to mastering A2 grammar. Incorporate interactive exercises such as:

• Reflexive Verbs Quiz: Choose the correct reflexive pronoun to complete sentences like “Wir ___ freuen uns auf das Wochenende.” (Options: uns, euch, sich)

• Dative Case Practice: Fill in the blanks with correct dative articles: “Ich gebe ___ Mann das Buch.” (dem, den, der)

• Modal Verbs Exercise: Conjugate modal verbs in sentences, e.g., “Du ___ (müssen) lernen.”

• Comparative Sentences: Form sentences comparing two people or objects using adjectives and als: “Das Auto ist schneller als das Fahrrad.”

• Simple Past Tense Fill-ins: Convert present tense sentences to simple past: “Ich spiele Fußball” → “Ich ___ Fußball.”

• Preposition Practice: Identify the correct preposition based on context: “Wir fahren ___ Italien.” (nach, in, auf)

Embedding or linking to such quizzes within the blog increases engagement and helps learners self-assess.

Common Mistakes Learners Make at A2 Level

Even at the A2 level, learners frequently face certain recurring challenges. Here’s how to recognize and overcome them:

• Incorrect Case Usage: Confusing the dative and accusative cases is common, especially with prepositions. For example, using “Ich sehe dem Mann” instead of “Ich sehe den Mann”.
  Tip: Memorize which prepositions require which cases and practice with declension tables.

• Verb Conjugation Errors: Forgetting to conjugate verbs correctly for the person and tense, such as “Er gehen” instead of “Er geht”.
  Tip: Regularly practice verb tables, focusing on irregular and modal verbs.

• Adjective Declension Mistakes: Adjective endings vary based on gender, case, and whether preceded by a definite or indefinite article. Many learners omit or misapply these endings.
  Tip: Use adjective declension charts and practice with examples daily.

• Sentence Structure: Incorrect word order—especially the placement of verbs in subordinate clauses or questions—is a frequent problem.
  Tip: Study common sentence patterns and parse longer sentences into parts to understand the placement of verbs and other elements.

• Overusing Literal Translations: Directly translating phrases from your native language can result in unnatural or wrong expressions.
  Tip: Immerse yourself in native materials and repeat idiomatic phrases.

Conclusion

Entri app’s comprehensive German language Course helps you learn the basics of German and prepares you to read, write and converse in German. You get access to live and recorded classes with experienced and certified faculties. You also get Goethe exam assistance and pre Goethe mock test. We also provide personalized feedback and in-app assistance which helps students to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

The salient features of our German course are:

• Live interactive classes
• Recorded classes after live sessions
• PDF notes and assignments
• Local language tutor
• Goethe Test assistance and mock test