German grammar · Upper intermediate (B2)
Formal style: nouns, fixed noun-verb pairs and genitive prepositions
How formal German differs from speech: nouns instead of verbs, fixed pairs like eine Entscheidung treffen, and prepositions like aufgrund and trotz.
Nouns instead of verbs
Formal texts, letters and reports often use a noun where speech uses a verb and a clause. This is called the nominal style (). It's shorter, but also heavier: , … becomes ….
Any infinitive can become a neuter noun with a capital letter: , . Many verbs also have their own noun: → , → , → , (to break down, to be cancelled) → .
| Spoken | Formal |
|---|---|
| , … | … |
| , … | … |
| , … | … |
| , … | … |
Prepositions with the genitive
The nominal style often uses prepositions with the genitive. You know , and . Common ones in formal writing are also (because of, due to), (despite) and (according to, also with the dative). In speech, and are often used with the dative, but in writing use the genitive.
- Aufgrund des Wetters fällt das Konzert aus.Due to the weather, the concert is cancelled.
- Trotz mehrerer Anrufe habe ich keine Antwort erhalten.Despite several phone calls, I haven't received a reply.
Noun + verb pairs
Formal and work language also uses many fixed pairs of a noun and a verb (). The noun carries the meaning; the verb adds very little and can't be swapped. Most have a simpler verb that's more common in speech.
| Noun + verb | Meaning | Simpler verb |
|---|---|---|
| to make a decision | ||
| to make a suggestion | ||
| to ask a question | ||
| to make an application | ||
| to be available | – | |
| to be possible, to be an option | – | |
| / | to let someone know |