Year 11 - German
Feste: present tense weak and strong verbs
Communication and the world around us: mein Wohnort
Study Hub
Study Guides
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 and vocabulary, including past and present tenses, direct and indirect object pronouns, and comparatives, as pupils explore new places. Pupils also learn the imperative in the formal 'Sie' form.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use weak and strong verbs in the present tense and you can describe a photo of a celebration in detail.
Key Notes
- Weak verbs in the present tense follow a regular pattern of changes, like 'lernen'.
- Strong verbs in the present tense change their stem vowel in the 'du' and 'er, sie, es' forms: e→i, e→ie, and a→ä.
- When describing a photo, use the acronym PALM. It stands for People, Action, Location, Mood. Add your own opinions too.
- Translate the English present continuous using the German simple present when describing what is happening in a photo.
Vocabulary To Learn
- weak verb: a verb that follows a regular pattern of changes
- strong verb: a verb which changes its vowel in the verb stem of some of its forms
- PALM: an acronym to summarise what to include in a photo description: People, Action, Location, Mood
- present continuous: present tense used in English to describe ongoing, current actions; not used in German
- simple present: present tense used to describe habitual, routine actions; the only present tense in German
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Strong verbs follow a different pattern to weak verbs in every person of the verb.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
Weak verbs in the present tense follow a regular pattern of changes, like 'lernen'. Strong verbs in the present tense change their stem vowel in the 'du' and 'er, sie, es' forms: e→i, e→ie, and a→ä.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'weak verb'
a verb that follows a regular pattern of changes. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: Strong verbs follow a different pattern to weak verbs in every person of the verb. Correction: Strong verbs only change their stem vowel in the 'du' and 'er, sie, es' forms of the verb. Otherwise they follow the regular pattern of weak verbs.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Abenteuer im Ausland: perfect tense stem changes, perfect tense questions Study Guide
- Ausflüge: formal and informal questions Study Guide
- Das Wattenmeer: present tense weak and strong verbs, reflexives Study Guide
- Deutsche Städte: comparative adjectives Study Guide
- Flüsse in Deutschland: negation, 'sondern', 'entweder...oder', 'weder...noch' Study Guide
- Freiwilligenarbeit: direct and indirect object pronouns, position of objects Study Guide
- Hilf der Umwelt! Imperative 'du', 'ihr', 'Sie' Study Guide
- In der Stadt unterwegs: expanding vocabulary, role-play Study Guide
- Mein Brückenjahr: preposition 'bei', 'beim' and 'am' with nominalised verbs Study Guide
- Recyceln: formal and informal questions, 'du', 'ihr', 'Sie' Study Guide
- Wie ist die Stadt? Dative articles after 'laut' Study Guide
- Wie komme ich am besten ... ? Formal and informal imperatives Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 11 German guide library.