Example Sentences: Turning Word Lists into Usable Language

Why Example Sentences Matter More Than Word Lists

Word lists are useful for recognition: you see der Tisch and you know it means “table.” But usable language requires more than recognition. You need to know how a word behaves in a sentence: which verb it prefers, which preposition follows, what case it triggers, where it sits in word order, and what sounds natural in everyday speech. Example sentences turn isolated vocabulary into patterns you can reuse.

Example sentences help you learn three things at once: meaning, grammar, and context. Instead of memorizing “to wait = warten,” you learn “Ich warte auf den Bus.” Now you also know the preposition (auf) and the case (accusative). This is the difference between knowing a translation and being able to speak.

In this chapter you will learn how to create and practice example sentences so that every new word becomes a tool you can use. The goal is not to write “beautiful” sentences; the goal is to build reliable sentence templates you can adapt quickly.

What Makes a Good Example Sentence?

1) Short, clear, and realistic

Beginner-level example sentences should be short enough to repeat aloud and realistic enough to imagine. “Der Astronaut repariert die Raumstation.” is grammatical, but it is not useful for daily communication. Prefer sentences you might actually say.

• Good: Ich brauche Hilfe.
• Less useful: Ich benötige assistierende Unterstützung in dieser Angelegenheit.

2) One main idea per sentence

A sentence that contains three new words and two new grammar points is hard to learn. Keep one target word as the focus and make the rest familiar. If you need a second sentence, write a second sentence.

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• Target word: vergessen (to forget) → Ich habe meinen Schlüssel vergessen.
• Second sentence for variety → Vergiss das nicht!

3) Shows typical partners (collocations) and grammar

Many German words “like” certain partners. Example sentences should show these partners: common verbs with nouns, common adjectives with nouns, and especially prepositions with verbs/adjectives.

• interessiert an → Ich bin an Musik interessiert.
• warten auf → Wir warten auf dich.
• Angst vor → Sie hat Angst vor Hunden.

4) Reusable structure (a template)

The best example sentences are templates you can swap words into. If you learn “Ich brauche ___.” you can produce dozens of sentences. If you learn “Ich brauche dringend den roten Regenschirm, den ich gestern im Zug gesehen habe.” you cannot reuse it easily.

Step-by-Step: Turning a New Word into Usable Language

Use this process whenever you add a new word from a theme list. It works for nouns, verbs, adjectives, and common expressions.

Step 1: Choose a “base sentence frame”

Pick a simple frame that matches the word type. Here are reliable frames:

• Noun: Ich habe einen/eine ___. / Das ist mein/meine ___.
• Verb (present): Ich ___ heute. / Wir ___ jeden Tag.
• Verb (modal): Ich muss/kann/will ___.
• Adjective: Das ist ___. / Ich bin ___.
• Preposition phrase: Ich bin ___ der/die/das ___. / Es ist ___ mir.

Choose one frame and keep it consistent across many words. Consistency reduces mental load and makes practice faster.

Step 2: Add a concrete situation (who/where/when)

Make the sentence easy to imagine by adding one small detail: today, now, at home, with a friend. This anchors meaning and improves recall.

• Ich lerne. → Ich lerne heute Abend.
• Ich suche meinen Schlüssel. (now you can picture it)

Step 3: Add the most typical grammar partner

This step is crucial for German. If the word requires a preposition, a case, or a specific structure, include it immediately.

• denken an → Ich denke an dich.
• sprechen mit → Ich spreche mit meiner Nachbarin.
• sich freuen auf → Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende.
• sich erinnern an → Er erinnert sich an den Termin.

Step 4: Create a second sentence that changes the perspective

One sentence builds recognition; two sentences build flexibility. Change the subject, tense, or sentence type (question/negative/command).

• Statement → Ich brauche Zeit.
• Question → Brauchst du Zeit?
• Negative → Ich brauche keine Hilfe.
• Command → Warte bitte!

Step 5: Say it aloud and “shadow” it

Example sentences are for speaking, not only reading. Read the sentence aloud slowly, then again at normal speed. If you have audio, shadow it: listen and repeat immediately, copying rhythm and intonation. Your goal is automatic production.

Step 6: Turn it into a mini-dialogue

A single sentence becomes usable when you can respond to it. Add one question and one short answer.

• Wo bist du? – Ich bin zu Hause.
• Kannst du heute? – Ja, ich habe Zeit.
• Warum? – Weil ich arbeiten muss.

Sentence Patterns You Can Reuse Across Many Themes

Below are high-utility patterns. Use them as “containers” for new vocabulary. Replace the blank with your new word or phrase.

1) Asking for and giving information

• Was bedeutet ___?
• Wie sagt man ___ auf Deutsch?
• Kannst du das bitte wiederholen?
• Ich verstehe das nicht.
• Das heißt ___.

2) Preferences and opinions

• Ich mag ___.
• Ich mag ___ nicht so gern.
• Ich finde das ___. (interesting/boring/important)
• Meiner Meinung nach ist das ___.

3) Plans and time

• Heute/Morgen habe ich ___.
• Ich habe um ___ Uhr Zeit.
• Wir treffen uns um ___.
• Ich komme später.

4) Problems and solutions

• Ich habe ein Problem.
• Das funktioniert nicht.
• Kannst du mir helfen?
• Ich brauche eine Lösung.

5) Polite requests

• Könnten Sie bitte ___?
• Kannst du bitte ___?
• Ich hätte gern ___.
• Darf ich ___?

How to Build Example Sentences for Different Word Types

Nouns: show article, case, and a typical verb

When you learn a noun, your example sentence should force you to use it with an article and in a case. This prevents “floating nouns” that you can recognize but not use.

• Ich sehe den Hund. (accusative)
• Ich helfe dem Mann. (dative)
• Das ist die Idee. (nominative)
• Ich brauche eine Pause. (accusative with an indefinite article)

Also connect the noun to a common verb:

• eine Frage stellen → Ich stelle eine Frage.
• einen Termin machen → Wir machen einen Termin.

Verbs: show subject, tense, and complements

For verbs, the example sentence should show who does the action and what comes after the verb (object, preposition, infinitive). Keep the tense simple at first (present, perfect for common past).

• Ich öffne das Fenster.
• Wir beginnen um acht.
• Er erklärt das Problem.
• Ich habe das schon gemacht.

For verbs with prepositions, always include the preposition:

• Ich interessiere mich für Sprachen.
• Sie wartet auf den Anruf.
• Wir sprechen über das Thema.

Adjectives: show what they describe and common intensifiers

Adjectives become usable when you attach them to a noun or use them with sein. Add a common intensifier like sehr, ziemlich, nicht so.

• Das ist sehr wichtig.
• Die Aufgabe ist ziemlich schwer.
• Heute bin ich nicht so müde.

Adverbs and connectors: show position in the sentence

Words like trotzdem, deshalb, vielleicht, leider are powerful, but learners often place them incorrectly. Example sentences teach placement.

• Vielleicht komme ich später.
• Leider habe ich keine Zeit.
• Ich bin müde, deshalb gehe ich nach Hause.
• Es regnet, trotzdem gehe ich spazieren.

Fixed expressions: learn them as one unit

Some useful items are best learned as chunks: Es tut mir leid, Keine Ahnung, Gute Idee. Do not translate word by word; memorize the whole unit and practice it in mini-dialogues.

• Es tut mir leid. Ich bin zu spät.
• Keine Ahnung. Frag bitte Anna.
• Gute Idee! Machen wir das so.

Practical Technique: The “3-Sentence Set”

To make a word stick, create a set of three sentences. This is fast enough to do daily and strong enough to build flexibility.

Sentence 1: Neutral statement

Use the word in a simple statement.

• Ich brauche Ruhe.

Sentence 2: Question

Turn it into a question you might ask.

• Brauchst du Ruhe?

Sentence 3: Negative or contrast

Add nicht / kein or a contrast with aber.

• Ich brauche keine Ruhe, aber ich brauche Zeit.

This method forces you to practice word order, question formation, and negation—without turning the exercise into a grammar lecture.

Practical Technique: Minimal Pairs for Meaning and Form

Sometimes two similar words are confusing. Create two nearly identical sentences that differ by one word. This highlights meaning and helps you choose correctly while speaking.

• Ich suche meinen Schlüssel. (I’m looking for it now)
• Ich finde meinen Schlüssel. (I find it)

• Ich leihe dir das Buch. (I lend it to you)
• Du leihst mir das Buch. (you lend it to me)

From Example Sentences to Micro-Stories

After you have 5–10 example sentences, connect them into a micro-story of 4–6 lines. This trains flow and recall. Keep it simple and in the present tense. A micro-story should reuse words, not introduce many new ones.

Example micro-story (template):

Heute habe ich ein Problem. Ich finde meinen Schlüssel nicht. Ich suche in meiner Tasche, aber er ist nicht da. Ich rufe einen Freund an. Er hilft mir. Am Ende finde ich den Schlüssel in der Jacke.

Now you can swap parts: replace Schlüssel with another object, replace Freund with Nachbarin, replace Jacke with Auto. This is how word lists become speaking ability.

Common Sentence Building Pitfalls (and How to Fix Them)

Pitfall 1: Translating word-for-word

German often uses different structures than English. Example sentences should be German-first, not translation-first. If you notice you always build sentences by translating, switch to templates and chunks.

• Natural: Ich habe Hunger.
• Not natural: Ich bin hungrig (possible, but different feel; use both if useful)

Pitfall 2: Avoiding cases by using only “ich” sentences

“Ich” sentences are great, but if you only use ich + verb, you may avoid dative/accusative practice. Make sure some examples include objects and prepositions.

• Ich gebe dem Kind das Buch.
• Ich gehe mit meiner Freundin.

Pitfall 3: Overly complex sentences too early

Long sentences are not more advanced if you cannot say them smoothly. Build complexity gradually: first a simple sentence, then add one extra element (time, place, reason).

• Ich komme.
• Ich komme später.
• Ich komme später, weil ich arbeiten muss.

Practice Routine: 15 Minutes to Activate New Vocabulary

Use this routine when you learn a new set of words. It is designed to move from recognition to production quickly.

Minute 1–5: Write 5 base sentences

Pick 5 words and write one short sentence for each. Keep the same frame when possible.

• Ich brauche ___.
• Ich suche ___.
• Ich treffe ___.

Minute 6–10: Convert to questions and negatives

For each sentence, create a question and a negative version. Speak all three aloud.

• Ich habe Zeit. → Hast du Zeit? → Ich habe keine Zeit.

Minute 11–15: Build a mini-dialogue

Choose two of your words and create a 4-line dialogue. Aim for speed and clarity, not perfection.

A: Hast du heute Zeit? B: Leider nicht. A: Warum? B: Ich muss noch arbeiten.

Audio-Friendly Drills with Example Sentences

If you are using audio (or recording yourself), example sentences become powerful drills. Keep each drill short and repeatable.

Drill 1: Listen and repeat (3 rounds)

• Round 1: slow, focus on pronunciation
• Round 2: normal speed, focus on rhythm
• Round 3: faster, focus on automaticity

Drill 2: Substitution (swap one element)

Take a sentence and swap one part while keeping the structure.

• Ich brauche Hilfe. → Ich brauche Zeit. → Ich brauche eine Pause.
• Ich warte auf den Bus. → Ich warte auf dich. → Ich warte auf eine Antwort.

Drill 3: Answer quickly (no translation)

Ask yourself a question and answer immediately in German. Use the same pattern repeatedly until it feels easy.

• Hast du Zeit? – Ja, ich habe Zeit. / Nein, ich habe keine Zeit.
• Worauf wartest du? – Ich warte auf den Bus.

Build Your Personal Example Sentence Bank

Example sentences work best when they match your life. Create a “sentence bank” that you can review like vocabulary, but in full sentences. Organize it by patterns, not only by themes. For each new word, store:

• One base sentence (statement)
• One question
• One negative or contrast sentence
• Optional: one mini-dialogue line

Keep sentences consistent in style and level. Over time, you will notice that you are not memorizing thousands of separate items—you are building a small set of strong patterns that can express many ideas.