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Year 10 - German

Magst du Musik? Nominalisation of infinitives with 'beim' and 'am'

Media and technology: Mein Leben online

Unit Summary

This unit revisits verbs and prepositions and teaches new da-/wo-compounds dabei, darin, davon and dazu. Relative pronouns in subject relative clauses are also used in 2-verb structures. Pupils consolidate the perfect tense and am/beim with the nominationson of the infinitive is introduced.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use infinitive verbs as nouns with 'beim' and 'am' alongside a wide range of vocabulary to discuss musical preferences and understand texts about German music.

Key Notes

  • Infinitive verbs can be turned into nouns and correspond to English '-ing' nouns, e.g., 'das Lesen' - 'reading'.
  • To mean 'while' or 'in the process of' doing something, use 'beim' before a nominalised infinitive, e.g., 'beim Lesen'.
  • Use 'am' as an alternative to 'beim' before a nominalised verb, but only when a single activity is being done.
  • The use of 'beim' or 'am' plus the nominalised verb indicates the activity is, or was, ongoing or unfinished.
  • 'Deutschrap' is a form of hip-hop which originates from the 1980s. 'Rock am Ring' is a famous music festival in Germany.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • nominalisation: turning a verb into a noun
  • infinitive: form of the verb giving its general meaning, with no subject or tense
  • beim: preposition meaning 'whilst' or 'in the process of' before a nominalised infinitive
  • am: alternative preposition meaning 'in the process of' before a nominalised infinitive when a single activity is being done

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Infinitives and nominalised infinitives look exactly the same.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.

Infinitive verbs can be turned into nouns and correspond to English '-ing' nouns, e.g., 'das Lesen' - 'reading'. To mean 'while' or 'in the process of' doing something, use 'beim' before a nominalised infinitive, e.g., 'beim Lesen'.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'nominalisation'

turning a verb into a noun. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: Infinitives and nominalised infinitives look exactly the same. Correction: Infinitives can be turned into nouns by capitalising the first letter, so although they sound the same, they look different. They are always neuter. Use surrounding words, such as 'beim' and 'am' to identify nominalised infinitives when listening.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 German guide library.