Year 10 - German
Beziehungen: reflexive and non-reflexive verbs, reciprocal verbs
My personal world: Beziehungen und Feste
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit revisits verbs with prepositions, and adds to previous knowledge of da- and wo- compounds in the accusative and the dative. Reflexive verbs are revisited in the context of family relationships, together with word order and the use of wen, wem, with reflexive questions.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to differentiate between reflexive and non-reflexive uses of verbs and use reflexive and reciprocal verbs to talk about relationships.
Key Notes
- Some verbs are reflexive in German but their English translation does not have a reflexive meaning.
- The meaning of a verb can change depending on its reflexive or non-reflexive use.
- Reflexive use means the subject (doer) and object (receiver) of the action are the same.
- With plural verbs, reflexive pronouns can also mean 'each other', if the action is reciprocal.
Vocabulary To Learn
- reflexive: describes an action where the subject and object of the verb are the same
- reciprocal: describes an action that is two-way or mutual
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Verbs have the same meaning whether they are used reflexively or non-reflexively.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
Some verbs are reflexive in German but their English translation does not have a reflexive meaning. The meaning of a verb can change depending on its reflexive or non-reflexive use.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'reflexive'
describes an action where the subject and object of the verb are the same. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: Verbs have the same meaning whether they are used reflexively or non-reflexively. Correction: Some verbs have the same or similar meanings when used reflexively and non-reflexively, e.g. nennen, to call, sich nennen, to call oneself. However, some verbs completely change their meaning e.g. anziehen, to attract, sich anziehen, to get dressed.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Familie: direct object pronouns, singular and plural Study Guide
- Frauen im Motorsport: da-compounds, wo-compounds Study Guide
- Freunde: 'wen' and 'wem' - interrogative, word order with reflexive questions Study Guide
- Junge Pflegende: accusative and dative reflexive pronouns, 'welch-' Study Guide
- Karneval: indirect object pronouns, verbs with indirect objects, 'bei', 'beim' Study Guide
- Traditionen: 'jed-', dative verbs, translation Study Guide
- Traditionen: da-compounds, 'damit' as conjunction and wo-compounds Study Guide
- Vorbilder: accusative definite articles, verbs with accusative prepositions Study Guide
- Weltreligionen und ihre Feste: expanding vocabulary, describing photos Study Guide
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