Commas and punctuation – basic rules and typical cases
How it works
Comma placement in German follows fixed rules: commas separate main and subordinate clauses, lists, infinitive groups with certain signal words or references, as well as inserted additions and forms of address. Sentence-ending punctuation marks such as the period, question mark, and exclamation mark end a complete sentence. Other punctuation marks such as the colon, dash, and quotation marks have special functions. Errors often arise from missing or superfluous commas, incorrect separation of sentence parts, or disregard of punctuation rules.
Commas separate lists, main and subordinate clauses, certain infinitive groups, and additions. Sentence-ending punctuation marks end complete sentences. Other punctuation marks are used according to their function.
An example
Insert the missing punctuation mark in the sentence: ‹Kannst du mir bitte helfen›.
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50 Exercises
To the learning unit →Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: German. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.