Year 9 - German
What is important in life: infinitive uses, verbs capitalised as nouns
Desires, plans and priorities: 'möcht-' future and use of infinitive
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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 extends knowledge of the future tense for all persons, and introduces 'möcht-' , with nouns and in two-verb structures. Using the infinite with 'es ist' + adjective, zu + infinitive extends pupils' ability to give views and opinions. Prepositions with accusative and dative are revisited.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use infinitives as nouns and know when to use 'zu' with infinitives in the context of important relationships with others.
Key Notes
- Using a range of strategies, e.g., synonym spotting, can help deepen vocabulary knowledge.
- Using surrounding words to help infer meaning of unfamiliar words is a key strategy in reading comprehension.
- Infinitive verbs can be changed into nouns by capitalising the first letter of the infinitive.
- Infinitive nouns are always neuter; English equivalents end in -ing, e.g., 'das Schwimmen' - 'swimming'.
- In addition to modal verbs and 'werden', a few other verbs don't need 'zu' before the infinitive in two-verb sentences.
Vocabulary To Learn
- infer: use of knowledge of the surrounding words in a sentence to work out the meaning of an unfamiliar word
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Infinitives are always verbs.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
Using a range of strategies, e.g., synonym spotting, can help deepen vocabulary knowledge. Using surrounding words to help infer meaning of unfamiliar words is a key strategy in reading comprehension.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'infer'
use of knowledge of the surrounding words in a sentence to work out the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: Infinitives are always verbs. Correction: Many infinitives can be used as nouns. In German, infinitive nouns start with a capital letter, are always neuter, can be used with or without 'das' & are typically translated into English with the gerund -ing, e.g., '(das) Schwimmen' - 'swimmming'.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Christmas market: 'alle', 'jed-', 'dies-' and 'welch-' Study Guide
- Future plans: plural future tense 'werden' + infinitive, two-verb structures Study Guide
- What I would like: 'möcht-' in one- and two-verb structures Study Guide
- What is important: infinitive uses, 'es ist' + adjective, 'zu' + infinitive Study Guide
- What you did for and with others: perfect tense Study Guide
- What you do for and with others: prepositions 'ohne', 'für', 'mit', and 'von' Study Guide
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