Year 11 - German
Recyceln: formal and informal questions, 'du', 'ihr', 'Sie'
Communication and the world around us: mein Wohnort
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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 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 create formal and informal questions in the context of helping the environment.
Key Notes
- The consonantal [r] makes a rolling sound at the back of the throat and the vocalic [r] has a gentle 'ah' sound.
- A closed question is formed by swapping the position of the verb and subject in a statement. This is called inversion.
- An open question is formed by adding a question word before the verb at the start of a closed question.
- Use 'du' questions for informal singular 'you', 'ihr' questions for informal plural 'you', and 'Sie' for formal 'you'.
- Use rising intonation, as well as correct word order, to make it clear that you are asking a question.
Vocabulary To Learn
- du: subject pronoun meaning 'you', informal and singular
- ihr: subject pronoun meaning 'you', informal and plural
- Sie: subject pronoun meaning 'you', formal
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- When adapting a question to a different form of 'you', just change the pronoun, e.g., from 'du' to 'Sie'.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
The consonantal [r] makes a rolling sound at the back of the throat and the vocalic [r] has a gentle 'ah' sound. A closed question is formed by swapping the position of the verb and subject in a statement. This is called inversion.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'du'
subject pronoun meaning 'you', informal and singular. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: When adapting a question to a different form of 'you', just change the pronoun, e.g., from 'du' to 'Sie'. Correction: When adapting a question from 'du' to a different form of you ('ihr' or 'Sie'), it's important to also change the verb form. With strong verbs, this can also involve a stem vowel change e.g., 'isst du?' becomes 'essen Sie?'.
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
- Feste: present tense weak and strong verbs 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
- Wie ist die Stadt? Dative articles after 'laut' Study Guide
- Wie komme ich am besten ... ? Formal and informal imperatives Study Guide
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