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Year 8 - German

Who is supposed to do what? Modal verbs, two-verb structures, question words

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 emphasise different parts of sentences by using inversion (word order two), and understand how to form sentences that use two verbs.

Key Notes

  • Both sounds are pronounced in the sound-symbol correspondence [kn]. This is different from English.
  • The modal verb 'sollen' expresses obligation or probability and requires a 2nd verb in the infinitive at the end.
  • Use inversion (word order two) to emphasise a particular element. The verb is always the 2nd idea in the sentence.
  • Open (wh) questions use inversion (word order two). For example: 'Wann soll ich die Tickets kaufen?'.
  • Use a comma before 'zu' in two-verb structures that don't involve a modal verb, e.g., 'Er hofft, das Buch zu lesen.'

Vocabulary To Learn

  • [kn]: pronounced as in 'Knie'; both sounds are pronounced, unlike the silent 'k' in English
  • sollen: modal verb meaning 'should, be supposed to, ought', used to express obligation, expectation or probability
  • word order two: inverts the subject and verb in a sentence
  • zu: word meaning 'to', used with a preceding comma to form two-verb sentences in German that do not involve a modal verb

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The 'k' in [kn] is silent.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Both sounds are pronounced in the sound-symbol correspondence [kn]. This is different from English. The modal verb 'sollen' expresses obligation or probability and requires a 2nd verb in the infinitive at the end.

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

pronounced as in 'Knie'; both sounds are pronounced, unlike the silent 'k' in English. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: The 'k' in [kn] is silent. Correction: Both sounds in [kn] must be pronounced. This is different from English. Compare English 'knee' and German 'Knie'. Remember to pronounce the 'k' in German words containing [kn].

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 German guide library.