New
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Year 9

Everyday actions and routines: using singular verbs reflexively

I can use verbs reflexively to talk about daily routines and personal actions.

New
New
Year 9

Everyday actions and routines: using singular verbs reflexively

I can use verbs reflexively to talk about daily routines and personal actions.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Using exclamations to give conversational reactions can make our German sound more natural.
  2. Many verbs can be used reflexively to show the action is being done to oneself, e.g., 'sich waschen' - 'to have a wash'.
  3. The meaning of a verb may change slightly when used reflexively, e.g., 'Sie setzt sie/sich hin': She puts her/sits down.
  4. Reflexive pronouns are 'mich' myself, 'dich' yourself and 'sich' him/her/itself. 'Mich/dich' also mean 'me/you'.
  5. Context is important when understanding the intended meaning of pronouns like 'mich' and 'dich'.

Keywords

  • Reflexive - describes an action where the subject and object of the verb are the same

  • Reflexive pronoun - used to indicate doing something to yourself, words like ‘myself’ and ‘yourself’

Common misconception

'Mich' and 'dich' are only direct object pronouns meaning me and you.

'Mich' and 'dich' can also be reflexive pronouns and then mean myself and yourself. Reflexive pronouns are required when using a verb reflexively.


To help you plan your year 9 German lesson on: Everyday actions and routines: using singular verbs reflexively, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The story in Learning Cycle 3 has a poetic rhythm which teachers may wish to exploit further by encouraging students to read aloud with emphasis on intonation.
Teacher tip

Equipment

A mini whiteboard and pen, together with pen and paper for making notes, would be useful, if available.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the German and English.

Correct Answer:Sohn,son

son

Correct Answer:Tochter,daughter

daughter

Correct Answer:Vater,father

father

Correct Answer:Schwester,sister

sister

Correct Answer:Tante,aunt

aunt

Correct Answer:Mutter,mother

mother

Q2.
Match the German and English.

Correct Answer:fragen,to ask, asking

to ask, asking

Correct Answer:lachen,to laugh, laughing

to laugh, laughing

Correct Answer:schlafen,to sleep, sleeping

to sleep, sleeping

Correct Answer:tragen,to carry, to wear

to carry, to wear

Correct Answer:probieren,to try, to test

to try, to test

Correct Answer:finden,to find, finding

to find, finding

Q3.
Match the German and English.

Correct Answer:ich bin,I am

I am

Correct Answer:ich habe,I have

I have

Correct Answer:ich war,I was

I was

Correct Answer:ich kann,I can

I can

Correct Answer:ich weiß,I know

I know

Q4.
Fill in the gap in the following sentence: 'Sie müde.' ('She is becoming tired.')

Correct Answer: wird

Q5.
Fill in the gap in the following sentence: 'Meine Schwester hat Hunger.' ('My little sister is hungry.')

Correct Answer: kleine

Q6.
How do you say 10:45pm in German?

zweiundzwanzig Uhr vierundfünfzig
Correct answer: zweiundzwanzig Uhr fünfundvierzig
zehn Uhr fünfundvierzig
Viertel vor zehn

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Match the German and English.

Correct Answer:anziehen,to put on, putting on

to put on, putting on

Correct Answer:fühlen,to feel, feeling

to feel, feeling

Correct Answer:halten,to hold, to stop

to hold, to stop

Correct Answer:nennen,to name, naming

to name, naming

Correct Answer:waschen,to wash, washing

to wash, washing

Q2.
Which sentence uses a reflexive verb correctly?

Ich halte den Stuhl.
Ich wasche das Auto.
Correct answer: Ich wasche mich.
Ich fühle das Kissen.

Q3.
Order the words to make a correct reflexive sentence.

1 - ich
2 - fühle
3 - mich
4 - wohl

Q4.
Translate into English: 'Sie setzt sich auf den Stuhl.'

Correct Answer: She sits down on the chair, she sits on the chair, she sits herself on the chair, She sits down onto the chair

Q5.
Order the words to make a correct reflexive sentence with a modal verb.

1 - sie
2 - möchte
3 - sich
4 - waschen

Additional material

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