Table of Contents
Overview of Writing at B1 Level
At B1 level, you can already write simple texts in German. In this chapter you focus on making your writing clearer, more connected, and more appropriate for the situation. You practice typical everyday formats, such as short messages, simple emails, and short opinion texts, and you learn how to structure your ideas so that a German reader can easily follow you.
The goal is not to write “perfect” German, but to write texts that are understandable, logically organized, and polite or neutral in the right way.
Planning a Text Before You Write
Even for a short text, a few seconds of planning helps a lot. At B1 level, think about three questions before you start writing in German.
- Who is the reader?
Is it a friend, a teacher, a company, an office? This will decide how formal your language should be and which greetings and closings you use. - What is the purpose?
Do you want to inform, ask, complain, invite, or give your opinion? Your purpose influences what information is necessary and what can be left out. - What is the structure?
A good basic structure for many short texts in German is:
Introduction: Why are you writing?
Main part: The important information, reasons, or details.
Conclusion: A final sentence or request and a closing formula.
Important: Always write in clear, short paragraphs. One paragraph should follow one main idea.
Paragraph Structure and Simple Cohesion
At B1 level your text should not be one long block. Separate it into logical parts and use simple connectors to show how your ideas are related.
A typical simple structure is:
Introduction paragraph:
Shortly say what the text is about.
Main paragraph(s):
Explain the situation, give information, or give reasons.
Final paragraph:
Summarize, ask for something, or say what you hope or expect.
You can connect sentences with very common B1 words such as:
- “und”, “aber”, “oder”
- “dann”, “danach”, “später”
- “deshalb”, “darum”, “also”
- “zuerst”, “am Ende”
Rule: Every new topic or step in your explanation should begin in a new paragraph.
Typical Situations and Text Types at B1
In everyday life you often need to write:
Short personal messages: For example, messages to friends or classmates about plans, invitations, or changes.
Semi-formal or formal messages: For example, emails to a school, a language course, a landlord, or an office.
Short opinion texts: For example, a short text about your opinion on public transport, online learning, or hobbies.
Each type has a typical style and structure. You will see these styles again in the following chapters about emails, letters, and short essays.
Style: Informal, Neutral, and Formal
Even at B1, you must choose the correct style. German readers pay attention to this.
Informal style is used with friends, family, people you use “du” with.
Neutral style is used in many everyday situations, for example with classmates or colleagues you know, but still want to be polite.
Formal style is used for offices, authorities, many companies, and people you call “Sie”.
You show the style especially through:
The greeting
How you address the person (du / Sie)
The closing formula and your full name
Polite words such as “bitte”, “danke”, “Entschuldigung”
More or fewer contractions in informal writing, for example “bin’s” instead of “bin es” in very informal texts, which you usually write only to close friends.
In the separate chapters you will see exact examples for emails and letters.
Important: Use “du” only for informal communication. Use “Sie” for formal communication, also in writing.
Making Your Ideas Clear and Logical
Clarity is more important than complex grammar. At B1 level, prefer clear sentences.
Use one main idea per sentence.
Use simple connector words to show time, cause, and contrast.
Avoid very long sentences with many commas.
To make your text easier to follow, use time expressions and simple connectors, for example:
Time order: “zuerst”, “dann”, “danach”, “später”, “am Ende”
Reason: “denn”, “weil”, “deshalb”, “darum”, “also”
Contrast: “aber”, “trotzdem”
You learn more about special connectors in another chapter at B1 level, so here you only need to know that you should connect sentences, not leave them isolated.
Rule: Avoid chains of many short sentences with only “und”. Use different connectors and time expressions to show the logical relation.
Expressing Your Opinion Simply
At B1 level you often need to say what you think about a topic and support it with one or two reasons. You do not need deep arguments, just clear and simple explanations.
You can use basic opinion phrases such as:
“Ich finde, dass …”
“Meiner Meinung nach …”
“Für mich ist es wichtig, dass …”
“Ich denke, …”
Often you give a reason in the next sentence starting with “denn” or “weil” or using “deshalb”.
In later chapters you will see more complex structures for argumentation. For writing skills in general, remember that your opinion text should still follow the same pattern: introduction with the topic, your opinion and reasons in the main part, a short conclusion.
Checking and Improving Your Text
A short check at the end can make a big difference. Even at B1, you should take a moment to read your own German text again.
Look especially at:
Is the greeting correct and does it fit the situation?
Do I use “du” or “Sie” correctly, and always the same form?
Is there a clear beginning, middle, and end?
Are dates, times, and numbers written clearly?
Did I include all questions or points from the task, if there was a task?
Strategy: Before sending or giving your text, always read it once more and correct at least one or two obvious mistakes, for example missing verbs or wrong personal pronouns.
Building Range at B1 Level
To write better, you also need a larger active vocabulary. When you learn a new word, do not only learn the translation. Try to learn a typical phrase with the word. Many words have typical partners, such as verbs that often appear together or fixed expressions.
You can keep a small list for writing where you collect:
Useful greetings and closings
Common connectors for time and reason
Typical phrases for giving your opinion
Polite expressions and simple formal sentences
Later B1 chapters will give you more specific expressions for emails, letters, and short essays. In this chapter, remember that a good writer at B1 level can choose from at least a few different forms of greeting, a few different connectors for time and cause, and a few different ways to say “I think”.
New Vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Leser | reader |
| die Einleitung | introduction |
| der Hauptteil | main part |
| der Schluss | conclusion, ending |
| der Absatz | paragraph |
| der Zweck | purpose |
| die Struktur | structure |
| informieren | to inform |
| sich beschweren | to complain |
| einladen | to invite |
| informell | informal |
| formell | formal |
| neutral | neutral |
| ansprechen | to address (a person) |
| deutlich | clear, distinct |
| verständlich | understandable |
| logisch | logical |
| verbinden | to connect |
| der Zusammenhang | connection, context |
| die Meinung | opinion |
| meiner Meinung nach | in my opinion |
| ich finde, dass … | I think that … |
| ich denke, … | I think … |
| deshalb | therefore |
| darum | for that reason |
| trotzdem | nevertheless |
| zuerst | first, at first |
| dann | then |
| danach | after that |
| später | later |
| am Ende | at the end |
| überprüfen | to check |
| korrigieren | to correct |
| höflich | polite |
| unhöflich | impolite |
| der Stil | style |
| die Anrede | form of address, salutation |
| die Grußformel | closing formula |
| der Satz | sentence |
| der Ausdruck | expression |
| der Fehler | mistake |
| verbessern | to improve |
| geeignet | suitable, appropriate |