Hitzefrei: 'müssen' vs 'sollen', 'sollen' vs 'sollte'
I can use 'müssen' and 'sollen' to discuss necessities and obligations.
- Year 10
- AQA
Hitzefrei: 'müssen' vs 'sollen', 'sollen' vs 'sollte'
I can use 'müssen' and 'sollen' to discuss necessities and obligations.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Modal verbs express necessity, possibility, expectation or obligation and are used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive.
- 'Müssen' means ‘to have to, must’ and expresses necessity.
- 'Sollen' translates as ‘should’ and conveys strong obligation or command but also expresses probability.
- 'Sollte' expresses a softer style of obligation and may be translated as ‘ought to’.
Keywords
Modal verb - verb of necessity, possibility, expectation or obligation used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive
Müssen - modal verb meaning 'to have to', 'must'
Sollen - modal verb meaning 'should', 'be supposed to', 'ought to'
Sollte - form of 'sollen' expressing obligation in a softer, more polite way
Common misconception
In German, you always use 'müssen' to say what you have to do.
The verb 'sollen' is another way of expressing an obligation, something you have to do. It has several uses, including strong commands (e.g. 'you should ring the doctor straightaway'), which are similar to the 'have to, must' meaning of 'müssen'.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the German and English.
Q2.Match the following nouns to the correct genders.
Q3.Which modal verb does not change its vowel in any present tense forms?
Q4.Modal verbs usually occur with a verb in the form at the end of the sentence.
Q5.Which of these modal verb sentences are grammatically correct?
Q6.Wir __________ (must) morgen einkaufen gehen! Du __________ (want) am Fest teilnehmen, aber man __________ (is allowed to) keine Jeanshose tragen - __________ (should) ich dir neue Kleidung kaufen?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the English and German.
Q2.Match the modal verbs to their English meanings.
Q3.Which of the young people below would definitely be eligible for 'Hitzefrei' in very hot weather?
Q4.'Man sollte die Umwelt schützen. Man muss weniger oft Auto fahren.'. Which set of translations of the modal verbs in this sentence is correct?
Q5.Which of these is not expressed by the verb 'sollen'?
Q6.Match the moods expressed by modal verbs with the most appropriate German sentence.
