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Year 7 - German

Summer plans: contrasting uses of the present tense, 'nächst-'

Plans and places: future vs present meaning for present tense

Unit Summary

This unit provides pupils with the opportunity to apply their knowledge of verbs in the present tense and time adverbials to communicate future intention. Pupils learn to distinguish between 'zu' and 'nach' for destinations and apply them accurately with the dative case.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use the present tense and time phrases to write a short text about what you usually do in the summer and what you am going to do this summer.

Key Notes

  • [s] sounds like the English 'z' before a vowel. Elsewhere [s], [ss] and [ß] sound like the English 's'.
  • 'Nächst-' means 'next' and takes the same ending as the definite article of the noun it precedes.
  • Use time phrases (e.g., 'nächstes Jahr') with the present tense to refer to future plans.
  • When translating future meaning from German into English, use the present continuous (e.g., 'next week I am going').
  • Use simple present tense in English translations of German statements about present routines (e.g., 'normally I go').

Vocabulary To Learn

  • [s]: pronounced as in 'sollen'
  • [ß], [ss]: pronounced as in 'groß'
  • time phrase: a multi-word phrase that describes when something happens, e.g., 'am Montag'
  • nächst-: 'next'
  • tense: form of a verb that expresses time (past, present, future)

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Use the simple present to translate future plans from German into English, e.g., 'Nächstes Jahr spiele ich Tennis.' - 'Next year I play tennis.'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

[s] sounds like the English 'z' before a vowel. Elsewhere [s], [ss] and [ß] sound like the English 's'. 'Nächst-' means 'next' and takes the same ending as the definite article of the noun it precedes.

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

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

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: Use the simple present to translate future plans from German into English, e.g., 'Nächstes Jahr spiele ich Tennis.' - 'Next year I play tennis.'. Correction: Use the present continuous in English when translating future plans (that are expressed in the present tense) from German, e.g., 'Nächstes Jahr spiele ich Tennis.' - 'Next year I am going to play tennis.'.

More Lessons In This Unit

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