Who is supposed to do what? Modal verbs, two-verb structures, question words
Learning outcomes
I can emphasise different parts of sentences by using inversion (word order two), and understand how to form sentences that use two verbs.
I can correctly pronounce [kn].
- Year 8
Who is supposed to do what? Modal verbs, two-verb structures, question words
Learning outcomes
I can emphasise different parts of sentences by using inversion (word order two), and understand how to form sentences that use two verbs.
I can correctly pronounce [kn].
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Both sounds are pronounced in the sound-symbol correspondence [kn]. This is different from English.
- The modal verb 'sollen' expresses obligation or probability and requires a 2nd verb in the infinitive at the end.
- Use inversion (word order two) to emphasise a particular element. The verb is always the 2nd idea in the sentence.
- Open (wh) questions use inversion (word order two). For example: 'Wann soll ich die Tickets kaufen?'.
- Use a comma before 'zu' in two-verb structures that don't involve a modal verb, e.g., 'Er hofft, das Buch zu lesen.'
Keywords
[kn] - pronounced as in 'Knie'; both sounds are pronounced, unlike the silent 'k' in English
Sollen - modal verb meaning 'should, be supposed to, ought', used to express obligation, expectation or probability
Word order two - inverts the subject and verb in a sentence
Zu - word meaning 'to', used with a preceding comma to form two-verb sentences in German that do not involve a modal verb
Common misconception
The 'k' in [kn] is silent.
Both sounds in [kn] must be pronounced. This is different from English. Compare English 'knee' and German 'Knie'. Remember to pronounce the 'k' in German words containing [kn].
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each German word to its correct English meaning.
Q2.Put the words in the correct order to say: 'I must explain the truth.'
Q3.Complete the following sentence by filling in the correct form of the modal verb 'sollen': 'Ich die Geschichte erzählen.'
Q4.Match the German and the English.
Q5.Which sentence correctly uses a modal verb with an infinitive at the end?
Q6.Match each modal verb with its correct English meaning.
