Year 9 - German
Ambitions of famous young Germans: reading skills, questions, imperfect modals
Past ambitions and future goals: past, present and word order
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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 revisits past, present and future tenses, modal verbs and word order rules as pupils apply known grammar and vocabulary in reading and speaking about past and future goals.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to deepen your vocabulary knowledge and comprehension skills through extended reading and can use modal verbs in the imperfect to ask questions about goals and ambitions.
Key Notes
- Vocabulary knowledge can be consolidated and deepened through longer reading texts.
- Skills for reading comprehension include strong vocabulary knowledge, close reading of questions and checking answers.
- Focus is required for longer texts, for questions across a number of texts and for questions in German.
- Imperfect forms of modal verbs are commonly used in speaking, for example in open questions about past experiences.
- Learning about the lives of famous young Germans is a rewarding way of consolidating vocabulary and grammar knowledge.
Vocabulary To Learn
- imperfect: German single-word past tense used mainly to narrate past events in writing; e.g., 'war', 'hatte', 'gab'
- modal verb: verb of necessity or possibility ('must', 'can', 'want') used with a 2nd verb in infinitive, which goes to the end
- open question: question starting with a wh- word that has more information in the answer than yes/no
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The imperfect tense in German is only used in writing.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
Vocabulary knowledge can be consolidated and deepened through longer reading texts. Skills for reading comprehension include strong vocabulary knowledge, close reading of questions and checking answers.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'imperfect'
German single-word past tense used mainly to narrate past events in writing; e.g., 'war', 'hatte', 'gab'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: The imperfect tense in German is only used in writing. Correction: Whilst the imperfect is largely used in writing, modal verbs are also used in speaking, along with verbs like 'war', 'hatte' and 'gab'.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 9 German guide library.