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Year 7 - German

Improve your lifestyle: modal verbs 'müssen', 'dürfen', 'wollen' + infinitive

Improve your lifestyle: modal verbs 'müssen', 'dürfen', 'wollen'

Unit Summary

This unit extends pupils' knowledge of two-verb structures with 'können' with the introduction of 3 new modal verbs. It teaches pupils how to use these in practical general situations, using the pronoun 'man' and the determiner 'jeder'. Pupils consolidate a range of sound-symbol correspondences.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to recognise how modal verbs are used to express what people want, must or can do, in positive and negative statements.

Key Notes

  • [ü] is pronounced long as in 'Tür' or short as in 'fünf'.
  • Modal verbs express ideas of necessity or possibility (must, can, want).
  • Modal verbs are used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, which goes to the end of the sentence (two-verb rule).
  • Modal verbs include 'müssen' - to have to, must; 'dürfen' - to be allowed to, may; 'wollen' - to want to.
  • Put 'nicht' before an infinitive ('Ich muss nicht singen') but forms of 'kein' before nouns ('Er will kein Buch lesen').

Vocabulary To Learn

  • [ü]: pronounced long as in 'Tür' or short as in 'fünf'
  • modal verb: expresses ideas of necessity or possibility (must, can, want, allowed); used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive
  • two-verb rule: position of the 2nd verb at the end of two-verb sentences, e.g., 'Ich will jetzt Obst essen.'
  • nicht: 'not'
  • keinen, keine, kein: 'not a'

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The infinitive follows the conjugated verb, as in the English 'I can play'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.

[ü] is pronounced long as in 'Tür' or short as in 'fünf'. Modal verbs express ideas of necessity or possibility (must, can, want).

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. '[ü]'

pronounced long as in 'Tür' or short as in 'fünf'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: The infinitive follows the conjugated verb, as in the English 'I can play'. Correction: In German, the infinitive is placed at the end of a sentence when used with a modal verb, as in 'Ich kann spielen.'.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 7 German guide library.