German grammar can be challenging and confusing, and full of exceptions. Whether you’re studying German for fun, at university, at a job, or life in Germany, getting down to business with a German grammar book can take your quest to learn German to the next level. So as not to waste valuable time researching the hundreds of books available, we have selected the best German grammar books for you, based on their reviews, structure, and currency.
why is it important to invest in a grammar book?
I’m a big fan of German learning apps, to make language learning fun and possible on the go. however, they can’t replace or make up for a good old physical grammar book, either for the fact that you can highlight words or scribble a memory hook next to it with your pencil. plus, complex grammar is explained in plain language so you really cover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ and not just ‘that’s how it is’.
You are reading: Best german grammar books
When you’re serious about learning German, you should spend that 30 minutes or hour at your desk or on your couch, studying the beautiful but complex grammar of German. you’ll hear yourself muttering “that doesn’t make sense” and “ahh, now it does” and other wonderful exclamations.
what are the best german grammar books?
We have selected the five best German grammar books for comparison. Take a look at our pros and cons of each to find the book that best suits your needs and learning style to gain more German skills.
All of the German grammar books below have the following benefits:
✓ highly rated ✓ explanations in English ✓ focus on grammar
These are our top picks for this year’s best German grammar book.
1. English grammar for German learners
Ideal for: Students looking for simple, step-by-step explanations of complex grammar topics.
✅ Pros: This book has the highest rating (at the time of this writing) on this list and that’s for a reason. Each chapter focuses on a single grammatical point, allowing you to choose your level and speed of language learning. With its 170 pages, it appeals to all levels of German as each chapter has two sections.
one in English, to explain the concept of grammar and relate it to the English language for better understanding (perfect for beginners). and the second in German, to relate it to the German language and give examples (perfect for intermediate and advanced). a review booklet with the answer key is available online.
⛔️ cons: none found.
2. complete german grammar
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ideal for: students eager to immerse themselves in basic German grammar exercises.
✅ pros: This book is perfect for beginners and for those looking to actively practice German with the many exercises throughout the book’s 288 pages. His learning process perfectly combines theory with the application of the German language. It also comes with an answer key at the end of the book. you can expand the book through its online application to access more exercises.
⛔️ Cons: The book has some minor errors and does not cover all areas of German grammar.
3. German grammar and use of the hammer
Ideal for: Students looking for a comprehensive, detailed, and long-standing book.
✅ pros: This book was first published in 1971 and has been considered the most comprehensive German grammar resource ever since. it is now in its sixth edition, updated with all modern changes in the German language.
is at the pricier end of this list and covers written and spoken German as well as formal and informal in 550 pages. Similar to “English Grammar for German Learners”, each chapter focuses on one concept in German grammar and explains it verbatim.
⛔️ Cons: Unfortunately, this great book doesn’t prevent small mistakes either.
4. schaum’s german grammar scheme
good for: students looking for a good balance between full grammar explanations and practical exercises.
✅ pros: just like hammer’s book, schaum’s german grammar book has been around for some time and gives you step-by-step solutions to practice problems in 336 pages.
In addition to grammar concept schemes, it provides hundreds of examples and exercises to practice your German. Of course, it also comes with an answer key on the back and a verb chart. As a bonus, you’ll get access to Schaum’s website with over 700 audio recordings.
⛔️ Cons: Students reported that the paper in the book is quite thin and damages quickly.
5. german grammar exercises
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good for: students who want to review or deepen their knowledge of German grammar.
✅ pros: This book really goes deep, just as the title describes. offers 312 pages, packed with clear explanations and over 200 practice exercises; covers the entire German grammatical system. comes with an answer key, perfect for self-study, as well as quick online quizzes to learn on the go.
⛔️ Cons: Users have described it as a bit dry at times and not ideal for absolute beginners.
bonus: active grammar
This German grammar book is not in English but exclusively in German, so it differs from the other books in this comparison. however, we don’t want you to miss out on it as it’s excellent and we think you might be up for a challenge.
good for: students who are challenged to learn with instructions and explanations in German.
✅ pros: This book is by far the best rated German grammar book in German for German as a foreign language. This edition is not for absolute beginners but for levels A1-B1, and an advanced version for B2-C1 is also available. 256 pages packed with simple explanations on the left page and exercises on the right page. for visualized learning it brings many tables and drawings. to practice your way of speaking, also bring audios online.
⛔️ disadvantages: if you are outside of germany, it can sometimes be difficult to get there.
That was a lot of talking about grammar; If you need to clear your head a bit while learning German, take a look at our guide: 111 German Idioms in English with Illustrations [+ translation]
conclusion
Each German grammar book in this guide is a great choice, and we hope you were able to select one or two that fit your journey of learning essential German grammar. don’t forget to put the book down from time to time and really use what you’ve learned and speak the language.
if you’re lucky and live in germany, take every chance you get. If German doesn’t surround you, try an online language school, like Lingoda, to learn from native German speakers at any time of the day.
Happy studying! 📚