The modern German grammar approach stresses good usage not in isolation but in hearing, speaking, reading, and writing. Consequently, practice precedes analysis for the primary-level native learner. The child learns by demonstration what a sentence is and is then taught five parts of speech according to function: noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, and particle. Color-coding of these elements helps him create sentences using substitution drills, while the designation of the second and last word positions as verb slots ensures proper German sentence construction. Complex sentences are formed by joining successive simple sentences with connecting words. Speakers of German dialects learn the written language, including regular and predictable transformations, in the same way; irregular differences, however, must be taught individually by means of practice drills. Learners of German as a foreign language also follow this program, except that grammatical analysis may be introduced as an instructional aid for older students. References are included. (RS)