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Year 8 - German

Future plans: future tense 'werden' + infinitive vs 'planen' + 'zu' + infinitive

Making plans: present and future tenses

Unit Summary

This unit revisits and consolidates the present tense, including modal verbs and two-verb structures before introducing the future tense in singular persons. It also addresses the distinction between the German 'ich will' vs the English 'I want to'.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to form different two-verb structures to discuss future plans, and can broaden your vocabulary by spotting connections between German nouns and verbs.

Key Notes

  • In two-verb structures, the 2nd verb is in the infinitive, at the end of the sentence.
  • In two-verb structures, most verbs add 'zu' before the infinitive verb.
  • A comma separates the verb phrases in two-verb structures, e.g., 'Ich plane, Gemüse zu essen'.
  • Future tense sentences with 'werden', like modal sentences, do not require 'zu' before the infinitive.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • two-verb structure: a sentence made up of two verb phrases
  • zu: preposition meaning 'to', used before the infinitive in most two-verb structures
  • werden: auxiliary verb meaning 'to become', used to form the future tense
  • stem: part of a verb that appears in all forms; often appears in nouns created from verbs

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Always add 'zu' before the infinitive in two-verb structures.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

In two-verb structures, the 2nd verb is in the infinitive, at the end of the sentence. In two-verb structures, most verbs add 'zu' before the infinitive verb.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'two-verb structure'

a sentence made up of two verb phrases. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: Always add 'zu' before the infinitive in two-verb structures. Correction: Some verbs, like 'werden' and modal verbs, do not require 'zu' before the infinitive in two-verb structures.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 German guide library.