German Capitalization Basics (German) | Learn German (Hallo Deutsch 2) - Class 6 PDF Download

Foundational Rules

Sentence Starters

Definition: The first word of every sentence in German is capitalized, regardless of its part of speech.

Examples:

• Der Hund spielt. (The dog is playing.)
• Heute ist ein schöner Tag. (Today is a beautiful day.)

Patterns & Rules:

• This rule applies to all sentences, including questions and exclamations.
• Even if a sentence starts with a numeral, the following word is capitalized.

Exercises:

• Capitalize the first word in the following sentence: “heute gehe ich einkaufen.” (Today, I am going shopping.)
• Rewrite the sentence with correct capitalization: “ist das dein Buch?” (Is that your book?)

Additional Aspects:

• In titles and headings, capitalize the first word and all nouns.
• In letter writing, the salutation is followed by a comma, and the first word of the following sentence is capitalized.

Foundational Rules

Proper Nouns

Definition: In German, proper nouns, which include the names of people, places, organizations, and sometimes objects, are always capitalized.

Examples:

• Ich habe Berlin besucht. (I visited Berlin.)
• Mozart war ein berühmter Komponist. (Mozart was a famous composer.)

Patterns & Rules:

• Proper nouns are capitalized in all cases, including nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive.
• This rule also applies to brand names and trademarks.

Exercises:

• Identify the proper nouns and capitalize them: “gestern traf ich maria in köln.”
• Correct the capitalization of proper nouns in this sentence: “die universität heidelberg ist alt.”

Additional Aspects:

• When a proper noun is used in a compound word, the entire compound is capitalized.
• Geographical names that are not directly associated with a specific place (like “champagner” from “Champagne”) may not be capitalized.

Titles & Courtesies

Titles

Definition: In German, titles are capitalized when they precede a name, reflecting respect and formality.

Examples:

• Professor Schmidt lehrt Mathematik. (Professor Schmidt teaches mathematics.)
• Doktor Müller hat viele Patienten. (Doctor Müller has many patients.)

Patterns & Rules:

• Titles are capitalized only when used directly with a person’s name.
• When titles are used in a general sense, they are not capitalized.

Exercises:

• Capitalize the titles in this sentence: “der doktor und der professor treffen sich.”
• Write a sentence using a capitalized title for a person’s job.

Additional Aspects:

• Titles reflecting family relationships (like “Mutter” or “Vater”) are capitalized when used in place of a name.
• Academic and professional titles are always capitalized when they precede a name but not when they follow it.

Courtesies

Definition: In German, courtesies such as “Herr” (Mr.) and “Frau” (Mrs./Ms.) are capitalized when addressing individuals directly, as a sign of respect.

Examples:

• Guten Tag, Herr Schmidt! (Good day, Mr. Schmidt!)
• Wie geht es Ihnen, Frau Bauer? (How are you, Mrs. Bauer?)

Patterns & Rules:

• Courtesies are always capitalized when they precede a last name.
• They are not capitalized when used without a name or in a general sense.

Exercises:

• Rewrite the following sentence with correct capitalization: “kann ich ihnen helfen, frau meier?”
• Create a formal greeting using “Herr” or “Frau” with a capitalized courtesy.

Additional Aspects:

• In letters and emails, courtesies are followed by the recipient’s last name and a comma.
• When addressing someone with a courtesy without using their name, it is not capitalized.

Nobility Titles

Definition: Titles of nobility in German, such as “Graf” (Count) or “Herzog” (Duke), are always capitalized when referring to a specific individual or title.

Examples:

• Graf von Stauffenberg war ein Offizier. (Count von Stauffenberg was an officer.)
• Herzogin Anna ist von Bayern. (Duchess Anna is from Bavaria.)

Patterns & Rules:

• Nobility titles are capitalized when they precede a name or when they are used in direct address.
• They are not capitalized when used in a general sense or when referring to the title without a specific name.

Exercises:

• Correct the capitalization in this sentence: “der herzog von Sachsen besucht die Stadt.”
• Write a sentence using a capitalized nobility title in direct address.

Additional Aspects:

• Historical titles that are no longer in use are still capitalized when referring to historical figures.
• When a title of nobility is part of a proper noun, such as a place name, it is also capitalized.

Beyond Proper Nouns

Nationalities

Definition: In German, words denoting nationalities are capitalized when they are used as nouns or proper adjectives.

Examples:

• Deutsche Bürger reisen oft. (German citizens travel often.)
• Sie spricht Englisch und Spanisch. (She speaks English and Spanish.)

Patterns & Rules:

• When used as adjectives, if they refer to the language or are derived from a proper noun, they are capitalized.
• When used as nouns to refer to people, they are capitalized.

Exercises:

• Capitalize the nationalities in this sentence: “die franzosen und die italiener sind Nachbarn.”
• Write a sentence using a nationality as a proper adjective.

Additional Aspects:

• Nationalities are not capitalized when used as common adjectives not derived from proper nouns.
• In lists of languages or nationalities, each item is capitalized.

Derived Adjectives

Definition: In German, adjectives derived from proper nouns, such as names of countries, cities, or specific events, are capitalized.

Examples:

• Berliner Brot ist lecker. (Berlin bread is delicious.)
• Er liest Kafkaeske Literatur. (He reads Kafkaesque literature.)

Patterns & Rules:

• These adjectives are capitalized because they originate from proper nouns.
• If the adjective loses its direct connection to the proper noun and becomes a common adjective, it is no longer capitalized.

Exercises:

• Capitalize the derived adjectives in this sentence: “die goetheschen Werke sind bedeutend.”
• Write a sentence using a capitalized adjective derived from a city or country.

Additional Aspects:

• When a derived adjective is part of a brand or a title, it retains its capitalization.
• Some adjectives that have become common due to frequent use may not follow this rule and can be written in lowercase.

Points of the Compass

Definition: In German, points of the compass are capitalized when they refer to specific regions or are used in proper nouns.

Examples:

• Ich reise in den Norden. (I am traveling to the North.)
• Der Südwesten Deutschlands ist bekannt für seinen Wein. (The Southwest of Germany is known for its wine.)

Patterns & Rules:

• Points of the compass are capitalized when they denote a particular area or are part of a name.
• They are not capitalized when used in a general directional sense.

Exercises:

• Capitalize the points of the compass in this sentence: “wir fahren nach süden.”
• Write a sentence using a capitalized point of the compass as part of a proper noun.

Additional Aspects:

• When used in geographical terms, such as “Südostasien” (Southeast Asia), the compass point is capitalized.
• In metaphoric or idiomatic expressions, compass points are usually not capitalized.

Areas of Nuance

School Subjects & Fields

Definition: In German, school subjects and fields of study are capitalized when they are treated as proper nouns, particularly when referring to specific courses or majors.

Examples:

• Ich studiere Geschichte und Biologie. (I study History and Biology.)
• Mathematik ist ihr Lieblingsfach. (Mathematics is her favorite subject.)

Patterns & Rules:

• Subjects are capitalized when they refer to a specific field of study or academic discipline.
• They are not capitalized when used in a general sense.

Exercises:

• Capitalize the school subjects in this sentence: “meine fächer sind deutsch und physik.”
• Write a sentence using a capitalized field of study.

Religious Terms

Definition: In German, specific religious terms, especially those referring to deities or sacred texts, are capitalized.

Examples:

• Die Christen glauben an Gott. (Christians believe in God.)
• Das Judentum ist eine der ältesten Religionen. (Judaism is one of the oldest religions.)

Patterns & Rules:

• Names of deities, religious figures, and sacred texts are always capitalized.
• General religious terms are not capitalized unless they are derived from proper nouns or are used as part of a name.

Exercises:

• Capitalize the religious terms in this sentence: “im islam ist der koran das heilige buch.”
• Write a sentence using a capitalized name of a deity.

Additional Aspects:

• When referring to God in a non-specific way or in philosophical contexts, capitalization can vary based on the intended meaning.
• Religious festivals and holidays are also capitalized.

When to Lowercase

Articles & Pronouns

Definition: In German, articles (der, die, das) and possessive pronouns (mein, dein, sein) are typically not capitalized unless they are the first word in a sentence.

Examples:

• Das Auto ist neu. (The car is new.)
• Sie hat ihr Buch verloren. (She has lost her book.)

Patterns & Rules:

• Articles and pronouns are lowercase in the middle of sentences.
• They are capitalized only when starting a sentence.

Exercises:

• Rewrite the following sentence with correct capitalization: “dein Bruder ist hier.”
• Capitalize the first word and lowercase the articles and pronouns in this sentence: “Die Katze hat Ihr Spielzeug gefunden.”

Additional Aspects:

• In titles and headings, articles and pronouns follow the same capitalization rules as in sentences.
• Possessive pronouns are also lowercase when used in the genitive case to show possession.

Prepositions & Conjunctions

Definition: In German, prepositions and conjunctions are typically not capitalized unless they are the first word in a sentence.

Examples:

• Nach dem Essen gehe ich spazieren. (After the meal, I go for a walk.)
• Er kam und sah, dass alles in Ordnung war. (He came and saw that everything was fine.)

Patterns & Rules:

• These words are lowercase in the middle of sentences.
• They are capitalized only when starting a sentence.

Exercises:

• Capitalize the first word and lowercase the prepositions and conjunctions in this sentence: “Von allen Büchern mag ich und lese am liebsten Krimis.”
• Rewrite the following sentence with correct capitalization: “Aber das Wetter ist heute und morgen schlecht.”

Additional Aspects:

• In titles and headings, prepositions and conjunctions follow the same capitalization rules as in sentences.
• Some conjunctions like “dass” can be tricky because they are often used at the beginning of a subordinate clause, but they are still not capitalized.

Certainly! Here are various types of exercises focusing on German capitalization rules, with 10 questions for each type.

Exercise

Type 1: Sentence Capitalization Rewrite the following sentences with correct capitalization:

1. gestern habe ich peter in berlin getroffen.
2. der rhein fließt durch köln.
3. im sommer fahren wir immer an die ostsee.
4. hast du das neue buch von j.k. rowling gelesen?
5. mein bruder studiert medizin in münchen.
6. die alpen sind ein beliebtes reiseziel.
7. der bundeskanzler wird heute eine rede halten.
8. können sie mir sagen, wie spät es ist, herr doktor?
9. die golden gate bridge ist ein wahrzeichen von san francisco.
10. am wochenende besuche ich meine oma in frankfurt.

Type 2: Proper Noun Identification Identify the proper nouns in the following sentences and capitalize them:

1. lisa fährt nächsten monat nach paris.
2. der amazonas ist der längste fluss in südamerika.
3. hast du schon die werke von goethe gelesen?
4. der eiffelturm steht in der hauptstadt frankreichs.
5. der louvre ist eines der berühmtesten museen der welt.
6. viele philosophen studieren die schriften von platon.
7. shakespeare ist bekannt für seine dramen und sonette.
8. die vereinten nationen haben ihren sitz in new york.
9. der colosseum ist ein antikes amphitheater in rom.
10. die berliner mauer fiel im jahr 1989.

Type 3: Title and Courtesy Capitalization Capitalize the titles and courtesies in the following sentences:

1. frau müller ist die lehrerin meiner tochter.
2. herr schmidt, könnten sie mir bitte helfen?
3. doktor weber hat heute viele patienten.
4. königin elisabeth besuchte gestern das museum.
5. präsident lincoln war ein bedeutender politiker.
6. könig ludwig ii. baute das schloss neuschwanstein.
7. graf zeppelin erfand das gleichnamige luftschiff.
8. der papst wird morgen eine messe halten.
9. professor meier ist ein experte für deutsche literatur.
10. baroness thatcher war eine einflussreiche politikerin.

Type 4: Capitalization in Letter Writing Correct the capitalization in the following letter openings and closings:

1. liebe maria, ich hoffe, es geht dir gut.
2. sehr geehrter herr direktor, ich schreibe ihnen bezüglich…
3. liebe grüße, deine anna.
4. hochachtungsvoll, dr. hans müller.
5. hallo klaus, lange nicht gesehen!
6. besten dank und freundliche grüße, ihr peter schneider.
7. lieber onkel johann, vielen dank für das geschenk.
8. mit freundlichen grüßen, die geschäftsleitung.
9. hallo lisa, wie war dein urlaub?
10. tschüss und bis bald, dein freund markus.

Type 5: Mixed Capitalization Practice Apply the correct capitalization rules to the following mixed sentences:

1. der frühling kommt und mit ihm die blumen.
2. im winter fahren viele menschen zum skifahren in die berge.
3. die kinder spielen im park und rufen laut “juchhu!”.
4. montags gehe ich immer zum schwimmen.
5. der atlantik ist kälter als das mittelmeer.
6. das buch “der kleine prinz” ist weltweit bekannt.
7. der kurs “deutsch als fremdsprache” beginnt nächste woche.
8. der film “titanic” gewann viele oscars.
9. die bibel ist das meistgelesene buch der welt.
10. das gedicht “der panther” wurde von rainer maria rilke geschrieben.

Certainly! Here are the explained answers for each type of exercise focusing on German capitalization rules.

Type 1: Sentence Capitalization

1. Gestern habe ich Peter in Berlin getroffen.
   The first word of a sentence and proper nouns like names and cities are capitalized.
2. Der Rhein fließt durch Köln.
   The first word of a sentence and proper nouns like names of rivers and cities are capitalized.
3. Im Sommer fahren wir immer an die Ostsee.
   The first word of a sentence and proper nouns like names of seas are capitalized.
4. Hast du das neue Buch von J.K. Rowling gelesen?
   The first word of a sentence and names of people are capitalized.
5. Mein Bruder studiert Medizin in München.
   The first word of a sentence, fields of study as proper nouns, and cities are capitalized.
6. Die Alpen sind ein beliebtes Reiseziel.
   The first word of a sentence and proper nouns like names of mountain ranges are capitalized.
7. Der Bundeskanzler wird heute eine Rede halten.
   The first word of a sentence and titles when referring to a specific person are capitalized.
8. Können Sie mir sagen, wie spät es ist, Herr Doktor?
   The first word of a sentence and courtesies with titles are capitalized.
9. Die Golden Gate Bridge ist ein Wahrzeichen von San Francisco.
   The first word of a sentence and proper nouns like names of landmarks and cities are capitalized.
10. Am Wochenende besuche ich meine Oma in Frankfurt.
    The first word of a sentence and proper nouns like names of cities are capitalized. “Oma” is capitalized here as it is used in place of a name.

Type 2: Proper Noun Identification

1. Lisa fährt nächsten Monat nach Paris.
   Names of people and cities are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
2. Der Amazonas ist der längste Fluss in Südamerika.
   Names of rivers and continents are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
3. Hast du schon die Werke von Goethe gelesen?
   The first word of a sentence and names of people are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
4. Der Eiffelturm steht in der Hauptstadt Frankreichs.
   Names of landmarks and countries are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
5. Der Louvre ist eines der berühmtesten Museen der Welt.
   Names of museums are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
6. Viele Philosophen studieren die Schriften von Platon.
   Names of people are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
7. Shakespeare ist bekannt für seine Dramen und Sonette.
   Names of people are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
8. Die Vereinten Nationen haben ihren Sitz in New York.
   Names of organizations and cities are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
9. Der Colosseum ist ein antikes Amphitheater in Rom.
   Names of landmarks and cities are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
10. Die Berliner Mauer fiel im Jahr 1989.
    Names of historical events and landmarks are proper nouns and should be capitalized.

Type 3: Title and Courtesy Capitalization

1. Frau Müller ist die Lehrerin meiner Tochter.
   Courtesies and last names are capitalized.
2. Herr Schmidt, könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?
   Courtesies and last names are capitalized.
3. Doktor Weber hat heute viele Patienten.
   Titles and last names are capitalized.
4. Königin Elisabeth besuchte gestern das Museum.
   Titles and names are capitalized.
5. Präsident Lincoln war ein bedeutender Politiker.
   Titles and last names are capitalized.
6. König Ludwig II. baute das Schloss Neuschwanstein.
   Titles, names, and proper nouns like names of buildings are capitalized.
7. Graf Zeppelin erfand das gleichnamige Luftschiff.
   Titles and last names are capitalized.
8. Der Papst wird morgen eine Messe halten.
   Titles are capitalized when referring to a specific person.
9. Professor Meier ist ein Experte für deutsche Literatur.
   Titles and last names are capitalized.
10. Baroness Thatcher war eine einflussreiche Politikerin.
    Titles and last names are capitalized.

Type 4: Capitalization in Letter Writing

1. Liebe Maria, ich hoffe, es geht dir gut.
   The opening of a letter is capitalized, as well as the name of the person being addressed.
2. Sehr geehrter Herr Direktor, ich schreibe Ihnen bezüglich…
   The opening of a formal letter is capitalized, including titles and courtesies.
3. Liebe Grüße, deine Anna.
   The closing of a letter is capitalized, as well as the name of the person signing off.
4. Hochachtungsvoll, Dr. Hans Müller.
   The closing of a formal letter is capitalized, including titles and names.
5. Hallo Klaus, lange nicht gesehen!
   The opening of an informal letter is capitalized, as well as the name of the person being addressed.
6. Besten Dank und freundliche Grüße, Ihr Peter Schneider.
   The closing of a letter is capitalized, including courtesies and names.
7. Lieber Onkel Johann, vielen Dank für das Geschenk.
   The opening of a letter is capitalized, including familial titles and names.
8. Mit freundlichen Grüßen, die Geschäftsleitung.
   The closing of a formal letter is capitalized.
9. Hallo Lisa, wie war dein Urlaub?
   The opening of an informal letter is capitalized, as well as the name of the person being addressed.
10. Tschüss und bis bald, dein Freund Markus.
    The closing of an informal letter is capitalized, as well as the name of the person signing off.

Type 5: Mixed Capitalization Practice

1. Der Frühling kommt und mit ihm die Blumen.
   The first word of a sentence is capitalized.
2. Im Winter fahren viele Menschen zum Skifahren in die Berge.
   The first word of a sentence is capitalized.
3. Die Kinder spielen im Park und rufen laut “Juchhu!”.
   The first word of a sentence and interjections are capitalized.
4. Montags gehe ich immer zum Schwimmen.
   The first word of a sentence is capitalized.
5. Der Atlantik ist kälter als das Mittelmeer.
   The first word of a sentence and proper nouns like names of oceans and seas are capitalized.
6. Das Buch “Der Kleine Prinz” ist weltweit bekannt.
   The first word of a sentence and titles of books are capitalized.
7. Der Kurs “Deutsch als Fremdsprache” beginnt nächste Woche.
   The first word of a sentence and titles of courses are capitalized.
8. Der Film “Titanic” gewann viele Oscars.
   The first word of a sentence and titles of films are capitalized.
9. Die Bibel ist das meistgelesene Buch der Welt.
   The first word of a sentence and titles of sacred texts are capitalized.
10. Das Gedicht “Der Panther” wurde von Rainer Maria Rilke geschrieben.
    The first word of a sentence, titles of works, and names of authors are capitalized.