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Year 8 - German

Favourite activities in Vienna: present tense, 'gern', inversion

Likes and dislikes: adverb 'gern'

Unit Summary

This unit introduces the adverb of manner 'gern', practising it in questions with 'welch-' and in giving opinion answers. The unit revisits word order 1 and 2 and negation with nicht.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use a range of verbs and adverbs with correct word order in the present tense.

Key Notes

  • SSC [g] at the end of a word is pronounced as in 'Berg', or at the start or middle as in 'Berge'.
  • Most German verbs follow a regular pattern in the present tense; others change their vowel for 'du' and 'er, sie, es'.
  • Gern is an adverb meaning 'gladly' and expresses likes, and dislikes when preceded by 'nicht'.
  • In German, the verb is always the second idea in a sentence, whether the subject or another element starts the sentence.
  • Any sentence element can be emphasised by using word order two (WO2), e.g., adverb - verb - subject - noun.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • gern: adverb meaning 'gladly', which is used to express likes, or dislikes when preceded by 'nicht'
  • word order one (WO1): the standard word order of a German sentence (subject - verb - adverb - noun)
  • word order two (WO2): subject and adverb swap places, verb stays in 2nd place meaning subject and verb are inverted

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • 'Gern' is a verb meaning 'to like, liking' and can be used in front of the noun in sentence, e.g., 'ich gern Fußball'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

SSC [g] at the end of a word is pronounced as in 'Berg', or at the start or middle as in 'Berge'. Most German verbs follow a regular pattern in the present tense; others change their vowel for 'du' and 'er, sie, es'.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'gern'

adverb meaning 'gladly', which is used to express likes, or dislikes when preceded by 'nicht'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: 'Gern' is a verb meaning 'to like, liking' and can be used in front of the noun in sentence, e.g., 'ich gern Fußball'. Correction: 'Gern' is an adverb meaning 'gladly'. It is used to express liking doing an action and follows the verb that names the action, e.g., 'ich spiele gern Fußball'.

More Lessons In This Unit

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