Beginner German: Expressing Past and Future
Expand your German communication skills by mastering past and future tenses, building vocabulary, and writing natural everyday sentences with confidence.
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About this course
Course contents
6 modules · 28 lessons · 3h 2m
1
Foundations & Time Logic
Establish the grammatical terminology and basic sentence rules needed for complex tenses.
- Grammar Toolbox: Key Terminology
Understand terms like 'auxiliary verb', 'infinitive', and 'past participle' in a German context.6 min - Review: Present Tense Sentence Structure
Revisit the standard SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) order as a baseline for comparison.6 min - The Sentence Bracket (Satzklammer)
Learn how German 'brackets' information between two parts of a verb phrase.7 min - Mapping Time: Basic Time Markers
Use words like 'heute', 'jetzt', and 'gerade' to anchor sentences in time.6 min
2
The Conversational Past (Perfekt) - Part 1
Master the most common way to speak and write about the past using 'haben'.
- The Engine: Conjugating 'Haben'
Master the present tense conjugation of 'haben' as the primary auxiliary verb.6 min - Building Blocks: Regular Partizip II
Learn the 'ge- + stem + -t' formula for regular German verbs.7 min - The Past Bracket: Word Order in Perfekt
Place the auxiliary in position 2 and the participle at the very end of the sentence.7 min - Daily Actions in the Past
Practice forming sentences with common verbs like 'machen', 'kaufen', and 'hören'.6 min - Yesterday & Last Week: Past Time Markers
Incorporate 'gestern', 'letzte Woche', and 'vorher' into past tense sentences.6 min
3
The Conversational Past (Perfekt) - Part 2
Expand past tense capabilities with 'sein' and irregular verbs.
- The Exception: When to Use 'Sein'
Identify verbs of movement and change of state that require 'sein' instead of 'haben'.7 min - Strong Verbs: Irregular Partizip II
Recognize the 'ge- + stem change + -en' pattern for common irregular verbs.7 min - Verbs with Prefixes in the Past
Learn where to put 'ge-' in separable verbs like 'einkaufen' (eingekauft).7 min - Saying 'No' in the Past
Correctly place 'nicht' and 'kein' within the past tense sentence bracket.6 min - Writing Workshop: My Weekend
Apply all Perfekt rules to write a short paragraph about past activities.8 min
4
Looking Ahead: The Future (Futur I)
Learn to express intentions, plans, and predictions.
- The Future Engine: Conjugating 'Werden'
Master the conjugation of 'werden' as the auxiliary for the future tense.6 min - Forming Futur I: Werden + Infinitive
Combine 'werden' with the base form of the verb to express future actions.7 min - The Future Bracket: Word Order
Position the infinitive at the end of the sentence to complete the future bracket.7 min - Plans vs. Intentions
Use Futur I to distinguish between what will happen and what you intend to do.6 min - Tomorrow & Beyond: Future Time Markers
Use 'morgen', 'nächsten Monat', and 'bald' to specify future timing.6 min
5
Digital Communication & Messaging
Apply grammar to modern, real-world digital contexts.
- Tech Talk: Digital Vocabulary
Learn essential nouns and verbs for apps, emails, and social media.6 min - Texting Style: Informal German
Understand how sentence structure simplifies in quick digital messages.6 min - Messaging About the Past
Write a short chat message explaining why you missed a call or what you did.7 min - Messaging About the Future
Write a text message to coordinate a meeting or share a plan.7 min - Emojis and Abbreviations
Learn common German digital shorthand (e.g., VG, LG) and how to use them.6 min
6
Real-World Scenarios & Traps
Refine skills by avoiding common mistakes and practicing natural dialogues.
- Trap 1: The Missing Auxiliary
Learn to avoid the common mistake of forgetting 'haben', 'sein', or 'werden'.6 min - Trap 2: The Wrong End-Verb Form
Distinguish when to use a participle (Past) vs. an infinitive (Future) at the end.6 min - Scenario: Making an Appointment
Construct a written dialogue to schedule a meeting using future tense.7 min - Scenario: Reporting an Incident
Construct a written dialogue or short note describing a past event.7 min
The Digital Weekend Log
You will write a series of three digital messages: one describing what you did last weekend (Past), one describing your plans for next weekend (Future), and one responding to a friend's invitation (Natural Dialogue).
What you'll get
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Short & focused
3h 2m of practical content
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Yes — full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.
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Forever. Once you purchase, the course is yours to revisit anytime.
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Yes. On completion you'll receive a certificate you can add to your LinkedIn profile.
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