Study Guides

Unit Summary

This unit introduces the imperfect tense forms war, hatte, and es gab to compare places and experience in the past and present. The comparative is also introduced, and adjective endings revisited.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to form the comparative, and the plural forms of borrowed words, in the context of a German song.

Key Notes

• Final [e] is not silent. It is a short [e] sound, as in 'Liebe'. Final [er] is a longer sound, as in 'lieber'.
• Add '-er' to adjectives or adverbs to form the comparative. There are some exceptions, e.g., 'gut - besser'.
• Use 'als' to mean 'than', e.g. 'besser als'. Where two things are the same, use 'so ... wie', e.g.. 'so gut wie',
• Plural rule 5: some nouns add '–s'. They may end in in –a, -i,-o,-u-or –y and are usually 'borrowed' words.
• Make adjectives into plural nouns by capitalising the adjective and adding -en.

Vocabulary To Learn

• final [e]: pronounced as in 'Liebe'
• final [er]: pronounced as in 'lieber'
• comparative: a form of adjective or adverb used to compare people, things or ideas
• plural rule five: add '–s'; these words are typically borrowed from other languages and may end in –a, -i,-o,-u-or –y

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Final [e] is a long vowel sound in German.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Places and people: now or then? Imperfect tense: 'war', 'hatte', 'gab' Study Guide
• Then and now: the comparative Study Guide
• This year and in the past: perfect tense with 'früher' and 'noch nicht' Study Guide
• What was it like then? Imperfect tense: 'war, hatte, gab, damals, früher' Study Guide