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      Party plans: separable verbs in the present tense

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use separable verbs in the present tense to talk about plans for a party.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. Preparing to listen by predicting what you will hear improves your understanding when you listen.
      2. Separable verbs are made up of a prefix and a main verb, e.g., 'vorbereiten' - 'to prepare, preparing'.
      3. In the present tense, the prefix moves to the end of the clause, e.g., 'ich bereite eine Party vor'.
      4. Many two-part separable verbs in German have single word English translations, e.g., 'einkaufen' - 'to shop'.
      5. In present tense negative sentences with separable verbs, 'nicht' generally goes just before the separable prefix.

      Keywords

      • Separable verb - two-part verb with a prefix and a main verb, e.g., ‘vorbereiten'

      • Nicht - adverb meaning 'not'

      Common misconception

      All separable verbs in German have their word-for-word English equivalent, e.g., 'stattfinden' - 'to take place', 'mitbringen' - to bring with, along'.

      Many two-part separable verbs in German have single word English translations, e.g., 'einkaufen' - 'to shop', 'anfangen' - 'to start'. It is especially important with these verbs not to forget the separable prefix in German.

      Teacher tip

      Following this lesson, teachers might usefully revisit separable verbs as part of a register routine, giving short phrases orally with the separable prefix missing for pupils to add, e.g., 'ich bereite eine Party ___', 'ich bringe einen Kuchen ___'.

      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).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these words means 'still'?

      müde
      Correct answer: noch
      oben
      polnisch
      unten

      Q2.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:Flugzeug (nt),plane
      Correct Answer:Küche (f),kitchen
      Correct Answer:Lust (f),desire
      Correct Answer:Onkel (m),uncle
      Correct Answer:Polen (nt),Poland
      Correct Answer:Süden (m),south

      Q3.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:Bad (nt),bathroom
      Correct Answer:Norden (m),north
      Correct Answer:Osten (m),east
      Correct Answer:Schiff (nt),ship
      Correct Answer:Westen (m),west
      Correct Answer:Wohnung (f),flat, apartment

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'We went to the cinema.'

      1 - wir
      2 - sind
      3 - ins
      4 - Kino
      5 - gegangen

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'Ich bin nach Deutschland geflogen.'

      Correct Answer: I flew to Germany, I have flown to Germany

      Q6.
      Write in German: 'He found a book.'

      Correct Answer: Er hat ein Buch gefunden

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      'My auntie drinks coffee in the kitchen.'. Which German words are relevant to this statement in a true or false question?

      Correct answer: Tante
      Bahn
      Flugzeug
      Correct answer: Kaffee
      Correct answer: Wohnzimmer

      Q2.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:anfangen,to begin, start
      Correct Answer:anrufen,to phone, call (on phone)
      Correct Answer:ankommen,to arrive, arriving
      Correct Answer:stattfinden,to take place, taking place
      Correct Answer:einkaufen,to shop, shopping

      Q3.
      Order the words to say: 'I am preparing a list.'

      1 - ich
      2 - bereite
      3 - eine
      4 - Liste
      5 - vor

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'I am not bringing the food.'

      1 - ich
      2 - bringe
      3 - das
      4 - Essen
      5 - nicht
      6 - mit

      To help you plan your 8 German lesson on: Party plans: separable verbs in the present tense, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...