Year 8 - German
An exchange: 'haben' and 'sein', 'Sie' vs 'du', infinitive clauses with 'zu'
An exchange: present tense, 'haben' and 'sein', formal 'Sie' vs 'du', cases
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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 explores the use of the formal 'Sie' (you) vs the informal 'du'. It equips pupils with the knowledge to structure richer sentences, using infinitive clauses with 'zu', and how to apply their previous knowledge of question forms, gender and cases to add new words to their vocabulary.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to distinguish between and use 'du', 'Sie' (you) and 'sie' (they), and use two-verb structures with 'zu' plus infinitive.
Key Notes
- Use 'du' (you, singular) for a friend, family member, person you know well, and 'Sie' for adults you address by surname.
- 'Sie' (you, formal) is written with a capital letter, but 'sie' (they) starts with lowercase.
- If 'Sie' begins a sentence (and hence has a capital letter) use other clues to help decide if 'Sie' means you or they.
- Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive, which goes to the end of the sentence. Other verbs use 'zu' plus infinitive.
- In 2-verb structures, the 2nd verb in the infinitive is at the end of the sentence.
Vocabulary To Learn
- du: subject pronoun meaning 'you' (singular), used in informal language
- Sie: subject pronoun meaning 'you', used in formal language
- infinitive: form of the verb giving its general meaning, with no subject or tense; the dictionary form of the verb
- zu: word meaning 'to', used before the infinitive when there are 2 verbs in a sentence, but not with modal verbs
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- 'Sie' always means 'she'.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
Use 'du' (you, singular) for a friend, family member, person you know well, and 'Sie' for adults you address by surname. 'Sie' (you, formal) is written with a capital letter, but 'sie' (they) starts with lowercase.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'du'
subject pronoun meaning 'you' (singular), used in informal language. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: 'Sie' always means 'she'. Correction: 'Sie' can mean 'she', 'they' or 'you (formal)'. Check the verb endings used alongside the pronoun and the spelling of 'sie' to determine the correct translation. Formal 'Sie' is always written with a capital letter.
More Lessons In This Unit
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