Comma rules
Where the comma is required
Before dass, weil, wenn, obikh FRAA-ge, OP air KOMT · “I’m asking whether he’s coming.”Why: ob = whether. The verb kommt goes to the end.
IchIfrage,askobwhethererhekommt.comes
Around relative clausesdas BOOKH, das ikh LAY-ze, ist GOOT · “The book I’m reading is good.”Why: Relative clauses take commas at both ends.
Das Buch,the bookdaswhichichIlese,readistisgut.good
Before zu-infinitives (often)ikh fer-ZOO-khe, FRÜ-er AUF-tsu-shtay-en · “I’m trying to get up earlier.”Why: A comma is common and often required before longer infinitive phrases with zu.
IchIversuche,tryfrüherearlieraufzustehen.to-get-up
Before aber, sondernair ist nikht MÜ-de, ZON-dern KRANK · “He’s not tired but ill.”Why: sondern = but (after a negative). Always with a comma.
Erheistisnichtnotmüde,tiredsondernbut-ratherkrank.ill
After a greeting in emailsHA-loh A-na · “Hi Anna,”Why: After the comma, the next line starts lower case: wie geht’s?
HallohelloAnna,Anna
Quotation marks
„So“ or »so«
„ “Standard: low opening, high closingUsed in newspapers and handwriting: „Ich komme“, sagte sie.
» «Guillemets, pointing inwardsCommon in books. Note the direction: »so«, the reverse of French.
‚ ‘Single, for a quote within a quote„Er sagte: ‚Nein‘.“
Capital letters
Das Haus, das Laufen, Sie
| Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Every noun | das Haus, die Freiheit | the house, freedom |
| Verbs used as nouns | das Laufen | running |
| Adjectives as nouns | das Gute | the good |
| Formal you | Sie, Ihnen, Ihr | you, to you, your |
| Not nationality adjectives | die deutsche Sprache | the German language |
| Not days after am | am Montag (noun) · montags (adverb) | on Monday · on Mondays |
Numbers and dates
3,5 · 1.000 · 3. Mai
Apostrophes and hyphens
Wie geht’s? E-Mail, Ost- und Westdeutschland
Dropped evee GAYTS · “How are you?”Why: The apostrophe marks the missing es.
Wiehowgeht’s?goes-it
No possessive apostropheA-nas BOOKH · “Anna’s book”Why: German adds -s with no apostrophe.
AnnasAnna’sBuchbook
Hyphen in compoundsdee EE-mail-a-dre-se · “the email address”Why: Hyphens join parts with abbreviations or English words.
dietheE-Mail-Adresseemail-address
Shared endingOST unt VEST-doitsh-lant · “East and West Germany”Why: The hyphen stands for the shared part, deutschland.
Ost-eastundandWestdeutschlandWest-Germany
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