Year 11 - German
Seien Sie sicher online! Using 'Sie' in statements, questions and the imperative
Media and technology: Die weite Welt
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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 consolidates known grammar with practice of modal verbs in present and past, reflexive verbs in two-verb structures, es gibt vs es gab and imperatives.(Sie, formal). Pupils also revise 'man' with verb to avoid the passive.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use the pronoun 'Sie' to make statements, ask questions or give instructions and advice, in the context of life online.
Key Notes
- Use 'Sie' for formal 'you' in statements, questions and the imperative.
- To ask a closed question swap the position of 'Sie' and the verb. For open questions, add a question word at the start.
- To form the formal imperative, swap the position of 'Sie' and the verb. 'Sein' is irregular: 'Seien Sie!'.
- Intonation can help to make it clear whether you are asking a question, making a statement or giving an instruction.
- The imperative can be softened by adding 'bitte', 'mal', 'doch' or 'schon'. These help us to recognise instructions.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Sie: subject pronoun meaning 'you', formal
- imperative: a mood used to give instructions or advice
- intonation: the rise and fall of the voice when speaking
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- You always leave out the subject pronoun when using the imperative.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
Use 'Sie' for formal 'you' in statements, questions and the imperative. To ask a closed question swap the position of 'Sie' and the verb. For open questions, add a question word at the start.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'Sie'
subject pronoun meaning 'you', formal. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: You always leave out the subject pronoun when using the imperative. Correction: The 'du' and 'ihr' forms of the imperative omit the subject pronoun, but the 'Sie' form retains it.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Ab wann darf man wählen? Present and past modal verbs Study Guide
- Beim Arzt: word order with 'obwohl', role-play Study Guide
- Das Leben in anderen Ländern: adjectives with '-los', uses of 'man' Study Guide
- Denken Jugendliche heute global? Accusative and dative reflexive verbs Study Guide
- Eine Online-Welt. Toll, oder? Prepositional verbs, da-compounds Study Guide
- Gesundheit: read and respond to texts Study Guide
- Medizin früher und heute: 'es gibt' vs 'es gab', imperfect Study Guide
- Was machen sie online? Revisiting vocabulary, describing pictures Study Guide
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