Future plans: 'zu' + infinitive, 'werden' + infinitive
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use a variety of vocabulary and a range of two-verb structures to express future plans.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Regularly practise reading aloud to improve your fluency and knowledge of sound-symbol correspondences.
- We can use the present tense with a future time phrase to refer to future plans, e.g., 'Ich spiele morgen Tennis.'
- We can form the future tense in German by using the present tense of 'werden' plus an infinitive.
- In two-verb structures, the second verb is in the infinitive at the end of the sentence, preceded by a comma and 'zu'.
- There is no 'zu' in two-verb structures using 'werden' or modal verbs (e.g., 'wollen', 'sollen').
Keywords
SSC - abbreviation for 'sound-symbol correspondence', the relationship between letters and their sounds
Werden - auxiliary verb meaning 'to become', used to form the future tense
Two-verb structure - a sentence made up of two verb phrases
Zu - preposition meaning 'to', used before the infinitive in most two-verb structures
Common misconception
Always add 'zu' before the infinitive in two-verb structures.
Some verbs, like 'werden' and modal verbs, do not require 'zu' before the infinitive in two-verb structures.
Teacher tip
Extend practice of tenses in Tasks C4a and C4b by asking students to adapt their sentences into the past or present tenses.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which sentence uses the future tense?
Q2.Match the subject pronouns to their object pronouns (e.g., 'I' - 'me').
mich
uns
euch
Q3.Put the words below into the correct order to translate the following sentence: 'She begins to explain the truth.'
Q4.What does the German word 'Stadtteil' mean?
Q5.Put the words below in the correct order to translate the following sentence: 'I will go to Germany.'
Q6.Translate the following question into German: 'What will she allow?'
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which sentence uses the present tense with a future time phrase?
Q2.Complete the following sentence: 'Wir die Wahrheit erklären.' (We will explain the truth.)
Q3.Which sentence correctly uses 'zu' with an infinitive?
Q4.Put the words below in the correct order to say: 'She will say the truth to them.'
To help you plan your 8 German lesson on: Future plans: 'zu' + infinitive, 'werden' + infinitive, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 German lesson on: Future plans: 'zu' + infinitive, 'werden' + infinitive, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 German lessons from the My plans: future tense unit, dive into the full secondary German curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.