German Language Game: Modal Verb "können"



Quick German Language Game: können - can, to be able.

Level: Elementary (A2)
Playing Time: 5 minutes
(The picture: Können Sie Taekwondo?)


A fun interactive language game to learn and practice the present, past, and conditional forms of "können" (can /to be able)
Present Tense: stem vowel changes: singular = "a"; plural = "ö" (including the formal "Sie")
Simple Past: stem vowel is "o"; add regular endings -te, -test, -te, -ten, -tet, -ten
Conditional: stem vowel is "ö"; otherwise, all forms are the same as Simple Past.
With this game, you'll practice how to pronounce German "a", "o", and "ö".

Können - Present Tense

Note the change in the stem vowel: singular "a", plural "ö"

ich kann - I can
du kannst - you can
er/sie/es kann - he/she/it can
wir können - we can
ihr könnt - you-all can
sie/Sie können - they/you(form.) can

Simple Past Tense of "können": drop the umlaut

ich konnte - I could
du konntest - you could
er/sie/es konnte - he/she/it could
wir konnten - we could
ihr konntet - you-all could
sie/Sie konnten - they/you (form.) could

Conditional Tense of "können": add umlaut to Past

ich könnte - I would be able /could
du könntest - you would be able /could
er/sie/es könnte - he/she/it would be able /could
wir könnten - we would be able /could
ihr könntet - you-all would be able /could
sie/Sie könnten - they/you(form.) would be able /could

Short Sentences:

Er kann nicht. - He can't.
Kann ich? - Can I?
Ja, du kannst. - Yes, you can. (fam.)
Ich konnte gestern nicht anrufen. - I couldn't call yesterday.
Ich kann heute kommen. - I can come today.
Ich könnte dich morgen treffen. - I could meet you tomorrow.

You'll find more in our post: How to Use the German Modal Verb "Können"

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More Than a German Language Game

And don't forget: You can practice German online for FREE with our 36-Scene German 1 Story: "Michael in Deutschland" and our 72-Scene German 2 Mystery Story Sequel: "Blüten in Berlin?".
(If you already know that "Blüten" means blossom in German - you'll learn that Blüten has still another meaning...).
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If you have any language questions  - don't hesitate to contact us!


German Language Game: Jetzt sollten wir...



Quick German Language Game: "Jetzt sollten wir..." - (Now we should...)
An online game to practice German word order with various types of sentences.
The mini-story: Michael is at his friend Karl's apartment in Heidelberg, where he has just met Karl's girlfriend and her sister Claudia.
Karl returns after his classes, just in time to help put lunch together. 
This language game focuses on simple conversational German word order.
Playing this game won't make you a word order expert, but it will certainly help you understand basic patterns.
Say the sentences several times, out loud if you can.
Even if you know the word-order "rules", using them while you talk takes plenty of practice. 

Sentences with basic word order patterns:

1. Ein wenig später kommt Karl nach Hause. 
[A time phrase "ein wenig später" starts the sentence.]
2. Ich bin froh, dass du uns besuchst.
[A sentence with the conjunction "dass" (that).]
3. Ich freue mich auch, dich wiederzusehen.
[The verb "wiedersehen" becomes "wiederzusehen".] 
4. Jetzt sollten wir ans Mittagessen denken.
[A sentence with a "modal" verb (sollten).]
5. Claudia und ich können den Tisch decken.
[Two subjects "Claudia und ich".]

Words in German Language Game

  • Karl kommt nach Hause - Karl comes home [kommen]
  • ein wenig später - a little later
  • ich bin froh - I'm glad [sein]
  • dass du uns besuchst - that you're visiting us (fam.) [besuchen]
  • ich freue mich auch - I'm also pleased [sich freuen]
  • dich wiederzusehen - to see you again (fam.) [wiedersehen]
  • wir sollten - we should [sollen] 
  • jetzt - now
  • ans Mittagessen denken - to think about lunch
  • ich kann - I can [können]
  • uns - us
  • eine Pizza bestellen - to order a pizza
  • Gute Idee. - Good idea.
  • einen Salat machen - to make a salad
  • Claudia und ich können - Claudia and I can
  • den Tisch decken - to set the table

If you like our games, please SHARE us with your friends.

More Than a German Language Game

And don't forget: You can practice German online for FREE with our 36-Scene German 1 Story: "Michael in Deutschland" and our 72-Scene German 2 Mystery Story Sequel: "Blüten in Berlin?"
(If you already know that "Blüten" means blossom in German - you'll learn that Blüten has still another meaning.)
Just login HERE.
If you have any language questions  - don't hesitate to contact us!


German Language Game: Ja gerne



Quick German Language Game: "Ja gerne!" - (Yes, I'd like to!)
A quick online German game to learn and practice 20 words and phrases in the context of a mini-story.
Michael arrives at his friend Karl's place in Heidelberg. 
Karl's girlfriend Renate opens the door. 
Her sister Claudia is also there, and introductions follow. 
What is the right form of address to use here, "Sie" or "du"? 

If you're visiting a German-speaking country, it's important to understand when to use "Sie" or "du".
Sometimes a mistake is cute, as when an American student addressed my six-year-old son with "Sie". 
Still, kids aside, it's always safe to address someone you don't know with "Sie" (shop keepers, people on the telephone, new people you're introduced to, etc.)
If anyone wants to switch to "du", they'll let you know. And anyway, that's a fun little social ritual.

Say the words and phrases OUT LOUD, right after or along with the speaker. 
That's a great way to sharpen your pronunciation and to internalize idiomatic expressions.
For example, standard expressions such as:
Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen. [Pleased to meet you. (formal)]
Wenn es dir recht ist. [If it's all right with you. (familiar)]
Wir duzen uns. [We say "du" to each other.]
Wir können uns treffen. [We can meet.]

NOTE that "studieren" means "to study at a university or college".
Studierst du? [Do you go to university? (fam.)]
Gehst du in die Schule? [Do you go to school? = grade, middle or high school].

Words in German Language Game

  • Freut mich... - I'm pleased...
  • ...Sie kennenzulernen - ...to meet you (formal) [kennenlernen]
  • Sei nicht so formell. - Don't be so formal. (familiar) [sein]
  • duzen - to use "du", the familar form of address
  • euch - to each other [referring to "you"]
  • ihr könnt euch duzen - you can say "du" to each other (fam.)
  • wenn - if [conjunction]
  • Wenn es dir recht ist. - If it's all right with you. (fam.) 
  • natürlich - of course
  • wir Studenten - we students
  • uns - to each other [referring to "we"]
  • wir duzen uns alle - we all say "du" to each other
  • studieren - to go to university or college
  • studierst du? - do you go to university? (fam.)
  • hier in Heidelberg - here in Heidelberg
  • ich studiere in München - I go to university in Munich
  • vielleicht - perhaps
  • sich treffen - to meet each other
  • vielleicht können wir uns treffen - perhaps we can meet each other
  • Ja gerne! - Yes, I'd like to!

If you like our games, please SHARE us with your friends.

More Than a German Language Game

And don't forget: You can practice German online for FREE with our 36-Scene German 1 Story: "Michael in Deutschland" and our 72-Scene German 2 Mystery Story Sequel: "Blüten in Berlin?".
(If you already know that "Blüten" means blossom in German - you'll learn that Blüten has still another meaning...).
Just login HERE.
If you have any language questions  - don't hesitate to contact us!


German Language Game: Ich freue mich



Quick German Language Game: "Ich freue mich..." - (I'm pleased...)
A quick online German game to try out and practice 15 words and phrases as part of a mini-story.
Michael is in Heidelberg to visit his friend Karl. 
Karl's girlfriend Renate opens the door, and as it's the first time they meet introductions are in order.
Introducing yourself to someone in German is not a big deal, but you need to known how.
Here's your chance to practice it.

Say the words and phrases OUT LOUD, right after or together with the speaker.
That's a really good way to sharpen your pronunciation and absorb grammatical structures without thinking about them.
For example:
- ich freue mich (I'm pleased) is reflexive in German. Don't analyze, just learn the phrase.
- Komm herein. (Come in.) "Komm!" is "Come!" (fam.) "Herein" means "in" - to where the speaker is. ["Hinein" would mean away from the speaker.]
- ein Freund Karls (a friend of Karl's). Note: the German possessive "Karls" (of Karl's) does not have an apostrophe.
- aus Boston - means "originally from Boston". (That's where they met.)

Words in German Language Game

  • er findet - he finds [finden]
  • die Straße - the street
  • sie öffnet - she opens [öffnen]
  • die Tür - the door
  • endlich - finally
  • Schön dich kennenzulernen - Nice to meet you (fam.)
  • auch - also
  • ich freue mich - I'm pleased [sich freuen]
  • Komm herein! - Come in! (fam.)
  • meine Schwester - my sister
  • sie besucht mich - she's visiting me
  • gerade - just (now)
  • Dies ist Michael - This is Michael
  • ein Freund Karls - a friend of Karl's
  • aus Boston - from Boston

If you like our games, please SHARE us with your friends.

More Than a German Language Game

And don't forget: You can practice German online for FREE with our 36-Scene German 1 Story: "Michael in Deutschland" and our 72-Scene German 2 Mystery Story Sequel: "Blüten in Berlin?".
(If you already know that "Blüten" means blossom in German - you'll learn that Blüten has still another meaning...).
Just login HERE.
If you have any language questions  - don't hesitate to contact us!


German Language Game: Ich suche...



Quick German Language Game: "Ich suche..." - (I'm looking for...)
A quick online German game to learn and practice 16 words and phrases in the context of a brief story.
Michael has arrived by train in Heidelberg.
Now he's looking for the street where his friend lives.
He asks a passerby, who gives him directions.

Asking for and understanding basic directions in German should really be part of your essential toolkit for traveling in a German-speaking country. 
Say the words and phrases OUT LOUD, right after or along with the speaker.
It's an excellent way to improve your pronunciation and internalize grammar without thinking about it.
For example: folgen + dative case.
- die Straße = the street
- Sie folgen der Straße = you follow the street
No need to "learn" this structure ("die" becomes "der" with some verbs). Just be aware of it.
After it comes up a few times, it will seem quite familiar.

Words in German Language Game

  • Entschuldigung - Excuse me
  • ich suche - I'm looking for [suchen]
  • die Straße - the street
  • sie ist nicht weit - it's not far [ref. die Straße]
  • gut - good
  • laufen - to walk
  • dann bin ich richtig gelaufen - then I took the right route 
  • Sie folgen der Endemannstraße - you follow Endemann Street
  • nach links - to the left
  • ich sehe - I see [sehen]
  • dann geradeaus - then straight ahead
  • nach rechts - to the right
  • auf die Schillerstraße - onto Schiller Street
  • das ist einfach - that's easy
  • vielen Dank - many thanks
  • gern geschehen - you're welcome

If you like our games, please SHARE us with your friends.

More Than a German Language Game

And don't forget: You can practice German online for FREE with our 36-Scene German 1 Story: "Michael in Deutschland" and our 72-Scene German 2 Mystery Story Sequel: "Blüten in Berlin?".
(If you already know that "Blüten" means blossom in German - you'll learn that Blüten has still another meaning...).
Just login HERE.
If you have any language questions  - don't hesitate to contact us!

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