Year 9 - German
Migration: imperfect modal verbs, word order with two-verb structures
Past lives and experiences: imperfect modal verbs, perfect tense
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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 the perfect tense with sein, introducing change of state verbs, and teaches the formation of past participles of separable verbs. Imperfect modal verbs (singular) are introduced as pupils learn about past lives and experiences within the cultural context of migration in Germany.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use a range of conjunctions with the correct word order when using modal verbs in the imperfect tense.
Key Notes
- Revisit vocabulary often to help it stick in your memory.
- Some conjunctions do not affect word order, e.g., 'und, oder, denn'. These are sometimes knows as word order 1 (WO1).
- Subordinating conjunctions (word order 3) send the conjugated verb to the end of the clause, e.g., 'weil, obwohl, dass'.
- Modal verbs neeed a 2nd verb in the infinitive. In standard word order (WO1) the infinitive is at the end of the clause.
- In 2-verb structures with a subordinating conjunction (WO3), the conjugated verb is at the end, after the infinitive.
Vocabulary To Learn
- word order one (WO1): the standard word order in a German sentence: subject - verb - object, e.g., 'Ich lerne Deutsch'
- word order three (WO3): after certain conjunctions, the verb is sent to the end of the sentence or clause; these are subordinating conjunctions
- modal verb: verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, which goes to the end of the clause
- two-verb structure: a clause containing a conjugated verb and a 2nd verb in the infinitive
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Modal verbs require a 'zu' before the infinitive.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
Revisit vocabulary often to help it stick in your memory. Some conjunctions do not affect word order, e.g., 'und, oder, denn'. These are sometimes knows as word order 1 (WO1).
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'word order one (WO1)'
the standard word order in a German sentence: subject - verb - object, e.g., 'Ich lerne Deutsch'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: Modal verbs require a 'zu' before the infinitive. Correction: Two-verb structures without a modal verb require 'zu' before the infinitive, e.g., 'Ich habe Lust, schwimmen zu gehen.'.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Childhood experiences: imperfect modal verbs 'konnte', 'musste', 'wollte' Study Guide
- Childhood experiences: imperfect plural forms of 'sein' and 'haben' Study Guide
- Famous people and their languages: perfect tense with 'sein', calendar years Study Guide
- Language and identity: separable verbs, cardinal and ordinal numbers Study Guide
- Migrant experiences: noun suffixes, 'welch-' Study Guide
- Migration: imperfect modal verbs 'konnte', 'musste', 'wollte' Study Guide
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