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German · Reading · A1 to C1

German graded reading: from a first introduction to literary prose

Graded reading means texts written for your level. Each one below adds the grammar of the next level of the European framework (A1 is beginner, C1 is advanced), so you can feel the language grow one step at a time.

A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 introduction · presenttext message · perfectblog · weil, dassnews · passiveprose · Präteritum
Read upward. If a text feels too easy, move to the next shelf; if almost every sentence needs the glosses, step back one.
  1. 1ListenPlay the whole text once without reading.
  2. 2Read with helpRead with the glosses showing.
  3. 3Read aloneHide the glosses and read again aloud.
WHAT EACH STEP ADDSA1present tense, main clausesIch wohne in Köln.A2perfect tense, modal verbsIch habe den Bus verpasst.B1weil, dass: verb to the end… weil ich nicht fliegen wollte.B2passive, Konjunktiv IBäume werden gepflanzt.C1literary past, long clausesAls die Sonne versank, …
Each text below uses everything from the steps before it plus one new structure, listed in its “New at this level” box. Read them in order.

A1 · Ich heiße Lena

Self-introduction · Lena introduces herself
  1. 1
    Hallo!helloIchIheißeam-calledLena.Lena
    “Hello! My name is Lena.”HAL-oh! ikh HY-suh LAY-nah
  2. 2
    IchIkommecomeausfromHamburgHamburgundandwohneliveininKöln.Cologne
    “I’m from Hamburg and I live in Cologne.”ikh KOM-uh ows HAM-boork oont VOH-nuh in KÖLN
  3. 3
    IchIbinamLehrerinteacherundandhabehaveeinenaHund.dog
    “I’m a teacher and I have a dog.”ikh bin LAIR-uh-rin oont HAH-buh INE-un HOONT
  4. 4
    Amon-theWochenendeweekendspieleplayichIgerngladlyTennis.tennis
    “At the weekend I like playing tennis.”am VOKH-un-en-duh SHPEE-luh ikh GAIRN TEN-is

A2 · Eine Nachricht an Jonas

Text message · Mia explains why she’s late
  1. 1
    HihiJonas,Jonassorry,sorryichIhabehavedentheBusbusverpasst.missed
    “Hi Jonas, sorry, I missed the bus.”HY YOH-nas, SOR-ee, ikh HAH-buh dayn BOOS fair-PAST
  2. 2
    IchIbinamzutoospätlateaufgestanden.got-up
    “I got up too late.”ikh bin tsoo SHPAYT OWF-guh-shtan-dun
  3. 3
    Kannstcanduyouimin-theCafécaféaufformichmewarten?wait
    “Can you wait for me at the café?”kanst doo im kah-FAY owf mikh VAR-tun
  4. 4
    IchIbinamininzwanzigtwentyMinutenminutesda.there
    “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”ikh bin in TSVAN-tsikh mee-NOO-tun DAH

B1 · Drei Tage in Wien

Travel blog · A weekend in Vienna
  1. 1
    LetztenlastMonatmonthwarwasichIdreithreeTagedaysininWien.Vienna
    “Last month I spent three days in Vienna.”LETS-tun MOH-nat var ikh DRY TAH-guh in VEEN
  2. 2
    IchIbinammitwithdemtheNachtzugnight-traingefahren,travelledweilbecauseichInichtnotfliegenflywollte.wanted
    “I took the night train because I didn’t want to fly.”ikh bin mit daym NAKHT-tsook guh-FAH-run, vile ikh nikht FLEE-gun VOL-tuh
  3. 3
    DasthealteoldKaffeehaus,coffee-housedaswhichmirto-meeinaFreundfriendempfohlenrecommendedhatte,hadwarwaswunderbar.wonderful
    “The old coffee house a friend had recommended to me was wonderful.”das AL-tuh KAF-ay-hows, das meer ine FROYNT emp-FOH-lun HAT-uh, var VOON-duh-bar
  4. 4
    IchIfinde,finddassthatmanoneWienViennalangsamslowlyentdeckendiscoversollte.should
    “I think Vienna is a city to explore slowly.”ikh FIN-duh, das man VEEN LANG-zahm ent-DEK-un ZOL-tuh

B2 · Mehr Grün für die Städte

News report · Cities plant more trees
  1. 1
    IninvielenmanydeutschenGermanStädtencitieswerdenare-beingderzeitcurrentlyTausendethousandsBäumetreesgepflanzt.planted
    “Thousands of trees are currently being planted in many German cities.”in FEE-lun DOY-chun SHTET-un VAIR-dun DAIR-tsite TOW-zun-duh BOY-muh guh-PFLANTST
  2. 2
    Damitwith-thatsollis-supposeddietheHitzeheatimin-theSommersummerverringertreducedwerden.become
    “The aim is to reduce the heat in summer.”dah-MIT zol dee HIT-suh im ZOM-uh fair-RING-urt VAIR-dun
  3. 3
    Kritikercriticsbemängelncriticisejedoch,howeverdassthatdiethePflegecarederof-theBäumetreeszutooteuerexpensivesei.is
    “Critics, however, complain that looking after the trees is too expensive.”KREE-tee-kuh buh-MENG-uln yay-DOKH, das dee PFLAY-guh dair BOY-muh tsoo TOY-uh ZINE

C1 · Der Abend am Fluss

Literary prose · An evening by the river
  1. 1
    AlswhendietheSonnesunhinterbehinddentheHügelnhillsversank,sankwurdebecameesitstillquietamat-theFluss.river
    “As the sun sank behind the hills, it grew quiet by the river.”als dee ZON-uh HIN-tuh dayn HÜ-guln fair-ZANK, VOOR-duh es SHTIL am FLOOS
  2. 2
    NuronlydastheleisesoftPlätschernlappingdesof-theWasserswatererinnerteremindedihnhimdaran,of-itdassthatdietheZeittimenichtnotstehenstandgebliebenstayedwar.was
    “Only the soft lapping of the water reminded him that time had not stood still.”noor das LY-zuh PLET-shurn des VAS-us air-IN-uh-tuh een dah-RAN, das dee TSITE nikht SHTAY-un guh-BLEE-bun VAR
  3. 3
    ErhezogpulleddentheMantelcoatengertighterundandmachtemadesichhimselfaufupdentheHeimweg.way-home
    “He pulled his coat tighter and set off for home.”air TSOHK dayn MAN-tul ENG-uh oont MAKH-tuh zikh owf dayn HIME-vayk

Related guides

Next guideSubordinate clausesThe verb at the end, used from B1 onward. Next guideSimple pastThe tense of the C1 passage, and of German fiction. Next guideAdjective endingsEvery description in these texts follows the system. Course mapGerman hubThe full course map from A1 to C2.