German Language B2 Upper Intermediate (Selbständige Sprachverwendung) Syllabus

What does a past participle (Partizip II) express when used as an adjective? Give an example.

It expresses a completed or passive action: 'die geöffnete Tür' (the opened/opened-up door) = 'die Tür, die geöffnet wurde/worden ist'.

Compare the meaning of 'das kochende Wasser' vs 'das gekochte Ei'.

'kochende' (Partizip I) = active/ongoing: water that is boiling. 'gekochte' (Partizip II) = passive/completed: an egg that has been boiled.

What is an extended participle construction (erweitertes Partizipialattribut)?

A participle used as an adjective with its own modifiers placed between the article and the noun, replacing a relative clause: 'das gestern von ihm gelesene Buch' = 'das Buch, das gestern von ihm gelesen wurde'.

Resolve the extended participle 'die seit Tagen anhaltenden Regenfälle' into a relative clause.

'die Regenfälle, die seit Tagen anhalten' (the rainfall that has been continuing for days).

What is the Gerundivum (gerundive) construction 'zu' + Partizip I used as an adjective, and what does it express?

'zu' + Partizip I as an attribute expresses passive necessity or possibility (must/can be done): 'die zu lösende Aufgabe' = 'die Aufgabe, die gelöst werden muss/kann'.

Resolve 'die zu berücksichtigenden Faktoren' into a relative clause.

'die Faktoren, die berücksichtigt werden müssen' (the factors that must be taken into account).

Distinguish the meaning of 'der zu prüfende Antrag' from 'der geprüfte Antrag'.

'der zu prüfende Antrag' = the application that is to be / must be examined (future necessity, passive). 'der geprüfte Antrag' = the application that has been examined (completed, passive).

What is the function of the two-part connector 'sowohl ... als auch' and what verb agreement does it trigger?

It means 'both ... and' and links two elements additively. When it joins two singular subjects it usually takes a plural verb: 'Sowohl er als auch sie sind da.'

Contrast the meanings of 'entweder ... oder', 'weder ... noch', and 'nicht nur ... sondern auch'.

'entweder ... oder' = either ... or (exclusive choice); 'weder ... noch' = neither ... nor (double negation); 'nicht nur ... sondern auch' = not only ... but also (addition).

With 'weder ... noch', is an additional 'nicht' needed, and what is the sentence meaning?

No extra 'nicht' is used because 'weder...noch' is itself negative: 'Er trinkt weder Kaffee noch Tee' = he drinks neither coffee nor tea.

What type of connector is 'dennoch' and how does it affect word order?

'dennoch' (nevertheless/yet) is an adverbial connector (Konjunktionaladverb). When it starts a clause it triggers inversion: verb second, subject third: 'Es regnete; dennoch gingen wir spazieren.'

Give the meanings of the adverbial connectors 'folglich', 'hingegen', and 'dennoch'.

'folglich' = consequently/therefore (result); 'hingegen' = however/on the other hand (contrast); 'dennoch' = nevertheless (concession).

How do adverbial connectors like 'deshalb', 'trotzdem', 'folglich' differ from subordinating conjunctions like 'weil', 'obwohl' in word order?

Adverbial connectors occupy position 1 and are followed by verb-second (V2) word order. Subordinating conjunctions send the verb to the end of the clause.

Rewrite the clause 'Obwohl es regnete, spielten sie' using a prepositional phrase.

'Trotz des Regens spielten sie.' The concessive 'obwohl'-clause becomes 'trotz' + genitive noun phrase.

Which prepositions commonly replace the causal, concessive, temporal, and conditional clauses respectively?

Causal (weil) → 'wegen/aufgrund'; concessive (obwohl) → 'trotz'; temporal (als/nachdem) → 'bei/nach/während/vor'; conditional (wenn) → 'bei/im Falle von'.

Convert 'Wenn es Probleme gibt, ruf mich an' into a prepositional phrase.

'Bei Problemen ruf mich an.' The conditional 'wenn'-clause becomes 'bei' + noun phrase.

What does the idiom 'die Daumen drücken' mean?

To keep one's fingers crossed / to wish someone luck. Literally 'to press the thumbs'.

Give the meaning of the Redewendung 'ins Gras beißen' and 'jemandem einen Bären aufbinden'.

'ins Gras beißen' = to kick the bucket / to die. 'jemandem einen Bären aufbinden' = to tell someone a tall tale / to fool someone.

What does 'die Katze im Sack kaufen' mean?

To buy something sight unseen / to buy a pig in a poke — to buy without checking what you get.

What is a Modalpartikel (modal particle) and does it change the propositional content of a sentence?

An uninflected particle (doch, mal, eben, ja, wohl, halt) that conveys the speaker's attitude or expectation. It does NOT change the propositional content, only the tone/nuance.

Explain the nuance of 'mal' in 'Komm mal her!' versus a command without it.

'mal' softens the imperative, making it more casual and less abrupt — 'come over here for a sec' rather than a blunt 'come here!'.

What nuance does the modal particle 'ja' add in 'Das ist ja interessant!' and in 'Sei ja vorsichtig!'?

In 'Das ist ja interessant!' it signals mild surprise / shared obviousness. In 'Sei ja vorsichtig!' it intensifies a warning ('you'd better be careful').

Compare the modal particles 'doch' and 'eben' in statements.

'doch' contradicts an assumption or adds insistence ('Du weißt das doch!' = you do know that). 'eben' expresses resignation/'that's just how it is' ('Das ist eben so').

Give one academic/abstract synonym each for the everyday words 'benutzen', 'zeigen', and 'wichtig'.

'benutzen' → 'verwenden/nutzen'; 'zeigen' → 'darstellen/aufzeigen/verdeutlichen'; 'wichtig' → 'bedeutend/relevant/wesentlich'.

Define the abstract nouns 'die Auseinandersetzung', 'die Voraussetzung', and 'der Zusammenhang'.

'Auseinandersetzung' = engagement with / dispute over a topic; 'Voraussetzung' = precondition/requirement; 'Zusammenhang' = context/connection/interrelation.

Distinguish the nuance between the synonyms 'sparsam', 'geizig', and 'sparsam sein vs geizig sein'.

'sparsam' = thrifty/economical (positive: uses resources carefully). 'geizig' = stingy/miserly (negative: unwilling to spend even when appropriate).

Distinguish the near-synonyms 'kündigen', 'entlassen', and 'feuern' in the workplace context.

'kündigen' = to give notice (either party can do it, neutral/formal); 'entlassen' = to dismiss (employer lets an employee go, formal); 'feuern' = to fire (colloquial, from the employer).

When analyzing a newspaper text, how do you distinguish a Nachricht/Bericht from a Kommentar?

A Nachricht/Bericht (news report) presents facts neutrally and objectively. A Kommentar (commentary/opinion piece) expresses the author's evaluation and uses persuasive, subjective language.

What linguistic features signal the author's stance (Meinung) rather than fact in a journalistic text?

Evaluative adjectives, modal verbs (sollte, müsste), Konjunktiv, rhetorical questions, modal particles, and value-laden vocabulary signal opinion rather than neutral fact.

In text analysis, what is the difference between 'die These', 'das Argument', and 'das Beispiel' in an argumentative structure?

'These' = the central claim/thesis being defended; 'Argument' = a reason supporting or opposing the thesis; 'Beispiel' = a concrete illustration used to back up an argument.