Year 7 - German
What I do and when: inversion in statements with adverbs of time
Activities: time phrases, word order, prepositions
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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 introduces word order 2 for sentences starting with time adverbs. It contrasts word order 1 and 2 when describing what others do and when. Pupils then apply these rules to question forms. The dative case is introduced to describe location, plus sound-symbol correspondences [th] and [st].
Lesson Summary
You will learn to distinguish between word order 1 and word order 2 and use both to say what you do and when.
Key Notes
- [th] is pronounced as in 'Theater'. All German words containing [th] come from other languages. The 'h' is silent.
- Word order 1 (WO1) - subject, verb, adverb, noun - is the standard word order of a simple German sentence.
- To emphasise when something happens, swap the position of the subject and the adverb. This is word order 2 (WO2).
- The verb remains in the same position in WO2 as in WO1.
Vocabulary To Learn
- [th]: pronounced as in 'Theater'
- word order: the order of words in a sentence
- WO1: abbreviation for word order 1, the standard word order of a German sentence, i.e., subject then verb
- WO2: abbreviation for word order 2, which inverts the subject and verb in a sentence
- adverb: word that describes a verb or an adjective
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- In word order 2, all the words in a sentence change position from word order 1.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
[th] is pronounced as in 'Theater'. All German words containing [th] come from other languages. The 'h' is silent. Word order 1 (WO1) - subject, verb, adverb, noun - is the standard word order of a simple German sentence.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. '[th]'
pronounced as in 'Theater'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: In word order 2, all the words in a sentence change position from word order 1. Correction: The verb remains in the same position in word order 2 as in word order 1. If emphasis is on the adverb, the adverb and subject swap position.
More Lessons In This Unit
- In and into places: prepositions 'in' and 'auf' (accusative and dative) Study Guide
- What others do and when: main clause word order and inversion Study Guide
- What you and others do and when: time phrases as nouns and adverbs Study Guide
- Where are you and where are you going? 'In' and 'auf' (accusative and dative) Study Guide
- Who does what and when? 'Wann?' and inversion Study Guide
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