Berlin: 'wissen' vs 'kennen'
I can use 'wissen' and 'kennen' in the present and past tense to talk about knowledge, and can use a range of strategies for reading tasks.
- Year 10
- AQA
Berlin: 'wissen' vs 'kennen'
I can use 'wissen' and 'kennen' in the present and past tense to talk about knowledge, and can use a range of strategies for reading tasks.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- 'Wissen' means to 'to know' facts. 'Kennen' means 'to know' someone or to be familiar with something.
- The imperfect verb stem of 'wissen' is 'wuss-'; 'kennen' is 'kann-'. Use weak imperfect endings with both verbs.
- The past participle of 'wissen' is 'gewusst'; 'kennen' is 'gekannt'. Both form the perfect tense with 'haben'.
- When reading an extended text, notice tenses and vocabulary. Focus on questions carefully to identify required details.
Keywords
Wissen - verb meaning 'to know', used with facts
Kennen - verb meaning 'to know' someone or to be familiar with something
Imperfect tense - synonymous with the simple past; German single-word past tense used mainly to narrate past events in writing; e.g., 'war', 'hatte', 'gab'
Perfect tense - German two-word past tense using either 'haben' or 'sein' with a past participle
Common misconception
'Wissen' and 'kennen' are interchangeable.
Use 'wissen' with facts (e.g., 'Ich weiß nicht!') and 'kennen' with people or things you are familiar with ('Ich kenne deinen Freund.').
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these nouns are feminine?
Q2.Match the German and English.
Q3.Match the German and English.
Q4.Order the words to say: 'We are therefore very stressed and tired.'
Q5.Write in English: 'Da war eine alte Dame.'
Q6.Write in German: 'Where are the museums?'
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.'Ich deine Freundin.'. Write the correct present tense verb form of 'to know'.
Q2.'Wir , dass es kalt ist.'. Write the correct present tense verb form of 'to know'.
Q3.Match the German and English.
