The Most Important Grammar Topics for the B1 Exam

February 2026 9 min read

Grammar is not tested in isolation on the TELC B1 exam, it runs through every section. The Sprachbausteine test it directly, the writing section requires it for accurate expression, and even reading comprehension depends on understanding sentence structures. This article covers the grammar topics that appear most frequently and that cause the most errors at B1 level.

1. Subordinate Clauses (Nebensätze)

Subordinate clauses are the backbone of B1-level German. In a subordinate clause, the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause. The most important conjunctions to master:

  • weil (because): Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Deutschland arbeiten möchte.
  • dass (that): Ich glaube, dass der Kurs am Montag beginnt.
  • wenn (if/when): Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.
  • obwohl (although): Obwohl er müde war, ging er ins Fitnessstudio.
  • als (when, past, one-time): Als ich ein Kind war, wohnten wir in Berlin.
  • bevor / nachdem (before / after): Bevor du gehst, ruf mich bitte an.
  • damit (so that): Ich lerne jeden Tag, damit ich die Prüfung bestehe.

Exam relevance: Sprachbausteine frequently test whether you can choose the correct conjunction. Reading comprehension requires understanding complex sentences with multiple clauses.

2. Relative Clauses (Relativsätze)

Relative clauses add information about a noun using a relative pronoun (der, die, das, etc.). The relative pronoun agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to, but its case depends on its function within the relative clause.

  • Nominative: Der Mann, der dort steht, ist mein Lehrer. (The man who is standing there is my teacher.)
  • Accusative: Das Buch, das ich lese, ist sehr interessant. (The book that I am reading is very interesting.)
  • Dative: Die Frau, der ich geholfen habe, war sehr dankbar. (The woman whom I helped was very grateful.)

Exam relevance: Relative clauses appear in reading texts and are sometimes tested directly in Sprachbausteine. You also need them in writing to create more sophisticated sentences.

3. Konjunktiv II (Subjunctive)

Konjunktiv II is used for polite requests, hypothetical situations, and wishes. At B1 level, you need the Konjunktiv II forms of a few key verbs:

  • haben → hätte: Ich hätte gern eine Tasse Kaffee.
  • sein → wäre: Es wäre schön, wenn Sie kommen könnten.
  • können → könnte: Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?
  • werden → würde: Ich würde gern an dem Kurs teilnehmen.
  • sollen → sollte: Du solltest mehr schlafen.

The würde + infinitive construction is a safe choice when you are unsure of the specific Konjunktiv II form of a verb.

Exam relevance: Essential for the writing section (polite requests in letters) and the speaking exam (making suggestions, expressing wishes).

4. Passive Voice (Passiv)

The passive is formed with werden + past participle (Partizip II). At B1 level, you need to understand and produce passive sentences in the present and simple past:

  • Present: Das Haus wird renoviert. (The house is being renovated.)
  • Past (Präteritum): Das Haus wurde renoviert. (The house was renovated.)
  • Present Perfect: Das Haus ist renoviert worden. (The house has been renovated.)

Exam relevance: Passive constructions appear frequently in reading texts, especially in informational and journalistic writing. Understanding them is essential for Teil 1 and Teil 2.

5. Prepositions with the Correct Case

Prepositions in German govern specific cases. The most commonly tested groups:

Accusative Prepositions

durch, für, gegen, ohne, um

  • Ich lerne für den Test.
  • Wir gehen durch den Park.

Dative Prepositions

aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu

  • Ich fahre mit dem Bus.
  • Nach der Arbeit gehe ich einkaufen.

Two-Way Prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen)

an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen

Accusative for movement/direction (wohin?), dative for location (wo?):

  • Movement: Ich gehe in die Schule. (accusative)
  • Location: Ich bin in der Schule. (dative)

Exam relevance: Sprachbausteine tests preposition-case combinations directly and frequently. This is one of the highest-yield topics to review.

6. Connectors and Adverbs (Konnektoren)

Connectors link sentences and show relationships between ideas. At B1, you must distinguish between connectors that affect word order differently:

Coordinating Conjunctions (no change to word order)

und, aber, oder, denn, sondern

  • Ich möchte kommen, aber ich habe keine Zeit.

Subordinating Conjunctions (verb to end)

weil, dass, wenn, obwohl, als, bevor, nachdem, damit, ob

  • Ich frage mich, ob er morgen kommt.

Adverbial Connectors (inversion: verb before subject)

deshalb, trotzdem, außerdem, dann, danach, darum, deswegen

  • Es hat geregnet. Deshalb sind wir zu Hause geblieben.
  • Er war krank. Trotzdem ist er zur Arbeit gegangen.

Exam relevance: Extremely high. The Sprachbausteine section frequently offers "deshalb", "trotzdem", "obwohl", and "weil" as answer options. Knowing which connector fits the logical relationship and which word order it requires is often the difference between a right and wrong answer.

7. Verb Tenses You Need

At B1 level, you should be comfortable with:

  • Präsens (present): For current situations and general truths.
  • Perfekt (present perfect): The standard past tense in spoken German and informal writing. Ich habe gestern einen Film gesehen.
  • Präteritum (simple past): For formal writing and for the verbs sein, haben, and modal verbs (war, hatte, konnte, wollte, etc.).
  • Futur I (future): werden + infinitive. Ich werde morgen früh aufstehen.

You do not need Plusquamperfekt (past perfect) or Futur II for B1, but recognising them in reading texts is helpful.

8. Reflexive Verbs

Many common German verbs are reflexive at B1 level:

  • sich freuen (auf/über), Ich freue mich auf den Urlaub.
  • sich interessieren (für), Er interessiert sich für Musik.
  • sich bewerben (um), Sie bewirbt sich um die Stelle.
  • sich ärgern (über), Wir ärgern uns über den Lärm.

Pay attention to the preposition that each reflexive verb takes, this is a frequent Sprachbausteine test item.

9. Adjective Declension

Adjective endings depend on the article type (definite, indefinite, or no article) and the case. The full system has many forms, but at B1, focus on the most common patterns:

  • After definite article: der nette Mann, die nette Frau, das nette Kind (nominative)
  • After indefinite article: ein netter Mann, eine nette Frau, ein nettes Kind (nominative)

The key principle: if the article shows the gender/case clearly, the adjective ending is weak (-e or -en). If the article does not show gender/case (or there is no article), the adjective ending must carry that information (strong ending).

How to Study Grammar Effectively

  • Focus on patterns, not individual rules. Instead of memorising "nach takes dative," practise 10 sentences with "nach" until the pattern feels natural.
  • Use Sprachbausteine practice tasks. These force you to apply grammar in context, which is how it is tested on the exam. Try our Sprachbausteine exercises.
  • Correct your own writing. After writing a practice letter, go through it sentence by sentence. Check verb position, preposition cases, and adjective endings. Self-correction builds awareness.
  • Read German texts actively. When you read, notice the grammar structures in action. Underline Nebensätze, circle connectors, highlight passive constructions. This connects abstract rules to real usage.

Grammar mastery at B1 does not mean knowing every rule perfectly. It means having a solid working knowledge of the structures listed above so you can use them accurately in most situations. Focus your study time on the topics in this article, and you will cover the vast majority of what the TELC B1 exam tests.