🇩🇪 German Grammar Guide: Everything You Need to Know at B1 Level

The Bridge to Intermediate Fluency Starts Here

You’ve got the basics down. You can survive everyday situations, talk about your routine, maybe even share a few opinions.

But now it’s time to go deeper — to connect ideas, express uncertainty, tell stories in detail, and navigate more complex conversations.

Welcome to B1 grammar — where you stop memorizing rules and start using them.

🎯 What Does B1 Really Mean?

At B1, you should be able to:

• Talk about past experiences and future plans
• Express hopes, opinions, and comparisons
• Follow and participate in longer conversations
• Handle work, travel, and school-related language
• Read and write simple connected texts

Grammar-wise, this means learning how to combine ideas, handle more complex structures, and switch tenses smoothly.

✅ B1 German Grammar Checklist

Here’s exactly what to focus on at the B1 level:

🔗 1. Subordinate Clauses (Nebensätze)

Learn to connect ideas using:

Important rule: Verb goes to the end in the subordinate clause.

✅ Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Deutschland arbeiten will.
✅ Ich denke, dass du recht hast.

📚 2. Relative Clauses (Relativsätze)

Add extra info about a noun.

🎯 Start with people/things in nominative → add more complexity later.

🎭 3. Konjunktiv II (Würde-Form)

Used for polite requests, hypotheticals, and wishes.

Structure:
würde + infinitive

Examples:

• Ich würde gern mehr reisen.
• Was würdest du machen, wenn du Zeit hättest?

🎯 Learn basic modal verbs in Konjunktiv II: könnte, sollte, dürfte, müsste, wollte

⏳ 4. Simple Past (Präteritum) of Common Verbs

Mainly for written language and storytelling.

Focus on irregulars like:
war, hatte, ging, kam, machte, sagte, dachte, wusste

Examples:

• Ich war gestern zu Hause.
• Er ging ins Kino.
• Wir hatten keine Zeit.

🎯 Start by reading stories using Präteritum.

🧱 5. Passive Voice (Präsens & Perfekt)

Used to emphasize action over subject.

Präsens: Das Auto wird repariert.
Perfekt: Das Auto ist repariert worden.

🎯 Use with signs, instructions, or formal descriptions.

🎯 6. Word Order in Complex Sentences

In B1, you’ll combine main clauses + subordinate clauses.

✅ Wenn ich Zeit habe, gehe ich ins Kino.
✅ Ich weiß nicht, ob er morgen kommt.
✅ Ich habe gehört, dass du krank bist.

🎯 The verb still stays second in the main clause and goes to the end in the subordinate.

📑 7. Verb + Preposition Combinations

Some verbs require fixed prepositions.

🎯 Make flashcards for the most common 20–30 combos.

📊 8. Comparatives & Superlatives – More Variety

Use als and so … wie to compare.

• Berlin ist größer als Leipzig.
• Hamburg ist so teuer wie München.
• Das war der beste Film!

🎯 Learn irregular comparatives: gut → besser → am besten, viel → mehr → am meisten

🔄 9. Reflexive Verbs – Expanded Use

Review reflexive pronouns + new verbs:

• sich erinnern an (to remember)
• sich interessieren für (to be interested in)
• sich entscheiden für (to decide on)

✅ Ich erinnere mich an meinen Urlaub.
✅ Wir interessieren uns für deutsche Musik.

🧾 10. Adjective Endings – With All Cases

At B1, you should be comfortable using adjectives after:

• definite articles (der, die, das…)
• indefinite articles (ein, eine…)
• no article

Examples:

• ein interessanter Film
• der interessante Film
• interessanter Film

🎯 Focus on common adjective+noun pairs you’ll actually use.

❌ What to Skip (For Now)

Don’t stress about:

• Konjunktiv I (indirect speech)
• Noun chains in academic German
• Rare passive forms in the future or subjunctive

Focus on what helps you express yourself clearly and understand native speakers better.

🧠 Smart Learning Tips at B1 Level

• 📖 Read short news articles (Nachrichtenleicht, Deutsche Welle)
• ✍️ Write journal entries using Perfekt, Konjunktiv II, and connectors
• 🎧 Listen to podcasts for learners (like Deutsch – warum nicht?)
• 🧩 Combine grammar with real content, not just drills
• 🗣️ Practice building multi-clause sentences in conversation or writing

📌 Quick B1 Grammar Review Table

🧾 Final Thought: B1 Is Where You Become Independent

B1 grammar gives you the power to express full thoughts, build confidence, and participate in real conversations. It’s not about perfection — it’s about flexibility and flow.

Once you master these tools, you’re no longer just “learning German” — you’re living in it.