Grammar check sheet, when writing an essay:

All nouns are capitalized Word order Time, Manner, Place Verb placement verb in second position Coordinating conjunctions do not count as first position (no word order changes) Subordinating conjunctions conjugated verb moves to the end Modal verbs modal verbs are conjugated and in second position, any other verb moves to the end of clause or sentence in the infinitive nicht use with definite articles; place after subject, verb, direct object, but before everything else kein use with indefinite articles auch follows the verb Accusative prepositions are followed by the accusative case; only visible in the masculine Dative prepositions and dative verbs are followed in the dative case Two-case prepositions ask yourself is it Wo? (location) or Wohin? (placement) Present perfect tense past tense; conjugated auxiliary verb (haben or sein) is in second position, past participle is at the end of the clause or sentence Present perfect tense with subordinating conjunctions past participle is at the end, followed by the conjugated auxiliary verb (very end) Genitive shows possession; add s to proper names (no apostrophy), otherwise use the of construction Time expressions preceded by in, an, or vor in the dative case, otherwise in the accusative

These are only general rules. Use as a guide to write your essays. However keep in mind, there are always exceptions to the rule.