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Das Pfandsystem: word order with 'wenn', inversion, plural nouns

Learning outcomes

I can use 'wenn' to describe outcomes of actions.

I can pronounce [a], [ä] [u] and [ü] accurately.

New
New

Das Pfandsystem: word order with 'wenn', inversion, plural nouns

Learning outcomes

I can use 'wenn' to describe outcomes of actions.

I can pronounce [a], [ä] [u] and [ü] accurately.

Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Word order three conjunctions like 'wenn' send the verb to the end.
  2. The subject and verb are inverted in word order two.
  3. There are many ways to form the plural in German.

Keywords

  • Wenn - conjunction meaning 'if' or 'when' which triggers word order 3

  • Word order 2 - (WO2) inverts the subject and verb in a sentence

  • Word order 3 - (WO3) sends the verb to the end of the sentence or clause after certain conjunctions

Common misconception

All sentences with 'wenn' use word order 3 and send the verb to the end.

Distinguish between a clause and a sentence. 'Wenn' clauses need a second clause to complete a sentence. A clause starting with 'wenn' sends the verb to the end. If the 'wenn' clause is first, the second clause (after the comma) uses inversion.

Encourage pupils to learn a simple version of 2-clause sentences - one starting with 'wenn' and one with the 'wenn' clause in 2nd place. Perhaps use physical actions to show the verb moving in WO3, and then inversion in WO2.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the German and English.

Correct Answer:dagegen,against it, them; on the other hand

against it, them; on the other hand

Correct Answer:dadurch,through it, them; as a result, as a consequence

through it, them; as a result, as a consequence

Correct Answer:daran, dran,on it, at it, in the process of it

on it, at it, in the process of it

Correct Answer:darüber, drüber,above it, about it

above it, about it

Q2.
These wo-compound words are used to ask questions. Which word also means 'whereas'?

worauf
Correct answer: wogegen
wodurch
worüber
woran

Q3.
Use __________ compounds to ask questions with verbs that take __________. Unlike English, German does not put prepositions at the __________ of questions. ‘Wo-’ becomes ‘__________’ before a vowel.

1 - wo
2 - prepositions
3 - end
4 - wor

Q4.
Which conjunctions send the verb to the end of the sentence (word order 3)?

Correct answer: weil
Correct answer: wenn
denn
aber
Correct answer: dass

Q5.
The standard German word order 1 is __________, verb, __________. In word order 2, the subject and __________ swap places. This is called __________ and happens in __________ too.

1 - subject
2 - object
3 - verb
4 - inversion
5 - questions

Q6.
Which nouns can be either singular or plural?

Ordnung (f)
Correct answer: Keller (m)
Correct answer: Pullover (m)
Tätowierung (f)
Socke (f)

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the English and German.

Correct Answer:(a) while,Weile

Weile

Correct Answer:by and large, in general,im Großen und Ganzen

im Großen und Ganzen

Correct Answer:at least,zumindest

zumindest

Correct Answer:to charge, charging,aufladen

aufladen

Correct Answer:to be valid, being valid,gelten

gelten

Correct Answer:to prevent, preventing,verhindern

verhindern

Q2.
Match the plural noun to its plural rule number.

Correct Answer:Geschäfte,add 'e' or 'umlaut + e' to (m) and (nt) nouns (rule 1)

add 'e' or 'umlaut + e' to (m) and (nt) nouns (rule 1)

Correct Answer:Schüler,no change to words ending in 'en', 'el', 'er' (rule 2)

no change to words ending in 'en', 'el', 'er' (rule 2)

Correct Answer:Schülerinnen,add 'n' or 'en' to most feminine nouns (rule 3)

add 'n' or 'en' to most feminine nouns (rule 3)

Correct Answer:Gläser,add 'er' to (m) and (nt) nouns, with an umlaut if possible (rule 4)

add 'er' to (m) and (nt) nouns, with an umlaut if possible (rule 4)

Correct Answer:Interviews,add 's' to nouns borrowed from other languages (rule 5)

add 's' to nouns borrowed from other languages (rule 5)

Q3.
Which features would you expect to see in a sentence beginning with 'wenn'?

Correct answer: Word order 3 (verb to the end) in the first clause
Word order 3 (verb to the end) in the second clause
Correct answer: Word order 2 (inversion) in the second clause
a comma after 'wenn'
Correct answer: verb - comma - verb in the middle of the sentence

Q4.
Which statement about the German 'Pfandsystem' is false?

You pay a small deposit on every bottle, jar and can that you buy.
Many supermarkets have deposit machines for customers to return deposit items.
The deposit is around 25 cents per item.
Correct answer: German consumers can be fined it they don't return their bottles.

Q5.
'Wenn du keine Flasche zurückbringst, verlierst du das Pfand.' Complete the translation of this sentence into English: ' the bottle, you lose the deposit.'

Correct Answer: If you don't bring back, If you do not return, If you do not bring back, If you don't return

Q6.
'When I go into town, I normally travel by bus.' Complete the translation of this sentence into German: ' , fahre ich normalerweise mit dem Bus.'

Correct Answer: Wenn ich in die Stadt gehe, Wenn ich in die Stadt fahre

Lesson appears in

UnitGerman / People and lifestyle: Aufwachsen, Altersgrenzen und Zukunftspläne

AQAGerman

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EdexcelGerman

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