Year 9 - German
German musicians: present tense open questions, word order
Modern lives and tall tales: present tense
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Unit Summary
This unit revisits previously known vocabulary and the present tense in new contexts. . The 2nd person plural 'ihr' (informal) is introduced for weak verbs and the contrasts between du and 'Sie' (formal) consolidated.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to ask and answer open questions about German musicians using flexible word order, and you can complete extended activities describing a favourite person in the present tense.
Key Notes
- Open questions start with a question word (e.g., 'wo', 'wie', 'warum') and use verb-subject word order.
- It's important to be very confident with question words to understand information and ask questions.
- German sentences can start with any other element (other than the subject) to emphasise it and then the verb second.
- Present tense verbs plus the adverb 'gern' (gladly) say what we like doing. As all adverbs, it can start a sentence.
Vocabulary To Learn
- open question: question starting with a wh- word that has more information in the answer than yes/no
- word order two (WO2): inverts the subject and verb in a sentence; any element can appear at the start of a German sentence to trigger this inversion
- gern: adverb meaning 'gladly', 'like to'
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- German and English word order are the same.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
Open questions start with a question word (e.g., 'wo', 'wie', 'warum') and use verb-subject word order. It's important to be very confident with question words to understand information and ask questions.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'open question'
question starting with a wh- word that has more information in the answer than yes/no. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: German and English word order are the same. Correction: English mostly uses subject-verb word order and time phrases appear most naturally at the end of phrases. German word order is much more variable. Any element (subject, object, time-manner-location adverb) can start a German sentence.
More Lessons In This Unit
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